Document	Document Title
US08691633B2	Metal structure for memory device A semiconductor device is provided that includes a substrate, a static random access memory (SRAM) unit cell formed in the substrate, a first metal layer formed over the substrate the first metal layer providing local interconnection to the SRAM unit cell, a second metal layer formed over the first metal layer, the second metal layer including: a bit line and a complementary bit line each having a first thickness and a Vcc line disposed between the bit line and the complementary bit line, and a third metal layer formed over the second metal layer, the third metal layer including a word line having a second thickness greater than the first thickness.
US08691631B2	Device including two mounting surfaces A device including two mounting surfaces. One embodiment provides a power semiconductor chip and having a first electrode on a first surface and a second electrode on a second surface opposite to the first surface. A first external contact element and a second external contact element, are both electrically coupled to the first electrode of the semiconductor chip. A third external contact element and a fourth external contact element, both electrically coupled to the second electrode of the semiconductor chip. A first mounting surface is provided on which the first and third external contact elements are disposed. A second mounting surface is provided on which the second and fourth external contact elements are disposed.
US08691628B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, manufacturing program, and manufacturing apparatus According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a bonding layer is formed on a first surface of a chip region of a semiconductor wafer. Semiconductor chips are singulated along a dicing region. The semiconductor chips are stacked stepwise via the bonding layer. In formation of the bonding layer of the semiconductor chip, in at least a part of a first region of the first surface not in contact with the other semiconductor chip in a stacked state, a projected section where the bonding layer is formed thicker than the bonding layer in a second region that is in contact with the other semiconductor chip is provided.
US08691627B2	Wafer level packaged GaN power device and manufacturing method thereof Disclosed are a GaN-based compound power semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof, in which on a GaN power semiconductor element, a contact pad is formed for flip-chip bonding, and a bonding pad of a module substrate to be mounted with the GaN power semiconductor element is formed with a bump so as to modularize an individual semiconductor element. In the disclosed GaN-based compound power semiconductor device, an AlGaN HEMT element is flip-chip bonded to the substrate, so that heat generated from the element can be efficiently radiated.
US08691626B2	Semiconductor chip device with underfill A method of manufacturing is provided that includes placing a removable cover on a surface of a substrate. The substrate includes a first semiconductor chip positioned on the surface. The first semiconductor chip includes a first sidewall. The removable cover includes a second sidewall positioned opposite the first sidewall. A first underfill is placed between the first semiconductor chip and the surface wherein the second sidewall provides a barrier to flow of the first underfill. Various apparatus are also disclosed.
US08691624B2	Die fixing method and apparatus A die fixing method is disclosed which includes providing a substrate having a metallized surface, forming a joining material on the metallized surface and placing a die alignment member with a plurality of openings on the substrate so that portions of the joining material are exposed through the openings. The method further includes placing a plurality of dies in the openings of the die alignment member with a bottom side of each die in contact with part of the joining material and attaching the plurality of dies to the metallized surface of the substrate at an elevated temperature and pressure, the die alignment member withstanding the elevated temperature and pressure. The die alignment member is removed from the substrate after the plurality of dies are attached to the metallized surface of the substrate.
US08691610B1	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including at least one of the following steps: (1) Forming a plurality of lower electrodes over a substrate. (2) Forming a first stop film over the lower electrodes. (3) Forming a filling layer over the first stop film. (4) Forming a second stop film over the filling layer. (5) Forming a first interlayer insulating layer over the second stop film. (6) Forming a plurality of upper electrodes over the first interlayer insulating layer. (7) Forming a second interlayer insulating layer over the upper electrodes. (8) Etching the second interlayer insulating layer and the first interlayer insulating layer to form a cavity. (9) Forming a contact ball in the cavity.
US08691606B2	Method for manufacturing a light emitting diode with smooth surface for reflective electrode A light emitting diode comprising an epitaxial layer structure, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first and second electrodes are separately disposed on the epitaxial layer structure, and the epitaxial layer structure has a root-means-square (RMS) roughness less than about 3 at a surface whereon the first electrode is formed.
US08691592B2	Mechanically actuated diagnostic device Disclosed are mechanically-actuated devices for transporting fluids within a microfluidic circuit and performing diagnostic operations on a sample. Also disclosed are related methods for performing sample analysis effected by the motion of an actuator proximate to a microfluidic system.
US08691591B2	Self-encoding sensor with microspheres Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for combining the output obtained from redundant sensor elements in a sensor array.
US08691590B2	Method for evaluating extrinsic hydrogenation degradation of hydrogen storage material A hydrogen storage material analyzer along with its analysis and activation methods, the hydrogen storage material analyzer including a H2 absorption-desorption cycling tester, a temperature-programmed desorption spectrometer, a specimen holder and a temperature-controlled furnace.
US08691577B2	Somatic embryogenesis of Jatropha curcas from ovules The present invention relates to the field of somatic embryo production, particularly to methods for somatic embyrogenesis of Jatropha from ovules. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and media compositions for somatic embryogenesis of Jatropha curcas from ovules of unopened flower buds. The method is well suited for Jatropha curcas transformation, for producing clonal planting stock useful for large scale Jatropha curcas plantation and for producing haploids, double haploids, diploids and disease-free plantlets.
US08691572B2	Diagnosing, monitoring and treating inflammation The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating chronic inflammatory disease in a subject and associated pharmaceutical compositions, medical devices and systems.
US08691564B2	Female specific insect expression system The present invention provides an insect expression system that may be used to provide biological control of pest insects and control transmission of infectious diseases transmitted to the human population by insects.
US08691562B2	Sterilization indicator device measuring membrane potential of biological indicator A sterilization indicator including an electronically conductive material positioned on a substrate; a biological indicator positioned on part or all of the electronically conductive material, and electronic circuitry for determining whether the membrane potential of the biological indicator changes during incubation following exposure sterilization conditions.
US08691560B2	Biomolecule substrate, and test and diagnosis methods and apparatuses using the same An object of the present invention is to provide a test apparatus for testing a DNA substrate on which a plurality of DNA fragments for testing are arranged, wherein absolute precision is not required. The above-described problem was solved by providing a substrate on which a plurality of biomolecule spots containing a group of biomolecules (e.g., DNA, etc.) of a specific type are formed, where the pattern or position of the DNA spot is changed depending on specific data so that information of the specific data is recorded on the substrate.
US08691558B2	Method and apparatus for inoculating and streaking a medium in a plate An apparatus for inoculating and streaking a solid growth culture medium in a plate, the streaking using a streaking applicator having a line of resiliently and flexibly supported spaced apart contact surfaces, the apparatus including: (a) an inoculating and streaking station including: a plate work position having a notional action line fixed in two dimensions (x,y) in a predetermined position; and a plate rotation device for rotating a positioned plate to cause streaking; (b) a sensor capable of locating the surface of the medium in a positioned plate to thereby determine for that plate, prior to inoculation and streaking of that plate, the third dimension (z) of the action line; (c) an inoculating device capable of dispensing inoculum, along the action line, on the surface of the medium in the positioned plate; and (d) a streaking device capable of moving the streaking applicator such that its line of spaced apart contact surfaces contacts, along the action line, the surface of the medium in the positioned plate, prior to rotation of the positioned plate for streaking.
US08691555B2	Production of carotenoids in oleaginous yeast and fungi The present invention provides systems for producing engineered oleaginous yeast or fungi that express carotenoids.
US08691545B2	Bone semi-permeable device Bone cages are disclosed including devices for biocompatible implantation. The structures of bone are useful for providing living cells and tissues as well as biologically active molecules to subjects.
US08691543B2	Nanofibrous scaffold comprising immobilized cells The invention is directed to a device and method to prevent migration of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) from a delivery site while allowing communication between the stem cells and native cardiomyocytes. The device is characterized by scaffold pore size, fiber diameter and biomaterial selection. The invention includes a two part polyurethane scaffold that prevents migration of stem cells, allows gap junction formation through pores and is packaged for minimally invasive delivery.
US08691539B2	Materials and methods for efficient succinate and malate production Genetically engineered microorganisms have been constructed to produce succinate and malate in mineral salt media in pH-controlled batch fermentations without the addition of plasmids or foreign genes. The subject invention also provides methods of producing succinate and malate comprising the culture of genetically modified microorganisms.
US08691533B2	Inducible gene expression The invention relates to vector constructs for an HIV-specific gene therapy. The expression of transgenes is coupled with an infection of the cell with HIV while the transcription of the transgene is controlled by a transcription control region derived from HIV. In addition, the transgene is improved with regard to RNA stability and expression efficiency by modifying the nucleotide sequence.
US08691532B2	Nucleic acids encoding engineered anti-IL-23R antibodies Antibodies to human IL-23R are provided, as well as uses thereof, e.g. in treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, and proliferative disorders.
US08691531B2	Anti-CD79B antibodies and immunoconjugates and methods of use The present invention is directed to compositions of matter comprising nucleic acids encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 207 or 208, encoding an anti-CD79b antibody comprising the heavy chain variable domain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 207 and the light chain variable domain sequence of SEQ ID NO: 208, or encoding an anti-CD79b antibody having : (i) a variable light chain comprising a HVR-L1 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 194, a HVR-L2 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 195, and a HVR-L3 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 196 and (ii) a variable light chain comprising a HVR-H1 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 202, a HVR-H2 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 203, and a HVR-H3 having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 204, and vectors and host cells thereof.
US08691525B2	Methods of combined bioprocessing and related microorganisms, thermophilic and/or acidophilic enzymes, and nucleic acids encoding said enzymes A genetically modified organism comprising: at least one nucleic acid sequence and/or at least one recombinant nucleic acid isolated from Alicyclobacillus acidocaldarius and encoding a polypeptide involved in at least partially degrading, cleaving, transporting, metabolizing, or removing polysaccharides, cellulose, lignocellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, sugars, sugar oligomers, carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, chitin, heteroxylans, glycosides, xylan-, glucan-, galactan-, or mannan-decorating groups; and at least one nucleic acid sequence and/or at least one recombinant nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide involved in fermenting sugar molecules to a product. Additionally, enzymatic and/or proteinaceous extracts may be isolated from one or more genetically modified organisms. The extracts are utilized to convert biomass into a product. Further provided are methods of converting biomass into products comprising: placing the genetically modified organism and/or enzymatic extracts thereof in fluid contact with polysaccharides, cellulose, lignocellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, starch, sugars, sugar oligomers, carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, chitin, heteroxylans, glycosides, and/or xylan-, glucan-, galactan-, or mannan-decorating groups.
US08691521B1	Biological material excavator and dispenser apparatus and method of using the same A novel biological material excavator apparatus is described in the current invention. The apparatus is made up of a double walled tubular structure to house either a single tip or multiple tips to pick/excavate the biological material growing in agar plated petri dishes. The unique feature of this apparatus is a local ultra violet light source is present inside the apparatus to perform irradiation on site. This provides double sterilization of the apparatus as well as the tip that is being used for transferring biological material from one source to another source. The apparatus is double walled to prevent the user from being exposed to ultra violet rays while the irradiation step is being performed.
US08691514B2	Method for selective control of helper T cell function The present invention relates to selectively controlling the function of a helper T cell. In the present invention, a mouse lacking a gene involved in ganglioside biosynthesis (ganglioside GM3 synthetase gene) (SAT-I KO) was produced and analyzed. As a result, the present invention provides, for example, a method for screening a substance which induces selective suppression of the function of a helper T cell in an immune response, including control of production of a sphingoglycolipid in the helper T cell, and moderation or suppression of an excessive immune response caused by the suppression of the function, that is, a substance having an immunosuppression activity, an anti-asthmatic action and/or an anti-allergic action.
US08691511B2	Hydroxylated 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acid compounds, compositions thereof and their use in bioassays Novel hydroxylated 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acid compounds, methods of using and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a hydroxylated 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acid derivative are disclosed. The methods include methods of treating or preventing a disease ameliorated by modulation of premature translation termination or nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated therewith.
US08691503B2	Method and nucleic acids for the analysis of colorectal cell proliferative disorders The invention provides methods and nucleic acids for detecting, differentiating or distinguishing between colon cell proliferative disorders as well as therapy thereof by analysis of the gene EYA4 and its promoter and regulatory sequences. The invention further provides novel nucleic acid sequences useful for the cell proliferative disorder specific analysis of said gene as well as methods, assays and kits thereof.
US08691490B2	Sulfonium salt, polymer, method for producing the polymer, resist composition and patterning process There is disclosed a sulfonium salt represented by the following general formula (1). In the formula, X and Y each represents a group having a polymerizable functional group; Z represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 33 carbon atoms optionally containing a hetero atom; R1 represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 36 carbon atoms optionally containing a hetero atom; and R2 and R3 each represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms optionally containing a hetero atom or R2 and R3 may be bonded with each other to form a ring together with a sulfur atom in the formula. There can be provided a sulfonium salt usable as a resist composition providing high resolution and excellent in LER in photolithography using a high energy beam such as an ArF excimer laser, an EUV light and an electron beam as a light source, a polymer obtained from the sulfonium salt, a resist composition containing the polymer and a patterning process using the resist composition.
US08691485B2	Toner compositions The present disclosure provides toners and methods for their production. In embodiments, the toner may include a core/shell configuration, with a non-crosslinked resin and a crosslinked resin in the core, with a second non-crosslinked resin in the shell, pigment/pigments and a wax possessing both branched and linear carbons.
US08691481B2	Local exposure method and local exposure apparatus A local exposure method includes steps of: dividing a large block into a plurality of small blocks; setting irradiation illuminances different in a stepwise fashion; controlling light emission of light emitting elements based on the irradiation illuminances respectively set for the small blocks for a photosensitive film on a substrate moving with respect to light emitting elements; developing the photosensitive film having been subjected to exposure processing by irradiation by the light emitting elements; measuring a residual film thickness of the photosensitive film for each of the small blocks to obtain correlation data between the illuminance set for the small block and the residual film thickness; and obtaining a required illuminance of irradiation to each of the large blocks from a target residual film thickness of the photosensitive film set for each of the large blocks based on the correlation data.
US08691478B2	Attenuated phase shift mask for multi-patterning An attenuated phase shift mask (AttPSM) is fabricated with a set of fully transmitting regions, some parts adjacent phase-shifting regions with a first reduced transmission and first phase shift near 180 degrees, and remaining parts adjacent phase-shifting regions with a second transmission higher than the first transmission and second phase shift lower than the first phase shift.
US08691477B2	Reticle design for the reduction of lens heating phenomenon A reticle for lens heating mitigation includes a substrate, a target pattern and a redistributive pattern. The substrate includes a live pattern region and the target pattern is disposed within the live pattern region for constructing the target pattern onto a wafer. The redistributive pattern is also disposed within the live pattern region for redistributing energy onto a lens without being printed onto the wafer and without correcting said target pattern to be printed onto the wafer.
US08691464B2	Three dimensional single-chamber fuel cells The present invention relates to single chamber fuel cells and systems and methods associated with the same. Architectures and materials that allow for high performance, enhanced fuel utilization, mechanical robustness, and mechanical flexibility are described. In some embodiments, multiple fuel cell units are arranged in a single chamber and may be, in some cases, connected to each other (e.g., connected in series, connected in parallel, etc.). Each fuel cell unit can be defined as one or more anode(s), one or more cathode(s), and an electrolyte able to maintain electrical separation between the anode(s) and cathode(s). The multiple fuel cell units are arranged in stacks in some cases. In one set of embodiments, the stacks of fuel cell units can be shaped and/or arranged to enhance the mixing of fuel and oxidant, thus improving distribution of reactants in the reaction zone. For example, the stacks of fuel cells may be arranged as fins within the fuel cell chamber. In addition, the stacks of fuel cells may be porous in some instances. In addition, the stacks of fuel cell units may be arranged to enhance other fluid flow parameters (e.g., residence time, reactant distribution, etc.). In some cases, the enhanced fluid flow may lead to increased fuel utilization and system efficiency.
US08691461B2	Fuel cell system When starting operation of a fuel cell below the freezing point, a fuel cell system adjusts the open degree of a hydrogen pressure adjusting valve, introduces hydrogen to a hydrogen entrance of the fuel cell so as to make the total pressure of the hydrogen entrance a first pressure, and starts a hydrogen circulation pump. If at least one of the cell voltages acquired by a cell voltmeter is below a predetermined voltage, the system determines that clogging is caused in a hydrogen flow channel in the fuel cell. When it is determined that clogging is present, the open degree of the pressure adjusting valve is adjusted and hydrogen is introduced to the hydrogen entrance so that the total pressure of the hydrogen entrance is a second pressure which is higher than the first pressure. Then, the hydrogen circulation pump is stopped and the fuel cell is warmed up to dissolve the clogging of the hydrogen flow channel. Thus, it is possible to suppress degradation of the fuel cell upon an operation start below the freezing point.
US08691460B2	Method of stopping operation of fuel cell system A method includes an in-stop-mode power generating process of, if an instruction to stop an operation of a fuel cell is detected, stopping supply of a fuel gas, and supplying an oxide gas to the fuel cell to generate power from an oxide-gas supply apparatus, and then stopping power generation of the fuel cell, and a gas replacing process of, after the power generation of the fuel cell is stopped, activating the gas replacement apparatus at a predetermined timing to supply a replacement gas to the anode side of the fuel cell to replace the fuel gas on the anode side with the replacement gas.
US08691455B2	Fuel cell system and method of operating the same A fuel cell system and a method of operating the same, the fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell including at least one unit cell; an switch having first and second ends connected to different type electrodes of the fuel cell; and a circuit unit to detect whether a load is applied to the fuel cell, to control the operation of the switch according to the detection, cycle the switch open and closed to short circuit the fuel cell, in order to prevent the fuel cell from overheating and to consume a residual fuel in the fuel cell. The fuel cell system may further include a converter, a secondary cell, a battery charger, and a switching unit between the load and the fuel cell.
US08691446B2	Nonaqueous secondary battery and method of using the same A nonaqueous secondary battery having a positive electrode having a positive electrode mixture layer, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte, in which the positive electrode contains, as an active material, a lithium-containing transition metal oxide containing a metal element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ti, Zr, Ge, Nb, Al and Sn, the positive electrode mixture layer has a density of 3.5 g/cm3 or larger, and the nonaqueous electrolyte contains a compound having two or more nitrile groups in the molecule.
US08691442B2	Negative active material comprising carbon core particles coated with thin film covering for a rechargeable lithium battery, method of preparing the same, and rechargeable lithium battery including the same A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery, a method of preparing the same, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same, the negative active material including carbon core particles; a metallic material on the carbon core particles; and a carbon thin film covering the carbon core particles and the metallic material, wherein the carbon core particles have an interplanar spacing (d002) of about 0.34 nm to about 0.40 nm at a (002) plane measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD) using a CuKα ray, and the carbon thin film has a thickness of about 1 nm to about 500 nm.
US08691440B2	Active material for battery, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, battery pack, and vehicle According to one embodiment, there is provided an active material for a battery. The active material comprises a monoclinic β-type titanium composite oxide which contains fluorine.
US08691439B2	Alkaline cell with performance enhancing additives Alkaline electrochemical cells having extended service life and acceptable gassing and corrosion properties are disclosed. An amphoteric surfactant can be incorporated into the gelled anode mixture of an alkaline electrochemical cell, optionally with an organic phosphate ester surfactant or a sulfonic acid type organic surfactant or both. Zinc particles having a defined distribution of particle sizes can also be incorporated into a zinc anode. The electrolyte included, in the anode mixture can have a reduced hydroxide concentration.
US08691435B2	Electrochemical cell and electrochemical capacitor An electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte solution. The positive electrode and/or the negative electrode includes a penetrating portion that penetrates the electrodes in the thickness direction. Further, an electrochemical capacitor includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte solution. In a plane of projection in which a region carrying a negative electrode active material of the negative electrode is projected onto a region carrying a positive electrode active material of the positive electrode along a opposed direction, the ratio of an area carrying the positive electrode active material to an area carrying the negative electrode active material is less than 1.
US08691429B2	Polymer battery pack and method for manufacturing the same Disclosed are a polymer battery pack and a method for manufacturing the same. In the polymer battery pack, a bare cell and a protection circuit member are separated from each other by a holder frame such that the bare cell is coupled to the inner side of the holder frame and the protection circuit member is coupled to the outer side of the holder frame. The method for manufacturing the polymer battery pack includes: coupling a bare cell to the inner side of a holder frame; electrically connecting the bare cell to a protection circuit member; coupling the protection circuit module to the holder frame; coupling a cover to the holder frame; attaching an external label to the cover; attaching a water sensitive paper to the cover; and performing a function test for the battery.
US08691424B2	Rechargeable battery A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator located between the first and second electrode plates; a case housing the electrode assembly; and at least one short circuit inducing member electrically coupled to the first electrode plate or the second electrode plate of the electrode assembly and adapted to induce a short circuit in the rechargeable battery when the shape of the rechargeable battery is changed.
US08691421B2	Battery module having flexibility in designing structure of module and battery pack employed with the same Disclosed herein is a battery module having a plurality of plate-shaped battery cells which are sequentially stacked, wherein the battery module is configured in a structure in which two or more battery cell units are connected in series to each other in a state in which the battery cell units are stacked, each of the battery cell units is configured in a structure in which two or more battery cells are connected in parallel to each other in a state in which the battery cells are in tight contact with each other, the battery cells being mounted in housings, and external input and output terminals, i.e., a module cathode terminal and a module anode terminal, of the battery module are located at the same side or opposite sides of the battery module depending upon the number of the battery cell units constituting the battery module.
US08691412B2	Battery pack Disclosed herein is a battery pack including: a plurality of cylindrical battery cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of layers; a partition member for partitioning the battery cells; a lower case for supporting the partition member; a main circuit board electrically connected to the battery cells; and a display circuit board disposed on the opposite side of the main circuit board; wherein the partition member is provided with a partition plate, a positioning plate for positioning the main circuit board, the positioning plate being provided on the side, facing the lower case, of the partition plate, and an attaching plate for attaching the display circuit board, the attaching plate being provided on the opposite side of the positioning plate with respect to the partition plate.
US08691408B2	Secondary battery including protective circuit module to protect battery when swelling occurs A secondary battery includes a case having positive and negative electrodes, a safety device attached to a surface of the case and having a resistance value which changes during swelling of the case, and a protective circuit module attached to a side of the case while being electrically connected to the safety device. The resistance value of the safety device changes as the case swells, and the protective circuit module reduces or interrupts charging/discharging currents in response thereto. The safety device can be used for all secondary batteries regardless of capacity, can quickly react against abruptly rising internal temperature and rapid swelling, and can stably prevent swelling which occurs above an allowable temperature.
US08691403B2	Method for anodizing aluminum and anodized aluminum A method for anodizing aluminum, wherein an object (29) made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy is anodized in an electrolytic solution (25), and thereby an anodized aluminum film is formed on a surface of the object (29), is provided. The electrolytic solution (25) is comprised of at least one acid selected from organic acids having two or more carboxylic groups, moves at an average speed of 15 cm/sec or less along at least an outer surface of the object (29). The anodization is performed under conditions that a temperature of the outer surface of the object (29) is 80° C. or less, and current density is in a range from 10 to 170 A/dm2.
US08691402B2	Perpendicular magnetic recording medium A perpendicular magnetic recording medium according to which both the thermal stability of the magnetization is good and writing with a magnetic head is easy, and moreover the SNR is improved. In the case of a perpendicular magnetic recording medium comprising a nonmagnetic substrate (1), and at least a nonmagnetic underlayer (2), a magnetic recording layer (3), and a protective layer (4) formed in this order on the nonmagnetic substrate (1), the magnetic recording layer (3) comprises a low Ku region (31) layer having a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy constant (Ku value) of not more than 1×105 erg/cm3, and a high Ku region (32) layer having a Ku value of at least 1×106 erg/cm3. Moreover, the magnetic recording layer (3) is made to have therein nonmagnetic grain boundaries that contain a nonmagnetic oxide and magnetically isolate crystal grains, which are made of a ferromagnetic metal, from one another.
US08691398B2	4-aminofluorene compound and organic light emitting device To provide a compound excellent in light emitting properties and an organic light emitting device having the compound. The compound is a 4-aminofluorene compound represented by the following general formula (1):
US08691393B2	EMI shielding heat shrinkable tapes Disclosed herein are various exemplary embodiments of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding heat shrinkable materials and articles (e.g., tapes, etc.). In an exemplary embodiment, an EMI shielding heat shrinkable tape includes a heat shrinkable layer and an EMI shielding layer. When heated to a shrink temperature of the heat shrinkable layer, the tape may shrink lengthwise.
US08691391B2	Adhesive compositions Polydiorganosiloxane polyoxamide, linear, block copolymers and methods of making the copolymers are provided. The method of making the copolymers involves reacting a diamine with a polydiorganosiloxane precursor having oxalylamino groups. The polydioroganosiloxane polyoxamide block copolymers are of the (AB)n type.
US08691390B2	Single-use flammable vapor sensor films A single-use replaceable (one-shot) conductometric sensor film for use with a conductometric sensor, such as flammable vapor sensors, is provided that detects one or more volatile organic compound chemical analytes. Such sensor films exhibit a sustained change in resistance after exposure to the target analytes. The sensor film compositions undergo substantially inelastic deformation after a detection event and thus exhibit a sustained resistance change, ensuring only one-time use for certain applications. Methods of sensing analytes using the single-use sensor film compositions are also provided.
US08691387B2	Treatment of carbon black with a fluorosilane Provided are coating composites for imaging members, imaging members, and apparatuses for forming an image. In accordance with various embodiments, there is a coating composite for imaging components. The coating composite can include a film forming resin and a plurality of surface treated carbon black particles substantially uniformly dispersed in the film forming resin, wherein each of the plurality of surface treated carbon black particles includes one or more fluorosilanes bonded to a surface of the carbon black particle.
US08691381B2	Edge coatings for tapes Disclosed is a tape including a substrate having an adhesive layer applied thereto and an edge coating. The substrate and the adhesive together provide at least one masking edge where the edge coating is applied. The edge coating includes a lipophilic agent, a flocculating agent, or combinations thereof. The edge coating provides the tape with enhanced masking ability by preventing paints, varnishes, paint strippers, and other coating compositions from infiltrating the tape substrate or the interface between the tape and an adherend.
US08691373B2	Laminate or thermoplastic polymer composition having low air permeability and pneumatic tire using same as inner liner A laminate (C) of a thermoplastic polymer composition comprising: a thermoplastic resin composition (A) having an permeation coefficient of 10×10−12 cc·cm/cm2·sec·cmHg or less, laminated with a thermoplastic polymer composition (B) having a melt viscosity of 500-2000 Pa·s and a Young's modulus at a room temperature of 1-400 MPa, wherein the thickness of a layer of the thermoplastic resin composition (A) is 0.05-10 μm and the air permeation coefficient of the laminate (C) of 20×10−12 cc·cm/cm2·sec·cmHg or less, and a pneumatic tire using the above laminate (C) as an inner liner.
US08691367B2	Micro channel structure body and method of manufacturing micro channel structure body A micro channel structure body 10 in which a micro channel 3 having a predetermined cross-sectional shape is formed in a laminate where substrates 1a, 1b, and 1c having formed thereon electrodes 2a, 2b, and 2c made of a thin film are laminated sequentially. The above-mentioned micro channel 3 is formed in a perpendicular direction β perpendicular to a lamination direction α of the above-mentioned laminate. Inner surfaces 3a and 3b of the above-mentioned micro channel 3 have an acute angle θ with respect to the lamination direction α of the above-mentioned laminate. The above-mentioned plurality of electrodes 2a, 2b, and 2c are formed and exposed in the lamination direction α of the inner surfaces 3a and 3b of the above-mentioned micro channel 3.
US08691358B2	Component provided with a machine-readable identification Component (1) having at least one element (2) having a curved surface (3), wherein the element (2) is provided with a coded, electronically readable identification (4), which is introduced into the surface as a topographic identification (4), wherein the identification (4) is embodied in such a way that it can be read in two dimensions by means of a reader.
US08691350B2	Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method therefor An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device in which a risk of generation of a image sticking is reduced. A liquid crystal display device (100) of the present invention includes a pair of glass substrates (11) and (21), a liquid crystal layer (30) provided between the pair of glass substrates (11) and (21), an alignment layer (23) provided between the liquid crystal layer (30) and at least one of the pair of glass substrates (11) and (21), and an alignment sustaining layer (24) for defining a direction in which liquid crystal molecules constituting the liquid crystal layer (30) are inclined, the alignment sustaining layer (24) being provided between the alignment layer (23) and the liquid crystal layer (30), the alignment layer (23) and the alignment sustaining layer (24) being covalently bound to each other.
US08691348B2	Thin-film manufacturing method and apparatus A thin-film manufacturing method includes the steps of: generating a plasma from source gas; extracting ions from the plasma; and depositing a thin film on one side or both sides of a substrate to be deposited with the ions. The method is performed in an apparatus including: a plasma chamber generating the plasma; a film deposition chamber accommodating the substrate to be deposited; an ion transfer path for transferring the ions from the plasma chamber to the film deposition chamber; a branch pipe branching from the ion transfer path; and an exhaust system connected to the branch pipe. The thin film is formed while the source gas except the ions is exhausted from the branch pipe.
US08691341B2	Method of controlling the height of encapsulant on an inkjet printhead A method of controlling a height of an encapsulant material on an inkjet printhead is provided. The method includes dispensing the encapsulant material on an outer portion of the inkjet printhead. The encapsulant material is then depressed to reduce its height on the outer portion of the inkjet printhead. The encapsulant material may be depressed directly after dispensing or before it completely cures. The encapsulant material may be completely cured before reducing its height. The height of the cured encapsulant material may be reduced by removing a top portion of the encapsulant material through machining operation. Reducing the height of the encapsulant material on the inkjet printhead minimizes the distance of the nozzle plate of the inkjet printhead to the printing media, thus improving print quality.
US08691336B2	Coating treatment method, non-transitory computer storage medium and coating treatment apparatus A coating treatment method includes: a first step of discharging a coating solution from a nozzle to a central portion of a substrate while acceleratingly rotating the substrate, to apply the coating solution over the substrate; a second step of then decelerating the rotation of the substrate and continuously rotating the substrate; and a third step of then accelerating the rotation of the substrate to dry the coating solution on the substrate. In the first step, the acceleration of the rotation of the substrate is changed in the order of a first acceleration, a second acceleration higher than the first acceleration, and a third acceleration lower than the second acceleration to acceleratingly rotate the substrate at all times.
US08691335B2	Coating a substance with graphene Technologies are generally described for a system and process effective to coat a substance with graphene. A system may include a first container including graphene oxide and water and a second container including a reducing agent and the substance. A third container may be operative relationship with the first container and the second container. A processor may be in communication with the first, second and third containers. The processor may be configured to control the third container to receive the graphene oxide and water from the first container and to control the third container to receive the reducing agent and the substance from the second container. The processor may be configured to control the third container to mix the graphene oxide, water, reducing agent, and substance under sufficient reaction conditions to produce sufficient graphene to coat the substance with graphene to produce a graphene coated substance.
US08691333B2	Methods for manufacturing engine components with structural bridge devices A method is provided for manufacturing an engine component. The method includes providing a structural bridge device on a base block; forming a component portion on the structural bridge device with an additive manufacturing technique; removing the component portion from the base block and the structural bridge device; and finishing the component portion to form the engine component.
US08691325B2	Dye-sensitized solar cell based on electrospun ultra-fine titanium dioxide fibers and fabrication method thereof A dye-sensitized solar cell comprising a semiconductor electrode comprising electrospun ultra-fine titanium dioxide fibers and fabrication method thereof are disclosed. The dye-sensitized solar cell comprises a semiconductor electrode comprising an electrospun ultra-fine fibrous titanium dioxide layer, a counter electrode and electrolyte interposed therebetween. A non-liquid electrolyte such as polymer gel electrolyte or the like having low fluidity, as well as the liquid electrolyte, can be easily infiltrated thereinto. In addition, electrons can be effectively transferred since titanium dioxide crystals are one-dimensionally arranged.
US08691324B2	Dry coating processes for substrates Disclosed herein are solvent free, dry coating processes for applying a layered material such as graphene, nanoplate graphite, etc., to a substrate. The applied layered material is devoid of any dispersant and substantially uniform in thickness. Generally, a layered material precursor composition is mixed with a milling medium so that the milling medium is coated with the layered material. The substrate is then contacted with the coated milling medium. The layered material on the milling medium transfers to the substrate to form a coating on the substrate. Such processes may be especially useful for applying conductive films onto a polymeric substrate without the need for additives such as a surfactant or a polymeric binder.
US08691318B2	Production of soluble protein solutions from soy (“S701”) A soy protein product, which may be an isolate, produces transparent heat-stable solutions at low pH values and is useful for the fortification of soft drinks and sports drinks without precipitation of protein. The soy protein product is obtained by extracting a soy protein source material with an aqueous calcium salt solution to form an aqueous soy protein solution, separating the aqueous soy protein solution from residual soy protein source, adjusting the pH of the aqueous soy protein solution to a pH of about 1.5 to about 4.4 to produce an acidified clear soy protein solution, which may be dried, following optional concentration and diafiltration, to provide the soy protein product.
US08691317B2	Process for producing a mixture and also use of the mixture containing buckwheat A process for preparing a mixture based on buckwheat is described, comprising preparing shelled buckwheat kernels and heating the buckwheat kernels to obtain preroasted buckwheat kernels; adding edible oil to the preroasted buckwheat kernels while continuing the roasting so that the edible oil is added to the preroasted buckwheat kernels in an amount sufficient that the surface of the buckwheat kernels are completely wetted by the edible oil, and continuing the roasting until the buckwheat kernels develop a golden-yellow coloration due to absorption of oil and the roasting; spraying a liquid solution containing salt, sugar or at least one flavoring to the oil and roasted buckwheat kernels so that the oiled and roasted buckwheat kernels are wetted at the surface with the solution containing the salt, sugar or flavoring; andcontinuing the roasting to evaporate the liquid to obtain the mixture of roasted buckwheat kernels containing salt, sugar or at least one flavoring.
US08691314B2	Pourable dessert liquid product A pourable dessert liquid product comprising a protein source; fat; sweetener; stabilizer; flavoring agent; and emulsifier.
US08691309B2	Reduction of sorbic acid precipitation A method for reducing sorbic acid precipitation during manufacture and storage of stable preserved syrup. A sorbic acid compound is dissolved in an oil-based ingredient of the syrup. Syrup ingredients are added to a bulk quantity of liquid, and a sorbic acid compound-containing oil-based ingredient is added to the liquid.
US08691308B2	Method and system for treating food items with an additive and solid carbon dioxide Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and systems that distribute an additive in solid carbon dioxide in an interior of food processing equipment. The additive may be injected into a flow of liquid carbon dioxide upstream of an expander at or adjacent to the interior. Injection of the additive into the interior may be alternated with directing a flow of expanded carbon dioxide into the interior. In some embodiments, the freezing point of the additive with or without a diluent composition and/or additive(s) is lower than a temperature of the liquid carbon dioxide.
US08691302B2	Peptide-containing seasoning A fermented seasoning which does not have the bitterness specific to peptides and can be easily ingested orally, in spite of containing large amount of peptides is provided. Namely, a fermented seasoning obtained by adding salt water to an Aspergillus culture or a mixture of the Aspergillus culture with a plant-derived protein material and by controlling the leucine aminopeptidase-I activity in the moromi to be 1.0 U/ml or less, and also controlling the leucine aminopeptidase-II activity in the moromi to be 0.5 U/ml or less, within 10 days after the preparation.
US08691296B2	Method for improving eye health The present invention relates to a method for promoting eye health by administering to a companion animal a composition comprising at least one polyphenol selected from the group consisting of rosemary, rosemary extract, coffeic acid, coffee extract, turmeric extract, cucurmin, blueberry extract, grapeseed extract, rosemarinic acid, tea extract, and mixtures thereof.
US08691280B2	Microsphere comprising an organic lanthanide metal complex The invention provides a microsphere comprising an organic lanthanide metal complex wherein the lanthanide metal is present in an amount of more than 20 wt %, based on total microsphere. The invention further provides a suspension comprising such a microsphere. In addition, the invention relates to a method for preparing said microsphere, and the use of the microsphere(s) or suspension for treating a malignancy and/or obtaining a scanning image.
US08691266B2	Wound dressing material A material for use as a wound dressing, the material being in the form of a roll and comprising gel forming fibers and the material having lines of longitudinal stitching.
US08691247B2	Skin rejuvenation cream The subject invention relates to a skin cream that can be used to moisturize and rejuvenate skin that has been damaged by exposure to sunlight or which has simply been affected over the years by intrinsic aging. It inhibits the formation of wrinkles and in some cases reduces the depth of existing wrinkles or eliminates them entirely. This invention is based upon the discovery that alkyl lactates, such as ethyl lactate, can be used to improve the penetration of active ingredients in skin care formulations deep into lower layers of the skin tissue. The present invention more specifically discloses a topical formulation comprising ascorbic acid, an amino acid selected from the group consisting of phenylalanine and tyrosine, a non-toxic zinc salt, an alkyl lactate, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08691245B2	Composition for forming a temporary obstruction and method of forming the same The present invention relates to a method for forming a temporary obstruction of the intestine of a mammal, using a solidifiable composition, said composition being flowable and solidifiable to form a solid plug at a desired site within the intestine, the structure of said plug being changeable in order to allow for the subsequent, at least partial removal of the obstruction.
US08691244B2	Instant thickener comprising probiotics for hot or cold foods and beverages to be administered to dysphagic patients The present invention relates to the fields of hydration and nutrition for dysphagic patients. In particular, the present invention relates to thickeners comprising probiotic microorganisms and to compositions comprising such thickeners. The probiotic micro-organisms may be non-replicating probiotic micro-organisms such as bioactive heat treated probiotic microorganisms.
US08691241B2	Reoviruses having modified sequences The invention provides for modified reovirus nucleic acid sequences and modified reovirus polypeptide sequences as well as reoviruses containing such modified nucleic acid or polypeptide sequences. The invention also provides for pharmaceutical compositions that include reoviruses having a modified sequence as well as methods of making and using such reoviruses.
US08691234B2	Vaccine formulation potentiated by the combination of DNA and an antigen Formulation of vaccine antigens, containing as main components: a—) one or several DNA expressing one or several proteins in the immunized individuals and b—) a viral antigen, in appropriate proportions. Development of new formulations, minimizing the number of components that enhance and diversify the spectrum of immune response against different pathogenic entities and generating combined vaccines against pathogens.These formulations can be applied in the pharmaceutical industry for preventive and-or therapeutic use in human.
US08691231B2	Methods of treatment of tumors expressing predominantly high affinity EGFR ligands or tumors expressing predominantly low affinity EGFR ligands with monoclonal and oligoclonal anti-EGFR antibodies Disclosed are pharmaceutical preparations for, and methods for determining, appropriate and effective treatment with therapeutic agents comprising a single species of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody or therapeutic agents comprising a plurality of species of such antibodies, as well as kits useful for making such determinations.
US08691220B2	Powdery malted rice extract composition Disclosed are an agent for promoting proliferation of lactic acid bacteria, a preservative, and others, all of which do not deteriorate the flavor of food products. Specifically disclosed is a powdery malted rice extract composition obtained by inoculating lactic acid bacteria in a liquid prepared from a water extract of malted rice so that its Brix degree is 0.01 to 10, culturing the bacteria in the liquid, followed by drying the resulting culture.
US08691218B2	Vermin extermination using lysozyme, salt or biological fragment thereof, or lysozyme-related peptide as an egg recognition pheromone The present invention provides a mimetic egg comprising lysozyme, a salt or biological fragment thereof or a lysozyme-related peptide and an active ingredient in its base material mimicking an egg of a vermin; and a vermin exterminating method using the mimetic egg.
US08691214B2	Use of Lactobacillus for treatment of virus infections The present invention relates to the use of at least one strain of probiotic bacteria selected from Lactobacillus for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prevention of a virus infection.
US08691210B2	Methods and compositions for generating an immune response by inducing CD40 and pattern recognition receptors and adaptors thereof Provided are methods for activating an antigen-presenting cell and eliciting an immune response by inducing pattern recognition receptor activity, and CD40 activity. Also provided are methods for activating an antigen-presenting cell and eliciting an immune response by inducing CD40 activity without prostaglandin E2. Also provided are methods for activating an antigen-presenting cell and eliciting an immune response by inducing an inducible chimeric molecule comprising a region of a pattern recognition receptor or an adaptor thereof.
US08691198B2	Environmentally benign plasticizers based on derivatives of acetone Compounds derived from acetone are provided. Particularly, the compounds are derivatives of hydroxyacetone, including dimers of both 1-hydroxyacetone and 1,3-dihydroxyacetone. The hydroxy moieties on the core hydroxyacetone molecule serves as an attachment point for a variety of moieties (e.g., ethers, esters, phosphorous containing, or nitrogen containing) that are selected to provide the compound with a particular property. Applications of the compounds include plasticizers, supersurfactants, and additives for health care products, such as shampoo and perfume.
US08691191B2	O/W emulsified composition The present invention provides an O/W emulsified composition which contains an organic UV absorber in an oil state such as octocrylene and a solid organic UV absorber, and is excellent in UV protection ability, formulation stability, and feeling in use. The composition according to the present invention is an O/W emulsified composition, comprising: (a) an organic UV absorber in an oil state at 20° C., comprising (a1) octocrylene; (b) an organic UV absorber in a solid state at 20° C., selected from (b1) bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine and (b2) methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol; and (c) a polyoxyethylene/polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether block polymer represented by formula (1) or (2): R1O—(PO)m-(EO)n-H (1) wherein R1 is a hydrocarbon group having 16 to 18 carbon atoms; PO is an oxypropylene group, EU is an oxyethylene group, and PO and EO are added to each other in block form; and m and n respectively represent average addition mole number of PO and EO, 70>m>4, 70>n>10, and n>m; R2O-(AO)p-(EO)q-R3 (2) wherein R2 and R3 are either identical to or different from each other, and each of them is a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; AO is an oxyalkylene group having 3 to 4 carbon atoms, EO is an oxyethylene group, and AO and EO are added to each other in block form; and p and q respectively represent average addition mole number of AO and EO, 1≦p≦70, 1≦q≦70, and 0.2<(q/(p+q))<0.8, and wherein average particle size of the oil phase comprising the component (a) is 700 nm or less.
US08691190B2	Oral care compositions with improved sweetness The present invention is directed to improved sweetener compositions and oral care compositions, especially those in the form of a toothpaste or oral/dental rinse, comprising the same. The sweetener composition comprises a combination of saccharin, sucralose and a rebaudioside, or sweeteners of similar sucrose equivalence and type, preferably in a ratio of about 1:about 1: about 2. The sweetener composition of the invention was found to significantly improve the taste profile, long lasting freshness and clean feel of oral care compositions and to deliver an in-use sweetness that was more natural and pleasant than artificial sweeteners alone.
US08691187B2	Imaging agents for detecting neurological disorders Imaging agents of formulas (I)-(V) and methods for detecting neurological disorders comprising administering to a patient in need compounds of formulas (I)-(V) capable of binding to tau proteins and β-amyloid peptides are presented herein. The invention also relates to methods of imaging Aβ and tau aggregates comprising introducing a detectable quantity of pharmaceutical formulation comprising a radiolabeled compound of formulas (I)-(V) and detecting the labeled compound associated with amyloid deposits and/or tau proteins in a patient. These methods and compositions enable preclinical diagnosis and monitoring progression of AD and other neurological disorders.
US08691183B2	Means for the detection and treatment of prostate cells The present invention relates to a composition for the detection and the treatment of prostate cells and to methods for the diagnostic and therapeutic treatment of a human being using the composition according to the invention.
US08691176B2	Methods of producing carbonate minerals and apparatuses of producing the carbonate minerals In a method of producing carbonate mineral, a first aqueous solution containing an alkaline earth metal ion extracted from a cation exchange medium by a cation exchange reaction and carbon dioxide are added to a second aqueous solution to form a carbonate mineral.
US08691167B2	Process for controlling carbonyl sulfide produced during chlorination of ores The present invention provides for a process for handling carbonyl sulfide waste and waste metal halides produced in industrial processes and, more particularly chlorination processes. The process includes the steps of hydrolyzing the carbonyl sulfide to produce a waste stream containing hydrogen sulfide and sulfidizing the resulting hydrogen sulfide containing stream with a solution of the waste metal halides. The resulting metal sulfide and metal halide-containing stream can be neutralized before disposal of the produced waste solids.
US08691165B2	Methods, reagents, devices and instrumentation for preparing impregnated tissue samples suitable for histopathological and molecular studies A process for the production of paraffin sections of biological tissue, especially for molecular pathology studies is disclosed. In the process, the tissue sample is simultaneously fixed, dehydrated and cleared in a first step, subsequently dehydrated and cleared in a second step and infiltrated with an inert specimen matrix in a third step. The specimen can then be further embedded in a casting supporting matrix according to the standard procedures followed by any local pathology or research laboratory. A kit and a processing station for automating paraffin embedding of a tissue sample suitable for histopathological and molecular analysis is also described. A bio-indicator system is described for measuring the degree of crosslinking. A tissue sample holding means or a vial which includes a tissue sample holding means provided with a data logging device capable of registering and transmitting data regarding the sample and conditions where the sample was processed is also disclosed.
US08691164B2	Cell sorting system and methods Apparatus and Methods are provided for a microfabricated fluorescence activated cell sorter based on a switch for rapid, active control of cell routing through a microfluidic channel network. This sorter enables low-stress, highly efficient sorting of populations of small numbers of cells (i.e., 1000-100,000 cells). The invention includes packaging of the microfluidic channel network in a self-contained plastic cartridge that enables microfluidic channel network to macro-scale instrument interconnect, in a sterile, disposable format. Optical and/or fluidic switching forces are used alone or in combination to effect switching.
US08691163B2	Sample solution introduction kit and sample solution injector A sample solution introduction kit and a sample solution injector capable of introducing sample solution while reducing the rate of occurrence of an air bubble and having a simplified structure are proposed.A sample solution introduction kit includes a plate-like member and a sample solution injector. The plate-like member has a plurality of spaces formed therein and serving as reaction field and a communication space that communicates with the plurality of spaces therein and that has a portion defining an opening formed in a surface of the plate-like member, and the sample solution injector includes a container containing the sample solution, a tube that communicates with the bottom of the container and that is insertable into the opening, a stopper removably fitted into an opening formed at a top end of the tube, and liquid held in the container, and the liquid is insoluble in the sample solution and is lighter than the sample solution.
US08691161B2	Self-contained test sensor A test strip to assist in determining the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample comprises a base, at least one tab and a break line. The base includes a capillary channel and a test element. The capillary channel is in fluid communication with the test element. The test element is adapted to receive the fluid sample. The at least one tab is removably attached to the base. The capillary channel extends from the base into a portion of the tab. The break line intersects the capillary channel in which an inlet to the capillary channel is exposed along the break line when the tab is separated from the base.
US08691158B2	Ion generation apparatus An ion generation apparatus includes: an air blower including a motor and two impellers attached to the output shafts projecting respectively from both sides of the motor; and two ducts through which air sent through rotation of the two impellers is individually allowed to flow in the same direction, for emitting the air outside. A part of whole of each of the ducts is provided in the laminar flow section where a flow of the air is changed into a laminar flow. Since an ion generating section is provided in each of the laminar flow sections, ions generated by the ion generating section can be efficiently involved in the air, so as to increase a concentration of the ions emitted to inside of a room together with the air.
US08691152B2	System and method for analyte measurement A method of measuring an analyte in a biological fluid comprises applying an excitation signal having a DC component and an AC component. The AC and DC responses are measured; a corrected DC response is determined using the AC response; and a concentration of the analyte is determined based upon the corrected DC response. Other methods and devices are disclosed.
US08691145B2	Ultrasound and acoustophoresis for water purification Provided herein are systems and methods for separation of particulate from water using ultrasonically generated acoustic standing waves.
US08691144B2	System and method for photocatalytic oxidation air filtration using a substrate with photocatalyst particles powder coated thereon The present invention relates to an air filtration system and a method for making a photocatalytic oxidation substrate by powder coating a photocatalyst onto a metal substrate.
US08691143B2	Lead-free solder alloy A lead-free solder alloy is provided which has improved impact resistance to dropping even after thermal aging and which is excellent with respect to solderability, occurrence of voids, and yellowing. A solder alloy according to the present invention consists essentially of, in mass percent, (1) Ag: 0.8-2.0%, (2) Cu: 0.05-0.3%, (3) at least one element selected from In: at least 0.01% and less than 0.1%, Ni; 0.01-0.04%, Co: 0.01-0.05%, and Pt: 0.01-0.1%, optionally (4) at least one element selected from Sb, Bi, Fe, Al, Zn, and P in a total amount of up to 0.1%, and a remainder of Sn and impurities.
US08691135B2	Method of forming a film of novel composition for a dosimeter A tetrazolium bromide dye, e.g., 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), to be used as a high dose solution dosimeter is disclosed. The dose response of MTT solution dosimeter increases strongly with increase of absorbed dose up to 1 kGy. In order to increase the dose range and for ease of handling the present dosimeter as routine dosimeter, MTT-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film dosimeter is used. The dose response of MTT-PVA film dosimeters increases strongly with increase of absorbed dose up to 25 kGy. Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) as a polymer for making a film provides more stability at higher temperatures and humidity levels and less calibration is required. The dose response of MTT-PVB film dosimeters is effective with absorbed dose of up to 100 kGy. The effects of irradiation temperature, relative humidity, dose rate and the stability of the response of the films after irradiation were investigated and found that these films could be used as a routine dosimeter in industrial irradiation processing measurements.
US08691133B2	Recyclable plastic composite wheel rim fabrication method A recyclable plastic composite wheel rim fabrication method includes the steps of: (a) preparing a triaxle or biaxle composite fabric, (b) coating the composite fabric with a layer of plastic material to form a composite substrate, (c) processing the composite substrate into a composite plate member by means of roller pressing, dipping, bake-drying and cutting, (d) stamping the composite plate member into a blank wheel rim by means of a hot press, (e) cooling the blank wheel rim and trimming it to remove to remove blurs and defective selvedge, and (f) polishing the surface of the blank wheel rim to obtain a finished wheel rim.
US08691126B2	Method of fabricating an injection molded component A method of fabricating a foamed, injection-molded component is provided. The method includes the step of introducing a liquid, a nucleating agent and a polymer into an injection barrel of an injection molding machine. The liquid, the nucleating agent and the polymer are injected into a mold corresponding in shape to the component and the component is released from the mold.
US08691122B2	Multi-colored shaped body The present invention relates to a multi-colored shaped body having layers arranged on top of one another for producing dental restorations, a process for its production and its use for the manufacture of dental restorations.
US08691114B2	Semiconductor nanocrystals and compositions and devices including same A composition comprising a semiconductor nanocrystal including a core comprising a first semiconductor material comprising at least three chemical elements and a shell disposed over at least a portion of the core, the shell comprising a second semiconductor material, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal is capable of emitting light upon excitation with a photoluminescence quantum efficiency greater than about 65%. Also disclosed is a composition comprising a semiconductor nanocrystal including a core comprising a first semiconductor material comprising at least three chemical elements and a shell disposed over at least a portion of the core, the shell comprising a second semiconductor material comprising at least three chemical elements, wherein the semiconductor nanocrystal is capable of emitting light with a photoluminescence quantum efficiency greater than about 60% upon excitation.
US08691111B2	Tetraoxybiphenyl ester chiral dopants for cholesteric liquid crystal displays A liquid crystal composition comprising a chiral dopant compound represented by the following formula: wherein: R1, R2 are independently aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl, alkaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen, halogen, cyano, alkoxy, NHCOR7, NHSO2R7, COOR7, OCOR7, aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl, alkaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted, or combine with either R1 or R2 to form a carbocylic or heterocyclic ring; R5 and R6 are independently hydrogen, CH2, CH, alkyl or aryl either substituted or unsubstituted, COOR7, or combine with L to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R7 is aryl, alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl or heterocyclic all either substituted or unsubstituted; L is the non-metallic elements required to form a carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring, or a single bond or a double bond; m is 1-3; n is 0-12.
US08691108B2	Refrigeration apparatus A refrigeration apparatus (20) includes a refrigerant circuit (10) in which refrigerant is circulated by a compressor (30) to perform a refrigeration cycle. The compressor (30) includes a fluid machine (82) for compressing refrigerant; and an electric motor (85) for driving the fluid machine (82). Refrigerant oil having volume resistivity of equal to or greater than 1010 Ω·m at 20° C. is used for the compressor (30).
US08691105B2	Method of detecting contamination of titanium alloys of two-phase type having an alpha and a beta phase A method of examining a titanium alloy with an alpha phase and a beta phase is disclosed. The method includes: cutting a sample of a part made of the alloy; preparing a region of the cut surface of the sample situated in the vicinity of the edge of the sample, the edge being in common with the outside surface of the part; observing the alpha phase of the region at a magnification of greater than ×5000; deciding on whether granularity is present or absent in the alpha phase of a first zone contiguous with the edge of the sample; and concluding that the alloy has been contaminated with a gas if granularity is found to be absent in the alpha phase of the contiguous zone whereas granularity is present in the alpha phase outside the contiguous zone.
US08691102B1	Method of manufacturing plasmon generator A method of manufacturing a plasmon generator includes the steps of: forming an etching mask on a dielectric layer; forming an accommodation part by etching the dielectric layer using the etching mask; and forming the plasmon generator to be accommodated in the accommodation part. The step of forming the etching mask includes the steps of: forming a patterned layer on an etching mask material layer, the patterned layer having a first opening that has a sidewall; forming a structure by forming an adhesion film on the sidewall, the structure having a second opening smaller than the first opening; and etching a portion of the etching mask material layer exposed from the second opening.
US08691093B2	Anaerobic waste treatment apparatus An anaerobic waste treatment apparatus comprises a container wherein randomly oriented bio-film media are disposed. An example waste treatment apparatus includes a container and optionally has at least two zones of bio-film media that are disposed within the container. In one example, the bio-film media includes torus-shaped materials, or other materials with voids therein, and the container is a dug out portion of earth. Moreover, the anaerobic waste treatment apparatus may additionally comprise a waste pump that is coupled to a waste pipe and configured to introduce waste into the container at one or more locations. When two zones are included, one zone may be randomly oriented, while a proximate zone may be substantially horizontal and/or an organized zone. The random zone may also have a transition layer thereon that supports the organized zone or that provides an interface between the organized and random zones.
US08691092B2	Treating water using floating wetland made of plastic waste An apparatus for creating floating wetlands and improving water quality is provided. The apparatus includes a lower retainer; an upper retainer; a floatable waste material disposed between the lower retainer and the upper retainer; and an organic material planted between the lower retainer and the upper retainer; wherein the organic material is configured to denitrify the water source. A method of making a floating wetland device is also provided.
US08691088B2	Narrow I.D. monolithic capillary columns for high efficiency separation and high sensitivity analysis of biomolecules A method of preparing an ultra-nanoscale-LC monolithic separation medium for use in capillary columns, or channels in microfabricated devices (microchips), and capillaries prepared by the method are disclosed. The application of moderate positive pressure to both ends of the capillary during the monolith polymerization process permits the preparation of monolithic capillary columns having very low i.d., e.g., 25 μm and smaller, with enhanced mass transfer properties and low back pressures, and excellent column-to-column reproducibility of retention times.
US08691087B1	Filtration apparatus A filtration apparatus that removes chips from a chip-containing machining fluid is applied which effectively prevents clogging of a filtration filter that makes up the apparatus. A filtration apparatus 1 is provided with a magnet 9 attached to an outer wall surface of a drum housing chamber 5, the magnet 9 functions as means for fixing chips in the machining fluid that flows into the drum housing chamber 5 from an inlet 16 on a bottom surface 5B or a slope 5A of the drum housing chamber 5 by a magnetic force, and the periphery of the inlet 16 is configured as a magnet non-existent section 17 where the magnet 9 does not exist so as to suppress a phenomenon that chips in the machining fluid are fixed near a top edge of the slope 5A of the drum housing chamber 5 by the magnetic force of the magnet 9.
US08691086B2	Control scheme for a reverse osmosis system using a hydraulic energy management integration system A reverse osmosis system and method of operating the same includes a first pump receiving feed fluid at a first pressure and increasingly pressurizing the feed fluid to a second pressure higher than the first pressure. A membrane housing having an inlet, a membrane, a permeate outlet and a brine outlet. The inlet receiving feed fluid. A hydraulic energy management integration system (HEMI) having a turbine portion, a pump portion and a motor. The brine outlet fluid is in fluid communication with the turbine portion. The reverse osmosis system also includes a second pump and a controller controlling the motor to retard rotation of the HEMI while the first pump increasingly pressurizes the feed fluid to the second pressure. The controller also controls the motor to increase a HEMI speed so that feed fluid pressure increases above the second pressure after the second pressure is reached, and, when a feed fluid reaches the second pressure at the fluid inlet, controls the second pump to increase the feed fluid pressure to a third pressure. The controller controls the motor to reduce the HEMI speed after the third pressure and controls the motor to change the HEMI speed based on a membrane pressure.
US08691085B2	Oil filtering device The present invention relates to a filtering device, which comprises a base plate (12) having a threaded center hole (122); a filter housing (11) having a cap-shaped body coupleable to the base plate; an anti-drainback valve (15) having a valve hole (151) defined in the center portion thereof arranged on the base plate (12), where the valve hole (151) correspondingly aligns with the threaded center hole (122) of the base plate (12); a filter assembly (14) having a filter hole (1411) abutting on the anti-drainback valve (15), where the filter hole (1411) aligns with the valve hole (151) of the anti-drainback valve (15); and a bypass valve (13) having a central plate portion (132) and a pair of extending wing portions (131) pressingly arranged between the inner surface of the filter housing and the filter assembly. The separately removable housing (11) provides easy assembly and enables simple filter media replacement.
US08691072B2	Method for measuring hematocrit value of blood sample, method for measuring concentration of analyte in blood sample, sensor chip and sensor unit Voltage is applied across a counter electrode and a working electrode, with which a blood sample is in contact, in such a state that an oxidant in a redox substance is not substantially in contact with a working electrode but is in contact with a counter electrode and a reductant is not substantially in contact with the counter electrode but is in contact with the working electrode, whereby the reductant and the oxidant are respectively oxidized and reduced to measure current produced upon the oxidation and reduction. According to the above constitution, while lowering the voltage applied across the working electrode and the counter electrode, the Hct value of the blood sample can be measured stably with a satisfactory detection sensitivity. This measurement can be carried out with a sensor chip comprising a working electrode (11), a counter electrode (12), and a blood sample holding part (14) having branch parts (18a, 18b). A first reagent (13) consisting essentially of an oxidant in a redox substance is disposed in contact with the surface of a counter electrode which faces the branch part (18b), and a second reagent (19) consisting essentially of a reductant is disposed in contact with the surface of a working electrode that faces the branch part (18a).
US08691069B2	Method and system for the electrochemical co-production of halogen and carbon monoxide for carbonylated products The present disclosure is a system and method for producing a first product from a first region of an electrochemical cell having a cathode and a second product from a second region of the electrochemical cell having an anode. The method may include a step of contacting the first region with a catholyte including carbon dioxide and contacting the second region with an anolyte including a recycled reactant. The method may further include applying an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode sufficient to produce carbon monoxide recoverable from the first region and a halogen recoverable from the second region.
US08691068B1	Solar metal sulfate-ammonia based thermochemical water splitting cycle for hydrogen production Two classes of hybrid/thermochemical water splitting processes for the production of hydrogen and oxygen have been proposed based on (1) metal sulfate-ammonia cycles (2) metal pyrosulfate-ammonia cycles. Methods and systems for a metal sulfate MSO4—NH3 cycle for producing H2 and O2 from a closed system including feeding an aqueous (NH3)4SO3 solution into a photoctalytic reactor to oxidize the aqueous (NH3)4SO3 into aqueous (NH3)2SO4 and reduce water to hydrogen, mixing the resulting aqueous (NH3)2SO4 with metal oxide (e.g. ZnO) to form a slurry, heating the slurry of aqueous (NH4)2SO4 and ZnO(s) in the low temperature reactor to produce a gaseous mixture of NH3 and H2O and solid ZnSO4(s), heating solid ZnSO4 at a high temperature reactor to produce a gaseous mixture of SO2 and O2 and solid product ZnO, mixing the gaseous mixture of SO2 and O2 with an NH3 and H2O stream in an absorber to form aqueous (NH4)2SO3 solution and separate O2 for aqueous solution, recycling the resultant solution back to the photoreactor and sending ZnO to mix with aqueous (NH4)2SO4 solution to close the water splitting cycle wherein gaseous H2 and O2 are the only products output from the closed ZnSO4—NH3 cycle.
US08691066B2	Gas sensor A current collector wire (1) is over-moulded with a seal (2) made from a thermoplastic elastomer (Santoprene 64) having a (64) Shore A hardness rating. In a three electrode carbon monoxide sensor three current collector wire (1a, 1b, 1c) and seal (2a, 2b, 2c) combinations are inserted into the body (3) through receiving apertures (12a, 12b, 12c) in a side wall of the body, so that the current collectors protrude through connection apertures (12a, 12b and 12c). The outside diameters of the seals and the bores of the apertures are dimensioned to provide an interference fit of the one in the other. The seals are pressed home into receiving apertures in the body (3) to provide compression of the seals against both current collectors and the aperture bores resultant from the interference. Gold-plated phosphor bronze clips (8) are attached which locate on and are retained by barbs on the housing, thereby trapping the current collector wires and providing electrical contact to external circuitry.
US08691065B2	Efficient interface between electrochemical sensor and computer A system includes one or more electrochemical sensors. Each sensor includes at least two electrodes. The system also includes an interface configured to provide communication between the one or more electrochemical cells and a computer. The interface includes a circuit board with plurality of sensor circuits. Each sensor circuit is configured to operate a different electrochemical sensor and includes a plurality of electrode lines that are each configured to be in communication with a different electrode on an electrochemical sensor.
US08691059B2	Device for galvanic processing of drinking water A galvanic processing device includes a flow container having an inlet, an outlet and a longitudinal axis. Anodes are made from a first metal. Cathodes are made from a second, different metal. The electrodes may be disk-shaped. The cathodes and anodes are alternately placed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Dielectric spacer rings separate the anodes and the cathodes. The electrodes may have circumferential segments aligned at an angle α to impart a swirl to a flow of liquid through the container. A portion of the anodes and cathodes may have the circumferential segments aligned at an angle −α a to reverse the direction of the swirl of the flow through the flow container. Portions of the circumferential segments may be aligned at an angle α and other portions are aligned at an angle β so that the swirl of the flow through the flow container has components with different directions.
US08691050B2	Methods and devices for continuous transfer of particulate and/or fibrous material between two zones with different temperatures and pressures Continuous transfer of particulate material into pressurized steam reactors is provided by “flow feeder” methods and devices. Material such as lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks are compacted into a “low density” plug, <700 kg/m3, which provides a dynamic seal against pressurized steam through exploitation of a steam condensation zone. The rate at which the steam condensation zone moves into the “low density” plug is offset by the rate at which compacted material is fed into the pressurized reactor. Preferred devices compact material within a flow feeder chamber by use of a loading device that works against counter-pressure provided by an unloading device. Compacted material is actively disintegrated and fed into the reactor by the unloading device. In preferred embodiments, compacted material is fed in a steady-state operation in which the interface between the steam condensation zone and the low pressure inlet zone remains stationary within the flow feeder chamber.
US08691047B2	Large area plasma processing chamber with at-electrode RF matching A plasma processing system having at-electrode RF matching and a method for processing substrates utilizing the same is provided. In one embodiment, the plasma processing system includes a chamber body, the substrate support, an electrode, a lid assembly and an RF tuning element. A substrate support is disposed in a processing volume defined in the chamber body. The electrode is positioned above the substrate support and below a cover of the lid assembly. The RF tuning element is disposed between the cover and the electrode and is coupled to the electrode.
US08691042B2	Eco anti-mold fresh-keeping chip An eco anti-mold fresh-keeping chip, a graph layer is formed on a base material after printed and a lustering film polyester layer is pasted on the graph layer by a manufacturing machine to construct a chip body, the chip body is put inside the fumigation trough with natural anti-mold fresh keeping anti-oxidation material, the chip body absorbs the natural anti-mold fresh-keeping anti-oxidation material to form an eco anti-mold fresh-keeping chip after the fumigation and permeation procedure in chamber, the main component of the natural anti-mold fresh-keeping anti-oxidation material is consisted of Allyl isothiocyanate and eucalyptol (juniper pythoncidere).
US08691038B2	Method of forming a molded article from thermoformable thermoplastic sheets The present invention relates to a method of forming a molded article (e.g., 141) from first and second heated and thermoformable thermoplastic sheets (75, 78), which are each respectively formed in situ from first and second thermoplastic compositions (e.g., by means of extrusion). The heated first and second thermoformable sheets are each drawn by reduced pressure into contour matching contact with the interior mold surfaces (14, 32) of separate first and second mold portions (11, 29), so as to form separate first and second profiled thermoplastic sheets (129, 144) within the separate mold portions. The first and second mold portions (11, 29) are positioned towards each other (e.g., together) so as to bring into contact and fuse together contact portions (159, 163) of the first and second profiled thermoplastic sheets (129, 144). Fusion between the contacted contact portions (159, 163) is achieved by means of (e.g., exclusively by means of) residual heat of sheet formation residing in each of the first and second profiled thermoplastic sheets (129, 144). The present invention also relates to a mold apparatus (e.g., 1) that includes a mold assembly (3, 5) that further includes a first mold portion (11) and a second mold portion (29) that reside between and are rotatably attached to laterally spaced first and second longitudinal supports (171, 174). At least one mold portion is longitudinally repositionable, between the first and second longitudinal supports, relative to the other mold portion.
US08691035B2	Method of making medical tubing having variable characteristics using thermal winding An efficient and cost-effective method of manufacturing a kink-resistant tube, wherein a coated wire is wound around a mandrel while simultaneously being heated to melt the coating, is provided.
US08691031B2	Aluminum alloy sheet and method for manufacturing the same An aluminum alloy sheet is manufactured by preparing a slab having a thickness of 5 to 15 mm with a continuous casting machine by a continuous casting process using molten alloy containing 0.40% to 0.65% of Mg, 0.50% to 0.75% of Si, 0.05% to 0.20% of Cr, and 0.10% to 0.40% of Fe, a remainder being Al; winding the slab into a coil; cold-rolling the slab into a sheet; subjecting the sheet to solution heat treatment in such a manner that the sheet is heated to a temperature of 530° C. to 560° C. at a heating rate of 10° C./sec or more and then maintained at the temperature for five seconds or more; quenching the sheet with water; coiling up the sheet; maintaining the sheet at a temperature of 60° C. to 110° C. for 3 to 12 hours; and then cooling the sheet to room temperature.
US08691028B2	Article having a hexavalent-chromium-free, corrosion-inhibiting organic conversion coating thereon, and its preparation A method for protecting a surface of an article includes preparing or otherwise providing a reactive solution of a form of polyaniline and an acid, thereafter applying the reactive solution to the surface of the article to form an adherent conversion coating on the surface, thereafter oxidizing the adherent conversion coating to form an oxidized coating, and thereafter contacting a chromate-free, corrosion inhibiting organic compound such as a salt of a dithiocarbamate or a salt of a dimercaptothiadiazole to the oxidized coating to form a fixed conversion coating on the surface of the article. The resulting article has the fixed conversion coating adhered to the surface of the article. The fixed conversion coating has a mixture of a reduced polyaniline salt, and a fixed disulfur-linked dithiocarbamate polymer or dimer.
US08691024B2	Complete sanitary system for the toilet; floor base collection and drain structure, mechanical apparatuses and plumbing method A complete sanitary system for any toilet site area which allows for the utilization of pressurized domestic running water transferred through a hose connected to a water valve diverting structure further connected to the main toilet domestic water feed line to that particular toilet's water closet. A floor structure with the aforementioned toilet mounted to its top surface side provides the structure to collect, retain and drain the spent waste water from the hose after the water has been used to cleanse the toilet site area. An alternative drainage location in the retention basin of the floor structure with coinciding plumbing piping method allows for a possible solid waste contamination scenario by an overflow toilet or otherwise to be effectively transferred directly into the main sewer pipe. The use of pressurized domestic running water in an effective manner to clean a toilet site without flooding the general bathroom floor area with water and therein providing a structure to collect and drain the spent waste water after cleansing usage provides for a totally novel and prudent sanitary cleansing approach unto the sanitation requirement of the bathroom toilet area.
US08691023B2	Methods and apparatus for cleaning deposition chamber parts using selective spray etch In one aspect, a method of cleaning an electronic device manufacturing process chamber part is provided, including a) spraying the part with an acid; b) spraying the part with DI water; and c) treating the part with potassium hydroxide. Other aspects are provided.
US08691019B2	Process for cleaning a compound semiconductor wafer A process for cleaning a compound semiconductor wafer; the compound semiconductor wafer comprises, taking gallium arsenide (GaAs) as a representative, a group III-V compound semiconductor wafer. The process comprises the following steps: 1) treating the wafer with a mixture of dilute ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and water at a temperature not higher than 20° C.; 2) washing the wafer with deionized water; 3) treating the wafer with an oxidant; 4) washing the wafer with deionized water; 5) treating the wafer with a dilute acid solution or a dilute alkali solution; 6) washing the wafer with deionized water; and 7) drying the resulting wafer. The process can improve the cleanliness, micro-roughness and uniformity of the wafer surface.
US08691001B2	Filter bag cleaning system A baghouse cleaning system comprises an elongated air accumulator configured to retain pressurized air and extend over a row of filter bags. An elongated air tube extends along the air accumulator and venturis extend from the air tube. The venturis blow pressurized air streams down into the filter bags to remove particles attached to an outside filter bag surface. A valve fluidly couples the air accumulator to the air tube and an actuator is configured to move the cleaning arm linearly over different rows of the filter bags. A sensor may determine when the filter bags need to be cleaned based on a measured air pressure. A controller can actuate the cleaning arm to clean the filter bags based on preprogrammed cleaning patterns, the amount of measured air pressure, and/or other detected environmental conditions.
US08690996B2	Electric precipitator and electrode plate thereof An electric precipitator to collect contaminants, such as dust, using electrical attraction. The electric precipitator includes high-voltage electrode plates and low-voltage electrode plates alternately stacked to form an electrification region and a collection region in an air flow direction, wherein each of the high-voltage electrode plates includes a discharge electrode to generate discharge between the discharge electrode and an opposite electrode so that contaminants are electrified in the electrification region and a collection electrode disposed over the electrification region and the collection region to collect the electrified contaminants in the collection region.
US08690987B2	Method and apparatus for producing carbon iron composite Carbon iron composite is produced by feeding a formed product of a carbon-containing substance and an iron-containing substance into a carbonization furnace, carbonizing the formed product in a carbonization zone, blowing a coolant gas into the furnace through a coolant-gas-blowing tuyere disposed in a cooling zone to cool carbon iron composite, exhausting a furnace gas through an outlet in a top portion, and discharging the carbon iron composite through a lower portion of the cooling zone.
US08690972B2	Hydrogen production system and reforming apparatus A hydrogen production system (X1) according to the present invention includes a reforming apparatus (Y1) having a vaporizer (1) and a reforming reactor (2), and a PSA apparatus (5). In the vaporizer (1) a mixed material (hydrocarbon-based material, water, and oxygen) is heated and vaporized. In the reforming reactor (2), steam reforming reaction and partial oxidation reaction of the hydrocarbon-based material take place at a time, so that reformed gas (containing hydrogen) is led out from the vaporized mixed material. In the PSA apparatus (5), the reformed gas is introduced into an adsorption tower loaded with an adsorbing agent, so that an unnecessary component in the gas is adsorbed by the adsorbing agent and hence hydrogen-rich gas is led out of the tower, while the unnecessary component is desorbed from the adsorbing agent, so that hydrogen-containing desorbed gas that contains the unnecessary component and hydrogen remaining in the tower is discharged out of the tower. The desorbed gas is burnt in the vaporizer (1), and combustion gas generated by burning the desorbed gas is utilized as a heat source to heat the mixed material.
US08690960B2	Reinforced tissue patch A method of improving the mechanical properties of a tissue patch is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a tissue patch and placing at least one barbed suture along at least a portion of the tissue patch. The method may further include the step of placing one or more additional barbed sutures in a laterally spaced relation to the barbed suture. The barbed suture may be biodegradable or non-biodegradable.
US08690952B2	Shoulder prosthesis A shoulder prosthesis comprising a socket and a condyle that cooperates with the socket. The condyle also cooperates with a base plate facing the scapula similar to a clamping connection. The condyle is plugged onto the base plate by means of a receptacle that is embodied on the condyle. The base plate can be anchored to the glenoid fossa of the scapula with the aid of two peg-type protrusions.
US08690950B2	Vertebral body replacement device and method for use to maintain a space between two vertebral bodies within a spine A vertebral body replacement device includes a body member and a central rod member having two threaded portions and configured to be operatively associated with the body member. The device also includes a first end member and a second end member with the end members configured to threadingly engage the threaded portions of the central rod member. The body member and the two end members are further constructed to inhibit rotational movement of the two end members when the device is positioned within a space within a spine as the two end members will engage the adjacent respective vertebral bodies following rotational actuation of the central rod member causing the end members to move in an axial direction relative to the body member, thereby allowing the two end members to apply a force to the two vertebral bodies. A surgical instrument and method for using the device are also disclosed.
US08690949B2	Intervertebral implant for transforaminal posterior lumbar interbody fusion procedure An intervertebral implant for fusing vertebrae is disclosed. The implant may have a body with curved, posterior and anterior faces separated by two narrow implant ends, superior and inferior faces having a plurality of undulating surfaces for contacting vertebral endplates, and at least one depression in the anterior or posterior face for engagement by an insertion tool. The implant may also have one or more vertical through-channels extending through the implant from the superior face to the inferior face, a chamfer on the superior and inferior surfaces at one of the narrow implant ends, and/or a beveled edge along a perimeter of the superior and inferior faces. The implant configuration facilitates transforaminal insertion of the implant into a symmetric position about the midline of the spine so that a single implant provides balanced support to the spinal column. The implant may be formed of a plurality of interconnecting bodies assembled to form a single unit. An implantation kit and method are also disclosed.
US08690935B2	Stent delivery system with threaded engagement and method An expandable stent and delivery system are provided for treating body vessel defects, such as partially occluded blood vessels and aneurysms. The delivery system includes a core member having a threaded core member portion configured to interlock with a threaded strut member portion of the expandable stent. The expandable stent is mounted thusly onto the core member for movement within a delivery catheter and deployment to a body vessel defect. The deployment catheter is used to compress the interlocked threaded strut member portion into engagement with the threaded core member portion.
US08690925B2	Locking device for locking a rod-shaped element in a receiving part of a bone anchor and bone anchor with such a locking device A locking device includes a first locking member including a first end, a second end, a central axis, an outer surface with an external thread, a coaxial bore, and an internal thread provided along at least a portion of the bore, and a second locking member including a first end, a second end, and an outer surface with an external thread. When the second locking member is positioned in the first locking member, the second locking member is movable along the central axis by rotating the second locking member. Movement of the second locking member is limited towards the first end of the first locking member by a first stop and towards the second end of the first locking member by a second stop, where at least one of the first stop or second stop is arranged in the bore of the first locking member.
US08690918B1	Spinous process fusion reduction plate for lumbar spine A spinal device in which a plate is placed on both sides of the lamina spinous process. The plates include horizontal and diagonal slots through which anchoring screws may be placed and secured. The screws may pass through the base of the spinous process and lamina structure. The plates may have cut-out portions on the ventral side to accommodate the lamina when reduction is performed. The diagonal slots preferably have an apex proximate to the dorsal side and open at the ventral side. The two plates can be mirror images of each other, and, when secured together by the screws, forms a stable construct that can sandwich the spinous process.
US08690913B2	Electromechanical drive and remote surgical instrument attachment having computer assisted control capabilities A medical tool comprising an electromechanical driver and a surgical instrument attachment for use in invasive surgery, including a handle coupled to a flexible sheath which is in turn coupled to a surgical attachment. The handle of the driver includes the electromechanical driver and at least one processor element which controls the actions of the electromechanical driver, and therefore the application elements of the surgical attachment, based on information relayed between the processor element and remotely activatable sensor assemblies in the surgical instrument attachment.
US08690910B2	Closure device and methods for making and using them A method for closing an opening in a wall of a body lumen using a clip can include advancing a distal end of an elongate member within the body lumen, the elongate member having a distal portion that assists in presenting the wall for receiving a clip having a plurality of tissue engaging portions having tips that point generally toward a central axis of the clip. The clip can be advanced relative to the elongate member and the wall of the body lumen until the plurality of tissue engaging portions penetrate the wall of the body lumen. Once the clip penetrates the wall, the elongate member can be withdrawn from the body lumen, leaving the clip to substantially close the opening in the wall of the body lumen.
US08690906B2	Removeable embolus blood clot filter and filter delivery unit A blood clot filter is collapsible toward a longitudinal axis into a collapsed configuration for insertion into a blood vessel, and is radially expandable outwardly from the longitudinal axis to an expanded configuration for contact with the inner wall of the blood vessel at two longitudinal spaced locations. A first plurality of spaced, elongate arms, in the expanded configuration, curve outwardly away from the longitudinal axis toward the leading end of the filter to form a first filter basket and to center a hub at the trailing end of the filter within the vessel. A second plurality of spaced elongate legs angle outwardly away from the longitudinal axis toward the leading edge of the filter in the expanded configuration to form a second filter basket opening toward the leading end. The ends of these legs include hooks to bend and straighten in response to withdrawal force.
US08690899B2	Ligation apparatus A ligation apparatus that ligatures living tissue using a clip and provides an optimal ligation apparatus for ligaturing living tissue in a body cavity. The ligation apparatus includes a clip with a clip claw member that is advanced and retreated relative to a pressing member to open and close, a sheath configured to accommodate the clip such that the clip claw member is not exposed to the outside, an advance and retreat restricting mechanism which restricts advance and retreat of the pressing member relative to the sheath at a distal end portion of the sheath and allows advance and retreat of the clip claw member relative to the pressing member according to advance and retreat of the operation wire relative to the sheath to allow the clip ligaturing living tissue, and a releasing mechanism which releases at least a portion of the clip when the clip ligatures the living tissue.
US08690897B2	Devices, systems, and methods for prosthesis delivery and implantation, including the use of a fastener tool Devices, systems, and methods for implanting radially expandable prostheses in the body lumens rely on tacking or anchoring the prostheses with separately introduced fasteners. The prostheses may be self-expanding or balloon expandable, and may include a single lumen or more than one lumen. After initial placement, a fastener applier system is introduced within the expanded prostheses to deploy a plurality of fasteners to at least one prosthesis end. The fasteners are usually helical fasteners which are releasably restrained on the fastener driver, and are delivered by rotation of the fastener driver. The fasteners may be applied singly, typically in circumferentially spaced-apart patterns about the interior of at least one end of the prosthesis. A lumen extension or lumens may be coupled to the prosthesis to extend the reach of the prosthesis within the implantation site. Fasteners may also be applied to the lumen extensions.
US08690896B1	Surgical staple remover with spring loaded movement A surgical staple remover apparatus includes a handle located at a rear of the apparatus, an upward sloped jaw element comprising a pair of jaws, an arm having a hook element on a distal end, wherein the arm is positioned such that the hook element is disposed over the jaw element, a housing, a spring that couples the housing to the arm, a lever mechanically coupled to the arm, wherein moving the lever closer to the handle results in the hook element pressing against a crown of a surgical staple, deforming the surgical staple for removal and moving the surgical staple proximally, and a strip element located on top of the jaw element, such that when the hook element deforms and moves the surgical staple proximally, the surgical staple is moved under the strip element and held in place by same.
US08690893B2	Vaginal manipulator head with tissue index and head extender A vaginal manipulator includes a head with a tissue index, a door, and a head extender that are attached to the head. The head has an anterior side opposite a posterior side. The tissue index has a first arm that is slidingly engaged with a first groove formed in a first lateral edge of the head, a second arm that is slidingly engaged with a second groove formed in a second lateral edge of the head, and a rib connected between the first and second arms and disposed laterally across the anterior side of the head. The door is coupled to and movable relative to the posterior side of the head. The head extender is removably attached to a distal end of the head.
US08690890B2	Orbit distractor In one aspect, an apparatus for correcting osseous development deficiencies at orbital level in persons includes a halo-like structure for fixing to a cranium, a union plate between the halo-like structure and the distractor, and the orbital distractor itself, which is supported by the halo-like structure and fixed to the orbit.
US08690887B2	Method and system for identification of a center of a vertebral disc space and corresponding central axis of a spinal column An apparatus for locating a central axis of a spinal column and method of using the same is disclosed. The apparatus and method includes one or more members capable of spanning a center line which may then be identified by at least one additional member positioned therebetween. Furthermore, the device may contain or be capable of accommodating various additional tools for marking the location of the central axis of a spinal column.
US08690883B2	Articulating injection cannula and seal assembly An assembly for sealably injecting a fluent material into an intradiscal space accessed through an opening in the annulus of a spinal disc comprises a cannula having a passageway for injecting the fluent material therethrough into the intradiscal space, a seal having a sealing surface for sealing engagement with the outer surface of the disc annulus and defining a central opening for, and an articulating joint defined between the central opening of the seal and the cannula configured to permit relative articulation between the components. The assembly may further comprise an anchor element extending through the central opening of the seal, the anchor element including an elongated threaded body sized for threaded engagement within the opening in the disc annulus and having a head configured to engage a distal end of the cannula.
US08690882B2	Method of arthroplasty on a knee joint and apparatus for use in same A method of, and apparatus for, arthroplasty of a knee joint comprising obtaining a desired spacing of the femur from the tibia by inserting a spacer into the knee joint between the femur and the tibia. The spacer is used as a reference for securing a guide jig in position about the knee joint for guiding resection of one or both of the femur and tibia for fitting of tibial and/or femoral prostheses. A method of resecting the femur while moving the tibia through an arc of motion to remove bone to the desired depth, a method of determining the position of the guide jig, the guide jog, an alignment device and the spacer are also described.
US08690880B2	Compound offset handle A method for preparing a proximal femoral canal of a patient during total hip replacement surgery uses an instrument having a handle, a shaping member including structure configured to shape bone, wherein the structure configured to shape bone comprises at least two cutting surfaces on opposite sides of the shaping member, and a connecting member connecting the handle and the shaping member, the connecting member having a plurality of transverse cross sections. The connecting member includes a dual offset including a first compound bend between the connecting member and the handle, wherein when following a direction from the connecting member to the handle, the first compound bend includes a bend in a posterior direction and a bend in a lateral direction. The connecting member also includes a second compound bend between the connecting member and the shaping member, the second compound bend in an anterior and a medial direction.
US08690876B2	Cutting burr shank configuration A cutting burr that includes a pair of axially spaced diamond-shaped portions designed to be keyed into a spindle of a locking mechanism of a high speed surgical drilling instrument and adapted to fit into a single pawl thereof to lock said cutting burr in place so as to prevent axial movement thereof and provide concentric rotation of said cutting burr without any wobbling. The orientation of both portions may be identical with respect to a center plan and diamond shape in the portion at the proximal end of the shank of the cutting tool may be larger than the intermediately located diamond shape of the other portion. The apexes of the facets of the six-sided diamond shape may be disposed below the surface of the shank of the cutting burr.
US08690873B2	Endometrial ablation devices and systems Systems and methods for endometrial ablation. The systems include a handle and elongated introducer sleeve extending to an expandable working end having a fluid-tight interior chamber. A thin dielectric wall surrounds at least a portion of the interior chamber and has an external surface for contacting endometrial tissue. The thin dielectric wall surrounds a collapsible-expandable frame and receives an electrically non-conductive gas. First and second polarity electrodes are exposed to the interior and exterior of the chamber, respectively. A radiofrequency power source operatively connects to the electrode arrangement to apply a radiofrequency voltage across the first and second electrodes, wherein the voltage is sufficient to initiate ionization of the neutral gas into a conductive plasma within the interior chamber, and to capacitively couple the current in the plasma across the thin dielectric wall to ablate endometrial tissue engaged by the external surface of the dielectric structure.
US08690872B2	Surgical pencil enabling suction Described herein generally are surgical pencils which define a channel to enable suctioning of materials and methods of operating the surgical pencils. Surgical pencils are described comprising: a surgical tool configured to perform one of cutting and coagulation, the surgical pencil having a housing including a channel through the housing and terminating near the surgical tool which enables direct suctioning of a material at a surgery site.
US08690861B2	Devices for clearing blockages in in-situ artificial lumens A device for the in situ clearing of blockages in a tube includes a controller and a clearing member. The controller can have a housing and an actuator for generating repetitive motion. The clearing member can be releasably coupled to the controller and suitable for insertion in the tube. The tube can be at least partially disposed within a living being. The controller can be located external to the living being. The clearing member can have a first end releasably coupled to the actuator, at least one flexible section which permits axial displacement of the clearing member, and a second end suitable for repetitively engaging and disrupting the blockage. The flexible section permits the clearing member to repetitively engage and disrupt the blockage within one of a straight and a curved portion of the artificial tube.
US08690859B2	Catheter apparatus A proximal terminal end of a proximal section of a catheter, preferably tapered, defines a perimeter of an opening into a lumen of the catheter and includes an exposed sealing area. A sealing assembly, that may be removed from the catheter, includes a relatively soft part and a relatively rigid part, wherein the exposed sealing area is formed by the soft part, and the relatively rigid part may include an attachment feature for removable connection of the assembly to the catheter. The lumen of the catheter, within the proximal section, may include a seal zone portion, which preferably includes a slit segment intersecting a funnel-like segment of a bore. The catheter proximal section may further include a feature for interlocking engagement with an accessory tool.
US08690855B2	Fluid reservoir seating procedure for a fluid infusion device A method of seating a fluid reservoir in a housing of a fluid infusion device is presented here. The method is performed prior to establishing an outgoing fluid flow path from the fluid reservoir. The method begins by detecting insertion of the fluid reservoir into the housing of the fluid infusion device. In response to detecting the insertion, the method determines whether the fluid reservoir is in need of depressurization. When the fluid reservoir is in need of depressurization, the drive motor assembly of the fluid infusion device is rewound to depressurize the fluid reservoir. After depressurizing the fluid reservoir, an equalization state for the fluid reservoir is achieved. After achieving the equilibrium state, the drive motor assembly is advanced to obtain an initial seated state for the fluid reservoir.
US08690854B2	Medicament admixing system A system for mixing or reconstituting a drug contained in a first container with a diluent or fluid contained in a second container. The second container has a port docking assembly for engaging the first container. The first container is rotatable and axially slidable within the port docking assembly. The port docking assembly has an actuator to urge a stopper fluidly sealing the first container into the interior of the first container. The port docking assembly further includes a movable plug constructed to fluidly seal the second container in a first, docked position and to provide access to the interior of the second container in a second, activated position, whereby fluid communication between the first and second containers is provided when the first and second containers are in the second, activated position.
US08690848B2	Closure for ostomy pouch and method thereof An ostomy closure is disclosed for sealing an ostomy pouch after use and removal from an ostomy mounting plate. The ostomy mounting plate is secured to an individual. The ostomy closure comprises a cap body defining an interior surface and an exterior surface extending to a peripheral edge. A cap flange is coupled to the peripheral edge of the cap body and extends from the interior surface of the cap body. A cap locking member is integral to the cap flange. A cap lip defining an interior surface and an exterior surface extends from the cap flange for manipulating the cap body and the cap flange. The cap flange couples with a pouch flange of the ostomy pouch for defining a sealing closure for maintaining the stool and the stool odor within the ostomy chamber and a locking closure for preventing inadvertent removal of the cap flange from the pouch flange.
US08690847B2	Sanitary protection device A sanitary protection device intended to be placed in the user's vagina (7). Distinguishing features of the sanitary protection device are that it includes a shell-like basic element (1), that the basic element (1) has in its height direction (H) a shape which narrows both upwards and downwards from an intermediate portion, and that the basic element (1) is provided with apertures (5) along part of its external surface.
US08690844B2	Re-epithelialization wound dressings and systems Methods, apparatuses, and systems for promoting re-epithelialization as an aspect of wound healing are presented. A re-epithelialization dressing for use with reduced pressure has a moist tissue-interface layer, a manifold member, and a sealing member. The moist tissue-interface layer has a plurality of apertures. The moist tissue-interface layer is for disposing adjacent to the wound and provides a moisture balance (i.e., provides moisture when the wound is dry and receives moisture when the wound site is substantially wet). The reduced pressure, apertures, and moist tissue-interface layer help with liquid management and otherwise promote re-epithelialization. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are presented.
US08690843B2	Face mask A face mask that has tab parts at opposing positions approximately on an upper side of the face shape, and a ridge-folded part and a valley-folded part are alternately folded in a lateral direction of the face and further folded perpendicularly to these folding lines, where the tab parts are folded in a manner projecting outward, so that the face mask having such fold structures can easily be spread out.
US08690832B2	Retrofitted neural injection system and related methods Various embodiments may include methods of manufacture of a retrofitted neural injection system. Various embodiments may include acquiring an injection needle comprising a hollow cannula with an open distal end. Then, forming an at least one side port in the hollow cannula proximate to the distal end. Then, sealing the open distal end of the hollow cannula with a bio-compatible sealant so as to eliminate fluid communication between the inside and the outside of the hollow cannula via the distal end. In some embodiments, the bio-compatible sealant may be comprised of a thermosetting material. In some embodiments, the bio-compatible sealant may be comprised of a cured epoxy resin. In some embodiments, the bio-compatible sealant may be comprised of an aliphatic polymer. In some embodiments, the bio-compatible sealant may be comprised of an polyfluorocarbon.
US08690830B2	In-plane electromagnetic MEMS pump A micromechanical pumping system is formed on a substrate surface. The pumping system uses a pumping element which pumps a fluid through valves which move in a plane substantially parallel to the substrate surface. An electromagnetic actuating mechanism may also be fabricated on the surface of the substrate. Magnetic flux produced by a coil around a permeable core may be coupled to a permeable member affixed to a pumping element. The permeable member and pumping element may be configured to move in a plane parallel to the substrate. The electromagnetic actuating mechanism gives the pumping system a large throw and substantial force, such that the fluid pumped by the pumping system may be pumped through a transdermal cannula to deliver a therapeutic substance to the tissue underlying the skin of a patient.
US08690808B2	Systems, devices, and methods for mechanically reducing and fixing bone fractures A fracture reduction is mechanically achieved by supporting a body region having the bone fracture on a frame. A first reduction mechanism on the frame is operated to apply to the bone fracture a first predefined force reduction vector that returns the bone fracture to a corrective alignment in a first anatomic orientation, while also mechanically maintaining the corrective alignment in the first anatomic orientation. Independently, a second reduction mechanism on the frame is operated to apply a second predefined force reduction vector that returns the bone fracture to a corrective alignment in a second anatomic orientation different than the first anatomic orientation without altering the corrective alignment in the first anatomic orientation, while mechanically maintaining the corrective alignment in the second anatomic orientation. The fracture reduction is mechanically fixed by mechanically guiding the placement at least one bone fixing device into the reduced bone fracture.
US08690806B2	Surgical positioning system A surgical positioning system includes a flexible air-impermeable shell filled with beads that is wrapped against the patient and subjected to a vacuum to hold the patient in place. An air-impermeable top wall can be joined with an air-impermeable bottom wall to define a plurality of chambers. Each of the chambers can include a peripheral edge that extends around the periphery of the respective chamber. The plurality of chambers can include a first shoulder chamber, a second shoulder chamber, and a main chamber.
US08690796B2	Method and apparatus for penetrating tissue A tissue penetrating system has a housing member. A plurality of penetrating members are positioned in the housing member. A tissue stabilizing member is coupled to the housing. A penetrating member sensor is coupled to the plurality of penetrating members. The penetrating member sensor is configured to provide information relative to a depth of penetration of a penetrating member through a skin surface.
US08690793B2	Biopsy device having rotational cutting A biopsy device includes a probe assembly and a driver unit. The probe assembly includes a first cannula having a first aperture extending to a lumen proximal to a first distal end of the first cannula. A second cannula has a second aperture extending to a lumen proximal to the second distal end of the second cannula. The second cannula is disposed co-axially with the first cannula. A least one of the first aperture and the second aperture has a cutting edge. The driver unit is configured for releasably mounting the probe assembly. The driver unit is operatively configured to simultaneously rotate the first cannula and the second cannula at different rotational velocities so that the first aperture and the second aperture periodically come into alignment to form a virtual tissue sample aperture.
US08690785B2	Method and an apparatus for determination of blood pressure A method and an apparatus for non-interfering blood pressure measurements, relates to an apparatus for continuously monitoring blood pressure for patients at home or at work. The apparatus includes an extra-corporal sensor for blood pressure determination with a flexible housing adapted to be attached to the body of a living being proximate to an artery, and an electronic circuit for wireless coupling to a remote transceiver in accordance with the blood pressure in the artery, the remote transceiver adapted for wireless coupling to the sensor for generation of a pressure signal in accordance with the blood pressure in the artery, and a processor connected to the remote transceiver for reception of the pressure signal and adapted to estimate systolic and diastolic pressure based on the signal.
US08690772B2	Activation and control device for coupling two mutually activatable automatic intervention systems Activation and control apparatus (11) and also appropriate process for coupling two reciprocally activatable automated intervention systems (10/12) for coverage events in medical diagnosis and/or therapy processes, where the activation and control apparatus (11) comprises a proxy trigger (14), which proxy trigger (14) comprises at least first measuring apparatuses (141) which can be used to detect first measurement parameters on the basis of user-specific walking distance and/or a user-specific visual accuracy and/or a user-specific sitting period, and/or second measuring apparatuses which can be used to detect second measurement parameters on the basis of user-specific communication ability. The measurement parameters can be stored in a lookup table (15) in association. The proxy trigger (14) also comprises a filter module (146), where the filter module (146) can be used to generate appropriate activation parameters on the basis of the measurement parameters in the lookup table (15) and associated, synchronized threshold parameters if at least one of the measurement parameters exceeds the associated threshold value. In addition, the activation and control apparatus (11) also comprises means (13) for generating the activation data on the basis of the activation parameters.
US08690768B2	Patient operable data collection system A portable interface device and a system utilizing the same are disclosed. A probe interface connects the interface device to a probe that collects data related to a physiological condition of a user in response to commands input to the interface device on the user interface. The data processor stores information specifying a position on a user's body at which a probe connected to the probe interface is to be positioned. The data processor displays a graphic on a display screen indicating a location on a user's body at which a probe connected to the probe interface is to be placed. A data processor records data from the probe when the probe is positioned as indicated in the graphic. The recorded data is communicated over the computer network to a server on the network.
US08690760B2	Endoscope including a multifunction conductor In one embodiment, an endoscope includes an elongate member having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The distal end portion is configured to be inserted into a body lumen. An electrical component is disposed within the distal end portion of the elongate member and configured to produce a signal. An elongate conductive mechanical component has a proximal end portion and a distal and portion. The distal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component is electrically coupled to the electrical component and configured to conduct the signal or electrical power from/to the electrical component to/from the proximal end portion of the elongate conductive mechanical component.
US08690758B2	Fluorescent endoscope apparatus A fluorescent endoscope apparatus includes an excitation light irradiation system for irradiating a living body with excitation light, a wavelength-selective transmission member which transmits light from the living body in a wavelength-selective manner, a photodetector which photoelectrically converts the selected and transmitted light, a wavelength selection control section which controls the wavelength-selective transmission member, to make it select and transmit light in a plurality of fluorescence detection wavelength regions and light in spectrum acquisition wavelength regions in a predetermined wavelength range that includes at least one of the fluorescence detection wavelength regions, a fluorescence image synthesizer for synthesizing images in the fluorescence detection wavelength regions, a display device for displaying the synthesized image, and an intensity distribution acquisition section which acquires the intensity distribution of light in the predetermined wavelength range.
US08690753B2	Stimulation aid A stimulation aid includes a housing (8) adapted for retaining against the surface of an individual, the housing having associated therewith retention elements (9) for securing the housing relative to the individual, a power source, drive element and a driven member (11), the driven member being supported for oscillatory motion relative to the housing and, in use, the power source being operable to supply power to the drive element whereby the drive element effects oscillatory motion (x-x) of the driven member.
US08690752B2	Oocyte separation and collection system An apparatus for separating and collecting one or more oocytes from a fluid mixture includes a chamber inserted into a hollow elongate tube. An inlet channel receives an injected fluid mixture of oocytes and extraneous fluids and passes the fluid mixture to the hollow elongate tube. A separation unit positioned within the chamber includes a porous filter that selectively filters the fluid mixture to retain the oocytes in the hollow elongate tube, and a propeller for agitating the extraneous fluids for allowing unobstructed passage of the extraneous fluids into an outlet channel and for compactly collecting fibrin elements from the extraneous fluids. A flow of the extraneous fluids rotates the propeller on application of a vacuum suction force. Furthermore, the chamber includes an outlet channel for allowing passage of the extraneous fluids separated from the fluid mixture out of the chamber, and retaining the oocytes in the hollow elongate tube.
US08690750B2	System and method for measuring and minimizing the effects of vertigo, motion sickness, motion intolerance, and/or spatial disorientation An improved System and Method to provide a human user with symbology to ameliorate, prevent or shorten the duration of disorientation or motion sickness effects caused by spatial disorientation.
US08690741B2	Turn weight plate Devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods related to weight plates. Specifically, the disclosed devices, apparatuses, systems and/or methods relate to nested weight plates including a first weight plate increment and a second weight plate increment configured to receive the first weight plate increment. The nested weight plates may include a turning mechanism including a turning circle and/or a screw. The screw may be received by the first weight plate increment such that rotation of the turning circle engages and/or disengages the second weight plate increment. In this manner, a user may select to total weight desired.
US08690738B1	Leg-powered treadmill A motor-less leg-powered curved treadmill produced that allows people to walk, jog, run, and sprint without making any adjustments to the treadmill other than shifting the user's center of gravity forward and backwards. A closed loop treadmill belt is formed with a low friction running surface of transverse wooden, plastic or rubber slats attached to each other in a resilient fashion.
US08690736B2	System and method for promoting and tracking physical activity among a participating group of individuals A system and method of tracking physical activity of a person in order to help motivate that person to add more exercise to their lives. Each participant is provided a motion sensor that detects forces incurred by the participant. The motion sensor creates electronic data that corresponds to the forces detected. The data is analyzed to determine whether or not exercise has been performed. The analysis can also determine the type of exercise performed, when the exercise was performed, and the duration of the exercise performed.
US08690731B1	System and method for controlling a stop-start system for a vehicle engine A system and method for controlling a start-stop system for an engine in a vehicle includes automatically stopping the engine when the vehicle is in NEUTRAL and automatically restarting the engine when the vehicle is shifted out of NEUTRAL and at least one condition is met. The at least one condition may include the direction of movement of a transmission gear lever. Automatic restarting of the engine is suppressed when the vehicle is shifted out of NEUTRAL and at least one other condition is met. The at least one other condition may also include the direction of movement of the transmission gear lever.
US08690729B2	Method and device for controlling ISG logic A device for controlling ISG logic is mounted in a vehicle equipped with an ISG system. The device includes a brake pedal switch, a shift lever switch that shows the current state of a gear of the vehicle, an inclination sensor that is mounted in the vehicle and measures the inclination of a road where the vehicle is positioned, a controller that internally controls the vehicle to an N (Neutral) state, regardless of the gear range shown by the shift lever switch, for the vehicle on a downhill, in accordance with the measured inclination, and an engine unit that performed idle stop when the brake pedal becomes ON, with the gear of the vehicle at a D (Drive) sate, and restarts the stopped engine when the brake pedal becomes OFF, with the gear of the vehicle at the D state.
US08690727B2	Method of using a bypass valve A method of controlling a pump (43), including operating an engine (23) having an engine intake (49) coupled to a pump output (51) of a pump, and a transmission (41) coupled to the engine and to the pump, and operating a valve (58) between a pump input of the pump and the engine intake, such that the valve can be opened during a ratio change of the transmission.
US08690726B2	Vehicle drive device A vehicle drive device comprising: an engine; a hydraulic transmission device constituting a portion of a power transmission path between the engine and drive wheels; and an electric motor, the engine and the hydraulic transmission device disposed to rotate around one axial center, the electric motor disposed with a rotation axial center different from the one axial center, the electric motor coupled to an input-side rotating element of the hydraulic transmission device receiving input of a drive force from the engine, the input-side rotating element being rotatable around the one axial center, the electric motor coupled to the input-side rotating element via an electric motor coupling rotating element coupled relatively non-rotatably to the input-side rotating element, a hydraulic pump rotationally driven by the input-side rotating element of the hydraulic transmission device disposed such that a rotor of the hydraulic pump rotates around the one axial center, and a coupling portion of the electric motor coupling rotating element for the input-side rotating element inserted into a pump-cover through-hole formed on an internal side of the pump-cover through-hole of the hydraulic pump in a radial direction, along with a portion of the input-side rotating element, and coupled relatively non-rotatably to the input-side rotating element in the pump-cover through-hole, in order to couple the input-side rotating element to the rotor.
US08690723B2	Method for controlling a shiftable planetary gear set in a belt pulley plane of a drivetrain A method for controlling a belt drive of a drivetrain of a motor vehicle, with a planetary gear set which shifts a transmission ratio between a starter-generator and a combustion engine, the planetary gear set having a ring gear which can be connected fixedly with respect to a housing by a brake, a web which is connectible to a crankshaft of the combustion engine of the drivetrain, having planet gears arranged around the circumference, and a sun gear which is connected in a rotationally fixed connection to a rotor of the starter-generator and to at least one ancillary unit, as well as having a first switchable free-wheeling mechanism which blocks in the direction of torque from the rotor to the crankshaft and having a second switchable free-wheeling mechanism which blocks in the direction of torque from the crankshaft to the rotor.
US08690706B2	Golf clubs and golf club heads having adjustable weight members Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a sole portion, wherein the sole portion includes a slot or rail defined therein; and (c) a weight member at least partially located within the slot or rail. The weight member may be mounted at plural positions along the slot or rail (optionally at least partially within a weight cartridge member provided with the club head body). The weight member also may be movably engaged with the weight cartridge member, slot, rail, and/or other portion of the club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making and using such golf clubs and golf club heads also are described.
US08690692B2	Transmission shaft for transmitting rotational movements and/or forces, and method for manufacturing said shaft A transmission shaft for transmitting rotational movements including a tubular body having at least one tubular composite assembly including a plastic matrix and strengthening elements, at least one insert positioned at one end of the body and which is secured to the body in an interface area between the insert and the composite assembly, and at least one slug passing radially through the insert and the body for keeping the strengthening elements in place. The at least one insert has at least one recess receiving a part of the strengthening elements to maintain the strengthening elements in the interface area.
US08690691B2	Motor adapter with a torque arm A motor adapter includes a frame having a first end adapted for mounting to a motor and a second end adapted for mounting to a rotatably driven machine. The frame includes an adjustable reaction point.
US08690681B2	System for configuration validation Various embodiments are directed to gaming systems and related methods for validating a download assignment or a validation assignment for one or more electronic gaming machines (EGMs). In one embodiment, the gaming system can schedule downloads and/or configurations for one or more EGMs from a network terminal. Additionally, the network terminal determines whether the download or selected configuration is compatible with the existing physical or software structure of an EGM. In the event the EGM configuration is not compatible with the scheduled download or configuration, a casino operator is notified of the error at the network terminal. Optionally, the gaming system automatically schedules one or more supplemental downloads so that the user-selected download or configuration is executable on the EGMs.
US08690676B2	Game machine A game machine includes: an entertainment button that can move up and down from a normal operation position to a protruding position; a display part that displays characters associated with a game; a character determining part that determines a character to be displayed on the display part; a movement determining part that determines whether or not to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position; a drive control part to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position, when the movement determining part determines to move the entertainment button from the normal operation position to the protruding position; a push operation detecting part that detects the entertainment button being pushed down; and an enabling determining part that determines, when the push operation detecting part detects the entertainment button being pushed, whether or not to enable the detected push operation.
US08690673B2	Game apparatus, storage medium, game controlling method and game system An example of a game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU displays a title screen on a monitor when starting a virtual game. When a predetermined operation is performed here, a main part is started, and a first game selected on a top menu is started. Here, prior to a start of the first game, a stable state of a controller with a gyro unit is confirmed. The processing for confirmation is also executed in a case that the title screen is being displayed as well. After the confirmation, when a state that the controller is left continues for a predetermined time or more, a second game different from the first game is started.
US08690669B2	Wagering game award system A wagering game award system is described herein. In some embodiments, the wagering game award system detects player activity in a wagering game system. The system can also award a first value type to a player account for participation in activities in the wagering game system. The system can also receive a request to exchange the first value type for a second value type, wherein the first value type and the second value type are not currencies issued by a world government. The system can also determine that the first value type is exchangeable for the second value type. The system can also determine a conversion rate, wherein the conversion rate indicated the first value type in terms of the second value type. The system can also exchange the first value type for the second value type based on the conversion rate.
US08690666B2	Systems and methods for data valuation A computer-implemented valuation method is provided for a data field of a data object. The method includes receiving a proposed wager from a first user with a predicted future value of the data field at an evaluation condition; receiving a counter-wager from a second user against the predicted future value; monitoring the evaluation condition; and upon satisfaction of the evaluation condition, determining a current value of the data field, comparing the current value to the predicted future value, and declaring a winning party between the first user and the second user based on the comparison.
US08690665B2	Method for providing an undisplayed outcome of an electronic gaming device A method of electronic gaming has been developed that includes, receiving a wager from a player and generating an electronic command that at least a portion of an outcome for the wager is not to be displayed to the player until the outcome information is delivered to the player. Next, an outcome is generated and at least a portion of the outcome is not displayed according to the electronic command. Finally, the undisplayed outcome is delivers to the player.
US08690660B2	Gaming system and method for providing a multiple dimension cascading symbols game A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
US08690651B2	Rack system and method of determining a climate condition thereof A rack system (100) comprises a plurality of racks (105) arranged to form at least one aisle (120) between them. The aisle (120) is sealed such that essentially all of a cooling medium supplied to the aisle (120) passes through the racks (105). A bleeding opening is provided for enabling a bleeding of the cooling medium out of the aisle (120) and an entering of an ambient medium into the aisle (120). A sensor (such as a temperature sensor) is arranged to determine a medium flow direction through the bleeding opening. In one embodiment, a signal generated by the sensor is used to control at least one parameter of the cooling medium supplied to the aisle (120).
US08690649B2	Livestock head splitting apparatus and operating method of same A livestock head splitting apparatus of a rotary type rotates a plurality of head trays and respective blades sequentially through loading, head-splitting and discharge stations spaced around the shaft, and in a head splitting mode, drives each head tray and blade relatively toward one another in the head splitting station. In a unique cleaning mode, the trays and blades are instead kept apart throughout the rotation to maximize the exposure of each tray to a spray of cleaning fluid directed into the apparatus. A computerized control system cooperates with an electric motor to drive the rotation and give a degree of user-control over operational aspects of the motor, such as the running speed of the apparatus in the cleaning and head splitting modes and a jogging speed of the apparatus used to index the head trays to desirable locations.
US08690646B1	Fish skinner A fish skinning device is disclosed. In one or more implementations, the fish skinning device includes a support body, a drive shaft configured to rotate with respect to the support body; a roller connected to the drive shaft; a blade support pivotally connected to the support body; a blade connected to the blade support; and a lever fixedly connected to the blade support for pivoting the blade support about the support body between a first position where the blade is adjacent the roller and at least substantially parallel with the roller, and a second position where the blade is pivoted away from the roller with respect to the first position.
US08690644B2	Bore working tool An arm 21 has a shape for grasping a part in a circumferential direction of a tool holder 7. The arm 21 is connected to the tool holder 7 with a bolt 23 inserted into a fixing hole 22 provided in a base side portion of the arm 21. A tapped hole 25 used for exchangeably attaching a cutting tool 24 is formed in a tip side portion of the arm 21. A groove part 26 extending in parallel to an axis of the tool holder 7 is formed in a position close to the base portion of the arm 21. Owing to the groove part 26, the arm 21 works as an elastic hinge when an external force is applied, so as to increase or decrease a radial dimension of the cutting tool 24 while keeping its parallelism to the axis of the tool.
US08690629B2	Luminescence conversion LED A luminescence conversion LED having a radiation emitting chip that is connected to electrical connections and is surrounded by a housing that comprises at least a basic body and a cap, the chip being seated on the basic body, in particular in a cutout of the basic body, and the primary radiation of the chip being converted at least partially into longer wave radiation by a conversion element, wherein the cap is formed by a vitreous body, the conversion means being contained in the vitreous body, the refractive index of the vitreous body being higher than 1.6, preferably at least n=1.7.
US08690624B2	Vessel propulsion apparatus A vessel propulsion apparatus includes a first exhaust passage including an upward guiding portion that guides exhaust generated by an engine upward, a second exhaust passage disposed at a downstream side relative to the first exhaust passage, and a communication passage communicating the first exhaust passage and the second exhaust passage with each other. The communication passage includes a first upstream end opening at the first exhaust passage and a second downstream end disposed below the first upstream end and opening at the second exhaust passage. Further, the communication passage includes an expanded portion disposed at a height in between the first upstream end and the second downstream end and being more expanded than the first upstream end and the second downstream end.
US08690609B2	Method, apparatus and system for positioning and holding electrical contacts, seals and related components A header assembly and method to incorporate electrical contacts and seals into a header are described. The header and method include properly positioning a stack of electrical contact housings and seals or seal assemblies in the header and maintaining the electrical contact housings and the seals in the header with pins inserted in the header from outside the header through axially arranged holes in the header to interface corresponding grooves of the electrical contact housings.
US08690604B2	Receptacle assembly A receptacle assembly includes a front housing having a mating end and a loading end. A contact module is coupled to the loading end and includes a frame assembly having a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame supporting the contacts. The dielectric frame has first and second sides and channels between the contacts that extend at least partially through the dielectric frame between the first and second sides. The contacts extend from the dielectric frame for electrical termination. Ground conductors are received in corresponding channels and provide electrical shielding between corresponding contacts. A ground shield is coupled to the first side. The ground shield has side shields that extend along sides of the contacts to provide electrical shielding along sides of the contacts. The ground shield has shield tabs that engage corresponding ground conductors to electrically connect the ground shield to the ground conductors.
US08690590B2	Power and data component mounted on a movable carriage and a movable cover with a damper An expandable power and data center (300) is adapted to be mounted within a slot (304) of a work surface (302). The power and data center (300) includes a stationary housing (306) and a carriage (328). The carriage (328) includes socket areas where power receptacles (338) and data ports (340) can be inserted. A top surface (330) of the carriage (328) and a top surface (350) of a frontal cover (348) form a pressure area (360). With the carriage in a closed position (328), a user can exert a downward pressure on the pressure area (360), causing the carriage (328) to move to an open position. A damper (368) restricts the speed at which the carriage (328) moves between the closed position and an open position.
US08690585B2	Electrical connector for low profile application An electrical connector for electrically connecting a central processing unit (CPU) to a printed circuit board (PCB) comprises an insulating housing having a plurality of passageways extending from a top surface to a bottom surface and a plurality of terminals received in the corresponding passageways. Each terminal includes a horizontal base portion with a solder ball attached thereto, a pair of upper legs extending upwardly from one end of the base portion and a pair of lower legs extending downwardly from the other end of the base portion. The upper legs abut against the top surface of the insulating housing and the lower legs abut against the bottom surface of the insulating housing for retaining the terminals in the insulating housing.
US08690584B2	Contact probe device having a substrate fitted into slits of cylindrical electrodes To obtain a satisfactory contact state in an ultra high frequency range with a low loss, in a contact probe device with an electronic component connected to a mounting substrate. Insulating substrate 1 has cuts 3 with narrow width formed from an outer peripheral end. Cylindrical electrodes 9 are made of a conductive material and have slits 9a extending in its axial direction. A plurality of cylindrical electrodes 9 are supported by the insulating substrate 1 in such a manner as being inserted into each cuts 3 so that the insulating substrate 1 is fitted into each slit 9a.
US08690582B2	Magnetic connector for electronic device An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
US08690577B2	System and method for providing an institutional nutrition service A method, system and computer program product is described for providing meals to consumers in a school district. The method includes utilizing a computer processor to obtain meal offering submissions from food service suppliers, determining whether the meal offering comply with predefined guidelines and displaying the meal offerings that meet the guidelines on a client for selection by a user, and obtaining via user input, orders for the meal offerings.
US08690567B2	Adjustable orthodontic bracket positioning device and method thereof An adjustable orthodontic bracket-positioning device includes an adjustable bracket-positioning jig, a positioning vernier and a dental crown vernier. First, using the crown vernier to measure the crown height value of patients' tooth, then labeling the measured center height value of clinical dental crown on the positioning vernier, correctly position the adjustable bracket-positioning jig in the groove shaped base of the positioning vernier, and finally use the adjustable bracket-positioning jig to bond MBT bracket.
US08690562B2	Mould for thermoplastic containers obtained by blow moulding A blowing mold with a cam control device for making undercuts related to the application of handles on a container made of plastic material, where the undercuts ensure that the handles are mechanically fixed to the container body and where the system has an independent actuation for each undercut.
US08690561B2	Method and apparatus for vacuum process of isostatic pressing of powder material A method for a vacuum process of isostatic pressing of powder material comprises preparing an explosive charged rubber bag by charging a rubber bag with powder, forming a vacuum environment by putting the explosive charged rubber bag in a vacuum box, sealing an inlet of the explosive charged rubber bag which is in a vacuum state, and maintaining the vacuum state by putting the explosive charged rubber bag in a fluid contained in a reservoir by a predetermined depth in a state that the inlet of the explosive charged rubber bag has been sealed.
US08690559B2	Nano-imprinting resin stamper and nano-imprinting apparatus using the same The present invention provides a nano-imprinting resin stamper including a micro structure layer on a transmissive support basal material, the micro structure layer being formed of a polymer of a resin composition that contains a silsesquioxane derivative as a major constituent having a plurality of polymerizable functional groups, another polymerizable resin component having a plurality of polymerizable functional groups and different from the silsesquioxane derivative, and a photopolymerizable initiator, in which the content percentage of the photopolymerizable initiator is equal to or more than 0.3 mass % and equal to or less than 3 mass % relative to a total mass of the silsesquioxane derivative and the polymerizable resin component, and the micro structure layer permits equal to or more than 80% of light to pass therethrough at a wavelength of 365 nm.
US08690556B2	Rotary compressor and manufacturing method of the same There is disclosed a rotary compressor which delays a pressure rise on a high pressure chamber side in a cylinder of a rotary compression element to decrease a high pressure load applied to a roller and a rotary shaft, thereby improving performance. In the rotary compressor including a sealed container in which an electromotive element (a driving element) and first and second rotary compression elements driven by a rotary shaft of the electromotive element are included, each of the rotary compression elements being constituted of a cylinder, a roller fitted into an eccentric portion formed on the rotary shaft to eccentrically rotate in the cylinder, and a vane which abuts on the roller to partition the inside of the cylinder into a low pressure chamber side and a high pressure chamber side, the inner diameter of a suction passage formed in each cylinder is 59% or more and 70% or less of the thickness of the cylinder.
US08690550B2	Membrane micropump A membrane micropump includes a vibration chamber, at least one flow guide, at least one fluid inlet, at least one fluid outlet, at least one inlet rectifier, at least one outlet rectifier, a vibration membrane and an actuator. The vibration chamber includes at least one chamber inlet and at least one chamber outlet. The flow guide can be connected to the chamber inlet, the vibration chamber, the chamber outlet or in the vibration chamber, or it can have more pairs to enhance the effects. The inlet rectifier connects the chamber inlet to the fluid inlet. The outlet rectifier connects the chamber outlet to the fluid outlet. The vibration membrane is disposed on the vibration chamber. The actuator is connected to the vibration membrane to reciprocate the vibration membrane, enabling fluid to flow into the vibration chamber via the fluid inlet and flow out thereof via the fluid outlet.
US08690546B2	Auxiliary system for a drive device An auxiliary drive system for a water pump includes a pump housing that is mounted to an engine block. The pump housing includes an impeller shaft that passes therethrough. One end of the impeller shaft has an impeller mounted thereon, which is part of the water pump. A second end of the impeller shaft is supported by an internal bearing to allow for rotation of the impeller shaft. An external bearing is disposed around, but not in contact with the impeller shaft or the internal bearing. The external bearing is in communication with and is driven by an engine belt, such as a timing belt, which helps rotate the impeller shaft and the impeller in accordance with engine operation. A collapsible gear is disposed between and effectuates engagement of the external bearing and the impeller shaft such that if the amount of force required to be exerted by the belt exceeds a certain predetermined threshold, the collapsible gear fails and thereby prevents damage to the engine.
US08690537B2	Arrangement with a nacelle and a radiator An arrangement with a nacelle and a radiator of a wind turbine is provided. The nacelle is rotatable connected with the radiator. Thus, a joint component of the wind turbine is built by these elements. The connection is constructed and arranged such that the radiator is allowed to pivot between a first position and a second position. The radiator is locked in the first position and projects above the nacelle when the radiator is used to remove heat from the nacelle to the environment. When the radiator is locked in the second position the radiator is close to a side of the nacelle. Thus a minimum height of the joint component is achieved.
US08690529B2	Blower A blower drawing air into the air path and discharging air to the discharge duct, including: a frame forming an outer shell; a fan driven by a motor and having a fan outlet, inside the frame; a duct connection part having a duct connection opening, connected to the discharge duct, outside the frame; and an in-frame blow-out part connecting the duct connection part with the fan outlet, inside the frame. The cross-section shape of the air path changes continuously and smoothly at the in-frame blow-out part and the duct connection part, from the fan outlet to the duct connection opening.
US08690520B2	System for controlling variable geometry equipment of a gas turbine engine especially comprising a guiding track connection A system for controlling at least two sets of variable geometry equipment of a gas turbine engine including at least one first body and a second body, the first set of equipment being a stage of variable stator vanes of a compressor of the first body moving between a closed position during idling and an open position at high speed, and the second set of equipment being at least one bleed valve of a compressor of the second body moving between an open position during idling and a closed position at high speed. An actuator actuates the two sets of equipment.
US08690519B2	Wet gas compressor systems The present application provides for a wet gas compressor system. The wet gas compressor system may include a wet gas compressor with an inlet section. A variable cross-section nozzle may be positioned about the inlet section.
US08690517B1	Rack type pipe feeder for a pipe fusion machine For use in loading heavy sticks of plastic pipe into a pipe fusion machine, a pipe storage rack with hydraulically powered pipe stick dispensers and stands allows sticks of pipe stored on the rack to roll gravitationally onto a rocking V-shaped dispenser cam disposed between the rack and the fusion machine loading path for one-stick-at-a-time loading onto powered track and roller stands which enable Cartesian manipulation of the stick into the fusion machine. The cam is adjustable to suit pipe stick diameters ranging from 20″ to 48″. Many sticks can be stored at one time, releasing heavy lifting equipment and operators to work elsewhere. The process requires only one operator using a pendant controller and the pipe sticks are handled by heavy equipment only when being loaded onto the racks.
US08690511B2	Inline terminal, hub and distribution system An inline terminal system (300), which includes the steps of: (i) transporting (302) a first container with a cargo via an inbound railroad car to a terminal having a plurality of train rails; (ii) picking and placing (304) the first container from the railroad car to a track side location having at least one buffer in proximity to the plurality of train rails, including: (a) rotating the first container at an angle of at least ten or more degrees with respect to the train rails; and (b) positioning the at least one buffer substantially adjacent to the train rails, at the track side location, at an angle of at least ten or more degrees with respect to the train rails; and (iii) moving (306) the first container via a tractor truck to a desired location for unloading. This system provides a simple, robust and efficient method to load, and in the reverse unload, a container on a chassis or rail car, respectively.
US08690507B1	Load bearing assembly A load bearing assembly includes a first outer washer having an outwardly exposed annular surface for engaging a clamping surface of a fastener and a second outer washer having an annular surface outwardly exposed in an opposite direction from the outwardly exposed annular surface of the first outer washer, the outwardly exposed annular surface of the second outer washer for engaging a clamping surface of an object to which the fastener exerts a clamping force. An intermediate washer is positioned between the first outer washer and the second outer washer. A locking mechanism engages between the first and second outer washers to axially interconnect the washers together in a stacked configuration with the intermediate washer positioned between the first and second outer washers and in a manner so that the washers are rotatable with respect to one another.
US08690496B2	Cutting insert and cutting tool A cutting insert includes a rake face extending along a cutting edge and a rising wall surface extending so as to form a recess along the cutting edge together with the rake face. The rake face is formed to have a positive rake angle, and includes a first rake face and a second rake face arranged in order in a direction in which a distance from the cutting edge increases. The second rake face is larger than the first rake face in rake angle.
US08690495B2	Cutting tool and cutting insert for the same A cutting tool for machining large workpieces having relatively a large cutting amount and a cutting insert configured to be used with the cutting tool. The cutting tool includes a cutting insert and a wedge for clamping the cutting insert. The cutting insert has a polygonal top surface, which comprises a recessed portion having a plurality of inclined abutment surfaces which are inclined toward the center of the top surface. The outline of said recessed portion is twisted at a predetermined angle with respect to the outline of the top surface. The wedge includes a projecting portion that contacts the inclined abutment surface and pushes the cutting insert so that two side surfaces of the cutting insert can be supported by a radial inner side surface and a lateral supporting surface of an insert seat.
US08690477B2	System and method for generating energy from subsurface water currents Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for generating energy. According to one representative embodiment, a main housing includes an air chamber having an open bottom, and a paddlewheel is attached to the main housing so that the paddlewheel is free to rotate and thereby generate kinetic energy. An anchor is attached to the main housing, and an electrical generator which converts the kinetic energy of the paddlewheel into electrical energy is coupled to the paddlewheel. An upper portion of the paddlewheel is enclosed by the air chamber. When the main housing is submerged underwater and maintained in a level orientation, air within the air chamber remains trapped within the air chamber, thereby reducing resistance to rotation of the paddlewheel.
US08690472B2	Orientation of interfacing projections A method of joining a first component to a second component, the method comprising preparing the first component by forming an array of elongate projections on a bond surface of the component, each projection having a centerline, a tip, and a base. The centerline at the tip of each projection is oriented at an angle with respect to the normal to the bond surface at its base, and the angular orientation of the tip centerlines varies across the array of projections. Next, the first component and a flexible layer are brought together so as to embed the projections in the flexible layer before hardening the flexible layer to form the second component. Also, a joint so formed.
US08690470B2	Adjustable connector for tubular frames An adjustable connector for elongated members is provided having a mount attached to a first elongated member, such as a chair support, and a tubular arm assembly pivotally connected to the mount and attached to a second elongated member, such as an umbrella or flag. The arm assembly is selectively positioned in relation to the mount by adjusting pegs that extend from the arm assembly and engage receivers in the mount. A tubular cam within the arm assembly is connected to a tubular sleeve on the exterior of the arm assembly. The sleeve is slid toward the mount causing the cam to disengage the pegs from the mount receivers permitting repositioning of the arm assembly from a position adjacent to the mount, through perpendicular to a position parallel to the mount. The connector may be collapsed and remain connected to the elongated members when not in use.
US08690462B2	Flexible gear rack carriage transport in a printing apparatus A durable gear strap couples components in an imaging device to a driving force. The gear strap includes a strip having a plurality of rigid sections and a plurality of flexible sections. Gear teeth on the strip enable rotation of a gear to move the gear strap in a track. At least one engagement member extends from one of the rigid sections to couple a component to the gear strap for movement.
US08690447B2	Ball roller bearing, in particular for absorbing combined radial and axial loads A ball roller bearing, which has an outer and inner bearing ring with a groove-shaped raceways and ball rollers, which roll between the bearing rings in the raceways. The rollers are held at distances from each other in the circumferential direction by a bearing cage and which have a width that is dimensioned larger than the radial distance between the inside and the outside of the bearing rings. The raceways are divided into two segments by an axially centered annular groove such that a first ball roller rolls on two first diagonally opposed track segments and a second ball roller rolls on two second diagonally opposed track segments of the bearing rings. Both bearing rings are single-piece components, and the bearing cage is formed by two identical double prong-type cages acting independently of each other. The bearing is filled with the ball rollers by an axial tilt cam assembly method.
US08690444B2	Crankshaft bearing arrangement of a combustion engine The present disclosure refers to a crankshaft bearing arrangement for an internal combustion engine. The bearing arrangement comprises: a bearing arranged at a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a bearing seat for housing the bearing; and a sealing arrangement for sealing against the crankshaft and the bearing seat. The at least one part of the bearing seat has a reinforcement arranged in the bearing seat, and a surface of the at least one part of the bearing seat, which surface bears against the bearing, is made from a plastic material.
US08690443B2	Mechanical system for high acceleration environments A mechanical system for high acceleration loading includes a mechanical element configured for rotational movement in a high acceleration environment. The mechanical element possesses a first density. A lubricant having a second density is disposed about the mechanical element. The first and second densities are substantially identical such that the mechanical element is substantially neutrally buoyant in the lubricant.
US08690440B2	Iron-based metal bearing cap to be cast into light metal member An iron-based metal bearing cap according to the present invention to be cast as a core into a light metal member includes an arcuate portion which forms a bearing surface, left and right flange portions which are arranged and connected to opposite ends of the arcuate portion, and boss portions which are arranged to stand on the rear surfaces of the left and right flange portions and through which mounting bolts are inserted. The bosses are formed with grooves or projections.
US08690435B2	Dynamic pressure bearing and spindle motor using the same A dynamic pressure bearing has a reduced axial dimension and is constructed to ensure smooth feeding of a lubricating oil. The dynamic pressure bearing includes a communicating hole and at least one tapered seal, and is constructed such that an opening angle of one of the at least one tapered seal through which oil feeding is possible is in a range of about 30 degrees inclusive to about 180 degrees exclusive, a tapered seal wall surface depth W1 of the tapered seal is about 0.3 mm or more, and a sum of distances over which the lubricating oil travels from both sides of an end portion of the communicating hole in a cross-section beyond a wall surface of the communicating hole along a wall surface opposite the end portion of the communicating hole exceeds an inside diameter of the communicating hole.
US08690427B2	Methods for high energy X-ray imaging using remotely-aligned arcuate detector array Methods for inspecting contents of a container. High-energy penetrating radiation collimated into a fan beam illuminates an inspected container from one side, while a plurality of detector plates are disposed on the opposite side of the container. Each detector plate has a plurality of detector modules, each of which, in turn, is disposed on a remotely activated alignment and has multiple detector elements. A controller governs the orientation of each of the plurality of detector plates based at least on the detector signal generated by its detector elements such that each detector element of each detector module of each detector plate may be aligned to within a specified fraction of the transverse dimension of the fan beam as measured at the exit slot.
US08690419B2	Cartridge for storage and delivery of a two-phase compound This invention finds application in the field of the devices and methods for physical or chemical mixing of products and particularly relates to a cartridge for storage and sterile delivery of a two-phase compound. The cartridge comprises a first tubular member (2) which defines a first chamber (3) for storage of a solid phase, having a bottom wall (6) with an opening (7) for the passage of the compound, a second tubular member (9) which defines a second hermetically sealed chamber (12) for storage of a liquid phase, and a piston which sealably slides within the first tubular member (2), means (8) for occluding said opening (7) which comprise at least one rupturable membrane (15) associated to the bottom wall (6).
US08690416B2	Display device Provided are an optical member and a display device. The display device includes a light source, a plurality of wavelength converting particles, an approximately, and a display panel. The wavelength converting particles convert a wavelength of light emitted from the light source. The accommodating part accommodates the wavelength converting particles and has a curved surface. The display panel is configured to display images using light changed by the wavelength converting particles.
US08690408B2	Methods, systems, and products for illuminating displays Methods, systems, and products illuminate display devices. Light is injected into a waveguide and directed onto an array of picture elements. The light reflects from the array of picture elements through the waveguide, thus illuminating the array of picture elements.
US08690403B2	Multifunction taillight A multifunction vehicle light has a housing, at least one light emitter mounted within the housing, and a lens mounted in cooperation with the light and the housing. A filter has a first position and a second position, with the first position being in a light path and the second position being out of the light path. The lens has a first portion and a second portion, with the first portion having a first color and the second portion having a second color. In one embodiment, the filter also has the first color; for example red. The light from the lamp appears to be entirely in the first color when the filter is in its first position and the light from the lamp appears in both the first and second colors when the filter is in its second position, with the colors corresponding to the first and second portions of the lens.
US08690402B2	Illuminated grab handle with dual illumination modes An illuminated grab handle assembly for a vehicle includes a handle body and at least one light source. The handle body has a center portion and two opposed ends and is adapted to be attached to a surface of the vehicle interior. The at least one light source is disposed within the center portion of the handle body for illuminating the vehicle interior. The illuminated grab handle assembly is operable to provide more than one mode of illumination for the vehicle interior.
US08690397B2	Optical package element, display device, and electronic apparatus An optical package element includes: an optical functional element having an optical functional surface; a packaging resin having light transmitting properties in which the optical functional element is embedded and whose surface facing toward the optical functional surface of the optical functional element is a light transmitting surface; conductive members connected to the optical functional element embedded in the packaging resin; and a light blocking layer provided on a surface of the conductive members facing toward the light transmitting surface.
US08690391B2	Multi-emitter lighting apparatus A lighting apparatus includes a housing, a light emitter located in an interior region of the housing, a driver for the emitter, and a heat sink coupled to the driver. The heat sink includes a plurality of fins for cooling the driver. The apparatus further includes a driver mounting portion having a mounting surface and a side wall. The side wall is coupled to one of the heat sink and the driver so that the plurality of fins of the heat sink are exposed. The mounting surface of the driver mounting portion is coupled to the housing.
US08690390B1	Lamp and fan model The present disclosure relates to a lamp and fan design to generate the comfort and freshness feeling in a room, wherein the lamp and fan is portable and has a lampshade which is not fixed to the lamp but rather remains mobile based on sustainability principles by favoring the arrangement of said lampshade at a variable height relative to the fan.
US08690386B2	LED bulb An LED bulb comprises a lamp housing, a lamp cap, a core tube disposed inside the lamp housing, a plurality of LED plates mounted on the core tube, and a controller serving to manipulate an on-off operation of the LED plates. Wherein, the controller is substantially disposed inside a room of the core tube, and the core tube has one end thereof connected to the lamp cap, so as to facilitate a free substitution of the controller and promote the using convenience. The connection of the core tube and the lamp cap serves to radiate the thermal created by the LED plates from the core tube toward the lamp cap and the lamp housing for a speedy dissipation and preventing from burning the LED bulb under a high temperature.
US08690385B2	Light-emitting electronic textile with improved light diffusion A light-emitting electronic textile (2) comprising a flexible component carrier (3) having a plurality of light-sources (4a-c) arranged thereon; a cover textile (5) arranged to allow passage through the cover textile (5) of light emitted by the light-sources (4a-c); and a light-diffusing member (6) arranged between the light-sources (4a-c) and the cover textile (5). The light-diffusing member (6) comprises a layered structure formed by a plurality of light-diffusing layers (12a-c; 16a-b; 19a-c), wherein adjacent light-diffusing layers in the layered structure are spaced apart at least in portions of the light-diffusing member (6) corresponding to positions of the light-sources (4a-c).
US08690384B2	Integral heat sink and housing light emitting diode assembly A light assembly (20) for mounting to a planar support includes an extruded heat sink (22) presenting a mounting surface (24) and a heat transfer surface (26) slanted from an upper border (32) to a lower border (30). A panel block (52) depends from the lower border (30), a lens block (68) depends from the upper border (32), a back side (76) extends downwardly from the lens block (60), a truss member (82) interconnects the back side (76) and the heat transfer surface (26), and a mounting block (84) extends from the back side (76). The extruded heat sink (22) is cut into independent elongated sections (28) and light emitting diodes (44) are disposed thereon. The elongated sections (28) are mitered to one another to define a frame. A light directing panel (56) extends from the panel blocks (52) and a lens sheet (72) extends from the lens blocks (68).
US08690380B2	Surface illumination method using point light source, linear light source device, and surface illumination device using linear light source device A surface illumination device includes: a point light source I having high directionality; a linear light conversion unit II that converts light from the point light source into linear light; a linear light diffusion unit III that diffuses the linear light; and a surface lighting unit IV that is irradiated with diffused light and outputs surface light. The light from the point light source I is converted into the linear light by the linear light conversion unit II. The linear light thus converted is diffused in a predetermined direction by the linear light diffusion unit III. The diffused light is radiated on the surface lighting unit IV to be converted into surface light and radiated.
US08690373B2	Back-lit displays with high illumination uniformity A directly illuminated display unit includes a display panel and one or more light sources disposed behind the display panel. The light sources are capable of producing illumination light. A diffusive light diverting layer is disposed between the one or more light sources and the display panel. The light diverting layer comprises first light diverting elements disposed on one of a first side of the light diverting layer facing display panel and second light diverting elements disposed on a second side of the light diverting layer facing away from the display panel. The diffusive light diverting layer further comprises diffusing particles disposed within a polymeric matrix.
US08690364B2	Side mirror of motorcycle and motorcycle therewith A side mirror includes a mount seat mounted to a front cowl that covers a portion of the front of a vehicle body, a mirror stay supported on the mount seat with a basal end thereof supported in a turnable manner, and a mirror provided at a tip end of the mirror stay. The mount seat includes a base portion 41a extended in one direction and mounted to the front cowl, and a support portion provided on the base portion 41a to support the basal end of the mirror stay so that a direction Dp in which a turning shaft of the mirror stay extends is inclined to a length direction DL of the base portion. With this structure, a side mirror increased in degree of freedom in selecting a mount position on a front cowl can be provided.
US08690360B2	High pressure discharge lamp with start-up assist member, lamp unit, lamp system, and projector The present invention provides a high pressure discharge lamp with a start-up assist member, a lamp unit, and a lamp system that reduce breakdown voltage and provide high design flexibility by reducing restriction on a position of an adjacent conductor. In a high pressure discharge lamp (10) of a lamp unit (1), a dielectric member (20) is on the outer surface of a first sealing part (101a). The dielectric member (20) made of a titanium compound has relative permittivity higher than that of fused quartz. An upstream end of a metal wire (21) is connected to an external lead wire (102b) projecting from a second sealing part (101b). A downstream end (21A) is in contact with the dielectric member (20). Upon lighting of the lamp, a corona discharge occurs at the point where the end (21a) is in contact with the dielectric member (20) so that breakdown voltage is reduced.
US08690352B2	Method and device for projecting at least one light beam A method for projecting at least one light beam may include lengthening at least in part a holding duration for at least one pixel with respect to at least one further pixel.
US08690346B2	Projection display apparatus including wind outlets for cooling optical part The object of the invention is to realize highly efficient cooling by enhancing the heat transfer rate between optical parts and cooling air, and by simultaneously lowering the temperature of atmosphere around the optical parts. For this purpose, a first wind outlet for blowing a cooling wind is provided so as to allow the cooling wind to pass through optical parts, and furthermore, a second wind outlet for blowing another cooling wind so as to interfere with the cooling wind from the first wind outlet at the optical parts is provided at a location different from that of the first wind outlet.
US08690341B2	Image projector and an illuminating unit suitable for use in an image projector An image display device having an RGB illuminating module that includes a diffractive beam combiner. The diffractive beam combiner includes a first light source arranged to provide a first light beam having red color and a second light source arranged to provide a second light beam having green color. A centerline of the first light beam and a centerline of the second light beam are arranged to intersect at an intersection point. A diffractive output grating is located in the vicinity of the intersection point. The diffractive output grating is arranged to form an output light beam by diffracting light of the first light beam and light of the second light beam substantially in the same direction.
US08690339B2	Complete digital holographic image sensor-projector computing unit having a modulator for receiving a fourier image A hologram projecting system includes a coherent light source for emitting a reference beam onto a real object; and an image sensor for receiving the reference beam and a scattered beam reflected from the real object, and recording a Fourier image of the real object. Also included is a modulator for receiving the Fourier image. The reference beam is passed through the modulator, and configured to interact with the Fourier image to form a virtual image of the real object. The image sensor includes an n×m pixel array, where n and m are numbers of rows and columns, respectively. The modulator includes an n×m pixel array corresponding to the n×m pixel array of the image sensor. The pixels in the n×m pixel array of the image sensor control transmissivity of light in corresponding pixels of the n×m pixel array of the modulator.
US08690333B2	Steering handle adapter for a camera dolly An adapter for a steering handle of a camera dolly includes a first part and a second part attached to the first part in a way that allows for angular adjustment between them. This allows the steering handle to be aligned or squared up relative to the dolly chassis. The first part may be an adapter base and the second part may be a riser. The adapter base may have a flange with slotted holes alignable with holes in the riser. When installed on a camera dolly, the adapter allows the steering handle to align as desired. The adapter also raises the steering handle up, to allow for ergonomic use by a taller dolly operator.
US08690321B2	Fixation-based control of electroactive spectacles A tracking device (6) for controlling the focus of electroactive spectacles (2), the spectacles (2) comprising electroactive lenses (24, 26), the tracking device (6) comprising: a tracking camera (14), a tracking controller (18), and a transmitter (20); wherein the tracking controller (18) is configured to: capture, via the tracking camera (14), an image (16); detect, in the image (16), a pair of eyes; determine, from the image of the eyes, a target focus; and transmit, via the transmitter (20), a focus message (4) to the spectacles (2), the focus message (4) being indicative of the target focus, and instructive to the spectacles (2) to set the focus of the lenses (24, 26) accordingly.
US08690319B2	Ophthalmic lenses for prevention of myopia progression The invention provides ophthalmic lenses useful in preventing myopia progression. The lenses of the invention provide substantially constant distance vision power zone in the center of the optic zone surrounded by a zone that provides positive longitudinal spherical aberration.
US08690317B2	Hand-held portable printer A hand-held labeler/printer for printing and applying labels is described. The labeler/printer has a keyboard, a display, a scanner, and a battery-containing enclosure. The labeler/printer is user-friendly and compact. The labeler/printer can be easily loaded with label and webs of different widths. The labeler/printer has a discharge area along its front for the carrier web. Also described are various charging cradles and controllers for the labeler/printers.
US08690316B2	Image recording apparatus An image recording apparatus includes a recording section which is provided over a transport passage for transporting a sheet in a transport direction and which has nozzles for discharging an ink onto the sheet; a platen which is provided under the recording section with the transport passage intervening therebetween and which has a plurality of ribs provided to support the sheet while being separated from each other in a widthwise direction of the transport passage perpendicular to the transport direction, the respective ribs protruding upwardly and extending in the transport direction; and a plurality of holding members which are provided to be positioned between the plurality of ribs in the widthwise direction of the transport passage over the platen on an upstream side in the transport direction from the nozzles and which abut against an upper surface of the sheet and press the sheet toward the platen.
US08690308B2	Inkjet ink comprising dynamic surface tension agent An inkjet ink comprising water, colorant, and a dynamic surface active agent at an effective concentration such that the ink has a dynamic surface tension DST1 sec at 1 second universal surface age, a dynamic surface tension DST10 sec at 10 seconds universal surface age and a dynamic surface tension DST20 min at 20 minutes universal surface age, where DST20 min is less than each of DST1 sec and DST10 sec, and the difference between DST10 sec and DST20 min is greater than 9.2 mN/m at 21° C. or the difference between DST1 sec and DST20 min is greater than 15.5 mN/m at 21° C., and wherein the static surface tension of the ink is less than 50 mN/m. Maintaining a relatively large dynamic surface tension difference between the indicated time scales yields an optical density improvement in printed images.
US08690299B2	Liquid container A liquid container includes an air-tight liquid-storage chamber or reservoir, a movable member for agitating liquid, and a protrusion portion for supporting the movable member. The movable member and the protrusion portion are disposed in the liquid-storage chamber. The movable member includes a first end that is linearly movable along the protrusion portion and a second end that is free.
US08690298B2	Liquid-ejecting head, liquid-ejecting apparatus, and piezoelectric element and piezoelectric material A liquid-ejecting head comprises a pressure-generating chamber and a piezoelectric element including a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material contains a complex oxide having a perovskite structure. The complex oxide contains bismuth, sodium, barium, titanium, and copper. The ratio of copper to the total amount of titanium and copper is 0.35 mol % or more and 0.70 mol % or less.
US08690296B2	Inkjet printhead with multi-layer mounting substrate An inkjet printhead includes a printhead die including: a mounting substrate on which the printhead die is mounted, the mounting substrate including: a base layer including a hole; an intermediate layer including: a first surface including a plurality of contact pads; a second surface opposite the first surface, the second surface being proximate the base layer; and a slot that is aligned with the hole in the base layer; and a face layer proximate the first surface of the intermediate layer, the face layer including a window, wherein the printhead die is disposed within the window such that an ink feed opening of the printhead die is in fluid communication with the slot in the intermediate layer of the mounting substrate; and a plurality of electrical interconnections connecting bond pads of the printhead die to the plurality of contact pads on the intermediate layer of the mounting substrate.
US08690293B2	Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer readable medium An image forming apparatus includes an ink-ejecting unit, a region dividing unit, and a preparatory ejection unit. The ink-ejecting unit has a recording head aligned in a width direction which is substantially perpendicular to a transport direction of a recording sheet, and ejects ink onto the recording sheet through plural orifices of the recording head in accordance with print data to be printed in response to a print instruction, thereby printing an image. The region dividing unit divides, in the width direction of the recording sheet, a print region of the recording sheet into a user region and a print control region. The preparatory ejection unit preparatorily ejects ink onto the recording sheet through the plural orifices so that an amount of ink ejected through an orifice for the print control region is smaller than an amount of ink ejected through an orifice for the user region.
US08690292B1	Condensation control method using surface energy management Inkjet printing methods are provided that deflect and guide a condensation reducing airflow between a printing module and a receiver without disrupting inkjet drop placements and that use surface energy differences to manage any condensation that arises.
US08690283B2	Method and system for printing graphical content onto a plurality of memory devices and for providing a visually distinguishable memory device A method and system for printing graphical content onto a plurality of memory devices and for providing a visually distinguishable memory device are provided. In one embodiment, graphical content to be printed onto a plurality of memory devices is identified. A graphical image is then created from the identified graphical content, wherein the graphical image comprises a plurality of sub-areas, wherein each sub-area contains graphical content and corresponds to at least one memory device of the plurality of memory devices. The graphical image is then printed onto the plurality of memory devices, wherein the plurality of memory devices are positioned to substantially correspond with positions of the plurality of sub-areas in the graphical image. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08690282B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head unit including a plurality of liquid ejecting heads in a parallel arrangement. Each liquid ejecting head ejects a liquid from nozzles formed in a nozzle face toward an ejection target object in accordance with a drive signal from a controller. Each liquid ejecting head has an individual two-dimensional code that includes at least a portion of information related to the liquid ejecting head. The liquid ejecting head unit includes a collective two-dimensional code that includes arrangement information of the liquid ejecting heads in the liquid ejecting head unit and collective information related to the information included in the individual two-dimensional codes.
US08690279B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and control method thereof A resonance pulse is a voltage waveform substantially containing an expansion element for varying a voltage to expand a pressure chamber, an expansion sustaining element generated following with the expansion element, and sustaining a maximum voltage at a predetermined value, and a contraction element generated following with the expansion sustaining element, and varying the voltage to contract the pressure chamber. A time span from a front end of the expansion element to a front end of the contraction element is set as ½ of an inherent vibration cycle of ink in the pressure chamber.
US08690275B2	Power supply integrated circuit for piezoelectric inkjet head A power supply integrated circuit includes a DC-DC boost regulating unit and a DC-AC output controlling unit. The DC-DC boost regulating unit is used for increasing a low DC voltage into a high DC voltage. The DC-AC output controlling unit is connected with the DC-DC boost regulating unit for converting the high DC voltage into a high AC voltage. A first portion of an integrated circuit chip and a plurality of passive components are collaboratively defined as the DC-DC boost regulating unit. A second portion of the integrated circuit chip is defined as the DC-AC output controlling unit.
US08690273B2	Method and apparatus for routing utilities in a refrigerator Disclosed in this application is a u-shaped grommet for use in a refrigerator. The grommet is fixed so as to allow wires to be routed towards an opening in the liner of the refrigerator, pass through the opening in the liner, and exit the grommet in the opposite direction as the wires entered. The grommet is preferably molded to the wires so that the combined product is inseparable from the wiring which it protects. The grommet is also described as a single piece grommet, although multiple piece grommets are anticipated.Further disclosed in this application is an improved pass-through hinge for routing utilities, including water and electricity, from the door to the body of the refrigerator. The improved hinge features a hollow hinge pin through which utilities may be routed, thereby overcoming the deficiencies of the current state of the art.
US08690270B2	Rolling body of a moving carriage cage for drawer guides A rolling body of a moving carriage cage for drawer guides has an internal core part and a separate casing part surrounding the core part. The core part is preferably composed of a first plastic, and the casing part is preferably composed of a second plastic. The plastics of the core part and of the casing part have different indentation hardnesses.
US08690267B2	Assembly unit and casing having the same A an assembly unit for assembling a drawable device into a casing includes a fixing member disposed on a side wall of the drawable device and a latching member slidably disposed on the casing correspondingly to the fixing member. The fixing member has a fixing hole thereon. The casing has a first tongue portion corresponding to the latching member and a fixing protrusion protruding toward the interior of the casing; wherein the fixing protrusion engages with the fixing hole when the drawable device is assembled into the casing.
US08690263B2	Method for manufacturing a toothbrush and a bristle head thereof, toothbrush obtained by said method and mould for such method A molding process and a mold for manufacturing a toothbrush of plastic material with a resistant inner core, is disclosed. It is provided to manufacture a resistant inner core, and to introduce it into a mold cavity having opposite footprints belonging to a lower half-mold and an upper half-mold and to subsequently inject molten plastic material into the mold cavity for manufacturing at least part of the toothbrush handle. A resistant metal core is placed into a respective footprint of the lower half-mold in contact with at least two support platforms, adapted to support the core in the proximity of a central line of the mold cavity, and before the injection of structural plastic material, to couple the lower half-mold with an upper half-mold having at least one ribbing to contact with the metal core at least in a position between the support platforms and in a position opposite thereto.
US08690262B2	Heading machine having cutting unit made of disc tools In a heading machine (1, 24) with at least one cutting unit with a rotatably mounted tool holder (10, 39) with disc tools (11, 12, 40, 41), which tool holder is connected in a pivotable manner to the machine frame, the heading machine (1, 24) has a running gear, in particular a crawler track (2), the tool holder (10, 39) is mounted rotatably on an arm (6, 26), which can be pivoted in the vertical direction and the rotational axis (9) of the tool holder (10, 39) runs transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the arm (6, 26).
US08690259B2	Truck body for hauling extremely cohesive homogenous materials A truck body that efficiently hauls homogeneous and cohesive materials that typically coagulate and adhere together in one consolidated mass. The adhesion of this consolidated mass to the surface of the truck body is minimized and the build up of “carryback” is effectively prevented during haul cycles. Hauled amalgamated materials are dumped from the truck body such that the amalgamation breaks up and is safely dumped. One typical material that displays such a coagulated conglomerate massing is “oil sands” from which oil is extracted. A non-stick surface is provided on the truck body to overcome the natural adhesiveness displayed by this material and, when being dumped from a truck body, provides a means to assist in releasing the material from the truck body without leaving significant “carryback” that tends to build up over haul cycles. Plus, the body design encourages the material to break up as it is dumped.
US08690258B2	Guide structure of vehicle seatbelt A guide structure of a vehicle seatbelt includes a belt guide. The belt guide is provided at one of a left corner and a right corner defined by a left side frame, a right side frame, and an upper frame. The one corner faces a belt pulled out from a seatbelt device. The left side frame and the right side frame extend vertically. The upper frame connects an upper end of the left side frame to an upper end of the right side frame. The belt guide protrudes upwardly with respect to the upper frame and forwardly with respect to the left side frame and the right side frame so that when the belt is placed on an occupant who sits on the seat, a portion of the belt that is placed on a shoulder of the occupant is guided by the belt guide.
US08690247B2	Reclinable seating apparatus and method In various embodiments, self-adjusting reclinable seating is disclosed. When the user applies a force to the seating by shifting his or her center of gravity, the backrest and seat portions of the seating move in response to the force to recline the seating. The user can return the seating to an upright position by again shifting his or her center of gravity. Such a configuration eliminates the need for manual recline controls. The seating is further configured to continuously vary the angle of the seat and backrest portions relative to the ground as the user moves. In particular, vertical distance between the front of the seat and the ground increases as the backrest reclines. Continuously varying the angle of both the seat and the backrest portions of the seating relative to the ground may improve a user's seating comfort, for example, by decreasing or eliminating the user's need to shift position on the seat when reclined.
US08690245B2	Soothing apparatus and infant seat therewith A soothing apparatus and an infant seat therewith are disclosed. The soothing apparatus includes an apparatus base, a seat base disposed on the apparatus, and a driving device including a driving part and a follower disposed on the apparatus base and the seat base oppositely. The driving part has an interfering surface with a specific profile. The follower keeps contacting the interfering surface such that the seat base is moved through the follower relative to the apparatus base in accordance with the specific profile when the interfering surface moves relative to the follower. Thereby, the soothing apparatus can provide an specific soothing motion and further provide another variant soothing motion by just creating another specific profile, so that the invention can provide a more flexible mechanism than that in the prior art.
US08690232B2	Front pillar for automobile A front pillar for an automobile includes an outer panel, an inner panel, a hollow member sandwiched between the outer and inner panels, and a reinforcing member. The outer panel has a glass attachment flange section extending along an edge of the windshield. The hollow member has a first concave section provided on an upper wall section at a terminal end of the hollow member. The first concave section is downwardly separated from the glass attachment flange section of the outer panel. The reinforcing member has a second concave section welded to the first concave section and downwardly separated from the glass attachment flange section of the outer panel.
US08690231B2	Vehicle structure body A vehicle structure body includes roof side rails 10 that extend in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle on both sides in a vehicle width direction, and center pillars 20 that are connected to rear end portions 10a of the roof side rails 10 and extend in a vertical direction of the vehicle. The cross-sectional area of the roof side rail 10 is substantially constant from the front end of the roof side rail 10 to a front position P in front of the center pillar 20, and the cross-sectional area of the roof side rail is reduced from the front position P to a position S immediately before a joint portion between the roof side rail 10 and the center pillar 20. When a collision load acts on the roof side rail 10, the roof side rail 10 is easily folded at a portion of which the cross-sectional area is reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the input of moment to the center pillar 20.
US08690228B2	Load bearing panel assembly A panel assembly includes at least one reinforcing assembly made of a high strength material having a low yield to tensile strength ratio for energy absorption and reduced weight and profile. The panel assembly may be light-weight with a low profile to minimize protrusion into an opening or compartment enclosed by the panel. The panel assembly may be a floor panel assembly for a vehicle floor. The reinforcing assembly may traverse the panel such that the reinforcing assembly extends laterally, e.g., cross-vehicle, relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body. A method of making the panel assembly may include forming the reinforcing assembly by joining a plurality of metal channel members in a nested arrangement with a plurality of welds to provide a structural assembly with good bending resistance loads imposed on the panel assembly including knee loads. The channel members may be made of a dual phase steel.
US08690222B2	Vehicle floor mat or floor liner kit having a clip Vehicle floor mat or floor liner kits are provided. In one embodiment, a vehicle floor mat or floor liner kit includes one or more vehicle floor mats or liners, and a clip. Each vehicle floor mat or liner has at least one aperture. The clip has first and second portions. The first portion is configured to secure the clip to a floor of a vehicle. The second portion is configured to secure the floor mat or liner to the clip utilizing the at least one aperture. In another embodiment, a vehicle floor mat or liner clip includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has a threaded aperture and an annular ring that surrounds the threaded aperture. The annular ring has a titled surface between an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The bottom portion has a threaded shaft, a disk, and a fastener section.
US08690213B2	Robot hand and robot A robot hand and a robot according to an embodiment include a set of sliding parts, supporting units, a rotary unit, and a plurality of holding claws. The sliding parts slide in a direction to come close to or move away from each other. The supporting units are secured to the respective sliding parts. The rotary unit is attached to an end portion of at least one of the supporting units and rotates around an axis of rotation parallel to sliding shafts of the sliding parts. The holding claws are attached in directions orthogonal to the axis of rotation and different from one another.
US08690192B2	Saddle riding vehicle A saddle riding vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, an engine, a catalytic device, and a catalyst cover. The engine is disposed on the vehicle body frame and includes a cylinder block in a forwardly inclined position. The catalytic device is disposed at a front lower portion of the engine. The catalytic device includes an exhaust gas introducer oriented substantially at right angles, and a catalyst case disposed below the exhaust gas introducer. The catalyst cover is disposed on the vehicle body frame to cover a front portion of the catalytic device from a front downward direction. The catalyst cover is provided in a space between the catalytic device and a front wheel supported by a front fork provided at a front side of the vehicle body frame. The catalyst cover includes an opening portion at a forward portion of the exhaust gas introducer.
US08690175B2	Stabilizer bar A disconnectible stabilizer bar assembly for a vehicle having first and second stabilizer bar halves, a housing fixed to an end portion of each stabilizer bar half, so as to align the two halves. The housing containing a stator with magnetic coil, a rotor with exterior magnets and threaded onto a hollow screw, with the stator selectively rotating the rotor and the rotation translated into axial movement of the screw. The screw having meshing means on an interior surface and an end face, the interior meshing means meshed with an exterior meshing means on one of the stabilizer bar halves, and the end face meshing means selectively coupled and decoupled with aligned mashing means on the other of the stabilizer bar halves.
US08690172B2	Axle housing assembly for work vehicle An axle housing assembly for a work vehicle is adapted to be mounted in the work vehicle, and includes an axle housing and a disc-shaped member. The axle housing has a recessed portion for press fitting on an end thereof. The recessed portion is opened to a vehicle outer side, the recessed portion having a constant inner diameter. The disc-shaped member is press-fitted into the recessed portion, an outer peripheral surface of the disc-shaped member having a single reference dimension. A first region of the outer peripheral surface is arranged on an inner side in a press fitting direction and processed at a first tight fit tolerance range with respect to the reference dimension. A second region of the outer peripheral surface is arranged outwards of the first region and processed at a second tight fit tolerance range less than the first tight fit tolerance range.
US08690169B2	Detachable roller means and movable bag or case The present invention relates to a detachable roller means and a movable bag or case having said detachable roller means, said roller means comprises a roller seat (1) and a roller assembly, which are detachably connected to each other. The roller seat has a penetration opening (1-1) and a guide in which a spring-pretensioned button plate (2-10) is guided. Said button plate has a button arm (2-3), by means of which the button plate is displaceable along the guide. The roller assembly has a roller holder and a roller (3). The roller holder is provided on its upper side with a lug boss (2-5) and a shaft (2-8) projecting from the lug boss. The shaft is provided with an upper stop (2-9). In a mounting status, the lug boss is abutted against the bottom of the roller seat tightly and, viewed in the insertion direction of the shaft, the button plate is engaged behind the upper stop in a spring-pretensioned manner. The button plate can be brought out of engagement with the upper stop in opposite to the spring pretension. The roller means according to the present invention is not only permanently firm, but also can be mounted and detached easily.
US08690161B2	Device for the sealed retention of a pipe, method for the sealed mounting of a pipe through a partition wall and use of such a device for the sealed penetration of a partition wall of an aircraft tank This device for the sealed retention of a pipe for the sealed penetration of a partition wall by the pipe comprises a body equipped with a sealed axial passage for the pipe and with a peripheral region for the sealed mounting of the device in an orifice made in the partition wall. The body comprises a set of rigid retaining sectors each comprising a bearing shoe for the pipe, and a sealing material positioned between the sectors to delimit the said sealed passage, and around the said sectors in the said peripheral region of the body via which region it is mounted on the partition wall.
US08690160B2	Brush seal assembly A brush seal assembly including a pair of annular plates defining an annular slot between them and a radially outer chamber opening into the slot; and an annular brush seal having bristles and an enlarged portion at its outer periphery formed by welding the bristles together, the brush seal extending through the slot with its enlarged portion retained in the chamber wherein at least a portion of one of the plates has an extension thereof which is deformed over the other plate to hold the plates together to form the assembly characterized in that one of the plates has a flat face in the region of the slot.
US08690159B2	Spiral wound bound seal A brush seal is disclosed that may include a spring-loaded seal arrangement configured to conform to a wide range of sealing diameters along the length of a rotor of a turbomachine. In particular, the brush seal may be manufactured with free ends configured to overlap and provide a finite amount of radially expandable/contractible play and yet maintain an effective seal. Consequently, the same brush seal design may be used in a range of locations along a rotor length without the need to specifically manufacture separate brush seals for each variance in dimension.
US08690155B2	Pathology game and method of playing same A pathology board game includes a colored game board comprising (a) an illustration of the human circulatory system comprising organs and limbs; and (b) a colored circle or wheel comprising a plurality of diseases, each disease having its own number and color; a plurality of treatment/remedy cards, wherein each card comprises at least one treatment or remedy for a disease and is colored to match a corresponding disease on the colored circle; and a plurality of preventative cards, wherein each card comprises at least one preventative modality to prevent a disease and is colored to match a corresponding disease on the colored circle.
US08690153B2	System for directing sheet articles in arrival from an input line towards two output lines A system (1) for directing sheet articles (2) in arrival from an input line (L1) towards two output lines has first gripping and drawing devices for gripping and drawing the sheet articles (2) for release in a directing region (37). The sheet articles are then deviated along a first (D1) or a second (D2) orientating direction. Second gripping and drawing devices move the sheet articles (2) along the direction region. First and second counter-rotating pairs of rollers face one another and grip the sheet articles to move them towards the second (5) and third (6) gripping and drawing devices, all the devices and rollers being arranged and operating with respect to one another such that during transit through the directing region (37) the advancing sheet articles (2) are subjected to constant gripping by at least one device or one pair of rollers.
US08690149B2	Device and method for receiving, holding and/or handling two-dimensional objects A receiving, holding and/or handling device for two-dimensional objects, with at least two controllable suction grippers. The suction grippers are arranged and connected to free ends of movable cantilever arms, which are elastically deformable at least in some sections. The cantilever arm are mounted and supported on a bridge. The cantilever arms each include at least one lower pull and one upper pull which meet at the free end of the cantilever arm and are connected there. An actuating device is assigned to the upper pull. The actuating device generates a pulling force with at least one horizontal direction component which is approximately parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the cantilever arm. A method is also disclosed.
US08690146B2	Apparatus for loading a relatively rigid material, for example cardboard, and relative loading method An apparatus for loading a relatively rigid material in sheets into an operating station of a processing plant, comprises at least a store for storing and feeding the sheets and a loading device. The loading device is provided at least with feed means, disposed downstream of the store with respect to the direction of feed of the sheets, and able to feed the sheets into the operating station. The apparatus also comprises detection means, disposed in correspondence with the feed means, able to detect both the position of the sheets with respect to the feed means, and also the size of the sheets fed. The detection means are also able to vary in a coordinated manner the operating conditions at least of the feed means according to the position and sizes detected.
US08690145B2	Image forming system and image forming device Disclosed is an image forming system including an image forming device which includes a paper feeding tray, a print section which performs printing to papers fed from the paper feeding tray and a control section which controls so as to feed the printed papers to a post-processing device as a booklet main body to be book-bound, and the post-processing device which carries out ring-binding processing to the fed papers and book-binds a booklet, and the control section controls so as to feed a front cover paper, a back cover paper, papers for binding of the booklet to a ring-binding process section of the post-processing device along with the booklet main body, and a paper feeding order is in an order of the back cover paper, the papers for binding, the front cover paper and the booklet main body.
US08690144B2	Sheet processing apparatus that detects staples and image forming apparatus A sheet processing apparatus which makes it possible to detect staples at a plurality of points by a smaller number of sensors. The sheet processing apparatus shifts a stapler along an edge of a sheet bundle. The stapler has a staple detection sensor attached thereto. The staple detection sensor detects a staple driven into the sheet bundle while passing by a staple detection position during shifting of the stapler. The stapler sequentially performs stapling at a first position and a second position along the edge of the sheet bundle, and is then shifted to a standby position. During a time period from completion of the stapling at the first position to completion of the shifting of the stapler to the standby position, the staple detection sensor detects presence or absence of a staple at each of the first position and the second position.
US08690142B2	Post-processing device and paper processing apparatus A post-processing device includes an introductory conveying path, a processing tray, a paper receiving tray, an upper paper discharge roller, a lower paper discharge roller and a control section. The upper paper discharge roller and the lower paper discharge roller are disposed at an edge portion on the paper receiving tray's side of the processing tray. The upper paper discharge roller is capable of coming into contact with and away from the lower paper discharge roller. The control section causes the upper paper discharge roller to start a descending motion with a timing such that the upper paper discharge roller comes into contact with paper before the paper comes into contact with the paper receiving tray if the paper belongs to a second kind, where the paper of the second kind is lighter weight than that of a first kind.
US08690137B2	Fixture for selectably holding dissimilar workpieces A fixture for selectably supporting a number of dissimilar workpieces. The fixture includes a frame with one or more rotatable workpiece tooling assemblies. Each workpiece tooling assembly has multiple faces to which is mounted workpiece support tooling. The workpiece support tooling may be designed to support dissimilar workpieces, such that a single fixture may support any of a given number of workpieces by simply rotating the workpiece tooling assembly or assemblies until the corresponding support tooling is properly positioned. A locking assembly may be provided to releasably secure each workpiece tooling assembly in the various support orientations that coincide with each of its faces.
US08690136B2	Internal rinsing in touchless interstitial processing Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for rinsing the interface area of a liquid and air boundary after a substrate cleaning process using gas barrier. In some embodiments, a protective chuck having an inner gas ring and an outer liquid ring can be used to clean the area under the edge of the protective chuck. A gas flowing outward from the gas ring can enable a liquid to flow outward from the liquid ring, rinsing the outer portion of the protective chuck. The interface rinsing process can enable combinatorial processing of a substrate, providing multiple isolated processing regions on a single substrate with different material and processing conditions.
US08690135B2	Chuck and a method for supporting an object There is provided a chuck that includes a supporting element that is connected to a closing element. An upper surface of the supporting element includes a chemically etched zone and an un-etched zone. The chemically etched zone includes multiple upper areas that are surrounded by trenches. At least one pressurized gas conduit is formed in the supporting element so as to enable pressurized gas provided to a lower surface of the supporting element to propagate through the trenches. The un-etched zone is shaped in response to a shape of an object to be placed on the supporting element. The un-etched zone reduces pressurized gas leakage from the un-etched zone and the closing element reduces pressurized gas leakage from a lower surface of the supporting element when the object is placed on the chuck in alignment with the un-etched zone and pressurized gas is provided to the chuck.
US08690127B2	Vehicle lift system accessory An accessory that assists in operating vehicle lift systems, particularly an accessory that assists in the operation of a crank wheel of a vehicle lift system. The accessory is portable and quickly and easily assembled to the vehicle lift system. The accessory is activated using a power source, for example a cordless power source such as a cordless power drill. The crank wheel is engaged by the accessory and operated to raise and lower the platform component of the vehicle lift system.
US08690119B2	Leak-free reciprocating stemmed valve A valve assembly comprising an adapter plate assembly comprising an adapter plate, a bonnet with a center and a threaded shaft extending through the center of the bonnet; an actuation assembly comprising an outer enclosure and an outer magnetic cartridge that is magnetically coupled to an inner magnetic cartridge; and an inner valve assembly comprising an inner enclosure and a planetary gear subassembly comprising one or more planetary gears.
US08690117B2	Water meter A meter includes an inlet for receiving a fluid and a housing defining a cylindrical chamber receiving the fluid from the inlet, wherein a chamber axis passes through a center of the cylindrical chamber. The meter also includes an outlet coupled to the housing, wherein the outlet is axially aligned with the inlet along a flow axis, and the flow axis does not intersect the chamber axis.
US08690114B2	Adjustable suspension system for off-road vehicle A support assembly includes a first support frame having a first bearing surface, and a second support frame spaced a vertical distance from the first support frame. A biasing member is connected to the first support frame and includes a first end and a second end. The first end bears against the first bearing surface. An adjustment assembly is connected to the second support frame and is adjustable with respect to the second support frame. The second end of the biasing member bears against the adjustment assembly.
US08690111B2	Suspending apparatus A suspending apparatus is used for suspending an electronic device on a surface. The suspending apparatus includes a base fixed on the surface, a suspending assembly assembled to the electronic device and detachably suspended on the base and having a limiting unit, and a locking assembly configured on the suspending assembly and including a locking unit and a moving unit connected to an end of the locking unit. The locking unit leans upon the limiting unit. In an unlocking process, the moving unit is forced to move along a first path and drives the locking unit. The locking unit unlocks the base with rotating along a second path and moving along a third path while being restricted by the limiting unit, wherein the first and the third paths have an included angle. In a locking process, the locking unit rotates along the second path to lock the base.
US08690104B2	Capsule spacecraft emergency landing system A method of landing a capsule-spacecraft having a crew compartment containing crew, light cargo, and whatever other elements are associated with crew safety and comfort during emergency recovery, such as survival equipment and a service component including any propulsion components, heat shield, heavier structure, or other equipment not directly connected with the crew component. In the event of a propulsion system failure, the crew compartment component is immediately separated from the service component, either by automatic or crew action. One or more parachutes are then deployed by rapid methods, such as rocket extraction, from the crew compartment. Because the space craft is separated into two parts the weight of the parachutes is reduced in proportion as the weight of the crew compartment is to the total capsule-spacecraft.
US08690102B2	Fastening arrangement for fastening a component on a fuselage A mounting assembly for the mounting of components in a body of a vehicle comprises at least one base element, at least one holding rail and connecting elements. The base element is designed to be arranged on the body of the vehicle. The holding rail is designed for mounting the components, and the base element and the holding rail are connected by the connecting elements so as to be spaced apart from each other.
US08690092B2	Nut grinder A nut grinder includes a nut auger, a stationary grinding plate, and a rotatable grinding plate configured to grind nuts. The nut auger and rotatable grinding plate may be adapted to receive rotational power from a human user or a mechanical source.
US08690091B2	Roller with driven grinding roller A roller mill includes a rotatable grinding table, at least one grinding roller retained rotatably on a pivot lever and in rolling engagement with the grinding table, the pivot lever being pivotable about a pivot lever axis, and at least one drive train connected to the grinding roller and having a fixed motor and a fixed gearing mechanism. The drive train further has a gearing mechanism which pivots with the pivot lever and/or the grinding roller.
US08690081B2	Fluid dispenser head A fluid dispenser head including an inlet well (14), an axial assembly housing (2) in which there extends a pin (3), and a nozzle (4) assembled along an axis X in the axial assembly housing (2). The head also includes two feed ducts (15), each connecting the inlet well (14) to the axial assembly housing (2). The pin forms two swirl channels (35) connected in tangential manner to a swirl chamber (36). The nozzle is in sealing contact with the pin (3) so as to define two connection sections, each connecting a feed duct (15) to a swirl channel (35).
US08690078B2	Systems and methods for producing ozonated water on demand Systems and methods for producing ozonated water on demand. In particular, these systems comprise a water source, an ozone source, and a nozzle that mixes ozone and water to form a highly concentrated, ozonated water solution. Instead of requiring the ozonated water to be re-circulated to achieve a desired ozone concentration, the nozzle is configured to form the ozonated water solution in a single pass through the nozzle. Additionally, instead of requiring the ozonated water to be discharged into a pressurized tank to increase ozone absorption, the nozzle allows the ozonated water to be openly discharged. In some cases, the nozzle comprises a venturi with multiple ozone inlets to increase mixing. Additionally, in some cases the nozzle comprises a single pass mixing mechanism that mixes the water and ozone to form the high concentrate, ozonated water solution in a single pass through the nozzle.
US08690073B2	Control of flow rate and thermal conditions using two-layered thin films separated by flexible seals and rotatable pivot Devices for the control of flow rate and thermal conditions using two-layered thin films separated by flexible complex seals. The plates of an upper thin film are separated by a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly is composed of an elastic soft seal separating closed voids of stagnant fluid and in contact with the upper plate of the device as it is the heated plate. The lower and the upper plates of the lower thin film can be separated by an elastic soft seal. The lower and upper thin films are named as main and secondary layers, respectively. Both the upper plate of the secondary layer and the lower plate of the main layer are fixed while the intermediate plate and is free to move in the vertical direction. When the pressure or the working temperature in the secondary layer increases, the secondary layer expands causing the main layer thickness to shrink. This reduces the main layer flow rate and temperature gradients within the main layer.
US08690072B2	Radiator bypass valve A valve including a body and a plug is disclosed. The body has a pair of ports and a tubular structure having a side wall and an open end and defining interiorly a first subchamber communicating with one port. The wall has an opening. The body defines a second subchamber communicating with the other port, extending around the wall and beyond the end to communicate with the end and the opening. The plug has an opening, is mounted to the structure and telescopes between first and second positions. At the second position, the plug is disposed at least partly in the second subchamber and the valve defines, between the ports: a first flow path through the wall opening; and a second flow path through the open end of the structure, via the plug opening. At the first position, the plug and structure restrict flow through the first and second paths.
US08690064B2	Transaction card assembly and methods of manufacture A transaction card assembly may be constructed and arranged for use in a transaction by an issuee of the transaction card assembly. The transaction card assembly may include a first layer including a sheet of material, a second layer including a sheet of material, and an adhesive foam material between the first and second layers that expands to fill a space between the first and second layers and to define, at least in part, a finished thickness for the transaction card assembly and bonds the first and second layers together. Indicia, such as information representing an account number, biometric data representing a feature of the issuee, etc., may be included with the assembly for use in a transaction.
US08690061B2	User interface feedback using scanner light source An image forming apparatus includes a scanning region and a user interface region adjacent to the scanning region. In the user interface, a first illuminated indicator corresponds to a function of the image forming apparatus. A light source is operable to illuminate an object in the scanning region. A first light conveying member is coupled to the illuminated indicator and operable to receive light from the light source.
US08690057B2	Radio frequency identification system for tracking and managing materials in a manufacturing process A process management system uses a radio frequency identification (RFID) detection system in the form of, for example, a phased array antenna based RFID detection system to track and manage material storage and flow in a manufacturing process or plant. The process management system operates in conjunction with the various machines that implement manufacturing stages or steps of the manufacturing process to assure that the correct materials and processing procedures are used at or on the various production machines of the process to produce a particular product as defined by a job number or job order. The process management system is thereby able to increase the efficiencies of the plant and to increase the quality of the plant production by reducing or eliminating waste, manufacturing errors and shipping errors in the production facility.
US08690049B2	Method for generating an image file for forgery verification and a method for forgeryverification of an image file The present invention is related to a method for generating an image file for forgery verification and a method for forgery verification. A method for generating an image file for forgery verification according to the present invention consists of a generating a bit map of the image file, a generating a horizontal check logic, a vertical check logic, and a check logic of each region from the bit map, a generating a two-dimensional bar code from the horizontal check logic, the vertical check logic, and the check logic of each region, and a generating an image file for forgery verification into which the two-dimensional bar code is inserted. A method for forgery verification according to the present invention consists of a generating a first horizontal check logic, a first vertical check logic, and a first check logic of each region from the bit map by generating a bit map of an image file for forgery verification into which a two-dimensional bar code is inserted, a generating a second horizontal check logic, a second vertical check logic, and a second check logic of each region from the two-dimensional bar code, and a comparing the first and the second horizontal check logics, the first and the second vertical check logics, and the first and the second check logics of each region.
US08690045B2	Spreadable box A spreadable box includes a bottom portion, a plurality of sidewall portions, and at least one support tab. The plurality of sidewall portions is extended from the bottom portion. The at least one of the plurality of sidewall portions includes a pair of sidewall planes folded to overlie each other with a space there between. The at least one support tab is protruded from at least one of the plurality of sidewall portions and configured to be inserted into or withdrawn from the space in order to secure the box in an assembled form or a spread form.
US08690039B2	Dissection tip and introducer for surgical instrument The present disclosure describes a surgical fastener applying apparatus that includes an elongate body portion having proximal and distal ends, an end effector including a first movably coupled to a second jaw that is positioned at the distal end of the elongate body portion, and an introducer member. The introducer member has proximal and distal portions, and is configured and dimensioned for releasable connection with the end effector. The introducer member is at least partially formed from a flexible material, and is configured and dimensioned to separate target tissue from collateral tissue prior to positioning of the target tissue between the first and second jaws of the end effector.
US08690031B1	Backpack system A frame assembly includes a base frame member, an upper frame member and a canopy frame member. Each of the frame members is fabricated of a rigid metallic tube in an inverted U-shaped configuration with a closed end and essentially parallel legs terminating in lower free ends. Pins pivotally couple the frame members with respect to each other adjacent to their free ends. The base frame member has a forward face with shoulder straps and a waist strap secured to the base frame member and extending forwardly for releasably coupling the base frame member to a carrier's back. A canopy sheet spans the canopy frame member and the upper frame member. A first pull cord has a fixed end secured to the canopy frame member and a second end extending forwardly of the base frame member for being pulled by the carrier to deploy the canopy frame member and the canopy sheet to an extended orientation.
US08690012B2	Dispensing assembly comprising a cartridge with bag The dispensing assembly comprises a double cartridge having two storage containers with bags placed therein, a mixer that is connectable to the cartridge, and an opening means acting upon the bag. The opening means is arranged on the mixer housing and rotatable with respect to the cartridge and in one exemplary embodiment has a cutting member with two knife-edges that are arranged essentially parallelly to and spaced apart from the longitudinal axis and provided with cutting edges. Thanks to the rotatable knife-edges, such a cutting member allows a clean and predetermined opening of the bags and a dispensing operation with minimum pressure losses and lost volumes.
US08690006B1	Tilted grooved beverage drinking container A beverage container having a tilted groove at or near the bottom of the bowl or reservoir of the container. The groove, of substantially uniform depth and shape, encircles the entire circumference of the reservoir, and is inclined at a preselected acute angle with respect to the bottom thereof for enhancing the drinker's grip.
US08689996B2	System for locking container assembly A system includes a container assembly comprising a cover threadingly coupled to a container along a threaded interface portion of an interface and a cover lock assembly. The cover lock assembly includes a lock screw configured to selectively move between a cover lock position and a cover release position. The lock screw extends across the interface to resist threaded rotation of the cover relative to the container in the cover lock position, and the lock screw is recessed away from the interface to enable threaded rotation of the cover relative to the container in the cover release position. The cover lock assembly also includes a lock insert configured to block movement of the lock screw from the cover lock position to the cover release position.
US08689992B2	Wood and resin deck box The present invention relates to a storage box or container which is formed from a combination of wood and resin or plastic components. The front, back, and sides of the storage box are preferably set into a channel on a base of the container. A circumferential member is secured to the top portions of the front, back, and sides of the storage box to retain these members in alignment. A top member is hingedly secured to the circumferential member, which enables ready access into the storage box. The storage box is formed from components which are capable of being packaged and shipped in a knocked-down state and constructed into a storage box on site, thereby saving shipping space and costs.
US08689967B2	Belt driving device and image forming apparatus A belt driving device that drives a belt includes a plurality of rollers, an endless belt tensioned on the plurality of rollers, a belt guide member that is mounted on at least one end of at least one roller of the plurality of rollers and that guides a side edge part of the belt, and a belt displacement device that is mounted on the same end of the one roller as the belt guide member in order to displace the side edge part of the belt in a direction away from the belt guide member. Wherein a portion of the belt displacement device is located on a downstream side of the belt guide member in a traveling direction of the belt, and the portion continuously contacts the side edge part of the belt.
US08689963B2	Customer-operated ordering kiosk having modular hardware configuration including overlay and inlay plates A system and method for integrating devices and equipment into self-service kiosk devices is disclosed. Hardware configuration kits are provided which allow for a less complicated implementation of specific and customized functionality for quick service restaurant (QSR) environments. In certain embodiments a kiosk door is coupled to the kiosk body to form a kiosk cabinet in which devices and equipment used to operate the kiosk are housed. Certain interior kiosk components and devices, such as coin dispensers, bill acceptors, and the like, may be configured to extend or protrude through the kiosk door so that they may be accessed by the customer. The kiosk door may have a hollowed out center or aperture which allows access to the interior cabinet. The aperture may be substantially covered by a removable door inlay which cooperatively includes cutouts corresponding to the components protruding through the door. A removable door overlay may also be provided which attaches to an outer surface of the kiosk door and may also include cutouts which correspond to the protruding components.
US08689955B2	Shock absorbing structure There is provided a shock absorbing structure that can improve shock absorption performance by stabilizing the compressive deformation of a shock absorbing member in an axial direction. High-strength portions controlling deformation and low-strength portions controlling deformation are alternately disposed. Accordingly, when a shock is applied to a front side member from the front side of a vehicle, the front side member can be deformed in the shape of a bellows. Further, the respective low-strength portions, which are disposed closer to a rear end side in a longitudinal direction, have higher strength. Therefore, the front side member can be sequentially deformed from a front end side.
US08689950B2	Electromagnetic type retarder An electromagnetic type retarder comprises a main portion consisting of a stator having a plurality of magnetic coils arranged along a circle and spaced apart from one another, and of a steel rotor surrounding the stator and rotated according to the rotation of a tire; a driving device for the main portion to be controlled by an operation signal; and an output terminal for an additional device; the magnetic coils consisting of three-phase or two-phase connections. Each of the magnetic coils is connected with a capacitor so as to form a resonance circuit, respectively. The driving device has transistors connected in series to each of the connections and controlled so as to be opened and closed by the operation signal. The revolution speed of a rotary magnetic field generated by AC voltage induced in the magnetic coils forming the resonance circuits by the rotation of the steel rotor is set smaller than the revolution speed of the steel rotor. The AC voltage is applied to an input terminal of the additional device through a timer after a predetermined time from the generation of the operation signal.
US08689940B2	Lubrication system for a breaking tool A lubrication system for a work tool, such as a demolition hammer, that is powered by a drive fluid. The lubrication system including a valve member movable from a first position to a second position in response to receiving an input indicative of a low level of a lubricant, wherein in the second position, the valve member is configured to divert the drive fluid to shutdown or derate the tool.
US08689934B2	Sound absorbing structure A sound absorbing structure includes multiple sound absorbers. The sound absorbers are assembled together into a sound absorbing member. The sound absorbing member absorbs sound emitted from a sound source. Each of the sound absorbers is shaped like a hollow tube. Each of the sound absorbers has a hole extending in its axis direction.
US08689930B2	Seismic vibrator having airwave suppression A seismic vibrator includes a baseplate having a surface configured to couple to a ground surface. A driver is coupled to the baseplate and is configured to move the baseplate in a vibratory manner. A decoupling system is coupled to a part of the baseplate other than the ground-contacting surface. The decoupling system includes a first layer having a Young's modulus greater than that of a second layer coupled to the first layer. The second layer is coupled to the baseplate. The Young's moduli, thicknesses and masses of the first and second layer are selected to provide the decoupling system with a resonant frequency of at most, a spatial aliasing frequency of seismic sensors deployed on the ground surface or a lowest seismic frequency of interest.
US08689925B2	Vehicle front portion structure A cooling unit that is cooled by heat exchange with air is disposed at a rear side in a vehicle longitudinal direction of a power unit. Further, a cooling fan is disposed at a rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the cooling unit. Further, catalytic converters are disposed at a rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the power unit. A periphery of these catalytic converters is surrounded by a heat insulator. A duct portion, that communicates an interior of the heat insulator and a space between the cooling unit and the cooling fan, is provided at this heat insulator.
US08689922B2	Vehicle body frame, saddle riding vehicle with the same, and method for producing vehicle body frame A vehicle body frame includes a left frame member, a right frame member, a cross member, and a first patch member. The cross member is fitted in both of a left connecting hole and a right connecting hole and welded to the left frame member and the right frame member. The cross member includes a pipe member having a hollow portion which has a first end, and a second end opposite to the first end along the hollow portion. The first patch member is fitted in the first end of the hollow portion and welded to an inner peripheral face of the hollow portion such that a weld bead is provided within a range of a first welding margin provided in the first end of the hollow portion. The first welding margin is provided on the inner peripheral face of the hollow portion.
US08689921B2	Control apparatus for motor-assisted bicycle A control apparatus for a motor-assisted bicycle detects a pedaling torque applied to a crankshaft with a pedaling force sensor, controls a motor unit of the motor-assisted bicycle in a regenerative control process to charge a battery if the torque value of the detected pedaling torque is equal to or smaller than a predetermined level, and controls the motor unit in an assistive control process if the torque value is greater than the predetermined level. The control apparatus switches between the assistive control process and the regenerative control process depending on the torque value which is detected, increases the predetermined level if the state of charge of the battery becomes lower than a first level, and restores the predetermined level if the state of charge of the battery becomes higher than a second level which is greater than the first level.
US08689918B2	Attach and detach device of battery for electric vehicle Disclosed is an electric vehicle battery attaching/detaching device including a battery mounting unit formed on an electric vehicle to detachably mount a battery and provided with a connector pin module adapted to be lifted/lowered by a lifting/lowering means; a loader having a plurality of battery stands, each battery stand being adapted to detachably mount a fully-charged battery to be exchanged with the battery mounted on the battery mounting unit; and a battery attaching/detaching unit adapted to move along X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis between the battery mounting unit and the battery stand by means of a movement device, detach a battery mounted on the battery mounting unit or the battery stand, and exchange/mount the battery on the battery stand or the battery mounting unit.
US08689916B2	Apparatus of driving wheels for in-wheel system An apparatus is provided for driving wheels for an in-wheel system, including: a driving shaft which is the center of rotatable driving; a fixation supporter rotatably supporting the driving shaft and coupled to the driving shaft; an in-wheel motor generating rotational power, which is coupled to the inside of a wheel in which a tire is mounted on one driving shaft in a shaft direction of the fixation supporter; and a balancing member formed on the other driving shaft in the shaft direction of the fixation supporter and formed at a position corresponding to the wheel coupled with the in-wheel motor. According to the present invention, an eccentricity phenomenon which is caused due to inclination of a wheel and a motor in one direction of a fixation supporter can he prevented in an apparatus of driving wheels for an in-wheel system.
US08689912B2	Polycrystalline diamond constructions having optimized material composition Diamond bonded constructions include a diamond body comprising intercrystalline bonded diamond and interstitial regions. The body has a working surface and an interface surface, and may be joined to a metallic substrate. The body has a gradient diamond volume content greater about 1.5 percent, wherein the diamond content at the interface surface is less than 94 percent, and increases moving toward the working surface. The body may include a region that is substantially free of a catalyst material otherwise disposed within the body and present in a gradient amount. An additional material may be included within the body and be present in a changing amount. The body may be formed by high-pressure HPHT processing, e.g., from 6,200 MPa to 10,000 MPa, to produce a sintered body having a characteristic diamond volume fraction v. average grain size relationship distinguishable from that of diamond bonded constructions form by conventional-pressure HPHT processing.
US08689909B2	Inserts, polycrystalline diamond compact cutting elements, earth-boring bits comprising same, and methods of forming same An insert for an earth-boring tool includes a body and a coating disposed over at least a portion of the body. The coating comprises a ceramic comprising boron, aluminum, and magnesium. Polycrystalline diamond compact cutting elements may include a hard polycrystalline material, a supporting substrate, and a coating disposed over at least a portion of the hard polycrystalline material. An earth-boring drill bit may include a bit body and at least one polycrystalline diamond compact cutting element secured to the bit body. The polycrystalline diamond compact cutting element may have a coating comprising a ceramic of boron, aluminum, and magnesium, and may be disposed over at least a portion of a hard polycrystalline material. A method of forming an insert for an earth-boring tool may include forming a protective coating including a ceramic of boron, aluminum, and magnesium over a cutting element.
US08689906B2	Methods and apparatus for reducing stick-slip A method and apparatus for estimating the instantaneous rotational speed of a bottom hole assembly at the lower end of a drill string. In one embodiment, a method includes driving the drill string by a drilling mechanism at the upper end of the drill string. A fundamental frequency of stick-slip oscillations suffered by the drill string is estimated. Variations in a drive torque of the drilling mechanism are determined. Known torsional compliance of the drill string is combined with the variations in the drive torque. An output signal representing the instantaneous rotational speed is provided.
US08689905B2	Drilling assembly with steering unit integrated in drilling motor An apparatus for use in a wellbore is provided, which in one embodiment includes a drilling motor and a steering unit placed about a shaft between a lower section of a stator in the motor and a drill bit. The steering unit includes a substantially non-rotating member and a force application member on the non-rotating member configured to radially extend the force application member from the non-rotating member. In another embodiment, the steering unit may include, rotating member configured to rotate a drill bit, a steering member configured to orient the drill bit along a selected direction, a first steering device configured to orient the steering member in the wellbore, and a second steering device configured to maintain orientation of the steering member when drilling the wellbore.
US08689896B2	Methods for treating “plunge zone” issue when extinguishing full surface liquid tank fires A method for extinguishing a full surface liquid tank fire including addressing plunge zone issues, the attack including throwing at least one primary stream over a tank wall, the stream landing with a force of impact in, and defining, a plunge zone; the method including extinguishing a full surface heavy liquid tank fire by teasing the fire prior to employing a non-feathered stream to create a foam blanket.
US08689885B2	Bi-directional flapper/sealing mechanism and technique An isolation valve can include a pivot connecting a closure member to an actuator member which displaces when the isolation valve is actuated between open and closed configurations, whereby the pivot displaces with the actuator member. Another isolation valve can include a pivot connecting a closure member to an actuator member which displaces when the isolation valve is actuated between open and closed configurations, and a profile formed in the isolation valve. The profile biases the closure member from an open position to a closed position when the isolation valve is actuated from the open configuration to the closed configuration. A method of actuating an isolation valve includes actuating the isolation valve between open and closed configurations, and wherein actuating the isolation valve comprises simultaneously displacing an actuator member, a closure member, and a pivot which pivotably connects the closure member to the actuator member.
US08689882B2	Flexible hang-off arrangement for a catenary riser Flexible hang-off arrangement is provided for a catenary riser suspended from an offshore or inshore platform, which includes floating or fixed platforms, vessels or/and buoys. The bending loads in the top segments of the said riser are reduced by incorporating a pivot at the riser hang-off. Pressure containing welded, bolted, rolled or swaged pipe spools transfer fluids, including hydrocarbons between the riser and the platform. Along significant spool lengths the tangents to the center lines of said spools are orthogonal to and offset from the tangent to the center line of the riser at the hang-off. The said pressure containing spools include arbitrary looped, spiral and helicoidal designs that are subject to torsion.
US08689873B2	Compositions and methods for improving the toughness of set cements The toughness of set cement may be enhanced by incorporating partially cured waterborne resins in the cement matrix. A hardening agent is added to the waterborne resin, and the mixture is allowed to react for periods between about 1 min and 15 min. The waterborne resin with hardening agent is then combined with an inorganic cement to form a pumpable slurry.
US08689864B2	Activation device A device for activating a downhole tool is described. The device comprises a first elongate member defining a toothed surface portion, a second elongate member defining a toothed surface portion and at least one pinion arrangement The/each pinion arrangement engages the toothed surface portions of the first and second members such that movement of one member in a first direction results in movement of the other member in a second direction, opposite the first direction.
US08689857B2	Combination heat sink A combination heat sink including a first radiating element having a first plane section and a second radiating element having a second plane section. Multiple first radiating fins integrally upward extend from the first plane section. Each two adjacent first radiating fins define therebetween a first connection section. Multiple second radiating fins integrally upward extend from the second plane section. Each two adjacent second radiating fins define therebetween a second connection section. The first and second radiating elements are connected with each other in an alternating manner with the first radiating fins attaching to and contacting with the second radiating fins to form the heat sink.
US08689843B2	Snow performance peaks A tire is disclosed having a tread extending from a first tread edge to a second tread edge and having a plurality of blocks defining a plurality of lateral grooves. The lateral grooves have a groove bottom defining a radial groove depth. A first biting side extends outwardly from the groove bottom to a first biting edge, and a first non-biting side extending outwardly from the groove bottom to a first non-biting edge. At least one peak is disposed in at least one of the lateral grooves. The peak extends outwardly from the groove bottom and terminates radially at an outer end and axially at a distance from the equatorial plane less than or equal to one half of the tread width. The peak has a height between 25 percent and 75 percent of the depth of its lateral groove. Multiple peaks may be disposed within a groove.
US08689835B2	Device and method for repairing pipe A liner tube is provided for repairing either a single pipe line or a main pipe line having a lateral pipe line connected thereto. The liner tube assembly includes a liner tube impregnated with a liquid material capable of curing and hardening. The liner tube includes a gasket or band positioned about the juncture of the pipe lines. The gasket or bands form a tight seal between the liner tube and the pipe line.
US08689833B2	Valve device The invention relates to a valve device for the fluid supply of fluid consumers, comprising several valve modules (2) arranged next to each other in the direction of stacking (3). Said valve modules (2) respectively comprise a plate-shaped channel body (11) provided with a feed channel recess (35) and/or a venting channel recess (36) and four 2/2 distributing valves (41, 42, 45, 46) respectively having a first and a second fluidic connection (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 55, 56). The four 2/2 distributing valves (41, 42, 45, 46) of the valve module (2) are interconnected in a full bridge arrangement. According to the invention, an additional module (6, 7), which is arranged on the connection surface of the channel body, is connected so it communicates with one or both working channels (21, 22) and is designed to control a fluid flow and/or for determining a parameter of the fluid flow from or to the working channel (21, 22).
US08689831B2	Rotary fluid valve assemblies, systems and methods Rotary valves are provided having an elongate spool defining coaxially aligned inlet and outlet ports for respectively receiving and discharging a fluid, and spool inlet and outlet orifices. A rotary cage assembly defines an annular cage recess and cage inlet and outlet orifices in communication with the recess and coaxially surrounds the spool for reciprocal rotations thereabout. An actuator assembly is coupled to the rotary cage assembly for moving the rotary cage assembly between open and closed positions. When in the open position the cage inlet and outlet orifices are in fluid communication with the spool inlet and outlet orifices, respectively, to allow fluid to flow from the spool inlet port to the spool outlet port by way of the annular cage recess. When in the closed position however fluid communication is blocked between at least the cage and spool outlet orifices.
US08689829B2	Fluid flow monitor A fluid flow monitor, typically for water, includes the combination of a fluid conduit including a magnet displaceable within the conduit when fluid flows therethrough, an electric circuit having a power supply, a magnetic sensor switch positioned in the electric circuit located adjacent to the conduit and positioned at a predetermined distance from the magnet when the magnet is not displaced and a timer connected to the electric circuit. When the magnet is displaced the predetermined distance, the magnetic sensor switch closes the electric circuit activating the timer and when the magnet is not displaced to the predetermined distance, the magnetic sensor switch opens the electric circuit deactivating the timer.
US08689828B2	Hydraulic coupling member with pressure-relieving poppet valve A poppet valve for a hydraulic coupling member has an internal, spring-loaded check valve (which may be a ball check valve) in fluid communication with a bleed passage. The check valve may be configured as a pressure-relief valve which bleeds off excess hydraulic fluid pressure within the coupling member to a preselected value. A poppet valve according to the invention may be used in female coupling members and/or male coupling members. Certain embodiments of the invention may be retrofitted to coupling members of the prior art.
US08689825B2	Flow control valve A flow control valve for use in oxygen systems. The flow control valve has a body within an inlet and an outlet. A seat is located within the body and a ball retainer is located within the body. The ball retainer is able to capture a ball. The flow control valve also has biasing means connected to the ball retainer. Furthermore, the biasing means is movable between a flow and a non-flow position. The ball retainer is in a closed position when the ball, captured by the ball retainer, engages the seat to prevent gas flowing through the seat.
US08689821B2	Air release valve The air release valve 10 includes an elongate valve body 12 including an elongate pipe section 14 that has a top wall 16 and a bottom wall secured to opposite ends thereof, thus defining a cylindrical internal chamber 20 within the valve body 12. The valve body 12 further includes a baffle plate arrangement 22 dividing the internal chamber 20 into a top part 24 and a bottom part 26. The bottom wall 18 of the valve body 12 defines an inlet 38 which is connectable to a water pipeline 69. The top wall 16 defines an outlet 40 which operatively communicates with the atmosphere. A valve seat 42, including an O-ring seal 44, surrounds the outlet 40 and permits blocking of the outlet 40 by a valve closure 46, which in combination with a float 48, forms a valve closure arrangement 50 of the air release valve 10.
US08689819B2	Rainwater catchment apparatus and plant cultivating system having rainwater catchment apparatus The present invention provides a rainwater catchment apparatus that is easily installed without renovating a building. The rainwater catchment apparatus comprises a rainwater inlet for introducing rainwater, a flange portion engaged with a peripheral portion of a rainwater outlet serving as a leading end of a drainage canal formed in a building framework for introducing rainwater in the rainwater inlet, a drain portion for discharging excessive water exceeding a predetermined level to the drainage canal, a reservoir freely fitted into the drainage canal through the rainwater outlet, and a pumping mechanism for pumping water stored in the reservoir to the outside.
US08689816B2	Fuel tank vent valve assembly and method of assembly A vent valve assembly includes a first housing component, a second housing component, and a third housing component, as well as a first valve and a second valve. The first, second, and third housing components are configured to assemble together along one directional axis with the second housing component, the first valve and the second valve between the first and third housing components and with the second valve laterally-spaced from the first valve. The assembled first, second, and third housing components define a nonlinear vapor flow path that redirects vapor from the first valve to the second valve, thereby reducing an overall height of the vent valve assembly.
US08689811B2	Walking device An improved device is disclosed wherein the device includes an elongated body, a movable arm coupled to the elongated body, a power source, and a first sensor, and wherein the first sensor is capable of detecting an orientation of the device and producing an electronic signal based on the orientation, and wherein the electronic signal is capable of at least partially causing a movement of the movable arm.
US08689809B2	Cosmetic color applicator and method for using same A cosmetic applicator for highlighting or imparting color to a user's hair includes upper and lower halves attached together by a hinge. Each half includes a rigid outer cap and a flexible connector surrounding and connecting the outer cap to a perimeter of the respective half. The cosmetic applicator further includes an applicator pad arranged in an interior of one of the upper and lower halves and a coloring material arranged in an interior of the other of the upper and lower halves. The flexible connector permits the outer caps of the respective upper and lower halves to be pressed inwardly toward one another so as to bring the applicator pad and the coloring material into engagement with one another.
US08689800B2	Magnetic navigation control apparatus A magnetic navigation control apparatus includes a sensing unit, a control unit and a magnetic field generating unit. The sensing unit generates a sensing signal according to the position of a magnetic element. The control unit is electrically connected with the sensing unit and generates a first control signal and a second control signal according to the sensing signal. The magnetic field generating unit is electrically connected with the control unit and has a housing, a plurality of interpoles, and a plurality of short poles. The interpoles are disposed in the housing. The short poles are disposed between the interpoles evenly. The magnetic field generating unit generates a navigation signal according to the first control signal, thereby controlling the magnetic element to move in at least one direction within a target region. The magnetic navigation control apparatus has greater magnetic navigation effects, and can thus reduce the cost.
US08689797B2	Mouthguard formed of propylene/alpha-olefin polymer elastomer A self-customizable dental appliance adapted to lie within the mouth of a person including occlusal pads with a connecting arch or a u-shaped style base with upstanding labial and lingual walls. The appliance is formed of a semi-crystalline polyolefin polymer or crystallizable blend. In one embodiment, the appliance is formed of elastomeric propylene-ethylene polypropylene, optionally including high density polypropylene. An optional occlusal lifting pad can be used in the self-customizable dental appliance.
US08689794B2	Dental shield device A dental shield for use during intubation to protect teeth, including a plurality of tooth segments, each segment having a male connector and a female connector located on opposite sides for the purpose of attaching each segment to an adjacent segment, and each segment formed from a rigid material defining a tooth-shaped channel containing a deformable material bound to the tooth surface such that a number of tooth segments are assemblable into the dental shield device.
US08689793B2	Method and apparatus for restraining a patient's leg during leg surgical and interventional procedures An improved method and apparatus for restraining a patient's leg during knee surgery or similar procedure features and improved restraining member that is attachable to an operating room table. The restraining member has a lower concave portion that engages the upper portion and sides of the patient's leg. The restraining member has an upper convex portion that is reinforced with a plurality of ridges. The concave portion can be fitted with an inflatable bladder. The concave portion in other embodiments is fitted with a belt arrangement that enables different degrees of constriction to be imparted to the leg.
US08689786B2	Aerosol generator An aerosol generator device comprises an elongate body with an interior passageway extending longitudinally to its mouth end. The device receives an interchangeable, pressurized canister charged with a nicotine containing liquid that is discharged in a metered dose on manual actuation of a trigger that causes a valve in the canister to open and discharge through a discharge tube. Inner and outer collar members releasably couple the canister with a bayonet action. The trigger is rotatably mounted on the body about a trigger axis spaced from and extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the device, and has a manually depressible surface portion under a flexible cover, and a camming surface portion that drives a slidable nozzle member inwardly of the body to press the discharge tube inwardly of the canister and the valve so as to form an aerosol from the liquid released from the canister.
US08689785B2	Dispensing apparatus The present invention provides dispensing apparatus for delivering metered doses of product from a pressurized dispensing container comprising:a housing for receiving a pressurized dispensing container;a dose counting mechanism comprising indication means for displaying to a user an indication associated with the number or quantity of doses dispensed from, or the number or quantity of doses remaining in, the received pressurized dispensing container;the dose counting mechanism further comprising an indexing mechanism for advancing the indication means on actuation of the received pressurized dispensing container;wherein the dispensing apparatus comprises an indexing member capable of moving within the housing in sync with the received pressurized dispensing container;wherein on actuation of the received pressurized dispensing container in a normal mode of operation the indexing member is able to interface with the indexing mechanism to apply a force to the indexing mechanism sufficient to incrementally advance the indication means.
US08689780B1	Low pressure forced air heater A low pressure forced air heater is provided having a variable speed motor driving a fan and a compressor. An amount of the pneumatic output from the compressor is communicated through an air bleed valve and the remainder is communicated through an air output orifice. The air output orifice is in communication with a fuel nozzle and causes fuel to be drawn from a tank, atomized and combusted in a combustion chamber.
US08689774B1	Crossbow and components attached by a sliding joint assembly A stock is attached to a recoil pad or a crank assembly by a sliding joint assembly. The stock includes one portion of the sliding joint assembly and the recoil pad and crank assembly include the other portion of the sliding joint assembly. The portions of the sliding joint assembly have complementary shapes, such as a tongue and a slot.
US08689770B2	High-temperature-flow engine brake with valve actuation A control system and method for engine braking for a includes an engine braking control and at least one exhaust valve actuator responsive to demands from the braking control for causing the exhaust valve to open. The braking control is configured to command the exhaust valve actuator to substantially open and substantially close the exhaust valve at least twice during each engine cycle, a first event and a second event, when the pressure within the exhaust manifold is greater than the pressure in the cylinder. The braking control can also command the exhaust valve actuator to substantially open and substantially close during a third event between the first and second events.
US08689769B2	Compression-braking system A method is disclosed for controlling compression-braking performance of an engine having a piston in a combustion cylinder. The method may include providing a valve in fluid communication with the combustion cylinder and at least one valve actuator operable to control the valve to perform compression-braking by opening the valve, which may include opening the valve to a first peak-valve-opening during a compression stroke of the piston and opening the valve to a second peak-valve-opening before a second half of an expansion stroke of the piston. The method may also include determining a target value for a stress in the at least one valve actuator. Additionally, the method may include designing the magnitude and timing of the first peak-valve-opening as a function of the target for the stress in the at least one valve actuator.
US08689767B1	Method for operating homogeneous charge compression ignition engines using conventional gasoline A method for the operation of homogeneous charge compression ignition engines (HCCI) using gasoline or similar single-stage ignition fuels. Partial fuel stratification (PFS), intake pressure boosting and controlled BDC-intake temperatures, typically in the range of 95° C. to about 125° C., are used to reduce combustion pressure rise rates (PRR), and therefore, the knocking propensity of homogeneous charge compression ignition engines operating on gasoline or similar fuels.
US08689764B2	Rotary engine with exhaust gas supplemental compounding A rotary engine which provides a supplemental phase of compression between a first phase of compression and a second phase of compression.
US08689750B2	Camshaft phasing device A camshaft phase adjustment device comprises a housing receiving a camshaft. A driving gear member has a first gear and a camshaft receiving portion. The driving gear member transfers motion from the driveshaft to the first gear, which is meshed with a second gear. A second and third gear are mounted on an axle parallel to the camshaft. The second gear and third gear rotate with the same angular velocity. The third gear transfers motion to a fourth gear. The fourth gear is coupled to the camshaft for transferring angular motion to the camshaft such that the camshaft rotates with the angular velocity of the fourth gear. An actuator rotates the housing about the axis of the camshaft.
US08689748B2	Valve timing control apparatus of internal combustion engine In a valve timing control apparatus, phase-retard and phase-advance hydraulic chambers are defined among a plurality of shoes formed in a housing and a plurality of vanes formed integral with a rotor fixed to a camshaft. The rotor has a large-diameter portion formed between a first group of adjacent vanes and a small-diameter portion formed between a second group of adjacent vanes. The innermost end of a shoe of the shoes, opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the small-diameter portion, is configured to protrude radially inward rather than the innermost end of a shoe of the shoes, opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion. A lock pin is located in the large-diameter portion of the rotor, whereas a lock hole, with which the lock pin slides into and out of engagement, is located in the inner face of a sprocket.
US08689747B2	Valve timing control device A valve timing control device comprises a drive-side rotational member synchronously rotatable with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine; a driven-side rotational member mounted coaxially with the drive-side rotational member and synchronously rotatable with a camshaft for opening and closing a valve of the internal combustion engine; a fluid pressure chamber defined by the drive-side rotational member and the driven-side rotational member; a partition provided in at least one of the drive-side rotational member and the driven-side rotational member for dividing the fluid pressure chamber into a retarded angle chamber and an advanced angle chamber; a fluid feeding/discharging mechanism for controlling feed/discharge of working fluid relative to the fluid pressure chamber; a locking mechanism for restricting a relative rotational phase of the driven-side rotational member relative to the drive-side rotational member to a predetermined phase between a most retarded angle phase and a most advanced angle phase; and an urging mechanism for constantly exerting an urging force to the drive-side rotational member and the driven-side rotational member to displace the relative rotational phase to the side of the most retarded angle phase.
US08689745B2	Split-cycle air-hybrid engine having a threshold minimum tank pressure A split-cycle air-hybrid engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. An air reservoir is operatively connected to the crossover passage. An air reservoir valve selectively controls air flow into and out of the air reservoir. The engine is operable in an Air Expander and Firing (AEF) mode. In the AEF mode, the pressure in the air reservoir is greater than or equal to approximately 5 bar absolute, preferably greater than or equal to approximately 7 bar absolute, and more preferably greater than or equal to approximately 10 bar absolute.
US08689743B2	Piston for an internal combustion engine A piston for an internal combustion engine has a piston head and a piston skirt. The piston head has a circumferential ring belt and a circumferential cooling channel. The piston skirt has a working surface assigned to its major thrust side and to its minor thrust side. A bore that proceeds from the cooling channel is provided, which ends in the working surface assigned to the major thrust side, and is disposed at an incline, in such a manner that the bore exit encloses an acute angle (α) with the center axis (M) of the piston. An opening is formed in the working surface, and a deflection surface inclined relative to the working surface is provided between the bore and the bore exit. The working surface assigned to the major thrust side has a depression which forms at least one oil capture region above the opening.
US08689740B2	Pet wash tub A pet wash tub includes a funnel-type hair-diverter arrangement established at all corners near the drain, to slope from the front and sides of the tub, angled downwardly towards the drain. The tub is located inside a pet wash station, which includes a wash room and an equipment room. Specifically, the tub is located in the wash room that includes a floor with a slope that acts to rinse water spilled onto the floor under an opening under a dividing wall between the wash room and the equipment room. A collection trough is located in the equipment room to collect the water as it drains from the wash room. Further, the equipment room includes a control panel and hose extensions for air and washing water/soap such that a user can activate the various systems depending on preference while washing a pet.
US08689739B2	Reptile vertical display The present disclosure provides a system and method for displaying animals in temperature controlled enclosures.
US08689721B2	Vertically installed spar and construction methods A vertically installed Spar-type floater for offshore wind turbine and related construction method are provided. The floating system is a gravity stabilized deep-draft floater including a plurality of vertically extending columns, each column containing a ballast material; a ballast tank coupled to the lower end of each of the columns; a top deck having a plurality of through-bores approximate its periphery coupled to the upper end of each of the columns; a wind turbine assembly supported by the top deck at the center; a plurality of mooring lines linking the floating system to the sea floor. The floating system has a temporary vertically towing configuration which allows the entire floating wind turbine system to be assembled at a quayside and towed vertically to an offshore site, and self-installed into operating configuration.
US08689717B2	Emergency repair plug to slow down water inflow through an opening An emergency repair plug for sealing an opening in a boat hull, comprises a conical body made of a solid foam, spongy cellular material that is compressible by hand and able to return to its original shape. The conical body is compressible by hand to a smaller dimension so that a portion of the conical body larger than an opening to be plugged can be inserted into the opening. The conical body is able to return to its larger size after compression, thereby to be wedged in the opening to slow down water inflow through the opening.
US08689712B2	Method for joining two fabric portions, a multilayer structure and an article of clothing A method including: providing a portion of double cloth including a first layer joined to a second layer, the layers being joined by a two-dimensional distribution of joining threads obtained by weaving; detaching the first layer from the second layer along an edge zone of the double cloth, to define on the first layer a band in which the first layer is separated from the second layer; cutting the band of the first layer, so that the second layer exhibits a projecting strip which projects with respect to a free edge of the first layer; arranging a further portion of fabric in contact with the second layer; joining the further portion of fabric to the second layer by a joining line arranged along the projecting strip; after the step of joining, turning the further portion of fabric, to move the further portion of fabric away from the second layer.
US08689702B2	Railway vehicle Provided is a railway vehicle having a configuration which can sufficiently protect the cabin even when large external force is applied to the side structures and the end structures thereof. The vehicle body of the railway vehicle is formed by joining an underframe 20, side structures 30, end structures 50, and a roof structure 60 together. The lower inner face of the side post 31 of the side structure is joined to the outer face portion of a side beam 21 of the underframe. The lower inner faces of the post reinforcement members (an end post reinforcement member 57 and a corner post reinforcement member 58) for reinforcing the post members (an end post 53 and a corner post 54) of the end structure are joined to the outer face portion of an end beam 26 of the underframe.
US08689696B1	Composite projectile and cartridge with composite projectile A projectile includes: (a) a cured, toughened polymer resin; and (b) a particulate filler distributed through the resin, the filler having a density greater than a density of the resin, wherein the projectile has average density less than the density of lead.
US08689684B2	Automatic strap loading assembly for strapping machine A strap loading assembly for a strapping machine provides a feed path for the strap material. The loading assembly includes a first rail and a second rail movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. The second rail, when in the deployed position, confronts the first rail and defines a strap guide with the first rail. The second rail, when in the stowed position opens the strap guide. A link operably connects the first and second rails. Strap material in the strap guide, when in tension, exerts a force on the first rail to move the link which moves the second rail from the deployed position to the stowed position. A strapping machine with a strap loading assembly is also disclosed.
US08689675B2	Field adjustable piston actuators Field adjustable piston actuators are described. An example field adjustable piston actuator includes a housing having opposing openings and a chamber. Additionally, the example piston actuator includes a first plate coupled to the housing and adjacent one of the opposing openings. Further, the example piston actuator includes a second plate coupled to a yoke and the housing. The second plate is adjacent the other one of the opposing openings. Further still, the piston actuator includes a volume adjuster to provide field adjustment to change a volume of the chamber.
US08689667B2	Saw blade A reciprocating saw blade for use with a reciprocating saw includes a body defining a longitudinal axis, an attachment portion configured to couple to the reciprocating saw, and a cutting portion formed on the body. The cutting portion includes a plurality of cutting teeth. Each cutting tooth includes a tip, a rake face extending from the tip generally toward the longitudinal axis and defining a gullet, and a relief surface extending from the tip. The blade also includes a plunge point formed on the body for initiating a plunge cut. The plunge point includes a leading tooth and a second tooth. The leading tooth includes a tip and a rake face extending from the tip generally toward the longitudinal axis and defining a leading gullet. The second tooth is positioned in the leading gullet adjacent the leading tooth and is generally smaller than the leading tooth and each cutting tooth.
US08689662B2	Bottom bracket assembly for a bicycle and shaft for such an assembly A bottom bracket assembly (1) of a bicycle is disclosed. The bottom bracket assembly includes a shaft (2) extending along a predetermined longitudinal direction and a pair of bearings (31, 41) adapted to rotatably support the shaft (2) with respect to a housing box (10) provided in a bicycle frame, the bearings (31, 41) being mounted on the shaft (2) at opposite end portions (3, 4) of the shaft (2). The opposite end portions (3, 4) of the shaft (2) have an outer diameter (D2) between 28 mm and 37 mm, bounds being included, and the distance (D1) between the median planes (Y1, Y2) of the bearings (31, 41) along the longitudinal direction is between 80 mm and 100 mm, bounds being included.
US08689660B2	Steering device A steering device provides a driver operation feeling that lets the driver definitely feel that a movable tilt lock gear and a fixed tilt lock gear are securely engaged. Gear noise in tilt adjustment when the movable tilt lock gear and the fixed tilt lock gear are engaged halfway is prevented. As the control force of an operating lever is rapidly decreased when a fitting protrusion is fitted to a stepped part, a click and click stop feeling occur and a definite operation feeling that the clamping is securely performed is acquired. As the fitting protrusion is integrated with the operating lever and a sliding surface configured by a groove, an inclined face and the stepped part are also formed as an outside face of the fixed tilt lock gear, the number of parts and man-hours for assembly can be reduced.
US08689659B2	Steering column for a motor vehicle A steering column for a motor vehicle includes a first and a second part, which in the event of a vehicle crash can be displaced relative to each other in a displacement direction. At least one absorption element acts between the two parts for absorbing energy during the mutual displacement of the two parts, and at least one shift unit, which includes a shift component that can be shifted between a passive and an active shift position. The amount of the energy absorbed during the mutual displacement of the two parts differs in the passive and the active shift position of the shift component. During a displacement of the two parts in the event of a crash, a mutual energy-absorbing displacement takes place between the shift component being in the active shift position thereof and at least one section of the absorption element in an engagement region of the absorption element in which the shift element engages in the active shift position thereof, or between the shift component being in the active shift position thereof and one of the two parts that are mutually displaced in the event of a crash in an engagement region of said part in which the shift component engages in the active shift position thereof.
US08689644B2	Device for detecting shocks on a structure A detection device for shocks on a part comprises a base intended to be fixed by a lower face onto a surface of the part where the occurrence of a shock is to be detected and comprises one or more detectors fixed at the base and protruding with respect to the base, a detector being deformed in a persistent way with a magnitude equal to or greater than a threshold magnitude when it is subjected to a shock with an energy equal to or greater than a threshold energy. Under the effect of such a shock with energy or greater, a detector is simply deformed or broken such that the visual inspection allows the occurrence of the shock to be detected.
US08689643B2	Shaft arrangement having a rolling bearing A shaft arrangement, with a rotatable shaft supported in a rolling bearing, which has rolling elements and an outer race, a torsion sensor having a permanently magnetic ring and at least one magnetic field sensor fastened to a fixed sensor bracket attached to the outer race being provided. A torsion sensor can hereby be integrated in a rotating bearing in a simple design.
US08689634B2	Systems and methods for mode shape identification Embodiments of the present application can provide systems and methods for mode shape identification of turbine buckets. According to one embodiment, a system can be provided. The system can include a turbine bucket having numerous trigger patterns disposed at a distal end of the turbine bucket. A sensor is disposed adjacent to the distal end of the turbine bucket for detecting the trigger patterns. The trigger patterns are patterned to identify at least one mode shape of the turbine bucket.
US08689631B1	High sensitivity mechanical gyro with reduced quadrature error A gyroscope comprising: a multi-layer substrate, comprising drive spring and sense spring layers; a rigid support structure formed from the substrate; a plurality of drive springs formed in each drive spring layer wherein each drive spring is operatively coupled to the support structure; a drive mass formed from at least one layer of the substrate, wherein the drive mass is coupled to the support structure via the drive springs; a drive mass driver operatively coupled to the drive mass and configured to cause movement of the drive mass with respect to the support structure; a plurality of sense springs formed in each sense spring layer, wherein each sense spring is operatively coupled to the drive mass; and a sense mass formed from at least one layer, wherein the sense mass is coupled to the drive mass via the sense springs.
US08689624B2	Level sensor system for propane tanks and or the likes A level sensor system according to the present invention includes a controller and a sensor assembly defined by a transducer assembly and a mounting assembly configured for a quick connection or non permanent attachment of the transducer assembly to the tank or container. The ultrasound transducer assembly emits ultrasound pulses in the tank along a detecting path, receives ultrasound echoes indicative of at least one of the first and second fluids and produces echo signals representative of the at least one of the first and second fluids. The mounting assembly is configured for receiving the ultrasound transducer assembly and for operatively mounting the ultrasound transducer assembly to the tank for ultrasound measurement. The controller is coupled to the ultrasound transducer assembly, receives the echo signals and determines the position of the fluid interface therewith; the level of the first fluid being defined by the position of the fluid interface. The fact that the sensor assembly is configured so as to be removably mounted to the tank allows replacing the tank, for example when it is empty, without having to replace the sensor assembly.
US08689617B2	Engine cooling system control Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing each of a plurality of engine cooling system components including various valves and grill shutters. Each valve may be individually closed and opened for a specified duration, and corresponding changes in coolant temperature may be monitored. If all the components are functional, the various valves may be adjusted to stagnate coolant at the engine and expedite engine warm-up during a cold-start.
US08689616B2	Products having a sensor device A sensor device where a jig is engaged to an engaging part formed in the housing, and the housing is rotated by the jig and screwed into the member to be mounted. A position in the rotating direction of the housing is configured to have a substantially constant position at the time the screw-fixing of the housing and the member to be mounted is completed. A shape of the engaging part when seen along a direction of a rotational axis X of the housing is formed into a non-regular polygon, and the engaging part and a mold IC are shifted and disposed to a side that has a margin in a space in the housing or around the mold IC so that the space around the sensor device is used effectively.
US08689612B2	Pressure tester for printhead integrated circuit carrier A pressure-based tester for testing an integrity of a printhead integrated circuit (IC) carrier includes a housing assembly; a cradle assembly coupled to the housing assembly and adapted to receive the printhead IC carrier, the cradle assembly further defining spouts adapted to engage with the printhead IC carrier; a regulated gas supply arranged in the housing assembly; a first gas supply line in fluid communication with the regulated gas supply; a pneumatic retaining mechanism in fluid communication with the gas supply via the first gas supply line, the pneumatic retaining mechanism for retaining the carrier in fluid communication with the spouts during testing of the platform assembly; a second gas supply line in fluid communication with the regulated gas supply, the second gas supply line being separated from the first gas supply line by a pressure regulator, the second gas supply line for supplying gas to the spouts; a pressure sensor for measuring a gas pressure at each spout and generating a signal indicative of the measured gas pressure; and a control system for controlling the regulated gas supply and the pneumatic retaining mechanism. The control system is further configured to receive the signal generated by the pressure sensor to determine the presence of any decay in the gas pressure at each spout.
US08689609B2	Hydrogen sensor with dew condensation prevention The gas sensor includes: a cylindrical member which includes a gas detection chamber therein and extends along an axial thereof; a base member which closes an opening of a first axial end of the cylindrical member; a status sensor which is disposed at a substantially central portion of the base member, and detects at least the temperature or the humidity in the gas detection chamber; a gas detection element disposed around the status sensor on the base member; a lid member which closes an opening of a second axial end of the cylindrical member; and a gas inlet port which penetrates the lid member at a location not coinciding with the status sensor and the gas detection element when seen from the axial direction, and enables the introduction of an inspection target gas from an outside into the gas detection chamber.
US08689605B2	Flame safety system for in situ process analyzer A method of operating a process a combustion analyzer having a measurement cell is provided. The method includes exposing the measurement cell to exhaust of a combustion process where fuel and oxygen are combined in a burner to produce a flame. The measurement cell is heated to a temperature above a flashpoint of the fuel. When a condition is detected, such as a fault or abnormal situation, gas is directed to the measurement cell to form a gaseous barrier between the measurement cell and unburned fuel while the detected condition exists. Once the condition abates, the gas flow is disengaged and process combustion gas measurements are provided.
US08689603B2	Control methods for setting a reference voltage in an air treatment system A control system and associated methods for an air treatment system. In one aspect, the present invention provides a control system and method for controlling blower speed as a function of separately determined smoke and dust concentrations. In one embodiment, the control system and method provides a variable delayed between changes in motor speed to address undesirable rapid changes between speeds. In another aspect, the present invention provides a system and method for calibrating a sensor to provide more uniform operation over time. In yet another aspect, the present invention provide a system and method for calibrating motor speed to provide more consistent and uniform motor speed over time. The present invention also provides a system and method for tracking filter life by as a function of time, motor speed and/or a sensed variable, such as particulate concentration in the environment.
US08689602B2	Testing detectors A hazard detector assembly for attachment to a surface within a protected zone comprises a detector unit and a test stimulus generator unit.
US08689601B2	Oil debris monitor verification dry rig An assembly includes a debris monitor mount, a motor, and a particle belt. The particle belt carries one or more metallic particles. The particle belt is driven by the motor. The particle belt extends proximate the debris monitor mount when driven by the motor.
US08689599B2	Clamp and repair tool A system for repairing a pipe including a tool, a programmable logic controller and a patch. The tool includes a clamp base having an opening, a first jaw coupled to the clamp base with a first linkage, a second jaw coupled to the clamp base with a second linkage, an operating mechanism carried by the clamp base and operably coupled to the first and second jaws via one or more adjusting links and a junction box carried by the clamp base and operably connected to the controller, wherein the one or more adjusting links are coupled at a first end to either or both of the first and second jaws and at a second end to the operating mechanism, and wherein the first and second jaws are adapted to move, under force of the adjusting links. Methods of repairing pipes are disclosed.
US08689591B2	Personal property safe A safe is provided for securely storing property that may be accessed quickly. A biometric scanner is coupled to a latching mechanism which may be actuated upon input of a recognized pattern, such as a fingerprint. The safe door may be spring actuated to automatically open upon release of the locking mechanism. The latch positively locks the door so that it resists opening from sharp blows to the safe.
US08689590B2	Utility enclosure vandal guard with shackle cover A vandal guard for a utility enclosure includes a cover with a cover plate and a shackle cover on top of the cover plate. The shackle cover is located over a slot in the cover plate for receiving a staple. When the staple is secured with a lock, the shackle of the lock is shielded by the shackle cover to protect it from tampering.
US08689577B2	Indoor unit, air conditioner including indoor unit and method of controlling air conditioner An in-ceiling embedded type air conditioner including an indoor unit having an air blower and an indoor heat exchanger accommodated in a housing a substantially box-shape, and a filtering unit including a gas-liquid contact member that is disposed at the downstream side of the indoor heat exchanger on an air blowing passage through which air sucked by the air blower flows in the indoor unit and infiltrated with electrolytic water generated by electrolyzing water, the air and the electrolytic water being brought into contact with each other in the gas-liquid contact member, whereby the air cooled or heated in the indoor heat exchanger is filtered, that is, virus, etc. contained in the air is inactivated, sterilized or the like and then blown out to a room to be air-conditioned.
US08689576B2	Refrigerated merchandiser A refrigerated merchandiser including a refrigeration system, a first sensor in communication with the refrigerated airflow in a discharge passageway to sense a discharge airflow temperature, and a second sensor is in communication with the refrigerated airflow in the return passageway to sense a return airflow temperature. A controller is in electrical communication with the first sensor and the second sensor and controls a temperature of the product within a predetermined temperature range that is between about 22 degrees Fahrenheit and 23 degrees Fahrenheit based on at least one of the discharge airflow temperature and the return airflow temperature. The controller is further programmed to operate the refrigeration system such that the discharge airflow temperature is maintained above a temperature between about 10 degrees Fahrenheit and 30 degrees Fahrenheit to regulate an evaporation temperature of the evaporator to avoid freezing the product.
US08689568B2	Cooling hole with thermo-mechanical fatigue resistance A gas turbine engine includes a wall having first and second wall surfaces and a cooling hole extending through the wall. The cooling hole includes an inlet located at the first wall surface, an outlet located at the second wall surface, a metering section extending downstream from the inlet and a diffusing section extending from the metering section to the outlet. The diffusing section includes a first lobe diverging longitudinally and laterally from the metering section, a second lobe diverging longitudinally and laterally from the metering section, an upstream end located at the outlet, a trailing edge located at the outlet opposite the upstream end and generally opposite first and second sidewalls. Each sidewall has an edge extending along the outlet between the upstream end and the trailing edge. Each edge diverges laterally from the upstream end and converges laterally before reaching the trailing edge.
US08689563B2	Fuel nozzle guide plate mistake proofing A fuel nozzle guide plate has mirror symmetry about a first plane perpendicular to the fuel nozzle guide plate and mirror symmetry about a second plane parallel to the fuel nozzle guide plate. The fuel nozzle guide plate is attached to an air swirler, which is mounted in an opening of a bulkhead for mixing air and fuel at an upstream side of a combustor.
US08689556B2	Phase change material thermal power generator An energy producing device, for example a submersible vehicle for descending or ascending to different depths within water or ocean, is disclosed. The vehicle comprises a temperature-responsive material to which a hydraulic fluid is associated. A pressurized storage compartment stores the fluid as soon as the temperature-responsive material changes density. The storage compartment is connected with a hydraulic motor, and a valve allows fluid passage from the storage compartment to the hydraulic motor. An energy storage component, e.g. a battery, is connected with the hydraulic motor and is charged by the hydraulic motor when the hydraulic fluid passes through the hydraulic motor. Upon passage in the hydraulic motor, the fluid is stored in a further storage compartment and is then sent back to the area of the temperature-responsive material.
US08689552B2	Centrifugal compressor and turbocharger A centrifugal compressor is provided with: a housing which houses a compressor wheel therein; a spiral scroll arranged in an outer periphery of the compressor wheel; and a diffuser portion provided as a path space communicating with the scroll from an outlet side of the compressor wheel and formed by a compressor housing and a center housing. The centrifugal compressor is also provided with a movable vane which is movable between a projecting position where the movable vane projects from the compressor housing and a housing position where the movable vane houses in a housing portion provided in compressor housing, and an actuator which drives the movable vane between the projecting position and the housing position. The actuator is provided in the center housing.
US08689545B2	Device for evaporating a fluid A device for evaporating a predeterminable volume of fluid provides for successive addition of partial volumes of the predeterminable volume to a supply line at different adding rates, at least partially evaporating the partial volumes forming a vapor film between them and a supply line wall, conveying the partial volumes through the supply line to an evaporator surface, and applying the partial volumes to an evaporator surface region varying as a function of mass and/or volume adding rate of the partial volume, permitting effective evaporation of fluid, particularly urea/water solution. Utilization of the highest possible proportion of evaporator surfaces is achieved by mass and/or volume addition rate-dependent distribution of impingement surfaces on the evaporator surface. This heating strategy in the supply line region ensures the Leidenfrost effect when individual partial volumes are added. As even a distribution as possible is achieved using a corresponding geometrical configuration of the evaporator channel.
US08689541B2	Valvetrain control method and apparatus for conserving combustion heat An engine control system includes a catalyst module and a cylinder module. The catalyst module determines a catalyst temperature. The cylinder module selectively switches operation of a first cylinder from a first engine cycle having four strokes to a second engine cycle having N times four strokes, based on the catalyst temperature, wherein N is an integer greater than one. A related method is also provided.
US08689538B2	Ultra-efficient propulsor with an augmentor fan circumscribing a turbofan An ultra-efficient “green” aircraft propulsor utilizing an augmentor fan is disclosed. A balanced design is provided combining a fuel efficient and low-noise high bypass ratio augmentor fan and a low-noise shrouded high bypass ratio turbofan. Three mass flow streams are utilized to reduce propulsor specific fuel consumption and increase performance relative to conventional turbofans. Methods are provided for optimization of fuel efficiency, power, and noise by varying mass flow ratios of the three mass flow streams. Methods are also provided for integration of external propellers into turbofan machinery.
US08689537B1	Micro-cavity discharge thruster (MCDT) It is disclosed herein a breakthrough concept for in-space propulsion for future Air Force, NASA and commercial systems. The invention combines the fields of micro-electrical-mechanical (MEMs) devices, optical physics, and nonequilibrium plasmadynamics to reduce dramatically the size of electric thrusters by 1-2 orders of magnitude, which when coupled with electrodeless operation and high thruster efficiency, will enable scalable, low-cost, long-life distributable propulsion for control of microsats, nanosats, and space structures. The concept is scalable from power levels of 1 W to tens of kilowatts with thrust efficiency exceeding 60%. Ultimate specific impulse would be 500 seconds with helium, with lower values for heavier gases.
US08689535B2	Screw shaft turbine compressor and system Disclosed herein are screw shaft turbine compressors having (i) a compressor section, (ii) a turbine section, (iii) a combustion section coupling to the compressor section and the turbine section, and (iv) a grooved shaft. The grooved shaft can include one or more grooves for providing fuel from the compressor section to the combustion section and for allowing exhaust to leave the combustion section and exit the turbine section. A method for generating different speed to torque ratios on the shaft and a system for generating torque on the shaft are further disclosed.
US08689519B2	Multi-hole concealer strip The Multi-Hole Concealer Strip conceals any exposed holes in cabinetry designs. It is a decorative strip that accents any cabinet with a smooth appearance to leave a finished look to the cabinetry.
US08689505B2	Profile-bending means for frame to be pocketed A panel frame for suspended ceiling, at least one side of this frame having, when seen in section, a top wall and a side wall. The top wall is provided with a fitted flat section, this flat section having at least two through-holes for the passage of an assembly mechanism such as screws, one of the through-holes being ovalized or oblong.
US08689502B2	Preformed duct system A duct bank assembly may include an elongate extending conduit with a length for receiving and passing through a cable or wire and an encasing body encasing the conduit along its longitudinal extent between a first mating end and an opposed second mating end of the body. Each mating end has a shear transfer mechanism associated therewith for engagement with a corresponding shear transfer mechanism of an adjacent duct bank assembly.
US08689501B2	Gabion elements for producing constructions such as walls, barricades and the like A gabion includes panels of metal meshes that can be assembled so as to form a casing for receiving a bulk of filler material such as pebbles, natural rock fragments, wood chips or the like and/or a mixture of said materials. The gabion further includes at least one flexible sealed pouch provided with gripping members and configured to be inserted between the assembled panels.
US08689499B2	Double glazed window glass structure A double glazed window glass structure includes a frame defining an outer perimeter of the window glass structure, and first and second sheet glasses mounted on respective sides of the frame to define a heat insulation space therebetween. The frame includes an outer frame portion and an inner frame portion extending from an inner surface of the outer frame portion toward an inside of the frame. The inner frame portion has first and second sheet glass receiving surfaces bonded to the first and second sheet glasses, respectively. The inner frame portion is provided with a groove having an opening that opens in the second sheet glass receiving surface, the groove containing a drying agent therein, and a communication passage allowing only a fluid to flow between the groove and the heat insulation space. The opening of the groove is closed by the second sheet glass.
US08689487B2	Panel for a motor vehicle A panel, preferably made of plastic, for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle comprises a U-shaped passage for the reception of a seal which has a first sealing lip which contacts a first limb of the U-shaped passage in an uninterrupted manner and comprises a second sealing lip which contacts the second limb of the U-shaped passage. To improve the sealing effect, the second sealing lip contacts the second limb of the U-shaped passage in an uninterrupted manner.
US08689486B2	Barrier operator and chassis A chassis for a barrier operator is provided. The barrier operator includes a motor and a transmission configured to cooperate with a rail system to move a barrier. The chassis includes a unibody frame having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion is configured to receive and secure the motor to the unibody frame. The second portion is configured to receive and secure the transmission to the unibody frame. The third portion is configured to receive and secure at least a portion of the rail system to the unibody frame. The first, second, and third portions are formed as a single, integral component.
US08689483B2	Apparatus for controlling growth of organisms An apparatus for controlling the growth of an organism includes a parameter control system, a remote control center, a control box, at least one environment-regulating device and at least one sensor. The parameter control system is stored with a plurality of operation modes, and environmental parameters that correspond to the respective operation modes and govern a variety of growth conditions for different species of organisms. The apparatus can automatically change the environmental conditions from one state to another, so as to meet the user's requirements and enhance the productivity without being limited by the ambient conditions.
US08689478B2	Quick take-down barrel system and method for modular rifle In embodiments, a modular rifle includes a lower receiver assembly, an upper receiver assembly housing a barrel, and a coupling mechanism. Upper receiver assembly has two portions, an aft portion and fore portion, commonly comprising a hand guard. The barrel is releasably attached to the upper receiver first portion by a hand-tightenable barrel nut sleeve connector. Upper receiver second portion is both releasably attached to the barrel nut connector sleeve and to the upper receiver first portion to prevent the barrel nut connector sleeve from rotating during firing of the rifle and to keep the second portion from detaching during firing of the rifle. Attachment of upper receiver second portion to the barrel nut connector sleeve is accomplished by a removable take-down pin and common screw clamp, which secure the barrel nut connector sleeve. Upper receiver first and second portions are connected by an attachment tab and receptacle.
US08689477B2	Top opening, modular top rail, multi-rifle adaptable free float rail adaptor system (ARM-R) An improved Rail Adaptor System/Rail Accessory System (RAS) which attaches to a firearm. The rail is top opening, modular, and free floats the barrel. Provided is a rigid, lightweight, strong platform for mounting firearm accessories. Heat transmission from the barrel assembly to the user is limited. The user is also protected from ventilated gases originating from the operating system. A quick detachable top rail section is provided so that the gas system may be easily accessed. This removable top section of the rail is what makes this device unique because the RAS may be installed without removing the barrel, gas system, front sight base, flash hider or the barrel nut. The herein described RAS is adaptable to a wide variety of firearms with the use of conversion parts. The top tail “returns to zero” on reinstallation allowing the remounting of various optics and electronic gun sites without the need to realign them.
US08689472B2	Wear assembly A wear assembly for excavating equipment which includes a wear member and a base each with upper and lower stabilizing surfaces that are offset and at overlapping depths to reduce the overall depth of the assembly while maintaining high strength and a stable coupling. The nose and socket each includes a generally triangular-shaped front stabilizing end to provide a highly stable front connection between the nose and wear member for both vertical and side loading. The lock is movable between hold and release positions to accommodate replacing of the wear member when needed, and secured to the wear member for shipping and storage purposes.
US08689470B2	Excavator An excavator (1) includes an excavator main body (7), an apron (2) for the receipt of excavated material and a conveyor (3), the apron being located at or in proximity to the front of the main body, the conveyor extending from the apron to the rear of the main body. In use, the conveyor moves excavated material from the front to the rear of the main body, the excavator further includes an arm (11) having an attachment (5) for excavating material and moving the excavating material towards the apron (2). The excavator has a support associated with the front of the main body, the support being movable from a first position in which the support is in resilient contact with the ground to a second position in which there is substantially no contact between the support and the ground. The support includes one or both of the apron and conveyor.
US08689466B2	Impact-attenuation members with lateral and shear force stability and products containing such members Impact-attenuation members include: (a) an impact-attenuating member and (b) a shear resistant member engaged with the impact-attenuating member. Another example impact-attenuation member includes a shear resistant member having a continuous wall that bulges outward on opposing sides when in an uncompressed base orientation. The shear resistant members may be structured and arranged to allow bending or compression against impact forces in one direction (e.g., when landing a step or a jump), but remain highly stable against shear or lateral forces in another direction (e.g., in a side-to-side direction). Such impact-attenuation members may be used in footwear products, including in athletic footwear.
US08689465B2	Impact-attenuation members with lateral and shear force stability and products containing such members Impact-attenuation members include: (a) an impact-attenuating member and (b) a shear resistant member engaged with the impact-attenuating member. Another example impact-attenuation member includes a shear resistant member having a continuous wall that bulges outward on opposing sides when in an uncompressed base orientation. The shear resistant members may be structured and arranged to allow bending or compression against impact forces in one direction (e.g., when landing a step or a jump), but remain highly stable against shear or lateral forces in another direction (e.g., in a side-to-side direction). Such impact-attenuation members may be used in footwear products, including in athletic footwear.
US08689450B2	Knife having a reversible carriage A knife comprising a housing and a rotating blade carriage pivotably associated with the housing. The knife further includes a compartment in which a plurality of blades can be stored and later advanced from the housing for performing a cutting action, the first end of the blade being exposed. The rotating blade carriage can be rotated with respect to the housing and placed in a second position so that the opposite end of the same blade is exposed for performing a cutting action when advanced. The rotating blade carriage can be selectively locked in the first or second position. A carriage locking lever can be accessible for unlocking the rotating blade carriage for blade reversal. When removal of the used or worn blade is desired, the knife can have one or more blade release members that allow the disengagement of the blade from the knife so that the user can manually remove the blade without the requirement of disassembly or partial disassembly of the knife. Automatic reloading of subsequent blades is possible. If desired, the knife can be configured to automatically load subsequent blades after removal of previous used or worn blades.
US08689448B2	Razor head and outer frame thereof An outer frame of a razor head includes two side parts, a front part and a rear part connecting the side parts. An inner side wall of each side part provides a positioning block which has a first plane for mounting and supporting razor blade assemblies. Resilient arms are connected with side walls of the positioning blocks. Each resilient arm includes a leg part connecting the positioning block and a head part connecting an end of the leg part. An inclination angle between the leg part and the first plane is in the range of 25°˜30°. The head part is extended out of the first plane. The resilient arm can provide a suitable supporting force to a razor blade holder within its allowable range to be prevented from being fractured easily, and in turn improve the using performance of the outer frame and extend its lifetime.
US08689445B2	Precision axle spindle and wheel end assembly for heavy-duty vehicles An axle spindle and wheel end assembly includes a precision-formed axle spindle, wheel hub, and axle spindle nut. The axle spindle is formed with parallel inboard and outboard bearing surfaces, a shoulder that is perpendicular to the inboard and outboard bearing surfaces, and threads for a spindle nut that are aligned with the inboard and outboard bearing surfaces. The wheel hub is formed with inboard and outboard bearing surfaces that are in parallel alignment with one another, and bearing axial stop surfaces that are perpendicular to the wheel hub bearing surfaces. The spindle nut is formed with threads on its inner periphery and a flat inboard surface that is perpendicular to the threads. The axle spindle, wheel hub, and spindle nut cooperate to enable an axle spindle nut assembly to consistently provide a light preload on a bearing cone and spacer group of the wheel end assembly.
US08689444B2	Method and device for adjusting valve clearance A method for adjusting a valve clearance in a cylinder head using a rocker arm of a support point adjustable type. In the method, an adjustment screw is rotated in one direction until a camshaft comes in contact with a cam shaft contact section to make the amount of valve opening zero, then further rotated until the valve is released with a certain valve opening amount, and after that, rotated in a reverse direction by a certain rotation angle and accordingly loosened until a desired valve clearance value is obtained. In the process above, the method determines a first rotation angle of the adjustment screw necessary for the adjustment screw to move from a position where the valve is released with the certain valve opening amount to a position where the camshaft comes in contact with the camshaft contact section. Then, the method determines a second rotation angle of the adjustment screw necessary for the adjustment screw to move from the position where the camshaft comes in contact with the camshaft contact section to a position where the desired valve clearance value can be obtained. After that, the method rotates the adjustment screw in the reverse direction by a given rotation angle that is a sum of the first and second rotation angles.
US08689443B1	Method and apparatus to improve performance of power plant steam surface condensers The invention apparatus and method is practiced in large steam surface condensers and in one aspect comprises relatively narrow horizontal trays installed between the vertical tube bundles to drain the condensate from the upper bundle around the lower ones and thereby improve the heat transfer coefficient of the lower bundle(s). A second aspect of the invention apparatus comprises relatively narrow horizontal trays installed slightly below the lowest bundle to improve reheating of falling condensate up toward the saturation temperature of the condenser thereby reducing subcooling and the level of dissolved oxygen in that condensate. A third aspect of the invention apparatus comprises a partial hood retrofitted at the top of the central tubesheet air off-take entrance which is a unique element of the starburst/core pipe condenser design to thereby improve the air removal capability and consequently the performance of the condenser.
US08689437B2	Method for forming integrated circuit assembly A method for forming an integrated circuit assembly comprises forming first solder bumps on a first die, and forming a first structure comprising the first die, the first solder bumps, a first flux, and a first substratum. The first die is placed upon the first substratum. The first solder bumps are between the first die and the first substratum. The first flux holds the first die substantially flat and onto the first substratum.
US08689436B2	Two abutting sections of an align fixture together floatingly engaging an electronic component An align fixture for aligning an electronic component having a receptacle adapted to receive the electronic component and having a first abutting section and a second abutting section, the align fixture further having a first elastic unit and a second elastic unit, the first abutting section is flexibly mounted via the first elastic unit, and the second abutting section is flexibly mounted via the second elastic unit, and the first abutting section and the second abutting section are together adapted to floatingly engage the electronic component.
US08689433B1	Automatic gravity vacuum screw feeding An electric screwdriver is coupled to an automatic screw feeding adaptor defining a screw path having a proximal end, a middle region and a distal end. A first screw is received within the screw feeding adaptor and held at a driving position near the distal end of the screw path by applying a distal partial vacuum within the screw feeding adaptor. The first screw is driven, and a torque applied to the first screw is detected. The torque is compared to a minimum torque threshold, and a second screw is moved along the screw path based at least in part upon the comparison.
US08689430B1	Method for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR)head A method and system for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head are disclosed. A PMR pole having a bottom and a top wider than the bottom is provided. The PMR pole may be formed by depositing a PMR pole layer, then removing part of the PMR pole layer, leaving the PMR pole. The PMR pole may also be provided by forming a trench having the desired profile in a photoresist layer, depositing the PMR pole layer, then removing the photoresist layer, leaving the PMR pole in the location of the trench. A side gap is deposited over the PMR pole. A side shield is provided on the side gap. A planarization that removes part of the side shield on the PMR pole is performed. A top gap is provided on the PMR pole, substantially covering the entire PMR pole. A top shield is provided on the top gap.
US08689428B2	Method and system for manufacturing an electronic interface apparatus A method for manufacture of an electronic interface card including defining a pair of apertures in a substrate layer, associating an antenna with the substrate layer such that opposite ends of the antenna terminate at the apertures, placing a conductor in each of the apertures, connecting the antenna to the conductor, forming a recess in the substrate layer, attaching continuous connection wires to a plurality of chip modules, attaching the continuous connection wires to a plurality of conductors on a corresponding plurality of the substrate layers, cutting the continuous connection wires so as to retain portions thereof which connect each chip module to a corresponding pair of conductors and sealing the chip module in the recess.
US08689420B2	Apparatus and method for installing and removing wheel studs A wheel stud installing and removing system includes a C-frame; a forcing screw configured to communicate with the C-frame to move laterally through the C-frame; a swivel mounted on an end on the forcing screw; an adapter receiver mounted on an opposite end of the C-frame from the forcing screw, and configured to receive at least one of either a stud installing adapter and a stud removing adapter. A method of moving a stud includes: inserting one of either an installing adapter or a removing adapter into an adapter receiver on a C-frame; aligning a longitudinal axis of the adapter with a longitudinal axis of the stud; aligning the longitudinal axis of the stud with a longitudinal axis of a forcing screw; and turning the forcing screw.
US08689415B2	Methods for manufacturing piezoelectric devices In an exemplary method for manufacturing a piezoelectric device, a lid wafer, a piezoelectric wafer, and a base wafer are prepared. Each wafer defines multiple lids, multiple piezoelectric vibrating pieces, and multiple bases, respectively. The piezoelectric vibrating pieces comprise respective first and second electrodes, and the base wafer is made of glass. The bases comprise respective first and second metal wires extending therethrough, each wire having a respective end and a respective side surface at the end that protrudes at least partially from the first surface. A wafer sandwich is formed with the three wafers co-aligned with each other, with the protruding ends of the wires contacting respective first and second electrodes. The layers are anodic bonded together, which also bonds the protruding ends of the first and second wires to the respective first and second electrodes. The bonded wafer sandwich is cut into separate individual piezoelectric devices thus formed in the sandwich from each other.
US08689408B2	Continuous-coil type waterproof slide fastener and the structure impervious to fluid thereof A continuous-coil type waterproof slide fastener includes two support tapes each having opposing first face and second face, two rows of coupling elements respectively formed of a continuous length of monofilament and respectively secured to along the inner longitudinal edge of the second face of each of the two support tapes, a high polymer elastic member bonded to the vertical wall of the inner longitudinal edge of each support tape and transversely extending from the vertical wall of the inner longitudinal edge to a predetermined distance, each high polymer elastic member further having a covering portion on the inner longitudinal edge of the second face of the associating support tape and a filling portion penetrates into inner chinks in the associating row of coupling elements, and a fluid impervious film covered at least on the first face of each support tape and the associating high polymer elastic member.
US08689401B2	Vacuum cleaner dirt cup A vacuum cleaner including a dirt cup assembly including a first stage cyclonic separator operable to at least partially separate debris from an airflow, a second stage cyclonic separator downstream from the first stage cyclonic separator and operable to at least partially separate the debris from the airflow, a container having a sidewall that at least partially defines the first stage cyclonic separator, and a shroud having a lower perforated portion located within the container, and an upper portion that surrounds and receives the second stage cyclonic separator. The upper portion is located outside of the first container such that the upper portion forms an outside wall of the dirt cup above the sidewall of the container. The shroud further includes an intermediate portion between the lower portion and the upper portion, and the intermediate portion is coupled to the sidewall of the first container.
US08689384B2	Pig receiver assembly A pig receiver and method retrieve pigs in pipeline pigging operations. In one embodiment, a pig receiver includes a pig receiver unit. The pig receiver also includes a pig gate valve assembly disposed on the pig receiving unit. The pig gate valve assembly includes a gate valve. The pig gate valve assembly also includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The pig gate valve assembly further includes a cylinder guide. In addition, the pig gate valve assembly includes a tie bar. Actuation of the tie bar actuates the gate valve. An end of the tie bar is attached to the first actuator, and an opposing end of the tie bar is attached to the second actuator.
US08689382B2	Method of manufacturing an article of footwear including a composite upper A method of manufacturing an upper made of a composite material for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes associating a layer of carbon fiber material and a flexible substrate to form the composite material. A thin outer coating of TPU is applied to an outer surface of the carbon fiber material of the composite material. The method forms an article of footwear having an upper that is generally flexible and lightweight.
US08689371B2	Hygienic bench towel A hygienic bench towel for covering an exercise bench before a user sits on the bench to protect the user from sweat, germs and contamination left by a previous user. The bench towel has a semi rigid handle which enables a user to move the towel form one bench to another without touching the contaminated side of the towel. Another advantage provided by the handle is that the user always knows which side of the towel should be placed against the workout bench The towel is provided with spaced apart tabs at that end of the towel which is draped over the back of the bench to allow the towel to conform to framework which may be present at the center of the back of the bench. The handle is located on the towel so that the tabs don't become contaminated when the towel is moved using the handle. When the user is finished with the towel, the user folds the towel using the uncontaminated tabs and places the towel in a bag for transport to laundry services. One embodiment of the bench towel contains ties for rigidly securing the towel to a bench.
US08689369B2	Pool skimmer with integral disinfectant dispenser A swimming pool skimmer formed to include an integral disinfectant dispenser. The disinfectant dispenser is adapted to enable infinite adjustment to the level of disinfectant dispensed into the normal flow of the pool water. The skimmer includes a valve that is used to adjust the flow of water distributed to the disinfectant dispenser. The flow rate of water entering the dispensing chamber is controlled by the valve, which controls the water level within the dispensing chamber. The amount of water exiting the dispensing chamber is controlled by a vertically extending elongated flow slit. The higher the water level in the dispensing chamber causes more exposure to the chlorine tablets, increasing the chlorine level in the dispensing water. Chlorinated water exits the flow slit and enters the skimmer main chamber.
US08689362B2	Sun protective neckwear garment An ultraviolet protective garment is provided for wear to protect the user's neck, chest, upper back, chin, and portions of the shoulders. The sun protective neckwear garment is provided for wear primarily during outdoor activity, wherein the user engages in activity which exposes the user's neck, upper chest, upper back, chin, and shoulders to the ultraviolet rays of the sun whether in hot weather climate or cold weather climate, and can be used during indoor activity, or when a user is driving in a vehicle; and provides a secondary wicking utility. The neckwear garment is a single body tubular unit, with a unique generally ship decanter shape, comprising a chin-collar portion; a neck portion; bib portion having shoulder portions. The neckwear garment is manufactured from flexible, elasticized, fabric with ultraviolet blocking capability. The neckwear garment can reduce the wearer's risk of developing various types of skin damage.
US08695099B2	Login initiated scanning of computing devices Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for login initiated remote scanning of computer devices. The present invention detects login to the network via access management systems. The login data provides information that identifies the device so that the device can be checked against a scan database to determine if and when a previous scan occurred. Based on the findings in the scan database determinations are made as to whether to perform a scan. Additionally, the level of scanning can be determined based on previous scan dates and previous scan results, which may dictate customized scanning. In addition, the priority of the impending scan may be dictated by previous scan dates and results. Further embodiments provide for assessing risk, such as risk scoring or the like, concurrently or in near-real-time with the completion of the scan so that alerts may be communicated.
US08695086B2	System and method for user authentication A system and a related method are disclosed for authenticating a user of an electronic system. The system, and related method access (a) data relating to a defined interaction with an input device for a purported authorized user, (b) a probability distribution representation for the defined interaction for an authorized user, and (c) a probability distribution representation for the defined interaction for a wide population, from which it can determine value indicative of whether the purported authorized user is the authorized user. The purported authorized user can be authenticated as the authorized user, if the value satisfies a prescribed threshold.
US08695077B1	Establishing and controlling communication sessions between SIP devices and website application servers Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for establishing and controlling communication sessions between SIP devices and website application servers. An access portal computing device is coupled between one or more SIP devices and one or more website application servers. The access portal is configured to authenticate SIP user credentials based upon receipt of a SIP message from a SIP device and determine website user credentials associated with a website application server based on the SIP user credentials. The access portal is configured to receive, from the website application server, a communication services application based upon transmission of the website credentials to the website application server, translate SIP requests received from the SIP device into web-based commands for transmission to the website application server, and translate web-based commands received from the website application server into SIP requests for transmission to the SIP device.
US08695075B2	System and method for discovery enrichment in an intelligent workload management system The system and method described herein for discovery enrichment in an intelligent workload management system may include a computing environment having a model-driven, service-oriented architecture for creating collaborative threads to manage workloads. In particular, the management threads may converge information for managing identities and access credentials, which may provide information that can enrich discovery of physical and virtual infrastructure resources. For example, a discovery engine may reference federated identity information stored in an identity vault and enrich a discovered infrastructure model with the federated identity information. Thus, the model may generally include information describing physical and virtualized resources in the infrastructure, applications and services running in the infrastructure, and information derived from the federated identity information that describes dependencies between the physical resources, the virtualized resources, the applications, and the services.
US08695066B1	System and method for secure communication between domains A method for secure communications between first and second domains where a first logical unit calculates timestamps and hashes and transmits web forms to a node of a first domain responsive to a request. The first unit further receives data input to the web form by the user and enhances and translates that data and transmits the translated data across the public network. A second logical unit de-enhances the translated data, filters the translated data authorizes the filtered data and adds security services without modifying the application.
US08695063B2	Authentication failure in a wireless local area network In the event of an authentication process failure, a mobile station bans a connection profile storing the credentials provided by the mobile station when initiating the failed authentication process, thus affecting how subsequent scans—other than discovery scans—and connection attempts are handled. In the event of an authentication process failure, a mobile station bans or suppresses an access point with which the mobile station initiated the failed authentication process. The mobile station refrains from transmitting any communications addressed to the unique identifier of any banned access point. The mobile station may ignore any communications received from a banned access point. Suppressed access points are occasionally not made available to the mobile station for selection as a target for a connection attempt.
US08695057B2	Communications apparatus and control method therefor When exchanging communication parameter setting information on a wireless network, a communications apparatus selects between a first operation mode in which communications parameter information is exchanged with a specific communications apparatus and a second operation mode in which communications parameter information is exchanged with an unspecified number of communications apparatus. Depending on the selected operation mode, the communications apparatus control security upon holding the communications parameter information exchanged with the specific communications apparatus and the communications parameter information exchanged with the unspecified number of communications apparatus.
US08695050B2	Multicasting system and multicasting method A multicasting system includes a delivery server for multicasting a content via at least one upper router and a plurality of lower routers, a plurality of client devices for playing the content multicast by the delivery server, an upper router controller for controlling the upper router and a lower router controller for controlling the plurality of lower routers. The client device includes a play history storage unit, an individual storage unit, a content retrieving unit, and a content playing unit. The delivery server includes a master storage unit, an optimizer optimizing the identifier and the session information of the content stored on the individual storage unit, and a content delivery unit. The upper router controller includes a session information retrieving unit, a book scheduling unit, and a schedule information notifier.
US08695041B2	Portability of personalized television settings and preferences A method for transferring DHCT settings includes receiving by a first digital home communication terminal (DHCT) a request for transmitting a DHCT setting from the first DHCT to a second DHCT, and transmitting the DHCT setting from the first DHCT to the second DHCT. Systems and other methods for transferring DHCT settings are also provided.
US08695037B2	Content navigator graphical user interface system and method In a system and method for enabling a user to simultaneously display a set of selectable categories, a set of channels related to a selected category, and individual content associated with a selected channel, of potential interest to the user. The system includes a graphical user interface which includes a set of selectable categories, sets of channels, each set of which includes channels which are relevant to each selectable category, and individual content, each of which is associated with a selectable channel and a selectable category. The graphical user interface uses hypertext markup language as the content description language, for enabling generation of guide information with links to related information and search functionality. The graphical user interface is further adapted to enable the selection of a category, a related channel, and associated individual content by the user. The internet websites and the internet content may be displayed in the same context as the video content.
US08695027B2	System and method for application security assessment A system and method in one embodiment includes modules for running a test script to generate a request to a target application, receiving a response from the target application, and running a detector script to inspect the response for a vulnerability. More specific embodiments include a target web site, populating a work in a queue, where the work corresponds to content in the response, and running a second test script or detector script to generate a follow-up request to the application if the vulnerability has been identified in the response. Other embodiments include extracting the work from the queue, and running a second test script corresponding to the extracted work. Other embodiments include storing an injection in an injection cache, de-registering the injection from the injection cache if it is identified in the response, and re-crawling the application, if the injection has not been de-registered from the injection cache.
US08695023B2	Adjustable medium holding unit and medium processing apparatus A holding portion includes at least three pressing members which are operable to press an inner peripheral of a hole formed on the medium. The pressing members are movable between first positions where the pressing members do not come in contact with the inner peripheral and second positions where the pressing members come in contact with and press the inner peripheral. Each of the pressing members is adapted to interlockingly move with each other when moving toward the first positions and to press the inner peripheral independently from the other members when positioning the second positions.
US08695021B2	Projecting native application programming interfaces of an operating system into other programming languages Information about the operating system application programming interfaces is stored in a known format in a known location. This information fully describes the APIs exposed by the operating system and is stored in API metadata files. A language compiler or interpreter uses this API information to build a natural and familiar representation of the native system API in the target language. The language compiler or interpreter can read the API information at compile time and/or runtime. The metadata is used to allow an application to refer to named elements in the API. Projections are built that use the metadata to map named elements in the API to named elements in the target language, and to define wrappers that marshal data of those elements between the target representation and the native operating system representation.
US08695019B2	System and method for delivering external data to a process running on a virtual machine In a computer system including a computer terminal, an operating system installed on said computer terminal, a virtual machine running on the operating system, a server communicatively coupled to the computer terminal and a process including instructions that when executed on a virtual machine define a user interface; a Single Sign On (SSO) system comprising a database of authentication credentials accessible to the computer terminal, and instructions executable on the virtual machine operative to: obtain user interface state data from the process; query the virtual machine to obtain component data related to the user interface state data; and manipulate the component data so as to deliver authentication credentials to the process.
US08695009B2	Allocating tasks to machines in computing clusters Allocating tasks to machines in computing clusters is described. In an embodiment a set of tasks associated with a job are received at a scheduler. In an embodiment an index can be computed for each combination of tasks and processors and stored in a lookup table. In an example the index may be include an indication of the preference for the task to be processed on a particular processor, an indication of a waiting time for the task to be processed and an indication of how other tasks being processed in the computing cluster may be penalized by assigning a task to a particular processor. In an embodiment tasks are assigned to a processor by accessing the lookup table, selecting a task for processing using the index and scheduling the selected task for allocation to a processor.
US08695004B2	Method for distributing computing time in a computer system The invention relates to a method for distributing computing time in a computer system on which run a number of partial processes or threads to which an assignment process or scheduler assigns computing time as required, priorities being associated with individual threads and the assignment of computing time being carried out according to the respective priorities. According to said method, the individual threads are respectively associated with a number of time priority levels. A first time priority level contains threads to which computing time is assigned as required at any time. A first scheduler respectively allocates a time slice to the individual time priority levels, and respectively activates one of the time priority levels for the duration of the time slice thereof. A second scheduler monitors the threads of the first time priority level and the threads of the respectively activated time priority level, and assigns computing time to said threads according to the priorities thereof.
US08695000B1	Data transfer protection in a multi-tasking modeling environment having a protection mechanism selected by user via user interface A system for providing model level protection for resources holding data accessed by multiple tasks in a model is discussed. The protection occurs at the model level so that the protection mechanism does not interfere with model dynamics. Resources concurrently accessed by multiple tasks are identified so that a unified protection mechanism can be applied to the resource. A user interface may be provided which enables the selection of a particular type of protection mechanism for the data in the resource. User supplied protection mechanisms may also be implemented.
US08694980B2	Efficient egonet computation in a weighted directed graph An embodiment of the invention pertains to a weighted directed graph comprising multiple nodes and edges that each extends between two nodes. The embodiment includes processing edges to generate a forward and reverse edge corresponding to each edge. Forward and reverse edges are processed to generate indirect edges, each comprising two edge components, and extending between two nodes. One node associated with each forward edge, each reverse edge, and each indirect edge is selected to be the key node of its associated edge. All forward, reverse and indirect edges having a particular node as their respective key nodes are placed into a group. All edges of the group are then selectively processed to provide information pertaining to an egonet of the graph that has the particular node as its egonode.
US08694977B2	Distributed compiling process with instruction signature support A compiler module for providing instruction signature support to a compiler includes a language construct identifier and a placeholder insertion component. The language construct identifier is configured to identify an instruction signature-relevant language construct in a high level language source code supplied to the compiler. The placeholder insertion component is configured to interact with the compiler for inserting at least one instruction signature-related placeholder based on the instruction signature-related language construct into a compiled code processed by the compiler on the basis of the high level language source code.
US08694971B2	Scalable property-sensitive points-to analysis for program code A novel system, computer program product, and method are disclosed for transforming a program to facilitate points-to analysis. The method begins with accessing at least a portion of program code, such as JavaScript. In one example, a method with at least one dynamic property correlation is identified for extraction. When a method m is identified for extraction with the dynamic property correlation, a body of the loop l in the method m is extracted. A new method mp is created to include the body of the loop l with the variable i as a parameter. The loop l is substituted in the program code of the method m with the new method mp to create a transformed program code.
US08694965B2	Generating customized documentation for a software product A system and method for creating customized documentation is disclosed. The method comprises storing one or more documents such that each of the one or more documents corresponds to one of a plurality of versions of a software product. The version of the software product which is installed in an installation environment is detected. The configuration of the installation environment is also detected. At least one document from the one or more documents that corresponds to the version of the software product installed in the installation environment is selected. A subset of the selected document that includes the version of the software product installed in the installation environment and the configuration of the installation environment is then determined. A customized document is composed, based on one ore more subsets of the selected document.
US08694963B2	Systems, methods and apparatus for developing and maintaining evolving systems with software product lines Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which an evolutionary system is managed and viewed as a software product line. In some embodiments, the core architecture is a relatively unchanging part of the system, and each version of the system is viewed as a product from the product line. Each software product is generated from the core architecture with some agent-based additions. The result may be a multi-agent system software product line.
US08694957B2	Method and apparatus for an XML reporter An invention is provided for generating an XML test result file. A key parameter and a value parameter are received, wherein the key parameter relates to a tag. A first string is then generated based on the key parameter and the value parameter. Included in the first string is a first beginning tag and a first ending tag, each based on the key parameter. In addition, the first string includes the value parameter positioned between the first beginning tag and the first ending tag. The first string is then inserted into a test results file that stores a second string that has a second beginning tag and a second ending tag. In particular, the first string is inserted between the second beginning tag and a second ending tag. By continuing in this manner, an XML test results file can be generated using the embodiments of the present invention.
US08694950B2	Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing electronic circuit designs with electrical awareness Disclosed are a method, system, and computer program product for implementing electronic circuit designs with electrical awareness. The method or the system updates the schematic level tool(s) and physical design tool(s) with electrical parasitic data or electrical characteristic data associated with electrical parasitics so both schematic and physical design tools are aware of the electrical parasitic or characteristic data in performing their functions such as extraction based simulations. The methods or systems are also aware of EM or IR-drop constraint(s) while implementing or creating a partial layout less than a complete layout. The method or the system also provides a user interface for a design tool to provide in situ, customizable, real-time information for implementing electronic circuit designs with electrical awareness. The methods or systems also support constraint verification for electronic circuit design implementation with electrical awareness.
US08694928B2	Pattern selection for lithographic model calibration The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for test pattern selection for computational lithography model calibration. According to some aspects, the pattern selection algorithms of the present invention can be applied to any existing pool of candidate test patterns. According to some aspects, the present invention automatically selects those test patterns that are most effective in determining the optimal model parameter values from an existing pool of candidate test patterns, as opposed to designing optimal patterns. According to additional aspects, the selected set of test patterns according to the invention is able to excite all the known physics and chemistry in the model formulation, making sure that the wafer data for the test patterns can drive the model calibration to the optimal parameter values that realize the upper bound of prediction accuracy imposed by the model formulation.
US08694925B1	Generating customized graphical user interfaces for mobile processing devices Systems and techniques for producing graphical user interfaces on handheld mobile devices include generating a markup language code defining a graphical user interface component for display on the handheld mobile device and rendering the generated markup language code to produce the graphical user interface component. In some cases, the graphical user interface component includes at least one adaptable attribute based on a selection made by a user. In other cases, a graphical user interface component is generated using static markup language code or a combination of static and dynamically generated markup language code. Graphical user interface components defined by markup language codes can be displayed in an overall graphical user interface along with components that are native to the device and/or that are defined by an application development platform.
US08694924B2	Mobile terminal having function of managing file and folder A mobile terminal having a function of managing files and folders is disclosed. In one embodiment, the mobile terminal displays folder items representing one or more memory elements installed in or joined to the mobile terminal on a display unit when a request to perform a search function is inputted, and displays selection items corresponding to at least one of files included in the folder item and subfolders on the display unit when a select command for a folder item is inputted. At least one embodiment of the invention allows easy management of data (e.g., files, folders, etc.) stored in one or more memory devices installed in or joined to the mobile terminal.
US08694919B2	Menu display device, method for displaying menu, and imaging apparatus The menu display device of the present invention includes: a display section 182 configured to display selectable menu items in a plurality of lines; a menu item selector 184 configured to select one of the menu items; and a control section 170 configured to execute a control so that when the menu item is selected by the menu item selector 184, the plurality of lines are displayed overlapped with each other and the line including the selected menu item is displayed at a forefront, and a selection item corresponding to the selected menu item is displayed under the selected menu item.
US08694915B2	Enhanced telephony computer user interface allowing user interaction and control of a telephone using a personal computer Enhanced telephony computer user interfaces seamlessly integrate and leverage the features of personal computers and telephones. The manner in which media is presented at a computing system can also be modified automatically in response to detected telephone operations. These modifications can include pausing media in response to a detected telephone call and/or adjusting a volume of the media presentation. The media presentation/volume can also be resumed/restored upon detecting that the telephone call has terminated.
US08694910B2	User interface to enable users to scroll through a large list of items Techniques pertaining to efficient scrolling are disclosed. One of the features of the efficient scrolling is the enablement of a search right at an appropriate item in a large list of items, thus avoiding going through the long list and wandering back and forth around a desired item. According to one embodiment, an indexing display is used. The indexing display includes a list of indexes, each corresponding to a group of items that sharing one or more common characteristics (e.g., a character or a kind). The indexing display is allowed first to be scrolled for a desired index. Once the desired index is confirmed, searching for a desired item in the large list starts at an item indexed by the desired index.
US08694903B2	Methods and systems for managing an e-reader interface Exemplary methods and systems for managing an e-reader interface are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes an e-reader interface management system directing an e-reader device to display a plurality of graphical objects representative of a plurality of segments of an e-publication, detecting a user interaction with a graphical object within the plurality of graphical objects and representative of a segment within the plurality of segments, and directing the e-reader device to remove at least one other graphical object within the graphical objects from the display of the graphical objects, wherein the at least one other graphical object is representative of at least one other segment within the plurality of segments that is unrelated to the segment. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08694900B2	Static definition of unknown visual layout positions The subject disclosure relates to applying layout changes and/or animations in a computing system by statically defining unknown visual layout positions of elements within a user interface. Changes that are to be applied to the elements in a user interface are intercepted by mechanism as described herein that applies the changes as a function of a static reusable component. The static reusable component can be applied across various platforms. Animation is performed on a first element as described herein based at least in part on layout input properties of the first element or layout input properties of a second element that is associated with the first element. As additionally described herein, a dynamic graphical layout position can be described based on a definition of an initial layout position and calculation of a resultant layout position, wherein the positions are defined relative to an element or set of elements.
US08694898B2	Electronic device with widgets and method for configuring widgets An electronic device which includes a widget management module, a processor, a source acquiring module, and a display. The widget management module adds a new window and new viewable symbols or representations (views) inside the new window. The processor counts a number of existing windows and a number of existing views in each of the existing windows, calculates a new window identification code for the new window according to the number of existing window and the number of existing views in each of the existing windows, and calculates a new view identification code for each of the new views according to the new window identification code. The source acquiring module acquires sources and data from the sources based on each of the new view identification code and associates the source information with new view corresponding to the new view identification code, leading to the display of the new views.
US08694891B2	Log collector in a distributed computing system In one aspect of the present description, in response to receiving a request from a system administrator or other user of a distributed computing system for a log report generated by the system, the system can remotely access various nodes of the system and obtain the log reports at those nodes in response to that user request. In the illustrated embodiment, such remote access and log retrieval may be undertaken whether or not the system administrator is logged into any of the reporting nodes or has direct access to the reporting nodes. As a result, obtaining pertinent log reports from various nodes of the distributed computing system may be facilitated. Other features and aspects may be realized, depending upon the particular application.
US08694889B2	Object-aware transitions Approaches are described in which objects within slides are identified, automatically or by a user, and each object is individually manipulable during slide transitions. The individual manipulation applied to each object during a transition may also be automatically determined or specified by a user. The persistence of an object between slides may be taken into account in the manipulation of the object during slide transition such that objects present on both a incoming and outgoing slide are handled differently than those objects present on only one of the slides.
US08694887B2	Dynamic contextual shortcuts Subject matter disclosed herein may relate to dynamically selecting and/or determining terms for use with contextual shortcuts in electronic documents such as, for example, web pages.
US08694884B2	Screen capture A method and system for screen capture are provided. The method includes: selecting a screen area; determining properties of an open window displayed in the screen area, including determining the position of the window and the application and current application data; using image processing to detect scroll bars within the application data of the open window, including detecting the position of the slider in the scroll bar; and saving metadata of the screen area including the open window and the scroll bars as a file. The metadata file re-creates the screen area including the open window with the application data in the correct position within the application.
US08694883B2	Document management system, image processing apparatus, and control methods and computer programs therefor The document management system assigns property information of a scanned document when transmitting the scanned document from an MFP to a document management server PC, and stores history information related to the transmission job in a memory. Further, the MFP, on receipt of incorrectness information related to property information from the document management server PC, adds the incorrectness information to the history information. Thereafter, when a user logs into the MFP, the MFP determines whether incorrectness information is included in history information having the same user ID as a user ID of the user, and if incorrectness information is included, displays a modification screen for modifying incorrect property information. Further, once the property information has been modified via the modification screen, the MFP transmits the modified information to the document management server PC, and causes information managed by the document management server PC to be updated.
US08694880B2	Population update framework, systems and methods Tools for updating business objects. The tools include an update utility that can allow a user to identify a selection tool to select a population to be updated. Further, the update utility can provide an interface to allow any of a number of available update tools to be used to update the selected data population. In some cases, the update utility adheres to a framework that employs metadata to identify available update tools, their capabilities, and/or their requirements. This framework can allow the utility to be configured to support new update tools without requiring extensive modification of the underlying framework or its implementing software.
US08694869B2	Methods for forward error correction coding above a radio link control layer and related apparatus Transmission techniques are provided that improve service continuity and reduce interruptions in delivery of content that can be caused by transitions that occur when the User Equipment (UE) moves from one cell to the other, or when the delivery of content changes from a Point-to-Point (PTP) connection to a Point-to-Multipoint (PTM) connection in the same serving cell, and vice-versa. Such transmission techniques enable seamless delivery of content across cell borders and/or between different transmission schemes such as Point-to-Multipoint (PTM) and Point-to-Point (PTP). Mechanisms for adjusting different streams and for recovering content from each data block during such transitions are also provided so that data is not lost during a transition. In addition, mechanisms for realigning data during decoding at a receiving terminal are also provided.
US08694864B1	Parallel processing error detection and location circuitry for configuration random-access memory Error detection and error location determination circuitry is provided for detecting and locating soft errors in random-access-memory arrays on programmable integrated circuits. The random-access-memory arrays contain rows and columns of random-access-memory cells. Some of the cells are loaded with configuration data and produce static output signals that are used to program associated regions of programmable logic. Cyclic redundancy check error correction check bits are computed for each column of an array. The cyclic redundancy check error correction check bits are stored in corresponding columns of cells in the array. During normal operation of an integrated circuit in a system, the cells are subject to soft errors caused by background radiation strikes. The error detection and error location determination circuitry uses parallel processing to continuously monitor the data to identify the row and column location of each error.
US08694861B2	Memory device repair apparatus, systems, and methods Operations within a memory device to replace one or more selected failing memory cells with one or more repair memory cells and to correct data digits read from other failing memory cells in the memory device.
US08694859B2	Memory device with adaptive capacity A method for data storage in a memory that includes a plurality of analog memory cells includes estimating respective achievable storage capacities of the analog memory cells. The memory cells are assigned respective storage configurations defining quantities of data to be stored in the memory cells based on the estimated achievable capacities. The data is stored in the memory cells in accordance with the respective assigned storage configurations. The achievable storage capacities of the analog memory cells are re-estimated after the memory has been installed in a host system and used for storing the data in the host system. The storage configurations are modified responsively to the re-estimated achievable capacities.
US08694851B1	Adaptive multiple-input multiple-ouput successive interference cancellation receivers A system including a first receiver module and a first interference canceller module. The first receiver module is configured to receive a first signal including a first set of codewords and to generate a first set of decoded codewords by decoding at least one of the first set of codewords. The first interference canceller module is configured to measure first reliability metrics of codewords corresponding to the first set of decoded codewords; based on the first reliability metrics, select a second set of decoded codewords from the first set; generate a second signal based on the second set of decoded codewords; and subtract at least a portion of the second signal from the first signal to cancel interference of codewords corresponding to the second set of decoded codewords on the second set of codewords in the first signal.
US08694847B2	Systems and methods for sector quality determination in a data processing system The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for data set quality determination.
US08694844B2	AT speed TAP with dual port router and command circuit A 1149.1 TAP performs at-speed Update & Capture, Shift & Capture and Back to Back Capture & Shift operations. In a first embodiment the at-speed operations are achieved by time division multiplexing CMD signals onto the TMS input to the TAP. In a second embodiment the at-speed operations are achieved by detecting the TAP's Exit1DR state as a CMD signal. In a third embodiment the at-speed operations are achieved by detecting the TAP's Exit1DR and PauseDR states. In a fourth embodiment the at-speed operations are achieved by detecting the TAP's Exit1DR and PauseDR states and inputting these states to a Dual Port Router to control the at-speed operations of a circuit. The improvements are achieved without requiring any additional IC pins beyond the 4 required TAP pins. Devices including the TAP improvements can be operated compliantly in a daisy-chain arrangement with devices that don't include the TAP improvements.
US08694816B2	Power delivery system in which VRM and CPU exchange power consumption measurements A system is disclosed. The system includes a load, a voltage regulator circuit coupled to the load a power supply, a load coupled to the power supply to receive one or more voltages from the power supply, and a digital bus, coupled between the power supply and the load. The digital bus transmits power consumption measurements from the load to the power supply and transmits power consumption measurements from the power supply to the load.
US08694805B2	System and method for multiple PoE power supply management A system and method for multiple power over Ethernet (PoE) power supply management. Power supply status signals indicative of an operating condition of a plurality of PoE power supplies are provided to a plurality of power sourcing equipment (PSE) controller chips. Pre-configured combination logic within each of the PSE controller chips converts an indicated operational state of the plurality of PoE power supplies into a powering decision for each of the Ethernet ports served by the PSE controller chip within one microsecond.
US08694803B1	Controlling power received through multiple bus interfaces in a portable computing device The disclosed embodiments provide a system that enables a portable computing device to receive power through multiple bus interfaces at the same time. When the system senses that a first power source is plugged into a first bus interface in the portable computing device, the system determines whether the first power source is a host or a power adapter. Next, based upon whether the first power source is a host or a power adapter, the system uses a first power manager coupled to the first bus interface to limit a first input current received from the first power source to power the computing device. The system also provides the maximum charging current to a rechargeable battery for the portable computing device by chaining together a second bus interface whether power is present on the second bus interface or not.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10