Document	Document Title
US08957113B2	Tranexamic acid formulations Disclosed are immediate release oral tranexamic acid formulations and methods of treatment therewith.
US08957112B2	Cream gels comprising at least one retinoid and benzoyl peroxide The invention relates to a composition in the form of a cream gel comprising, in a physiologically acceptable medium, at least one dispersed retinoid and dispersed benzoyl peroxide, to its process of preparation and to its use in cosmetics and in dermatology.
US08957111B2	Strontium (M) ascorbate, compositions containing same, method for making same and method of using same A compound of formula (ascorbate)2Sr:(M+a)x(ascorbate)y, or ascorbate)2Sr:Ca(ascorbate)2, a composition containing the same, a method of making the same and a method of administering the same as a supplement.
US08957105B2	Pyrrole inhibitors of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase as therapeutic agents The present invention is directed to inhibitors of S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR), pharmaceutical compositions comprising such GSNOR inhibitors, and methods of making and using the same.
US08957096B2	Herbicidally active oxime-ether-substituted benzoylamides What is described are oxime ether-substituted benzoylamides of the general formula (I) as herbicides. In this formula (I), R, Y and Y are radicals such as hydrogen, organic radicals such as alkyl, and other radicals such as halogen. Q is a tetrazolyl, triazolyl or oxadiazolyl radical.
US08957083B2	Spiro-amino-imidazolone and spiro-amino-dihydro-pyrimidinone compounds as beta-secretase modulators and methods of use The present invention provides a new class of compounds useful for the modulation of beta-secretase enzyme (BACE) activity. The compounds have a general Formula I: wherein variables A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, A8, L, R2, R7, R9, W and Y of Formula I are defined herein. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and corresponding uses of the compounds and compositions for treatment of disorders and/or conditions related to plaque formation and deposition, resulting from the activity of BACE. Such BACE mediated disorders include, for example, Alzheimer's Disease, cognitive deficits, cognitive impairments, schizophrenia and other central nervous system conditions. The invention further provides compounds of Formulas II and III, sub-Formula embodiments of Formulas I, II and III, intermediates and processes and methods useful for the preparation of compounds of Formulae I-III.
US08957076B2	Wound healing The present invention relates to the use of p38 MAP kinase inhibitors and p38 MAP kinase inhibition to promote wound healing.
US08957075B2	O-GlcNAc transferase inhibitors and uses thereof The present invention provides inhibitors of O-GIcNAc transferase. Typically, the inhibitors are quinolinone-6-sulfonamides. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof and methods for using the same in diabetes and complications thereof, neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory diseases.
US08957071B2	Treatment of vascular, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases using low dosages of IMPDH inhibitors The disclosure provides methods and compositions for treating a vascular, autoimmune, and/or inflammatory disease, or a condition associated therewith, with a dose of an inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) inhibitor effective to treat the vascular, autoimmune and/or inflammatory disease, or associated condition but that does not produce immunosuppression sufficient to reduce the risk of allograft rejection. These lower doses of the immunosuppressant avoid the adverse consequences of severe immunosuppression while providing effective treatment of the vascular, autoimmune and/or inflammatory disease.
US08957066B2	Histone deacetylase inhibitors This invention relates to generally inhibiting histone deacetylase (“HDAC”) enzymes (e.g., HDAC1, HDAC2, and HDAC3) using compounds of formula (I), wherein the substituents are as defined herein.
US08957065B2	Fused pyrimidine derivatives for inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity The present invention relates to a novel fused pyrimidine derivative having an inhibitory activity for tyrosine kinases, and a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating cancers, tumors, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, or immunologically mediated diseases comprising same as an active ingredient.
US08957061B2	Azetidine derivatives as sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulators The present invention relates to novel azetidine derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08957049B2	Inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase The present invention provides compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, encompassed by any of formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), or (VI), or subgenera thereof. The present invention also provides methods for treating an FAAH mediated disease, disorder or condition by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or composition comprising a compound of any of formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), or (VI), or subgenera thereof, to a patient in need thereof. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for inhibiting FAAH by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound or composition comprising a compound of any of formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), or (VI), or subgenera thereof, to a patient in need thereof.
US08957048B2	Compositions for the treatment of dry eye The present invention relates to ophthalmic compositions and methods useful to treat dry eye, or to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent dry eye syndrome in man or other animals.
US08957042B2	Cancer treatment targeting non-coding RNA overexpression Provided herein are methods directed to modulating the pro-oncogenic effects of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) through their interactions with specificity protein transcription factors (SpTFs). In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method of inhibiting growth of a cell, such as a transformed or cancer cell, characterized by overexpression of at least one specificity protein (Sp)-regulated ncRNA and expression of at least one Sp transcription factor (SpTF), the method comprising contacting the cell with an effective amount of an SpTF agent. In some embodiments, the ncRNA is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). In some embodiments, the ncRNA is a microRNA (miR). Also provided are methods of treating a cell proliferative disease, predicting the response of a subject to SpTF agent-based treatment, and monitoring the efficacy of a SpTF agent-based treatment in a subject.
US08957039B2	Methods and compositions for the diagnosis and prognosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer The invention provides methods and compositions for the diagnosis and prognosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer. The methods comprise the step of determining the expression levels or genetic status of specific miRNAs.
US08957030B2	Methods for preventing or treating mitochondrial permeability transition The invention provides a method of reducing or preventing mitochondrial permeability transitioning. The method comprises administering an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide having at least one net positive charge; a minimum of four amino acids; a maximum of about twenty amino acids; a relationship between the minimum number of net positive charges (pm) and the total number of amino acid residues (r) wherein 3pm is the largest number that is less than or equal to r+1; and a relationship between the minimum number of aromatic groups (a) and the total number of net positive charges (pt) wherein 2 a is the largest number that is less than or equal to pt+1, except that when a is 1, pt may also be 1.
US08957028B2	Red-shifted opsin molecules and uses thereof The invention, in some aspects, relates to compositions and methods for altering cell activity and function. The invention also relates, in part, to the use of light-activated ion pumps (LAIPs) such as a light-activated ion pump polypeptide that when expressed in an excitable cell and contacted with a red light silences the excitable cell, wherein the polypeptide sequence of the light-activated ion pump comprises a wild-type or modified halomicrobium or haloarcula halorhodopsin polypeptide sequence.
US08957026B2	Beta-catenin targeting peptides and uses thereof The invention relates to β-catenin targeting peptides comprising an α-helical segment that are optionally stapled or stitched, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Uses of the inventive β-catenin targeting polypeptides including methods for treatment of disease, such as diseases associated with aberrant Wnt signaling, including cancer, are also provided.
US08957018B2	Recombinant human CC10 protein for treatment of influenza Methods of using recombinant human CC10 (rhCC10), also known as recombinant human uteroglobin, to reduce virus titers in the tissues of patients, particularly influenza titers in lung tissues are provided. RhCC10 may be used as a therapeutic in the treatment, cure, or prevention of viral infection, particularly influenza infection. More particularly, methods, including broadly the critical dosage ranges of rhCC10, intravenous and intranasal route of administration, which may be administered to treat, cure or prevent influenza infection are provided. Further provided are compositions useful in the foregoing methods and in administering rhCC10 to humans.
US08957015B2	Tumor suppressor gene p47ING3 The invention provides isolated nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of novel human tumor suppressors, antibodies to such tumor suppressors, methods of detecting such nucleic acids and proteins, methods of screening for modulators of tumor suppressors, and methods of diagnosing and treating tumors with such nucleic acids and proteins.
US08957009B2	Linear polydimethylsiloxane-polyether copolymers having amino and/or quaternary ammonium groups and use thereof Linear polydimethylsiloxane-polyether copolymers with amino and/or quaternary ammonium groups, obtainable by the reaction of organopolysiloxanes functionalized with secondary aminoalkyl groups with the reaction products formed from compounds containing epoxy groups and amines, the use thereof and process for preparation thereof.
US08957008B2	Agent for obtaining a stable aqueous composition comprising particles in suspension Agent for obtaining a stable aqueous composition comprising an association: of a polymer constituted by: at least one A monomer of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid and/or any of their salts, at least one B monomer of alkyl acrylate and/or methacrylate, and At least one crosslinking D monomer, and with at least one C compound corresponding to the following formulae (I): R1-O-[(EO)n(PO)n′(BO)n″]—Z (I) in which: R1 represents an ethyl, isopropyl or sec-butyl radical, [(EO)n(PO)n′(BO)n″] represents a polyalkoxylated chain constituted of alkoxylated units, distributed into blocks, alternatively or statistically, chosen from among EO ethoxylated units, PO propoxylated units and BO butoxylated units, representing, independently from each other, 0 or a whole number between 1 and 150, the sum of n, n′ and n″ not being null, and Z represents a fatty chain, linear or branched, of at least 16 carbon atoms.
US08957002B2	DNA microarray having hairpin probes tethered to nanostructured metal surface A sensor chip and detection device are disclosed. The sensor chip includes a substrate, at least a portion of which is covered by a metal nanoparticle film; a first nucleic acid molecule that is characterized by being able to (i) self-anneal into a hairpin conformation and (ii) hybridize specifically to a target nucleic acid molecule, the first nucleic acid molecule having first and second ends, which first end is tethered to the metal nanoparticle film; and a first fluorophore bound to the second end of the first nucleic molecule. When the first nucleic acid molecule is in the hairpin conformation, the metal nanoparticle film substantially quenches fluorescent emissions by the first fluorophore, and when the first nucleic acid molecule is in a non-hairpin conformation fluorescent emissions by the first fluorophore are surface plasmon-enhanced.
US08956999B2	Herbicides Pyrandione, thiopyrandione and cyclohexanetrione compounds of formula (I), which are suitable for use as herbicides.
US08956997B2	Plant conditioner composition and method A plant conditioner composition, a method of manufacture for the composition, and a method of use for the composition to be applied to a plant is disclosed, with the composition including a distilled water and at least two carbohydrates that are preferably found from the grouping of molasses, honey, and dextrose. Further included in the plant conditioner composition is a vitamin B component, an orange oil component, a lemon oil component, a tea tree oil component, a hydrogen peroxide component, and an organic detergent component. A derivative plant conditioner composition that additionally includes a sea salt, a sodium bicarbonate, a potassium bicarbonate, and a canola oil forms a plant mold reduction composition and a further derivative plant conditioner composition that has an increased concentration of hydrogen peroxide to act as a pre harvest composition for inducing plant shutdown for a selected time period.
US08956996B2	Method for reducing nitrous oxide emission from soils The present invention relates to a method for reducing nitrous oxide emission from soils comprising treating a plant growing on the respective soil and/or the locus where the plant is growing or is intended to grow and/or the seeds from which the plant grows with at least one fungicide (compound A) and at least one ammonium- or urea-containing fertilizer (compound B) wherein the application of at least one compound (A) and at least one compound (B) is carried out with a time lag of at least 1 day.
US08956993B2	Catalyst compositions and process for oxychlorination Oxychlorination catalyst compositions which include a catalytically effective amount of an oxychlorination catalyst and a diluent having certain chemical composition and/or physical properties are disclosed. Processes using such oxychlorination catalyst compositions are also described. Some oxychlorination catalyst compositions and processes disclosed herein can increase the optimal operating temperature, and thereby increase the production capacity of an existing reactor, such as a fluid-bed reactor, compared to other oxychlorination catalyst compositions.
US08956986B2	Binding fiber for bonding of flat material containing natural fibers A binding fiber having, as at least one first thermoplastic component, a copolyamide which has a relative viscosity of at least 1.50 (measured at 0.5% in m-cresol at 25° C.), a MVR of maximum 20 cm3/10 min at 190° C. and 2.16 kg load, a hydrophobicity of less than 7.2, a melting temperature lower than 105° C. in the water saturated condition and a higher melting temperature in the dry condition. The binding fiber can, on the one hand, be activated with hot steam at approximately ambient pressure during the manufacture of flat materials containing natural fibers, such as paper, cardboard, wood fiber boards, or fiber mats. The finished flat material can, on the other hand, be subjected to higher temperatures, and the copolyamide develops good bonding with respect to the cellulose fibers normally used in the indicated flat materials.
US08956975B2	Electroless plated material formed directly on metal A method for forming magnetic conductors includes forming a metal structure on a substrate. Plating surfaces are prepared on the metal structure for electroless plating by at least one of: masking surfaces of the metal structure to prevent electroless plating on masked surfaces and/or activating a surface of the metal structure. Magnetic material is electrolessly plated directly on the plating surfaces to form a metal and magnetic material structure.
US08956970B1	Method of forming semiconductor device having multilayered plug and related device A semiconductor pattern is formed on a substrate. An interlayer insulating layer is formed on the semiconductor pattern. A contact hole in the interlayer insulating layer is formed the semiconductor pattern is exposed. A lower plug is formed in the contact hole by a selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process. An upper plug is farmed in the contact hole on the lower plug by alternately and repeatedly performing a deposition process and an etching process.
US08956968B2	Method for fabricating a metal silicide interconnect in 3D non-volatile memory A method for fabricating a metal silicide interconnect in a stacked 3D non-volatile memory array. A stack of alternating layers of undoped/lightly doped polysilicon and heavily doped polysilicon is formed on a substrate. Memory holes are etched in cell areas of the stack while an interconnect area is protected. Slits are etched in the cell areas and the interconnect areas. A wet etch is performed via the slits or the memory holes in the cell area to remove portions of the undoped/lightly doped polysilicon layers in the cell area, and dielectric is deposited. Silicidation transforms portions of the heavily doped polysilicon layers in the cell area to metal silicide, and transforms portions of the heavily doped and undoped/lightly doped polysilicon layers in the interconnect area to metal silicide. The metal silicide interconnect can be used for routing power and control signals from below the stack to above the stack.
US08956961B2	Semiconductor device and method for making the same A semiconductor device includes: a substrate having a base and an array of semiconductor pillars extending from the base, the substrate being formed with a plurality of trenches, each of which extends into the base and has two opposing trench side walls; a first insulative liner layer formed on each of the trench side walls of each of the trenches and divided into upper and lower segments by a gap that leaves a bit-forming surface of each of the trench side walls uncovered by the first insulative liner layer; and a plurality of buried bit lines, each of which extends into the base from the bit-forming surface of a respective one of the trench side walls of each of the trenches.
US08956957B2	Wafer processing method In a wafer processing method, a wafer is cut along a division line extending in a first direction through the center of the wafer and along a division line extending in a second direction through the center of the wafer, thereby generating four sectorial wafer quarters. Grooves are formed on the front side of each wafer quarter along other division lines extending in a grid, each groove having a depth corresponding to a finished thickness of each device formed on the wafer quarter. A protective member is provided on the front side of each wafer quarter; and the wafer quarter is held through the protective member on a chuck table. The back side is then ground to reduce the thickness of the wafer quarter until the grooves are exposed to the back side of the wafer quarter, thereby dividing the wafer quarter into the individual devices.
US08956956B2	Wafer processing method A wafer processing method includes: a protective member providing step of providing a protective member on the front side of a wafer; a wafer quarter generating step of cutting the wafer along the division line extending in a first direction through the center of the wafer and along the division line extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction through the center of the wafer, thereby generating four sectorial wafer quarters; a back grinding step of grinding the back side of each wafer quarter to reduce the thickness of the wafer quarter; a frame providing step of supporting the wafer quarter through an adhesive tape to an annular frame; and a wafer quarter dividing step of fully cutting the wafer quarter along all of the division lines extending in the first and second directions, thereby dividing the wafer quarter into the individual devices.
US08956955B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device and semiconductor device A method to prevent contamination of the principal surface side in a process of grinding the back surface side of a semiconductor wafer. At an intersection of a scribe region of a semiconductor wafer whose back surface side is to be ground, a plurality of insulating layers is laminated over the principal surface in the same manner as an insulating layer constituting a wiring layer laminated over a device region. Moreover, in the same layer as an uppermost wiring disposed at the uppermost layer among a plurality of the wiring layers formed for a device region, a metal pattern is formed. Furthermore, a second insulating layer covering the uppermost wiring is also formed over the metal pattern so as to cover the same.
US08956948B2	Shallow trench isolation extension A semiconductor device is formed with extended STI regions. Embodiments include implanting oxygen under STI trenches prior to filling the trenches with oxide and subsequently annealing. An embodiment includes forming a recess in a silicon substrate, implanting oxygen into the silicon substrate below the recess, filling the recess with an oxide, and annealing the oxygen implanted silicon. The annealed oxygen implanted silicon extends the STI region, thereby reducing leakage current between N+ diffusions and N-well and between P+ diffusions and P-well, without causing STI fill holes and other defects.
US08956947B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor substrate A semiconductor substrate is provided in which an alignment mark is formed that can be used for an alignment even after the formation of an impurity diffused layer by the planarization of an epitaxial film. A trench is formed in an alignment region of an N−-type layer formed on an N+-type substrate. This trench is used to leave voids after the formation of a P−-type epitaxial film on the N−-type layer. Then, the voids formed in the N−-type layer can be used as an alignment mark. Thus, such a semiconductor substrate can be used to provide an alignment in the subsequent step of manufacturing the semiconductor apparatus. Thus, the respective components constituting the semiconductor apparatus can be formed at desired positions accurately.
US08956943B2	Method for manufacturing non-volatile memory A method for manufacturing a non-volatile memory is disclosed. A gate structure is formed on a substrate and includes a gate dielectric layer and a gate conductive layer. The gate dielectric layer is partly removed, thereby a symmetrical opening is formed among the gate conductive layer, the substrate and the gate dielectric layer, and a cavity is formed on end sides of the gate dielectric layer. A first oxide layer is formed on a sidewall and bottom of the gate conductive layer, and a second oxide layer is formed on a surface of the substrate. A nitride material layer is formed covering the gate structure, the first and second oxide layer and the substrate and filling the opening. An etching process is performed to partly remove the nitride material layer, thereby forming a nitride layer on a sidewall of the gate conductive layer and extending into the opening.
US08956940B2	Oxide terminated trench MOSFET with three or four masks An oxide termination semiconductor device may comprise a plurality of gate trenches, a gate runner, and an insulator termination trench. The gate trenches are located in an active region. Each gate trench includes a conductive gate electrode. The insulator termination trench is located in a termination region that surrounds the active region. The insulator termination trench is filled with an insulator material to form an insulator termination for the semiconductor device. Source and body regions inside the active region are at source potential and source and body regions outside the isolation trench are at drain potential. The device can be made using a three-mask or four-mask process.
US08956938B2	Epitaxial semiconductor resistor with semiconductor structures on same substrate An electrical device is provided that includes a substrate having an upper semiconductor layer, a buried dielectric layer and a base semiconductor layer. At least one isolation region is present in the substrate that defines a semiconductor device region and a resistor device region. The semiconductor device region includes a semiconductor device having a back gate structure that is present in the base semiconductor layer. Electrical contact to the back gate structure is provided by doped epitaxial semiconductor pillars that extend through the buried dielectric layer. An epitaxial semiconductor resistor is present in the resistor device region. Undoped epitaxial semiconductor pillars extending from the epitaxial semiconductor resistor to the base semiconductor layer provide a pathway for heat generated by the epitaxial semiconductor resistor to be dissipated to the base semiconductor layer. The undoped and doped epitaxial semiconductor pillars are composed of the same epitaxial semiconductor material.
US08956937B2	Method of depositing the metal barrier layer comprising silicon dioxide The present invention discloses to a method of depositing the metal barrier layer comprising silicon dioxide. It is applied in the transistor device comprising a silicon substrate, a gate and a gate side wall. The method comprises the following steps: ions are implanted into the silicon substrate to form an active region in the said silicon substrate; a first dense silicon dioxide film is deposited; a second normal silicon dioxide film is deposited; the said transistor device is high temperature annealed. The present invention ensures that the implanted ion is not separated out of the substrate during the annealing. And it prevents the warping and fragment of the silicon surface.
US08956932B2	U-shaped semiconductor structure A method for forming a U-shaped semiconductor device includes forming trenches in a crystalline layer and epitaxially growing a U-shaped semiconductor material along sidewalls and bottoms of the trenches. The U-shaped semiconductor material is anchored, and the crystalline layer is removed. The U-shaped semiconductor material is supported by backfilling underneath the U-shaped semiconductor material with a dielectric material. A semiconductor device is formed with the U-shaped semiconductor material.
US08956930B2	Process for production of thin film transistor substrate A TFT substrate 50a that includes a transparent substrate 10 and a plurality of TFTs 5a each arranged on the transparent substrate 10 through a base coat film 9 and each having a semiconductor layer 17a, in which the base coat film 9 includes a resin film 11 formed on the transparent substrate 10, and a region of the resin film 11 that overlaps with each of the semiconductor layers 17a has a light-shielding property.
US08956925B2	Silicon controlled rectifier structure with improved junction breakdown and leakage control Device structures and design structures for a silicon controlled rectifier, as well as methods for fabricating a silicon controlled rectifier. The device structure includes first and second layers of different materials disposed on a top surface of a device region containing first and second p-n junctions of the silicon controlled rectifier. The first layer is laterally positioned on the top surface in vertical alignment with the first p-n junction. The second layer is laterally positioned on the top surface of the device region in vertical alignment with the second p-n junction. The material comprising the second layer has a higher electrical resistivity than the material comprising the first layer.
US08956922B2	Coating method for an optoelectronic chip-on-board module A method is proposed for coating an optoelectronic chip-on-board module including a flat substrate populated with one or more optoelectronic components having at least one primary optical arrangement and optionally at least one secondary optical arrangement. The optoelectronic chip-on-board module is coated with a transparent, UV-resistant, and temperature-resistant coating made of silicone by the following steps: (a) casting a liquid silicone into a mold open towards the top and having outer dimensions corresponding to or exceeding outer dimensions of the substrate; (b) inserting the substrate into the mold, wherein the optoelectronic component(s) are immersed completely into the silicone and a surface of the substrate contacts the silicone completely or the substrate immerses into the silicone at least partially with full surface contact; (c) curing and cross-linking the silicone with the optoelectronic component(s) and the substrate; and (d) removing the substrate from the mold with the coating of cured silicone.
US08956917B2	Semiconductor device, and manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus of the same According to one embodiment, a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes: (a) forming cutting grooves in an element formation surface of a semiconductor wafer on which semiconductor elements are formed; (b) applying a protection tape on the element formation surface of the semiconductor wafer; (c) grinding a rear surface of the semiconductor wafer to thin the semiconductor wafer and to divide the semiconductor wafer into a plurality of semiconductor chips on which the semiconductor elements are formed; (d) forming an adhesive layer on the rear surface of the semiconductor wafer; (e) separating and cutting the adhesive layer for each of the semiconductor chips; and (f) removing the protection tape. The (e) is performed by spraying a high-pressure air to the adhesive layer formed on the rear surface of the semiconductor wafer while melting or softening the adhesive layer by heating.
US08956915B2	Method of manufacturing a three-dimensional packaging semiconductor device Provided is a semiconductor device including a flexible circuit board which includes a first external electrode provided on a first face and second and third external electrodes provided on a second face; a plurality of memory devices and passive components; a supporter which is provided with a groove on one face; and a computing processor device. The memory devices and the passive components are connected to the first external electrode, the one face of the supporter is bonded on the first face of the flexible circuit board so that the groove houses the memory devices and the passive components. The flexible circuit board is bent along a perimeter of the supporter to be wrapped around a side face and another face of the supporter. On the flexible circuit board, the second external electrode is provided on the second face which is opposite to the first external electrode, and the third external electrode is provided on the second face which is bent to the another face of the supporter. The computing processor device is connected to the second external electrode, and a bump is formed on the third external electrode.
US08956909B2	Method of fabricating an electronic device comprising photodiode An electronic device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The electronic device includes: a photodiode layer; a wiring layer formed on the first surface of the photodiode layer; a plurality of electrical contact pads formed on the wiring layer; a passivation layer formed on the wiring layer and the electrical contact pads; an antireflective layer formed on the second surface of the photodiode layer; a color filter layer formed on the antireflective layer; a dielectric layer formed on the antireflective layer and the color filter layer; and a microlens layer formed on the dielectric layer, allowing the color filter layer, the dielectric layer and the microlens layer to define an active region within which the electrical contact pads are positioned. As the electrical contact pads are positioned within the active region, an area of the substrate used for an inactive region can be eliminated.
US08956905B2	Methods for thick films thermoelectric device fabrication Solid state thermoelectric energy conversion devices can provide electrical energy from heat flow, creating energy, or inversely, provide cooling through applying energy. Thick film methods are applied to fabricate thermoelectric device structures using microstructures formed through deposition and subsequent thermal processing conditions. An advantageous coincidence of material properties makes possible a wide variety of unique microstructures that are easily applied for the fabrication of device structures in general. As an example, a direct bond process is applied to fabricate thermoelectric semiconductor thick films on substrates by printing and subsequent thermal processing to form unique microstructures which can be densified. Bismuth and antimony are directly bonded to flexible nickel substrates.
US08956901B2	Method of manufacturing LED component by integrating epitaxial structure and package substrate together An integral LED component is mounted into a hollow carrier. The carrier has two conductive electrodes with opposite polarities. The LED component comprises a substrate, N number of LED epitaxial structures where N is a number greater than one, a third electrode and a fourth electrode. The N number of LED epitaxial structures are formed on the upper surface of the substrate, the at least one of the N number of LED epitaxial structures comprises a first and a second electrode. The third and fourth electrodes are formed on the upper surface and located outside the N number of LED epitaxial structures, the respective electrodes are electrically connected to form a circuit. The two conductive electrodes of the hollow carrier are used for electrically connecting the third and fourth electrodes of the substrate, and the lower surface of the substrate is exposed to the hollow carrier.
US08956895B2	Light emitting device An inexpensive light emitting device and inexpensive electric equipment are provided. A substrate on which a semiconductor element or a light emitting element is formed and a color filter are manufactured by separate manufacturing processes, and they are bonded to each other to complete the light emitting device. Thus, the yield of the light emitting device is improved and the manufacture period is shortened.
US08956891B2	Light-emitting device and method for manufacturing the same A highly reliable light-emitting device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A light-emitting element and a terminal electrode are formed over an element formation substrate; a first substrate having an opening is formed over the light-emitting element and the terminal electrode with a bonding layer provided therebetween; an embedded layer is formed in the opening; a transfer substrate is formed over the first substrate and the embedded layer; the element formation substrate is separated; a second substrate is formed under the light-emitting element and the terminal electrode; and the transfer substrate and the embedded layer are removed. In addition, an anisotropic conductive connection layer is formed in the opening, and an electrode is formed over the anisotropic conductive connection layer. The terminal electrode and the electrode are electrically connected to each other through the anisotropic conductive connection layer.
US08956889B2	Method of testing through silicon VIAS (TSVs) of three dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC) In a method of testing a plurality of through silicon vias (TSVs) chained together by interconnect on a substrate, a test signal is applied to a first test pad among a plurality of test pads, and a return signal is measured at a second test pad among the plurality of test pads. At least one test pad of the plurality of test pads is grounded to the substrate. The remaining test pads of the plurality of test pads are either connected to the plurality of chained TSVs or are grounded.
US08956884B2	Process for reconditioning semiconductor surface to facilitate bonding A non-abrading method to facilitate bonding of semiconductor components, such as silicon wafers, that have micro structural defects in a bonding interface surface. In a preferred method, micro structural defects are removed by forming an oxide layer on the bonding interface surface to a depth below the level of the defect, and then removing the oxide layer to expose a satisfactory surface for bonding, thereby increasing line yield and reducing scrap triggers in fabrication facilities.
US08956883B1	Magnetic tunnel junctions and fabrication method thereof A method is provided for fabricating a magnetic tunnel junction. The method includes providing a substrate having a first dielectric layer and a first electrode layer formed in the first dielectric layer; and forming a composite magnetic layer on the first electrode layer and the first dielectric layer. The method also includes forming a first mask layer with a first shape and a second mask layer on a surface of the composite magnetic layer. Further, the method includes removing a portion of the first mask layer to form an opening; and forming a sidewall spacer on side surfaces of the first mask layer and the second mask layer in the opening. Further, the method also includes removing the second mask layer; and forming a composite magnetic structure having the first shape outer surface and a second shape inner surface by etching the composite magnetic layer.
US08956867B2	Method for culturing stem cells A three-dimensional microwell system that supports long term pluripotent cell culture and formation of homogeneous embryoid bodies (EBs) is described. Microwell-cultured pluripotent cells remain viable and undifferentiated for several weeks in culture and maintain undifferentiated replication when passaged to Matrigel®-coated, tissue culture-treated polystyrene dishes. Microwell-cultured pluripotent cells maintain pluripotency, differentiating to each of the three embryonic germ layers. Pluripotent cell aggregates released from microwells can be passaged for undifferentiated replication or differentiated to monodisperse EBs. The ability to constrain pluripotent cell growth in three dimensions advantageously provides for more efficient, reproducible culture of undifferentiated cells, high-throughput screening, and the ability to direct pluripotent cell differentiation by generating monodisperse EBs of a desired size and shape. Cardiomyocyte-rich EBs are obtained from pluripotent cells cultured in microwells of defined size and shape.
US08956860B2	Methods of cell culture for adoptive cell therapy An improved method of culturing cells for cell therapy applications that includes growing desired cells in the presence of antigen-presenting cells and/or feeder cells and with medium volume to surface area ratio of up to 1 ml/cm2 if the growth surface is not comprised of gas permeable material and up to 2 ml/cm2 if the growth surface is comprised of gas permeable material. The desired cells are at a surface density of less than 0.5×106 cells/cm2 at the onset of a production cycle, and the surface density of the desired cells plus the surface density of the antigen presenting cells and/or feeder cells are at least about 1.25×105 cells/cm2.
US08956859B1	Compositions and methods for determining successful immunization by one or more vaccines A host antigen-specific antibody testing system and method. The a ternary complex of the antigen, a ligand-bound anti-host IgM, and a non-host anti-antigen IgG detector conjugate selectively form a quaternary complex with host antibodies, wherein the host antibodies and IgG compete for the antigen, and the IgM binds the host antibodies. The quaternary complex is retained by an immobilized IgM ligand binding agent, and any residual ternary is retained by a later encountered immobilized anti-non-host IgG. If sufficient host antibodies have a high affinity for the antigen, the complex is detected at the quaternary complex detection region based on the presence of the detector, and if there are insufficient high affinity host antibodies, the ternary complex migrates past the quaternary complex detection region and is retained and detected at a control region.
US08956858B2	Tactical and portable PCR/HRM genome identification system The present invention relates to a Polymerase Chain Reaction and High Resolution Melt genetic identification system, and, more specifically, to a tactical and portable Polymerase Chain Reaction and High Resolution Melt genetic analysis and identification system that is configured to determine and communicate analysis and identification results and a tiered confidence/alert level related to the analysis and identification results.
US08956856B2	Skin grafting devices and methods The present invention provides skin grafting and devices that comprise a systematic approach to the process of skin grafting, i.e., harvesting, post-excision processing and application of donor skin and pre and post-graft treatment of the recipient site.
US08956851B2	Methods for the improvement of product yield and production in a microorganism through the addition of alternate electron acceptors The present invention provides for novel metabolic pathways to reduce or eliminate glycerol production and increase product formation. More specifically, the invention provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising a deletion of one or more native enzymes that function to produce glycerol and/or regulate glycerol synthesis and one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes that function in one or more engineered metabolic pathways to convert a carbohydrate source, such as lignocellulose, to a product, such as ethanol, wherein the one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes is activated, upregulated, or downregulated. The invention also provides for a recombinant microorganism comprising one or more heterologous enzymes that function to regulate glycerol synthesis and one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes that function in one or more engineered metabolic pathways to convert a carbohydrate source to ethanol, wherein said one or more native and/or heterologous enzymes is activated, upregulated or downregulated.
US08956841B2	Recombinant reverse transcriptases The present invention relates to a gene that encodes a hyperactive reverse transcriptase having DNA polymerase activity and substantially reduced RNase H activity, vectors containing the gene and host cells transformed with the invention. The present invention also includes a method of producing the hyperactive reverse transcriptase, producing cDNA from mRNA using the reverse transcriptase of the invention, kits and assay templates made using the hyperactive reverse transcriptase.
US08956834B2	Acyl-ACP thioesterase genes and uses therefor The present invention provides novel genes encoding Class II acyl-ACP thioesterases and variants thereof that are active on C8, C10, C12, C14, C16, and C18 acyl-ACP substrates. The thioesterases can be introduced into transgenic organisms, including microorganisms and photosynthetic organisms, for producing fatty acids and fatty acid products.
US08956828B2	Targeted disruption of T cell receptor genes using engineered zinc finger protein nucleases Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for inactivating TCR genes, using zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) comprising a zinc finger protein and a cleavage domain or cleavage half-domain in conditions able to preserve cell viability. Polynucleotides encoding ZFNs, vectors comprising polynucleotides encoding ZFNs and cells comprising polynucleotides encoding ZFNs and/or cells comprising ZFNs are also provided. Disclosed herein are also methods and compositions for expressing a functional exogenous TCR in the absence of endogenous TCR expression in T lymphocytes, including lymphocytes with a central memory phenotype. Polynucleotides encoding exogenous TCR, vectors comprising polynucleotides encoding exogenous TCR and cells comprising polynucleotides encoding exogenous TCR and/or cells comprising exogenous TCR are also provided.
US08956815B2	Intercalation methods and devices The invention provides devices and methods for improving labeling of nucleic acids including intercalation of nucleic acids using for example mono intercalators such as mono cyanine intercalators.
US08956813B2	Method and system for detection of a selected type of molecules in a sample The present invention refers to a method for detecting molecules and/or substances within a sample based on the use of a microcantilever system. The method comprises the variation of a certain condition such as humidity so as the mechanical feature analyzed varies with a characteristic pattern while the target molecule is bound to the detector. The invention also refers to the system used to carry out such method.
US08956801B2	Resist composition and method of forming resist pattern A resist composition including a base component which generates acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid, and an organic solvent component, the base component containing a resin component having a structural unit which generates acid, and the organic solvent component containing an organic solvent component including a compound represented by general formula (s-1) shown below in which X represents a single bond or an alkylene group of 1 to 3 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of 0 to 3.
US08956794B2	Electrophotographic photoreceptor, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus A negative-charge type electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate; an undercoat layer which includes a binder resin and metal oxide particles and in which the work function is from 4.0 eV to 4.7 eV; a charge generation layer in which a difference between the work functions of the charge generation layer and the undercoat layer is from −4 eV to 0 eV; and a charge transport layer which is provided on the charge generation layer.
US08956789B2	Methods for fabricating integrated circuits including multi-patterning of masks for extreme ultraviolet lithography Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In one example, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes patterning a first photoresist layer overlying a mask blank that is mounted on a first chuck to form a first patterned photoresist layer. The mask blank is selectively etched using the first patterned photoresist layer to form a first patterned mask. The first patterned mask is mounted on a second chuck and a non-flatness compensation is determined. The first patterned mask is mounted on the first chuck and a second photoresist layer is patterned overlying the first patterned mask to form a second patterned photoresist layer. The second patterned photoresist layer includes a device pattern that has been adjusted using the non-flatness compensation. The first patterned mask is selectively etched using the second patterned photoresist layer to form a second patterned mask.
US08956787B2	Reflective mask blank for EUV lithography and process for producing the same To provide an EUV mask blank provided with a low reflective layer, which has excellent properties as an EUV mask blank. A reflective mask blank for EUV lithography comprising a substrate, and a reflective layer for reflecting EUV light, an absorber layer for absorbing EUV light and a low reflective layer to an inspection light (wavelength: 190 to 260 nm) for a mask pattern, formed in this order on the substrate, wherein the low reflective layer has a stacked structure having a first layer containing at least 95 at % in total of silicon (Si) and nitrogen (N), and a second layer containing at least 95 at % in total of tantalum (Ta), oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N) or a second layer containing at least 95 at % in total of tantalum (Ta) and nitrogen (N), stacked in this order from the absorber layer side.
US08956786B2	Volume hologram medium The invention is concerned with a volume hologram medium obtained by multiple recording of holograms, which is improved in terms of just only security for forgery prevention but also aesthetics. A volume hologram medium 29′ comprises a reflection hologram in which a stereoscopic image of a three-dimensional object and an image of a plane pattern of a mask plate are recorded by interference of the same reference light beams having the same angle of incidence and the same wavelength with object light beams having mutually different angles of incidence. The stereoscopic image of the three-dimensional object is reconstructed in the form of diffracted light 31 in a singlecolor and in angle relations close to recording conditions, and the image of a plane pattern of the mask plate is reconstructed as diffracted light 32b, 32′b at various angles of incidence of white illumination light 30 and in different colors depending on those angles of incidence. Thus, more improved aesthetics are achievable, and more enhanced security is ensured by determination of whether or not the volume hologram medium has such aesthetic properties.
US08956777B2	Solid oxide fuel cell power plant having a fixed contact oxidation catalyzed section of a multi-section cathode air heat exchanger The multi-section cathode air heat exchanger (102) includes at least a first heat exchanger section (104), and a fixed contact oxidation catalyzed section (126) secured adjacent each other in a stack association. Cool cathode inlet air flows through cool air channels (110) of the at least first (104) and oxidation catalyzed sections (126). Hot anode exhaust flows through hot air channels (124) of the oxidation catalyzed section (126) and is combusted therein. The combusted anode exhaust then flows through hot air channels (112) of the first section (104) of the cathode air heat exchanger (102). The cool and hot air channels (110, 112) are secured in direct heat exchange relationship with each other so that temperatures of the heat exchanger (102) do not exceed 800° C. to minimize requirements for using expensive, high-temperature alloys.
US08956769B2	Non-aqueous electrolyte solution for lithium secondary battery and lithium secondary battery including the same A non-aqueous electrolyte solution includes an electrolyte solution including an amide compound and a lithium salt, and a dinitrile compound substituted by a hetero atom at a main chain, and a lithium secondary battery includes the non-aqueous electrolyte solution. By using the non-aqueous electrolyte solution, a lithium secondary battery having an improved swelling phenomenon and an increased charging/discharging performance may be provided.
US08956767B2	Composite separator for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell and method for manufacturing the same The present invention provides a composite separator for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and a method for manufacturing the same, in which a graphite foil prepared by compressing expanded graphite is stacked on a carbon fiber-reinforced composite prepreg or a mixed solution prepared by mixing graphite flake and powder with a resin solvent is applied to the cured composite prepreg such that a graphite layer is integrally molded on the outermost end of the separator.For this purpose, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite separator for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, the method including: preparing a prepreg as a continuous carbon fiber-reinforced composite and a graphite foil; allowing the cut prepreg and graphite foil to pass through a stacking/compression roller to be compressed; allowing the prepreg in which the graphite foil is integrally stacked to be heated and pressed by a hot press such that hydrogen, air, and coolant flow fields are formed or to pass through a hot roller to be formed into a separator; removing unnecessary portions from the heated and pressed separator using a trim cutter; and post-curing the thus formed separator, wherein the graphite foil may be stacked on the prepreg as the continuous carbon fiber-reinforced composite such that a graphite layer is integrally formed with the prepreg.
US08956765B2	Lithium ion battery including current collector comprising graphene layer and carbon nanotube layer A lithium ion battery includes at least one battery cell. The battery cell includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a separator. The separator is sandwiched between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. At least one of the cathode electrode and the anode electrode includes a current collector. The current collector includes a graphene layer and a carbon nanotube layer.
US08956764B2	Electrode plate, secondary battery having the same, and manufacturing method for the electrode plate An electrode plate includes a current collector, the current collector being made of metal and having a 3-dimensional mesh structure, and an active material portion including an active material, the active material portion being inserted into a vacant space in the current collector and coated on top and bottom surfaces of the current collector.
US08956757B2	Transparent electrochemical energy storage devices A transparent electrochemical energy storage device includes a pair of electrodes and an electrolyte disposed between the electrodes. Each of the electrodes includes a substrate and a set of electrode materials that are arranged across the substrate in a pattern with a feature dimension no greater than 200 μm and occupying an areal fraction in the range of 5% to 70%.
US08956752B2	Battery module A battery module including a plurality of battery cells aligned in one direction; and barriers interposed between respective battery cells, wherein the barrier has a shape that crosses at a central portion of the battery cell.
US08956748B2	Battery The invention allows a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate of a power generating element of a battery to function as effectively as possible. In the battery including the power generating element formed by winding the foil-shaped positive electrode plate 23a and the foil-shaped negative electrode plate 23b, on which active material layers are formed respectively, about a winding core 21, with separators 24a and 24b sandwiched therebetween, and forming the plates into a flat shape, the winding core 21 is formed by a porous member and the foil-shaped positive electrode plate 23a and the foil-shaped negative electrode plate 23b are disposed so that faces of the plates, on which the active material layers are formed, face each other with the winding core 21 interposed therebetween at an innermost layer of the winding.
US08956745B2	Metal halogen electrochemical cell system A metal halogen electrochemical energy cell system that generates an electrical potential. One embodiment of the system includes at least one cell including at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode, at least one electrolyte, a mixing venturi that mixes the electrolyte with a halogen reactant, and a circulation pump that conveys the electrolyte mixed with the halogen reactant through the positive electrode and across the metal electrode. Preferably, the positive electrode comprises porous carbonaceous material, the negative electrode comprises zinc, the metal comprises zinc, the halogen comprises halogen, the electrolyte comprises an aqueous zinc-halide electrolyte, and the halogen reactant comprises a halogen reactant. Also, variations of the system and a method of operation for the systems.
US08956743B2	Secondary battery including one-way exhaust member Disclosed herein is a plate-shaped secondary battery constructed in a structure in which an electrode assembly of a cathode/separator/anode structure is mounted in a battery case, and the battery case is sealed by thermal welding, wherein the secondary battery has at least one-way exhaust member, mounted at a sealed portion, formed at the outer circumference of an electrode assembly receiving part of the battery case, for allowing internal high-pressure gas to be exhausted out of a battery cell and preventing external gas from being introduced into the battery cell. The secondary battery according to the present invention has the effect of effectively exhausting internal high-pressure gas generated during the abnormal operation of the battery, such as overcharge, out of the battery case, while maintaining the sealability of the battery case, thereby simultaneously improving the efficiency and safety of the battery.
US08956730B2	Conductive multilayer stack, coated substrates including the same, and methods of making the same An electrically conductive multilayer stack including a first metal oxide layer including titanium oxide, a metal layer on the first metal oxide layer, and a second metal oxide layer including titanium oxide on the metal layer, at least one of the first metal oxide layer and the second metal oxide layer including a first region, a second region on the first region, and a third region on the second region, the first region and the third region each having a higher oxygen concentration than that of the second region is disclosed. Methods of manufacturing an electrically conductive multilayer stack are also disclosed.
US08956721B2	Surface treatment method for metal substrate and coated article manufactured by the same A surface treatment method for metal substrate includes: a metal substrate is provided; a first color layer is deposited on the metal substrate, the first color layer being a TiC layer or a TiN layer; a second color layer is deposited on the first color layer, the first color layer being a CrC layer or a CrN layer, the color of the first color layer being different from the color of the second color layer; forming a shielding layer on partially of the second color layer; electrochemical etching the metal substrate, the second color layer not covered with the shielding layer being removed to form a recessed portion, the recessed portion being extend through the second color layer. A coated article for manufactured by the surface treatment method is also provided.
US08956719B2	Flame-retardant poly lactic acid-containing film or sheet, and method for manufacturing thereof A film or sheet composed of a resin composition including a poly lactic acid (A), an acidic functional group-modified olefinic polymer (B) including an acidic functional group and having an acid value of 10 to 70 mg KOH/g and a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 to 80,000, a tetrafluoroethylene polymer (C), and an aromatic cyclic phosphazene-containing flame retardant (D) including a compound of Formula (I) and in which (D) is included in an amount of 10 to 70 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of (A), and a method for manufacturing the film or sheet by melt film formation.
US08956715B2	Resilient pad composite having floating reinforcing structure The present application discloses a composite pad structure that includes a substrate bonded to a plurality of discrete, spaced-apart, resilient elements engaged to at least one reinforcing structure.
US08956712B2	Solid state power source with frames for attachment to an electronic circuit A power source for a solid state device includes: a first frame having a first contact portion, a first bonding portion and a first extension portion between the first contact portion and the first bonding portion; a second frame having a second contact portion, a second bonding portion and a second extension portion between the second contact portion and the second bonding portion; and a first pole layer, an electrolyte layer and a second pole layer positioned between the first and second contact portions, wherein a first portion of the electrolyte layer is positioned between the first extension and the first pole and a second portion of the electrolyte layer is positioned between the first extension and the second pole.
US08956709B2	Deposition method and manufacturing method of light-emitting device A first substrate including, on one of surfaces, a light absorption layer having metal nitride and a material layer which is formed so as to be in contact with the light absorption layer is provided; the surface of the first substrate on which the material layer is formed and a deposition target surface of a second substrate are disposed to face each other; and part of the material layer is deposited on the deposition target surface of the second substrate in such a manner that irradiation with laser light having a repetition rate of greater than or equal to 10 MHz and a pulse width of greater than or equal to 100 fs and less than or equal to 10 ns is performed from the other surface side of the first substrate to selectively heat part of the material layer which overlaps with the light absorption layer.
US08956705B2	Ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) polymers A system having a ferroelectric liquid host material and a small amount of polymer additive is provided. In an embodiment, the polymer additive improves the physical characteristics of the system. In an embodiment, the system can be used in FLC applications.
US08956704B2	Methods for modulating step coverage during conformal film deposition Methods for processing a substrate include a) arranging a substrate on a pedestal in a processing chamber; b) supplying precursor to the processing chamber; c) purging the processing chamber; d) performing radio frequency (RF) plasma activation; e) purging the processing chamber; and f) prior to purging the processing chamber in at least one of (c) or (e), setting a vacuum pressure of the processing chamber to a first predetermined pressure that is less than a vacuum pressure during at least one of (b) or (d) for a first predetermined period.
US08956687B2	Light induced plating of metals on silicon photovoltaic cells A method and composition for plating metal contacts on photovoltaic solar cells is described. The cell is immersed in an aqueous bath containing platable metal ions and a solubilizing agent for aluminum or aluminum alloy ions from the back side of the solar cell. The cell is then exposed to light, causing the two sides of the cell to become oppositely charged. The metal ions are plated without requiring an external electrical contact.
US08956679B2	Process tolerant starch composition with high total dietary fiber content The present invention relates to a starch composition with high total dietary fiber (TDF) that retains its TDF upon processing. In particular, over 50% of such fiber is retained upon extrusion processing. Such starch is useful in the manufacture of high fiber food products, including extruded products such as breakfast cereals and snacks.
US08956663B2	Compositions and methods for treating vaginal infections and pathogenic vaginal biofilms The present invention generally relates to methods and compositions for treating pathogenic vaginal biofilms. More specifically, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising a combination of boric acid and diethylaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) and to methods of using such compositions to treat or prevent biofilm formation associated with vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), trichomoniasis or mixed infections.
US08956659B2	Fulvestrant nanosphere/microsphere and preparative method and use thereof Fulvestrant nanosphere/microsphere and preparation method and use thereof are provided in the present invention. The carrier material of the fulvestrant nanosphere/microsphere is methoxy ended polyethylene glycol-polylactic acid block copolymer. The nanosphere/microsphere is prepared by solvent-nonsolvent method, in-liquid drying method and/or spray drying method, and has the features of high drug loading and high encapsulation efficiency, controllable release of medicine and no irritant to application site or blood vessel. The fulvestrant nanosphere/microsphere can be used to treat metastatic advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal woman.
US08956650B2	Intrabuccally rapidly disintegrating tablet and a production method of the tablets An intrabuccally rapidly disintegrating tablet which is manufactured by a simple method, has an enough practical hardness and is rapidly disintegrated in the buccal cavity and its production method. The intrabuccally rapidly disintegrating tablet is produced by growing a powder material into a granulated material with a fixed particle diameter, the powder material including a sugar alcohol or a saccharide as main ingredient, each of which is first particle having an average particle diameter of not more than 30 μm, by mixing thus obtained granulated material with an active ingredient and a disintegrant, and by compressing the mixture into a predetermined shape.
US08956648B2	Calciumphosphate-based nanoparticles as carrier-systems for photodynamic therapy The present invention provides pharmaceutical photosensitizer-loaded nanoparticle formulations and their methods of preparation for photodynamic therapy, comprising a hydrophobic or hydrophilic photosensitizer, nanoparticulate calcium phosphate and in certain cases auxiliary reagents such as stabilizers. The calcium phosphate-based nanoparticle formulations of the present invention provide excellent storage stability and therapeutically effective amounts of photosensitizer for intravenous or topical administration. In a preferred embodiment, tetrapyrrole derivatives such as porphyrins, chlorins and bacteriochlorins, are the preferred hydrophobic photosensitizers to be formulated in calcium phosphate nanoparticle formulations for photodynamic tumor therapy. Additionally, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-phosphonooxyphenyl)porphine (pTPPP) is a preferred hydrophilic photosensitizer for photodynamic tumor therapy. In another preferred embodiment, hydrophilic cationic and anionic photosensitizers, especially those of the phenazinium, phenothiazinium and xanthenes series have been found to inactive pathogen bacteria and are the preferred photosensitizers to be formulated in calcium phosphate nanoparticle formulations for antibacterial photodynamic therapy. In another embodiment, photosensitizing nanoparticle formulations are useful to locate cells, tissues or bacteria by using fluorescence imaging methods.
US08956646B2	Zwitterionic lipids In various embodiments, the present invention provides zwitterionic lipids, encapsulants incorporating these zwitterionic lipids and such encapsulants encapsulating one or more bioactive agent. An exemplary bioactive agent is a nucleic acid. Also provided are pharmaceutical formulations of the encapsulants and methods of using such formulations to deliver a bioactive agent to a subject in treating or diagnosing disease in that subject.
US08956642B2	Bupivacaine formulation in a polyorthoester carrier Effective treatments of pain, such as chronic pelvic pain, for extended periods of time are provided. The treatments include the administration of one or more drug depots intraspinally wherein the drug depots include an effective amount of bupivacaine formulated within a polyorthoester. By administration of one or more drug depots, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to chronic pelvic pain syndromes, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discongenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least thirty days, at least sixty days, at least one hundred days or at least one hundred and thirty-five days.
US08956640B2	Block copolymers including a methoxyethyl methacrylate midblock A block copolymer comprising a methoxyethyl methacrylate (MOEMA) midblock is provided for forming a coating a medical device for controlled release of a bioactive agent.
US08956637B2	Medical device applications of nanostructured surfaces This invention provides novel nanofiber enhanced surface area substrates and structures comprising such substrates for use in various medical devices, as well as methods and uses for such substrates and medical devices. In one particular embodiment, methods for enhancing cellular functions on a surface of a medical device implant are disclosed which generally comprise providing a medical device implant comprising a plurality of nanofibers (e.g., nanowires) thereon and exposing the medical device implant to cells such as osteoblasts.
US08956634B2	Insect repellant fabrics having nanocapsules with insecticide The present invention relates to method of manufacturing a prytheroid-treated fabric and manufactured products created thereby. Through the development and application of prytheroid nanocapsules to a fabric, the fabric exhibits insecticidal properties, even following successive washings and solar exposure.
US08956632B2	Alloplastic injectable dermal filler and methods of use thereof A composition comprising an alloplastic injectable suspension for use as a dermal filler comprising a biocompatible and pliable material and a physiologically acceptable suspending agent is provided. A method of making a composition comprising an alloplastic injectable suspension for use as a dermal filler comprising a biocompatible and pliable material and a physiologically acceptable suspending agent, said method comprising admixing a biocompatible and pliable material with a physiologically acceptable suspending agent, is also provided. A method of augmenting soft tissue to provide long-term reduction of a skin defect, said method comprising stimulating collagen beneath the skin defect is further provided. In an embodiment of the method of augmenting soft tissue, the stimulation of collagen production is effected by injecting into the deep reticular dermis an a dermal filler, said dermal filler being an alloplastic injectable suspension and comprising a biocompatible and pliable material and a physiologically acceptable suspending agent.
US08956630B2	Absorbent composition for surface treatment The invention concerns an absorbent composition comprising: (a) at least 50 wt.-% of the overall composition have a particle size of less than 150 .mu.m and are comprised of at least one absorbent component; and (b) at least 1.0 wt.-% of the overall composition have a particle size of at least 250 .mu.m and are comprised of at least one particulate component, and its preferred uses.
US08956598B2	Hydrocarbon mixtures and use thereof The invention relates to hydrocarbon mixtures containing the 14C isotope, use thereof and cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparations comprising hydrocarbon mixtures containing the 14C isotope.
US08956591B2	Method for detecting cancer using ICG fluorescence method A method of detecting an accessory cancer lesion, comprising an administration step wherein indocyanine green is administered to a living body, an irradiation step wherein a target organ suspected of having cancer is surgically exposed and irradiated with excitation light of indocyanine green, an imaging step wherein a near-infrared fluorescence intensity distribution image from the excited indocyanine green in the target organ is obtained, and an identification step wherein an area having the near-infrared fluorescence in the intensity distribution image, excluding the area detected in preoperative examination or intraoperative macroscopic observation, is identified as an accessory cancer lesion.
US08956589B2	Imaging diagnostic agent and extracorporeal diagnostic agent for incurable neurological diseases Disclosed are a curcumin derivative or a salt thereof, which contains a fluorine atom, represented by formula (I): (wherein R1a and R1b are each independently a hydrogen atom, alkyl, acetyl, or methoxycarbonyl; R2s are each independently a fluorine atom, CHF2—, CF3—, CHF2O—, or CF3O—; R3s are each independently a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom; A is alkyl, cyano, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or R4—(CH2)m—; R4 is hydroxy, carboxy, cyano, acetyloxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkoxyalkoxy, hydroxyalkoxy, or CONR5R6; R5 and R6 are each independently a hydrogen atom or alkyl; and m is an integer from 1 to 5), and a diagnostic imaging agent for diagnosing a disease in which an amyloid β peptide aggregate accumulates, the diagnostic imaging agent containing a compound having a 1,3-dicarbonyl structure, wherein the compound exists in a keto form and an enol form, and the keto form and the enol form have different affinities, respectively, to the amyloid β peptide aggregate.
US08956568B2	Sample transfer mechanism A sample transfer mechanism of the present invention is characterized broadly by a sample gripping method in which a downward part of a sample vessel is gripped and a cover that achieves an effect as a guide such that gripping arms that grip the sample vessel avoid contact with other objects and bypass surrounding objects, particularly, the sample vessels in approaching and retracting motions. To enhance the effect as the guide and to ensure that the sample vessels can be mounted with a high degree of integration, the shape of the cover and disposition of the sample transfer mechanism are characterized in a number of manners. Thus, a sample transfer mechanism that can perform a transfer process safely with high throughput even under conditions in which a variety of types of sample vessels is mixed together and the sample vessels are mounted with a high degree of integration is provided.
US08956566B2	System and method for virus inactivation Methods and systems for virus inactivation in the production or processing of biological or other sensitive substances are provided. The disclosed methods and systems for virus inactivation involve the key steps of dissolving carbon dioxide into biological or other sensitive substances; and treating the substance with the dissolved carbon dioxide at conditions which are less than critical pressure and temperature for a prescribed treatment time to inactivate at least 80% of the target virus or viruses contained within the biological or other sensitive substances. The disclosed carbon dioxide treatments for virus inactivation may optionally include concurrently or sequentially subjecting the substances with an acid treatment to lower the pH of the substance and inactivate viruses contained within the biological or other sensitive substance. Operating conditions for the disclosed carbon dioxide treatments preferably involve sparging carbon dioxide gas into the substance until the composition is saturated with carbon dioxide and is conducted at pressures below about 5 MPa; at temperatures of less than or equal to 30° C.; and for a treatment time of between about one minute and about 2000 minutes.
US08956564B2	Supply system for suspension smelting furnace A supply system for providing a suspension smelting furnace with constant and continuous feed is disclosed. The installation of the invention comprises intermediate storage bins for fine-grained feed, a feed rate controller for accurately controlling the feed rate of the fine-grained material, and a pneumatic conveyor for lifting the feed up to the top level of the suspension smelting furnace where the burner of the furnace is adapted. In the installation, the heavy constructions of the storage bins are located close to the ground level and the constructions around and on top of the furnace have been designed essentially lighter than in conventional solutions.
US08956554B2	Green light-emitting silicate phosphor A green light-emitting silicate phosphor comprising Eu-activated strontium barium silicate which has a crystal phase of magnesium oxide or a merwinite crystal phase and contains 0.15 to 0.90 mol of magnesium per one mol of silicon gives a light emission stable at elevated temperatures.
US08956552B2	Cyclohexene-3,6-diyl compound, liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device To provide a compound, when the compound has both a high clearing point and a low crystallization temperature, having a wide temperature range of a liquid crystal phase and also an excellent solubility in other liquid crystal compounds, and further having general physical properties necessary for the compound, namely, stability to heat, light and so forth, a suitable optical anisotropy and a suitable dielectric anisotropy. A compound is represented by formula (1): wherein, for example, Ra and Rb are alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons; A1, A2, A3 and A4 are 1,4-phenylene; Z1, Z2, Z3 and Z4 are a single bond or alkylene having 1 to 4 carbons; and m, n, q and r are independently 0, 1, or 2, and a sum of m, n, q and r is 1, 2, 3 or 4.
US08956551B2	Liquid crystal compound having fluorovinyl group, liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal compound having a high stability to heat, light and so forth, a high clearing point, a low minimum temperature of a liquid crystal phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a suitable elastic constant and an excellent solubility in other liquid crystal compounds, a liquid crystal composition containing the compound, and a liquid crystal display device including the composition. The compound is represented by formula (1): wherein, for example, R1 is fluorine or alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons; ring A1 and ring A2 are 1,4-phenylene, or 1,4-phenylene in which at least one of hydrogen is replaced by fluorine; Z1, Z2 and Z3 are a single bond; L1 and L2 are hydrogen or fluorine; X1 is fluorine or —CF3; and m is 1, and n is 0.
US08956550B2	Liquid-crystalline medium The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium, characterized in that it contains a polymerizable component (A) containing one more polymerizable compounds and a liquid-crystalline component (B) containing one more compounds of the general formula I in which R, rings A1 and A2, Z1, Z2, Y1, Y2, X0 and r are as defined in Claim 1.
US08956547B2	Piezoelectric composition and piezoelectric element A piezoelectric compound having no occurrence of segregation or uneven structures as well as a piezoelectric element having excellent piezoelectric properties. The piezoelectric composition includes a main component that is a perovskite-typed oxide represented by formula of ABO3, wherein, one site includes Bi, Na, and another site includes Ti, and part of the Ti is substituted by transition metal element Me (Me is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mn, Cr, Fe and Co), according to the conversion of BiMeO3, the content ratio of Bi and the transition metal element Me accounts for 6˜43 mol % relative to the whole perovskite-typed oxides as the main component.
US08956543B2	Feeder with screen for shaker Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a fluid distribution apparatus. The fluid distribution apparatus has a housing including an inlet configured to receive a drilling material, a first outlet configured to direct a first portion of the drilling material onto a first separatory surface, and a second outlet configured to direct a second portion of the drilling material onto a second separatory surface. The fluid distribution apparatus further includes a screen disposed within the housing and configured to separate solids from the second portion of the drilling material directed through the second outlet onto the second separatory surface.
US08956541B2	Composition and method for retention of solvated compounds and ions Storage stable polyhydroxylated aromatic ether adducts of polyalkylene oxide are described. Reactive compositions are formed by combining an ether adduct with an aldehyde, optionally further adding a phenolic-aldehyde prepolymer. The reactive compositions are cured by removing water, by acidification, or both. The cured compositions sorb solvated compounds from environments containing water. The cured compositions are also useful for pre-loading with compounds that are subsequently released at a controlled rate into environments containing water.
US08956535B2	Single pass method and apparatus for separating a target molecule from a liquid mixture A single pass simulated moving bed apparatus and methods are described for continuously separating a target molecule from a liquid mixture, using a simulated moving bed system. The simulated moving bed system includes a plurality of filter cartridge modules in serial fluid communication. Each filter cartridge module includes a volume of stationary phase particulates adjacent a porous substrate layer. The volume of stationary phase particulates has a bed height of less than 1 centimeter.
US08956528B2	Slurry bed hydroprocessing and system using feedstock containing dissolved hydrogen A system and process for conversion of heavy feedstocks in a slurry bed hydroprocessing reactor is provided in which (a) hydrogen gas is dissolved in the liquid feedstock by mixing and/or diffusion, (b) the mixture is flashed to remove and recover any light components and hydrogen, leaving a hydrogen-enriched feedstock. A homogenous and/or heterogeneous catalyst is added to the feedstock upstream of the inlet of the slurry bed hydroprocessing reactor.
US08956522B2	Tin/lithium oxide composite thin film, its preparation and uses thereof A method for electrochemically producing a tin/lithium oxide composite thin film includes providing a solution comprising 10−3 to 10−2 M lithium nitrate and 10−4 to 10−3 M stannic chloride or stannous chloride; electrodepositing the tin/lithium oxide composite thin film on a conductive substrate with a reference electrode of Ag/AgCI and a voltage of 900 to 1500 mV; and drying the tin/lithium oxide composite thin film at a temperature of 15 to 40° C. and a relative humidity of at least 75%.
US08956520B2	Electrochemical process to prepare chemicals using a cyanide salt The present invention relates to a process comprising the reaction of a cyanide with a hydrogen cyanide-reactive compound, characterized in that the cyanide is a cyanide salt and the process is an electrochemical process involving the transporting of a reaction mixture to which cyanide salt has been added through an electrochemical cell, in which process the cyanide salt reacts with the hydrogen cyanide-reactive compound while at least partly under the influence of an electric current the cyanide salt is acidified and the salt cation content is reduced.
US08956496B2	Apparatus and methods for impinging a fluid on a substrate Apparatus and methods for impinging a heated fluid onto the surface of a substrate and then locally removing the impinged fluid. The apparatus and methods may be used to heat a surface of a substrate e.g. so that the substrate can be melt-bonded to another substrate.
US08956495B2	Method of manufacturing “T” shaped stringers for an aircraft and curing tool used thereof A method of manufacturing “T” shaped stringers for an aircraft whereby the “T” shaped stringers have a stringer web and a stringer foot, the method comprising: a first step of hot-forming a carbon fiber laminate in order to achieve semi-stringers with an “L” shaped cross-section, a second step of placing together two hot-formed “L” shaped semi-stringers in order to form a “T” shaped stringer, a third step of co-bonding the resulting “T” shaped stringer on a cured skin with an adhesive line between them, and a fourth step of curing the obtained “T” shaped stringer inside a vacuum bag using invar alloy angles as curing tools. The invar alloy angles are cut at a radius area eliminating a part of the invar alloy angles covering the stringer foot in order to define an invar alloy piece having no foot.
US08956490B1	Identification card substrate surface protection using a laminated coating In a method of forming an identification card, a card substrate having a surface is provided. A film laminate comprising a backing layer and one or more dried transferable layers attached to the backing layer is provided. One of the transferable layers comprises a coating comprising an inorganic ceramic-like material and a water insoluble polymer binder. The film laminate is laminated to the surface of the card substrate such that an exposed surface of the one or more transferable layers adheres to the surface of the card substrate. The backing layer is then removed from at least a portion of the one or more transferable layers that remain adhered to the surface of the card substrate. Additional embodiments are generally directed to a method of protecting a surface of an identification card and identification card manufacturing devices for performing the methods.
US08956489B2	Process for producing a shell-shaped hollow body and a use therefor A process for producing a shell-shaped hollow body composed of fiber-reinforced plastic in which, in a first step, a continuous hollow body made of fiber-reinforced plastic is produced. In a second step, the continuous hollow body is separated into a plurality of shell-shaped hollow bodies. Such a shell-shaped hollow body is applicable in vehicle construction, for example, as chassis or bodywork.
US08956487B2	Rotor blade of a gas turbine engine made of composite material comprising a connecting yoke, method for manufacturing the blade A rotor blade of a turbine engine comprising a body made of composite material consisting of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting resin and a connecting yoke designed to be attached to a fastener of a rotor disc of the said turbine engine, the said blade characterized in that the connecting yoke comprises a metal reinforcement and a casing made of composite material encasing the said reinforcement.
US08956476B2	Treatment machine for treating packaging means The invention relates to a device for treating packaging means, particularly in the form of bottles and similar containers, comprising a conveying element that can be used to move the packaging means past at least one treatment module provided on at least one operating position, which module can be coupled to and decoupled from the treatment position, and mechanical coupling and/or centering means determining the position of the at least one treatment module after docking. The invention is characterized in that, in order to detect possible deviations of the treatment module coupled to the treatment machine from the target position, and/or to realign the coupled treatment module into the target position, at least one optical centering and adjusting means is provided, some of the functional elements of which are provided on the treatment module, and some are provided on the treatment machine.
US08956472B2	Corrosion resistant aluminum alloys having high amounts of magnesium and methods of making the same Systems and methods for continuously casting Al—Mg alloy sheet or plate product having a high amount of magnesium are disclosed. The Al—Mg products have 4 or 6 to 8 or 10 wt. % Mg and are resistant to both stress corrosion cracking and intergranular corrosion.
US08956469B2	Vehicle body components with a metal hybrid construction and production methods for such vehicle body components Method for manufacturing a zinc-coated nonferrous metal component for the production of a corrosion-protected vehicle body in a mixed construction includes providing an untreated nonferrous metal component and applying a coating by zinc diffusion onto the nonferrous metal component. A zinc dust mixture is diffused at a temperature of from 300 to 600° C. so as to form a zinc diffusion layer.
US08956468B2	Zr-/Ti-containing phosphating solution for passivation of metal composite surfaces The invention relates to an aqueous composition and to a method for the anticorrosion conversion treatment of metallic surfaces, particularly metallic materials which are assembled into composite structures, comprising steel or galvanized or alloy-galvanized steel and any combinations thereof, the composite structure being composed at least in part of aluminum or the alloys thereof. The aqueous composition according to the invention is based on a phosphating solution and contains, in addition to water-soluble compounds of zirconium and titanium, a quantity of free fluoride in a ratio that both permits phosphating of the steel and galvanized and/or alloy-galvanized steel surfaces and determines low pickling rates of the aluminum substrate with simultaneous passivation of the aluminum. The metallic materials, components and composite structures conversion treated in accordance with the underlying invention are used in automotive body construction, in shipbuilding, in construction and for the production of white goods.
US08956464B2	Method of cleaning membranes Methods for cleaning polymeric microfiltration or ultrafiltration membranes. The membrane may be contacted with a first cleaning solution including at least one oxidising agent. A second cleaning solution including at least one reducing agent may then be introduced to the membrane and first cleaning solution. The oxidising and reducing agents may undergo a neutralisation reaction to form an oxidation-neutral mixed cleaning solution. The membrane may be simultaneously cleaned during the neutralisation reaction.
US08956460B2	Process for recovery of values from a fermentation mass obtained in producing ethanol and products thereof The present invention generally relates to processes for recovery of values from a fermentation mass obtained in producing ethanol. Further, the present invention relates to processes for the recovery of values from an inorganic- and lignin-containing mass. The present invention also relates to processes for the recovery of a fraction having enhanced silica content from a silica-containing mass. Still further, the present invention relates to processes for the recovery of crude ethanol from a fermentation mass. The present invention relates to various lignin-containing products and solutions and mineral-rich products.
US08956456B2	Apparatus and method for atomic layer deposition Apparatus for atomic layer deposition on a surface of a sheeted substrate, comprising: an injector head comprising a deposition space provided with a precursor supply and a precursor drain; said supply and drain arranged for providing a precursor gas flow from the precursor supply via the deposition space to the precursor drain; the deposition space in use being bounded by the injector head and the substrate surface; a gas bearing comprising a bearing gas injector, arranged for injecting a bearing gas between the injector head and the substrate surface, the bearing gas thus forming a gas-bearing; a conveying system providing relative movement of the substrate and the injector head along a plane of the substrate to form a conveying plane along which the substrate is conveyed. A support part arranged opposite the injector head, the support part constructed to provide a gas bearing pressure arrangement that balances the injector head gas-bearing in the conveying plane, so that the substrate is held supportless by said gas bearing pressure arrangement in between the injector head and the support part.
US08956442B2	Devices and methods for improvement of microvascular function Provided are methods and devices for improving microvascular function in humans and mammals. Reduction of exposure to airborne fine particles using air treatment systems increases microvascular function in persons at cardiovascular risk. Preferred treatment systems provide a zone of clean air having >75% reduction in airborne particle counts around a person at cardiovascular risk. The devices and methods can be optimally used during sleep, when the user is stationary for an extended period.
US08956433B2	High flow V-bank filter A V-bank air filter having a high air flow rate with low pressure drop is provided. In one embodiment, a V-bank filter includes a housing having a first pair and a second pair of pleated filter elements arranged in a vee configuration and comprising a unitary disposable filter. A centerline defined by the first pair of pleated filter elements defines an acute angle with a centerline defined by the second pair of pleated filter elements.
US08956430B2	Polishing composition A polishing composition containing a silica, an acid, a surfactant, and water, wherein (a) the acid has solubility in water at 25° C. of 1 g or more per 100 g of an aqueous saturated solution; (b) the surfactant is a sulfonic acid represented by the formula (1) or (2), or a salt thereof; and (c) the polishing composition has a pH of a specified range; and a polishing process of a substrate using the polishing composition are provided. The polishing composition is suitably used, for example in polishing a substrate for disk recording media such as magnetic disks, optical disks and opto-magnetic disks.
US08956422B2	Suspension liner with seal component A suspension liner is provided for use as an interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket. The liner has an elongate, generally conical liner body formed from at least one material segment that is at least radially elastically extensible from a relaxed non-extended condition and including proximal and distal end areas, and a seal component connected to the liner body and having an exterior surface defining at least one exterior seal protruding from the exterior surface and extending radially outwardly from the seal component relative to a longitudinal axis of the liner body. The at least one interior seal is located along an interior surface of the seal component and defines at least one blade extending obliquely toward the liner body. A portion of the seal component carrying the interior seal extends freely and is movable relative to the liner body.
US08956421B2	Dynamic support apparatus and system A dynamic support system includes a control system for controlling inflation and deflation of at least one actuator having an inlet connectable to the a control unit of the dynamic support system. The control unit may be in communication with a sensor and may control inflation and deflation of the at least one actuator in response to information provided by the sensor.
US08956419B2	Open lumen stent A stent according to an embodiment of the invention includes an elongate body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The elongate body defines a lumen and an opening in communication with the lumen between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion configured to enable the flow of fluid therethrough. The lumen is configured to have a diameter wherein the opening has a width greater than half the size of the diameter and less than the diameter of the lumen. The opening has a length at least twice the width of opening. In some embodiments, the opening is configured to laterally receive a guidewire therethrough. The elongate body can be configured to releasably couple the guidewire within the lumen of the elongate body such that the elongate body can be slidably moved along the guidewire.
US08956416B2	Vertebral osteosynthetis equipment A vertebral osteosynthesis equipemnt including an intervertebral implant (1); a member (2) for connecting vertebral bodies (100) of both treated vertebrae intended to be assembled to the intervertebral implant (1); and a member (3) for assembling the connecting member (2) to the intervertebral implant (1). The intervertebral implant (1) includes on its proximal side relatively to the direction of its introduction into the intervertebral space (102), a hole comprising two coaxial portions, i.e. a proximal portion of larger section and a distal portion of smaller section, these proximal and distal portions comprising respective connecting means. The connecting member (2) includes a hole which allows it to be engaged onto a guiding rod (50) intended to be inserted into said distal portion (13) of the hole of the implant (1), and the assembling member (3) comprises a conduit on this guiding rod (50).
US08956412B2	Artificial disc An artificial disc includes an intermediate section which is disposed between upper and lower retainers. The intermediate section includes a first portion which resists rotation of one of the retainers, for example, the upper retainer, from a first position to a second position. A second portion of the intermediate section of the artificial disc resists rotation of the upper retainer from the second position to a third position. The second portion of the intermediate section of the artificial disc is ineffective to provide significant resistance to relative rotation between the retainers during rotation of the upper retainer relative to the lower retainer from the first position to the second position. The artificial disc may be provided with projections which engage protrusions on the intermediate section to resist rotation of the upper retainer relative to the lower retainer from the second position to the third position.
US08956410B2	Flexible tibial sheath A radially expandable sheath is provided having a substantially closed distal end with at least two sidewalls extending proximally therefrom and defining a central lumen. Each sidewall can have a substantially concave outer surface adapted to seat a graft member, and each side wall is at least partially separated by a longitudinally oriented slot that extends from a proximal end along a substantial length of each sidewall. The slot preferably terminates at a position just proximal to the distal end. The device can also include a sheath expander that is adapted to be disposed in the central lumen of the radially expandable sheath and that is configured to flex the sidewalls to radially expand the sheath so as to fix a graft member within a bone tunnel.
US08956405B2	Collapsible caged-ball prosthetic valve for transcatheter delivery and method of use A valve that includes an expandable valve body defining a lumen and a longitudinally moveable obstructer retained within the lumen of the valve body between the proximal and distal ends of the valve when the valve is in an expanded configuration. The valve, in the collapsed configuration, is delivered to a native valve site by a catheter where the valve body is expanded to anchor the valve at the valve annulus and the collapsed obstructer is subsequently expanded so that the valve is in the expanded configuration.
US08956398B2	Custom length stent apparatus Apparatus and methods for delivering prosthetic segments to a body lumen, utilize a device having an elongated flexible member including proximal and distal ends, a plurality of prosthetic segments releasably arranged axially along the elongated flexible member near the distal end and an outer sheath slidably disposed over at least a portion of the prosthetic segments. The apparatus further includes a separator disposed on the outer sheath and adapted to engage the prosthetic segments. The separator is also adapted to be retracted proximally over the prosthetic segments and advanced distally to separate a proximal group of the prosthetic segments from a distal group of the prosthetic segments which are to be deployed in the body lumen.
US08956391B2	External retention mechanics for suture anchor Among other things, embodiments of a retaining mechanism for holding a portion of the suture of a suture anchor are disclosed. When a suture anchor is inserted into a patient, the portion of the suture extending from the body is held in tension by a two-piece snap-fit mechanism. One piece has a base with an extending shaft portion and a bulbous head, and a lumen runs through the shaft. The second piece has a hole or space for snapping the second piece onto the first piece. The extending portion of the suture runs through the lumen in the first piece and can be wrapped around the shaft. Snapping the second piece onto the first contains the suture and prevents loss of tension in it.
US08956385B2	Integrated distal embolization protection apparatus for endo-luminal devices such as balloon, stent or tavi apparatus An endoluminal catheterization device for providing protection against distal embolization of atherosclerotic debris and thrombi emboli resulting from an endoluminal catheterization procedure. The device is adapted to the new TAVI/PAVI methods to prevent the severe risk of brain embolization and stroke. The embolization protection device may also be an integral part of any other intra-luminal treatment or diagnostic device that may induce embolization, such as a balloon, stent, TAVI or atherectomy.
US08956383B2	Devices and methods for removing clots A device for capturing a clot is provided. The device can include an inflatable body, a network of veins incorporated thereinto, and a wall defining the inflatable body. The inflatable body can include a pathway substantially axial therethrough upon inflation. The network of veins, upon introduction of a fluid thereinto, can inflate the inflatable body to a predetermined shape. The wall can extend between adjacent veins to define the pathway through the inflatable body and to direct the clot therethrough.
US08956372B2	Filamentous tissue implant A tissue fixation system including a delivery tube and an elongated fastener with a loop at a proximal end and a distal end. A proximal end of an elongated curved needle is attached to the delivery tube. A distal end of the needle is configured to penetrate tissue. The needle includes an open channel sized to receive the elongated fastener with the loop located near the proximal end of the elongated curved needle and the distal end of the elongated fastener located near the distal end of the elongated curved needle. A capture needle is slidably positioned in the delivery tube to slide through the loop in the proximal end of the elongated fastener. The capture needle is configured to grasp the distal end of the elongated fastener and pull the distal end of the elongated fastener through the loop to cinch the elongated fastener.
US08956370B2	Laparoscopic tissue retrieval system A tissue retrieval system can contain and withdraw excised tissue specimens from within a body cavity. The tissue retrieval system can include a tissue retrieval bag, a foldable actuator, and an introducer. The foldable actuator can be foldable between an insertion configuration for placement through an access device without the aid of a grasper or applicator, and a deployed configuration for supporting the tissue retrieval bag in an open state. The actuator can have a foldable handle to facilitate withdrawal from the body cavity. After insertion of the tissue specimens into the retrieval bag, the retrieval bag is then cinched closed to prevent spillage of its contents and to prevent contamination of the body cavity and body cavity wall during withdrawal of the retrieval bag from within the body cavity.
US08956361B2	Extended tab bone screw system A bone screw system is presented. The bone screw system has a fixation element, a receiving element, coupling element, and a compression element. In one aspect, the system also has a pair of leg extensions extending upwardly therefrom the receiving element.
US08956350B2	Thermal feedback systems and methods of using the same A system for providing feedback during an electrosurgical procedure on a target tissue is provided. The system includes an electrosurgical energy source; an electrode probe assembly connected to the electrosurgical energy source, wherein the electrode probe assembly includes at least one electrode assembly having a needle configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to the target tissue; at least one thermal feedback assembly connected to the electrosurgical energy source, wherein each thermal feedback assembly includes at least one temperature sensor assembly; and a hub configured to selectively support the electrode probe assembly and each thermal feedback assembly such that the needle of the electrode probe assembly and each temperature sensor assembly of each thermal feedback assembly are proximate one another when disposed proximate the target tissue.
US08956345B2	Method and appliance for cosmetic skincare The invention relates to the field of cosmetology. The invention relates to cosmetic or aesthetic skin treatment using an appliance, in particular for dermatological care, which combines applying pulsed electrical currents to the skin for treating the skin by electroporation in a first step, constant currents for electrophoretically treating the skin in a second step, with the simultaneous exposure of the skin under treatment to chromotherapeutic light emissions in which the color changes from one step to the next. The color red is preferred for electroporation; orange is preferred during the electrophoretic treatment. The appliance is programmed for automatic is programmed for automatic operation. The method advantageously comprises a third chromotheraphy step under blue light combined with the application of an electrophoretic current.
US08956344B2	Apparatus and method for generating cut surfaces in the cornea of an eye for correction of ametropia An apparatus for generating cut surfaces in the cornea of an eye in order to correct ametropia is provided, said apparatus comprising a laser unit, which can focus pulsed laser radiation into the cornea and move it therein in order to generate cut surfaces, and a control unit, which controls the laser unit for generating cut surfaces such that a predetermined lenticle to be removed is separated from the surrounding corneal material in the cornea by at least one cut surface, and that at least two mutually spaced apart cut surfaces are formed as opening cuts, each extending from the lenticle to the anterior corneal surface, the position and shape of the opening cuts being selected such that the opening cuts contribute to the correction of the ametropia of the eye or do not counteract the correction of the ametropia of the eye.
US08956343B2	Dental surgical laser with feedback mechanisms A surgical device based on the concept of controlling the laser power during laser surgery based on optical and other signals from the tip and the tissue is described. A laser surgical system generally comprises several basic components, such as a laser, a delivery system, a tip and a control system. A tip may be considered as a particular case of a thermo-optical tip (TOT). TOT is an optical and mechanical element which could be used to modify or treat soft and hard tissues, including cutting, coagulation, vaporization, carbonization, and ablation of tissues.
US08956335B2	Externaly-applied patient interface system and method A tissue closure treatment system and method are provided with an external patient interface. A first fluid transfer component FTC.1 comprises a strip of porous material, such as rayon, with liquid wicking properties. FTC.1 can be placed directly on a suture line for transferring fluid exuded therethrough. An underdrape is placed over FTC.1 and includes a slot exposing a portion of same. FTC.2 comprises a suitable hydrophobic foam material, such as polyurethane ether, and is placed over the underdrape slot in communication with FTC.1. Negative pressure is applied to FTC.2 through a connecting fluid, transfer component FTC.3. A negative pressure source can comprises a manual device or a power-operated suction device. The tissue closure method includes a manual operating mode using a manual suction device with an automatic shut off for discontinuing suction when a predetermined volume of fluid has been drained. An automatic operating mode utilizes a microprocessor, which can be preprogrammed to respond to various patient and operating conditions. The method proceeds through several phases with different components in place and different patient interface functions occurring in each.
US08956333B2	Medication delivery device An ear medication delivery device for delivering a treatment liquid and retaining the treatment liquid within an ear canal of a patient.
US08956332B2	Drug delivery device A drug delivery device for dispensing of a dose of a medicinal product comprises a housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a container of medicinal product having a piston retained within, and a push-pull element, where the push-pull element is displaceable in proximal direction for setting of a dose and is displaceable in distal direction for dispensing of a dose. The drug delivery device may further include a piston rod coupled with the housing and with the push-pull element and coupling elements for converting a proximal displacement of the push-pull element into a rotational movement of the piston rod and for converting a distal displacement of the push-pull element into an axial movement of the piston rod with respect to the housing.
US08956331B2	Auto injector with a rotatable release shaft A disposable auto injector (10) having a housing for accommodation of a syringe (18) with a needle movably positioned in the housing between a first position in which the needle is inside the housing and a second position in which the needle protrudes outside the housing, a driver (22) positioned laterally in relation to the syringe and configured for applying a force to the syringe thereby moving the syringe from the first position to the second position, a first injection lock configured in a locked state for preventing syringe movement from the first position to the second position and an injection trigger member (16) configured for releasing the first injection lock to an unlocked state wherein the first injection lock comprises a rotatable release shaft (34) configured for rotation between a first angular position in which it prevents movement of the syringe from the first position to the second position and a second angular position in which position does not prevent movement of the syringe from the first position to the second position.
US08956327B2	Access device An access device for placing a medical article within a body space includes a needle, a dilator, and a medical article. The needle can include an elongated needle body with a distal end and a hub from which the needle body extends. The elongated needle body can include at least one side fenestration and an outer diameter. The dilator can be slideably disposed on the needle body and include a dilator hub and an elongated dilator shaft that extends from the dilator hub. The dilator shaft can include at least one side fenestration in communication with the needle side fenestration. The dilator shaft can also include an inner diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the needle. The medical article can include a tubular section and a hub. The tubular section can be disposed on the dilator and define a space between the medical article and the dilator in communication with the needle side fenestration through the dilator side fenestration. At a least portion of the medical article can be configured to allow visual determination of the presence of a body fluid within the space.
US08956326B2	Obturator tips A trocar assembly for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures includes a cannula subassembly and an obturator subassembly. The obturator assembly includes an obturator shaft member defining a longitudinal axis and an obturator tip configured to be removable from the obturator shaft member or, alternatively, constructed with the obturator member as a single unit. Various designs of the obturator tip are contemplated.
US08956324B2	Irrigation and aspiration device and method An irrigation and aspiration system is disclosed. The system can be configured to aspirate and irrigate alone, sequentially or concurrently. The system can be configured to aspirate and irrigate the nasal cavity. The system can be manually controlled. The system can have removable and easily cleanable reservoirs for aspirant and irrigant.
US08956322B2	Steering mechanism for bi-directional catheter The present invention provides a bi-directional catheter with nearly double the throw in its catheter tip deflection. In particular, the travel path of each the puller wire includes a U-turn or doubling-back around a pulley which minimizes the offset angle between the puller wire and the longitudinal axis of the control handle while maximizing the travel distance of that puller wire for any given distance traveled by the pulley drawing the puller wire. In one embodiment, the catheter has an elongated catheter body, a catheter tip section with first and second diametrically-opposed off-axis lumens, and a control handle which includes a steering assembly having a lever structure carrying a pair of pulleys for simultaneously drawing and releasing corresponding puller wires to deflect the tip section of the catheter.
US08956321B2	Computerized system for blood chemistry monitoring An apparatus and computerized method of intravenously monitoring a patient's blood chemistry transmits real time measurements to an electronically controlled closed loop system that auto-regulates blood osmolality and glucose level with medications infused through a catheter designed for such purpose. The closed loop system utilizes a glucose algorithm and an osmolality algorithm implemented in hardware and software to control the flow of dextrose, insulin and hypertonic saline to a patient in an effort to achieve better patient outcomes in instances of trauma, surgery and medical illnesses.
US08956316B2	Knee orthosis for torn anterior cruciate ligament The orthosis includes an articulated framework made to be fixed on either side of the knee onto the thigh and lower leg, restraint straps attached to the framework and surrounding the thigh and lower leg leaving the patellar area free. The straps cross and are superimposed on each other on the posterior side next to the skin of the popliteal fossa at the same level as the center of rotation of the knee in order to prevent the anterior part of the tibia sliding forward. Each strap is held in a rigid guide on the lower leg and the thigh, while, where they cross at the popliteal fossa, they are held together by a non stretching sleeve. The first shortest strap is on the outside, as far posteriorly as possible and the last longest strap is on the inside, as far anteriorly as possible next to the skin of the popliteal fossa.
US08956312B2	Apparatus for generating sensations of movement and for physical rehabilitation The appliance designed to allow a living being to perceive sensations of virtual movements of part of his body comprises a control unit in which is stored a table containing a first plurality of basic excitation signals, a second plurality of macro-motifs each formed by a third plurality proper of the basic signals, a sequencer reading the macro-motifs in order to emit a second plurality of corresponding commands for excitation, each time, of a third plurality proper of vibrators selected from among a first plurality of vibrators carried by a coupling support in predetermined respective zones of the part of the body, the excitation of the third plurality proper of vibrators by the second plurality of commands being intended to mechanically stimulate elements of the body, to provoke the creation of bioelectrical signals in the living being, allowing him to perceive sensations of a given virtual movement.
US08956311B2	Methods for diagnosing meibomian gland dysfunction Methods of diagnosing meibomian gland dysfunction are disclosed. The methods may be standardized and provide an accurate diagnosis of whether meibomian gland dysfunction exists. In one embodiment, a method is provided that utilizes an evaluation tool to apply a force for a preselected period of time to at least one of a plurality of meibomian glands in two or more regions of a plurality of regions of an eyelid. A grade is assigned to the at least one meibomian gland of the plurality of meibomian glands in each of the two or more regions based on any secretion that is expressed from each meibomian gland. In this manner, a plurality of meibomian gland secretion grades is obtained. The plurality of meibomian gland secretion grades is indicative of the presence of meibomian gland dysfunction.
US08956304B2	Cardiovascular haptic handle system Cardiac tissue motion characteristics acquired by novel cardiac sensors are analyzed and processed for the derivation of physiological indices. The indices are output to a hand held local or remote volumetric haptic display and enable an operator to obtain motion related dynamic characteristics of cardiac tissues. The ability to tactually sense the motion of cardiac tissue and the affect on such motion from inserted cardiovascular instrumentation enhances the operator's performance of procedures including the positioning and placement of implanted catheters/sensors, extraction of permanently implanted leads and delivery of cardiovascular therapies. Optimal haptic rendering is achieved by using computational techniques to reconstruct the physically and perceptually relevant aspects of acquired signals and bridge the gap between the inserted catheter and operator's hand/catheter handle.
US08956303B2	Wearable heart rate monitor Some embodiments provide a wearable fitness monitoring device including a motion sensor and a photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensor. The PPG sensor includes (i) a periodic light source, (ii) a photo detector, and (iii) circuitry determining a user's heart rate from an output of the photo detector. Some embodiments provide methods for operating a heart rate monitor of a wearable fitness monitoring device to measure one or more characteristics of a heartbeat waveform. Some embodiments provide methods for operating the wearable fitness monitoring device in a low power state when the device determines that the device is not worn by a user. Some embodiments provide methods for operating the wearable fitness monitoring device in a normal power state when the device determines that the device is worn by a user. Some embodiments provide methods for using response characteristics of the user's skin to adjust a gain and/or light emission intensity of the heart rate monitor.
US08956296B2	Systems and methods for active optimized spatio-temporal sampling Systems and methods which provide active optimized spatio-temporal sampling (AOSTS) for image generation are shown. Embodiments actively select one or more regions of interest (ROIs) in a multi-beam ultrasound sampling mode, to minimize temporal image artifacts in the ROIs and thereby provide AOSTS. Such selection of ROIs according to embodiments results in various multi-beam sampling parameters, such as the number of rays that are used, the spacing between the rays that are used, the width of the rays that are used, the sequence of the rays that are used, the angle of the rays that are used, etc., being selected to provide optimized spatio-temporal sampling with respect to the selected ROIs. Selection of ROIs according to embodiments may include selecting parameters such as position, size, shape, orientation, direction, rate of change, etc.
US08956288B2	In-body power source having high surface area electrode Power sources that enable in-body devices, such as implantable and ingestible devices, are provided. Aspects of the in-body power sources of the invention include a solid support, a first high surface area electrode and a second electrode. Embodiments of the in-power sources are configured to emit a detectable signal upon contact with a target physiological site. Also provided are methods of making and using the power sources of the invention.
US08956286B2	Pneumoperitoneum device A method for performing a laparoscopic procedure may include inserting a bag through an opening. The method may also include delivering tissue into the bag, sealing the bag, and inflating the bag to create an artificial pneumoperitoneum that extends the abdomen and provides additional working and viewing space. Further, the method may include carrying out a procedure on the tissue located in the inflated bag.
US08956280B2	Apparatus and methods for placing leads using direct visualization An apparatus for imaging a body structure within a body cavity includes a catheter including proximal and distal ends, an imaging element on the distal end, and an extension extending distally from the distal end for contacting a surface of a body cavity into which the catheter is introduced. The extension has a length to maintain the optical imaging element away from the surface. Optionally, a transparent member, e.g., an expandable balloon, may be attached to the distal end of the tubular member and the extension to isolate the imaging element from contact with fluid within the body cavity. During use, the catheter is inserted into a chamber of a beating heart, and the extension and/or balloon is placed against the wall of the chamber. Sufficient force is applied to stabilize the imaging element relative to the wall while the heart is beating.
US08956276B2	Implant for pelvic organ prolapse repair A medical article is used to repair prolapses of various pelvic organs including vaginal vault prolapse. The medical article can include a first flap comprising a dual density mesh formed of a first and second filament, a second flap comprising a single density mesh formed of the first filament, and a third flap comprising a single density mesh formed of the second filament. The first, second, and third flap can share a common intersection that can form an arc. The medical article can be formed by knitting a uniform piece of mesh and the arc can be configured to conform to a surface of a pelvic organ. Methods of manufacturing and methods of using the medical article are also disclosed.
US08956265B2	Method and apparatus for executing a clutch-driven engine autostart operation A powertrain system includes an internal combustion engine, a multi-mode transmission and a driveline. A method for controlling the powertrain system in response to a command to execute an engine autostart operation during vehicle operation includes executing a clutch-driven engine autostart operation to start the engine upon determining that a present transmission output speed is greater than a minimum output speed for engine operation and upon determining that a selected clutch configured to effect a mechanical coupling between the engine and the driveline is activatable.
US08956260B2	Pneumatic motor of pneumatic packing machine A pneumatic motor mounted on a pneumatic packing machine includes a pneumatic unit. The pneumatic unit is connected with a first planet gear unit. The first planet gear unit is connected with a second planet gear unit. The second planet gear unit is connected with a transmission member. The transmission member is connected to the pneumatic packing machine. Through the first planet gear unit and the second planet gear unit, the pneumatic unit can carry out two-stage deceleration for its output power to enhance the output torque of the transmission member sot that the transmission member can effectively drive the pneumatic packing machine.
US08956256B2	Transmission device for work vehicles Disclosed is a transmission device for work vehicles, said transmission device being capable of being used with high-horsepower engines, without an accompanying loss of power transmission efficiency or fuel economy. The transmission device is provided with: an input shaft (20) that transmits power from an engine (3); a continuously-variable transmission (40) that is disposed on the input shaft (20) and outputs power transmitted from the input shaft (20), steplessly converting the speed thereof; and a reversing clutch device (50) that outputs, either in a forward rotational direction or a reverse rotational direction, power outputted from the continuously-variable transmission (40). The reversing clutch device (50) can be selectively switched, and the gear ratio can be steplessly changed by the continuously-variable transmission (40).
US08956245B2	Putter head with maximal moment of inertia A putter head has a front that strikes a golf ball during putting, a length a, a width b, a weight W, and a moment of inertia I. The width extends along a horizontal width axis perpendicularly intersecting the front of the putter head. The length extends along a horizontal length axis perpendicularly intersecting the horizontal axis. The dimensions are, for example, a≦7 inches, b≦a, and I/Wa2>0.30.
US08956239B2	Golf ball holding structure An apparatus which uses a club having a head portion and a shaft. Integrated with the head portion is a golf ball holder. The golf ball holder is capable of gripping and holding a golf ball with a predetermined force requirement for release, which requires the user to execute a proper golf swing to release the ball. The predetermined force requirement may be adjustable. The user also may vary the angle of the club face on various planes relative to the shaft, thereby changing the swing required to release the ball.
US08956236B2	Universal joint structure for a tool A universal joint structure for a tool contains an operating rod, a fitting sleeve, and a retaining member. The operating rod includes a universal joint formed on one end thereof, the universal joint is formed in a polygonal sphere shape, the fitting sleeve includes a polygonal locking groove defined thereon for fitting the universal joint, the fitting sleeve also includes a circular recess arranged adjacent to an opening of the locking groove and retaining with the retaining member. The retaining member is a C-retaining ring and includes a tilted guiding face defined around one surface thereof, and wherein one end of the titled face away from the circular recess is larger than another end of the titled guiding face adjacent to the circular recess so that when the universal joint is fitted into the locking groove, the titled guiding face retains with the universal joint of the operating rod.
US08956233B2	Wireless communication game system A wireless communication game system includes a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, which function as a parent device or a child device and are capable of making a communication with each other, and broadcasts from the parent device a parent device packet including a parent device PID, a user name UserName, a game name GameName, an OC flag, an E slot, a U slot, and a payload. All the parent device packets are received from the parent device existing within a communicationable range of a user's own apparatus, and the user's own apparatus creates a parent device list, and displays the parent device list on an LCD. Therefore, a user or a player of his own apparatus looks at the game name of the parent device list, for example, and operates a cross key included in an operation key so as to select one desired parent device. Then, transmitting a child device number CID of the user's own apparatus at the E slot designated by the parent device packet, the user's own apparatus transmits a connection request to the parent device.
US08956230B2	Haptic device for 3-D gaming A system, method, and computer program product for automatically providing a haptic stylus based interface for enhanced user interaction with touch screen devices are disclosed. The stylus communicates with the touch screen device to report stylus operating information from onboard sensors, and to receive application program instructions defining feedback and friction forces to be applied by onboard actuators. The applied feedback and friction forces may be independently controlled. Friction forces are provided via a rolling contact ball gripping mechanism that mimics varying physical engagement between the contact ball and a touch screen display surface by controlling the relative rotational freedom of the contact ball. Embodiments of the invention enable a haptic stylus to mimic three-dimensional interactions for gaming, object manipulation and sculpting, and non-contact proximity-based stylus operation scenarios.
US08956229B2	Computer readable storage medium having game program stored thereon and game apparatus Posture/motion information is repeatedly obtained from predetermined detection means for detecting a posture or a motion of an input device operated by a user, and a power value used for moving an object in a virtual space is calculated. In addition, a follow-up power value, which follows the calculated power value, is repeatedly calculated based on the posture/motion information. Then, the object is moved based on the follow-up power value.
US08956225B1	System and method for using flash symbols for travel nodes in an online flash-based game One aspect of the disclosure relates to using FLASH symbols to define a travel grid formed by travel nodes in an online FLASH-based game. A FLASH symbol may be used that when instantiated defines a corresponding travel node that together with other travel nodes form a travel grid. The travel grid limits travel during gameplay by constraining travel from a travel node to its neighbor travel nodes. FLASH symbol properties may be leveraged to describe a travel node such as its location in the game space, neighbor travel nodes, and other information related to the travel node. In order to facilitate traversal of the travel grid formed by travel nodes, intelligence or other logic may configure a processor to obtain symbol properties of instantiated FLASH symbols that define travel nodes in order to dynamically make decisions during gameplay that determine next destinations to which travel is permitted.
US08956222B2	Mobile device interfaces at an electronic gaming machine A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones, is described. In particular, an electronic gaming machine (EGM) can be configured with a power interface that allows portable electronic device carried by the patron to receive power. To prevent patrons from monopolizing an EGM for the purposes of solely charging their portable electronic device, the EGM can be configured with power interface control logic that controls the flow of power to the power interface including cutting off power to the power interface. The EGM can include an object detection capability that allows objects, such as a portable electronic device located on or near the EGM to be detected. In one embodiment, when the EGM detects an object has been abandoned, i.e., left at the EGM by a patron, the EGM can be configured to take actions that allow the object to be recovered.
US08956221B2	Authorizing and managing wagering agent accounts Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.
US08956220B2	System for playing multiplayer games A gaming server hosts a turn of a zero-sum game played by a plurality of players via a plurality of websites, each of the websites having a respective clearing account. The application server determines for each player a respective player value contribution based on the wagering activity of the player during the turn and a respective player value indicator associated with the player. The application server determines a total player value contribution based on the player value contributions of all of the players who played during the turn. The application server determines for each player a respective rake allocation based on the player value contribution of the player and the total player contribution. The application server credits each website's clearing account based on the respective rake allocation of each player who used the website to play the game during the turn.
US08956214B2	Outcome determination method for gaming device Embodiments of this concept are directed to a method of operating a gaming device to determine game outcomes by using a range of game numbers for winning game outcomes. That is, the gaming device includes a range of numbers associated with a generic winning outcome or each winning outcome to ensure that a winning outcome or specific winning outcome will hit within the specified range. This method may be used a variety of game types including slot machines, video poker, keno, video pachinko, etc. These gaming machines may additionally include one or more proximity indicators or meters associated with the various outcomes.
US08956211B2	Method and system for linking casino games and on-line social network games Social media activities associated with an on-line social media system are linked to casino game activities and casino gaming machines. A player of a casino gaming machine may access a social media website via the casino gaming machine, such as to play a social media game at the casino gaming machine. A player may also access the social media system from a presentation computing device and, via that system, link to a casino gaming machine to play one or more casino wagering games. Social media currency and casino monetary credits may be exchanged or converted and other aspects of casino game play and social media activities may be integrated.
US08956204B2	Casing brake assembly with rotatable member A casing brake assembly for applying a frictional force to a tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing arranged on a filling tube of an apparatus used for filling and closing said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing and for limiting the movement of said tubular or bag-shaped packaging casing at least while being filled, wherein the filling tube has a circular cross-section, the casing brake assembly comprising a housing and at least a first brake body and at least a second brake body, wherein at least the second brake body is reversibly movable relative to the first brake body between a releasing position and a braking position about said common central axis wherein, in releasing position, the brake bodies are forming a ring, which has an open segment, wherein the filling tube is pivotable through the open segment, and wherein, in braking position, the brake bodies are forming a substantially closed ring.
US08956192B2	Finger protection for 90° header The present invention relates to an electrical plug-in connector (1) in particular for high-voltage connections, comprising an outer body (2) having a plug opening (5) for receiving a mating plug-in connector (101), a terminal housing (8, 8′, 8″, 13, 13′, 13″, 13′″) for fastening an electrical contact (36), and a finger protection member (25) projecting into the plug-in direction (X) towards the plug opening (5). Further, the present invention relates to a finger protection member (25) for an electrical high-voltage plug-in connector (1), with a bar-shaped body having a protection end (56), and to a construction kit for a high-voltage electrical plug-in connector (1), comprising an outer body (2) with a plug opening (5) for receiving a mating plug-in connector (101), and at least one terminal housing (8, 8′, 8″, 13, 13′, 13″, 13′″) for fastening an electrical contact (36). Finally, the present invention relates to a method for assembling a plug-in connector (1), in particular for high-voltage connections, wherein a terminal housing (8, 8′, 8″, 13, 13′, 3″, 13′″) of the plug-in connector (1) is inserted into an outer body (2) of the plug-in connector (1) having a plug opening (5) which opens towards a plug-in direction (X) of the plug-in connector (1). In order to provide a plug-in connector (1) which is more plug-compatible than 1 known connectors with a finger protection device (25), yet user friendly, the present invention provides that the finger protection member (25) is a separate piece engaged with the terminal housing (8, 8′, 8″, 13, 13′, 13″, 13′″).
US08956186B2	Right angle header assembly A high voltage (HV) header assembly includes an outer housing having a right angle body including a first segment and a second segment oriented perpendicularly to the first segment. The first segment has a mating interface at a distal end for mating with a plug assembly. The second segment has a mounting flange at a distal end for mounting to a device. The second segment extends from the first segment such that the mounting flange is oriented perpendicularly to the mating interface. The body defines a right angle chamber extending through the first and second segments between the mating interface and the mounting flange. The chamber has first and second openings therethrough in the first and second segments, respectively. HV contacts are received in the chamber of the outer housing and are configured to electrically connect to plug contacts of the plug assembly.
US08956185B2	Electrical connector An electrical connector includes an insulating housing having a receiving chamber of substantial U-shape with a top opening, an insulating body assembled to the insulating housing, a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulating body, and a shielding shell of substantial inverted-U shape with a top plate and two side plates. The shielding shell is covered on the insulating housing with the top plate covering the top opening of the receiving chamber and the side plates abutting against two opposite outsides of the receiving chamber. So the entire thickness of the electrical connector only depends on a bottom wall of the receiving chamber and the top plate of the shielding shell, and therefore, the electrical connector in this invention can realize a thinner thickness and can effectively reduce the appearance thickness of an electronic product where the electrical connector is used.
US08956172B2	Device-connecting connector A connector adapted to connect device, allows itself to be fastened with a bolt using a conventional tool, and to be downsized. A edge 9a of the protection rib 9 and a bearing surface 7b on which a bolt 10 on a fastening part 7 is tightened are formed in the same plane.
US08956168B2	Electrical outlet safety device The electrical outlet safety device is placed between an electrical plug and the corresponding electrical outlet or receptacle to which the plug is connected. The safety device includes a thin body portion formed of a material adapted to expand rapidly if exposed to a predetermined temperature. A series of thin, electrically and thermally conductive blades extends from the body, with the blades being captured between the prongs of the plug and the internal contacts of the receptacle when installed therewith. If excessively high electrical resistance and correspondingly high temperature are produced in one or more of the electrical connections between the plug and the outlet, the blades of the safety device transmit the excessive temperature to the body, whereupon the body is transformed to an expansive electrically insulating foam that expels the plug from the receptacle. Springs may be included within the body to provide additional expansive force.
US08956161B2	Article and method for controlling oral-originated systemic disease Systems and methods for treating gingival tissue or oral biofilm includes applying to the gingival tissue (sulcus or periodontal pocket) a biofilm penetrating antimicrobial agent; removing the imbedded anaerobic bacteria from the gingival tissue following at least one applying of the antimicrobial agent to the gingival tissue; administering colloidal hydrogen peroxide gel to the gingival tissue following the removing of imbedded anaerobic bacteria; and cleaning the gingival tissue with a cleaning agent directly following the administering of the colloidal hydrogen peroxide gel for modifying the environment from anaerobic (diseased) to aerobic (healthy).
US08956156B2	Device for treating peri-implantitis A device includes: a cylindrical first main body having a bottom surface, an inner side surface, and an outer side surface, the first main body having at least one electromagnetic wave irradiation port and at least one antiseptic discharge port, the at least one electromagnetic wave irradiation port being provided in the inner side surface of the first main body, the at least one antiseptic discharge port being provided in the bottom surface and/or the inner side surface of the first main body; an electromagnetic wave generation source; and an antiseptic supply source.
US08956154B2	Method and system for energy efficient conversion of a carbon containing fuel to CO2 and H2O Methods and systems for conversion of a carbon containing fuel to CO2 and H2O. An air stream is fed to a first ion transport membrane unit obtaining a pure oxygen stream from a permeate side and an air stream with a reduced oxygen content from a retentate side. The air stream with a reduced oxygen content is fed to a second ion transport membrane unit and a gaseous first carbon containing fuel is fed to a permeate side of the second ion transport membrane. The first carbon containing fuel is reacted with oxygen transported through the second ion transport membrane forming an at least partially combusted first fuel. The at least partially combusted first fuel, at least a part of the pure oxygen stream and optionally a second carbon containing fuel is fed to a combustion chamber for combustion. An exhaust stream comprising essentially CO2 and H2O is obtained.
US08956148B2	Mote molding machine The invention relates to a mote molding machine which comprises a molding chamber (3), a front plate (1) closing the molding chamber at a front end and a rear plate (2) closing the molding chamber (3) at a rear end, opposite the front end. The plates shift gradually during the mote compression and extraction phases. The machine comprises a first shifting system for shifting the front plate and which comprises at least one first electric motor (4), and a second shifting system for shifting the rear plate and which comprises at least one second electric motor (5).
US08956145B2	Three dimensional variable forming apparatus and methods of use thereof The disclosed systems and methods include a mold assembly having a malleable mold (4), a moldable blank (2) and a bladder (1) positioned about the moldable blank (2) to transmit an external force applied to the mold assembly uniformly to the moldable blank (2) and hence to the malleable mold (4). The invention further includes a method of replicating a surface by use of the mold assembly. The method may include manipulating the malleable mold (4) to record the image to be replicated. This manipulation may include a physical engagement of the mold with a physical surface to be replicated. Alternatively, an image, e.g., photograph or laser scan of the surface may be transmitted to a computer numerically controlled (“CNC”) system. The CNC system then manipulates the malleable mold (4) to reflect the surface to be replicated. An activated moldable blank, e.g., a blank (2) fabricated from a thermo-forming material, is then positioned over the malleable mold. The bladder (1) is then secured about the moldable blank (2). An external force, such as that induced by placing the mold assembly in a vacuum chamber, is then applied to the mold assembly.
US08956138B2	Cookie decorating tool A cookie decorating tool includes a main body having attachment points for a plurality of decorating tool heads. In one version, the tool heads are in the form of one or more interchangeable stamps or rollers, each having a different design that may be imparted onto cookie dough to leave an impression prior to baking.
US08956133B2	Vehicular internal gear type oil pump An oil pump includes a first spill passage formed on a side surface (60) of a pump chamber (58) to communicate a hydraulic pressure chamber (54) with a first high pressure discharge passage (68) when the entire hydraulic pressure chamber (54) is positioned between the first high pressure discharge passage (68) and a first low pressure discharge passage (70). Therefore, when the hydraulic pressure chamber (54) passes between the first high pressure discharge passage (68) and the first low pressure discharge passage (70), the hydraulic pressure inside the predetermined hydraulic pressure chamber (54) escapes to the first high pressure discharge passage (68) through a first spill passage (76), so a hydraulic pressure value inside the hydraulic pressure chamber (54) is maintained at the pressure value inside the first high pressure discharge passage (68). As a result, fluid is inhibited from flowing into the hydraulic pressure chamber (54) from the first high pressure discharge passage (68) through a space between inner peripheral teeth (48) and outer peripheral teeth (42).
US08956124B2	Safety retaining system for large industrial fan A securing system for a fan assembly. The securing system includes a first member which attaches to a motor mount and a second member which attaches to the hub of the fan assembly. The first member is interposed between the hub and the second member such that should the shaft of the motor break, the first and second members engage with one another and inhibit the fan assembly from falling away from the motor mount.
US08956118B2	Impeller of centrifugal compressor Provided is an impeller of a centrifugal compressor including: a hub; a plurality of blades protruding from a surface of the hub, wherein a passage is formed by the hub and a blade being adjacent with the hub, so that a fluid, flowing in along an axial direction at an inner circumferential side in a radial direction, is flowed out toward an outer circumferential side in a radial direction; each of the plurality of blades includes a main body part and a leading edge, the main body part including a pressure side and a suction side; an angle between a component central line of the main body part and the axial direction increases from an inner end toward an outer end; and a radius of curvature at a central position, intersecting with the component central line of the leading edge, decreases from the inner end toward the outer end.
US08956117B2	Stiff-in-plane rotor configuration A rotor assembly for a rotary-wing aircraft, the rotor having a central hub assembly with a flexure-type, twist-shank yoke with multiple arms, each arm being adapted for a rotor blade to be mounted thereto. The arms provide for pitch changes of blades attached to the yoke through twisting of portions of the arms about a corresponding pitch axis. An inboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the hub assembly and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis, the inboard pitch bearing also allowing for out-of-plane motion of the arm relative to the hub assembly about a flapping axis. An outboard pitch bearing associated with each arm is attached to the associated arm a selected distance from the inboard pitch bearing and allows for rotation of the attached blade about the pitch axis.
US08956113B2	Ceiling mounted ventilation fan with illumination A ventilation fan with illumination includes a housing, a fan, and lighting equipment in the housing. The housing includes a first opening connected to an air outlet, the first opening communicating with a duct, and a second opening that communicates with an interior space, The lighting equipment includes a light, a cover in the housing that surrounds the light periphery, the cover reflecting light and transmitting the light into the space through the second opening, and a restrictor that restricts passage of air between the light periphery and the lighting cover. An air intake gap is provided between a lower end of the cover and an edge of the second opening and introduced through the second opening and the air intake gap, is discharged through the first opening into the duct, the edge of the second opening being located below the lower end of the cover.
US08956110B2	Centrifugal compressor A compressor includes plural first vanes provided on a shroud side of a diffuser path, and plural second vanes provided on positions of a hub side opposed to the first vanes. The compressor also includes a slide vane mechanism that projects the second vanes into and draws in the second vanes from the diffuser path via the slits of the hub side wall part plate according to a load of the compressor. When the slide vane mechanism projects the second vanes into the diffuser path, end faces of the first vanes and end faces of the second vanes are opposed to each other at the vicinity of the center of the diffuser path.
US08956109B2	Fairing device for nacelle of an aircraft propulsion power unit A nacelle, a part of which is the fairing device, surrounds a gas turbine engine and a support pylon on an aircraft fuselage. The pylon extends into a substantially horizontal plane of symmetry containing the longitudinal axis of the propulsion power unit, and includes a central compartment that is open on the top and on the bottom and provided for housing devices. The pylon is attached to the fuselage by a distal edge extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the propulsion power unit. The fairing device includes an upper half-cowl (2) and a lower half-cowl substantially symmetrical relative to the plane of symmetry, and lockable therebetween, in a closed position. The upper half-cowl and lower half-cowl are individually pivotably mounted on the distal edge of the pylon such that, in an open position, access is provided at the same time to the engine and to the central compartment of the pylon.
US08956102B2	Vehicle with wheelchair positioning mechanism The vehicle with wheelchair positioning mechanism includes an automotive vehicle that is modified to assist a disabled person to enter, operate and exit the vehicle. The modification includes a wheelchair lift adjacent the rear of the vehicle. An internal rail system extends from the rear of the vehicle to the front of the vehicle adjacent the vehicle's driving controls. A remotely controlled platform is rotatably mounted on a carriage for movement on the rail system. The platform is adapted to support a wheelchair thereon. The platform can be rotated 360° so that the wheelchair moves forward when entering and exiting the vehicle.
US08956101B2	Spare wheel storage assembly for a vehicle Unit for picking up spare wheels in vehicles that includes a winding assembly with a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft having a gear with a plurality of spaced-apart teeth circumferentially disposed about the rotating shaft. The unit further includes a safety device that includes a spring loaded cam that is pivotable between first and second angular positions. The cam includes an engaging portion that is configured to engage with the spaced-apart teeth on the rotating shaft. In the first angular position the engaging portion of the cam is urged towards the gear of the rotating shaft by action of a spring element so that the engaging portion resides in a space between the spaced-apart teeth to prevent rotation of the rotating shaft. In the second angular position the engaging portion of the cam is positioned away from the gear of the rotating shaft against the action of the spring element so that the engaging portion does not engage with the spaced-apart teeth to permit rotation of the rotation shaft.
US08956088B2	Drilling device for drilling side portions of large section members A device for drilling side portions of large section members, the device being arranged in a cutting system for cutting individual section member lengths, starting from a long section member, comprises a base thereon swinging support arms extend, the support arms being arranged with a V pattern enclosing an angle (α), each support arm including a plurality of sliding rollers for causing the section member to slide thereon, the swinging arms including guides slidably supporting a controllably driven carriage operatively connected to a threaded screw, each threaded screw being operatively connected to a controllable motor, each carriage having a movable arm which may be controllably displaced along guides and comprising parallel guides engaging a drilling assembly operatively coupled to a driving shaft, each driving shaft being operatively connected to a corresponding controllable motor.
US08956087B2	Tool To provide a tool that can reduce the maximum value of cutting resistance when adjacent peripheral edges cut a workpiece simultaneously. A lead L of a spiral flute 21, a waveform pitch P, the number of edges N of peripheral edges 22, and a natural number m are set to satisfy L/N=m×P−P/N±P/2 or L/N=m×P+P/N±P/2, the waveforms of adjacent ones of the peripheral edges 22 at the positions where they contact a workpiece simultaneously are in an anti-phase relationship when the adjacent peripheral edges 22 cut the workpiece simultaneously. Therefore, there is an effect that the length of the cutting edges that contact the workpiece simultaneously is shortened to reduce the maximum value of cutting resistance.
US08956086B2	Toolholder assembly with internal coolant delivery system A toolholder assembly includes a toolholder body having a coolant passage and a cutting insert seated within a recess of the body. The cutting insert includes an insert orifice extending between a top face and a bottom face that aligns with the coolant passage. A lock pin includes a lock pin orifice that aligns with and is in fluid communication with the coolant passage of the body. The lock pin orifice has an outlet port to allow the fluid to flow through the lock pin orifice and exit through the outlet port. A lock pin ring includes a coolant port in fluid communication with the outlet port of the lock pin to effectively discharge cooling fluid in the direction of a cutting area of the cutting insert.
US08956081B2	Ice worthy jack-up drilling unit with gas agitated ice prevention An ice worthy jack-up rig that may extend the drilling season in shallow water off shore Arctic or ice prone locations. The rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the legs are held in place by cans embedded in the sea floor to resist lateral movement of the rig and the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration.
US08956073B2	Trench cover A trench cover comprising a main body arranged to cover or partially cover a trench, in use, and retainer means operable to resist lateral movement of the cover, in use, the retainer means comprising a plurality of movable retainers, each being movable between a retracted position in which it projects beneath a lower surface of the main body.
US08956068B2	Kinematic platform The kinematic platform is a spherical-prismatic-spherical kinematic platform providing six degrees of freedom with controlled braking at each joint. The kinematic platform includes a base and an upper platform plate, with the upper platform plate having opposed upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface thereof provides a mounting surface for an external article to which controlled three-dimensional movement is to be imparted. A plurality of linear actuators are further provided, with each linear actuator having opposed upper and lower ends. A plurality of upper and lower spherical joints are provided for pivotally mounting the linear actuators between the upper platform plate and a lower base. Each spherical joint provides selective and controllable braking, allowing for the controlled rotation of each end of each linear actuator with respect to the respective upper platform plate or base.
US08956056B2	Optical connector capable of assembling therein optical fiber led out from rear of ferrule and optical connector system containing same An optical connector has a pair of coil springs (30) which are disposed so as to sandwich an optical fiber (50) led out of the rear of a ferrule (20) in substantially the axial direction (A) and which extend in the axial direction (A).
US08956054B2	Inner raceway with axial extension An inner raceway (3) having a rolling element raceway facing radially outward, for an angular contact bearing arrangement, and particularly an angular ball bearing arrangement, where a cylindrical surface which is situated at the furthest outward position radially is included as a seal seat. Such inner raceways are used in wheel bearing units, for example, which have an orbital rivet bond, which in turn can also form an end-face gearing (7). The orbital rivet bond and the axial extension (8) of the inner raceway form an annular gap (20) which leads to a configuration where a decoupling of loads from the inner raceway (3) prevents an undesired deformation of the same. In addition, advantages result from the sealing of the region of the orbital rivet bond and/or the end-face gearing (7) thereof.
US08956051B2	Sealed rolling bearing It is desired to prevent generation of negative pressure in a bearing space and to prevent entry of foreign matter such as water into a bearing. The bearing includes an inner race (1), an outer race (3), rolling elements (5) disposed between raceways (2 and 4) of the inner and outer races and retained by a retainer (6), and seal assemblies (7) provided at the respective ends of the outer race (3). Each seal assembly (7) includes a seal case (9) fitted on one end of the outer race (3), and an oil seal (11) mounted in the seal case. A check valve (20) is mounted in the seal case (9) and allows only a flow of gas from outside the bearing into the bearing space. A filter (29) is mounted in a flow passage in the check valve and allows passage of gas and prevents passage of liquid and solids.
US08956050B2	Rolling bearing and rolling bearing assembly A rolling bearing includes rolling elements interposed between rolling surfaces of an inner ring and an outer ring. An oil supply hole for lubricant oil supply is provided in the outer ring so as to communicate between an outer diameter surface of the outer ring and a position, near the rolling surface, in an inner peripheral surface of the outer ring. A circumferential groove is provided on the outer diameter surface of the outer ring so as to communicate with the oil supply hole to introduce, to the oil supply hole, a lubricant oil supplied from a circumferential position outside the bearing that is different from that of the oil supply hole.
US08956042B2	Timepiece movement with power reserve for extended operation A mechanical timepiece movement, including a spiral spring, a barrel, the spiral spring accommodated in the barrel as an energy storage, the barrel transmitting energy of the spiral spring by a gear train to an oscillator, the oscillator including a balance as a regulating device, and a mechanism configured to reduce a torque generated by the barrel to reduce loss of energy stored in the spiral spring.
US08956038B2	Lighting device having a light guide structure A lighting device includes a light guide structure. The light guide structure is arranged in tiers by a plurality of thin-film modules in which a portion of a first surface of each lower one of the plurality of light guide layers is covered by an upper one of the plurality of light guide layers to form an uncovered portion of the first surface. Each of the thin-film modules is configured to transmit light therein emitted from light emitting diodes (LEDs) to the uncovered portion and emit the light from the uncovered portion of the first surface thereof.
US08956028B2	Light projection unit and light projection apparatus A light projection unit capable of improving light use efficiency is provided. This light projection unit includes: a fluorescent member that includes an illuminated surface to which laser light is directed, converts at least part of the laser light into fluorescent light and outputs the fluorescent light from chiefly the illuminated surface; and a reflection member that includes a first reflection surface which reflects the fluorescent light output from the fluorescent member. The illuminated surface of the fluorescent member is inclined with respect to a predetermined direction in such a way that the illuminated surface faces in a direction opposite to a light projection direction.
US08956026B2	Light guides for vehicles A light guide for vehicles includes a light coupling section for the coupling of light into a first end and/or a second end of the light guide, with a main section having a front side for the coupling out of light and a back extending between the first end and the second end of the light guide and comprising elements for coupling-out for the deflection of the coupled-in light toward the front side, wherein the section for the coupling-in of light is embodied as a defocusing element situated between a surface coupling the light in and the main section.
US08956024B2	Dock lighting groups The present disclosure provides a dock lighting system. One or more embodiments include a power source attached to a first dock section, a first modular lighting group attached to the first dock section, wherein the first modular lighting group is electrically connected to the power source, and a second modular lighting group attached to a second dock section, wherein the second modular lighting group is electrically connected to the first modular lighting group.
US08956023B1	Combined wing scan and winglet illumination light unit and aircraft having winglet illumination A combined wing scan and winglet illumination light unit is disclosed. The light unit has at least one LED and at least one optical structure for shaping a light emission distribution of the combined wing scan and winglet illumination light unit. The wherein the light emission distribution has a first illumination region for illuminating a wing and a wing engine of an aircraft and a second illumination region for illuminating a wing tip winglet of the aircraft.
US08956019B2	Methods and apparatus for grounding an electrical device via a lampholder A lampholder includes a housing and a plurality of electrical terminals. The lampholder is adapted to hold a light-emitting diode (LED) tube light assembly supported at two ends of the tube light. The lampholder includes at least one terminal that electrically couples before the remaining terminals located in the same housing to ensure a first-connect, last-disconnect electrical connection when inserting the LED tube light into and removing the LED tube light from the lampholder.
US08956015B2	Light-emitting apparatus and lighting system A light-emitting apparatus includes a light-emitting diode that functions as a light source, and a teardrop-shaped translucent member formed of a translucent material. The teardrop-shaped translucent member includes a bottom portion via which the light emitted from the light-emitting diode is input, a lateral portion configured to provide total internal reflection of the light input via the bottom portion, and a top portion configured to focus the light subjected to total internal reflection by the lateral portion so as to form an image.
US08956014B2	Animation wheel for an automated luminaire Described is an animation wheel for an automated luminaire for quick and direct movement between different individual gobos or for positioning anywhere through a plate which substantially exceed the size of the light beam cross-section.
US08956009B2	Apparatus and methods for controlling a three-dimensional optical field The present invention provides an apparatus for controlling a three-dimensional optical field. The apparatus includes a light-emission device and a set of zoom elements. The light-emission device emits a light. The set of zoom elements are disposed in front of the light-emission device, and focus the light from the light-emission device.
US08956004B2	Reconfigurable modular lighting system A reconfigurable modular lighting assembly, including at least two tube sections, each tube section having an end cap thereon and including at least one light emitting diode light source. An interconnection unit including multiple tube section receiving locations that each physically, releasably connect one end of a first of the at least two tube sections to one end of a second of the at least two tube sections such that the tube sections are adjacent and form a positive angle between them; and provide for interchangeably electrically connecting the light sources in the tube sections to a source of electrical power. Control data paths are operatively connected to each of the light emitting diode light sources via the interconnection unit to allow for control of the light emitting diode light sources when the at least two tube sections are respectively connected to the interconnection unit at the tube section receiving locations.
US08956001B2	Candle holder with candle light activated illumination A candle holder with candle light activated illumination has a base and a candle seat mounted on the base. A circuit board and an optical controller are mounted on the base. A driver and an LED lamp set are mounted on the circuit board. The optical controller activates the circuit board after sensing candle light. The candle seat is located above the circuit board, and has a light guide strip being inverted L-shaped with one end thereof radially exposed from an inner wall adjacent to a top opening of the candle seat and the other end downwardly extending into the candle seat and having a cap connected with the optical controller. Given the foregoing structure, melting wax of the candle cannot easily flow into the candle seat through the light guide strip to damage the circuit board.
US08955999B2	Lamp and plenum for laminar air flow ceiling A lamp having a first module for being attached to a ceiling or wall element, a second module connected to the first module and being rotatable with respect to the first module along a first axis, a third module having one or more light-emitting elements, the third module being connected to the second module and rotatable with respect to the second module along a second axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
US08955997B2	Display device, illuminating device and housing Disclosed herein is a display device including: a display panel; an illuminating device adapted to illuminate the display panel from behind; an adhesive layer adapted to be disposed between the display panel and the illuminating device and bond together respective outer edges of the display panel and the illuminating device. The illuminating device includes a light source, and a housing adapted to house the light source. The housing includes a bottom plate portion, an annular upper plate portion installed at a position facing the bottom plate portion via a given gap and having a recessed-projected surface at a position in contact with the adhesive layer, and a wall portion provided upright along respective circumferential edges of the bottom plate portion and the upper plate portion.
US08955995B2	Key lighting assembly The present disclosure describes key lighting assemblies, electronic devices and keycaps. In one aspect, a key lighting assembly comprises a keycap defining at least one key. The keycap has one or more decorations. The assembly comprises a keycap, defining a key. The keycap has a non-opaque portion to identify the key. The assembly further comprises a light guide which is mounted in spaced relation with the keycap and an optical radiation source optically coupled to the light guide. The assembly further comprises a first opaque layer disposed on a first surface of the light guide. The first opaque layer defines a first opaque layer opening for passing optical radiation from the light guide to the keycap. The first opaque layer opening is located to permit optical radiation to be transmitted from the light guide to the non-opaque portion.
US08955990B2	Projector A projector includes a housing, an image projection unit, and an operation unit. The housing has a base and a side face. The side face has an area greater than an area of the base. A light projection port is disposed in a top face of the housing. The image projection unit, encased within the housing, projects light corresponding to image data via the light projection port. The operation unit, disposed on a top face of the housing, includes a first pressable control moveable in an upward/downward direction.
US08955967B2	Printing apparatus with an openable cover structure A printing apparatus includes a print head configured to discharge ink, a housing in which the print head is provided, the housing having an opening, a cover unit which is openable with respect to the opening, a detection unit configured to detect an opening of the cover unit, and a wall inside the housing arranged between the detection unit and the print head, wherein the wall is configured to establish a separation between a space where the detection unit is located and a space where the print head is located when the cover unit is in a closed state.
US08955965B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus includes a recording section configured to jet a liquid, and a transport mechanism configured to transport a recording medium on which an image is recorded by the liquid jetted from the recording section. The transport mechanism includes a guide surface extending linearly and configured to guide one of two lateral ends of the recording medium transported, a driving roller configured to contact with one surface of the recording medium on a side with no image recorded and to transport the recording medium; and a driven spur having at least one spur configured to contact with the other surface of the recording medium on the side with the image recorded so as to nip the recording medium in cooperation with the driving roller, and to rotate along with the transport of the recording medium by the rotation of the driving roller.
US08955955B2	Image recording method An image recording method has a feature such that a first ink, a second ink, and a third ink satisfy both the following relationships (1) and (2): (1) the film thickness of dots of the inks formed when one drop of each ink is applied to the recording medium is as follows: First ink>Second ink>Third ink; and (2) the penetration time of the clear ink when applying the inks to the recording medium, and then further applying one drop of the clear ink to the region to which each ink is applied is as follows: First ink≧Second ink≧Third ink.
US08955947B2	Piezoelectric material, piezoelectric element, liquid discharge head, ultrasonic motor, and dust removing device Provided is a piezoelectric material which has satisfactory insulation property and piezoelectric property and which does not contain lead and potassium. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type metal oxide that is represented by the following general formula (1): (NaxBa1-y)(NbyTi1-y)O3 General formula (1) where relationships of 0.80≦x≦0.95 and 0.85≦y≦0.95 are satisfied, and y×0.05 mol % or more to y×2 mol % or less of copper with respect to 1 mol of the perovskite-type metal oxide.
US08955943B2	Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus A seal member includes a communication hole that makes a holder flow path communicate with a connection flow path in a state of the seal member being nipped between a holder projection and a connection projection, a holder-side fitting recess that fits onto the outer circumferential surface of the holder projection and also fits to a leading end portion of the holder projection, a connection member-side fitting recess that fits onto the outer circumferential surface of the connection projection and also fits to a leading end portion of the connection projection, and a recessed groove that is hollowed in the bottom of the holder-side fitting recess or the bottom of the connection member-side fitting recess along the inner circumferential surface of the holder-side fitting recess or the connection member-side fitting recess.
US08955939B2	Ink jet printing method An ink jet printing method includes providing an ensemble of dots to be printed. A current run is made of through the ensemble of dots to be printed, which includes, for each of dot of the ensemble of dots, deleting all neighboring dots from the current run having a distance less than at least one predetermined value and keeping non-deleted dots as remaining dots in the current run. The remaining dots are assigned to a certain layer corresponding to the current run. The remaining dots of the current run are then removed from the ensemble of dots. The foregoing steps are repeated until there are no further dots in the ensemble of dots.
US08955937B2	System and method for inoperable inkjet compensation In an inkjet printer, a method for compensating for an inoperable inkjet includes identifying a density of image data in a region having a predetermined length in a process direction and at least one pixel corresponding to the inoperable inkjet. One other inkjet in the printer is operated to print ink drops onto an image receiving surface at a plurality of locations corresponding to the plurality of activated pixels for the inoperable inkjet in response to the identified density for the region exceeding a predetermined density threshold.
US08955936B2	Printing apparatus and control method for the same A printing apparatus includes a first control unit that controls execution of a first temperature adjusting operation in which heating is performed in a region in which all of orifices are arranged; a second control unit that controls execution of a second temperature adjusting operation in which, compared to a predetermined region in which a predetermined number of orifices from respective ends in an orifice arrangement direction are arranged in the orifice arrangement direction, heating is performed with a lower extent of heating in a region in which the orifices outside the predetermined region are arranged; and a temperature adjusting control unit that controls execution of a multi-stage temperature adjusting operation performed on a printhead that includes the first temperature adjusting operation and the second temperature adjusting operation by controlling the first control unit and the second control unit before printing starts.
US08955933B2	Printing apparatus and printing method A printing apparatus which can form an image formation dot for printing an image defined as an object to be printed on a printing medium, the printing apparatus comprising a line head which includes a nozzle array arraying a plurality of nozzles, by moving at least one of a printing medium and the head, in a direction intersecting a direction relatively changing a position of the printing medium and the head and a control unit which performs a specific operation forming a flushing dot besides the image formation dot by discharging a liquid on the line head, wherein, when a specific condition increasing viscosity of the liquid is satisfied, the control unit performs the specific operation of discharging the liquid to the printing medium and the specific operation of discharging the liquid to a place other than the printing medium.
US08955928B2	Joining connectors and a rack using joining connectors A joining connector is provided which can be fitted by the turning part of the frame bar of the shelf board. The joining connector includes a base plate having inner and outer sides. Recessed joining parts are formed on the outer side and define a vertical and a horizontal wall. The vertical wall and horizontal wall can match the outer edge of the turning part of the frame bar. Limiting projections are formed on the outer side of the base plate in a preset concrete shape, and located on a position between but spaced from the vertical and horizontal walls of the recessed joining part, so that the turning part of the frame bar can be pushed and fitted into the recessed joining part from the direction of the outer side of the base plate, and the limiting projection can correspondingly limit the inner edge of the turning part.
US08955927B2	Equipment rail and bracket assembly An equipment rail and bracket assembly is provided. The equipment rail and bracket assembly includes an equipment rail and a bracket. The equipment rail is mounted to the bracket. The equipment rail includes a relief cut-out and a flexible tongue formed by the relief cut-out. The flexible tongue includes a bracket mounting opening for mounting the equipment rail to the bracket. The flexible tongue rotates relative to the equipment rail when the bracket is mounted to a cabinet.
US08955912B2	Seat assembly having a foldable seat back A seat assembly having a foldable seat back. The seat assembly may have an upper bracket that may be connected to a recliner mechanism that may be configured to rotate about a first axis. A rivet may be disposed on the upper bracket and may rotate about a second axis.
US08955901B2	Vehicle door frame structure and method of producing vehicle door frame In a vehicle door frame structure including a sheet-metal member of a vehicle door frame, the sheet-metal member formed by a metal sheet includes a folded edge at an edge of the metal sheet, wherein an end of the folded edge is in noncontact with a remaining part of the metal sheet. The folded edge has an inclined shape which is inclined to increase a distance between the folded edge and the remaining part of the metal sheet in a direction from a bend of the folded edge to a free end of the folded edge.
US08955896B2	Tri-extruded roof ditch molding with hard and soft components including associated fastener system and method for heat forming the roof ditch molding A tri-extruded molding for mounting within a vehicle roof ditch. The tri-extruded molding is produced as an elongated trim defining component and is constructed of a rigid substrate material, a first UV graded thermoplastic elastomer applied over the exterior of the rigid substrate, with a second thermoplastic elastomer formed as a pair of laterally projecting wings along exterior and outwardly opposite edges of the rigid substrate and in communicating fashion with the jointly extruded edges of the first thermoplastic elastomer. A plurality of fasteners are seated within the track for mounting the molding to the vehicle roof ditch. A single production line process is disclosed for tri-extruding the three components into a roof ditch molding and includes a handling operation with opposing dies surfaces for compressing therebetween an initial straight length of extrusion for forming into a desired final shape.
US08955893B1	Animal waste removal tool An animal waste removal tool is described that may be utilized alone or in conjunction with a waste bag. The waste removal tool of the invention includes tines that guide waste into the receptacle and a handle that extends over and above the tines.
US08955892B1	Hauling device A mat for gathering and hauling materials is herein disclosed. The mat has handles on either end for a user to easily grab and pull or carry. Additionally, the edges of the mat may be raised by securing dowels in the corners of the mat and raising the dowels perpendicular to the ground, as by pulling the dowel upward into a standing position.
US08955891B2	Door stop There is a door stop including a block having a top surface and a bottom surface. The block includes an engaging perimeter and a non-engaging perimeter opposite the engaging perimeter and is disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface. The block includes a protrusion extending therefrom at a boundary region between the engaging perimeter and the non-engaging perimeter. The door stop includes a plurality of magnets disposed in an array along an exterior of the engaging perimeter. The door stop includes a recessed portion disposed about the engaging perimeter and is configured to rest about a hinge of a door.
US08955881B2	Telescoping steering column having rake spring A steering column assembly having a standard operating position and a collapsed position is provided. The steering column assembly includes a lower column jacket, an upper column jacket selectively slidable relative to the lower column jacket, a rake bracket, and a biasing member. The rake bracket is attached to one the lower column jacket and the upper column jacket, and has a bracket retaining feature. The biasing member selectively exerts a biasing force on the upper column jacket in the standard operating position. The biasing member has a biasing member retaining feature that engages with the bracket retaining feature in the standard operating position and disengages with the bracket retaining feature in the collapsed position.
US08955877B2	Knee airbag module The invention relates to a knee airbag module having a housing, an airbag accommodated in the housing and a substantially cylindrical gas generator (50) accommodated in the housing for filling the airbag, wherein the housing has an upper wall (12) and a peripheral side wall having a front section, a rear section (24) and two side sections. In this connection, at least one side section has, adjacent to the front (22) section, an opening (30) through which one end (54) of the gas generator (50) passes at least in part through the side wall. From each of the two side sections a respective fastening flange (40) extends with a respective fastening section (40a) having a fastening surface. In order for the fastening surfaces to be relatively short, the fastening surfaces overlap the radial extension of the gas generator (50) in a vertical projection direction at least, wherein at least the fastening section (40a) of the fastening flange (40) which is adjacent to the opening (30) is spaced apart from the end (54) of the gas generator (50) facing same. Furthermore, in order to achieve simple mounting of the gas generator, the region of the side wall section in which the opening (30) is disposed can extend obliquely with respect to the gas generator axis.
US08955876B2	Steering wheel assembly for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle The invention relates to a steering wheel assembly for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, with a gas bag accommodated by a housing, which for the protection of a driver is inflatable by means of a gas generator, with a shiftably mounted carrier for accommodating the housing, which can be positioned in a rest position and at least one deflected position, and with at least one fastening device by means of which the carrier can shiftably be fixed at a steering wheel skeleton of the steering wheel. A spring biasing the carrier into the rest position is associated to the fastening device and the fastening device includes a guiding portion on which the carrier is shiftable against the force of the spring into the deflected position along a main shifting direction, along which the distance between the carrier and the steering wheel skeleton is reduced, wherein between the carrier and the guiding portion a clearance exists in a direction transverse to the main shifting direction. The guiding portion is designed such that the clearance varies along the main shifting direction, so that the clearance is smaller in the rest position of the carrier than in the deflected position of the carrier.
US08955871B2	Transfer and locomotion apparatus Disclosed is a transfer and locomotion apparatus with excellent functionality, stability, versatility, and user-friendliness such that a person requiring nursing care can transfer between the transfer and locomotion apparatus to a bed and a toilet seat, etc., keeping the orientation of the body. The apparatus comprises a base part having a driving part, a seat part provided on the base part and which a user can sit from a back portion or a side portion, and a breast pad part standing in a front end side of the seat part and contacting a breast of the user. At least one of the seat part and the breast pad part is held to be able to move forward and backward, and upward and downward with respect to the base part.
US08955868B2	Infant stroller apparatus An infant stroller apparatus includes a rear leg frame including a first side segment, a handle having a second side segment, and a hinge structure assembled with the first and second side segments. The hinge structure includes a first and a second coupling part, and a latch. The first coupling part is pivotally connected with the first side segment. The second coupling part is affixed with the second side segment and is pivotally connected with the first coupling part. The latch is operable to lock the first coupling part with the second coupling part to block rotation of the second coupling part relative to the first coupling part about the second pivot axis. When the stroller apparatus is in a deployed state, a distal end of the second coupling part faces a rear surface of the first side segment, and the latch engages with the first coupling part at a location above the distal end.
US08955867B2	Alpine ski binding heel unit Ski binding heel unit includes lateral release cams and a vector decoupler mechanism that provide lateral shear release of the heel of a ski boot from a ski. The ski binding heel unit includes an independent vertical heel release mechanism, independent lateral release mechanism and a forward pressure compensator. The lateral release cams have laterally outwardly flaring contact points. The vector decoupler mechanism restricts heel unit lateral rotation and translation to a control path. The shape of the lateral release cams dictates the control path. The vector decoupler mechanism redirects the non-lateral forces without effecting the vertical heel release, lateral heel release or forward pressure compensator. The lateral release cams and vector decoupler mechanism avert non-lateral, benign loads from the lateral heel release, and avert non-vertical, benign loads from the vertical heel release thereby reducing the incidence of inadvertent pre-release of a boot from a ski.
US08955865B2	Hitch system for steering vehicle for train A hitch apparatus for connecting a self-propelled trailing vehicle to a self-propelled leading vehicle and for measuring their relative positions is described. The hitch apparatus includes: a first hitch assembly for connecting a rear end of the leading vehicle to a front end of the trailing vehicle; a first angle sensor operatively connected to a pivot shaft and capable of measuring a horizontal angle between a centerline of a swivel base extending through a pivot shaft and a longitudinal centerline of the leading vehicle; a second hitch assembly for mounting on the front end of the trailing vehicle, the second hitch assembly including a connecting device mounted on the front end of the trailing vehicle and connectable to the swivel base of the leading vehicle; and a distance sensor for measuring a variable distance between a preselected point at the front end of said trailing vehicle and the swivel base.
US08955850B2	Abeyance seal for high temperature, high pressure applications An abeyance seal includes a polymer actuation ring, which defines a flexible sealing lip normally spaced from the shaft. When subjected to leakage, this element collapses against the shaft and forms an initial sealing. Secondarily, a metal sealing/anti-extrusion ring provides a second seal during leakage. The polymer ring provides the initial sealing function during leakage at low differential pressure, and once the polymer ring seals to the shaft, increased sealed pressure loads the polymer ring against the metal sealing/anti-extrusion ring causing it to deform so that the metal ring comes into contact with the shaft to form a second seal.
US08955847B2	Sealing arrangement for a down hole valve The present invention regards a sealing arrangement for a valve, comprising a valve element (3) provided with a sealing element (4), arranged to be abutting a valve seat (2) in a closed state of the valve. The valve element (3) comprises at least two parts, a first and second part (31,32), each comprising an abutting surface (310,320), which abutting surfaces (310,320) are arranged facing each other and to abut against corresponding sealing element surfaces (41,42) of the sealing element (4), and whereof at least one part (31) of the valve element (3) is being arranged to be moveable relative another part (32) of the valve element (3) and the at least one part (31) of the valve element (3) comprises a pressure surface (311) exposed to a surrounding fluid in a closed state of the valve giving pressure on the sealing element (4) responsive to the pressure in the surrounding fluid.
US08955846B2	Articulated target stand with multiple degrees of adjustment One embodiment of an articulated target stand having a base consisting of radially symmetrical legs extending out from a central hub wherein the legs are splayed, optimally forming a three point stance in the deployed position, or folded vertically about the axis of the central hub when in the collapsed position. Pivotally connected atop the base central hub is a three axis yoke gimbal assembly providing selectively rotatable adjustments about the axes. Pivotally connected atop the yoke gimbal assembly is a further assembly providing the means by which the operator can attach commonly available, expendable type targets and target support members. The articulated target stand formed by this embodiment provides a means by which the target can be positioned about four axis of adjustment with respect to the stand's base on a variety of terrains, for a variety of target presentations and is collapsible to an easy carry configuration.
US08955845B2	Novelty device for communication between a human being and universal consciousness Novelty device for communication between a human being and universal consciousness (Universal Mind) is a mechanical device with a Central body, suspended on several substantially upright supports, so that the Central body can move (swing) in horizontal plane. The upright supports are attached to a stationary frame. A diagram is attached to the same stationary frame. The diagram displays symbols, numbers, pictures and the like. A clear transparent surface with a colored dot indicator is attached to the moving Central body. In communication, the user holds the frame in his or her hands, observes the movements of the dot indicator over the diagram and interprets the dialog.
US08955844B2	Image reading apparatus An image reading apparatus having a sheet path, which includes two ejection paths, is provided. The sheet path is switchable between the two ejection paths by a switchable member. An outlet cover arranged on a casing of the image reading apparatus is movable between a closed position and an open position to open and close an outlet of the second ejection path. When the outlet cover moves from the closed position to the open position, and before the switchable member switches the sheet path from the first ejection path to the second ejection path, switching of the sheet path from the first ejection path to the second ejection path is detectable.
US08955838B2	Sheet storage apparatus and image formation system using the apparatus A paper mount surface is disposed while being inclined in the sheet discharge direction or sheet-discharge orthogonal direction, and first and second support members that support the sheet rear and portion in the sheet discharge direction and rear end portion are disposed to be able to shift between actuation positions inside the tray and retract positions. Then, after collecting sheets on both support members, the support member positioned in the direction orthogonal to the inclined direction of the paper mount surface is first retracted from above the tray, and next, the support member positioned in the inclined direction is retracted to the waiting position.
US08955831B2	Fluid-filled vibration damping rubber device Provided is a fluid-filled vibration damping rubber device, including enclosed spaces (primary fluid chamber and auxiliary fluid chamber) formed by chamber walls (vibration damping rubber body and rubber membrane) which deform in accordance with vibration input, the enclosed spaces being filled with a fluid, in which: the chamber walls each include a diene-based rubber; and the fluid includes a glycol-based solution containing a benzotriazole-based compound having an amine group. The fluid-filled vibration damping rubber device is capable of eliminating the degradation of the chamber walls (rubber bodies) and the deterioration of its durability due to the dissolution of components in the rubber bodies into the filling fluid.
US08955828B2	Springless electric gate tensioner The springless electric gate tensioner receptacle and plug connect and axially adjust relative to each other in order to mechanically tension the electrical fence gate wire. The receptacle has a resilient, electrically non-conductive insulator covering handle and conductive sleeve portions. Spaced apart bayonet slots are disposed axially along diametrically opposite sides of the sleeve. The plug includes a solid cylindrical conductive member extending from a handle, the handle being covered with a resilient, electrically non-conductive insulator. Bayonet lugs extend from the plug near its end and project outwardly in a radial direction approximately 180° from each other. Conducting rings extend from the plug and receptacle handles for connection to the gate and fence wires. The projecting bayonet lugs of the plug twist-lock engage user selectable receptacle slots, thereby tensioning the gate wire.
US08955826B2	Button water-stopping device and its control method A button water-stopping device has a button mechanism that can be glidingly connected to a main body, a shaking plate that can be asway set in the main body. The main body has a water channel that can penetrate the main body and a division board that is hermetically set in the water channel and has the first water hole that penetrates the division board. The button mechanism has a button and an elastic rod which is fixed under the button, and reaches into the water channel. The shaking plate has the second water hole that penetrates the shaking plate and a control groove which has two cooperative grooves. The elastic rod reaches into the control groove and can alternatively resist one of the two cooperative grooves to make the shaking plate swing left or right.
US08955821B2	Positioner A power supply controlling function is provided in a controlling portion. The power supply controlling function defines a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a third pressure sensor, and an oscillation detecting sensor as sensors to which power may be supplied, and turns switches that are provided in the supply circuits of the power supply to the individual sensors to which power may be supplied ON and OFF so that a plurality of these sensors to which power may be supplied does not operate simultaneously.
US08955818B2	Broom stabilizer damper A stabilizer-damper for stabilizing a broom, mop, or other long-handled device while such device is resting against a countertop or other surface. The stabilizer-damper is a device that provides stabilization to prevent the long-handled device from falling to the floor and also provides a damping effect to lessen the intensity and harshness of the sound if the long-handled device happens to fall to the floor. The stabilizer-damper fits onto the handle and provides a frictional surface to resist movement of the handle.
US08955817B2	Base anchoring structure A base anchoring structure fixes a base 3 of an apparatus body 2 to a floor F in position. The base is at a lower part of the apparatus body and has casters C to move the apparatus body along the floor. The base anchoring structure includes linear actuators 4 fixed to the base, to downwardly bias, with a uniform pressure provided by air A supplied to the linear actuators, their respective pistons 5 until lower ends of the pistons reach the floor and stopper units (7, 8, 10) to engage with the downwardly pushed pistons and stably maintain the downwardly pushed state of the pistons. The engagement of the stopper units with the pistons stably maintains the anchored state of the base. The plurality of actuator is easily operated only by supplying air thereto.
US08955801B2	Method and apparatus for automated launch, retrieval, and servicing of a hovering aircraft Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus configured to automatically retrieve, service, and launch an aircraft. For retrieval, the aircraft drops a weighted cable, and pulls it at low relative speed into a broad aperture of the apparatus. In certain instances, the cable is dragged along guiding surfaces of the apparatus into and through a slot until its free end is captured. The aircraft becomes anchored to the apparatus, and is pulled downward by the cable into a receptacle. Guiding surfaces of the receptacle adjust the position and orientation of a probe on the aircraft, directing the probe to mate with a docking fixture of the apparatus. Once mated, the aircraft is automatically shut down and serviced. When desired, the aircraft is automatically started and tested in preparation for launch, and then released into free flight. A full ground-handling cycle is thus accomplished with a simple, economical apparatus.
US08955799B2	Aircraft landing gear stop pad A stop pad (11) for an aircraft landing gear arranged to provide protection against impact between first and second elements of the landing gear, the stop pad being arranged to provide an indication that it is been subject to an impact against one of the first or second landing gear elements, the impact having an impact load above a predetermined threshold level.
US08955797B2	Propulsion and motion-transmission assembly, in particular for a rotary-wing aircraft A propulsion and motion-transmission assembly (1), in particular for a rotary-wing aircraft, the assembly (1) comprising:—a first hydrostatic transmission (2) including a first fluid machine for converting mechanical energy into fluid energy (18) and a first fluid machine for converting fluid energy into mechanical energy (26);—a second hydrostatic transmission (8) including a second fluid machine for converting mechanical energy into fluid energy (62) and a second fluid machine for converting fluid energy into mechanical energy (70); and wherein each of said first and second hydrostatic transmissions (2, 8) comprises a high-pressure branch (24, 68) and a low-pressure branch (30, 74), which, in each of said first and second hydrostatic transmissions (2, 8), hydraulically connect the fluid machine. The assembly (1) further comprises valve means (108, 112) that can be actuated for enabling a first hydraulic connection (106) between the low-pressure branch (30) of the first hydrostatic transmission (2) and the low-pressure branch (74) of the second hydrostatic transmission (8).
US08955794B2	Bleed air systems for use with aircrafts and related methods Bleed air systems for use with aircrafts and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a turbo-compressor including a compressor has a compressor inlet fluidly coupled to a low-pressure compressor of an aircraft engine and an intermediate port of a high-pressure compressor of the aircraft engine. The compressor inlet to receive fluid from either the low-pressure compressor or the high-pressure compressor based on a first system parameter of the aircraft. A turbine has a turbine inlet fluidly coupled to the intermediate port of the high pressure compressor and a high-pressure port of the high pressure compressor of the aircraft engine. The turbine inlet to receive fluid from either the intermediate port of the high-pressure compressor or the high-pressure port of the high-pressure compressor based on a second system parameter of the aircraft.
US08955792B2	Rotor position determination system with hall-effect sensors According to one embodiment, a rotor system, includes a position determination system disposed between a blade and at least part of a hub. A grip couples the rotor blade to the hub. The position determination system comprises at least one magnet and a plurality of magnet sensors proximate to the at least one magnet.
US08955784B2	Self-locking seat belt retractor A self-locking seat belt retractor has the following components: a locking device (9) which can be actuated in a vehicle-sensitive and/or in a belt webbing-sensitive manner, a belt shaft (1), and a two-stage load limiting device (13) located within the force flow between the locking device (9) and the belt shaft (1). The load limiting device (13) includes a first, high-load limiting element (3) and a second, low-load limiting element (2). The load limitation level can be switched from high to low during load limitation. A third load limiting element (14) parallel to the second load limiting element (2) between the locking device (9) and the belt shaft (1) is formed by at least two structural elements (10, 11, 12, 20a, 20b, 21a-21g, 22a-22g), at least one of which is sheared off during the load limitation.
US08955780B2	Apparatus for fracturing and method for producing fractured fragments An apparatus for fracturing in which: a fracturing tooth is formed so that a base-end portion has a larger diameter than that of a top-end portion, and a tapered part is formed at the base-end portion so as to expand from the top toward the base; a fixing cover is formed along a longitudinal direction of rolls; in the fixing cover, fixing holes for fracturing teeth are formed along the longitudinal direction so that the fracturing tooth is inserted therein; each of the fixing holes has a slope in which the tapered part is in contact at a surface; a fracturing teeth unit is fixed to the roll in a state in which the top-end portion of the fracturing tooth is protruded from the fixing hole radially-outwardly of the roll and the tapered part is wedged between the slope of the fixing hole and the roll.
US08955776B2	Method of constructing a stationary coal nozzle Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method of constructing a stationary wear-resistant stationary nozzle 200 and/or nozzle liner 230 for solid fueled furnaces. A transition section 210 is constructed from several flat pieces 211-218 several that may have identical starting shapes. This reduces manufacturing complexity and costs. All pieces 211-218 have a high-wear weld overlay on their inner surface 316, 416. Corner pieces 215-218 are folded into a corner shape at an outlet edge 412 and rolled into a curved shape at an inlet edge 411. Horizontal 211, 212 and vertical pieces 213, 214 are only rolled at an inlet edge 311. The pieces have seam tab 240 along longitudinal edges that are welded together to construct a transition section 210. The transition section 210 may be used as a liner to reduce wear in an existing stationary nozzle or may be constructed to be connected to an inlet piece 220 to form a strong, wear-resistant coal nozzle 200.
US08955774B2	Water-drip hose A water-drip hose comprises: the first fusion splicing units formed to have an upper fusion splicing line parallel to an end portion of the outer film, a lower fusion splicing line shorter than the upper fusion splicing line, and side fusion splicing lines of a smooth curved shape for connecting the upper fusion splicing line with the lower fusion splicing line; two second fusion splicing units respectively formed at a lower position between the first fusion splicing unit and a neighboring first fusion splicing unit in parallel to the lower fusion splicing line of the first fusion splicing unit at regular intervals, which forms three lower openings; and a third fusion splicing unit formed at an upper position between the first fusion splicing unit and the neighboring first fusion splicing unit in parallel to the upper fusion splicing line of the first fusion splicing unit, which forms two upper openings.
US08955771B2	Device for injecting a liquid into an exhaust gas flow and exhaust gas aftertreatment system A device for injecting a liquid, particularly an aqueous urea solution, into an exhaust gas flow has at least one atomizing nozzle which is designed as a two-component nozzle and by means of which the liquid is injected into the exhaust gas flow by means of pressurized air such that the liquid can be mixed with the pressurized air first directly upon exiting, or after exiting, the respective atomizing nozzle outside of the atomizing nozzle. The atomizing nozzle, or each atomizing nozzle, has a nozzle base body, a nozzle air cap and a nozzle insert which are formed as turning parts. The respective atomizing nozzle can be connected to a nozzle lance via the nozzle base body, and the nozzle air cap and the nozzle insert are received and held in the nozzle base body.
US08955764B1	Building heat exchange system The building heat exchange system is suited for installation in areas having warmer seasonal climates. The system can include an external solar heated water supply, and an indoor water heater. An enclosure extends around the water heater, with indoor air flowing between the enclosure and water heater to a duct for distribution. During cooler conditions the water heater heats incoming water from the relatively cool external water supply, with the warmth of the water heater warming the air for distribution into the bathroom or other area as desired. In warmer times, the water supplied from the water supply can be sufficiently hot that additional heating is not needed, and can be hotter than desired. In such warmer conditions, the water heater can serve as a radiator, with heat radiated from the water heater being absorbed by air flowing past the water heater and expelled to the external environment.
US08955758B2	Smartcard providing an improved standby mode The invention relates to a smartcard (10) comprising: —a microcontroller (30); —a contact communication interface (11); —a supply line (Vcc) connecting the contact communication interface to the microcontroller, a clock line (Clk) connecting the contact communication interface to the microcontroller. The smartcard further comprises a power management circuit (20) including a switch (23) adapted to selectively open or close the supply line connection between the contact communication interface and the microcontroller, the power management circuit being adapted to detect the loss of a clock signal on the clock line (Clk), adapted to keep said switch closed during a predetermined period after a loss of clock signal is detected and adapted to open said switch after said predetermined period.
US08955752B2	Automatic testing system and automatic testing method for testing barcode identification apparatus An automatic testing method applied to an automatic testing system for testing a barcode identification apparatus is described. In the method, a test host is utilized to generate a barcode pattern automatically, so as to display the barcode pattern through a barcode revealing apparatus. The barcode identification apparatus reads and resolves the barcode pattern to retrieve an identification result. The identification result is returned to the test host. The test host compares the barcode information carried by the barcode pattern and the identification result, and generates a test result. The test host repetitively generates the barcode pattern for a barcode identification apparatus carried the barcode pattern and the identification result, and then generates a test result. Through the test host repeatedly generates the barcode pattern and records the corresponding test result, manual operation is not required to obtain testing data for being analyzed.
US08955751B2	Method and device for identifying an electronic code A method and device for reading an electronic code. An alternating electrical signal is brought to the code being measured with the aid of electrodes, and the current or voltage travelling through the electrodes is measured. The real and the imaginary components of the current or correspondingly the voltage are defined. The electrodes, being on an essentially lossless surface, an angle correction is made to the real and imaginary components of the current or the voltage in such a way that substantial changes in the current take place only in the imaginary component of the current or voltage.
US08955737B2	Split carton A carton. The carton may include a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a first tear line positioned about a middle of the first side wall, and a second tear line positioned about a middle of the second side wall.
US08955721B2	Device for dispensing a dental material A device (100) for dispensing a dental material which comprises a spindle drive (10) for driving a piston (111) for extruding the dental material. The spindle drive (10) comprises a pair of threaded spindles and a clasp nut member (20) which is adapted for engaging with anyone of the spindles. The clasp nut member has first and second thread structures (11, 12) which are offset relative to each other by about ½ of the pitch of the thread of the spindle or the thread structures (11, 12) in a dimension of the pitch.
US08955720B2	Container for flowable substances and dispensing apparatus A container for flowable substances includes a rigid, concave lower part having an outlet and an upper part including of a convex flexible film that is mirror-inverted with respect to the inner contour of the lower part. The upper and lower parts may be in the shape of hemispheres. The upper part is surrounded by a housing body which is tightly connected with the lower part and may be connected to a pressure source for emptying the container. In the emptied condition of the container, the film lies flush at the inner contour of the lower part of the container. For emptying, air pressure is applied to the upper part of the container. The outlet is provided with a closure in the shape of a disc which is rotatable about an axis offset from the opening of the outlet and has a passage for inserting a dispensing nipple.
US08955718B2	Foam pumps with lost motion and adjustable output foam pumps Embodiments of lost motion foam pumps are disclosed herein. One exemplary embodiment includes a liquid chamber, a liquid piston movable in the liquid chamber, an air chamber and an air piston movable in the air chamber. The air piston is linked to the liquid piston. A connector is linked to the air piston or the liquid piston. The connector includes an engagement member for connecting to an actuator of a foam dispenser. Movement of the actuator in a first direction moves the liquid and air pistons to contract the liquid chamber and the air chamber. Movement of the actuator a first distance in a second direction does not move the liquid piston or the air piston; however, continued movement of the actuator a second distance in the second direction moves the liquid piston and the air piston and expands the liquid and air chambers.
US08955717B2	Anti-refill dispensing fitment for a container An anti-refill product includes a container including a neck with an interior surface, an anti-refill dispensing fitment positioned in the neck of the container, and including at least one ceramic or glass component, and a bonding material between the container and the component that non-removably secures the fitment to the container and thereby renders the product tamper-evident.
US08955706B2	Vacuum-operated trash receptacle A vacuum-operated trash receptacle which is characterized by a container fitted with an air blower, vacuum pump or the like, either on the perforated lid, bottom or on the side thereof and having a like-shaped, removable, typically slotted liner inserted therein. In a preferred embodiment, the outer wall or walls and/or bottom of the liner are spaced from the corresponding inside wall or walls and bottom panel of the container, respectively, to define a separate or connected annulus between the bottom and wall or walls of the container and liner. The container is further provided with a top flange which receives a corresponding liner flange on the liner to seal the separate or connected bottom and wall annulus and facilitate development of a vacuum in the bottom annulus and wall annulus or both and in the liner by operation of the air blower. This vacuum operates to deploy a trash bag against the inside wall of the liner, either when the container is open or when a perforated lid is fitted over the container to close the liner. The embodiments provide for timed development of the vacuum, use of a bottomless liner, with or without pleats and a liner with a pre-installed bag.
US08955702B2	Luffing-jib tower crane with jib angle error control A luffing-jib tower crane, comprising a tower and a jib which is connected to the tower via a joint and is held by a luffing cable, wherein the length of the luffing cable can be changed by a drawing-in unit, by the luffing cable being wound onto or unwound from a cable drum of the drawing-in unit, wherein the angle of the jib with respect to the horizontal plane is measured by a first sensor winch is attached to the jib (first angular value), wherein a measuring device measures the length of the unwound part of the luffing cable, from which length the minimum angle of the jib with respect to the horizontal plane (second angular value) can be calculated, and the first angular value can be compared with the second angular value.
US08955696B2	Storage systems for milk bags Embodiments of the present invention are directed to storage systems for milk bags. A storage system for milk bags receives milk bags and management of the stored milk bags. The milk bags are stored in compartments for easy storage and retrieval.
US08955691B2	Spiral ramp hydrocyclone The invention comprises a hydrocyclone separator which includes a first segment including a fluid inlet, an overflow outlet and a spiral fluid ramp having a first and second end. The first end of the spiral fluid ramp is in fluid communication with and extends from the fluid inlet. The second end of the spiral fluid ramp is connected in fluid communication with the wider end of a frustoconical second segment and the narrower end of the frustoconical second segment is connected in fluid communication with a first end of a third segment comprising a tubular element. An underflow outlet is located at the second end of said tubular element.
US08955650B2	Remote control for braking system of progressive cavity pump A brake actuator has a motor that provides input rotation in first and second directions. A reducer couples to the motor and reduces the input rotation into an output rotation to be applied to a brake screw of a progressive cavity pump drive. A sensor measures rotational speed of the drive shaft. In manual operation, an operator can view an indication of the rotational speed and can manually operate the motor accordingly to control rotation of the shaft. In automated operation, a controller automatically controls the motor based on the rotational speed measured by the sensor. The controller can also use a torque sensor to detect the torque applied to the brake screw, a displacement sensor to detect displacement of the brake screw, and/or a current sensor to detect the current consumption of the motor.
US08955647B2	Power generating apparatus A power generating apparatus enables a power generating module to generate electric power via reciprocal movement of a transmission module. The transmission module at least includes a transmission rod and a counterweight block. The power generating module includes a supporting rack, a rotation shaft, a one-way rotating gear, a first gear, a second gear and a generator. The rotation shaft is pivotally disposed at the supporting rack, the one-way rotating gear and the first gear are coupled to the rotation shaft, the one-way rotating gear is engaged with the transmission rod, the second gear is coupled to the generator, and the second gear is engaged with the first gear. An elastic member can push forward the transmission module, and the transmission module is reciprocally movable by gravity and reacting force of the elastic member.
US08955637B2	Motorcycle having a swing arm suspended from a rear suspension via a link mechanism A motorcycle including a multi-cylinder engine; a main frame; and a swing arm for supporting a rear wheel in a rear portion of the main frame. A rear suspension has one end rotatably supported by a portion located in a position above a swing axial support portion of the swing arm. A link mechanism connects the rear suspension and the swing arm, and includes a suspension arm rotatably supported by an upper portion of the swing arm and a link member having one end rotatably supported by the main frame. An exhaust collecting pipe is arranged below the multi-cylinder engine; and an exhaust device is arranged in a space below the swing arm. An exhaust connecting pipe connects an outlet of a rear end of the exhaust collecting pipe with a front surface of the exhaust chamber in a moving direction of the motorcycle.
US08955616B2	Percussion tool A pneumatic percussion tool (1) for demolition and/or breaking work is connectable to an insert tool (2). The percussion tool has a percussion cylinder (4), a piston (5), arranged to travel in the bore of the cylinder (4), a buffer (8), and a valve unit (6), acting on the piston (5) during operation to produce a repetitive reciprocating motion in the bore of the cylinder (4) by alternately applying pressure to the upper or lower end of the cylinder (4) while the insert tool (2) is influenced by the stroke of the piston (5) at its dead center at the lower end of the cylinder (4). The percussion tool prevents the reciprocating motion of the piston when the buffer (8) reaches a predetermined degree of wear and the tool is not pressed against any object being worked.
US08955612B2	Fence post driver A driver 10 for a fence post is disclosed. The driver comprises an elongate hollow body 12 having an open in-use lower end 14. A guide 16 is removably locatable at the lower end.
US08955611B1	Cleat anchoring system useful on HDD rigs A cleat anchoring system is disclosed for anchoring a mobile equipment rig using the dead weight of the mobile equipment rig to assist with anchoring. In one embodiment, an anchoring method generally comprises providing front and rear cleat pad assemblies. The rear cleat pad assembly is laid on a ground surface at a first desired position so that cleats on the rear cleat assembly engage the ground surface. The mobile equipment rig is moved to stand on the rear cleat pad assembly. The front cleat pad assembly is then laid on the ground surface at a second desired position so that cleats on the front cleat assembly engage the ground surface. A thrust plate associated with the rig is positioned to stand on the front cleat assembly. The front and rear cleat pad assembles are then rigidly connected.
US08955599B2	System and methods for removing fluids from a subterranean well Systems and methods for removing fluids from a subterranean well. An example embodiment includes a system having a well casing surrounding at least one inner tubing string, where the inner tubing string has a distal section and a proximal section, an apparatus for removing a first fluid within the distal section of the inner tubing string, and an apparatus for removing a second fluid within the proximal section of the inner tubing string.
US08955596B2	Damping apparatus for moonpool Provided is a damping apparatus for a moonpool, which has a simple driving mechanism. The damping apparatus includes one or more damping plates which cover a moonpool of a hull entirely or partially. The damping plates are pivotally hinged to a sidewall of the moonpool, and one or more conveying units are disposed above the moonpool to convey drilling equipment. Driving wires are coupled between the conveying units and the damping plates, and the conveying force of the conveying units is transferred through the driving wires to the damping plates. Thus, the damping plates are pivoted to open and close the moonpool entirely or partially.
US08955595B2	Apparatus and method for providing a controllable supply of fluid to subsea well equipment An apparatus and method for providing a controllable supply of fluid, and optionally power and/or communication signals, to a subsea equipment are provided. The fluid may be a water-based fluid, oil-based fluid, or chemicals. The apparatus includes a reservoir disposed on a seabed for storing a supply of fluid for delivery to the subsea well equipment. A subsea pumping device is configured to receive the fluid from the reservoir, pressurize the fluid, and deliver the pressurized fluid to an accumulator of a hydraulic power unit disposed on the seabed. The hydraulic power unit can store the pressurized fluid and control an output of the pressurized fluid to the subsea well equipment, thereby providing a subsea fluid source for the subsea equipment.
US08955592B2	Grease delivery system A grease delivery system for delivering grease to a location is provided. The grease delivery system comprises: a first grease reservoir having a first grease output and a first output device configured to output grease from the first grease reservoir; a second grease reservoir having a second grease output and a second output device configured to output grease from the second grease reservoir; and a common grease output for delivering grease to the location, wherein the common grease output is fluidly connected to the first and second grease outputs, wherein the system is configured to simultaneously output grease from the first and second grease reservoirs to the common grease output.
US08955591B1	Methods and systems for delivery of thermal energy A system and method of recovering hydrocarbons located at or above a sea floor of a sea are disclosed. The method includes heating a working fluid at a heater and delivering the working fluid downward into the sea through a first string of a riser to a heat exchanger. The riser has a plurality of strings in a concentric arrangement. The heat exchanger transfers thermal energy from the working fluid to at least hydrocarbons to enable recovery of the hydrocarbons through a second string of the riser. The working fluid returns from the heat exchanger to the heater through a third string of the riser.
US08955586B1	Beacon assembly An electronic transmitter assembly used in directional boring, the housing of the assembly being configured for receiving a beacon. The housing and cover of the assembly are configured to provide transmission windows along each side of the cover rather than in the center of the cover. The beacon contained within the housing is configured to have a forward isolator on one end and a rear isolator on the other end to isolate the beacon from shock during boring operations.
US08955582B2	Beamless mechanic-reversing long stroke pumping unit A beamless mechanic-reversing long stroke pumping unit is provided for petroleum production in diverse types of oil fields. Its mechanic-reversing system consists of differentials, brakes, etc. With two differentials assembled together, taper gears inside them perform revolution and rotation, enabling the pumping unit to achieve direction change and speed change mechanically. The stroke length of the pumping unit can reach 8 meters or longer, and the adjustment process is more convenient than most, by merely tuning the position of the proximity switches. Abrasion of the chains typically caused due to resetting of a motor frequently during operation, is eliminated in this pumping unit. The pumping unit has more reliable operation performance, more convenient maintenance, lower costs, better energy saving effects, and can be applied in land oil fields, offshore oil fields, oil wells with low permeability, etc.
US08955581B2	Method and system for recovering oil and generating steam from produced water A method of recovering oil from an oil well and producing steam for injection into an injection well is provided. After recovering an oil-water mixture from the oil well, oil is separated from the mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. In one process, the produced water is directed to an indirect fired steam generator which is powered by an independent boiler or steam generator. As water moves through the indirect fired steam generator, the same is heated to produce a steam-water mixture. The steam-water mixture is directed to the steam separator which separates the steam-water mixture into steam and water. The separated water is directed from the steam separator back to and through the indirect fired steam generator. This separated water is continued to be recycled through the indirect fired steam generator. Steam separated by the steam separator is directed into the injection well.
US08955559B2	Fuel vapor handling system for automotive fuel tank Fuel vapor is prevented from leaking to the outside during refueling, and even when an air space is formed in an upper portion of a fuel filler pipe, a diagnosis of leakage of fuel vapor can be performed with good accuracy. During refueling, fuel vapor is guided from a fuel tank 1 to a canister 3, and is absorbed by the canister 3. A change in the internal pressure of a fuel vapor path including the fuel tank 1, a fuel vapor pipe 4, and the canister 3 is detected by a pressure sensor 8, thereby performing a diagnosis of leakage of fuel vapor. An upper space 16 in the fuel tank 1 and an upper space 17 in a fuel filler pipe 2 communicate with each other through an airflow resistance pipe 12, and in order to restrict flow of fuel vapor from the fuel tank 1 through the airflow resistance pipe 12 into the fuel filler pipe 2 during refueling, the airflow resistance pipe 12 includes an orifice 13.
US08955556B2	Cable tie tensioning and cut-off tool A hand held tool for the tensioning and severing of cable ties, including reciprocating means for tensioning the cable tie tail, locking means to prevent further tensioning upon the attainment of a preselected tension level in the tie tail, and severing means to sever the tie tail from the cable tie head.
US08955555B2	Three-dimensional woven fabric and method for producing the same A three-dimensional woven fabric including front layer, rear layer, and light-shielding layer connecting front layer to rear layer and a method thereof are disclosed. The light-shielding layer is formed by repeatedly overlapping first, second, and third light-shielding layers with another light-shielding layer with adjacent ones among the first to the third light-shielding layers overlapped. The front layer includes front parts formed by weaving front layer wrap threads and weft threads, the front parts have front layer-connecting parts formed by sequentially and repeatedly weaving front layer wrapwrap threads and weft threads and light-shielding layer wrap threads, the rear layer includes rear layer-connecting parts formed by weaving sequentially and repeatedly the rear layer wrap threads and weft threads and light-shielding layer wrap threads. The light-shielding layers are formed by weaving light-shielding layer wrap threads and the weft threads, and the light-shielding layers are sequentially and repeatedly connected to front layer-connecting parts and rear layer-connecting parts. Three-dimensional shapes are implemented without adhesive. Various designs and light-shielding control are available.
US08955553B2	Flexible pipe body with buoyancy element and method of producing same A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The flexible pipe body includes an inner fluid retaining layer; an armour layer provided radially outwards of the inner fluid retaining layer; and a buoyancy layer including a plurality of discrete elongate buoyancy elements provided radially outwards of the fluid retaining layer wound at a helical pitch angle equal to or more than 0 degrees and less than about 85 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the flexible pipe body.
US08955550B2	Damper device A damper device includes a first diaphragm having a first peripheral part, a second diaphragm having a second peripheral part, a first support portion disposed on the opposite side from the second peripheral part with respect to the first peripheral part, and a second support portion disposed on the opposite side from the first peripheral part with respect to the second peripheral part. The first peripheral part and the second peripheral part are supported between the first support portion and the second support portion. Radially outer sections of the first peripheral part, the second peripheral part, the first support portion, and the second support portion are integrally welded with each other.
US08955547B2	Apparatus and method for providing uniform flow of gas Provided are gas distribution apparatus with a delivery channel having an inlet end, an outlet end and a plurality of apertures spaced along the length. The inlet end is connectable to an inlet gas source and the outlet end is connectible with a vacuum source. Also provided are gas distribution apparatus with spiral delivery channels, intertwined spiral delivery channels, splitting delivery channels, merging delivery channels and shaped delivery channels in which an inlet end and outlet end are configured for rapid exchange of gas within the delivery channels.
US08955540B2	Valve lock assembly A valve lock assembly includes a cover for selective placement over a valve. The cover has opposing sidewalls, each sidewall including at least one cover aperture. The assembly further includes a strap to secure the cover to the valve, the strap having opposing end portions each of which include at least one strap aperture. A locking pin is to be placed through both the strap apertures and the cover apertures when they are aligned. The assembly also includes a lock body, which features a first bore to receive the locking pin, and a second bore which receives a locking mechanism that prevents removal of the locking pin from the lock body. The lock body is freely rotatable about the locking pin so that the valve lock assembly may be installed or removed from a wide range of angles.
US08955533B2	Multiple pressure ratio valve assembly A multiple pressure ratio valve assembly is provided that may be used in a plurality of systems requiring different operating pressures. In one embodiment, a valve assembly and a plurality of interchangeable valves is provided, the interchangeable valves being configured to be installed within the same valve bore diameter, and the valves having different surface areas such that a pressure ratio of the valve assembly may be varied depending on which of the plurality of valves is installed. In some embodiments, the valves may have one or more fluid bypass portions. Embodiments of the invention may also include one or more shims that may be used to further adjust the pressure ratio of the valve assembly. Methods of repairing a valve assembly are also provided.
US08955532B2	Valve with a removable cartridge A valve (100) is provided. The valve (100) includes a base portion (10). The base portion (10) includes one or more solenoid coils (101A, 101B) and one or more cartridge receivers (104, 104′) coupled to the one or more solenoid coils (101A, 101B). The valve (100) also includes one or more removable cartridges (103). A removable cartridge (103) of the one or more removable cartridges includes a magnetic core (210) and a movable armature (211). A removable cartridge (103) of the one or more removable cartridges is adapted to removably engage the one or more cartridge receivers (104, 104′).
US08955526B2	Hair styling device A hair styling device comprising a first blade section, a second blade section, and at least one fin. The first blade section comprises an inner blade surface and at least one first blade section heating element one of coupled to and integrated with the inner blade surface. The second blade section may be rotatably coupled to the first blade section and may comprise at least one second blade section heating element substantially opposing the at least one first blade section heating element. The at least one second blade section heating element may also comprise a substantially flat surface and at least one outer surface. A portion of the at least one fin is one of coupled and integrated to the at least one outer surface.
US08955521B1	Smoking apparatus A smoking apparatus is disclosed herein for use in the consumption of liquefied herbs or resins. The invention utilizes a thermal tip with an orifice disposed therein, wherein the thermal tip is heated by an external heat source. Once heated, the thermal tip may glow due to the existence of thermal radiation emitting visible light. The tip is thereafter touched to the material to be consumed and the material is vaporized and drawn through the smoking apparatus. The smoking apparatus thereafter utilizes two offset reservoirs, connected by an air passageway in a series, where the reservoirs are separated by an s-shaped curve. The reservoirs in such a configuration with substantially trap large droplets of oil or resin, which improves the consumption and overall smoking experience. The reservoirs further cool the air before it is drawn into the lungs of the user, which also increases the enjoyment of the smoking experience.
US08955517B2	Forehead supports for facial masks A forehead support for a mask assembly includes a frame connector provided to a mask frame, a forehead cushion support movably mounted to the frame connector for generally linear movement between retracted and extended positions with respect to the frame connector, and an adjustment knob movably mounted to the frame connector and threadably engaged with the forehead cushion support such that turning movement of the adjustment knob causes the forehead cushion support to be moved between the retracted and extended positions. The adjustment knob includes a resilient prong having a ratchet bump. The ratchet bump is adapted to selectively engage a series of ridges provided to the frame connector to provide indexed incremental adjustment.
US08955513B1	Automatic continuous positive airway pressure treatment system with fast respiratory response The present invention provides a method and apparatus for providing continuous positive airway pressure for treating sleep apnea. The method comprises the steps of providing a breathing gas flow to a subject, measuring a respiratory characteristic of the subject, determining or estimating a preferable breathing gas flow for the subject based on wavelet analysis utilizing in part the respiratory characteristic of the subject, and preferably adjusting the breathing gas flow if the determined or estimated preferable breathing gas flow is different. This method and apparatus can be used in a number of applications including both clinical and home use in the form of CPAP for the treatment of sleep apnea or less preferably as a ventilator to assist in patient breathing.
US08955512B2	Method of forming an aerosol for inhalation delivery The present invention relates to the inhalation delivery of aerosols containing small particles. Specifically, it relates to a method of forming an aerosol for use in inhalation therapy. The method involves: (a) heating a substrate coated with a composition comprising a drug to form a vapor, wherein the coated composition is in the form of a film less than 10μ thick; and, (b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming an aerosol, which is used in inhalation therapy. In another aspect, a method of forming an aerosol for use in inhalation therapy is provided, wherein the method comprises: (a) heating a substrate coated with a composition comprising a drug to form a vapor in less than 100 milliseconds, wherein the vapor has a mass greater than 0.1 mg; and, (b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming an aerosol, which is used in inhalation therapy.
US08955510B2	Delivery system for therapeutically conditioned air An apparatus for delivery of therapeutically conditioned air to a patient may include a hollow flexible tube and at least one clamp attached to the tube. A shape retention wire may be engaged with the tube. The apparatus may be configured to direct the therapeutically conditioned air to a region near the patient's nose and mouth without being attached to the patient.
US08955495B2	Method and control unit for operating a valve A method for operating a valve, in particular a fuel injector of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, in which an auxiliary variable is obtained as a function of at least one electrical operating variable of an electromagnetic actuator driving a component of the valve, in particular a valve needle, and in which the auxiliary variable is checked for the presence of a predefinable characteristic. A reference variable which characterizes the operating behavior of the electromagnetic actuator is ascertained, the auxiliary variable is modified as a function of the reference variable to obtain a modified auxiliary variable, and the modified auxiliary variable is checked for the presence of the predefinable characteristic.
US08955488B2	Piston for use in internal combustion engines Piston for use in internal combustion engines, having a piston skirt composed of skirt walls and box walls, said walls enclosing a recess wherein the at least one skirt wall is provided for use on the pressure side of the piston in the installed state. Said piston is in particular characterized in that, in at least one partial region of at least one skirt wall provided for use on the pressure side of the piston, the recess is in substantially the shape of a parabola, a section of an ellipse or a catenoid, wherein said parabola, said section of an ellipse or said catenoid lies in a plane substantially parallel to the piston crown.
US08955481B2	Three arm finger follower with cam switching profile and compression lost motion springs A switchable roller finger follower is provided having an inner lever and two separate outer arms mounted at one end to a swing pivot axle that extends through the inner lever. A roller is mounted in the inner lever. The outer arms extend longitudinally along sides of the inner lever and include high lift cam contact surfaces. The inner lever includes a compression spring support extending out from each of the sides. The outer arms each include a corresponding spring support facing the respective spring support of the inner lever. A compression spring is located on each of the sides of the inner lever between the corresponding spring supports. A coupling arrangement is located between the inner lever and the outer arms which in a locked position, locks the outer arms in position on the inner lever, and in an unlocked position, allows the outer arms to pivot.
US08955479B2	Variable valve timing control apparatus of internal combustion engine and method for assembling the same A variable valve timing control apparatus has a housing; a vane rotor relatively rotating with respect to the housing; a torsion spring always forcing the vane rotor in one rotation direction with respect to the housing; and a spring guide accommodating therein the torsion spring. At least a part of an outside diameter of the torsion spring, before being installed inside the spring guide, is formed to be greater than an inside diameter of an inner wall of the spring guide. In a free state of the torsion spring, after being installed inside the spring guide, in which an urging force of the torsion spring acting on the vane rotor becomes smallest, the outside diameter of the torsion spring is substantially same as the inside diameter of the inner wall of the spring guide or is smaller than the inside diameter of the inner wall of the spring guide.
US08955476B2	Variable valve operating apparatus for internal combustion engine A variable valve operating apparatus for an internal combustion engine is provided which includes a helical wall part provided in a guide rail for changing valve opening characteristics of a valve and a projection part, and can secure a contact area between the two when the two are engaged, thus successfully reducing the contact pressure generated between the two. The placement of the projection part with respect to the helical wall part is determined such that the central axis line of the projection part and the central axis line of a camshaft perpendicularly intersect with each other in a state in which the projection part is protruded toward the guide rail by an actuator.
US08955474B1	Closed loop electronic control for the reduction of soot produced in diesel, gasoline and alternative-fueled engines A system and method of reducing soot and/or improving the efficiency of a motor. The system and method regulates the supply of cooling oil to a cooling section of a cylinder based upon observed parameters. These parameters can include such things as engine temperature, load, rpm etc. The control can be provided by using a look up table.
US08955473B2	Strategy for engine cold start emission reduction A method for operating an engine having a cylinder head, comprising: following light-off of an exhaust catalyst from a cold-start condition, circulating liquid coolant through a cooling jacket of the cylinder head, and at a subsequent engine-off condition, draining at least some of the liquid coolant from the cooling jacket. In this way, at a cold start condition, the cooling jacket of the cylinder head may be filled with air, thus decreasing the amount of time needed for the exhaust catalyst to reach a light-off temperature.
US08955471B2	Mechanical coolant pump A mechanical coolant pump for an internal combustion engine includes an outlet channel comprising an outlet valve and an outlet channel wall with a passing slit. An impeller is configured to pump a coolant into the outlet channel. The outlet valve comprises a shiftable flat valve plate configured to be shiftable in a transversal plane of the outlet channel through the passing slit of the outlet channel wall.
US08955470B2	Gas-liquid mixing nozzle, and emulsion fuel combustion system and environment purification liquid spray system that use the same Provided is a gas-liquid mixing nozzle (10) including an internal air discharge path (A), an external air discharge path (D), at least one liquid introduction path (B, C) which is disposed between the internal air discharge path (A) and the external air discharge path (D) and introduces a liquid having water and/or fuel as a main component into a nozzle discharge opening (18), and an impact member (22) with which a mixture of the air and the liquid mixed with each other in the outlets of the internal air discharge path (A) and the liquid introduction path (B, C) collides, the outlet of the internal air discharge path (A) and the outlet of the liquid introduction path (B, C) being disposed on the inside of a nozzle in relation to the nozzle discharge opening (18), and the impact member (22) being disposed between, the outlets of the internal air discharge path (A) and the liquid introduction path (B, C) and the nozzle discharge opening (18). With the above-described configuration, the gas and the liquid may be highly efficiently mixed with each other, and the generation of water droplets of a liquid may be suppressed, thereby producing finer particles.
US08955469B2	Cylindrical hydrogen fuel generator having passive tubular cells A hydrogen fuel generator having a fuel cell unit having a computerized injection controller and passive conductive tubular cells that are not coupled to a power source is described.
US08955468B2	Method and system for operating a compression ignition engine on alcohol containing fuels Method of operating a compression ignition engine on ether containing fuel obtained by on board conversion of an alcohol containing primary fuel and a system for use in the method. The ether containing fuel is prepared by dehydration of liquid alcohol containing fuel in present of a dehydration catalyst arranged in a radial flow reactor within a fuel accumulation chamber in a common rail.
US08955466B2	Heat recovery system and method A system providing for heat recovery from exhausted flue gas in a steam generator is described comprising a flue gas outlet conduit defining a flow path for flue gas from a flue gas outlet of a steam generator to a flue gas conduit junction point; a flue gas primary conduit defining a flow path for flue gas from the junction to a primary air preheater; a flue gas secondary conduit defining a flow path for flue gas from the junction to a secondary air preheater; wherein a steam generator process fluid heat exchanger is disposed within the flow path of the flue gas primary conduit upstream of the primary air preheater to recover some heat from the flue gas in advance of the primary air preheater. A method implementing the flow principles embodied in such a system is also described.
US08955465B1	Apparatus and method for controlling multiple lines A handle for walking dogs on three leashes and for untangling crossed leashes while walking. The handle has three leash attachment locations, and the three locations correspond roughly to the vertices of a triangle. Regardless of the shape of the handle, or the positioning of the leash attachment locations on the handle, three lines produced to connect the three leash attachment locations will form the sides of a triangle. There are three graspable handle grips, each handle grip interposed between two of the three leash attachment locations.There is also an alternate handle for walking four dogs and a method for untangling leashes while walking.
US08955456B2	Microwave plasma reactor for manufacturing synthetic diamond material A microwave plasma reactor for manufacturing a synthetic diamond material via chemical vapour deposition, the microwave plasma reactor comprising: a plasma chamber (2); a substrate holder (4) disposed in the plasma chamber for supporting a substrate on which the synthetic diamond material is to be deposited in use; a microwave coupling configuration (12) for feeding microwaves from a microwave generator (8) into the plasma chamber; and a gas flow system (13,16) for feeding process gases into the plasma chamber and removing them therefrom, wherein the microwave coupling configuration for feeding microwaves from the microwave generator into the plasma chamber comprises: an annular dielectric window (18) formed in one or several sections; a coaxial waveguide (14) having a central inner conductor (20) and an outer conductor (22) for feeding microwaves to the annular dielectric window; and a waveguide plate (24) comprising a plurality of apertures (28) disposed in an annular configuration with a plurality of arms (26) extending between the apertures, each aperture forming a waveguide for coupling microwaves towards the plasma chamber.
US08955455B2	Device and method for pseudonoise generation A derivation part derives accelerator information AR corresponding to accelerator opening angle and rotating speed information ER corresponding to engine rotating speed, based on the traveling information reflecting the operational state of a drive mechanism of a vehicle, acquired by an acquisition part. Subsequently, a generation part generates a pseudo sound signal of a waveform pattern corresponding to a combination of AR and ER. On the other hand, a level control part calculates a level designation value LVC based on the derived rotating speed information. The level control part reduces the pseudo sound signal level at a change rate to decrease discomfortness for the passengers in the vehicle, if ER continuously changes in a predetermined range for a predetermined time period during the calculation of LVC. As a result, pseudo sound that does not impart any discomfort sense to the passengers in the passenger compartment is generated.
US08955452B1	Adjustable planing device for pontoon boats A hydraulically adjustable planing device mounted midship on a pontoon boat to provide lift to the pontoon boat and reduce drag. The adjustable planing device includes a modular frame and an adjustable planing plate. A front end of the planing plate is rotatably attached to a front member of the modular frame such that the planing plate is movable between a raised position wherein the planing plate is above the waterline and a lowered position wherein a rear end of the planing plate engages the waterline to lift the pontoon boat. In another form, the adjustable planing device includes two or more longitudinally extending planing plates that are individually operable between raised and lowered positions to provide lateral trimming and improved steering of the boat. Optionally, a single skirt plate is attached to each rear end of the single or multiple planing plate(s) for additional lift for longer pontoon boats.
US08955451B2	Foil structure for providing buoyancy and lift A foil structure for providing buoyancy and lift to a floating device is provided. The foil structure comprises an elongated left hand side floating device section and an elongated right hand side floating device section. The left hand side floating device section and the right hand side floating device section are placed at a predetermined distance to a longitudinal axis of the floating device and oriented substantially parallel thereto. A left hand side foil and a right hand side foil protrudes from the left hand side floating device section and the right hand side floating device section, respectively, towards a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis and is oriented at an acute angle to a horizontal plane. A leading edge of each foil intersects the respective floating device section in proximity to a bow portion thereof. Each foil extends along the respective floating device section and terminates in proximity to a stern portion thereof. Each foil has a top surface with a front portion thereof being angled downward towards the leading edge. The angled front portion is determined such that wave penetration is assisted and instabilities due to buoyancy change are substantially dampened.
US08955443B1	Warhead having selectable axial effects A cylindrical warhead is divided into a conical central segment and peripheral segments. The central segment has a disk-shaped liner bounding a cavity with high explosive and forming a penetrating projectile. The peripheral segments are hingedly attached to the central segment and have outer segment faces bounding respective cavities with high explosive, the segment faces forming sidewalls of the warhead in a closed position. The peripheral segments can be released to an open position in which the segment faces point in the forward direction for detonation. The warhead may be used in the closed position for single hardened targets such as armored vehicles and in the open position for area targets such as lighter vehicles and personnel. Opening of the warhead may be enabled at a time of launch of the warhead, or at a time of target acquisition after launch.
US08955442B1	Flameless smoke pot A flameless smoke pot and a method of generating smoke using the smoke pot. The smoke pot includes a casing having a side wall with an inlet openings and containing a plurality of perforated tubes containing red phosphorous pellets. A heat generating pyrotechnic composition is disposed at a first end of the casing to generate heat which flows through the perforated tubes containing red phosphorous pellets to produce white phosphoric acid clouds of smoke. The white phosphoric acid clouds of smoke are combined with atmospheric an containing water to generate the white phosphoric acid clouds of aerosol smoke. The white phosphoric acid clouds of aerosol smoke are directed through a perforated flame arrester whereby visible flame is prevented from being created.
US08955440B2	Method for controlling a printing operation A method for controlling a printing operation includes detecting at least one position and/or an extent of a register mark located on a printing material by means of a register mark sensor, and using the detected at least one position and/or the extent of the register mark for register control. The method further includes acquiring at least one item of color information by means of the same register mark sensor during the printing operation, carrying out color monitoring with at least the at least one item of color information, and determining a color deviation with respect to a reference value. Furthermore, the method includes defining a threshold value for the color deviation, and outputting a warning and/or automatically making a change from good to poor products when the threshold value for the color deviation is exceeded.
US08955439B2	Printing system and printing apparatus using continuous recording sheet, and conveyance control method of continuous recording sheet A printing system includes first and second printing apparatuses that form images on first and second surfaces of a continuous recording sheet, respectively. The second printing apparatus includes a printing unit that forms a toner image on the sheet; a conveying unit that conveys the sheet at a reference speed in the printing unit; a fixing-conveying unit that conveys the sheet and fixes the toner image adhered to the sheet; a buffer unit that takes up slack in the sheet generated because of a difference in conveyance between the conveying unit and the fixing-conveying unit; a determining unit that determines a brake force for stopping conveyance of the fixing-conveying unit, based on a buffer amount of the buffer unit, which corresponds to the slack in the sheet; and a conveyance control unit that performs control to stop conveyance of the sheet by the determined brake force.
US08955437B2	Printing machine A printing machine in which automatic supply of ink from different types of ink container to the ink fountain is possible, and in which further automation of replacement procedure, simplification of replacement procedure, and reduction of time required for replacement procedure are achieved is provided. The printing machine comprises an ink fountain member 2 having fountain-forming faces forming an ink fountain 1; an ink fountain roller 3 for applying an ink to the outer peripheral surface through an ink channel between the ink fountain roller 3 and the ink fountain member 2; a plurality of rollers 4, 15 for supplying the ink applied to the outer peripheral surface of the ink fountain roller 3 to a printing portion; a plurality of ink containers 65, accommodating different types of ink, and being stored in a predetermined container storage unit 66; and an ink supply device 68 for holding the desired ink container 65 and supplying the ink therein to the ink fountain 1.
US08955434B2	Apparatus for digital flexographic printing A digital flexography system includes an imaging member with a charge generating layer formed from an array of addressable pixels and a charge transport layer thereon. Ink is delivered to the imaging member using a simple rough donor roll, rather than an anilox roll. Instead of controlling the amount of ink delivered using the anilox roll, the amount of ink is controlled by the pixels on the imaging member.
US08955428B2	Blocked orifice tube sensor for citrus juice extractor A juice extractor includes a strainer tube mounted to receive juice and pulp of a fruit. An orifice tube reciprocates within the strainer tube and has an ejection port and is configured to generate pressure and separate juice and pulp, collect core, and discharge core out of the ejection port. A sensor is positioned adjacent the orifice tube and configured to sense material ejected from the ejection port.
US08955426B2	Efficient reversible grill An efficient reversible grilling device is used for grilling, broiling, frying, baking, boiling and steaming. It is a single element made of rigid heat conductive material with one side being flat and the other side having a plurality of nesting recesses for spherical and ovate food products. The maximum height of the reversible cooking device is ⅝ inch. Each of the plurality of nesting recesses has a depth greater than 50% of the height of the grilling device. A plurality of orifices cut through the element in the areas of the nesting recesses and in the areas away from the nesting recesses. Either surface can be used to prepare foods while providing fat and grease drainage.
US08955424B2	Linear actuator A linear actuator includes a cylinder main body. With respect to the cylinder main body, a slide table is disposed for reciprocal displacement through a guide mechanism, which is disposed on the cylinder main body. A stopper mechanism having a stopper bolt is disposed on one end of the slide table centrally in a widthwise direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slide table. In addition, when the slide table is displaced along the cylinder main body, an end of the stopper bolt comes into abutment with an end of a cover of the guide mechanism, whereupon the slide table becomes engaged therewith and movement of the slide table is stopped.
US08955412B2	Hybrid drivetrain A hybrid drivetrain for a motor vehicle has an internal combustion engine, an electric machine, and a transmission arrangement for setting at least two different gears. The internal combustion engine and the electric machine are coupled to an input element of the transmission arrangement. A differential is coupled to an output of the transmission arrangement and is adapted to distribute motive power to two drive shafts. The electric machine and the internal combustion engine are coupled to a transmission input shaft of the transmission arrangement by way of a spur gear train.
US08955405B2	Automotive transmission Disclosed herein is an automotive transmission which includes shift lever which moves in a first direction and a second direction to select a shift position and a shift mode selection unit which is installed at one side of the shift lever to select a shift mode. Additionally, the disclosed automotive transmission also includes a shift blocking unit which selectively blocks movement of the shift lever in the first direction and the second direction such that a shift position of the selected shift mode is selected.
US08955400B2	Aerosol sampling device A sampling device is disclosed. The sampling device includes a labyrinth structure and a sampling tube. The labyrinth structure includes a first baffle plate, a second baffle and a third baffle plate. The second baffle plate in combination with the first baffle plate defines an inlet channel and is configured to receive a portion of oil aerosol containing liquid oil particles. A curved bend is included downstream of the inlet channel and is configured to separate the liquid oil particles from the portion of oil aerosol. The third baffle plate is relatively inclined with respect to the first baffle plate. The third baffle plate in combination with the first baffle plate is configured to drain the separated liquid oil particles. The sampling tube provides the portion of oil aerosol separated of liquid oil particles to a detection device.
US08955398B2	Individual tensiometer for measuring tension in a string An individual tension meter (1) for measuring tension in a racquet string (9), includes a graspable body (10) and a stress member (2) for stressing the string (9) that are movable relative to each other by pivoting, elastically deformable return elements (3) configured to urge the graspable body (10) and the stress member (2) relative to each other back into a neutral angular position, measurement elements for measuring a magnitude representative of the relative pivoting between the graspable body (10) and the stress member (2), and computation elements for computing the tension of the string as a function of the measured magnitude. The graspable body (10) and the stress member (2) have a first possibility of pivoting relative to each other in a first direction and a second possibility of pivoting relative to each other in a second direction opposite from the first direction.
US08955389B2	Method and device for monitoring and optimizing injection molding processes The invention relates to a method and a device for monitoring and/or optimizing flow processes, in particular injection molding processes. Vibrations caused by a flow of a material are detected and analyzed, wherein a vibration spectrum is detected at different times or in a (virtually) continuous manner and subjected to a multidimensional analysis.
US08955375B2	System and method for sampling and analyzing downhole formation fluids A device for sampling fluid from an earth formation is disclosed. The device includes: an inlet port disposable in fluid communication with the fluid in a borehole; an injector including an injection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet port, the injector configured to receive a portion of the fluid and direct the fluid toward an analysis unit for analyzing constituent materials in the fluid; and a high pressure valve configured to admit the portion of the fluid at a borehole pressure and release the portion of the fluid into the injector, the portion having a volume that is less than or equal to about one microliter. A system and method for analyzing constituents of fluid in a borehole in an earth formation is also disclosed.
US08955369B2	Fuel vapor leak detecting device and fuel vapor leak detecting method using the same A fuel vapor leak detecting device includes a pump, a housing having a pump passage connected to the pump, a switching valve, a pressure detector, and a control device detecting a shutoff pressure that corresponds to an interior pressure of the pump passage detected by the pressure detector when the pump is actuated while the switching valve is closed. The control device controls the switching valve to be opened at least once and to be closed at least once when the shutoff pressure is out of a specified range. The control device detects a fuel vapor leak when the shutoff pressure is in the specified range.
US08955354B2	Fractionation of hydrogen sulfide rich sour gas and methods of use Methods and systems are provided for treating hydrogen sulfide rich sour gas through a series of fractionation columns. The processes disclosed herein and the variations thereof provide optimized processes for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from sour gas through the introduction of innovative azeotrope breakers, novel configurations of process equipment, and optimized operating conditions. Advantages of certain embodiments of the present invention include reduced equipment requirements, improved process efficiencies, reduced operating costs, and reduced capital costs. Other advantages include better process suitability to certain environmental conditions such as the arctic cold when compared to conventional amine treatment processes.
US08955351B2	Energy storable air conditioning device An energy storable air conditioning device includes a main body, at least one air blower module and at least one energy storage module. The main body has an air inlet, an air outlet and several receiving spaces connected to each other and disposed between the air inlet and the air outlet. The air blower module includes a first drawer inserted into one of the receiving spaces and a fan disposed in the first drawer. The energy storage module includes a second drawer inserted into another one of the receiving spaces and an energy storage unit disposed in the second drawer. The first drawer is connected to the second drawer.
US08955349B2	Water filter assembly In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a water filter assembly for a refrigerator is described. The water filter assembly includes a door that includes a mover element for engaging a removable water filter such that in the closed position the mover element holds the removable water filter water inlet and water outlet in fluid communication with the water inlet and water outlet, respectively, of a manifold assembly, and in the open position the mover element allows for removal of the removable water filter which is not in fluid communication with the manifold assembly.
US08955342B2	Refrigeration system and method of operating a refrigeration system A method of operating a filling system, which is configured for transferring a refrigerant to a refrigeration system and comprises a receiver for collecting a refrigerant-air-mixture, comprises the steps of determining the saturation pressure of the refrigerant at the actual environmental conditions; determining the air pressure of the refrigerant-air-mixture within the receiver; and stopping the operation of the filling system and/or issuing an alarm if the air pressure of the refrigerant-air-mixture within the receiver exceeds the saturation pressure of the refrigerant by more than a predetermined margin or if the change of the air pressure within the refrigerant-air-mixture within the receiver over time exceeds a predetermined margin.
US08955339B2	Cryogenic pump with a device for preventing the memory effect The invention relates to a device (21) for avoiding the memory effect in cryogenic pumps having a first cooling stage (23) and a second cooling stage (25) which adjoins the first cooling stage (23) in the axial direction. A cylindrical shield (31) has an opening (37) and a base (35), which base (35) is penetrated centrally by the two-stage cooling head (21) in such a way that the first cooling stage (23) is arranged outside the shield (31) and the second cooling stage (25) is arranged within the shield (31). An intermediate chamber (34) is formed between the shield (31) and the first cooling stage (23), and the base of the shield (31) is connected in a thermally conductive manner to the first cooling stage (23) by means of a thermal bridge (33). A cooling panel (43) which serves as pumping surface is connected to the second cooling stage (25) and is provided within the shield (31). A baffle (39) is arranged in the region of the opening (37) of the cylindrical shield (31) and is in thermally conductive contact with the shield (31) and/or the first cooling stage (21). The thermal bridge (33) is provided between the shield (31) and the first cooling stage (23) at a spacing from its end side (55). The invention also relates to a housing (12) which encloses the cooling head (21) and to a cryogenic pump (11), in which the cooling head (21) is accommodated.
US08955338B2	Liquid tank with combined liquid filling and liquid extraction conduit A cryogenic fluid storage tank having a first conduit adapted for filling and extracting a cryogenic liquid from the tank and a second conduit adapted for filling and extracting a gas from the tank is disclosed, wherein heat originating from inlet and outlet conduits transferred to the tank is minimized.
US08955335B2	System, propulsion system and vehicle A system, which may be a propulsion system or a vehicle having a propulsion system, for example, an air-vehicle, a land vehicle or a marine vehicle, includes a gas turbine engine operative to drive a propulsor. The propulsor may be, for example, a fan/turbofan, a propeller, a turbine, or any rotor system for propelling an aircraft; a system for providing tractive effort for a land vehicle, such as one or more transmissions and wheel/track systems; and/or may be one or more marine propulsive devices, such as shrouded or unshrouded propellers, hydrojets and/or jet-pumps for surface vessels and/or submarines. The system also includes an auxiliary power unit. The auxiliary power unit is coupled to the gas turbine engine, and is operative to supply rotational power to the propulsor and to the impart motion to the vehicle using the propulsor, without starting the gas turbine engine.
US08955330B2	Turbine combustion system liner A combustion chamber liner (41) with a forward section (44) and an aft section (46). The aft section has an array of aft axial cooling fins (62) covered by a tubular support ring (52), thus forming an array of aft axial grooves (66) between the aft axial fins. Inlet holes (54) in the front end of the support ring may admit coolant (37) into an upstream end of the aft axial cooling fins. An impingement plenum (61) may receive the coolant just before the aft axial cooling fins. Each aft axial fin may include a plurality of axially spaced bumpers (64) that contact the support ring. Spaces or grooves (68) between the bumpers provide circumferential cross flow of coolant between the grooves. The aft axial grooves may discharge the coolant as film cooling along the inner wall (76) of a transition duct (28).
US08955325B1	Charged atomization of fuel for increased combustion efficiency in jet engines Systems and methods are described for increasing the burn efficiency of fuel in a jet engine by charging the intake air molecules and inversely charging the fuel molecules, while reducing the fuel droplet size using a fuel-atomizing transducer in the air/fuel path. Generally speaking, an apparatus (and method) for increasing fuel burning efficiency in a jet engine is described, comprising: an intake air high voltage charger; a fuel injector downstream of the intake air charger; a fuel atomizer formed from an acutely angled transducer in a flow path of the fuel, wherein the atomized fuel is charged to an opposite voltage to that of the intake air; and an ignitor for igniting the atomized charged fuel and charged intake air for combustion.
US08955313B2	Exhaust purification system of internal combustion engine An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine, which includes: a silver-alumina-based catalyst, which is arranged in an engine exhaust system and, when an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas is leaner than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, releases adsorbed NO2 at a first set temperature and adsorbed NO at a second set temperature, a secondary air feed passage configured to suppress a temperature rise of the silver-alumina-based catalyst; and an electronic control unit, that: controls the air flow through the secondary air feed passage to: when the silver-alumina-based catalyst has reached a third set temperature, suppress a temperature rise of the silver-alumina-based catalyst to maintain the silver-alumina-based catalyst near the third set temperature, and then lift the suppression of the temperature rise of the silver-alumina-based catalyst so that at least part of the NO adsorbed at the silver-alumina-based catalyst, is oxidized to NO2 to be adsorbed at the silver-alumina-based catalyst.
US08955307B2	Exhaust gas purifying system for internal combustion engine In an ordinary mode, when an abnormality diagnosis of a PM sensor attached to a downstream opening downstream of a filter is performed, the PM sensor is moved to a first upstream opening upstream of the filter, and an exhaust gas is discharged from an engine. An ECU stores a program for the abnormality diagnosis. In an abnormality diagnosis mode, the ECU diagnoses the PM sensor by comparing an output value of the PM sensor to a standard output after performing the program. The first upstream opening may be closed by a cover in the ordinary mode.
US08955306B2	Method for synchronizing the actuators of a movable thrust reverser cowl The invention relates to a method for controlling a plurality of actuators (9a, 9b, 9c) for a movable thrust reverser cowl (1), characterized remarkable in that the position deviation between adjacent actuators is measured in real time, and in that the speed profile of the actuator or actuators in question is adjusted by a position deviation exceeding a predetermined threshold.
US08955301B2	D-ring apparatus An improved D-ring apparatus is provided that comprises a first arm and a second arm, a first arcuate member and a second arcuate member, and a connecting member. The first arm and second arm are substantially parallel to each other. The first arcuate member and the second arcuate member are attached to the first and second arms so that the first and second members are located at opposite ends of the first and second arms and form a continuous apparatus. A connecting member is attached to the first and second arm approximately mid-way between the first and second arcuate members, thereby forming a first aperture and a second aperture.
US08955300B2	Flexible connectors In one embodiment, the present application discloses a linker comprising a linker body having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured with a first slot, wherein the second end is configured with a second slot, wherein the first slot is configured to form a reversible connection with the second slot or a third slot or a protrusion and wherein the linker, the linker body and the slot comprise of material selected from silicone or a silicone composite.
US08955298B2	Mowing finger arrangement A mowing finger arrangement has a lower element and an upper element connected to each other and forms two mowing fingers. A space is formed to accommodate a cutting device between the lower element and the upper element. The two mowing fingers are connected to each other via, respectively, a connection web on the upper element and on the lower element on a rear end of the mowing finger, when viewed in working direction. At least one of the connection webs has, at least portion wise, an off-set to provide an enlarged distance between the connection webs.
US08955285B2	Embedment attachment system Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an embedment attachment system configured to attach to a concrete form such that an embedment of the embedment attachment system has a desired edge spacing from the concrete form. Use of the embedment attachment system of the present disclosure enables precise embedment positioning with respect to the concrete form.
US08955280B2	Rigid foam board installation clip A clip for facilitating installation of foam insulation boards in a building structure. The clip comprises a body, a spacer and a foot for holding the insulation board, and a connection region for attachment of the clip to a building structural member. The clip is designed to ensure proper ventilation and greatly easy the proper installation of rigid foam insulation.
US08955273B1	Channel cross member A short cross member for a narrow utility channel formed of malleable sheet metal and having a vertical double ply web and a horizontal flange symmetrically disposed on both sides of a lower edge of the web, integral end connectors formed on each end of the cross member from sheet material contiguous with the web, the integral end connectors being arranged to support the flange in coplanar relation with flanges of the channel, the end connectors and the web being weakened at a predetermined vertical line whereby the cross member can be assembled in a narrow channel by bending at the associated line of weakness to shorten the effective overall length of the cross member.
US08955252B2	Automated gravimetric screening platform system and method An automated gravimetric screening system and method controls soil moisture in a plurality of potted plants to perform water deficit experiments in a greenhouse using a stationary support platform and pot design that maintains the plants in a static location during the testing. By weighing and re-watering the pots from beneath the platform, the present system and method permits an upper gantry to capture high resolution images, temperature data, or other sensor data to quantify the plant stress level or plant canopy characteristics during the experiment.
US08955248B2	Burrowing vermin exterminator A device for the extermination of burrowing vermin is disclosed. The device is configured as a plenum chamber having an intake adapted for sealed communication with the exhaust of an internal combustion engine. An outflow conduit communicates between the plenum chamber and a burrow entrance for vermin such as gophers. Heat and gas under pressure from the engine is communicated through the outflow conduit to the burrow along with any fumes from heated liquid or solids deposited to the plenum chamber to rid the burrow of any subterranean occupants.
US08955237B2	Detachable post-operative protective device for the toes and forefoot A protective member having a substantially flat base portion, and a substantially cup-shaped member extending from a forward end of the base portion. The base portion is attachable to a shoe, such that the cup-shaped member substantially encapsulates and protects a forefoot and toe region. Further, at least one opening is provided in a forward portion of the cup-shaped member to allow access to the forefoot and toe region. The cup-shaped member is further defined by an anterior portion extending upward from the base portion, a dorsal extension portion extending from an upper end of the anterior portion, where the dorsal extension portion provided to substantially cover a top portion of the forefoot and toe region, and at least one lateral extension portion extending from a side end of the anterior portion, where the at least one lateral extension portion provided to substantially cover a lateral portion of said forefoot and toe region.
US08955236B2	Device for removing liquid from a part of a vehicle A device for removing liquid from a part of a vehicle, the liquid removal device including an intake (11) for receiving matter containing gaseous component and non-gaseous components, a separator (14) for separating the gaseous and non gaseous components of matter entering the inlet (11), and an outlet (9, 10) for directing a gaseous component of the matter leaving the separator (14) towards the part of the vehicle from which liquid is to be removed, so as to remove liquid therefrom.
US08955208B1	Information holder for medical instrument sterilization containers An information holder for holding informational documents used to track and identify medical instruments can be releasably attached to a sterilization container or tray. The information holder includes an autoclavable material pouch and a releasable attachment structure coupled to the pouch for securing the information holder to sterilization container or tray. The attachment structure can include adhesive or a handle-engaging member. The information holder can be removed from the container or tray after sterilization without breaching the sterilization of the contents contained within sterilization container or tray. The information holder can be re-attached to the same or a different container.
US08955205B2	Burial capsule A burial capsule usable with an inert gas for replacing air in the burial capsule, the burial capsule comprising a sealable shell defining a chamber therein and a shell outer surface, the shell defining a shell inlet and a shell outlet both extending therethrough between the shell outer surface and the chamber for respectively receiving the inert gas and releasing the air contained in the chamber to allow replacement of the air by the inert gas when the inert gas flows in the chamber through the shell inlet. The burial capsule also includes a first valve handle anchor mountable to the shell and a first handle mountable the first valve handle anchor. The first valve handle anchor acts as a valve to selectively alternatively allow and prevent flow of the inert gas in the chamber through the shell inlet.
US08955204B2	Buckle with housing comprising elastomeric damping mass A buckle for a safety harness in motor vehicles includes a buckle housing and a locking and unlocking mechanism housed therein, and a buckle tongue interacting with the locking and unlocking mechanism. The plastic buckle housing is provided with a silencing damping mass. The damping mass (12) is applied to the housing shells (10, 13) on the inside of the buckle housing to reduce the interior volume of the housing not occupied by the locking and unlocking mechanism.
US08955197B2	Detachable grab handle A detachable handle includes a flexible elongate member, a pair of swivel clips, and a tubular grip. Each of the swivel clips is coupled to the flexible elongate member. The flexible elongate member is disposed through the tubular grip. The swivel clips are disposed at opposite ends of the tubular grip, and militate against a removal of the flexible elongate member from the tubular grip.
US08955196B2	Pivoting mechanism and related electronic device A pivoting mechanism includes a first driving component, a second driving component and a pivot shaft. The first driving component includes a first pivoting portion and a first connecting portion, the first connecting portion is disposed on the first pivoting portion. The second driving component includes a second pivoting portion, a second connecting portion, a positioning portion, a rotary unit and a rotary shaft. The second connecting portion is disposed on the second pivoting portion. The positioning portion is disposed on the second connecting portion. The positioning portion includes a slot structure, and the rotary unit is disposed inside the slot structure. The rotary shaft passes through the rotary unit, and two ends of the rotary shaft respectively pivot to inner walls of the slot structure. The pivot shaft is disposed between the first pivoting portion and the second pivoting portion.
US08955195B2	Clamping-sliding assembly for a single-track-suspension sliding door A clamping-sliding assembly for a single-track-suspension sliding door has a body and a roller mount. The body has a clamping recess transversally formed through the body, a connecting recess longitudinally formed through the body and communicating with the clamping recess, a connecting mount formed on and protruding in the connecting recess with an adjusting hole and an adjusting bolt rotatably connected to the connecting mount in the adjusting hole. The roller mount is movably mounted in the connecting recess, abuts the adjusting bolt and has at least one roller rotatably connected to the roller mount and an abutting face formed in the roller mount and abutting the adjusting bolt to adjust a height of the roller mount relative to the body.
US08955192B2	Robotic vacuum cleaning system An autonomous coverage robot includes a cleaning assembly having forward roller and rearward rollers counter-rotating with respect to each other. The rollers are arranged to substantially maintain a cross sectional area between the two rollers yet permitting collapsing therebetween as large debris is passed. Each roller includes a resilient elastomer outer tube and a partially air-occupied inner resilient core configured to bias the outer tube to rebound. The core includes a hub and resilient spokes extending between the inner surface of the outer tube and the hub. The spokes suspend the outer tube to float about the hub and transfer torque from the hub to the outer tube while allowing the outer tube to momentarily deform or move offset from the hub during impact with debris larger than the cross sectional area between the two rollers.
US08955181B2	Diapering restraint A child restraint device for use with a changing surface for diapering a child, which includes a rear panel, two vest flaps each attached to the rear panel, and two affixing flaps for securing the rear panel to the changing surface. Each of the two vest flap has a multiple-sided shape with a first side attached to a top edge of the rear panel, a third side attached to a side edge of the rear panel, and a second side between the first and third side forming an arm opening. The attachment locations of the two flaps to the top edge of the rear panel are spaced apart from each other for accommodating the head of the child. The two vest flaps include means for attaching them together.
US08955179B2	Surgical station A surgical station (50), including a patient support base (300) and an operation platform (60), wherein the patient support base is adapted for mounting on a patient bed. The operation platform includes a first platform portion (100) and a second platform portion (200). The second platform portion is moveably connected to said first platform portion such that said first and second platform portions are moveable between a preparation configuration and an operation configuration. The first and second platform portions collectively form a support platform surface (115/215) for supporting the hands of an operator in the operation configuration, such that the operator can operate catheters, guide wires or other surgical instruments with stable hands during surgical operation, wherein said first platform portion is mounted on said patient support base.
US08955171B1	Flushable and foldable toilet seat cover A toilet seat cover providing a flushable, foldable covering having a top side and an outer edge that cover an entire top surface and outer side, respectively, of a toilet seat having a forward open mouth. A channel centrally disposed in a bottom side of the covering has a continuous outer periphery with an elastomeric edge to accommodate insertion of the toilet seat therethrough to permit the covering to be placed onto the toilet seat. Straight foldable score lines disposed horizontally and vertically on the top side and the outer edge are arranged perpendicular to each other in a crisscross pattern of sections. The score lines permit transformation from a fully folded position with the sections arranged in a compressed, stacked configuration for packaging and transport to a fully unfolded position to cover a toilet seat.
US08955167B2	Golf glove A golf glove having improved fit and gripping features is disclosed herein. The golf glove of the present invention includes gripping features permanently disposed on one or more of the fingers, preferably the front surfaces of the ring and little fingers, and also includes an expandable slit that extends from an opening and that helps the golf glove expand to receive a golfer's hand and then retract so that the glove fits comfortably on the golfer's hand.
US08959661B2	Atomic force microscope probe, method for preparing same, and uses thereof An atomic force microscope probe comprising a piezo-electric resonator provided with two electrodes and coated with an insulating layer and a tip attached on the coated resonator and functionalized with at least one group or molecule of interest is disclosed. The disclosed technology also relates to preparation method and to different uses thereof.
US08959660B2	Managed services environment portability A device and method for forming a portable network environment outside a managed network environment for sharing content is provided. A portable network device enables authorized consumption of content outside a managed environment. The portable network device may have an internal rechargeable battery and support wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi. The portable network device may act as a Wi-Fi base station allowing access to authorized Wi-Fi clients via a mesh network.
US08959653B2	Automatic license key injection A method, server and system for obtaining a licensed application is provided. In one example embodiment, the method comprises: receiving an application download request from a user of the electronic device by way of an input mechanism associated with the electronic; transmitting a download request from the electronic device to an application delivery server; receiving an application from the application delivery server at the electronic device; receiving a license key from the application delivery server; and automatically injecting the license key into the application.
US08959648B2	Audio challenge for providing human response verification There is provided a system and method for audio challenges for providing human response verification. There is provided a method comprising receiving a request to verify whether a client is human controlled, generating, using a database, a challenge question and a corresponding answer set, selecting a plurality of images and an audio instruction corresponding to the challenge question, presenting the plurality of images and the audio instruction to the client, receiving a submission to the challenge question from the client, and responding to the request by verifying whether the submission is contained in the answer set to determine whether the client is human controlled. By utilizing easily understood elements such as common shapes and objects, familiar characters, colors, sizes, orientations, and sounds, even young children can solve the challenge question, whereas automated systems are deterred by the complex audio and image analysis required.
US08959645B2	Method for providing control information for a distributed operation in an automation system, computer program and automation system A distributed operation is performed using at least one first and second computer-based object, wherein control information is used to influence or determine a property, a function of the first and/or second computer-based objects. The control information includes details of a parameter identifier, a value associated with the parameter identifier, a range of validity and a remote access attribute. The control information is provided in a retrievable manner, according to the included range of validity, in a memory organized according to ranges of validity and is associated with the first computer-based object. During a function or service call for performing the distributed operation, which is sent from the first computer-based object to the second, the control information is transmitted to the second computer-based object, provided in a retrievable manner in the memory organized according to the ranges of validity and associated with the second computer-based object.
US08959644B2	Use of popularity information to reduce risk posed by guessing attacks A popularity determination module (PDM) is described which reduces the effectiveness of statistical guessing attacks. The PDM operates by receiving a password (or other secret information item) from a user. The PDM uses a model to determine whether the password is popular among a group of users. If so, the PDM may ask the user to select another password. In one implementation, the model corresponds to a probabilistic model, such a count-min sketch model. The probabilistic model provides an upper-bound assessment of a number of times that a password has been encountered. Further, the probabilistic model provides false positives (in which passwords are falsely assessed as popular) at a rate that exceeds a prescribed minimum rate. The false positives are leveraged to reduce the effectiveness of statistical guessing attacks by malicious entities.
US08959642B2	Real time lockdown A system and method that trusts software executables existent on a machine prior to activation for different types of accesses e.g. execution, network, and registry. The system detects new executables added to the machine as well as previously existent executables that have been modified, moved, renamed or deleted. In certain embodiments, the system will tag the file with a flag as modified or newly added. Once tagged, the system intercepts particular types of file accesses for execution, network or registry. The system determines if the file performing the access is flagged and may apply one or more policies based on the requested access. In certain embodiments, the system intercepts I/O operations by file systems or file system volumes and flags metadata associated with the file. For example, the NT File System and its extended attributes and alternate streams may be utilized to implement the system.
US08959635B2	Generation and delivery of multimedia content-adaptation notifications A method for conditioning multimedia containers to be compatible with decoding facilities of receivers of diverse types is disclosed. Content of a multimedia container may include components of different encoding formats. Container conditioning also detects and, where feasible, removes undesirable insertions within each content component of a multimedia container. A content component of a container may be filtered, re-encoded, or deleted. Notifications indicating conditions of a container and any modifications performed are appended to the container. A notification may be presented in at least one form compatible with characteristics of a respective receiver. An editing engine implementing the method is associated with a network entity to which multimedia containers are directed. The editing engine accesses a receiver database storing information on several types of receivers and a repository of notification templates encoded in several forms.
US08959625B2	Content screening method, apparatus and system A content screening method, apparatus and system are provided for a content screening component to verify the trust relationship and the categorization standard used by a categorization component. A method includes the following steps: the content screening component receives a categorized content; and when determining that a first categorization component that categorizes the content is trustworthy according to the information of the categorization component carried in the categorized content, the content screening component screens the content by the content category carried in the categorized content. Another method includes the following step: when determining that the categorization component that categorizes the content uses the same categorization standard as the content screening component according to the information of the categorization component carried in the categorized content, the content screening component screens the content by the content category carried in the categorized content.
US08959615B2	Storage system in which fictitious information is prevented According to one embodiment, a storage system includes a host device and a secure storage. The host device and the secure storage produce a bus key which is shared only by the host device and the secure storage by authentication processing, and which is used for encoding processing. The host device produces a message authentication code including a message which can be stored in the secure storage based on the bus key, and sends the produced message authentication code to the secure storage. The secure storage stores the message included in the message authentication code in accordance with instructions of the host device. The host device verifies whether the message stored in the secure storage is intended contents.
US08959607B2	Group key management and authentication schemes for mesh networks According to one embodiment, techniques are provided to enable secure communication among devices in a mesh network using a group temporal key. An authenticator device associated with a mesh network stores a pairwise master key for each of a plurality of devices in a mesh network upon authentication of the respective devices. Using the pairwise master key, the authenticator device initiates a handshake procedure with a particular device in the mesh network to mutually derive a pairwise temporal key from the pairwise master key. The authenticator device encrypts and signs a group temporal key using the pairwise temporal key for the particular device and sends the group temporal key encrypted and signed with the pairwise temporal key to the particular device.
US08959605B2	System and method for asset lease management Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for asset lease management. The system receives, from a client device associated with a user profile, a lease start request for an asset for which the user profile is authorized. The system identifies a number of available slots for progressively downloading content. If the number of available slots is greater than zero, the system assigns an available slot from the number of available slots to the client device to yield an assigned slot. The system transmits security information, a lease key, and a lease duration associated with the assigned slot to the client device in response to the lease start request, wherein the security information and lease key allow the client device to start a progressive download of the asset for the lease duration. At the end of the lease, the system terminates the lease and releases the assigned slot.
US08959602B2	Modification of a secured parameter in a user identification module There is provided a user identification module configured for use in a mobile communication device. An exemplary user identification module comprises a first data item being accessible for reading a value of a parameter used in the operation of the user identification module. The exemplary user identification module also comprises at least two second data items, the second data items being unmodifiable and each second data item including a value of the parameter. The first data item includes a modifiable reference addressing one second data item.
US08959601B2	Client configuration during timing window Certain aspects of a method for enabling exchange of information in a secure communication system may comprise configuring at least one 802.11 client station via authentication enablement information comprising data that specifies a time period during which configuration is allowed. The data that specifies a time period during which configuration is allowed may comprise a configuration window open field, which indicates a period when a configuration setup window is open. At least one client station may be configured via the authentication enablement information comprising recently configured data, which indicates whether at least one configurator has configured at least one other client station within the time period during which the configuration is allowed.
US08959600B2	Proxy data views for administrative credentials A method of providing an administrator with a managerial view of personnel data may include receiving a login that includes administrator credentials from a personnel administrator and receiving a command associated with the administrator credentials to view personnel data in a personnel database. The personnel data may be associated with a group of employees under a manager in a managerial hierarchy. The method may also include selecting between a manager view of the personnel data and an administrator view of the personnel data. The manager view may include a first subset of the personnel data, the administrator view may include a second subset of the personnel data, and/or the first subset may be smaller than the second subset. The method may additionally include causing the first subset of personnel data to be displayed on a display device according to the manager view.
US08959596B2	One-time password validation in a multi-entity environment A single passcode can be used for validation by a user of several entities in a system without compromising security. The source of the entity providing validation credentials, along with the passcode, is considered when determining validity. A one-time password system validates credentials if a validation credentials, such as a user's valid passcode and the source of the credentials, have not been used previously. In a one-time passcode system, a validation processor receives validation credentials from a client processor. If the client processor has not previously sent the validation credentials to the validation processor, and the credentials are valid, the validation processor will validate the credentials. Otherwise, the credentials are invalid. Other client processors can utilize the same passcode and their respective source identifiers, and as long as the other client processors have not previously utilized the credentials, the credentials are declared valid.
US08959592B2	Method for securing digital data and identities in particular in a process using information and communication technologies A method of securing and controlling data and identities within a communication process between an author and at least one recipient comprises at least: inserting at least one stamp in the computer or communication protocol associated with the data stream by means of a stamping system, the protocol containing the identity of the author, said stamp being a distinctive sign and a sign of recognition and a means of access to a secured account; the author using said secured account, administered by an anonymization authority, and said stamp being used to identify itself with said authority; the data stream comprising at least one instruction; at least one additional instruction having been registered with the anonymization authority and placed in the secured account; reading, at least one recipient, of said protocol by means of a reading system capable of detecting the presence of said stamp and then in extracting all or part of the additional instruction from the anonymization authority or from the secured account, said extraction being carried out from the secured account by the means of said stamp.
US08959587B2	System and method for authentication for wireless emergency services A method of authenticating a user device includes transmitting a request, the request including a query for information, and receiving an identifier, the identifier being associated with one or more authentication mechanisms for obtaining access to emergency services.
US08959574B2	Content rights protection with arbitrary correlation of second content A disclosed content rights management system defines a content usage policy via a conditional rule set contained in metadata. The conditional rule set is correlated to at least one second content. An access control manager determines, dynamically, access rights conferrable to a user device or a server, based on the content usage policy and user history parameters. The embodiments may confer limited access rights for a first activity by a user device, or by a server, with respect to the protected content and the second content, and block a second activity with respect to the protected content and the second content, in response to determining that the request for the second content, in conjunction with the user history parameters, does not comply with the conditional rule set for the second activity.
US08959567B1	Identification and recording of program sub-segments Techniques are provided for identifying and recording program segments and sub-segments for later playback and use. In general, in one aspect, the invention features a method of recording a sub-segment of a broadcast program. The method includes receiving a user input of one or more user specified parameters, identifying a program sub-segment starting point within a program using data in a broadcast stream, and identifying a program sub-segment ending point within a program. The method also includes storing a program sub-segment and presenting the program sub-segment to a user.
US08959563B2	Methods and apparatus for revenue-optimized delivery of content in a network Methods and apparatus for optimizing the distribution and delivery of multimedia or other content within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a broadcast switched cable television network, which utilizes a Network optimization controller (NOC) that processes subscriber program viewing requests to identify options available to fulfill the request (including, e.g., the creation of one or more “microcasts” specifically targeting one or more users), and evaluate these options to determine one that optimizes network operation. The NOC performs these decisions by considering various parameters including network resource availability, type of CPE, subscriber's targeted advertisement profile, and business rules programmed by operator of the network. Business methods based on such network optimization are also described.
US08959561B2	System and method for tagging video content A method of tagging video content includes receiving video content at a set-top box device via a private video distribution access network. The method also includes receiving a tag associated with the video content at the set-top box device and sending the tag to a tag management system via the private video distribution access network. Further, the method includes sending a request for content associated with the tag to the tag management system and receiving the video content at the set-top box device.
US08959558B2	User-based media content chaptering systems and methods An exemplary method includes providing, by a media content access subsystem, a media content program for presentation to a user, receiving user input with the media content access subsystem, capturing, by the media content access subsystem, a snapshot image of the media content program based on the user input, associating, by the media content access subsystem, metadata with the snapshot image, and transmitting, by the media content access subsystem, data representative of the snapshot image and the metadata to a media content chaptering subsystem for use by the media content chaptering subsystem in chaptering the media content program. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08959553B1	Visual presentation of video recommendations A system, method and various user interfaces enable visually browsing multiple groups of video recommendations. A group of video recommendations includes a central video and a set of related videos displayed at its corresponding display distance from the central video and from each other. The corresponding display distance of a video is calculated as a function of the video's recommendation score and correlation with other videos of the group. The recommendation score is generated based on a weighted covisitation measure. Visually presenting recommended videos to a user provides a quick and intuitive way to find videos of interest and visualize the browsing of the recommended videos.
US08959551B2	Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor; a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
US08959550B2	Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor, a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
US08959547B2	Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications Methods and systems for remotely accessing user equipment implementing an interactive media guidance application are provided. In particular, a method includes the steps of receiving user equipment identification information and receiving a user request from a user device indicating instructions for the user equipment. The user request is cross-referenced with an action request in a user equipment format selected from a plurality of formats to be compatible with the user equipment. The action request is transmitted for receipt by the user equipment for enabling execution of the indicated instructions.
US08959525B2	Systems and methods for affinity driven distributed scheduling of parallel computations Embodiments of the invention provide efficient scheduling of parallel computations for higher productivity and performance. Embodiments of the invention provide various methods effective for affinity driven and distributed scheduling of multi-place parallel computations with physical deadlock freedom.
US08959520B2	Data processor with performance controls A data processor and method of controlling the performance of a data processor are provided. The data processor includes a memory that is operable to store at least two of the application programs and that can be executed on the data processor. A performance module is operable to monitor a performance flag and output a stop command as a function of the presence of the performance flag, wherein the performance module generates a command that terminates at least one of the application programs as a function of the outputting of a stop command.
US08959518B2	Window-based scheduling using a key-value data store A scheduling system for scheduling executions of tasks within a distributed computing system may include an entry generator configured to store, using at least one key-value data store, time windows for scheduled executions of tasks therein using a plurality of nodes of the distributed computing system. The entry generator may be further configured to generate scheduler entries for inclusion within a time window of the time windows, each scheduler entry identifying a task of the tasks and an associated schedule for execution thereof. The system may further include an execution engine configured to select the time window and execute corresponding tasks of the included scheduler entries in order.
US08959517B2	Cancellation mechanism for cancellable tasks including stolen task and descendent of stolen tasks from the cancellable taskgroup A scheduler in a process of a computer system schedules tasks of a task group for concurrent execution by multiple execution contexts. The scheduler provides a mechanism that allows the task group to be cancelled by an arbitrary execution context or an asynchronous error state. When a task group is cancelled, the scheduler sets a cancel indicator in each execution context that is executing tasks corresponding to the cancelled task group and performs a cancellation process on each of the execution contexts where a cancel indicator is set. The scheduler also creates local aliases to allow task groups to be used without synchronization by execution contexts that are not directly bound to the task groups.
US08959506B2	Device for distribution of content A system, apparatus and method for distributing content are provided. A request to provide content available to associated computing devices is received from a computing device. A list of the content available for installation at the associated computing devices is retrieved from a content database by comparing respective device attributes of each of the associated computing devices with respective content attributes associated with the content, wherein the list further comprises indications of which respective content is available for installation at given ones of the associated computing devices. An indication of the list is transmitted to the computing device. In response, selection data indicative of a subset of the content on the list selected for installation at respective selected devices is received from the first computing device. Respective installation data for installing respective selected content is caused to be pushed to the respective selected devices.
US08959501B2	Type and length abstraction for data types Embodiments are directed to implementing a generic SIMD data type in software code. In an embodiment, a computer system accesses a portion of software code that includes an algorithm with a generic SIMD data type that includes a variable number of elements. The algorithm with the generic SIMD data type is to be processed by a specific processor that includes various specific hardware features. The computer system determines at runtime a portion of customized processor-specific code that is to be used with the specified processor based on the generic SIMD data type, wherein the runtime determination resolves the number of elements that are to be used with the specified processor. The computer system also processes the software code including the algorithm with the generic SIMD data type using the determined, customized processor-specific code.
US08959494B2	Parallelism from functional decomposition A system and method for performing functional decomposition of a software design to generate a computer-executable finite state machine. Initially, the software design is received in a form wherein functions in the software design are repetitively decomposed into (1) data and control transformations. Included between the functions are control flow indicators which have transformation-selection conditions associated therewith. The data transformations and the control transformations are translated into states in the finite state machine. The transformation-selection conditions associated with the control transformations are translated into state transitions in the finite state machine.
US08959488B2	Method and computer system for evaluating the complexity of a user interface Method and computer system for evaluating the complexity a user interface are provided. A complexity indicator receives device class specific representations of the user interface. Each device class specific representation refers to a respective device class. The complexity indicator determines complexity values of layout components of the device class specific representations by using complexity evaluation functions associated with the layout components and aggregates the complexity values by device class according to a corresponding layout component hierarchy of the respective device class specific representation.
US08959487B2	Method and apparatus for judging necessity of performing integration test Whether or not an integration test between or among software components is necessary is judged. Corresponding information between features is acquired, which configures a feature model expressing characteristics of a group of products produced by the software product line, and a type and variations of each software component. For each software component, a set of state variables of all of the features corresponding to the software components is produced based on the corresponding information. For each software component, a specific logical formula is produced. Two or more software components are designated. A necessity judgment formula is produced by logical-product combining all the specific judgment formulas, for the software components designated. It is judged that the integration test is necessary when the necessity judgment formula always shows FALSE (inconsistent formula) and not necessary when the necessity judgment formula shows unclearness as to TRUE or FALSE, or always shows TRUE (valid formula).
US08959486B2	Automatic regression testing based on cyclomatic complexity A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product automates regression testing based on cyclomatic complexity of changed code. A base code change to a software program is identified as having a particular cyclomatic complexity. Multiple different software test routines are mapped to the base code change. A specific quantity of the different software test routines are then run to test the base code change, where the quantity of test routines that is run is based on the cyclomatic complexity of the base code change.
US08959485B2	Security protection domain-based testing framework Methods and apparatus for security protection domain-based testing. A testing framework enables the same certification tests to be run across different protection domains or operation modes, and on different platforms or devices. The testing framework may, for example, be directed to testing implementations of the Java Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME®) using Connected Device Configuration (CDC) or Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) as the configuration layer and Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) as the profile layer. Different Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) specifications (e.g., MIDP 2.x and MIDP 3.x specifications) may be supported. The testing framework may be deployed in the context of compatibility testing and technology compatibility kits (TCKs). The testing framework may, for example, be applied in compatibility testing for Java ME® platform technology implementations.
US08959480B2	Methods and apparatus for integration of declarative rule-based processing with procedural programming in a digital data-processing environment The present invention provides methods and systems for integrating a procedural computational model with a declarative computational model. For example, in one aspect, the present invention provides a method for integrating a plurality of procedural instructions in a procedural computational system with a plurality of declarative rules in a declarative computational system. In such a method, for each of the procedural instructions operating on one or more variables, a hash table indexed by variable names is utilized to determine whether any of these variables participate in at least one of the declarative rules. Upon execution of a procedural instruction that changes a variable participating in a declarative rule, other variables associated with the rule are updated so as to maintain a relationship imposed by the rule among the variables. The updating of the other variables is performed prior to execution of other procedural instructions.
US08959477B2	Scripting language for business applications The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing a scripting language for business applications. One process includes operations for providing a scripting language editor for generating software components for a business application, the scripting language editor configured to receive scripting language input. A scripting language file saved by the scripting language editor is identified. Metadata associated with at least one of a business object or a data type of a platform of the business application is retrieved. A business application language file is generated based on the scripting language file and the retrieved metadata.
US08959467B2	Structural rule analysis with TCL scripts in synthesis or STA tools and integrated circuit design tools A method of designing a circuit, an apparatus and a structural analysis tool are disclosed. In one embodiment, the structural analysis tool includes: (1) a structural analyzer configured to apply a structural rule to the circuit design in a design environment of said design process having valid timing data and (2) a structural assessor configured to generate structural data of the circuit design based on application of the structural rule by the structural analyzer.
US08959461B2	Pattern measurement device and pattern measurement method A pattern measurement device includes: a storage section storing mask edge data of a circuit pattern and image data obtained by imaging the circuit pattern; an SEM contour extracting section receiving the image data, SEM contour of the circuit pattern, and cause an exposure simulator to generate estimated SEM contour data of an estimated SEM contour on the basis of the mask edge data and SEM contour data of the extracted SEM contour; a shape classifying section receiving the mask edge data, the SEM contour data, and the estimated contour data to classify the SEM contour data and the estimated SEM contour data into a one-dimensionally shaped contour and a two-dimensionally shaped contour; and an SEM contour sampling section receiving the SEM contour data and the estimated SEM contour data to sample the SEM contour data on the basis of types of the one-dimensionally and two-dimensionally shaped contours.
US08959455B2	Methods and systems for preventing unauthorized access to patient information An exemplary method includes a privacy management system 1) presenting, within a GUI, a patient list that initially includes a plurality of entries each comprising a plurality of obscured characters representative of patient information associated with a distinct patient included within a plurality of patients, 2) receiving user input representative of a search term comprising a sequence of one or more characters selected to identify a particular patient included within the plurality of patients, and 3) dynamically updating the patient list presented within the GUI in response to the user input by unobscuring a sequence of one or more obscured characters included in each entry of the patient list and that matches the sequence of one or more characters included in the search term and removing each entry included in the plurality of entries that does not include the search term from the patient list presented within the GUI.
US08959448B2	Graphical user interface for analysis and comparison of location-specific multiparameter data sets A graphical user interface on a computer provides for the analysis of location specific data and the presentation of analysis results for visual comparison by a user. Results of the analysis are visually presented as icons subdivided into regions and arranged in such a way that the user is able to associate each icon with a data location. A visual presentation of results in the icons and regions allows a user to visually compare the analysis results in two or more data sets according to location. The graphical user interface further provides for the definition and adjustment of an analysis through the interaction of a user with a graphical representation of the analysis. In some cases, the visual presentation of results tracks the analysis adjustments so the user can visually observe the effects that the adjustments have on the results. A method of interacting with the interface to define an analysis and represent results and a method of presenting two or more data sets using the interface are described. The interface can be used to analyze and visually compare the results of location specific data from a number of sources and is illustrated in a flow cytometry application.
US08959445B2	Focus change upon use of gesture Embodiments are described for handling focus when a gesture is input in a multi-screen device. In embodiments, a first image displayed on a first touch sensitive display of a first screen may be currently in focus. In embodiments, the gesture is a tap on a second touch sensitive display of the device. In response to the gesture, focus is changed from the first image on the first touch sensitive display to the second touch sensitive display.
US08959440B2	Inner-circle social sourcing A social networking environment supporting collaborative social interaction is disclosed. The social networking environment may be implemented by a computing system including a number of client computing devices and a server system that communicate with each other via a communications network. User profile and geographic location information associated with users of the social networking environment may be shared with each other. Users may request commentary from other users regarding a target user. Users may receive and fulfill requests for commentary to facilitate social interactions between two or more other users. Users may define an inner-circle of users from which commentary may be requested by that user.
US08959430B1	Facilitating selection of keys related to a selected key Described herein are techniques for rendering additional keys on a display of an electronic device based on one or more characteristics of a user's selection of another key. After rendering the additional keys, the user may thereafter select one of the additional keys now available and rendered on the display.
US08959429B2	System, method and graphical user interface for managing contacts and calendars within an online card system A system, a method, and a user interface are described for personalizing and sending stationery/cards. A reminder list on the user interface includes a list of reminder entries each identifying an upcoming event including events generated based on a specified relationship between the user and one or more contacts of the user. A recommendation region is populated one or more recommended stationery/card designs associated with one of the entries in the reminder list. A stationery/card personalization engine provides the user with a set of personalization options related to the selected stationery/card design, and generates personalized stationery based on the selected stationery/card design and the user input.
US08959425B2	Inference-based extension activation Extension activation may be provided. A document may be opened within a software application associated with an extension. Upon determining that a data element associated with the document is associated with an activation condition of the extension, the extension may be activated.
US08959419B1	Viterbi architecture for BDR/BLE A Viterbi decoder module includes a branch metric module configured to calculate branch metrics corresponding to a continuous phase modulated signal. Each of the branch metrics corresponds to a respective path between stages of the Viterbi decoder module. A path metric module is configured to calculate a first cost metric associated with the first state of the next stage based on the first branch metric and the second branch metric, and calculate a second cost metric associated with the second state of the next stage based on the third branch metric and the fourth branch metric. A traceback module is configured to determine a maximum likelihood path between stages of the Viterbi decoder based on the first cost metric and the second cost metric. The Viterbi decoder module is configured to output decoded data based on the maximum likelihood path.
US08959418B1	Forward error correction In one embodiment, a circuit for FEC decoding includes first and second syndrome calculation circuits, configured to calculate FEC syndromes for rows and columns of symbols in a de-interleaved format, respectively. A decoding circuit is configured to arrange the symbols into windows. Each window includes a plurality of sequential rows and sequential columns of the symbols in the de-interleaved format. The decoding circuit is configured to place N of the windows in a group and perform M decoding iterations of the windows in the group. In each decoding iteration, the decoding circuit performs FEC decoding of rows of each of the windows in the group followed by FEC decoding of columns of each of the windows in the group.
US08959412B2	System and method for multi-channel FEC encoding and transmission of data A mechanism for resilient transmission of a data stream D by associating sequential data stream portions with respective elements within an array of elements, defining and FEC encoding each of a plurality of element groups comprising non-sequential data stream portions, dividing the sequence of FEC blocks into a plurality of substreams, and associating each substream with a respective transmission channel.
US08959405B2	Signal transmission device for elevator Each of a master node and a slave node has a safety data processing unit and a high reliability communication unit. At the time of transmission, the safety data processing unit creates a safety data packet including data about safety and the high reliability communication unit creates a communication data packet including the safety data packet and transmits the communication data packet a predetermined number of times. At the time of reception, the high reliability communication unit acquires and outputs a safety data packet by determining one of one or more communication data packets having the same contents which it has received properly as an effective packet, and the safety data processing unit analyzes a state concerning the safety of a system on the basis of the data about safety acquired from the safety data packet.
US08959394B2	Electronic device, system, and method for testing exception handling mechanism A method for testing exception handling mechanism of an electronic device, the method includes: establishing a connection between the electronic device and another electronic device when the electronic device is booting up. Obtaining parameters of a timer of the electronic device in response to an operation of a user, and determining whether the parameters are satisfied by the another electronic device. Simulating an abnormal event to cause the electronic device not to start up successfully if the parameters are satisfied by the another electronic device. Determining that the exception handling mechanism of the electronic device works well when the parameters do satisfy the requirement and when the other electronic device is in fact restarted or turned off after an abnormal event has been simulated via the other electronic device.
US08959392B2	Redundant two-processor controller and control method A redundant two-processor controller having a first processor (1) and a second processor (1) for the synchronous execution of a control program. The controller having at least a first multiplexer (70, 91) for optionally connecting at least a first peripheral unit (72, 95) to be actuated to one of the two processors (1, 2), and at least a first Comparison unit (70, 91) for monitoring the synchronization state of the two processors (1, 2) and for detecting a synchronization error. A restoration control unit (44) is designed to monitor the execution of at least one test program by the two processors (1, 2) after the occurrence of a synchronization error and to evaluate the test results, and which is designed to configure at least the first multiplexer (70, 91).
US08959390B2	Directory-level RAID A method and system for reducing replication factor in a file system are provided. In some embodiments, two or more requested files may be grouped together under a leaf directory for RAID process. All data under the directory are grouped into one or more data stripes, each of which comprises a plurality of data blocks. One or more parity data blocks may be generated for each data stripe according to a computing algorithm, such as an exclusive OR (XOR) code or a Reed-Solomon (RS) code. Parity blocks corresponding to the one or more data stripes are concatenated into one parity file. Data blocks of the two or more requested files and their corresponding parity blocks are stored in separate partitions and/or separate storage drives of the file system.
US08959386B2	Network and expansion unit and method for operating a network A network, in particular an Ethernet network, contains as network elements at least two network components that are interconnected by a network transmission line. Accordingly, at least one expansion unit having two external ports is disposed in the network line for extending the scope thereof, wherein the expansion unit forwards a failure of the network transmission line at one of the ports thereof to a port of the next subsequent network element.
US08959383B2	Failover estimation using contradiction A failover guaranty estimator module performs a proof by contradiction method showing that a cluster failover guaranty can be met for the cluster. For potential failures for which failover is guaranteed, the method assumes a particular host set of one or more hosts fails, leaving one or more working hosts. The method performs a per-failure host set method for the failure host set. The per-failure host set method determines an amount of memory usage within each working host of the assumed working host set that would guaranty that a largest of the virtual machines in the failure host set would be orphaned. The per-failure host set method determines if the virtual machines in the failure set, other than the largest virtual machine in that set, would force the determined amount of memory usage within working hosts, resulting in, the failover guaranty not being met.
US08959373B2	Communication device for executing packet process in low consumption state In a case where a first condition is met while a communication device may in a high consumption state, the communication device may transit to a first low consumption state. In a case where a second condition is met while the communication device is in a specific state which is one state of the high consumption state and the first low consumption state, the communication device may transit to a second low consumption state. The communication device may be configured to execute a packet process in a case where a receiving process for receiving a packet is executed after the communication device had transited to the first low consumption state. The communication device may be configured not to execute the packet process in a case where the receiving process for receiving the packet is executed after the communication device had transited to the second low consumption state.
US08959365B2	Methods of providing fast search, analysis, and data retrieval of encrypted data without decryption Methods and systems of providing remote coded data storage, data analysis, and search and retrieval, with assurance of data security are described. Data security is such that it protects the data from any provider, administrator of remote services, or anyone breaking into the servers housing the data at the remote site. The methods include a coding schema such that both the storage and the associated services, such as data analysis, search and retrieval, can be provided even more efficiently and more responsively than without the coding. Possible applications of the methods include data storage, powerful data search and analysis services which can all be provided “in the Cloud” over the Internet, completely securely, even when a customer's private data set needs to be uploaded to the remote site. The efficiency of analysis, and search means that the methods may be useful even when security of data is not an issue.
US08959361B2	Mobile wireless hand-held biometric capture, processing and communication system and method for biometric identification A mobile, wireless biometric identification system includes a biometric capture device, associated software and processes which enable a commercially available wireless communication device, such as a smartphone, using a commercially established wireless communication networks, to capture a digital image of a human biometric (iris, fingerprint, etc.) for transmission via a secure connection to a central server. The capture device is designed to focus on the difficult task of capturing the highest possible quality image for encoding and comparison, while the overall system is designed to leverage the existing cellular communication network. At the server level, the server system receives the image, encodes the image to a biometric template, and compares the encoded template to a plurality of reference templates stored in a database to identify the individual. Identification data is then transmitted back to the smartphone device and displayed.
US08959355B2	Authentication device, authentication method, program, and signature generation device Provided is an authentication device including a key setting unit for setting sεKn to a secret key and setting a multi-order polynomial fi(xl, . . . , xn) (i=1 to m) on a ring K and yi=fi(s) to a public key, a message transmission unit for transmitting a message c to a verifier, a verification pattern reception unit for receiving information on one verification pattern selected by the verifier from k (k≧3) verification patterns for one message c, and a response transmission unit for transmitting, to the verifier, response information, among k types of response information, corresponding to the information on the verification pattern received by the verification pattern reception unit, where the response information is information that enables calculation of the secret key s in a case all of the k verification patterns for the message c performed by using the k types of response information have been successful.
US08959354B2	Method, secure device, system and computer program product for digitally signing a document A method for digitally signing a document, a secure device, and a computer program product for implementing the method. The method employs a secure device which is protected against malicious software or malware and is adapted to establish a secure connection to a recipient via a host. The method includes: connecting to a terminal; accessing the contents of a document received by the secure device; instructing at the secure device to communicate the accessed contents to an output device other than the terminal such that the contents can be verified by a user; ascertaining at the secure device a command received to digitally sign the document; executing at the secure device the ascertained command; and instructing to send a digitally signed document to a recipient over a connection established via the host connected to a telecommunication network.
US08959350B2	Token for securing communication In general, the invention relates to a method for performing a command on a token. The method includes receiving a first command authentication message digest (CAMD), a command, and scrambled data from a sender, and making a first determination that the sender is allowed to send commands to the token. The method further includes, based on the first determination, generating a second CAMD on the token using the command, the scrambled data, and an Administrative Command Authentication Secret (ACAS), making a second determination that the first CAMD and the second CAMD match, and based on the second determination, performing the command by the token.
US08959344B2	Method and system for handling defined areas within an electronic document A method is provided for handling defined areas within an electronic document, which includes: marking at least one area in an electronic source document as indecomposable area which can be processed as a whole content only; generating signature data for the indecomposable area; assigning the signature data to the indecomposable area to create an indecomposable area object; storing the indecomposable object; encrypting and transmitting the indecomposable area object in response to a request of an enhanced content reader application, where the enhanced content reader application decrypts the indecomposable area object and processes the indecomposable area in an electronic target document; and generating and transmitting a protected version of the indecomposable area in response to a request of a regular content reader application, where the regular content reader application outputs the protected version of the indecomposable area in an electronic target document.
US08959343B2	Authentication system, method and device An authentication system, method and device are provided in the present application. The authentication system includes an Application Server (AS) for providing non Internet protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) service, an authentication gateway and an IMS terminal. The AS forwards a connection request message sent by the IMS terminal to said authentication gateway, the authentication gateway sends a obtained first random number to said IMS terminal through the AS, the IMS terminal generates a first Response (RES) value according to the first random number and sends the generated first RES value to the authentication gateway through the AS, and if the received first response value and an obtained Expected Response (XRES) value is found coincident after being compared by the authentication gateway, the authentication gateway determines that the authentication to the IMS terminal is passed, and indicates the AS to provide non IMS service for the IMS terminal. By using the technical solutions of the present application, solved is the problem existed in prior art that non IMS AS needs to authenticate each of IMS terminals respectively for obtaining non IMS service and thus reducing the service processing efficiency of the AS.
US08959339B2	Method and system for preventing unauthorized processor mode switches A system comprising a processor adapted to activate multiple security levels for the system and a monitoring device coupled to the processor and employing security rules pertaining to the multiple security levels. The monitoring device restricts usage of the system if the processor activates the security levels in a sequence contrary to the security rules.
US08959337B2	Digital certificate issuer-correlated digital signature verification A message including a digital signature is received at a processor. It is determined whether a specific authorized certificate issuer is configured for a message originator within a data protection policy. In response to determining that the specific authorized certificate issuer is configured for the message originator within the data protection policy, it is determined whether a message originator certificate used to generate the digital signature is issued by the configured specific authorized certificate issuer.
US08959330B2	Dynamic improvement of internet browser appearance and connectivity A plug-in is one of 1) installed or 2) caused to be installed in the browser of a web surfer. The plug-in is configured to allow information to be dynamically 1) added to, 2) modified in, and 3) any combination of the two, the area of the browser containing a user-selectable button by the action of the plug-in. The user-selectable button is displayed in the area of the webpage. The button can include graphic information and a text label. The button is configured to 1) direct the browser to at least one web site corresponding to the text label, 2) direct the browser to content related links to the content that is on the website being browsed, and 3) any combination of both. A third party server site may dynamically control what graphic information, text label, or both is being displayed for that user-selectable button.
US08959328B2	Device, system, and method for multi-resource scheduling A method, apparatus and system for selecting a highest prioritized task for executing a resource from one of a first and second expired scheduling arrays, where the first and second expired scheduling arrays may prioritize tasks for using the resource, and where tasks in the first expired scheduling array may be prioritized according to a proportionality mechanism and tasks in the second expired scheduling array may be prioritized according to an importance factor determined, for example, based on user input, and executing the task. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08959319B2	Executing first instructions for smaller set of SIMD threads diverging upon conditional branch instruction Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for improving divergent conditional branches in code being executed by a processor. For example, in an embodiment, a method comprises detecting a conditional statement of a program being simultaneously executed by a plurality of threads, determining which threads evaluate a condition of the conditional statement as true and which threads evaluate the condition as false, pushing an identifier associated with the larger set of the threads onto a stack, executing code associated with a smaller set of the threads, and executing code associated with the larger set of the threads.
US08959318B2	Illegal mode change handling A data processing system 2 supporting multiple modes of operation is provided with illegal change detecting circuitry 22 which detects attempts by program instructions to perform an illegal change of mode, such as a change to a higher level of privilege in response to execution of a mode changing program instruction or an exception return instruction. If such a change is detected, then an illegal change bit CPSR.IL is set. An instruction decoder 12 is responsive to the illegal change bit having a set value to treat subsequent program instructions as undefined instructions. These undefined instructions may then trigger an undefined instruction exception or other type of response.
US08959314B2	MFENCE and LFENCE micro-architectural implementation method and system A system and method for fencing memory accesses. Memory loads can be fenced, or all memory access can be fenced. The system receives a fencing instruction that separates memory access instructions into older accesses and newer accesses. A buffer within the memory ordering unit is allocated to the instruction. The access instructions newer than the fencing instruction are stalled. The older access instructions are gradually retired. When all older memory accesses are retired, the fencing instruction is dispatched from the buffer.
US08959309B2	Skip list generation A method of generating a skip list is disclosed. The skip list comprises a data structure for referencing a plurality of ordered nodes, the data structure having a plurality of linked lists, a total number of the plurality of linked lists being constrained by an available memory of a memory system, the method comprising the steps of: inserting a first node of the plurality of nodes into a predetermined linked list of the plurality of linked lists of the data structure of the skip list in the available memory; promoting the first node to one or more other linked lists based on a first set of criteria; and generating the skip list by inserting at least a second node of the plurality of nodes into the data structure and promoting the second node based on a second set of criteria, said second set of criteria being different from the first set of criteria.
US08959305B1	Space reclamation with virtually provisioned devices A reclaim system provides for marking each track that is intended to be reclaimed in one or more storage devices and detecting and reclaiming such tracks. The reclaim system may include a feature and/or utility that may be used to mark, detect and return tracks to a free track pool of a virtual provisioning storage system in connection with the use of one or more thin Count Key Data (CKD) devices. Reclaim processing may include identifying tracks to be reclaimed, marking mark the tracks to be reclaimed, detecting tracks that have been marked to be reclaimed, and performing a reclaim task to return the marked and detected tracks to the free track pool, thereby reclaiming the tracks.
US08959295B2	Bit inversion in memory devices Bit inversions occurring in memory systems and apparatus are provided. Data is acquired from a source destined for a target. As the data is acquired from the source, the set bits associated with data are tabulated. If the total number of set bits exceeds more than half of the total bits, then an inversion flag is set. When the data is transferred to the target, the bits are inverted during the transfer if the inversion flag is set.Alternatively, an acquired data stream includes an association with an inversion bit. The inversion bit is acquired and stored separately from the data stream. As the data stream is transferred, if the inversion bit is set then the stream is inverted during the transfer of the stream to a target.
US08959285B2	Storage system with local and remote storage devices which are managed by the local storage device A method of servicing a command sent from a host device file system (HDFS) within a host device (HD) by a local storage device (LSD) in communication with the HD is described. The method includes receiving a first command at the LSD instructing the LSD to execute an operation on associated logical addresses. If the first command is associated with at least a first set of logical addresses, the method includes servicing the first command by the LSD at least by way of sending a second command to a device (RD) external to the LSD that instructs the RD to execute an operation on memory locations within the RD. If the first command is not associated with the first set of logical addresses, the method includes servicing the first command by the LSD only by way of operations executed by the LSD on memory locations within the LSD.
US08959281B1	Data management for a storage device Data management for a storage device which includes a disk for storing data and a non-volatile memory (NVM) for storing a translation table. The data on the disk is associated with a plurality of logical block addresses (LBAs) and the translation table stored in the NVM maps each of the plurality of LBAs to a respective physical block address (PBA) identifying a physical location on the disk storing the data associated with the LBA. Data associated with at least one LBA is written on the disk and the at least one LBA is added to the translation table with a PBA identifying a physical location on the disk storing the written data.
US08959280B2	Super-endurance solid-state drive with endurance translation layer (ETL) and diversion of temp files for reduced flash wear A flash drive has increased endurance and longevity by reducing writes to flash. An Endurance Translation Layer (ETL) is created in a DRAM buffer and provides temporary storage to reduce flash wear. A Smart Storage Switch (SSS) controller assigns data-type bits when categorizing host accesses as paging files used by memory management, temporary files, File Allocation Table (FAT) and File Descriptor Block (FDB) entries, and user data files, using address ranges and file extensions read from FAT. Paging files and temporary files are never written to flash. Partial-page data is packed and sector mapped by sub-sector mapping tables that are pointed to by a unified mapping table that stores the data-type bits and pointers to data or tables in DRAM. Partial sectors are packed together to reduce DRAM usage and flash wear. A spare/swap area in DRAM reduces flash wear. Reference voltages are adjusted when error correction fails.
US08959272B2	Interposer and intelligent multiplexer to provide a plurality of peripherial buses A communication connector is described that provides an increase in the number and type of communication circuits available on an electronic device without increasing the number and type of physical connectors. The communication connector electrically includes a set of inputs to couple to both a USB 2.0 connector and a HDMI connector. A set of outputs from the communication connector provides a third connector with a pin out specification compatible with a USB 3.0 connector or a PCIe connector.
US08959271B2	System and method for accessing memory A close proximity memory arrangement maintains a point to point association between DQs, or data lines, to DRAM modules employs a clockless state machine on a DRAM side of the memory controller-DRAM interface such that a single FIFO on the memory controller side synchronizes or orders the DRAM fetch results. Addition of a row address (ROW-ADD) and column address (COL-ADD) strobe reducing latency and power demands. Close proximity point to point DRAM interfaces render the DRAM side FIFO redundant in interfaces such as direct stacked 3D DRAMs on top of the logic die hosting the memory controller. The close proximity point to point arrangement eliminates the DRAM internal FIFO and latency scheme, resulting in just the memory controller internal clock domain crossing FIFOs.
US08959269B2	Memory interface and method of interfacing between functional entities A data and signal interface for controlling the transfer of data and signals between a memory array and macro function such as that of a digital signal processor (DSP) core. In one embodiment, the interface comprises a plurality of memory ports which interface with X/Y memory banks, a plurality of function ports, each with a function controller, which interface with DSP functions, a crossbar connecting the memory and function ports, and an arbitration unit for arbitrating memory access by the function ports. The memory interface advantageously allows multiple simultaneous accesses of memory banks via a plurality of macro functions, each access under the control of a parent processor instruction. A standardized protocol used for memory read/write operations is also disclosed.
US08959256B2	Peripheral equipment and parallel bus system Bus lines 20, 21 are connected to peripheral devices 1, 2 such that the polarities of the bus lines are replaced with each other according to an attachment position, and information acquisition units 16-1, 16-2 determine an attachment position P1 if the polarities of a connector terminal 10-1 (or 10-2) and a connector terminal 11-1 (or 11-2) are plus and minus, and determines an attachment position P2 if minus and plus.
US08959253B2	Virtualizing a powered down input/output device Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for virtualizing a powered-down input/output device are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a storage location and a decoder. The storage location is to store an indication that an input/output device is inaccessible. The decoder is to decode a configuration transaction directed to the input/output device and redirect the configuration transaction to an other target if the contents of the first storage location indicate that the input/output device is inaccessible.
US08959249B1	Cooperative cloud I/O scheduler This disclosure describes a system and method for providing I/O scheduling capabilities to a host server executing one or more virtual machine clients and communicating with a cloud-based storage array. An I/O scheduler executing on a virtual machine can identify priority tags associated with requests or commands on the virtual machine. The I/O scheduler can create one or more queues based upon the priority of each request, and can then transmit requests in order of priority. The I/O scheduler can also use information about the storage array, such as layout information or cache information, and can accordingly optimize the transmission of requests to the storage array.
US08959248B2	Personal computing environment with virtual computing device Systems and methods of providing synchronization of providing a device mesh and a virtual computing device are disclosed herein. A selection of a plurality of computer devices, such as PDAs, cellphone, laptops, and the like, can be received from a user. The data at the virtual computing device and the plurality of devices can be synchronized. Access to all applications available in each computing device in the plurality of computing devices can be provided at the virtual computing device. Access to all data available in each computing device in the plurality of computing devices can be provided at the virtual computing device. Access to the virtual computing device can be provided via a data network.
US08959243B2	System and method to guide active participation in peer-to-peer systems with passive monitoring environment A method includes identifying shared content by inspecting a peer-to-peer traffic flow and identifying source peers providing the shared content, and requesting the shared content from the source peers. The method further includes receiving requests for the shared content from requesting peers, identifying requesting peers based on the requests for the shared content, and providing the shared content to a local subset of the requesting peers.
US08959242B1	Method of reducing bandwidth required for sharing of files on a server A method is provided of reducing bandwidth required for sharing a selected network-stored folder with a set of target computers so as to cause, on each target computer, storage locally of a mirrored folder that corresponds to the selected folder. The method uses file transfers on a peer-to-peer basis.
US08959241B2	Method and apparatus for performing server-side splicing for live streaming media A method and apparatus for performing server-side splicing for live streaming media comprises receiving a request for media content from a client computer; accessing a media playlist comprising a plurality of universal resource identifiers (URIs) for each of a plurality of media content segments and consecutive sequence numbers defining an order in which the plurality of media content segments are to be viewed; accessing at least one additional content playlist for additional content to be spliced into the media content to be viewed; replacing a plurality of URIs of the media playlist with the URIs of the at least one additional content playlist to create a modified media playlist; and correcting a gap in sequence numbers that occurs in the modified media playlist when the number of URIs of the at least one additional content playlist is less than the plurality of URIs of the media playlist that are replaced.
US08959237B2	Web services requests throttling A method of web services throttling in a web application server environment, where a number of web services servers communicate with web services clients over a network. A request is received from a web services client which contains an account ID related to the web services client. An ID reader resident on one of the web services servers reads the account ID; and a value related to the account ID in a counter, resident on the one of the services servers, is incremented. The method also involves communicating with the remaining web services servers to increment the value in a plurality of counters, each of which is resident on one of the remaining web services servers. The web services servers compare the count value related to the account ID to a throttling limit value.
US08959235B1	Techniques for determining an optimal connection duration for a connection between a client and a server across a network Techniques for determining an optimal connection duration for a connection between a client device and a server across a network are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for determining an optimal connection duration for a connection between a client device and a server across a network comprising: identifying, using the client device, a network access point that communicatively couples the client device to a network; selecting a sever connection time period; initiating the connection between the client device and the server via the network based on the sever connection time period; determining whether a sever connection notification was received from the server within the sever connection time period; and adjusting the sever connection time period based on the determination.
US08959221B2	Metering cloud resource consumption using multiple hierarchical subscription periods Embodiments relate to systems and methods for metering cloud resource consumption using multiple hierarchical subscription periods. A set of aggregate usage history data can record consumption of processor, software, or other resources subscribed to by a set of users, in one cloud or across multiple clouds. An entitlement engine can analyze the usage history data to identify a subscription margin for the subscribed resources, reflecting collective under-consumption of resources by the set of users on a collective basis, over different and/or dynamically updated subscription periods. In aspects, the entitlement engine or other logic can generate multiple hierarchical time periods or layers over which resource consumption can be tracked. For instance, processor usage can be tracked over blocks of two hours or other intervals, but can also be tracked over 24 hour intervals for which additional subscription costs, terms, or factors may apply. In aspects, the consumption of not just one but multiple resources can be tracked over the hierarchical time periods, with cost adjustments being keyed to joint consumption levels of those resources, and/or over different time periods or layers.
US08959219B2	Dynamic rerouting of service requests between service endpoints for web services in a composite service Technologies are described herein for rerouting a service request between service endpoints. The service request is received, at a first web service, from a second web service. The first web service and the second web service may be components of a composite service. The service request is routed to an initial service endpoint configured to respond to the service request according to a service level agreement between the first web service and the second web service. Service criteria associated with the initial service endpoint are monitored. A determination is made as to whether the service criteria meet a performance threshold specified by the service level agreement. If the service criteria do not meet the performance threshold specified by the service level agreement, then the service request is rerouted from the initial service endpoint to an alternate service endpoint.
US08959217B2	Managing workloads and hardware resources in a cloud resource Systems and methods to manage workloads and hardware resources in a data center or cloud. In one embodiment, a method includes a data center having a plurality of servers in a network. The data center provides a virtual machine for each of a plurality of users, each virtual machine to use a portion of hardware resources of the data center. The hardware resources include storage and processing resources distributed onto each of the plurality of servers. The method further includes sending messages amongst the servers, some of the messages being sent from a server including status information regarding a hardware resource utilization status of that server. The method further includes detecting a request from the virtual machine to handle a workload requiring increased use of the hardware resources, and provisioning the servers to temporarily allocate additional resources to the virtual machine, wherein the provisioning is based on status information provided by one or more of the messages.
US08959193B2	Group management device A group management device determines a priority level that represents priority order of allowing a participating terminal to preferentially participate in a group, to which the group management device belongs, based on information relating the participating terminal and information relating to terminals that are managed by the group management device only in a case where the group management device receives information relating to the participating terminal, which has transmitted a participation request to the group, to which the group management device belongs. Based on the determined priority level, the group management device determines whether to transmit the participation request to another group management device and whether to reply to the participating terminal.
US08959173B1	Non-disruptive load-balancing of virtual machines between data centers A method, system and program product for enabling migration of Virtual Machines with concurrent access to data across two geographically disperse sites to enable load balancing across the two geographically disperse sites, by presenting over a network a read writable logical volume at a first site, presenting over a network a read writable logical volume at a second geographically disparate site; wherein the first volume and the second volume are configured to contain the same information, and enabling read write access to the volume at the first site or the volume at the second site for a first virtual machine while keeping the data consistent between the two sites to enable transparent migration of the virtual machine to load balancing across the two sites according to at least one load balancing metric.
US08959170B2	Communication method, information processing apparatus, and recording medium recording computer readable program A communication method includes: a first transmission step of transmitting first setting information and first network organization information regarding one information processing apparatus of a second network via a first communication path; a first determination step of determining a role of communication with a first master apparatus via a second communication path on the basis of the first network organization information and role adjustment information; a second transmission step of transmitting second setting information and second network organization information to the first master apparatus via the first communication path; a second determination step of determining a role of the communication with a second master apparatus via the second communication path on the basis of the second network organization information and role adjustment information by the first master apparatus; and a first communication start step of starting the communication via the second communication path with another information processing apparatus.
US08959166B1	System and method for identifying websites A method in accordance with the present disclosure may include identifying a first set of visits to one or more webpages by a first participant of a social network, determining whether the first participant received a social annotation during the visit to the webpages, calculating a first total number of missed social annotations for each of the webpages for the first participant of the social network based on the first set of visits to the webpages and the determined social annotations received during the visit to the webpages, determining a combined calculation of missed social annotations for each of the webpages based at least in part on the total number of missed social annotations for each of the webpages for the first participant and the total number of missed social annotations for each of the webpages for the second participant, generating an indication for a third participant.
US08959163B1	Method and apparatus of organizing and delivering data to intended recipients Disclosed are an apparatus and method of organizing a plurality of data recipients subscribed to receive information from a leader. An example method may include receiving a plurality of response messages from at least a portion of the plurality of data recipients, and determining a decrease in the plurality of response messages received from the at least a portion of the plurality of data recipients based on a previous number of response messages received. The method may also include removing at least one data recipient from the plurality of data recipients and adding the removed at least one data recipient to a new group of data recipients responsive to the decrease in the plurality of response messages received.
US08959159B2	Personalized email interactions applied to global filtering A computer implemented method for filtering unwanted bulk email in an email system and providing a positive user experience is provided. The method enables protection of email users from unsolicited bulk email using user-provided data on user interactions at both a user storage level and a global level with an email system. Metadata on user interactions with messages is collected. Messages are received by the system and evaluated using a global filter which assigns a score resulting in a message action. The action may be message delivery, message non-delivery or message routing, based on a score assigned by the global filter. When the message is delivered to user storage, the message may be examined relative to the metadata, and may alter the message action to an action different than the message action resulting from the score. Metadata for a plurality of users is returned to the global filter for use in making filtering future messages and modifies the global filter.
US08959143B2	Methods, systems and computer readable media for enabling a downloadable service to access components in a mobile device Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enabling a downloadable service to access components in a mobile device are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system comprises a mobile device that includes a mobile wallet application configured to determine at least one hardware component or software component provisioned on the mobile device and to generate a capabilities object containing information identifying the at least one hardware or software component. The system further includes a network server supporting a downloadable service configured to receive the capabilities object from the mobile device, to generate personalized downloadable service content based on the information in the received capabilities object, to provide the personalized web page content to the mobile device, wherein the personalized downloadable service content is configured to access the at least one hardware component or software component on the mobile device.
US08959135B2	Data structure for tiling and packetizing a sparse matrix A computer system retrieves a slice of sparse matrix data, which includes multiple rows that each includes multiple elements. The computer system identifies one or more non-zero values stored in one or more of the rows. Each identified non-zero value corresponds to a different row, and also corresponds to an element location within the corresponding row. In turn, the computer system stores each of the identified non-zero values and corresponding element locations within a packet at predefined fields corresponding to the different rows.
US08959128B1	General and nested Wiberg minimization Wiberg minimization operates on a system with two sets of variables described by a linear function and in which some data or observations are missing. The disclosure generalizes Wiberg minimization, solving for a function that is nonlinear in both sets of variables, U and V, iteratively. In one embodiment, defining a first function ƒ(U, V) that may be defined that may be nonlinear in both a first set of variables U and a second set of variables V. A first function ƒ(U, V) may be transformed into ƒ(U, V(U)). First assumed values of the first set of variables U may be assigned. The second set of variables V may be iteratively estimated based upon the transformed first function ƒ(U, V(U)) and the assumed values of the first set of variables U such that ƒ(U, V(U)) may be minimized with respect to V. New estimates of the first set of variables U may be iteratively computed.
US08959111B2	Providing answer box functionality to third party search engines Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for providing answer box functionality to a third party search engine. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, by a search engine, a search query, generating one or more search results that are responsive to the search query, generating an answer box request based on the search query, transmitting the answer box request to another search engine, receiving, in response to the answer box request, an answer box result from the other search engine, generating a search engine results page that includes one or more of the search results, and that includes an answer box that references information included in the answer box result, and providing the search engine results page.
US08959100B2	System and method for context enhanced mapping A system and method for Context Enhanced Mapping. A request is received from a user over a network for a map comprising an identification of a physical location, and at least one criteria. The physical location is mapped. Spatial, temporal, topical, and social data available to the network relating to the physical location and criteria is retrieved using a global index of data available to the network and prioritized for inclusion based upon the user and context of the request. The map of the physical location and at least some of the retrieved spatial, temporal, topical, and social data is displayed on a display medium.
US08959090B1	Process for physical database design based on transaction workload A process is disclosed for using the computer for physical database design, which is based on transaction workload, and minimizes the cost of retrieval and modification for a set of transactions on a database.
US08959087B2	Search-based universal navigation Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for providing a search-based navigation of data across different contexts. According to one embodiment, navigating and accessing data across different contexts can comprise maintaining indexed sets of data related to the different contexts. A user interface can be generated based on a search of the index and presented to a user. The user interface can comprise a view of a current context and a search element for receiving a set of user defined search criteria. The user defined search criteria can be received through the search element of the user interface and the contexts can be searched using the index and based on the search criteria. An updated user interface for presenting the search results be generated and presented to the user. The updated user interface can comprise a representation of the results of the searching and the search element.
US08959083B1	Searching using social context In one aspect, a system includes: an indexing engine for indexing a plurality of sources of content, receiving a search query and returning search results; a ranking engine for ranking search results to produce ranked results, the ranking engine coupled to receive search results from the indexing engine; a modification engine for generating modified results using information from additional sources and the ranked results, the modification engine coupled to receive the ranked results from the ranking engine, the modification engine coupled to receive the information from the additional sources; and a presentation engine for sending modified results and an annotation, the presentation engine coupled to receive modified results and the annotation from the modification engine, the presentation engine coupled to provide the modified results and the annotation to a client device. The present disclosure also includes a method for retrieving social videos.
US08959082B2	Context-sensitive query enrichment Structures and protocols are presented for facilitating a search partly based on a movement status of a search-capable device or on a position of a person's limb or on an association with another search-capable device.
US08959078B1	Identifying missing search phrases In various embodiments, approaches for identifying missing search phrases are described. Search terms are behaviorally associated with an item in the electronic repository. If a search of the electronic repository fails to surface the item, the at least one search term can be identified as a missing search phrase for the item.
US08959075B2	Systems for storing data streams in a distributed environment Systems and methods for storing and retrieving data elements transmitted via data streams received from distributed devices connected via a network. The received data elements may be stored in block stores on the distributed devices. The stored data-elements may be allocated to data-blocks of a block-store that have assigned block-identifiers and further allocated to events of the data-blocks that have assigned token-names. Stream-schema of the received data-streams may comprise a list of token-names and an index-definition for each corresponding data-stream. Indices may be generated for the event-allocated data-elements. A query may be executed in order to retrieve data-elements of the received data-streams based on the indices.
US08959073B2	Automatically modifying a custom search engine for a web site based on user input Automatically creating and modifying a search engine for a website. User input may be received specifying an address of a website. A search engine may be automatically created for the website based on the user input. Webpages of the website may specify a plurality of tags specifying custom attributes of the webpages. During creation of the search engine, these custom attributes may be incorporated into the search engine index. Additional user input may be received customizing the search engine for various search engine contexts, e.g., based on the custom attributes of the webpages. Search engine results for the website may be based on various ranking functions, potentially including social impact of webpages of the website.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9