US07643466B2
A high-speed wireless data system for providing services for either a public wireless network terminal or a private wireless network terminal, the system comprising: a base station for assigning an Unicast Access Terminal Identifier to each of terminals of the public wireless network and the private wireless network through a wireless channel to provide services of the high-speed wireless data system for each of the terminals; a base station controller for controlling implementation of different authentications for the terminals, assignment of an Unicast Access Terminal Identifier to each terminal, management of a session for each terminal, and data transmitted or received by each terminal; a private authentication system including an authentication database for authenticating the private wireless network terminal; a data location register including service information of the public wireless network terminal and information for receiving services from the private wireless network of the private wireless network terminal; and a hub for intermediating data between the base station, the base station controller, and the private authentication system, the hub discriminating between private wireless network services and public wireless network services by means of Unicast Access Terminal Identifiers received from the terminals.
US07643462B2
A receiver allows a user to select received data before de-spreading or symbol data after de-spreading according to various factors when data is simultaneously received via multiple channels and to store the selected data, reduces the capacity of the storage memory, and enhances the degree of freedom of the timing of de-spreading processing. Storing the received data in the storage memory not in the form of symbol data produced after de-spreading but in the form of received data before de-spreading. This reduces the capacity of the storage memory and enhances the degree of the freedom of the timing of the de-spreading process.
US07643455B2
A method for assigning IP addresses to mobile IP nodes in heterogeneous networks including checking, using an interface administration module of the mobile node, the mobile node for available physical network interfaces, generating a lookup table with the available and configurable physical network interfaces, linking the interface administration module to one of the available physical network interfaces, accessing the heterogeneous networks via a permanent virtual IP network interface generated in the mobile node, the generated permanent virtual IP network interface being linked to the current network via the interface administration module, and updating, during a change of the physical network interface of the mobile node, the link of the permanent virtual IP network interface to the network based on the lookup table.
US07643453B2
Embodiments of legacy compatible spatial multiplexing systems and methods are disclosed. One method embodiment, among others, comprises receiving long training symbols and cyclic shifted long training symbols corresponding to legacy preamble portions of packets corresponding to first and second transmit signals, receiving long training symbols and inverted cyclic shifted long training symbols corresponding to spatial multiplexing portions of packets corresponding to first and second transmit signals, and combining the symbols corresponding to the first and second transmit antennas to estimate the respective channels.
US07643447B2
A mobile node moves from a first IP (Internet Protocol) network to a second IP network in a network system in which the first IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with both first and second kinds of IPs and the second IP network capable of executing communication in accordance with only the first kind of IP are connected with each other. When the mobile node communicates a message with other nodes on the first network after its movement accordance with the second kind of IP, a header for the movement containing both home and foreign addresses of the first kind in IP is added to a header containing home and foreign addresses in the second kind of IP, and put to the message, is added. The message to which the movement header is thus added is used for the communication between a first mobile agent on the first network and a second mobile agent on the second network, or between the mobile node and the first mobile agent.
US07643445B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing an interoperable communications system including a plurality of otherwise disjunct communication systems each including at least one communications device. The system includes a plurality of system interface controllers each coupled to one of the communication systems and a common network for connecting the communication system and associated communications devices to the common network. A controller is coupled to each of the system interface controllers. The system interface controller being operable in response to commands from an authorized controller wherein the connection between each of the communication systems and the common network is controlled by a controller associated with, and authorized to control each communication system. The system provides an interoperable communications system between the otherwise disjunct systems wherein the communications devices for each system coupled to the common network are in communication therebetween.
US07643444B2
Aspects of a method and system for parsing bits in an interleaver for adaptive modulations in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless local area network (WLAN) system are provided. The interleaver may assign at least one binary bit of information, among a plurality of binary bits of information to be transmitted, to one of a plurality of spatial streams based on a current modulation type. A subsequent binary bit of information, among a plurality of binary bits of information to be transmitted, may be assigned to a subsequent one of the plurality of spatial streams based on the current modulation type and/or a subsequent modulation type. The interleaver may assign at least one additional bit of information, among the plurality of binary bits of information to be transmitted, to one of a plurality of spatial streams based on the current modulation type and/or the subsequent modulation type.
US07643431B2
There is disclosed methods, a computing device, a storage medium, and an apparatus for testing a network. Received packets may have two or more packet group identification fields. The packet group identification fields may be combined to generate a packet group number. The packet group number may be generated by first masking unused bits of the packet group identification fields and then concatenating the unmasked bits. Test statistics may be measured, accumulated, and stored for one or more packet groups comprising packets having the same packet group number.
US07643430B2
According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided for determining components of a round trip time (RTT). A source node sends data to a destination node. The destination node inserts a timestamp into an acknowledgment and sends the acknowledgment back to the source node. The source node determines the RTT from its own measurements and estimates reverse path delay by comparing timestamps to expected timestamps. Considerations for destination node timestamp speed differences are provided.
US07643428B1
A method, and graphical user interface are provided for monitoring the status and forecasting the exhaust date of communications links. Initially, data ports are monitored corresponding to one or more communications links over a period of time. Next, utilization statistics are polled and stored in a database. Thereafter, an average and a rate of change are calculated using the utilization statistics. Based on these calculations, a date of exhaustion can be forecasted. The user interface further provides a user the ability to monitor the status and select multiple communications links to ensure data is flowing properly.
US07643426B1
A path in a network is selected by selecting candidate overlay paths between two nodes in the network based on a static network metric determined for each of a plurality of overlay paths. A time sensitive network metric is determined for each of the candidate overlay paths, and a path is selected from the candidate overlay paths based on the time sensitive network metrics.
US07643423B2
Dynamic allocation of communication channels among communication units (CU) in a communications system. Dynamic channel allocation employs a reservation set for reserving channels and an allocation set corresponding to the reservation set for receiving allocated channels. The reservation set and the allocation set are changed dynamically as a function of network parameters to control the dynamic channel operation. Reservation set information is broadcast downlink to multiple users to reserve an allocation set of uplink radio resources for specific ones of the users. The system uses a modification of the packet data channel (PDCH) of a GPRS/EGPRS or EDGE system which employs an Uplink Status Flag (USF) on each PDCH downlink radio block. The downlink reservation set information is commonly received by all users in the group of users. Allocation delay, bandwidth efficiency and other system parameters are optimized.
US07643418B1
A method for use in a network device that uses a proportional/integral/derivative (PID)-type algorithm to compute one or more flow control parameters intended to achieve a target rate for a data flow.
US07643416B2
An approach for adaptively providing network performance enhancing functions in a secure environment, such as a virtual private network, is disclosed. Traffic, for example, Internet Protocol (IP) packets, is received for transport over an access network (e.g., satellite network). Next, characteristics (e.g., latency) of the access network are determined. A connection (which supports the performance enhancing functions) is selectively established based on the determined characteristics for transport the received packets over the access network. An encrypted tunnel is provided over the established connection to transmit the received packets.
US07643413B2
A method and apparatus for scheduling the transmission of cells onto an network, or other packet switching network, is disclosed. The central feature of the scheduling mechanism is a quality of service engine (QoS Engine) which accelerates the processing of packets in a packet switching networks, such as an ATM network, by assisting the accurate pacing of many ATM virtual circuits. The QoS Engine allows the concurrent support of a wide variety of port speeds, traffic classes using different priorities and traffic parameters. quality of service engine (QoS Engine) works in conjunction with a network processor (NP) to allow it to maintain software flexibility, and for it to achieve accurate pacing.
US07643409B2
A computer network includes a core network connected with first and second Ethernet access domain networks, each of Ethernet access domain networks including a user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device, a primary network-facing provider edge (n-PE) device, a redundant n-PE device, and a plurality of aggregation provider edge (Agg-PE) devices providing connectivity between to the u-PE device and the primary and redundant n-PE devices, the Agg-PE devices running a spanning-tree protocol (STP) algorithm. A primary data path is provided along with first and second redundant data paths that include first and second redundant pseudowires (PWs), respectively, connected across the core network, the first and second redundant data paths being blocked by the STP algorithm when the primary data path is available, the STP algorithm unblocking either the first or second redundant data path in response to a failure of the primary data path. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US07643406B2
A system and method for sharing a forward link time slot are disclosed. Information being sent to each user sharing a time slot in a 1× evolution data only (1×EV-DO) frame is assigned a number of Walsh codes and allocated an amount of transmit power. The total amount of transmit power used by a base transceiver station for a time slot is divided among the users. The number of Walsh codes and amount of transmit power assigned to each user sharing a time slot can be based upon the RF conditions being experienced by the user.
US07643404B2
A MIMO OFDM system includes a plurality of space-time encoders for encoding respective data blocks with independent space-time codes. The transformed data block signals are transmitted by a plurality of transmit antennas and received by a plurality of receive antennas. The received data is pre-whitened prior to maximum likelihood detection. In one embodiment, successive interference cancellation can be sued to improve system performance. Channel parameter estimation can be enhanced by weighting the channel impulse response estimates based upon a deviation from average.
US07643401B2
Disclosed is an optical information recording medium having a printable region on a label surface which is extended to a clamping area, and label information such as a name of a manufacturer is printed in the clamping area. The optical information recording medium includes a substrate having label information pits serving as non-recording and non-reproducing pits that are formed in the clamping area and a reflective layer laminated on the label information pits, and a dummy substrate to be attached to the substrate through an adhesive layer formed on the reflective layer. The multiple label information pits are formed substantially in an entire region of the clamping area to display the label information which emerges by linking portions where the label information pits are not formed.
US07643399B2
The data structure includes a navigation area of a computer readable medium storing navigation data associated with a data stream representing a portion of at least one reproduction path. The navigation data includes indication information, and the indication information indicates whether the data stream represents multiple reproduction paths or the data stream represents a single reproduction path. If the indication information indicates the data stream represents multiple reproduction paths, the navigation data includes path number information and an indicator associated with each reproduction path. The path number information identifies a number of the multiple reproduction paths, and each indicator indicates a file associated with the associated one of the multiple reproduction paths.
US07643397B2
The present invention relates to an optical recording media including two or more information layers, at least one of the information layers including a writable recording film. In the optical recording media, at least one information layer has protrusions and recesses that permit tracking and at least another one information layer is substantially flat.
US07643390B2
A write-once optical recording medium, a method for allocating a defect management area of the write-once optical recording medium, and a method for allocating a spare area of the write-once optical recording medium are provided. A method of managing defects on a write-once optical recording medium having at least one recording layer includes the steps of allocating at least one temporary defect management area having a fixed size and at least one temporary defect management area having a variable size to said optical recording medium, respectively, recording defect management information on the at least one temporary defect management area having a fixed size and the at least one temporary defect management area having a variable size; and using the at least one temporary defect management area having a fixed size and the at least one temporary defect management area having a variable size is provided herein.
US07643383B2
An optical disk having a dual layer layout includes two recording layers each having a data area for recording information. An optical information recording apparatus handles the two data areas of the two recording layers of the optical disk as a single continuous data area and divides the continuous data area into plural divided areas such as sessions and fragments. The optical information recording apparatus then records data on each of the sessions or fragments corresponding to the divided areas.
US07643382B2
When carrying out magnetization, annealing, and initialization of a recording film by applying a laser beam to the recording film while rotating an optical recording medium 10 by a motor 11, light of a strong visible-light lamp 15 is projected as parallel light to a reflecting mirror 14 via a lens 16 so as to apply light reflected by the reflecting mirror 14 to an area wider than a spot of the laser beam on the medium 10 for heating. At that time, a control unit 18 controls an intensity of the strong visible-light lamp 15 to raise a temperature of the medium 10 to a temperature of 80° C. or higher and a softening point of a substrate or lower, for example.
US07643374B2
Techniques for displaying sonic logging data that provide highly reliable, visual quality-control (QC) indicators. One aspect herein is directed to a display of sonic logging data corresponding to a slowness frequency analysis (SFA) projection log.
US07643367B2
Disclosed herein is a semiconductor memory device which prevents the voltage of a select bit line from being reduced due to the action of coupling capacitance between the select bit line and a non-select bit line, reduces current consumption, and enables high speed reading of bit lines. The semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory banks, a plurality of second bit lines, a plurality of selector circuits, a voltage supply circuit. Each of the memory banks includes a plurality of first bit lines, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of memory banks which are installed between the first bit lines and the word lines. The voltage supply circuit holds non-select bit lines of the first bit lines at the GND level at all times.
US07643365B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit able to operate by different power supply voltages resulting from fluctuations in production, provided with a process monitor circuit for obtaining a grasp of a delay characteristic corresponding to the conditions of a production process, a memory circuit for storing data concerning an extent of process variation acquired by the process monitor circuit, and a power supply voltage control circuit for adaptively controlling the power supply voltage in accordance with the extent of process variation acquired by the process monitor circuit and stored in the memory circuit, and a test method for guaranteeing the operation of the semiconductor integrated circuit.
US07643361B2
A redundancy circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a comparison signal receiving unit to receive a plurality of comparison signals and a fuse enable signal in parallel, wherein the comparison signals are generated by comparing a plurality of row address signals to a plurality of fuse address signals; and a redundancy control signal generating unit for providing a redundancy control signal by controlling an output signal path of the comparison signal receiving unit in response to a signal level of a row address enable signal. The comparison signal receiving unit receives the plurality of the comparison signals and the fuse enable signal while the row address enable signal is activated.
US07643356B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a pad for receiving an external signal through a first external pin, a reference voltage pad for receiving an external reference voltage through a second external pin, an internal reference voltage generator configured to generate an internal reference voltage using an external voltage in response to a reference voltage select signal, a reference voltage supply unit for generating the reference voltage select signal in response to a plurality of select signals, and selecting one reference voltage between the external reference voltage and the internal reference voltage to output the selected one as a reference voltage, a buffer for converting an output signal of the pad into an internal voltage level on the basis of the reference voltage, and a signal selector for controlling an internal signal to be inputted/outputted through the reference voltage pad in response to the plurality of select signals.
US07643352B2
A method for erasing flash memory comprises the steps of: setting a critical ending condition; simultaneously erasing selected multiple sectors of the flash memory; stopping simultaneous erasing if one of the selected multiple sectors meets the critical ending condition; and erasing the remainder of each of the selected multiple sectors sequentially.
US07643329B2
An asymmetric Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) cell is provided. The SRAM cell comprises first and second storage nodes, drive transistors and access transistors. The first and second storage nodes are configured to store complementary voltages. The drive transistors are configured to selectively couple each of the first and second storage nodes to corresponding high and low voltage power supplies, and maintain a first logic state through a feedback loop. The access transistors are configured to selectively couple each of the first and second storage nodes to corresponding first and second bit-lines and maintain a second logic state through relative transistor leakage currents. A method for reading from and writing to the SRAM cell are also provided.
US07643324B2
A content Addressable memory (CAM) for performing search operations using variable width search data, said CAM comprising a plurality of arrays of CAM cells, each coupled to a respective sub-search data bus, the sub-search buses being confined to form a main search data bus, to which is applied the search data; selector circuits receiving match line signals from respective CAM arrays, the match line signals being indicative of the results of a search and comparison formed in the associated CAM array, the selector circuit being responsive to a mode selection signal for selecting one or more of said match line output signals to be switched to a priority encoder and multiple match resolver (PE-MMR), wherein in a first mode the match line output signals are switched to said PE-MMR and in a second mode groups of match line output signals from selected arrays are switched to said PE-MMR.
US07643320B2
In one embodiment, a load connected to power sourcing equipment (PSE) compatible with a Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard is characterized to determine whether the load corresponds to a valid powered device (PD). A switching signal having a first frequency is generated on the isolated side and used to generate an electrical current through the isolated-side primary coil of a power transformer in the PSE. A first voltage measurement, corresponding to a first line-side voltage across the transformer's secondary coil, is generated on the isolated side, e.g., using an isolated-side auxiliary transformer coil. The load is characterized based on the first voltage measurement and the first frequency. To compensate for voltage offset, a second voltage measurement can be generated corresponding to a second frequency of the switching signal, where the load is then characterized based on the first and second voltage measurements and frequencies.
US07643318B2
A topology for a three-phase, wye-connected H-bridge converter allowing continued operation when one H-bridge phase has failed by bypassing the failed H-bridge, increasing dc-bus voltage to provide the required output load voltage, and decreasing switching frequency to reduce power losses in semiconductor switches. In normal operation, the dc-bus voltage is operated at a lower voltage, improving the reliability of power semiconductor devices. When an H-bridge is bypassed, the dc-bus is operated at a higher voltage but lower effective switching frequency, reducing semiconductor losses, allowing the converter to put out more current with the same temperature rise in the power switches.
US07643310B2
A shielding device (10) and method are provided. The shielding device (10) includes a frame (21) and an enclosure (22). The enclosure (22) includes a cover portion (221) and a first peripheral wall (222) connecting to the cover portion (221). The frame (21) includes a second peripheral wall (21) and a plurality of guiding sheets (215) connected to the second peripheral wall (211). The first peripheral wall (222) is detachably received in the frame (21). A gap (23) is formed between the first peripheral wall (222) and the guiding sheets (215), used to detach the enclosure (22) from the frame (21).
US07643294B2
A heat dissipating apparatus includes a heat spreader (20) for thermally connecting with a heat generating electronic component, a heat sink (10) thermally connected with the heat spreader, and a heat pipe (30) thermally connecting the heat sink with the heat spreader for transferring heat from the heat spreader to the heat sink. The heat pipe includes an evaporation section (31) attached to the heat spreader, two semicircular condensation sections (33, 34) thermally engaging with the heat sink, and two connecting sections (35, 36) each interconnecting a corresponding condensation section and the evaporation section.
US07643285B2
A storage apparatus has a cabinet stored with an array of memory mediums, a power supply unit housed at the bottom of the cabinet, a fan provided immediately under the top surface of the cabinet and immediately above the memory mediums, and a partition member provided insides the cabinet and configured to partition a first cooling path from mixing with a second cooling path inside the cabinet. The first cooling path of first external air for cooling the memory mediums starts at an inlet on a side surface of the cabinet and ends at the top surface of the cabinet to discharge the first external air out of the cabinet form the top surface. The second cooling path of second external air for cooling the power supply unit ends at the top surface of the cabinet and discharges the second external air out of the cabinet at the top surface.
US07643283B2
An adaptive dock for use with media players of varying form factors is provided by an arrangement in which a device connector is located on a moveable sled that is located in the dock's base unit. A device-specific dock insert is arranged for removable engagement with the base unit to allow the base to have applicability to different media players by using the appropriately configured insert. The insert includes a device receiving space having an opening that is located to expose the media player's accessory connector. The insert further includes an actuator that slidably engages with a cam that is located on the sled to impart a lateral motion to the sled as the insert is placed downward into the dock's base unit so as to align the device connector on the sled with the opening in the insert.
US07643282B2
An electronic apparatus has: a housing with a surface partially formed by a removably attachable lid; and a main-body connector disposed adjacent to an opening to be covered by the lid. A hard disk unit is removably inserted into the opening of the housing of the electronic apparatus. The hard disk unit has a unit connector to be mated with the main body connector. The hard disk unit includes an insulation sheet disposed between a circuit board and a support fitting. A part of the insulation sheet is extended and bent to spread on the rear surface of the support fitting so that connection between the connectors can be released when the extended part of the insulation sheet is pulled.
US07643281B2
A storage controller of the present invention reduces maintenance work by the user by irreplaceably mounting the respective component parts inside an enclosure. A plurality of disk drives, which comprise a spare drive, and repair slots are arranged in close proximity in a matrix on the front side inside the enclosure. A backboard is disposed rearward of the respective disk drives. A plurality of control boards are arranged rearward of the backboard by being stacked one atop the other. A plurality of disk drives and a plurality of batteries respectively stacked one atop the other are arranged on the one side of the respective control boards. A plurality of power devices stacked one atop the other are arranged on the other side of the respective control boards. A plurality of cooling fans are arranged in the center part of the enclosure. The respective parts are affixed to the enclosure so as to be irreplaceable under normal circumstances.
US07643277B2
An exemplary electronic device (30) includes a main body (40) and two support legs (43). The main body has two sloping slide portions (415) formed at two adjacent corners thereof. A depth of each sloping slide portion increases from one end to the other end. Each support leg are movably connected to one corresponding sloping slide portion, such that a height of the support leg relative to main body is capable of being changed when the support leg moves relative to the main body.
US07643276B2
A display apparatus including a display main body that displays an image thereon and a base member, the display apparatus further including a lifting unit which includes a guide frame that stands on the base member and a lifting member coupled with the guide frame to move with the display main body, a pivoting unit which is provided between the display main body and the lifting member and supports the display main body to pivot around a pivot axis in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and a locking unit which includes a moving member that is lifted together with the display main body and moves with a pivoting operation of the display main body, and a locking projection provided on the guide frame to limit one of the pivoting operation and the lifting operation of the display main body by limiting the moving member from moving. With this configuration, the display apparatus can limit a display main body from moving downward while remaining pivoted, and from pivoting while remaining in a lowered position close to the base member.
US07643273B2
A control device of connection studs of a computer includes a plurality of hexagonal grooves which are punched at different distances on a base plate of a computer casing. The groove is provided with a through-hole, hexagonal heads of a set of studs are loosely fitted into the hexagonal grooves, and rods of the studs are loosely transfixed into the through-holes, in order to screw with a circuit board of different size, such that a number of studs to be actually used for screwing can be effectively controlled, and an interference from the unnecessary studs, the circuit board, or other parts can be prevented.
US07643272B2
Embodiments of a fastener and a display of a portable computer using the same and methods thereof can reduce a thickness, cost or weight of a display panel. The fastener can include at least a pair of columns spaced apart from each other, a connection for connecting the pair of columns, and first and second catching jaws that can be formed on different portions of the fastener (e.g., lateral sides) such that a part to be coupled can be caught thereto. The first and second catching jaws can be separated by a prescribed height. A front and rear case of a display of a portable computer include a catching hook and the fastener, respectively, so an inverter or the like can be secured in the display.
US07643271B2
An electrical junction box is configured to be attached to a vehicle. The box includes a container that has a front opening and a cavity located behind the front opening. A cover is movably attached to the container, so it can be moved into a closed position covering the front opening. A socket, to which an electrical supply cable can be removably connected, is fixed to the container beside the front opening. Breakers are secured to the container within the cavity. Each breaker has an input terminal and an output terminal. Each input terminal is electrically connected to the supply cable via the socket. Electrical distribution lines connect the breakers' output terminals to components of the vehicle that are outside the cavity.
US07643264B2
A power supply controller includes detection circuits that are provided so as to correspond to a plurality of load circuits performing an operation by power output from a power supply circuit and that detect an overcurrent condition of load currents of the respective load circuits; and a control unit controlling a predetermined operation of the power supply circuit so as to change the amount of power output from the power supply circuit in accordance with detection outputs of the detection circuits.
US07643261B2
There is provided a semiconductor device capable of supplying an analog input signal higher than or equal to an operating power supply voltage. An electrostatic discharge protection circuit corresponding to the analog input signal is provided for an external terminal that is supplied with an analog input signal generated with a first power supply voltage. A voltage divider resistor divides the analog input signal passing through the electrostatic discharge protection circuit into a voltage corresponding to a second power supply voltage lower that the first power supply voltage. An input circuit operating on the second power supply voltage receives the analog input signal divided by the voltage divider resistor to form an internal analog signal. There are provided first and second unidirectional elements. The first unidirectional element passes current from the input circuit's input terminal to the second power supply voltage. The second unidirectional element passes current from a circuit ground potential to a first circuit's input terminal.
US07643254B2
A free magnetic layer of a tunnel-effect type magnetic sensor is formed on an insulating barrier layer made of Mg—O, and the free magnetic layer includes an enhancement layer, a first soft magnetic layer, a non-magnetic metal layer, and a second soft magnetic layer, which are laminated in that order from the bottom. For example, the enhancement layer is formed of Co—Fe, the first and the second soft magnetic layers are formed of Ni—Fe, and the non-magnetic metal layer is formed of Ta. The average thickness of the first soft magnetic layer is formed in the range of 5 to 60 Å. Accordingly, a high resistance change rate (ΔR/R) can be obtained.
US07643252B2
A head suspension prevents a read element from electrostatic discharge damage without employing a static electricity remover, and at the same time, secures the frequency characteristics of a write signal. The head suspension has a load beam to apply load to a slider that writes and reads data to and from a hard disk, a flexture made of a conductive thin plate attached to the load beam, to support the slider, write wires connected to the slider and formed on an insulating base layer that is made of flexible resin and is formed on the flexure, and coating made of conductive flexible resin to discharge static electricity. The coating is formed over the read wires and is extended to the surface of the flexure.
US07643249B2
A holding portion, on which a slider having a magnetic element for recording and/or replaying is held is provided on a second supporting portion of a supporting member, in which conductive patterns are formed. A plurality of fixing portions are formed in the holding portion and when the slider is sandwiched between the plurality of fixing portions, the slider is electrically connected with the conductive patterns.
US07643243B2
Dampers are interposed between plural surfaces of an information storage device and facing surfaces of an electronic device to reduce shocks and vibrations applied to the information storage device mounted inside the electronic device. Each of the dampers includes portions contacting the electronic device, and portions contacting the information storage device, wherein the two portions are set apart on a plane from each other. Each of the dampers includes a flat platelike body part having a first surface facing the electronic device and a second surface facing the information storage device, a plurality of protrusions protruding from predetermined positions of the first surface of the body part and contacting the electronic device, and a plurality of second protrusions protruding from the second surface of the body part and contacting the information storage device, the plurality of second protrusions being set apart on a plane from the plurality of first protrusions.
US07643239B2
Embodiments of the present invention reduce the written-in run-out in servo data written to a storage medium. A set of servo controllers are evaluated and the controller having the best expected performance among the set is selected and employed. One embodiment of the present invention is a servo controller configured to select and employ a controller having a least amount of expected written-in run-out among a set of controllers. Another embodiment of the present invention is a method comprising a step for applying a set of controllers; and selecting a controller from the set of controllers with a least expected amount of written-in run out. Another embodiment of the present invention is a system comprising a servo controller for employing and selecting a disk controller that has a least expected amount of written-in run-out among a set of controllers.
US07643237B2
A media storage device which reads and writes data from and to a storage medium using a head prevents in advance data loss due to thermal relaxation of data recorded on the storage medium. Management information is created, in units of received write commands, for holding the recording areas on the storage medium of the write data and signal quality information; the management data is stored in a management table, and signal quality is measured, updated, and used in re-recording judgements, in write command units. Thermal relaxation state management can be performed in write command units; thermal relaxation processing is simple, and moreover degradation of recorded data due to thermal relaxation can be detected accurately, and data loss can be prevented.
US07643229B2
An optical system includes a negative refraction lens and a compensating element. The negative refraction lens is a flat plate formed by a material exhibiting negative refraction, and a surface on which light is incident and a surface from which the light is emerged are formed to be flat and parallel. The compensating element is an optical element which makes light incident at a predetermined angle, emerge at another predetermined angle. A light ray is emitted from an object point on an object plane, and reaches an image point on an image plane after being refracted twice by a negative refraction lens. The light ray is reflected by the compensating element, then refracted at an emergence-side pupil, and reaches the image point upon being reflected once again by the compensating element.
US07643221B2
A zoom lens comprises a first lens unit that does not move for zooming and that has a positive refractive power, a second lens unit that is configure to move to an image side during zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end and that has a negative refractive power, a third lens unit that is configured to reduce image plane variation due to zooming, and a fourth lens unit that does not move for zooming. The fourth lens unit comprises a fourth-F unit, a fourth-B1 unit, and a fourth-B2 unit. The average Abbe number of positive lens and negative lenses in the fourth-B1 unit and the average Abbe number of positive negative lenses in the fourth-B2 unit are set appropriately.
US07643216B2
The invention is directed to an objective, particularly for telescope-type stereomicroscopes. The objective comprises two lens groups, a first lens group and a second lens group. The first lens group, which faces the object plane, has a positive refractive power and comprises a plurality of lenses of which at least two form a cemented component. The second lens group, which is on the image side, has a negative refractive power and comprises a collecting cemented component and a diverging lens. The objective is characterized in that the following conditions B1 and B2 are met:where DAP represents the diameter of the exit pupil of the objective and ω1 represents the maximum field angle.
US07643214B2
There is provided an optical device, having a light transmitting substrate (20) including at least two major surfaces parallel to each other and edges; optical means (16) for coupling light into the substrate by internal reflection and at least one reflecting, surface (22) located in the substrate which is non-parallel to the major surfaces of the substrate (20) characterized in that the optical means (16) for coupling light into the substrate is a partially reflecting surface, wherein part of the light coupled into the substrate (20) passes through the partially reflecting surface (16) out of the substrate and part of the light is reflected into the substrate (20).
US07643213B2
Ellipse-shaped microlenses focus light onto unbalanced photosensitive areas, increase area coverage for a gapless layout of microlenses, and allow pair-wise or other individual shifts of the microlenses to account for asymmetrical pixels and pixel layout architectures. The microlenses may be fabricated in sets, with one set oriented differently from another set, and may be arranged in various patterns, for example, in a checkerboard pattern or radial pattern. The microlenses of at least one set may be substantially elliptical in shape. To fabricate a first set of microlenses, a first set of microlens material is patterned onto a support, reflowed under first reflow conditions, and cured. To fabricate a second set of microlenses, a second set of microlens material is patterned onto the support, reflowed under second reflow conditions, which may be different from the first conditions, and cured.
US07643201B2
An electrochromic mirror includes a transparent electrode film, an electrochromic film formed at one thickness direction side of the transparent electrode film, a light reflective film that reflects light that has transmitted through the transparent electrode film and the electrochromic film, a lithium ion transmissive film provided between the electrochromic film and the light reflective film, an electrically conductive film provided at the one thickness direction side of the transparent electrode film and at a side of the light reflective film opposite from the lithium ion transmissive film, and an electrolytic solution that comprises lithium ions and is enclosed between the light reflective film and the electrically conductive film. The lithium ion transmissive film transmits lithium ions and imposed diffusion of silver from the side of the light reflective film to the side of the electrochromic film.
US07643200B2
An exterior reflective mirror element suitable for a vehicle includes a transparent glass substrate having a reflector and a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of the substrate. The visual indicator display may be part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle wherein the visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle. The visual indicator display includes at least a first indicator at a first location to the rear of the exterior reflective mirror element. A first portion of the reflector may be at least partially removed at the first location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive first portion of the exterior reflective mirror element at the first location.
US07643199B2
High-aperture-ratio devices comprise active-matrix elements and interferometric modulators and methods of making thereof. The active-matrix element may be positioned behind the interferometric modulator with respect to incident light. In some embodiments, components of the active-matrix element may be formed on a first substrate, while components of the interferometric modulator may be formed on a second substrate, and the substrates may then be attached.
US07643197B2
A method of manufacturing an oscillator based on etching a monocrystal silicon substrate, the method including a mask forming step for forming, on the monocrystal silicon substrate, an etching mask having a pattern with a repetition shape comprised of a plurality of mutually coupled oscillators each including a torsion spring between a supporting base plate and a movable member, an etching step for etching the monocrystal silicon substrate while using the etching mask as a mask, to form on the monocrystal silicon substrate a repetition shape comprised of a plurality of corresponding mutually coupled oscillators, and a dicing step for determining a width of the movable member and the supporting base plate of each of the oscillators in the repetition shape, which width is effective to determine a resonance frequency of the individual oscillators required when these are used as oscillators, and for cutting by dicing the movable member and the supporting base plate between adjoining oscillators, at the determined width.
US07643196B2
Presented herein are systems, methods and devices relating to miniature actuatable platform systems. According to one embodiment, the systems, methods, and devices relate to controllably actuated miniature platform assemblies including a miniature mirror.
US07643192B2
A system and method are used to pattern light using an illumination system, an array of individually controllable components, and a projection system. The illumination system supplies a beam of radiation. The array of individually controllable elements patterns the beam. The array of individually controllable elements comprises mirrors having first and second steps on opposite edges. The projection system projects the patterned beam onto a target portion of an object. In various examples, the object can be a display, a semiconductor substrate or wafer, a flat panel display glass substrate, or the like, as is discussed in more detail below.
US07643188B2
A method of recording an exposure pattern in a recording layer of a holographic mask, using an original reticle that has the exposure pattern formed therein, the recording method comprising: illuminating a first recording light and a first reference light to the recording layer simultaneously, the first recording light being illuminated through an original reticle placed opposite to the holographic mask with a first gap therebetween, the first reference light being illuminated to the recording layer at a first incident angle; and illuminating a second recording light and a second reference light to the recording layer simultaneously, the second recording light being illuminated through the original reticle placed opposite to the holographic mask with a second gap therebetween, the second gap being different from the first gap, the second reference light being illuminated to the recording layer at a second incident angle.
US07643185B2
A method for tone calibration and an apparatus using the same are provided. The method for tone calibration includes outputting a reference patch of a predetermined color and a plurality of sample patches having different tone levels of constant intervals of the color, receiving an input of identification information of any one of the sample patches, and generating a lookup table, which is obtained by reflecting a distortion level of the reference patch, in accordance with the input identification information.
US07643182B2
In one embodiment, a method of processing image data for compression is provided, wherein the image data represents an image and includes a plurality of image data values, each image data value representing an appearance characteristic of a pixel of the image. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a variance between n image data values, comparing the variance to a variance threshold to determine whether the variance meets a preselected condition relative to the variance threshold, and if the variance meets the preselected condition, then changing at least one of the n image data values to reduce the variance.
US07643165B2
When information is entered to make reservation with a PC for a desired function to be executed and conditions therefor among a plurality of functions of a multi-function machine, the multi-function machine displays marking information and the like for the purpose of selecting the function on the touch panel, and when the operator operates the corresponding marking information, the condition information is read from the PC, and the conditions are set in a way that allows the job to be executed with these conditions.
US07643163B2
A data processing apparatus includes one or a plurality of input portions, one or a plurality of output portions, a plurality of compressing/expanding devices which compress data-to-be-outputted included in a job inputted from any one of an input portions and expand the compressed data-to-be-outputted, and a job discrimination portion which discriminates whether the job inputted from any one of the input portions is not required to be outputted without delay. Depending on a discrimination result of the job discrimination portion, a controller controls operation assignment of a plurality of compressing/expanding devices and activates assigned compressing/expanding devices for the job.
US07643161B2
An inter-device media handler is configured to handle a print job in a print system having two or more media processing devices, such as a printer and a laminator. A sensor is configured to sense orientation of media buffered between the first media processing device and the second media processing device. A calculator module is configured to receive input from the sensor and to use the input to determine whether the media will stay within a working range of the second media processing device while the job is processed by the second media processing device.
US07643160B2
A spool file modifying device employed in a print server is connected with a printer. Further, the print server and at least one external terminal are interconnected. A spool file representing a print job that is instructed at the external terminal is converted into print data adaptable to the printer. The spool file modifying device includes a font data extracting system that extracts font data included in the spool file, a registering system that registers the extracted font data with the print server, and a modifying system that modifies the spool file to create a modified spool file in accordance with modifying information included in the spool file. The modified spool file is converted into the print data using the extracted font data, and then transmitted to the printer.
US07643156B2
A new and novel sensor having a simple structure with high detection sensitivity. The sensor (S1) includes the following from measuring light (L1) input side in the order listed below: a first reflector (10) having semi-transmissive and semi-reflective properties; a translucent body (20); and a second reflector (30) having perfect reflection properties, or semi-transmissive and semi-reflective properties. The first reflector (10) and/or second reflector is brought into contact with a specimen, and the average complex refractive index varies with the specimen. Absorption properties for absorbing light having a particular wavelength are produced by these components, the properties of the measuring light (L1) are changed by the optical properties including the absorption properties, the output light (L2) is outputted from the first reflector (10) and/or second reflector (30), and the physical properties of the output light (L2) that vary according to the optical properties are detected.
US07643145B2
The present invention relates to the detection of optical sensors by means of measurement of information relative to the signal intensity and signal modulation phase shift. The proposed method employs the use of CMOS and/or CCD imager and illuminations with different wavelengths. The system is able realize a contactless measurement of a phase shift to curse on a gas concentration an distance.
US07643144B2
An adjusting unit for making positional adjustment of the optical axis adjustment mask, based on the observation by the one optical unit, such that the reference mark at the one location or the other location and the optical axis adjusting alignment mark corresponding positionally thereto are superposed, and for making optical axis adjustment of the other optical axis, based on the observation by the other optical unit, such that the reference mark at the one location or the other location and the optical axis adjusting alignment mark corresponding positionally thereto are superposed.
US07643131B2
A spatial information detection device is provided, which is capable of, even under the condition that an environmental light having intensity fluctuations exists in a target space, projecting a light intensity-modulated with a predetermined modulation signal from a light emitting source into the target space, receiving light from the target space with a photodetector, and detecting spatial information of the target space from a change between the light projected from the light emitting source and the light received by the photodetector. This device has a smoothing unit configured to integrate, over a predetermined integration period, a fluctuation component in a prescribed phase zone of the modulation signal with respect to an electric charge amount generated by receiving the environmental light in the electric charge amount generated at the photodetector by receiving the light from the target space, thereby smoothing the fluctuation component.
US07643124B2
A liquid crystal is provided, which can be used in a liquid crystal display (LCD) to provide an LCD exhibiting a good transmittance. The liquid crystal according to the invention has the following properties: (i) a dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈) ranging from about −2.5 to about −5; (ii) a splay elastic constant (K11) ranging from about 1.1×10−11 N to about 1.6×10−11 N; (iii) a bend elastic constant (K33) ranging from about 1.1×10−11 N to about 1.6×10−11 N; and (iv) Δ∈, K11 (N) and K33 (N) conforming to the following equation: K 11 + K 33 10 × Δ ɛ < 1.28 × 10 - 12 . A liquid crystal material combination is also provided which comprises the liquid crystal according to the invention above mentioned and a polymerizable monomer.
US07643123B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a liquid crystal area defined within a display area by a sealant, and a non-display area formed in an outer part of the display area, and at least one bubble trap arranged in the outer part of the sealant within the non-display area and patterned to have a concave surface facing toward outside of the non-display area.
US07643117B2
There is provided a liquid crystal panel, in which a color shift in an oblique direction is small even when observed from any azimuth angle of 0° to 360°, and the viewing angle in the horizontal direction is wide. A liquid crystal panel according to the present invention includes: a liquid crystal cell; a first polarizer placed on one side of the liquid crystal cell; a second polarizer placed on the other side of the liquid crystal cell; and a first optical compensation layer and a second optical compensation layer placed between the first polarizer and the second polarizer, wherein: the first optical compensation layer is placed between the first polarizer and the liquid crystal cell; a slow axis direction of the first optical compensation layer is substantially perpendicular to an absorption axis direction of the first polarizer; the first optical compensation layer has a refractive index profile of nx>ny≧nz; the first optical compensation layer includes a retardation film (A) which contains a polyvinyl acetal-based resin and whose in-plane retardation value (Re[750]) at a wavelength of 750 nm is larger than an in-plane retardation value (Re[550]) at a wavelength of 550 nm; the second optical compensation layer is placed between the first optical compensation layer and the second polarizer; and the second optical compensation layer has a refractive index profile of nx=ny>nz.
US07643116B2
In a retardation film (c plate) for canceling the optical effect of a liquid crystal layer, the optical effect of the liquid crystal layer which is represented by Δnd/λ increases as the wavelength λ of incident light decreases. Accordingly, in order to cancel this effect, a negative retardation needs to be reduced as the wavelength of incident light increases. In a retardation film (a plate) for rotating the direction of polarization of light, an in-plane retardation needs to be increased as the wavelength λ of incident light increases. It is preferable that both of these retardation films be placed. However, compared to known technologies, light leakage can be suppressed even using only any one of the retardation films.
US07643111B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and its fabrication method are disclosed. Specifically, a fabrication method in which polyhedral spacers are implemented on a substrate through an ink jet method are used for an LCD device. The spacers have the polyhedral shape to increase their contact area with two substrates, and include a surface processed layer for strengthening a bonding force in its bonding with an alignment film formed on the two substrates. The spacers have a polyhedral shape for maintaining the cell gap between the substrates.
US07643109B2
There are provided a substrate which has solved an unsatisfactory adhesion problem of a seal part in a liquid crystal cell comprising a retardation layer provided on the inner side of the cell, and a liquid crystal cell using the substrate. A color filter substrate includes a substrate 11, and at least a black matrix layer 12, a color filter layer 13, and a retardation layer 14 stacked on the substrate 11. The black matrix layer 12 and the color filter layer 13 are stacked on the substrate it while providing a margin around the periphery of the substrate 11. The retardation layer 14 is stacked on the black matrix layer 12 and the color filter layer 13 in a larger area than the area where the black matrix layer 12 and the color filter layer 13 are stacked. The substrate 11 in its margin, where neither the black matrix layer 12 nor the color filter layer 13 is stacked, is a predetermined seal area.
US07643097B2
A multiple-TV display channel setting method for synchronously a setting mapping relation between display channels and transmission channels to a first TV and a second TV is disclosed. The method includes setting the mapping relation between the display channels and the transmission channels to the first TV, allowing the first TV to display audio/video (A/V) signals transmitted over one of the transmission channels according to one of the display channels, wherein the display channel is mapped by the mapping relation onto the transmission channel; and transmitting the mapping relation to the second TV so that the second TV displays the A/V signals transmitted over the transmission channel according to the mapped display channels.
US07643095B2
An image display device controls a screen luminance to an appropriate value in response to switching of a display mode, thereby displaying each of television broadcast program images and graphic user interface images (including an electronic program guide, and a variety of setting menus) in an easy-to-see and power-saving manner. The image display device switches between a mode of displaying the television image and a mode of displaying the graphic user interface image. In response to the mode switching instruction, the device controls variably luminance intensity of a backlight source, thereby providing a screen luminance appropriate for each mode.
US07643091B2
An adaptive compensation system for aspect ratio conversion. Video information, intended for her first aspect ratio display, e.g. the standard NTSC aspect ratio, is processed to determine additional information that can enable that video to be displayed and fill a wider aspect ratio screen. The processing can be a calculation which calculates, for example, texture, color and/or brightness of the edge portions, and automatically calculates video information to match the texture, brightness or color. The processing can be a database lookup, which automatically looks up likely portions from a database. The processing can also be an adaptive determination of what vertical portions of the image can be stretched without affecting the viewability, and then an adaptive stretching of different portions by different amounts.
US07643085B2
An image pickup apparatus of the present invention is a portion of the image pickup portion is exposed on a first surface of the casing. The apparatus includes: a holding frame disposed on a second surface, which is the rear surface of the first surface of the casing, wherein the image pickup portion is held by the holding frame, and the holding frame is fixed to a third surface adjacent to the second surface. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of components, and to eliminate the need for the step of attaching the double-faced tape, and the step of attaching the cover ring to the front panel.
US07643084B2
A lighting control apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a lighting device and a signal supplying processor. The lighting device illuminates a photographic subject by receiving one of a sine wave signal, and a half-wave rectification wave signal, a saw wave signal, and a triangle wave signal in the exposure time. The signal supplying processor supplies one of the sine wave signal, the half-rectification wave signal, the saw wave signal, and the triangle wave signal, to be received, to the lighting device, in the exposure time.
US07643077B2
In order to provide a photoelectric conversion apparatus, which is an apparatus excellent in reading speed, high S/N, high tone level, and low cost, the photoelectric conversion apparatus has a photoelectric conversion circuit section comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, switching elements, matrix signal wires, and gate drive wires arranged on a same substrate in order to output parallel signals, a driving circuit section for applying a driving signal to the gate drive wire, and a reading circuit section for converting the parallel signals transferred through the matrix signal wires to serial signals to output them, wherein the reading circuit section comprises at least one analog operational amplifier connected with each of the matrix signal wires, transfer switches for transferring output signals from the respective matrix signal wires, output through each amplifier, reading capacitors, and reading switches for successively reading the signals out of the reading capacitors in the form of serial signals.
US07643076B2
An image scanning device divides an image scanning element group into a plurality of areas and an image signal is output for every area. The device includes a plurality of charge integrating units respective provided in each of the plurality of areas for integrating charges output from plural image scanning elements and outputting the charges thus integrated as an integrated charge, an integrated charge selecting unit for selecting any one or more integrated charges from the plural integrated charges and outputting the integrated charges thus selected, a charge accumulating unit for accumulating and combining any one or more integrated charges output from the integrated charge selecting unit; and an image signal outputting unit for converting the composite charge accumulated in the charge accumulating unit to an image signal and outputting the image signal.
US07643075B2
When a saturation flag of HDR-RAW data accumulated in a BRAM data accumulating section 19 is “1” and a saturation flag of HDR-RAW data accumulated in an input data accumulating section 18 is “0,” i.e., when a pixel being in a saturated state no longer attains the saturated state, the HDR-RAW data accumulated in the input data accumulating section 18 are recorded to BRAN 10 instead of the HDR-RAW data recorded that far. Therefore, the image data of the pixel within the second image is recorded, and it is not necessary to arrange the delay element. As a result, manufacture cost can be reduced by the amount for arranging the delay element.
US07643074B2
The difference between the output of a k-signal nonlinear low-pass filter (8g) and the output of an h-signal nonlinear low-pass filter (8r) is added (44) to the value of the h-th pixel signal (h(i, j)) at the pixel position of interest to obtain the k-th pixel signal (k(i, j)) at the pixel position of interest. Accurate pixel interpolation can be performed with good noise immunity, even at locations where the color signals are uncorrelated.
US07643049B2
When manufacturing a recording medium, a material layer 12 formed on a substrate 11 that composes the recording medium is exposed to a laser beam in accordance with a recording pattern. The material layer 12 has a predetermined reflectivity for the laser beam 13 so as to produce return light for the laser beam 13. By detecting this return light, the focusing of the laser beam on the material layer is adjusted. By doing so, a laser beam can be easily and accurately focused on a material layer during a process in which a laser beam is shone, in accordance with a recording pattern, onto a material layer formed on a recording medium or a production plate used when manufacturing a recording medium.
US07643044B2
The present invention provides for a compact, portable POS terminal through the use of a compact printer that utilizes a thermal printer with fan-folded paper. The POS terminal also accommodates contactless instrument readers and optionally includes features for electronic signature capture, user display interaction, multi-tasking capabilities, check reading and age and identity verification.
US07643037B1
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for presenting computer-generated characters. The method defines several frames for a character and sequentially presents the frames. Each frame depicts a particular representation of the character. Also, at least two of the frames provide different representations of the character. Some embodiments provide a method for applying effects to computer-generated characters. This method applies an effect to the computer-generated characters by first generating an effect script. It then selects the generated effect script to apply to the computer-generated characters.
US07643036B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for presenting color samples in a color chart. The color chart includes an arrangement of multiple color samples that include colored areas representing colors in a color space. Color samples in the arrangement are associated with one or more color identifiers that uniquely identify the colors represented by the corresponding color samples. A gamut identifier identifies a color gamut relative to the colors represented by the color samples in the arrangement. A gamut mapping is provided to map a color from outside the color gamut to a color inside the color gamut.
US07643027B2
Creating an explicit feature used for construction of a computer-aided design model includes recognizing that model features form an implicit feature, presenting variations of the implicit feature, selecting one of the variations of the implicit feature, and creating the explicit feature. The explicit feature produces geometry that gives rise to the selected variation of the implicit feature. The computer-aided design model is constructed by generating the explicit feature after generating the model features that form the implicit feature.
US07643022B2
Panel source driver circuits include a first data register and a second data register. A common data demultiplexer coupled to the first and second data registers is configured to provide control data from a first input of the demultiplexer to the first data register and control data from a second input of the demultiplexer to the second data register in a first operation mode and to provide control data from the second input to the first data register and control data from the first input to the second register in a second operation mode responsive to an operation mode select signal. A first decoder is coupled to an output of the first data register that is configured to select one of a plurality of first voltages having different levels responsive to the output of the first data register and to output the selected first voltage. A second decoder is coupled to an output of the second data register that is configured to select one of a plurality of second voltages having different levels in response to the output of the second data register and to output the selected second voltage.
US07643014B2
A voltage is generated after a touch screen is touched, and the voltage is transformed into a digital signal for detecting a touch point which the touch screen is touched. A touch sensing system includes a first switch having a first node coupled to a first voltage source, a second switch having a node coupled to a second voltage source, a first resistor coupled between the first switch and the second switch in a series connection, a comparator having a first input node coupled to a second node of the first switch, a successive approximation register (SAR) having an input node coupled to an output node of the comparator, and a simulation circuit. An output voltage of the simulation circuit is continuously adjusted by the comparator and the simulation circuit to transform the voltage generated on the touch screen into a digital signal.
US07643006B2
A gesture recognition method includes detecting multiple pointers in close proximity to a touch surface to determine if the multiple pointers are being used to perform a known gesture. When the multiple pointers are being used to perform a known gesture, executing a command associated with the gesture. A touch system incorporating the gesture recognition method is also provided.
US07643004B2
An apparatus for driving a liquid crystal display includes a picture quality improving unit that extracts a brightness component from first data, analyzes the brightness using the extracted brightness component, and generates second data having a contrast in accordance with the analyzed brightness. The contrast of the second data is extended from that of the first data. A timing controller rearranges the second data to supply the second data to a data driver. A backlight supplies the light to a liquid crystal panel in accordance with a driving current. An inverter supplies the driving current to the backlight.
US07642998B2
A display apparatus and an assembly of a driving circuit for the display apparatus having a display device, a film carrier with a lead to transfer a signal for driving the display device, and a bus board to supply a signal to the lead. A dummy lead is provided along the outside of each of an input side outer lead and an output side outer lead of the film carrier. A predetermined voltage is applied to the dummy leads. The predetermined voltage value is set to a value so as not to stationarily cause a DC bias for the voltage of the outer lead on the outside.
US07642996B2
A method of driving an organic electroluminescent device comprising a phosphorescent light emitter having an excited state emission decay time τ, which method comprises applying to the organic electroluminescent device a series of electrical pulses of duration td, such that the ratio td/τ is less than or equal to 0.1, at a frequency which is less than 1/τ.
US07642993B2
A method for driving a plasma display panel having a plurality of first electrodes, a plurality of second electrodes, and a plurality of third electrodes provided in a direction crossing the first and second electrodes while one frame is divided into a plurality of subfields, the plurality of first electrodes being divided into a plurality of groups each including a first group and a second group, and the plurality of second electrodes being biased at a first voltage during a reset period, an address period, and a sustain period. During the address period, a second voltage is selectively applied to a plurality of first electrodes included in the first group. A third voltage lower than the second voltage is selectively applied to a plurality of first electrodes included in the second group.
US07642970B2
An antenna device is provided which is capable of operating in a wider band of frequencies (in a plurality of transmitting and receiving frequency bands), achieving an excellent gain, maintaining non-directivity of vertically polarized waves in each of the transmitting and receiving frequency bands, and saving space. The antenna device includes the first antenna 101 being a chip-type antenna operating in a GSM band, second antenna 102 being a pattern antenna operating in DCS and PCS bands, third antenna 103 being a layer-stacked antenna operating in an UMTS band, all being mounted on a substrate 100. The second antenna 102 is connected to a line 105 extending from a power feeding port 104 connected to the first antenna 101. A gap is interposed between the second antenna 102 and third antenna 103 wherein the second antenna 102 is capacitively coupled to the third antenna 103 on the substrate 100 with no antenna switch being provided.
US07642969B2
A mobile communication terminal and an internal multi-band antenna are described. The internal antenna is formed on a substrate and has a first pattern and a second pattern. Both patterns may be formed on one side of the substrate, or one pattern may be formed on each side of the substrate. The first pattern and the second pattern have different widths. The terminal may be of any type such as a folding type terminal, a slider-type terminal, or a bar type terminal.
US07642933B2
Disclosed are methods in a slider form factor device, and slider form factor devices, for ignoring a key depression when there is a change in the position of a first housing relative to a second housing that occurs between the key depression and the release of the key depression. The method may include detecting a key depression of the first housing, detecting a change in the position of the first housing relative to the second housing, and detecting a release of the key depression. The method may further include ignoring the key depression when there is a change in the position of the first housing relative to the second housing that occurs between the key depression and the release of the key depression.
US07642923B2
A sensor for detecting position and/or movement in space and/or for detecting fluid-properties comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver which are enclosed by a fluid, characterized in that the at least one transmitter generates cyclic fluid density fluctuations and the at least one receiver detects the change in transit time and/or the phase shift and/or the frequency change and/or the amplitude change.
US07642919B2
Signalling and localisation device for an individual in the sea, includingan ultrasonic wave transmitter constituting an individual alarm unit carried by the individual in the sea designed to transmit carrier waves of primary signals; a surface surveillance means arranged on the surface of the sea and provided with: a submersed antenna capable of picking up the primary signals transmitted by individual alarm unit; means of transmitting secondary ultrasonic signals, these transmission means: means capable of calculating the position of individual alarm unit as a function of the ultrasonic signals received in response to secondary ultrasonic signals and of converting this information into the coordinates of a global positioning system; a unit for transmitting radio waves capable of sending signals representing these coordinates to a mobile or fixed alarm processing centre equipped with a radio receiver.
US07642918B2
Embodiments according to the present invention comprised RFID tags comprised of components disposed on a flexible conformal substrate. The substrate may be substantially transparent or opaque and the components may be comprised of organic electronic components. Components and circuits may be manufactured using thin-film deposition processes or by deposition of metal-containing inks using inkjet technology. Exemplary use of an embodiment according to the present invention is as a component in an on-vehicle radio-frequency (RF) automated toll system.
US07642916B2
An RFID bridge antenna is positioned between a tag antenna associated with a tag and a reader antenna associated with a reader. The bridge includes at least two RF antenna elements spaced apart from one another and coupled together by an electrical conductor. The first RF antenna element is located proximate to the tag antenna and the second RF antenna element is located proximate to the reader antenna. An electromagnetic carrier signal transmitted by the reader antenna is received by one of the RF antenna element and retransmitted to the tag antenna by the other RF antenna element, increasing the distance over which the tag can communicate with the reader. Where the tag is attached to a packaged object, the RFID bridge antenna may be included in the package to allow wireless data communication between the tag and a reader. The reader may also be located external to the package. For example, one of the RF antenna elements may be attached to a label on the package, allowing data stored in the tag to be extracted by the external reader. The object may be a module, also known as a customer replaceable unit (CRU), and the tag may be configured as a customer replaceable unit monitor (CRUM).
US07642905B2
An electronic device (40) includes a transmitter substrate (43) for generating information to be measured by a sensor (50) arranged in a partitioned space (10) which is partitioned by a tyre (1) and a rim wheel (2), a signal line (45) extended from the transmitter subs/rate (43)to outside of the partitioned space (10) and passing through an inner side of an air valve (30) provided at the rim wheel (2), the signal line (45) being formed by a core wire (45a) made of a conductor and a coaxial cable (45b) covering that core wire (45a), and an antenna (47) for transmitting radio waves containing the information (such as information of the tyre 1) generated by that transmitter substrate (43), the antenna (47) being connected to the signal line (45) and positioned outside the air valve (30).
US07642901B2
When an ignition switch is turned on to display an image on a display apparatus, the display apparatus first displays a needle image of meter images and a warning indicator image. Out of the meter images, the display apparatus displays the needle image for a specified time period (e.g., 0.2 seconds), and then displays a dial image. After displaying the dial image for a specified time period, the display apparatus displays a navigation image. The specified time period may be set to 0.5 through 1.0 second, for example, long enough to visually check or recognize display of the meter image and the warning indicator image. Accordingly, it is possible to visually check the meter image and the warning indicator image while the navigation image is not displayed.
US07642891B2
A planar inductance, such as for monolithic HF oscillators, has planar spiral windings, each with two loops, where each winding is in the form of an “eight” with cross-conductors carrying current in the same direction and running between two loops.
US07642888B2
An electric reactor of controlled reactive power is formed by a magnetic core, and at least one primary winding to which a main current is supplied to generate a main magnetic flow on the magnetic core. The reactor also includes at least a generator of the magnetic distortion field to which a control current is supplied to generate a field of magnetic distortion on the magnetic core. The magnetic distortion field is opposed to the main magnetic flow generating a distortion of the latter, achieving a change in the magnetic core reluctance and in this way a change in the reactive power of consumption of the reactor. In addition, a method is described to adjust the reactive power in an electric reactor.
US07642886B2
An operating device for an electric hob has an operating element for performing operating functions, which is rotatable and rests in a removable manner on a support. The operating element is configured to be shape-variable, such as being compressible, such that it can be pressed onto the support. Upon approaching the support, a control indication is detected for initiating a further operating function of the electric hob as a consequence of the detection of said approach. In one embodiment, the underside of the operating element is made from elastic foam material.
US07642881B1
A circuit including: at least one radio frequency microstrip conductor; and, a least one vanadium oxide region electrically coupled to the at least one radio frequency microstrip conductor; wherein, the at least one vanadium oxide region is substantially conductive in a first temperature range, and substantially non-conductive in a second temperature range.
US07642879B2
An impedance matching apparatus 3 calculates a forward wave voltage Vfo and a reflected wave voltage Vro at an output terminal 3b, based on a forward wave voltage Vfi and a reflected wave voltage Vri at an input terminal 3a, on information on variable values of variable capacitors VC1, VC2 acquired in advance through measurement, and on a T parameter of the impedance matching apparatus 3 corresponding to the information on the variable values of variable capacitors VC1, VC2. The impedance matching apparatus 3 calculates an input reflection coefficient Γi at the input terminal 3a corresponding to the information on the variable values of the variable capacitors VC1, VC2, based on the forward wave voltage Vfo, the reflected wave voltage Vro and the T parameter. The impedance matching apparatus 3 selects the lowest absolute value out of absolute values |Γi| of the input reflection coefficients corresponding to the variable values of the variable capacitors VC1, VC2, and adjusts the impedance of the variable capacitors VC1, VC2 based on the lowest value.
US07642877B2
A self-oscillating pulse-width modulator comprises an input, an output and a control loop. The control loop comprises a forward branch and a feedback loop. The forward branch is connected between the input and the output and comprises a comparator and a delay element. The feedback loop loops back to the input a feedback signal which depends on an output signal present at the output. The phase shift of the open control loop is 180° at the frequency of an oscillation to be generated by the modulator. At least a part of the phase shift is realized in the forward branch by means of the at least one delay element.
US07642874B2
An oscillator circuit may be used with controller circuits that are designed to operate with crystals, with no modifications to the pinout or firmware of the controller circuit. In some embodiments, the oscillator circuit includes an enable input that is responsive to low-amplitude transitions, which may be coupled to and driven by the crystal output signal of the controller circuit. When transitions are present on the crystal output signal, the oscillator circuit enables its clock output signal. When the controller circuit disables its crystal output signal, the oscillator circuit no longer detects transitions on the crystal output signal coupled to the oscillator circuit enable input, and disables the clock output signal.
US07642871B2
A surface acoustic wave oscillator includes: a cross-coupled circuit including first and second active elements differentially connected to first and second output terminals; first and second surface acoustic wave elements having different resonance frequencies and connected to the cross-coupled circuit in parallel; a first variable capacitance circuit including a first variable capacitance element and changing the resonance frequency of the first surface acoustic wave element; and a second variable capacitance circuit including a second variable capacitance element and changing the resonance frequency of the second surface acoustic wave element, wherein the first surface acoustic wave element is connected to the first variable capacitance circuit, the second surface acoustic wave element is connected to the second variable capacitance circuit, and oscillating outputs from combining outputs of the first and second surface acoustic wave elements are outputted by the cross-coupled circuit.
US07642870B2
A device and method for generating an adjustable chaotic signal are provided. The chaotic signal generation device includes a plurality of triangle pulse train generators which generate a plurality of triangle waves having different frequency cycles, an adder which adds the triangle waves output from the triangle pulse train generators and outputs a noise signal, and a frequency modulator which converts the noise signal to a certain frequency band to output a chaotic signal. Accordingly, the power consumption and cost are reduced and the manufacture of the chaotic signal generation device is simplified due to the components integrated on an IC. Also, a plurality of users can use wireless communications in a particular wireless communications area.
US07642867B2
A ring oscillator circuit having an odd plurality of inverter stages (i.e., 2N+1 stages). In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, only one of the inverter stages is operated in response to a variable input voltage, while the remaining inverter stages are operated in response to a highly filtered constant input voltage. The inverter stages that operate in response to the constant input voltage oscillate at a base frequency. The inverter stage that operates in response to the variable input voltage causes the frequency of the output signal to deviate from the base frequency by an amount determined by the variable input voltage. In this manner, the variable voltage inverter stage implements frequency control for the ring oscillator. The gain of the ring oscillator circuit is reduced by a factor of (2N+1) with respect to the gain of a conventional ring oscillator.
US07642865B2
A multiple phase clock circuit includes a multiple stage voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and multiple clock dividers. The VCO is operative at a frequency ‘N’ times higher than the required output frequency and generates ‘M’ equally spaced outputs having different phases but same frequency which are sent to multiple clock dividers. A modified Johnson counter is used as a clock divider. Each counter divides the frequency of the clock signal by N. As a result, each of the M outputs of the VCO are divided into N outputs, thereby making a total of ‘M×N’ equally spaced outputs. These output clock pulses have same frequency but different phases. A sequential logic is provided within the device for enabling the Johnson counters as soon as the VCO starts giving output, thus maintaining the sequence of the output of the Johnson counters.
US07642864B2
A ring oscillator has an odd number of NOR-gates greater than or equal to three, each with first and second input terminals, a voltage supply terminal, and an output terminal. The first input terminals of all the NOR-gates are interconnected, and each of the NOR-gates has its output terminal connected to the second input terminal of an immediately adjacent one of the NOR-gates. During a stress mode, a voltage supply and control block applies a stress enable signal to the interconnected first input terminals, and an increased supply voltage to the voltage supply terminals. During a measurement mode, this block grounds the interconnected first input terminals, and applies a normal supply voltage to the voltage supply terminals. Also included are an analogous NAND-gate based circuit, a circuit combining the NAND- and NOR-aspects, a circuit with a ring oscillator where the inverters may be coupled directly or through inverting paths, and circuits for measuring the bias temperature instability effect in pass gates.
US07642859B2
A power amplifier includes an amplification circuit, an input stage matching circuit, and an output stage matching circuit. The amplification circuit amplifies an input signal in each frequency band by an active element common to the signals in plural types of frequency bans, and outputs the amplified signal. The input stage matching circuit is disposed on an input side of the active element, and performs an impedance-matching between an output impedance of a circuit which supplies the signals of the plural types of frequency bands and an input impedance of the active element. The output stage matching circuit is disposed on an output side of the active element, and performs an impedance-matching between an input impedance of a circuit which receives the signals of the plural types of frequency bands outputted from the active element and an output impedance of the active element.
US07642841B2
A voltage-insensitive circuit includes a second circuit, and a biasing means for providing a constant bias current to the second circuit, the bias current being insensitive to power fluctuations of the voltage-insensitive circuit.
US07642839B2
A current consumption prevention apparatus includes a first current supply unit for transferring charges from a capacitor connected to a first inverter group to a capacitor connected to a second inverter group, and a second current supply unit for transferring charges of the capacitor connected to the second inverter group to the capacitor connected to the first inverter group. The current supply units are operated complementarily.
US07642830B2
A delay locked loop includes a storage element coupled to a data bus and produces a data synchronization signal. A phase detector receives a data clock signal and the data synchronization signal and produces a delay control signal. A first delay circuit produces a signal which is delayed relative to the data clock signal according to the delay control signal. A second delay circuit receiving the delayed signal produces a control signal coupled to a control input of the storage element by delaying the delayed signal an amount which causes the control signal to have a predetermined duty cycle.
US07642821B2
A method for synchronizing a clock signal with a reference signal is disclosed. One embodiment has a first synchronization part which has a bit pattern having a particular clock period, a pause whose length is a multiple of this clock period plus a fraction of the clock period, and a second synchronization part having the particular clock period. The method includes generating a phase difference signal which is proportional to a phase difference between the clock signal and the reference signal, filtering the phase difference signal and providing a filtered phase difference signal, driving a digital oscillator in such a manner that the frequency of the clock signal is changed on the basis of the filtered phase difference signal, the phase of the clock signal within a clock period being corrected by a value corresponding to the fraction of the clock period at an end of the pause in the reference signal.
US07642820B2
A triangle wave generator with function of spreading frequency spectrum is provided. The triangle wave generator includes a switch control circuit, a current generator, an integrator, and a spread spectrum control circuit. The switch control circuit provides an internal clock and a switch control signal. The current generator is coupled to the switch control circuit and provides charge current according to the switch control signal. The integrator is coupled to the current generator and provides a triangle wave signal. The spread spectrum control circuit is coupled to the switch control circuit and the current generator for providing a current control signal according to the internal clock.
US07642816B2
A transconductor to convert an input voltage to an output current, includes: a primary transconductance stage to provide the output current from the input voltage and a driving current; an adaptive transconductance stage coupled in series with the primary transconductance stage to generate the driving current from the input voltage; and a bias circuit coupled to provide a primary bias voltage to the primary transconductance stage and an adaptive bias voltage to the adaptive transconductance stage.
US07642814B2
The leakage compensation circuit includes: a replica circuit of a circuit to be compensated, the replica circuit provides a replica leakage current equal to a leakage current of the circuit to be compensated; an amplifier having a first input coupled to the replica circuit and a second input coupled to a node to be compensated; a first resistance coupled between an output of the amplifier and the replica circuit; a second resistance coupled between the output of the amplifier and the node to be compensated; and wherein the replica leakage current is subtracted from the node to be compensated.
US07642806B2
A magnetic test apparatus, in accordance with one embodiment, comprising a rotor coupled to a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft is mechanically coupled to a drive system; a stator coupled to at least one brush holder; at least one brush held by the brush holder, wherein the brush is held in contact with the rotor; a housing for supporting the rotor and the stator; and a magnet for providing a magnetic field in the vicinity of the at least one brush.
US07642805B1
A short detection circuit to detect a short condition in a backlight module, wherein the backlight module comprises a WLED circuit having a first terminal connected to an output voltage and second terminal connected to a driver IC. The short detection circuit comprises: a PMOS, a NMOS, a load and a detection module. The gate of the PMOS receives a first voltage and the source of the PMOS connects to the second terminal; the gate of the NMOS receives a reference voltage, the drain of the NMOS connects to the drain of the PMOS and the source of the NMOS connects to a detection terminal. The voltage of the detection terminal becomes a high state when the WLEDs have a short condition; and the detection module is connected to the detection terminal, when the voltage of the detection terminal becomes a high state, the detection module detects a short condition.
US07642791B2
In one embodiment, an interposer is made of a flexible, non-electrically conductive material with electrically conductive paths formed therein to substantially correspond with a pattern of electrical contacts of an electronic component and with a pattern of electrical contacts of an interface to be coupled to the electronic component.
US07642788B2
An AC/DC voltage measuring instrument is operable in a DC mode, an AC mode, or an automatic mode. In the DC mode, an input terminal is coupled directly to an analog-to-digital converter, which generates a digital output signal indicative of the amplitude of the received signal. In the AC mode, the input terminal is coupled to an RMS circuit through a capacitor. The RMS circuit generates an output signal having an amplitude indicative of the RMS amplitude of the received signal, and this output signal is coupled to the analog-to-digital converter. In the automatic mode, the input terminal is also coupled to the RMS circuit, but it is coupled to the RMS circuit without being coupled through the capacitor. The input terminal is coupled to the RMS circuit through an amplifier, and a calibration procedure is used to compensate for any offset of the amplifier.
US07642783B2
A nuclear magnetic resonance(=NMR) probehead, comprising N basic elements (10a, 10b, 10c), where N≧2, wherein each basic element (10a, 10b, 10c) comprises a measurement sample (11) and a resonator system (12a, 12b, 12c), and wherein the N resonator systems (12a, 12b, 12c) of the N basic elements (10a, 10b, 10c) are coupled to each other, is characterized in that a coupling network for the N resonator systems (12a, 12b, 12c) is provided, with which the totality of the N resonator systems (12a, 12b, 12c) can be operated in one identical, coupled mode during transmission and reception, wherein the coupling network comprises a shared receiver circuit for the totality of the N resonator systems (12a, 12b, 12c). With the inventive NMR probehead, a better signal-to-noise ratio can be achieved in the case of lossy samples than with probeheads according to the prior art.
US07642782B2
A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a coupling compensation processor (70) for compensating induced magnetic coupling between n individual coil segments (38) of a coil arrangement (36). An adjusted signal determining device (74) determines an adjusted input signal for each of the n individual coil segments of the coil arrangement (36). A transmitting system (54) creates RF pulses in accordance with the determined adjusted input signals and transmits the RF pulses to corresponding coil segments such that the transmitted RF pulses compensate for coupling between the coil segments (38) in the digital domain.
US07642775B2
An MR method determines local relaxation time values (T1, T2) of an examination object (5). First, two or more MR images (3, 4) of the examination object (5) are recorded, each with different time parameter sets (TR1, TE1, TR2, TE2) of an imaging sequence. MR images (6, 7) of a phantom are likewise recorded using the same time parameter sets (TR1, TE1, TR2, TE2) of the imaging sequence. The phantom has a known spatial distribution of relaxation time values (T1, T2). The local relaxation time values (T1, T2) of the examination object (5) are determined by comparing image values of the MR images (3, 4) of the examination object (5) with image values of the MR images (6, 7) of the phantom and by assigning image values of the MR images (6, 7) of the phantom to relaxation time values (T1, T2) according to the known spatial distribution of relaxation time values (T1, T2) of the phantom.
US07642772B1
A non-contact apparatus and method for measuring of the leakage current and capacitance of p-n junctions in test structures within scribe lanes of IC product wafers is disclosed. The apparatus comprises of a light source optically coupled with a fiber to a transparent electrode at the end of the fiber, which is brought close to the p-n junction under test. The ac signal generated from the test p-n junction is captured by this transparent and conducting coating electrode. The leakage current of a test p-n junction is determined using the frequency dependence of junction photo-voltage signal and reference signals from a p-n junction with low leakage current and known capacitance.
US07642767B2
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus used to the measure duty cycle of a clocking waveform utilizing minimal hardware and achieving high accuracy. This invention utilizes digital sampling of the signal to be measured at a rate that can be significantly lower then the clocking frequency of the signal to be measured. It accomplishes broad-band, multi-frequency use by using a time-varying frequency for the sampling clock to make sure that the sampling clock is asynchronous with the frequency of the clocking signal to be measured. The average ratio of the sampled ones (or zeros) as compared to the total number of samples is then computed to derive the measurement of duty cycle.
US07642761B2
A power supply circuit includes a standard voltage generator; a regulator to control an output voltage, and to be capable of being switched ON/OFF; a capacitor in parallel between the standard voltage generator and the regulator; a discharging circuit including a first switch and a second switch configured to discharge electrical charges from the capacitor via the second switch while the regulator is in an OFF state; and a starting controller configured to transmit a signal for controlling the first switch and the second switch. The first switch is connected in series between the standard voltage generator and the regulator. The second switch has one end connected to a connection node between the first switch and the regulator, and has another end connected to a ground. When the first switch is in OFF state, the second switch is turned to ON state while the regulator is in OFF state.
US07642759B2
Circuits and methods for paralleling voltage regulators are provided. Improved current sharing and regulation characteristics are obtained by coupling control terminals of the voltage regulators together which results in precise output voltages and proportional current production. Distributing current generation among multiple paralleled voltage regulators improves heat dissipation and thereby reduces the likelihood that the current produced by the voltage regulators will be temperature limited.
US07642757B2
A system and method for operating a Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC) connected to a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) are disclosed. The UPFC automatic operation system receives power system data from the SCADA system, automatically determines UPFC's optimum operation conditions according to power system states. The system includes: a UPFC acting as a serial/parallel FACTS to control variables of a power system; a SCADA for periodically acquiring line data of the power system and state data of the UPFC; and an upper controller for analyzing data received from the SCADA, and determining an UPFC's optimum operation mode for each power system condition and UPFC's optimum set-point control commands.
US07642747B2
A battery pack provided with a current cut-off device connected in series with batteries, a tamper detector to detect tampering and issue a tamper signal, and a control circuit connected to the tamper detector. If the tamper detector detects tampering with the battery pack, the control circuit switches the current cut-off device off to shut off current to the batteries, or it issues a tamper signal.
US07642746B2
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a battery core pack having a plurality of unit cells, especially a plurality of cylindrical batteries, which are connected with each other by connecting members. According to the present invention, the structure of the battery core pack can be easily modified by merely changing the combination of the connecting members without manufacturing additional connecting members. Consequently, common use of the connecting members is possible.
US07642739B2
A speed direction corrector determines whether a speed Vp corresponding to a manipulated variable Up generated by a position controller is larger than a target speed Vt set in a target speed setting register (Vp>Vt). If Vp≦Vt, the manipulated variable corresponding to the target speed Vt is corrected to the manipulated variable Up to produce a new manipulated variable Uf. If Vp>Vt, a manipulated variable corresponding to the target speed Vt is set to the new manipulated variable Uf as is. As above, in a deceleration section where Vp≦Vt, the manipulated variable of a position control is reflected in the manipulated variable of a speed control. Combined use of the speed control and the position control becomes possible without a need to execute a complicated process in which the manipulated variable is regulated at the time of switching from the speed control to the position control.
US07642733B2
A light emitting device driving circuit, includes: a switch device, a comparator, a driving module, a time counting circuit and a compensation module. The switch device is turned on or off according to a control signal for controlling a driving current flowing through the light emitting device. The comparator generates a comparison result according to a reference voltage and a feedback voltage corresponding to the driving current. The driving module generates the control signal according to the comparison result. The time counting circuit controls the driving module to turn on the switch device after the switch device turns off for a predetermined time. The compensation module detects a turn on time for the switch device and a delay time between the feedback voltage reaching the reference voltage value and the control signal varying correspondingly, and adjusts the reference voltage according to the turn on time and the delay time.
US07642732B2
A dielectric barrier discharge lamp lighting apparatus includes twenty-four dielectric barrier discharge lamps, and a ballast circuit for lighting the twenty-four dielectric barrier discharge lamps which includes a DC power supply, an inverter circuit, a step-up transformer, and a lighting lamp number detecting circuit. The lighting lamp number detecting circuit detects the number of normally lighting dielectric barrier discharge lamps based on a first peek appearing right after polarity change of an approximate rectangular wave provided from the step-up transformer. When the detected number is less than a predetermined value, the operation of the ballast circuit is controlled to be stopped.
US07642729B2
When an APC selection signal FA is set to H level to start an APC operation, a monitor voltage VA is immediately generated from a monitor voltage generating circuit 16A, and an error voltage VEA corresponding to the difference between the monitor voltage VA and a reference voltage VP is output from an error amplifying circuit 18A. However, until the monitor voltage VA reaches the vicinity of the reference voltage VP, a S/H circuit 20A is held in a hold mode, and a laser diode LDA is driven at a switching current ISA with the same current value as before the APC operation start. After the monitor voltage VA reaches the vicinity of the reference voltage VP, the S/H circuit 20A is switched to a sampling mode, and a feedback control operation of a closed loop is started.
US07642723B2
A vehicular lamp lighting circuit includes a control unit configured to control an electric current that flows to a light source unit. The control unit has an electric current supply section configured to output the electric current to the light source unit, a switching controller configured to compare, with a reference voltage, and to control, by switching, the electric current that is outputted from the electric current supply section, an output current detection section configured to detect the electric current that flows into the light source unit, and a voltage transform circuit configured to transform an electric potential difference that arises from the electric current that flows into the output current detection section into a difference voltage and to output the difference voltage thus converted to the switching controller.
US07642721B2
A high pressure discharge lamp can be used in a vehicle lighting device as a light source in place of a halogen lamp, and can be driven with a reduced starting voltage while being miniaturized. A gas is filled in a space between an arc tube and an outer tube of the high pressure discharge lamp, the gas being capable of dielectric barrier discharge, to reduce the starting voltage. A metal conductor is arranged in the space between the arc tube and the outer tube to stabilize the starting voltage and perform other functions. The metal conductor can also serve as a lead line. Accordingly, high voltage portions of the lamp are not exposed outside of the outer tube. This can reduce the entire size of the high pressure discharge lamp such that a housing for a headlight using a halogen lamp can be used for this type of high pressure discharge lamp.
US07642718B2
A plasma display panel having a reduced number of address electrodes to decrease power consumption while maintaining the same resolution is disclosed. First and second address electrodes are assigned to a pixel comprising three sub-pixels which are near one another. The first address electrode is assigned to two of the three sub-pixels and the second address electrode is assigned to the remaining sub-pixel. As a result, address electrode capacitance is reduced, and accordingly, cross-talk, power consumption, instantaneous power, and heat generation decrease significantly while maintaining the same display resolution.
US07642710B2
A pixel structure electrically connected to a scan line, a data line and a power line is provided. The pixel structure includes a current control unit, a pixel electrode and a redundant active device. The current control unit is electrically connected to the scan line, the data line and the power line. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the current control unit. The redundant active device is electrically connected to the pixel electrode and the current control unit, and the redundant active device is electrically insulated from the power line. Moreover, an organic electro-luminescence displaying unit and a repairing method thereof are further provided.
US07642702B2
To provide an electron source including: a wiring board having: a substrate provided with a groove on its surface; a first conductive member which is arranged along the groove in the groove; and a second conductive member which is arranged above the first conductive member crossing the first conductive member; and an electron-emitting device which is arranged on the wiring board and is electrically connected to the first conductive member and the second conductive member; wherein a particle is arranged between the first conductive member and an inner wall of the groove.
US07642693B2
A thin film made of a wurtzite structure compound is manufactured by a reactive sputtering using a metal material as a target, and a nitrogen gas or oxygen gas as a reactive gas. By optimizing film-forming conditions when manufacturing the film, it is possible to obtain a wurtzite thin film whose polarization directions of crystal grains are aligned in a uniform direction. There is provided a laminate including a first wurtzite crystalline layer made of a wurtzite crystalline structure compound is formed in advance between a substrate and a functional material layer that is a ground. Thus it is possible to improve the crystallinity and crystalline orientation of a second wurtzite crystalline layer on the functional material layer.
US07642672B2
The effects of power supply resistance and internal resistance drop are measured at any time in the interior or other strategic areas of an IC device during steady-state operation, and the results of managed internal voltage regulation are fed back from at least one point, but preferably from several or more points throughout the power grid of the IC. Thus, stability of voltage regulation on an IC including at least one integrated voltage regulator is dynamically controlled with voltage regulation that is managed to effectively provide a ‘secondary’ voltage regulation of the output of one or more voltage regulators to provide a desired voltage output result on one or more portions of a power grid. The management may be implemented in an IC having a singular power grid with respect to a particular supply voltage, or in an IC having multiple power grid structures (e.g., one in each quadrant, etc.).
US07642667B2
Wind power installation with ring generator having a stator with grooves to receive a stator winding
A synchronous machine has a stator in which grooves are provided at the inner or outer periphery in mutually spaced relationship to receive a stator winding. The synchronous machine may be in the form of a ring generator used in a wind power installation, for example. In order to provide a stator having a winding, in which the susceptibility to trouble as a consequence of the high loading on the generator is substantially reduced, the stator winding is wound without interruption continuously throughout.
US07642665B2
A portable genset with an engine driving a generator mounted to a frame and positioned within an enclosure. The enclosure includes front and rear hoods that are hingedly mounted adjacent opposite ends of the genset. The hoods may be hinged open to permit access to either of the engine or the generator. The genset may also include a tongue with a hitch mounted an outer end permitting the genset to be towed. The tongue may be movable between an extended position and a generally vertical position.
US07642664B1
This disclosure relates to transient energy systems for supplying power to a load substantially instantaneously on demand. Transient energy systems may include a flywheel coupled the rotor of an induction motor generator. One embodiment of the disclosure refers to systems and methods for reducing loads on a bearing in a transient energy system. In another embodiment, the disclosure refers to an induction motor generator that is optimized for high power transient power generation, yet low power motor operation. Yet another embodiment of the disclosure refers to using a flywheel as a drag pump to cool components of a transient energy system. In yet another embodiment, a slip control scheme is discussed for regulating a DC bus. In yet a further embodiment of the disclosure a method is provided for reducing unnecessary turbine starts by making turbine start a function of the rotational velocity of a flywheel.
US07642657B2
A MEMS apparatus has a MEMS device sandwiched between a base and a circuit chip. The movable member of the MEMS device is attached at the side up against the circuit chip. The movable member may be mounted on a substrate of the MEMS device or formed directly on a passivation layer on the circuit chip. The circuit chip provides control signals to the MEMS device through wire bonds, vias through the MEMS device or a conductive path such as solder balls external to the MEMS device.
US07642655B2
In order to form an aluminum system wiring that does not peel off on an insulating film containing fluorine and to improve the reliability thereof, a semiconductor device according to the present invention includes an insulating film (14) containing fluorine formed on a substrate (11), a titanium aluminum alloy film (17a) formed on the insulating film (14) containing fluorine, and a metallic film (17b) comprising aluminum or an aluminum alloy formed on the titanium aluminum alloy film (17a).
US07642654B2
A multilayer wiring structure of a semiconductor device having a stacked structure is arranged to restrain reliability degradation due to stress applied to the region of wiring between opposite upper and lower plugs. The rate of overlap of contact surface between upper plug and wiring on contact surface between lower plug and wiring, is small to the extent that no void is generated. The multilayer wiring structure is produced such that no grain boundary is contained in the region of wiring between upper and lower plugs. The difference in thermal expansion coefficient between the material of wiring and the material of upper and lower plugs, is small to the extent that no void is generated.
US07642653B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an element formed in the substrate, an insulation film formed on the substrate, wiring layers, and an electrode pad. The wiring layers are multilayered and electrically coupled to the element through the insulation film. The electrode pad is electrically coupled to a top wiring layer of the wiring layers. The top wiring layer is configured to be a top wiring-electrode layer that doubles as an electrode layer disposed under the electrode pad. The electrode layer of the top wiring-electrode layer is disposed directly above the element. The electrode pad and the electrode layer are multilayered to form a pad structure.
US07642652B2
A barrier layer and a copper film are successively formed on a silicon oxide film including a groove for wiring in the silicon oxide film and a silicon nitride film, both formed on a semiconductor substrate. Thereafter, the barrier layer and the copper film are removed from outside of the groove for wiring, thereby forming a wiring. Tungsten is selectively or preferentially grown on the wiring to selectively form a tungsten film on the wiring. After the formation of the copper film, a treatment with hydrogen may be performed. After the formation of the wiring, the semiconductor substrate may be cleaned with a cleaning solution capable of removing a foreign matter or a contaminant metal. After the formation of the wiring, a treatment with hydrogen is carried out.
US07642636B2
A stack package may include a plurality of individual packages arranged in a stack. Each individual package may have a circuit substrate disposed on the upper and lower surfaces of a semiconductor chip. Through bonding wires, a lower circuit substrate may be electrically connected to the semiconductor chip, and an upper circuit substrate may be electrically connected to the lower circuit substrate. An upper package in the stack may be mechanically and electrically connected to the upper circuit substrate of a lower package in the stack through conductive bumps. The semiconductor chip may be surrounded by the upper and the lower circuit substrates, and molding resins. The individual packages may have the same conductive bump layout.
US07642625B2
A thermal stress resistance evaluating method of a semiconductor device includes: forming a test circuit on a corner of each of unit regions arranged on a wafer in an array arrangement; forming a TEG chip by dicing a TEG chip region which is determined by grouping at least two of the unit regions in a predetermined shape; assembling a packaged TEG chip from the TEG chip; and executing a temperature cycling test on the packaged TEG chip by using the test circuit on the TEG chip. According to such a configuration, by adjusting the predetermined shape, the packaged TEG chip of various sizes can be formed in accordance with the design of the product chip size.
US07642616B2
A method used during semiconductor device fabrication comprises forming at least two types of transistors. A first transistor type may comprise a CMOS transistor comprising gate oxide and having a wide active area and/or a long channel, and the second transistor type may comprise a NAND comprising tunnel oxide and having a narrow active area and/or short gate length. The transistors are exposed to a nitridation ambient which, due to their differences in sizing, results in nitridizing the tunnel oxide in its entirely but only partially nitridizing the gate oxide. Various process embodiments and completed structures are disclosed.
US07642596B2
An insulated gate field effect transistor has a drain region (2,4), a body region (6) of opposite conductivity type and a source region (8) and an insulated gate (14) extending laterally over the body region (6), defining a channel region (30) extending in the body region (6) from a source end adjacent to the source region (8) to a drain end adjacent to a drain end part (26) of the drain region (4). A conductive shield plate (22) is provided adjacent to the drain end for shielding the gate. Embodiments include a shield plate extension (32) extending over the drain region from the shield plate (22) towards the gate (14).
US07642595B2
There are provided a nonvolatile semiconductor memory of a structure in which electric signals from peripheral circuits are reliably transferred to control gates via word lines even if contact holes cannot be opened accurately above the word lines, and a method of fabricating the nonvolatile semiconductor memory. Plural word lines and plural bit lines are disposed on a semiconductor substrate, and there are memory cells at intersecting portions of the word lines and the bit lines. At contact portions of the word lines and metal wires of an upper layer, polysilicon regions, which include the contact portions, are formed beneath a polysilicon forming the word lines, as an etching stop layer at a time of forming contacts.
US07642592B2
An integrated circuit comprises a memory device including an isolation layer for defining an active area of a substrate, a tunnel oxide layer formed on the active area, a floating gate formed over the active area and the isolation layer, an inter-gate dielectric layer formed on the floating gate, and a control gate formed on the inter-gate dielectric layer. The integrated circuit also includes a high and low voltage transistors.
US07642589B2
A field effect transistor includes a vertical fin-shaped semiconductor active region having an upper surface and a pair of opposing sidewalls on a substrate, and an insulated gate electrode on the upper surface and opposing sidewalls of the fin-shaped active region. The insulated gate electrode includes a capping gate insulation layer having a thickness sufficient to preclude formation of an inversion-layer channel along the upper surface of the fin-shaped active region when the transistor is disposed in a forward on-state mode of operation. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.
US07642587B2
A flat panel display device including a first region having an organic light emitting diode and a thin film transistor and a second region having a capacitor is disclosed. The capacitor comprises first, second, and third electrodes, where the area of a third capacitor electrode is reduced, thereby ensuring a distance between a first power voltage line and the third capacitor electrode. The total area of the capacitor is compensated by increasing the area of the first capacitor electrode. Thus, the area of the third capacitor electrode is reduced while the total capacitance of the capacitor is maintained, thereby preventing a dark spot caused by a short circuit between the first power voltage line and the third capacitor electrode.
US07642576B2
A rotational micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) having a piezo-resistor sensor is provided. The rotational MEMS device includes a pair of torsion springs that support a stage, four resistors, at least one of the resistors being formed along a center axis of the torsion springs, and electrical signal cables connected to the four resistors, wherein at least one of the torsion springs is formed in a <100> direction on an n-type silicon substrate having a (100) plane, and the resistors formed on the at least one of the torsion springs are formed in a <110> group direction.
US07642568B2
A semiconductor device including a substrate-driven field-effect transistor with a lateral channel and a parallel-coupled Schottky diode, and a method of forming the same. In one embodiment, the substrate-driven field-effect transistor of the semiconductor device includes a conductive substrate having a first contact covering a substantial portion of a bottom surface thereof, and a lateral channel above the conductive substrate. The substrate-driven field-effect transistor also includes a second contact above the lateral channel and an interconnect that connects the lateral channel to the conductive substrate operable to provide a low resistance coupling between the first contact and the lateral channel. The semiconductor device also includes a Schottky diode parallel-coupled to the substrate-driven field-effect transistor. A first and second terminal of the Schottky diode are couplable to the first and second contacts, respectively, of the substrate drive field-effect transistor.
US07642565B2
A radiation-emitting semiconductor component has a high p-type conductivity. The semiconductor body of the component includes a substrate, preferably an SiC-based substrate, on which a plurality of GaN-based layers have been formed. The active region of these layers is arranged between at least one n-conducting layer and a p-conducting layer. The p-conducting layer is grown in tensile-stressed form. The p-doping that is used is preferably Mg.
US07642557B2
A light emitting device is disclosed including a primary light source having a defined emission photon energy output, and, a light emitting material situated near to said primary light source, said light emitting material having an absorption onset equal to or less in photon energy than the emission photon energy output of the primary light source whereby non-radiative energy transfer from said primary light source to said light emitting material can occur yielding light emission from said light emitting material.
US07642555B2
A semiconductor device packaged in three dimensions comprises a first thin film device, a second thin film device, and a third thin film device, each of the first, second, and third thin film devices comprising a first insulating film, a first electrode formed over the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed over the first electrode, first and second thin film transistors formed over the second insulating film, wherein the first thin film transistor is connected to the first electrode through a first contact hole, a third insulating film formed over the first and second thin film transistor, a second electrode formed over the third insulating film, wherein the second electrode is connected to the second thin film transistor through a second contact hole, and a fourth insulating film formed over the third insulating film and the second electrode.
US07642551B2
A wafer-level package includes a semiconductor wafer having at least one semiconductor chip circuit forming region each including a semiconductor chip circuit each provided with test chip terminals and non test chip terminals, at least one external connection terminal, at least one redistribution trace provided on the semiconductor wafer, at least one testing member, and an insulating material. A first end of the redistribution trace is connected to one of the test chip terminals and a second end of said redistribution trace is extended out to a position offset from the chip terminals. The testing member is provided in an outer region of the semiconductor chip circuit forming region, and the second end of the redistribution trace is connected to the testing member.
US07642533B2
The present invention provides a reliable, high-repetition rate, production line compatible high energy photon source. A very hot plasma containing an active material is produced in vacuum chamber. The active material is an atomic element having an emission line within a desired extreme ultraviolet (EUV) range. A pulse power source comprising a charging capacitor and a magnetic compression circuit comprising a pulse transformer, provides electrical pulses having sufficient energy and electrical potential sufficient to produce the EUV light at an intermediate focus at rates in excess of 5 Watts. In preferred embodiments designed by Applicants in-band, EUV light energy at the intermediate focus is 45 Watts extendable to 105.8 Watts.
US07642532B2
Disclosed is an improved aperture design for improving critical dimension accuracy and electron beam lithography. A pattern may be created on a reticle by passing an electron beam through a first aperture having a first shape comprising an upper horizontal edge, a lower horizontal edge, a vertical edge, an upper bevel, and a lower bevel, wherein a portion of the electron beam is projected onto a second aperture. The portion of the electronic beam is passed through the second aperture having a second shape, wherein the second shape is the first shape rotated horizontally by 180 degrees, and an overlapped portion of the first and second aperture is exposed on a surface of the reticle to create a pattern.
US07642530B2
An ion implantation apparatus includes an ion irradiation unit. The ion irradiation unit irradiates a plurality of areas of a target substrate with ion beams each of which reaches the substrate at corresponding one incident angle. An incident angle measuring instrument measures the incident angle of each of the ion beams. A controller is provided with information from the incident angle measuring instrument and controls the ion irradiation unit in accordance with the information so that a difference among incident angles is set to within ±0.1°.
US07642528B2
A portable electronic device (10) has a customizable housing (20) where a “skin” (22, 72) is provided, wherein the texture and/or color can be changed by a consumer. The portable electronic device (10) is positioned within an apparatus (41, 51, 61) providing a power source for supplying radiant energy such as heat and/or light to the material. The method of customizing a housing (20) encasing electronics of a portable electronic device (10) includes treating the skin (22, 72) within the housing (20) with heat and/or light, and thereby creating at least one of a texture and a color within the skin (22, 72).
US07642526B2
The present invention discloses direction correcting apparatus and method thereof for a movable radiation inspecting system having a moving device. The direction correcting apparatus comprises: a direction detecting device for detecting a moving direction of the moving device and generating a detecting signal indicating the moving direction; a direction control device for controlling the moving direction of the moving device; and a control unit for calculating a deviation value between the moving direction and the predetermined direction based on the detected signal received from the direction detecting device, and the direction control device is driven according to the deviation value to correct the moving direction to the predetermined direction. The direction correcting apparatus according to the present invention can automatically control the movable radiation inspecting system to move linearly in a predetermined direction during working, which enhances automatic control degree, and has a simple structure with installing easily and reduced cost. And it also does not influence the normal running of the inspecting system on a road while not inspecting.
US07642523B1
A stage for processing a substrate, especially useful for vacuum applications, has a recess just large enough to hold a substantially flat substrate and a chuck or holder, but not much more. The perimeter of both top and bottom of the stage has air bearing surfaces separated from the recess by differentially pumped grooves and seal lands. The air bearing lands are guided between two reference surfaces and the seal lands, being substantially coplanar, create a resistance to flow between the bearings and the recess. On the other side of one of the reference plates mounts the radiation source or process. The opposite reference plate may have a large aperture, non-contact pumping port. This improves vacuum capability and stage precision. The stage may operate in a vacuum environment itself or can provide multiple stages moving between processes or inspection steps within the same tool or process sequence.
US07642506B2
A phantom for use in measuring characteristics of a digital radiography imaging system has at least one substrate having a patterned foil layer. The pattern in the foil layer being defined by a plurality of apertures within which the substrate is exposed.
US07642499B2
This image sensor includes a charge increasing portion for increasing the quantity of charges, a first electrode for applying a voltage regulating a region adjacent to the charge increasing portion to a prescribed potential, a second electrode provided adjacently to the first electrode for applying another voltage increasing the quantity of charges in the charge increasing portion, a first wire formed on a prescribed layer for supplying a signal to the first electrode and a second wire formed on a layer different from the prescribed layer for supplying another signal to the second electrode.
US07642493B2
A light sensor for recording the position of a light source includes a photo detector and a light modulator. The light modulator is configured to modulate the quantity of light hitting the photo detector based on an incident angle (α) of the light from the light source on the sensor.
US07642491B2
An aircraft 1 with a spiral inducing assembly 2 which is capable of inducing the aircraft to travel in a continuous spiraling motion without the aircraft rolling. A ramjet 6b is attached to a tube 3 that is able to rotate around the encircled part of the fuselage. The ramjet 6b is able to rotate in a pivoting manner on the rotate-able tube 3 with respect to the rotate-able tube 3, thereby changing their pitch relative to the longitudinal axis of the rotate-able tube 3. Ramjet 6b is smaller than another ramjet on the right side of the tube 3. The difference in size between the ramjets makes the ramjet 6b exert a weaker force on the rotate-able tube 3 than the ramjet on the right side when the ramjets are rotated in the same direction. The imbalance between the rotational forces thus causes the rotate-able tube 3 to rotate. A fin 6c is also able to cause the rotate-able tube 3 to rotate during flight. When rotated, the ramjets would exert a lateral force on the rotate-able tube 3. Thus, as well as forcing the rotate-able tube 3 to rotate, the ramjets would also push the rotate-able tube sideways. But as the rotate-able tube is pushed sideways, it rotates, and hence the lateral direction of push constantly revolves, causing a spiraling motion of the aircraft when in flight.
US07642490B2
A single ply paper product including a paper substrate having a first surface and a second surface and including a web of fibers sufficiently refined to have a Canadian Standard Freeness value of greater than about 100 cm3 according to TAPPI standard test T 227, and having a weight of between about 20 lbs./3,000 ft.2 and about 45 lbs./3,000 ft.2; and a fluorochemical in an amount of at least 800 parts per million.
US07642487B2
An integrated welder, generator and hydraulic unit that includes a housing that at least partially contains components of a welder, generator and a hydraulic pump. An engine, an electric current generator, and a hydraulic pump are at least partially mounted in the housing. The electric current generator is at least partially connected to the engine to be at least partially driven thereby. The hydraulic pump can be at least partially powered by the electric current generator or the fuel powered engine during the operation of the engine. The integrated welder, generator and hydraulic unit can also include an air compressor.
US07642485B2
A laser beam processing machine comprising a chuck table for holding a workpiece, a laser beam application means for applying a laser beam to the workpiece held on the chuck table, and a processing-feed means for moving the chuck table and the laser beam application means relative to each other, wherein the chuck table comprises a body and a workpiece holding member disposed on the top surface of the body, and the workpiece holding member is made of a material which transmits a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength.
US07642482B2
A laser crystallization apparatus and a crystallization method with a high throughput are provided. Laser light having a predetermined light intensity distribution is irradiated to a semiconductor film to melt and crystallize, wherein a irradiation position is positioned very quickly and with a high positional accuracy, thereby forming the semiconductor film having a large crystal grain size. A laser crystallization apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a laser light source, a phase shifter modulating laser light to give a predetermined light intensity distribution, marks provided on the substrate, a substrate holding stage moving in a predetermined direction, mark measuring means measuring a time at which the mark passes a predetermined position, and signal generating means generating a trigger signal indicating the irradiation of the laser light based on the measured time.
US07642478B2
A device for controlling a circuit-breaker intended for opening and closing this electric power cut-off device comprising a mobile contact, this control device comprising a motor with a rotary output shaft and being connected to power supply means and actuating means transforming the output displacement of the motor into a displacement of the contact, this device also comprising a mechanical spring arrangement involved in opening and closing the contact. The actuation means include a set of jointed elements providing the connection of the rotary shaft and of the ring, and, in the closed position of the contact, the set of jointed elements is near a dead centre position, a so-called open dead centre, the opening spring being only able to drive it towards the open position upon moving past this dead centre during opening.
US07642477B2
A button fixing mechanism for fixing a button (50) to a base (20) of an electronic device includes a top panel (30) of the base, a shelf (40) attached to the top panel, and a pair of resilient members (60). The button includes a pair of shafts (53) extending outwardly from sidewalls (51) thereof. The shelf includes an oblong slot (42) defined therein, and a pair of tabs (422) extending beside the oblong slot and each defining a pivoting hole (423) therein. The button is extended through the oblong slot, with the shafts received in the pivoting holes of tabs. The resilient members are separately attached to the top panel and engage two ends of the button.
US07642476B2
A push-button arrangement and a push-button. The push-button comprises a fastening sleeve portion having a press portion at a first end thereof and a fastening member at a second end thereof for connecting the push-button to a fastening hole in a fastening plate. The outer surface of the fastening sleeve portion is provided with at least one conical sealing surface and the fastening hole, correspondingly, with a conical counter surface.
US07642471B2
A non-metallic electrical box, composed of a hard and durable plastic material, molded and shaped into a housing of two sections, that when installed onto a wall stud, becomes a receptacle for installing an electrical switch, outlet or other electrical device in the first section, and the second section, being that part of the box that attaches to the stud, becomes a cavity or channel by which other unrelated wiring can pass through the box along the center line of the stud in a neat and more efficient and direct manner, as opposed to the currently acceptable practice of looping the wires around the box.
US07642468B2
To improve reliability of interlayer connection of a multilayer wiring board. Plural metal conductor pattern layers are formed on a base material made of thermoplastic resin. Then, high melting metal containing copper, low melting metal containing tin, and binder resin are packed into a via hole. Subsequently, predetermined heat and pressure are applied. Then, while half-melted metal mixture droplets of the low and high melting metals and melted binder resin are phase separated from each other, the surfaces of the conductor patterns that face the openings of the via and the low melting metal are alloyed with each other to form an alloy layer as well as the high and low meting metals are alloyed with each other to form a columnar-shaped interlayer connection part. As a result, an intermediate layer is formed between the outer surface of the columnar-shaped interlayer connection part and inner surface of the via hole.
US07642464B2
A liquid dispensing system equipped with a modular cord set for powering an electrically-operated dispensing module of the system. The cord set includes a plug removably inserted into receptacle extending through a manifold of the system. The manifold heats and supplies liquid to the dispensing module. When the plug is positioned in the receptacle, electrical contacts on the plug are coupled with corresponding electrical contacts on the dispensing module. The cord set and dispensing module can be independently disconnected from the manifold without disturbing each other.
US07642463B2
Transparent conductors with nanowires having silver oxide complexes and methods for fabricating such transparent conductors are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a transparent conductor comprises a substrate and a transparent conductive coating disposed overlying the substrate. The coating comprises silver nanowires at least a portion of which has a silver oxide complex formed on or within surfaces thereof.
US07642458B2
An enclosure for an electrical receptacle includes walls having one or more recesses for receiving associated electrical conductors. The recesses may be covered by at least a first membrane enclosing the recess. The conductors may be manually inserted through the membrane wherein the membrane and/or the recess is self-sealing to automatically encapsulate the girth of the associated electrical conductors.
US07642457B2
The present invention is directed to a protective shutter assembly for use within a cover assembly of an electrical wiring device. The assembly includes a frameless shutter sub-assembly movable between a closed position and an open position. The frameless shutter sub-assembly is configured to move from the closed position to the open position in response to engaging at least one plug blade having a predetermined plug blade geometry. A spring member is disposed within the frameless shutter sub-assembly. The spring member is configured to bias the frameless shutter sub-assembly in the closed position. At least one retainer element is disposed in the frameless shutter sub-assembly. The at least one retainer element being configured to retain the spring member within the frameless shutter sub-assembly. At least one registration member is disposed on the frameless shutter sub-assembly, the at least one registration member being configured to position and align the protective shutter assembly within the cover assembly.
US07642449B2
A structural building component for a residential or light commercial building includes a PV laminate and a plastic frame disposed at least around the PV laminate. The plastic frame includes a first electrical connector for communication with the PV laminate and receptive to electrical connection with a contiguous PV laminate. The first electrical connector is configured to facilitate electrical and mechanical connection with the contiguous PV laminate and the frame includes a means for facilitating attachment to the building structure.
US07642444B2
For each of a plurality of music pieces, a storage device stores respective tone data of a plurality of fragments of the music piece and respective musical character values of the fragments. Similarity determination section calculates a similarity index value indicative of a degree of similarity between the character values of each of the fragments of a main music piece and the character values of each individual fragment of a plurality of sub music pieces. Each of the similarity index values calculated for the fragments of each of the sub music pieces can be adjusted in accordance with a user's control. Processing section processes the tone data of each of the fragments of the main music piece on the basis of the tone data of any one of the fragments of the sub music pieces of which the similarity index value indicates sufficient similarity.
US07642440B2
A percussion instrument in which at least one drum board can be folded on a main board for easy and compact storage of the instrument. At least one arm having a free end and a proximal end is mounted at its proximal end to a part fixed relative to the main board so that the free end can be displaced in position. The drum board is mounted to the free end of the arm and changeable between an unfolded configuration suitable for a musical performance and a folded configuration suitable for storage by being configured to be unfoldable from and foldable to the main board via the arm.
US07642439B2
An electronic drum 30 comprises a hollow body part 10 having an opening side, a drum head stretched over the opening side of the hollow body part 10 and having a stroked surface, an elastic cushion part 40 arranged to touch with a reverse side of the stroked surface of the drum head 30, a vibration absorber 43 that is arranged inside the body part 10 and absorbs a vibration transmitted from the body part 10, and a sensor 41 that is arranged in the vibration absorber 43 to touch with the elastic cushion part 40 and outputs a result of detecting a stroke on the drum head 30 transmitted by the elastic cushion part 40. The drum head 30 is made of a lamination of a plurality of elastic films and has a plurality of holes 30h pierced thorough all layers of the laminated films.
US07642438B1
A novelty noisemaker assembly and its associated method of assembly. The noisemaker assembly has a bellows for manually producing a flow of air. Air from the bellows passes through a sound generator that produces sound energy as the air passes. The sound energy from the sound generator passes into a pitch control chamber. A plurality of slots are formed in the sound generator. A secondary object is coupled to the end of the pitch control chamber. The secondary object obstructs the pitch control chamber. Consequently, the slots in the side of the pitch control chamber provide the only exit port for the flow of air created by the bellows and the sound energy created by the sound generator.
US07642434B2
A rice cultivar designated CL171-AR is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of rice cultivar CL171-AR, to the plants of rice CL171-AR, to methods for producing a rice plant produced by crossing the cultivar CL171-AR with itself or another rice variety, and to methods for controlling weeds in the vicinity of plants of rice cultivar CL171-AR, which comprises increased resistance to acetohydroxyacid synthase-inhibiting herbicides. The invention further relates to hybrid rice seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar CL171-AR with another rice cultivar.
US07642429B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV300532. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV300532, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV300532 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV300532 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV300532.
US07642427B1
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated G07-NPXA5599, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line G07-NPXA5599 with plants of another corn plants. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line G07-NPXA5599 and plants produced by said methods.
US07642419B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS30001. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS30001, to the plants of soybean RJS30001 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS30001 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS30001 with another soybean plant, using RJS30001 as either the male or the female parent.
US07642418B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB26L08. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB26L08, to the plants of soybean XB26L08 to plant parts of soybean variety XB26L08 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB26L08 with another soybean plant, using XB26L08 as either the male or the female parent.
US07642413B2
A soybean cultivar designated 7243182 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7243182, to the plants of soybean 7243182, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7243182 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7243182 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7243182, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7243182 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7243182 with another soybean cultivar.
US07642403B2
The invention provides novel molecular genetic markers in soybean, where the markers are useful, for example, in the marker-assisted selection of gene alleles that impart disease-resistance, thereby allowing the identification and selection of a disease-resistant plant. The markers also find use in positional cloning of disease-resistance genes.
US07642398B2
An elasticized web has a gatherable substrate and a multi-strand elastic yarn affixed to the gatherable substrate at a plurality of fixation locations. So that the yarn can be affixed to the substrate without the use of an adhesive, the yarn is subjected to forces to create partial delamination of the yarn at the fixation locations and a portion of the gatherable substrate is caused to pass between the thus delaminated strands of the multi-strand elastic yarn. The elasticized web of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in disposable absorbent articles.
US07642394B1
Systems and methods for recycling waste and reclaiming beneficial and useful compositions such as organic solvents comprises a shredder, operating in an inerted or anaerobic atmosphere, which shreds the waste into smaller pieces that are fed into and indirectly heated in an anaerobic desorption unit so as to vaporize at least one organic compound associated with the waste. A vacuum means is used to transfer the organic compound vapors from the desorption unit to a water quench condensing unit that operates to produce a mixed organic compound liquid stream. The liquid organic compound and water stream is then processed in an oil and water separator. The water is separated and can be reused in the system for quenching gas vapors or inerting the desorption unit. The water-free mixed organic compound liquid stream is then fed into a multi-stage packed distillation column separating organic compound according to boiling points to produce products such as organic solvents.
US07642393B2
A method of removing at least benzene from a hydrocarbon stream comprises concentrating aromatics in the hydrocarbon stream by passing the hydrocarbon stream through a membrane unit having at least one membrane to produce a permeate stream and a retentate stream, wherein the permeate stream is aromatics rich relative to the hydrocarbon stream; and extracting aromatics after concentrating using a selective aromatics extraction solvent in an extraction unit to produce an extract stream, wherein the extract stream is aromatics rich relative to the permeate stream.
US07642386B2
The invention relates to a process for producing an alcohol from fats and oils, including: step 1 of reacting starting fats and oils with water to produce a reaction product containing a glycerin unit, and step 2 of subjecting the reaction product obtained in step 1 to a hydrogenation reaction in the presence of a catalyst in the coexistence of water in an amount of 0.5 mole or more relative to 1 mole of the glycerin unit contained in the reaction product.
US07642377B1
Systems and methods for producing urea are provided. A method for producing urea can include exchanging heat from a syngas comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide to a urea solution comprising urea and ammonium carbamate. The heat transferred can be sufficient to decompose at least a portion of the ammonium carbamate. In one or more embodiments, the syngas can be reacted with liquid ammonia to provide a carbon dioxide lean syngas and an ammonium carbamate solution. The ammonium carbamate solution can be heated to a temperature of about 180° C. or more. At least a portion of the ammonium carbamate in the heated ammonium carbamate solution can be dehydrated to provide the urea solution.
US07642372B2
Preparation of an aliphatic carboxylic acid having (n+1) carbon atoms, where n is an integer up to 6, and/or an ester or anhydride thereof may be achieved by contacting an aliphatic alcohol having n carbon atoms and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide substantially in the absence of the halogens or derivatives thereof at a temperature in the range 250-600° C. and at a pressure in the range 10 to 200 bars, in the presence of a catalyst consisting essentially of a mordenite which has, as framework elements, silicon, aluminum and one or more of gallium, boron and iron, and which has been ion-exchanged or otherwise loaded with copper, nickel, iridium, rhodium or cobalt.
US07642362B2
Compounds represented by the general formula (1) wherein R1 and R3 are each independently hydrogen or a carboxyl group and R2 and R4 are each independently hydrogen or a hydroxyl group, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which exhibit semaphorin-inhibitory activity and are useful as preventives or remedies for neuropathic and neurodegenerative diseases are provided.
US07642352B2
Disclosed are processes for making 2,3 disubstituted indole compounds such as compounds of general formula I comprised of the steps of a) reacting a bromoindole compound (i) with a dialkoxyl C1-5 borane in the presence of a ligand, a palladium catalyst and a base to make a compound of general formula (ii); or alternatively reacting compound (i) with a trialkyl magnesiate reagent, followed by treatment with a borate; b) reacting the product of step a with a R2-Hal where R2-Hal is defined herein.
US07642347B2
The present invention provides chimeric regulatory elements constructed from gene regulatory element polynucleotide molecules isolated from the Zea mays genes fructose 1-6 bisphosphate aldolase (FDA), pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK), or ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activase (RUA), useful for expressing transgenes in plants. The invention further discloses compositions, polynucleotide constructs, transformed host cells, transgenic plants and seeds comprising the chimeric gene regulatory molecules, and methods for preparing and using the same.
US07642344B2
Methods and compounds, including compositions therefrom, are provided for determining the sequence of nucleic acid molecules. The methods permit the determination of multiple nucleic acid sequences simultaneously. The compounds are used as tags to generate tagged nucleic acid fragments which are complementary to a selected target nucleic acid molecule. Each tag is correlative with a particular nucleotide and, in a preferred embodiment, is detectable by mass spectrometry. Following separation of the tagged fragments by sequential length, the tags are cleaved from the tagged fragments. In a preferred embodiment, the tags are detected by mass spectrometry and the sequence of the nucleic acid molecule is determined therefrom. The individual steps of the methods can be used in automated format, e.g., by the incorporation into systems.
US07642341B2
The present invention relates to a method for providing molecules that are capable of inhibiting angiogenesis, comprising the steps of providing a range of molecules; testing whether these molecules can prevent interaction between JAM-B and JAM-C; testing the positive molecules for their ability to block angiogenesis in vivo; and selecting molecules that are positive in the angiogenesis test as angiogenesis inhibiting molecules. The method may further comprise the step of isolating or producing the angiogenesis inhibiting molecules. The invention further relates to the angiogenesis inhibiting molecules thus provided and produced, to their use in the treatment of cancer, to therapeutical compositions comprising them. In a particular embodiment the invention relates to monoclonal antibodies, in particular MAb H33, to soluble JAM-C and JAM-B and to small molecules.
US07642339B2
The invention is related to phosphorus substituted anti-viral inhibitory compounds, compositions containing such compounds, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such compounds, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such compounds.
US07642335B2
An aromatic polycarbonate having a high refractive index and good processing and mechanical properties is provided. The aromatic polycarbonate comprises a thiodiphenol monomer and a biphenyl monomer. The refractive index of the polycarbonate may be greater than 1.670.
US07642333B2
An anhydride and resorcinol latent catalyst system for a phenolic resole resin provides a resin having long pot life and long shelf life, yet cures quickly thereafter.
US07642324B2
Ligands, compositions, and metal-ligand complexes that incorporate heterocycle-amine compounds are disclosed that are useful in the catalysis of transformations such as the polymerization of monomers into polymers. The catalyst have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, propylene or styrene. The catalysts also polymerize propylene to form isotactic polypropylene.
US07642323B2
This invention provides a method for preparing, in high purity and high yield, heterobifunctional derivatives of poly(ethylene glycol) or related polymers. A chromatographic purification step is not necessary in the method. In accordance with the method of the invention, an intermediate polymer having a formula of W-Poly-OH is provided bearing a removable group W at one terminus. The intermediate polymer W-Poly-OH is first altered by modifying the OH group to a first functional group X, followed by the removal of W to generate a second hydroxyl group. The latter hydroxyl group may then be further converted to a second functional group Y, thus providing the desired heterobifunctional derivative.
US07642320B2
Novel stabilizers that are comprised of known polymer additive moieties chemically bound to hyperbranched and/or dendritic polymers or copolymers, and novel stabilizers comprised of known polymer additive moieties chemically bound to amphiphilic copolymers exhibit superior permanence in an organic substrate as well as high surface affinity.
US07642319B2
The present invention is directed to a golf ball having at least one layer which includes a polymer composition containing at least 50 wt % of an acid polymer and at least 0.5 wt % of a polylactic acid, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total polymeric weight of the polymer composition. At least 70% of the acid groups of the acid polymer are neutralized by a cation source or a metal salt thereof.
US07642317B2
A second-order modified block copolymer which can be obtained by reacting a first-order modified block copolymer with a second-order modifier, wherein the first-order modified block copolymer comprises a base block copolymer and a functional group-containing first-order modifier group bonded to the base block copolymer, wherein the base block copolymer comprises at least one polymer block comprised mainly of vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon monomer units and at least one polymer block comprised mainly of conjugated diene monomer units, and wherein the second-order modifier has a specific functional group which is reactive to the functional group of the first-order modifier group of the first-order modified block copolymer. A second-order modified block copolymer-containing polymer composition comprising the second-order modified block copolymer as well as a thermoplastic resin and/or a rubbery polymer.
US07642315B2
Disclosed herein is a polycarbonate copolymer comprising A) a structure derived from a dihydroxy alkylene oxide compound selected from the group consisting of formula (1a) and formula (1b): H-(E-X)l—OH (1a) H-(E-X-E)l-OH (1b) wherein E and X are different and each and independently are selected from the group consisting of formula (2a) and formula (2b): —(OCH2CH2)m— (2a) —(OCHRCH2)n— (2b) wherein R is a C1-8 alkyl group; l, m, and n are integers greater than or equal to 1; and wherein the weight average molecular weight of the total amount of the structures corresponding to formula (2b) in the copolymer is between 100 and 2,000 g/mol; and B) a structure derived from a dihydroxy aromatic compound, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the structures of A) and B).
US07642314B2
The present invention relates to polymers polymerized sequentially or in stages and having multimodal molecular weight distributions. The polymers according to the invention can advantageously be present in aqueous emulsion or latex form and can advantageously be used in paint compositions and other coating applications.
US07642309B2
The present invention provides increased stain resistance, tannin blocking, adhesion, and various other properties. A composition in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises at least two binders, nanoparticle pigment, and pigmentary titanium dioxide. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a coating on a substrate wherein the coating has two binders, nanoparticle metal oxide pigment, and pigmentary titanium dioxide. Various additives may be included to formulate paint as known in the art.
US07642301B2
Disclosed are poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) compositions comprising a poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid), an ethylene ester copolymer, and an aliphatic carboxylic acid amide.
US07642293B2
An apparatus and method of producing methanol includes reacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing gas and an oxygen-containing gas in a reactor; to provide a product stream comprising methanol; and transferring heat from the product stream to the hydrocarbon-containing gas to heat the hydrocarbon containing gas. After removing methanol and CO2 from the product stream, unprocessed hydrocarbons are mixed with the hydrocarbon containing gas fro reprocessing through the reactor.
US07642281B2
This invention provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a cognitive impairment or a cognitive disorder which comprises administering to the subject an amount of an indolone compound effective to treat the subject's cognitive impairment or disorder.
US07642277B2
Disclosed herein are compounds of formula Ar1—X—W—Ar2 wherein Ar1 and Ar2 represent aryl groups characterized generally as aromatic heterocycles (e.g. imidazolyl or tetrazolyl) or carbocycles (e.g. phenyl or naphthalenyl); the aryl groups are optionally substituted or fused with other heterocycles or carbocycles; the aryl groups can bear substituents such as alkyl, halo or O-alkyl. X is a heteroatom, a valence bond or an optionally substituted divalent methylene, and W represents a spacer; typical spacers include divalent alkylene or alkylene-amido, -amido or -oxy radicals, which may optionally be substituted (e.g. hydroxyl or oxo). A typical compound is a derivative of 2-(N-napthalenyltetrazolylthio)-N-(2-nitrophenyl)acetamide. The compounds have inhibitory activity against Wild Type and single or double mutant strains of HIV.
US07642275B2
Compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, kits and methods are provided for use with histone deacetylases (HDACs) that comprise a compound of the formulae: wherein the variables are as defined herein.
US07642272B2
There are disclosed compounds of the formula I a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate of the compound, which exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing said compounds.
US07642271B2
An aqueous, stable, sterile pharmaceutical composition of the thrombin inhibitor argatroban in a solution containing an acid to solubilize the argatroban, substantially free from dehydrated alcohol is described, as well as a method for its preparation.
US07642269B2
The present invention provides novel pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, processes for the preparation thereof, and compositions comprising the same. The pyrrolo[3,2-b]pyridine derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof of the present invention have excellent proton pump inhibition effects and possess the ability to attain a reversible proton pump inhibitory effect.
US07642258B2
Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising brimondine and timolol for topical ophthalmic delivery and a method of treatment comprising administering said composition when indicated for glaucoma and associated conditions such as elevated intraocular pressure in the eyes of humans.
US07642256B2
Compounds of formula (I) and salts are provided: along with pharmaceutical compositions, uses in treating a disease or condition mediated by a reduction or imbalance in glutamate receptor function such as schizophrenia or cognition impairment.
US07642254B2
A compound of formula I: and isomers, salts, solvates, chemically protected forms, and prodrugs thereof, wherein: R1 and R2 together form, along with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, an optionally substituted nitrogen containing heterocyclic ring having from 4 to 8 ring atoms; and R3 is selected from hydroxy and —NRN1RN2, where RN1 and RN2 are independently selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-7 alkyl groups, optionally substituted C3-20 heterocyclyl groups and optionally substituted C5-20 aryl groups, or together form, along with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, an optionally substituted nitrogen containing heterocyclic ring having from 4 to 8 ring atoms, and its use in inhibiting ATM.
US07642251B2
The invention encompasses compounds of formula I as well as compositions and methods of using the compounds. The compounds have activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV) and are useful in treating those infected with HCV.
US07642248B2
A process is described for the delivery of a therapeutic polynucleotide to limb muscle tissue suffering from or potentially suffering from Muscular Dystrophy. The polynucleotide is inserted into a mammalian limb vessel such as an artery. Delivery efficiency and distribution is enhanced by combining injection of a solution containing the polynucleotide with the use of an externally applied cuff.
US07642242B2
The present invention is directed to novel polypeptides having sequence similarity to GDNFR and to nucleic acid molecules encoding those polypeptides. Also provided herein are vectors and host cells comprising those nucleic acid sequences, chimeric polypeptide molecules comprising the polypeptides of the present invention fused to heterologous polypeptide sequences, antibodies which bind to the polypeptides of the present invention and to methods for producing the polypeptides of the present invention.
US07642241B2
The invention relates to glucagon-related peptides and their use for the prevention or treatment of disorders involving the large intestine. In particular, it has now been demonstrated that GLP-2 and peptidic agonists of GLP-2 can cause proliferation of the tissue of large intestine. Thus, the invention provides methods of proliferating the large intestine in a subject in need thereof. Further, the methods of the invention are useful to treat or prevent inflammatory conditions of the large intestine, including inflammatory bowel diseases.
US07642240B2
The present invention provides bioconjugates comprising a sulfated polysaccharide such as alginate sulfate and hyaluronan sulfate and at least one bioactive polypeptide capable of binding a sulfate group of said sulfated polysaccharide. The bioactive polypeptide can be a heparin-binding polypeptide and/or a positively-charged polypeptide. Also, provided are delivery systems and methods for sustained release of said bioactive polypeptide(s) using said bioconjugates.
US07642234B2
The present disclosure provides a method of inhibiting angiogenesis within a tissue of interest by providing either intact or nicked β-Glycoprotein 1 (β2GP1) to cells associated with the tissue. The presence of β2GP1 inhibits angiogenesis within the tissue, in part by preventing neovascularization into the tissue. The disclosure also provides a method for treating tumors by providing β2GP1 to the tumor.
US07642231B2
The invention provides a novel amino acid, neo-tryptophan, as well as polypeptides containing this novel amino acid such as neurotensin analogs. In addition, the invention provides neo-tryptophan derivatives, serotonin-like neo-tryptophan derivatives, and polypeptides containing such derivatives. The invention also provides methods for making neo-tryptophan, neo-tryptophan derivatives, serotonin-like neo-tryptophan derivatives, and compositions containing these compounds. Further, the invention provides methods for inducing a neurotensin response in a mammal as well as methods for treating a mammal having a serotonin recognition molecule.
US07642226B2
Generally speaking, the present invention is a water-soluble copolymer film comprising a hydrolyzed copolymer of vinyl acetate and a second monomer, the resultant polyvinyl alcohol copolymer having a degree of hydrolysis, expressed as a percentage of vinyl acetate units converted to vinyl alcohol units, of from about 90% to 100%. The second monomer is preferably selected from the group of monomers having carboxylate functionality or sulfonate functionality. The resulting water-soluble copolymer film is disclosed for use in making pouches to contain a unit dose of liquid detergent, such as a liquid laundry detergent. However, it is an aspect of the copolymer film that film solubility is not significantly affected adversely by the detergent. Such film produces pouches having a greater storage shelf-life over prior art water-soluble film.
US07642225B2
A cleansing cosmetic composition comprising; i) a cationized silicon delivery system selected from one or more of a) a cationized fatty alkyl silicone copolymer; b) a cationized dimethiconol complex and c) a cationized high viscosity lower alkyl silicone fluid with or without cationized silicone gum blend; and ii) detergent active. Also disclosed is a cationized silicone delivery system comprising: a) 15-50 parts of a cationized fatty alkyl silicone copolymer; b) 5-50 parts of a cationized dimethiconol complex; and c) 1-50 parts of a cationized high viscosity lower alkyl silicone fluid with cationized silicone gum blend.
US07642222B1
The present invention provides articles including a base substrate including a layer of an oriented cubic oxide material having a rock-salt-like structure layer thereon; and, a buffer layer upon the oriented cubic oxide material having a rock-salt-like structure layer, the buffer layer having an outwardly facing surface with a surface morphology including particulate outgrowths of from 10 nm to 500 run in size at the surface, such particulate outgrowths serving as flux pinning centers whereby the article maintains higher performance within magnetic fields than similar articles without the necessary density of such outgrowths.
US07642216B2
Ligands, compositions, and metal-ligand complexes that incorporate heterocycle-amine compounds are disclosed that are useful in the catalysis of transformations such as the polymerization of monomers into polymers. The catalyst have high performance characteristics, including higher comonomer incorporation into ethylene/olefin copolymers, where such olefins are for example, 1-octene, propylene or styrene. The catalysts also polymerize propylene to form isotactic polypropylene.
US07642202B1
A nitrogen-free anti-reflective layer for use in semiconductor photolithography is fabricated in a chemical vapor deposition process, optionally plasma-enhanced, using a gaseous mixture of carbon, silicon, and oxygen sources. By varying the process parameters, a substantially hermetic layer with acceptable values of the refractive index n and extinction coefficient k can be obtained. The nitrogen-free moisture barrier anti-reflective layer produced by this technique improves plasma etch of features such as vias in subsequent processing steps.
US07642201B2
An iPVD system is programmed to deposit uniform material, such as barrier material, into high aspect ratio nano-size features on semiconductor substrates using a multi-step process within a vacuum chamber which enhances the sidewall coverage compared to the field and bottom coverage(s) while minimizing or eliminating overhang.
US07642197B2
According to various embodiments, there are eSiGe CMOS devices and methods of making them. The method of making a substrate for a CMOS device can include providing a DSB silicon substrate including a first bonded to a second layer, wherein each layer has a (100) oriented surface and a first direction and a second direction and the first direction of the first layer is approximately aligned with the second direction of the second layer. The method can also include performing amorphization on a selected region of the first layer to form a localized amorphous silicon region and recrystallizing the localized amorphous silicon region across the interface using the second layer as a template, such that the first direction of the first layer in the selected region is approximately aligned with the first direction of the second layer.
US07642195B2
A process for selectively removing photoresist, organic overlayers, and/or polymers/residues from a substrate without altering the surface chemistry and adhesion properties of the underlying substrate layers is provided. Generally, the process includes pretreating the substrate with hydrogen (e.g., by way of a hydrogen-based plasma) prior to deposition of a photoresist layer, and then ashing the substrate with a hydrogen-based plasma to selectively remove the photoresist, organic overlayers, and/or polymers/residues from the substrate during etching, post-etch, rework, etc. The hydrogen-based ashing process of the invention may be used post-etch to remove the residue photoresist, or may be used in a rework stripping process to remove misaligned patterns. The hydrogen-based ashing process following the initial hydrogen surface pretreatment substantially reduces surface chemistry poisoning, while retaining adequate adhesion properties following ashing.
US07642187B2
A method of forming a wiring for a semiconductor memory device includes obtaining a semiconductor substrate, depositing at least one conductive layer on the semiconductor substrate under controlled conditions, such as substrate temperature and atmosphere temperature, to provide a conductive layer exhibiting a reduced surface roughness as compared to a comparable conductive layer deposited under uncontrolled conditions, and patterning the conductive layer to form a wiring.
US07642181B2
A method and system for providing a twin well in a semiconductor device is described. The method and system include masking a first portion of the device such that a second portion of the device is exposed. A sacrificial layer has a first portion on the first portion of the device and a second portion on the second portion of the device. In one aspect, an oxidation stop layer may be below the sacrificial layer. The method and system include implanting a first well in the second portion of the device, exposing the first portion of the device after the first well is implanted, and oxidizing the second portion of sacrificial layer after the exposing. The method and system further include implanting the second well in the first portion of the device after the oxidizing and planarizing the device after the second well is implanted.
US07642180B2
A process for conformally doping through the vertical and horizontal surfaces of a 3-dimensional vertical transistor in a semiconductor-on-insulator structure employs an RF oscillating torroidal plasma current to perform either conformal ion implantation, or conformal deposition of a dopant-containing film which can then be heated to drive the dopants into the transistor. Some embodiments employ both conformal ion implantation and conformal deposition of dopant containing films, and in those embodiments in which the dopant containing film is a pure dopant, the ion implantation and film deposition can be performed simultaneously.
US07642175B1
A wafer level method of forming a protective coating on the back surface of integrated circuit devices is described. In one aspect, a tape having a backcoat layer and a mount layer is applied to the back surface of a wafer. The backcoat layer is cured or set such that the backcoat layer is affixed to the back surface of the wafer. Thereafter, the mount layer of the backcoat/mount tape is removed while leaving the backcoat layer affixed to the back surface of the integrated circuit devices. In some embodiments, the mount layer includes an ultraviolet (UV) sensitive adhesive material that releases when exposed to UV light. The described arrangements can be used to form integrated circuits having very thin protective backcoatings. By way of example, opaque protective films having thickness in the range of 5 to 50 microns are readily obtainable.
US07642174B2
A laser beam machining method for a wafer, wherein an operation of irradiating the inside of a wafer with a laser beam L along each of planned dividing lines is repeated a plural number of times from a position proximate to a back-side surface of the wafer toward a face-side surface of the wafer so that a plurality of composite layers each including a denatured layer and a cracked layer extending from the denatured layer toward the face-side surface are formed stepwise at intervals (first laser beam irradiation step). Subsequently, each of some of non-cracked layers between the composite layers is irradiated with the laser beam L so as to extend the cracked layer of a given one of the composite layers and to cause the cracked layer to reach the denatured layer of the composite layer which is adjacent to the given one composite layer. The denatured layers and the cracked layers which are sufficient for enabling the wafer to be split are formed by a reduced number of laser beam irradiation operations.
US07642163B2
An electronic device can include a nonvolatile memory cell having DSEs within a dielectric layer. In one aspect, a process of forming the electronic device can include implanting and nucleating a first charge-storage material to form DSEs. The process can also include implanting a second charge-storage material and growing the DSEs such that the DSEs include the first and second charge-storage material. In another aspect, a process of forming the electronic device can include forming a semiconductor layer over a dielectric layer, implanting a charge-storage material, and annealing the dielectric layer. After annealing, substantially none of the charge-storage material remains within a denuded zone within the dielectric layer. In a third aspect, within a dielectric layer, a first set of DSEs can be spaced apart from a second set of DSEs, wherein substantially no DSEs lie between the first set of DSEs and the second set of DSEs.
US07642160B2
Method of forming a flash NAND memory cell array with charge storage elements positioned in trenches
NAND arrays of memory cells are described, as well as methods of forming and using them. Memory cell charge storage devices, such as conductive floating gates, are oriented vertically in trenches, with control gates positioned both in the trenches between charge storage elements and over a horizontal surface between the trenches. Individual charge storage devices are therefore field coupled with two control gates, one on either side.
US07642150B2
Techniques for forming shallow junctions are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for forming shallow junctions. The method may comprise generating an ion beam comprising molecular ions based on one or more materials selected from a group consisting of: digermane (Ge2H6), germanium nitride (Ge3N4), germanium-fluorine compounds (GFn, wherein n=1, 2, or 3), and other germanium-containing compounds. The method may also comprise causing the ion beam to impact a semiconductor wafer.
US07642138B2
An anti-fuse memory cell having a variable thickness gate oxide. The variable thickness gate oxide has a thick gate oxide portion and a thin gate oxide portion, where the thing gate oxide portion has at least one dimension less than a minimum feature size of a process technology. The thin gate oxide can be rectangular in shape or triangular in shape. The anti-fuse transistor can be used in a two-transistor memory cell having an access transistor with a gate oxide substantially identical in thickness to the thick gate oxide of the variable thickness gate oxide of the anti-fuse transistor.
US07642122B2
A method for growing a nitride crystal and a crystalline composition selected from one of AlN, InGaN, AlGaInN, InGaN, and AlGaNInN is provided. The composition comprises a true single crystal, grown from a single nucleus, at least 1 mm in diameter, free of lateral strain and tilt boundaries, with a dislocation density less than about 104 cm−2.
US07642110B2
The invention provides a microfabrication process which may be used to manufacture a MEMS device. The process comprises depositing one or a stack of layers on a base layer, said one layer or an uppermost layer in said stack of layers being a sacrificial layer; patterning said one or a stack of layers to provide at least one aperture therethrough through which said base layer is exposed; depositing a photosensitive layer over said one or a stack of layers; and passing light through said at least one aperture to expose said photosensitive layer.
US07642104B2
A method for contacting an external contact area with a test contact is provided. The external contact area has a galvanically applied coating of a metal or a metal alloy. Before the contact is established between the external contact area and the test contact, the external contact area is wetted with a fluid including an inhibitor which contains an aliphatic hydrocarbon, a binder such as a white mineral oil and/or ethyl acetate, and a lubricant. The fluid lowers the contact resistance between the external contact area and the test contact.
US07642097B2
Methods and devices are disclosed for microarray analysis. In one embodiment a method is disclosed for processing a non-standard size slide having an array of chemical compounds attached to a surface of the slide. A sample is exposed to the surface of the non-standard size slide wherein components in the sample bind to the chemical compounds on the surface of the slide. The sample and the slide are incubated under conditions for carrying out the binding reactions, and the surface of the non-standard size slide is examined for the results of the binding reactions. Prior to the exposing step or the incubating step or the examining step, the non-standard size slide is placed into a slide holder comprising a slide-holding section a slide-holding section adapted to dispose the non-standard size slide to a processing instrument in a manner similar to that for a standard size slide. The non-standard size slide may also include an identifier such as a bar code.
US07642095B2
A process for producing lube basestocks involving solvent dewaxing a waxy feed to produce at least a partially dewaxed lube oil boiling range stream and then hydrodewaxing the partially dewaxed lube oil boiling range stream to produce a lube basestock.
US07642084B2
The present invention relates to an assay system, kits and methods for detecting microorgansims (especially for M. tuberculosis) of a suspected patient. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the integration of thermal and magnetic control in the same apparatus to largely reduce the whole process of M. tuberculosis detection to less than 5 hours.
US07642082B1
The present invention relates to methods and assays for determining the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxin A in a sample through detection of a nucleic acid encoding staphylococcal enterotoxin A.
US07642079B2
The invention is directed to polypeptides having protease activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods for making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptides of the invention can be used in a variety of diagnostic, therapeutic, and industrial contexts. The polypeptides of the invention can be used as, e.g., an additive for a detergent, for processing foods and for chemical synthesis utilizing a reverse reaction. Additionally, the polypeptides of the invention can be used in food processing, brewing, bath additives, alcohol production, peptide synthesis, enantioselectivity, hide preparation in the leather industry, waste management and animal degradation, silver recovery in the photographic industry, medical treatment, silk degumming, biofilm degradation, biomass conversion to ethanol diodefense, antimicrobial agents and disinfectants, personal care and cosmetics, biotech reagents, in increasing starch yield from corn wet milling and pharmaceuticals such as digestive aids and anti-inflammatory (anti-phlogistic) agents.
US07642075B2
Disclosed is a process of preparing a biodegradable polymer using an enzyme catalyst and a biodegradable polymer prepared through the process. The process includes polycondensing a polyhydric alcohol monomer having a secondary hydroxyl functional group and an acid monomer having a dicarboxylic group in the presence of the enzyme catalyst. Since the biodegradable polymer according to the present invention is polymerized using an enzyme in the course of the polycondensation, it is easily prepared and friendly to nature, and it is possible to control the molecular weight by varying the reaction time in the course of the polymerization. Thus, the biodegradable polymer is usefully applied to control the dose of a drug in a drug release system and is useful as a supporter for regenerating a desired biological tissue of a patient in tissue engineering.
US07642074B2
The invention generally relates to polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) polyketide synthase (PKS) systems, to homologues thereof, to isolated nucleic acid molecules and recombinant nucleic acid molecules encoding biologically active domains of such a PUFA PKS system, to genetically modified organisms comprising PUFA PKS systems, to methods of making and using such systems for the production of bioactive molecules of interest, and to novel methods for identifying new bacterial and non-bacterial microorganisms having such a PUFA PKS system.
US07642072B2
A new nucleic acid molecule that is codon-optimized to expressbeta interferon in Escherichia coli with greater efficacy.
US07642069B2
An improved process for the production of streptokinase using a genetically engineered strain of Escherichia coli which overproduces streptokinase intracellularly and more particularly, the overall process disclosed herein, concerns with an improvement in the fermentative production of streptokinase using an optimized growth medium mainly comprised of simple salts and trace-elements; thus, in principal, the present process constitutes an improved and more economical means for the production of streptokinase which may be useful in thrombolytic therapy.
US07642067B2
A device and a method for rapidly determining the effectiveness of sterilization or disinfection processes are provided. The method involves contacting a biological indicator containing a known number of live spores to a sterilization or disinfection process. When the spores are killed, the minerals in the spores are released. Water is contacted with the dead spores to form an aqueous solution. A parameter related to the concentration of a mineral in the aqueous solution is measured. The effectiveness of the germicidal process is determined from the parameter and the initial number of spores in the biological indicator. Measuring the parameter by measuring the conductivity of the aqueous solution is particularly effective and sensitive.
US07642064B2
The invention is directed to enhanced methods for detecting an analyte of interest in situ, by immunoassay, or by hybridization comprising binding an enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule to an analyte of interest in the presence of a redox-inactive reductive species and a soluble metal ion. The enzyme catalyzes the conversion of the inactive reductive species to an active reducing agent, which in turn reduces the metal ion to a metal atom thereby providing an enhanced means of detecting the analyte via metal deposition.
US07642061B2
The invention relates to the use of the ubiquitous vertebrate glucose transporter GLUT1, or of fragments or sequences derived thereof, for the in vitro diagnosis of cancers, when used as a tumor marker, or for the screening of compounds useful for the preparation of drugs for the prevention or the treatment of pathologies linked to an infection of an individual with a PTLV, or pathologies linked to an overexpression of GLUT1 on cell surfaces, or the in vitro detection of GLUT1 on cell surfaces. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing GLUT1, or fragments or sequences derived thereof, and to their uses such as in the frame of the prevention or the treatment of pathologies linked to an infection of an individual with a PTLV.
US07642059B2
A highly specific homogeneous assay method for an immunosuppressive drug using an immunophilin in a single receptor format is provided. In the simplest format, a single receptor is utilized analogous to a competitive immunoassay whereby an immunophilin is substituted for an antibody, and a competition results between a drug conjugate and the drug analyte for a limited number of immunophilin binding sites. In a microparticle agglutination assay format, an immunophilin is either bound to a particle or in solution. In the case where an immunophilin is bound to a particle, a polyvalent conjugate of the drug analyte is present in solution.
US07642047B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for identifying agents which modulate cell death, indicated e.g. by the expression of caspase-2 and/or caspase-7, in GDNF family growth factor deprived neuronal or nonneuronal cells. The methods for identifying such agents find particular application in drug development.
US07642046B2
The present invention relates to an immunological method and kit for monitoring recruitment of a protein to the intracellular domain of a receptor in intact cells.
US07642039B2
A method of producing an address plate comprising the steps of; coating a layer of conducting inorganic material onto a substrate, coating a layer of photoresist above this layer of conductive material and curing this layer, exposing, through a mask, the desired pattern of the conductors onto the layer of photoresist, developing the photoresist and etching the layer of the conductive material and coating the resulting etched layer with a layer of dielectric material. A further layer of photoresist is then applied, the thickness of this layer being equal to the desired height of a relief pattern, curing the further layer of photoresist, exposing, through a second mask, the desired structure of the relief pattern onto the layer of photoresist, developing the photoresist and allowing the layer to dry. This results in spacers raised above the layer of dielectric material.
US07642038B2
To provide a display device which can be manufactured with higher efficiency in the use of material through a simplified manufacturing process, and a method for manufacturing the display device. Another object is to provide a technique by which patterns of a wiring the like which constitutes the display device can be formed to a desired shape with good control. In a method for forming a pattern according to the present invention, a mask is formed over a light-transmitting substrate; a first region including a photocatalyst is formed over the substrate and the mask; the photocatalyst is irradiated with light through the substrate to modify a part of the first region; a second region is formed; and a composition containing a pattern forming material is discharged to the second region, thus, a pattern is formed. The mask does not transmit light.
US07642036B2
The azo-metal chelate dye to which the present invention is applied is a compound formed as follows: for example, 1,3,4-thiadiazole ring is selected as the diazo component; the diazo component is combined with a coupler component having condensed rings including a fluorine-substituted alkylsulfonylamino group and an amino group, to form an azo dye compound; and the azo dye compound forms chelate bonds with at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, Cu and Pd. Here, two absorption bands (OD1 and OD2) are seen in the absorption spectrum, which is measured in a range of 400 to 800 nm wavelengths. The azo-metal chelate dye is characterized in that the optical density ratio (OD2/OD1) of the two absorption bands is greater than 1.25. By using this azo-metal chelate dye, an optical recording medium capable of high-speed recording is provided.
US07642034B2
A polymer comprising repeat units having formula (1) wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen or C1-C12 alkyl, or R1 and R2 may bond together to form a ring, and R30 is hydrogen or methyl is used to formulate a resist protective coating material. A protective coating formed therefrom on a resist film is water-insoluble, dissolvable in alkali aqueous solution or alkaline developer, and immiscible with the resist film so that the immersion lithography can be conducted in a satisfactory manner. During alkali development, development of the resist film and removal of the protective coating can be simultaneously achieved.
US07642027B2
A charge transport composition is provided including a cyclo-aliphatic ether compound. One purpose of the cyclo-aliphatic ether compound is to improve the resistance to crazing, crystallization and etching of the charge transport layer. The charge transport composition may be coated along with a charge generation composition onto a conductive substrate to form a photoconductor. The charge transport composition may therefore be employed in a photoconductor located in a printer or a printer cartridge.
US07642015B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes an electrode group having a positive electrode and a negative electrode wound flatly by way of an interposed separator, a positive electrode tab electrically connected to the positive electrode, and projecting from a spiral winding surface of the electrode group, a negative electrode tab electrically connected to the negative electrode, and projecting from the spiral winding surface, and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein the nonaqueous solvent contains sultone compound including a ring having at least one double bond, and a distance between the positive electrode tab and the negative electrode tab is 6 mm to 18 mm.
US07642011B2
A radical compound may be used as an active material for an anode layer 2 to provide a novel stable secondary battery with a higher energy density and a larger capacity. The radical compound used has, for example, a spin concentration of 1021 spins/g or more.
US07642008B2
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the two electrodes, a container for receiving the electrode assembly inside, and a cap assembly fixed to the container. The cap assembly includes a cap plate fixed to the container, an external terminal disposed in the cap plate to electrically be coupled with the electrode assembly, and a tubular body that surrounds the external terminal to fix the external terminal to the cap plate. The external terminal includes at least one groove formed toward inside of the external terminal for fastening the external terminal to the tubular body.
US07642001B2
The invention provides a non-aqueous secondary battery having positive and negative electrodes and non-aqueous electrolyte containing lithium salt which has an energy capacity of 30 Wh or more, a volume energy density of 180 Wh/l or higher, which battery has a flat shape and is superior in heat radiation characteristic, used safely and particularly preferably used for a energy storage system. The invention also provides a control method of the secondary battery.
US07641991B2
A magnetic recording medium is provided that comprises a non-magnetic support and at least one magnetic layer above the support, the magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder dispersed in a binder, and the binder comprising a polyurethane resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 200,000 to 400,000. There is also provided a magnetic recording medium that comprises a non-magnetic support, a non-magnetic layer above the support, the non-magnetic layer comprising a non-magnetic powder dispersed in a binder, and at least one magnetic layer above the non-magnetic layer, the magnetic layer comprising a ferromagnetic powder dispersed in a binder and the binder of the magnetic layer and/or the non-magnetic layer comprising a polyurethane resin having a weight-average molecular weight of 200,000 to 400,000.
US07641988B2
A self-supported nitride semiconductor substrate of 10 mm or more in diameter having an X-ray diffraction half width of 500 seconds or less in at least one of a {20-24} diffraction plane and a {11-24} diffraction plane.
US07641986B2
A light emitting device having at least one layer that contains a phosphorescent organometallic dendrimer with a metal cation and two or more coordinating groups as part of its core and wherein at least two of said coordinating groups each have a dendron attached, at least one of which dendrons comprises at least one nitrogen atom which forms a part of an aromatic ring system or is directly bonded to at least two aromatic groups.
US07641978B2
A coated article is provided that may be used as a vehicle windshield, insulating glass (IG) window unit, or the like. An ion beam is used during at least part of forming an infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) of such a coated article. Advantageously, this has been found to improve sheet resistance (Rs) properties, solar control properties, and/or durability of the coated article. Other layers may also be ion beam treated in certain example embodiments.
US07641975B2
A process for the preparation of dual-cure hardeners, coating systems which contain these hardeners, and the use of these coating systems, as well as substrates coated with these coating agents. The dual-cure hardeners are prepared by reacting at least one diisocyanate or polyisocyanate A with the product B of the reaction of B1 acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and/or dimeric acrylic acid with B2 glycidyl methacrylate and/or glycidyl acrylate, wherein B contains less than 0.2 wt. % of epoxide groups.
US07641968B2
There are provided a moisture-curable polyurethane hot melt adhesive containing a urethane prepolymer obtained by reacting a polyol (A) with a polyisocyanate (B), wherein the polyol (A) contains 40 to 80 mass % of a polycarbonate polyol (a1), 5 to 40 mass % of polytetramethylene glycol (a2), and 5 to 40 mass % of a polyester polyol (a3) obtained by reacting a polycarboxylic acid containing an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid and an aromatic polycarboxylic acid with a polyether polyol obtained by adding an alkylene oxide to bisphenol A, based on the total amount of the polyol (A), and a multilayer sheet using this adhesive. This adhesive can maintain excellent adhesion strength even after washing is repeatedly performed under stringent washing conditions without impairing soft texture of a multilayer sheet.
US07641965B1
Provided is a transparent and light-weight ballistic resistant safety glazing comprising an ionomer sheet. The ionomer sheet comprises an ionomer derived from a parent acid copolymer that comprises copolymerized units of an α-olefin having 2 to 10 carbon atoms and, based on the total weight of the acid copolymer, about 20 to about 30 wt % of copolymerized units of an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms. The ionomer is neutralized to a level of about 5% to about 90%, based on the total carboxylic acid content of the acid copolymer, and further comprises at least one cation. Further provided are articles comprising the light-weight ballistic resistant safety glazing.
US07641961B2
A method of producing a print medium to reduce problems associated with the gradual dye-fade and color-shift of inks over time, and to provide improved resistance to physical handling is provided Specifically, a method can comprise steps of coating a media substrate with a porous coating composition of semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates to form a porous ink receiving layer, coating the porous ink-receiving layer with a latex layer configured to allow an ink-jet ink to be received at the porous ink-receiving layer, printing ink-jet ink on at least a portion of the latex layer to form ink-associated latex regions exclusive of non-printed latex regions, and heating the latex layer. The ink-jet ink can include an ink vehicle, a colorant, and a film promoting additive that lowers the film forming temperature of the latex particulates in the ink-associated latex regions. Upon heating, the ink-associated latex regions form a continuous film, and non-printed latex regions do not form a continuous film. Associated systems and ink-jet prints are also provided.
US07641960B2
An inflatable cellular cushioning material having an air inlet pipe path to be inflated by an inflating device through the use of an air inlet pipe, the inflatable cushioning material comprising at least two layers of plastic pre-welded in such a manner so as to form a substantially diagonally oriented lines forming sleeves along the longitudinal axis of the inflatable cellular cushioning material and a substantially horizontal welded lines along the path of the air inlet pipe whereby the horizontal welded lines substantially reduce the non-inflated areas along the path of the air inlet pipe.
US07641957B2
The use of a coating composition comprising: (a) from about 5 to about 50 weight percent solids, the solids comprising from about 10 to about 70 weight percent silica and from about 90 to about 30 weight percent of a partially polymerized organic silanol of the general formula RSi(OH)3, wherein R is selected from methyl and up to about 40% of a group selected from the group consisting of vinyl, phenyl, gamma-glycidoxypropyl, and gamma-methacryloxypropyl, and (b) from about 95 to about 50 weight percent solvent, the solvent comprising from about 10 to about 90 weight percent water and from about 90 to about 10 weight percent lower aliphatic alcohol, wherein the coating composition has a pH of from about 3.0 to about 8.0, for the purpose of improving the surface smoothness of a polymeric substrate, particularly a heat-stabilised, heat-set, oriented polyester substrate, and use of said coated substrate in the manufacture of an electronic or optoelectronic device containing a conjugated conductive polymer.
US07641951B2
Printing stock for use in making a sign that includes a face sheet and a backing sheet. The sign is formed, for example, by overlapping a plurality of face sub-sheets of the printing stock, with the face sub-sheets arranged in a pattern to form a desired image of the sign. The face sheet includes a printing surface for receiving ink and an adhesive surface for receiving the backing sheet. The face sheet includes a face cut forming a margin and the face sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the margin is separable from the face sub-sheet. The backing sheet may include a backing cut forming a border and a backing sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the border is separable from the backing sub-sheet so that at least a portion of the adhesive surface of the face sheet is exposable.
US07641944B2
A method for forming gold plating. The method includes preparing a solution containing gold ions and a reductant, immersing an object that is to be plated in the solution, irradiating the object with ultraviolet rays, and depositing gold on the object to form gold plating when the ultraviolet rays cause a photochemical reaction in the solution.
US07641934B2
There are provided a process for the production of an entry sheet for drilling, comprising preparing a water-soluble resin composition solution by using a mixed solvent containing water and isopropyl alcohol in a specific ratio as a solvent of a water-soluble resin composition, then applying the solution to a sheet-like base material and drying the resultant base material to form a resin layer on the base material, and a method of drilling a printed wiring board material using the above entry sheet. According to the present invention, the problems of remaining bubbles in the resin layer and a decrease in surface flatness and smoothness due to the occurrence of a ridge, which are caused because the melting point of the water-soluble resin is lower than the boiling point of water, are overcome, and an entry sheet for drilling excellent in hole position accuracy is provided.
US07641928B2
The present invention relates to a method of dewatering whole stillage comprising subjecting whole stillage to one or more enzymes capable of degrading a whole stillage component and separating the material obtained in step i) into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction.
US07641925B2
A synergistic composition for the treatment of diabetes in a subject in need thereof, comprising Trigonelline of concentration ranging between 20 to 30%, amino acids of concentration ranging between 20 to 60%, and soluble fiber of concentration ranging between 10 to 60%, optionally along with pharmaceutically acceptable additives, a process thereof and also, a method of treating diabetes.
US07641910B2
The invention provides BASB027 polypeptides and polynucleotides encoding BASB027 polypeptides and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques. Also provided are diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic uses.
US07641909B2
Chimeric flaviviruses that are avirulent and immunogenic are provided. The chimeric viruses are constructed to contain amino acid mutations in the nonstructural proteins of a flavivirus. Chimeric viruses containing the attenuation-mutated nonstructural genes of the virus are used as a backbone into which the structural protein genes of a second flavivirus strain are inserted. These chimeric viruses elicit pronounced immunogenicity yet lack the accompanying clinical symptoms of viral disease. The attenuated chimeric viruses are effective as immunogens or vaccines and may be combined in a pharmaceutical composition to confer simultaneous immunity against several strains of pathogenic flaviviruses.
US07641908B2
The invention relates to live attenuated VDV2 (VERO-Derived Vaccine Dengue serotype 2) strains which have been derived from the wild-type dengue-2 strain 16681 by passaging on PDK and Vero cells. The invention further relates to a vaccine composition which comprises a VDV2 strain.
US07641906B2
The invention relates to intranasal immunization with detoxified lipooligosaccharide from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis.
US07641894B2
Immune stimulatory amounts of hematopoietic colony stimulating factors are administered to patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The factors include G-CSF and GM-CSF. These factors induce and maintain remission of the disease and its manifestations, whether within the intestine or without.
US07641890B2
The present invention provides a method for producing an inorganic fine particle comprising the step of: reacting two or more reaction solutions for forming an inorganic fine particle while the reaction solutions flow in a non-laminar flow state in a microchannel, thereby form the inorganic fine particle, and an inorganic fine particle produced by the production method. The method for producing an inorganic fine particle of the present invention can stably produce monodisperse inorganic fine particles of nanometer size and allows for flexible response to formulation conditions (e.g., varying flow rate ratios between reaction solutions to be mixed) and for high-throughput production.
US07641881B2
An ammonia and fertilizer production process is based on partial oxidation of fossil fuel, which co-produces polycarbonsuboxide. The four step process is low-cost and low-carbon-dioxide emission. It comprises the steps of reacting fossil fuel with oxygen in air and steam in an electric discharge plasma to produce a gas exit stream of polycarbonsuboxide, hydrogen with associated nitrogen (110); cooling the gas stream to condense and separate the polycarbonsuboxide as a solid polymer (120); compressing the gas stream to pressures for synthesis of ammonia (140); and, converting the gas stream to ammonia by employing a catalytic converter (150). Optional steps involve gas cleanup, which include removal of contaminants from the gas stream and adding hydrogen or nitrogen to the gas stream to adjust the ratio of hydrogen to nitrogen to three to one, respectively, prior to converting the gas stream to ammonia (130).
US07641875B1
A multi-phase catalyst for the simultaneous conversion of oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons is provided. A catalyst composition comprising the multi-phase catalyst and methods of making the catalyst composition are also provided. The multi-phase catalyst may be represented by the general formula of CeyLn1-xAx+sMOZ, wherein Ln is a mixture of elements originally in the form of single-phase mixed lanthanides collected from natural ores, a single lanthanide, or a mixture of lanthanides; A is an element selected from a group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Li, Na, K, Cs, Rb, or any combination thereof; and M is an element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, V, Zr, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ag, Au, Al, Ga, Mo, W, Ti, or any combination thereof; x is a number defined by 0≦x<1.0; y is a number defined by 0≦y<10; s is a number defined by 0≦s<10; where s=0 only when y>0 and y=0 only when s>0. The multi-phase catalyst can have an overlayer of an oxide having the fluorite structure with a combination of platinum and/or rhodium.
US07641871B2
A fine channel device including a fine channel provided with at least two inlet ports for feeding fluid, inlet channels communicated with the inlet ports, a confluent portion communicated with the inlet channels, a branch portion communicated with the fine channel, from which at least two outlet channels are branched to feed predetermined amounts of fluid, and outlet ports communicated with the outlet channels. The fine channel is provided with a plurality of partition walls arranged along a boundary formed by at least two kinds of fluid fed from the inlet ports so as not to cause mutual contamination of fluid. Furthermore, the plurality of partition walls are spaced apart at intervals in a flowing direction of fluid.
US07641860B2
A modular and reconfigurable multi-stage microreactor cartridge apparatus provides a manifold for removably attaching multiple microfluidic components such as microreactors. The microfluidic components are attached at microfluidic component ports having two input/output terminals, which microfluidic component ports are connected via connections internal to the manifold to other microfluidic component ports providing a microfluidic circuit. The microfluidic component may be a microfluidic circuit plug-in or a cartridge having a mounting block with two input/output terminals and a fastener aperture and fluidic tubing having a first and second transport portion and a body portion, the three portions being disposed in substantially parallel planes and the body portion being would in a coil around a spool. The coil is connected to the mounting block by either epoxy protector or L-bracket. The cartridge has a first and a second remote input/output terminal connected to the first and second transport lines respectively.
US07641855B2
A system for automatically testing a sample aliquot retained in temporary storage in environmentally controlled conditions on an automated clinical analyzer for a period of time without requiring operator intervention.
US07641854B2
A system and a methodology for controlling multifunctional multireactor chemical synthesis instruments employ real time automatic controls, calculations, feedbacks and optional graphic tracking of parameters, process characteristics and events and offer templates for designing otherwise complex sequences for the bench chemist, physicist or biologist. Automatic lab notebook construction is also provided as well as remote monitoring and control options, warning alarms and shut down alarms.
US07641852B1
A sterilizer for medical instruments is compact and designed to be placed on a table top. The sterilizer provides includes a cavity for receiving a cassette holding the instruments to be sterilized. A stream circuit provides steam to the cassette for sterilization, and the time required for sterilization is reduced by withdrawing air from the cassette by application of a vacuum. The cavity is evacuated at the same time as the cassette to prevent application of high stresses to the cassette during the vacuum-assisted withdrawal of air. The time for sterilization is further reduced by use of dual heat exchangers to reduce the volume removed from the cassette.
US07641849B2
An injector for injecting particulate material into a metallurgical furnace has a first tubular barrel and a housing defining a chamber having an inlet for particulate material, a first gas inlet and a particulate material/gas outlet connected to the rear end of the first barrel. The first air inlet has a first nozzle operable to inject gas into the chamber at a supersonic velocity when gas at suitable pressure is passed through the nozzle. A second tubular barrel surrounds the first barrel in spaced relationship therewith. The second barrel has a second gas inlet adjacent its rear end and a second nozzle adjacent its front end. Gas under pressure supplied to the second gas inlet passes between the barrels and is discharged at supersonic velocity from the front end thereof adjacent gas and entrained particulate material discharged from the first barrel so as to shroud the particulate material.
US07641844B2
A method of making a fiber-reinforced medical balloon is described herein. The method entails pressurizing a portion of a balloon, and ejecting a fiber precursor fluid from at least one nozzle adjacent to the portion. One or more fibers are formed from the fiber precursor fluid and deposited on an exterior surface of the portion. Preferably, the fibers are polymer nanofibers, and the method is carried out using an electrospinning process.
US07641839B2
A method for fabricating a three dimensional emblem is disclosed. An indentation is formed in the back surface of a piece of transparent material. Multiple colors are printed to form a pattern or emblem in the indentation. After printing, the indentation is filled with resin to make the back surface of the piece of transparent material flat. A second indentation is then formed in the filled indentation. When the front surface of the transparent material is viewed, the emblem appears as a three dimensional emblem. Since the emblem is under the front surface of the transparent material, the three dimensional emblem is protected and cannot be inadvertently dislodged from the transparent material.
US07641838B2
An intraluminal catheter having at least a section of the catheter shaft being relatively transparent, and the method of manufacture thereof. In a presently preferred embodiment, the intraluminal catheter is a balloon catheter having a transparent shaft section formed of a polyetheretherketone polymeric material. The substantially transparent shaft section, of the catheter, is amorphous, and is substantially free of water marks and gels that would limit the transparency.
US07641830B2
A method of continuously feeding film pieces for the molding process includes a film preparation task, a film drawing task, a film cutting task and a film feeding task. The film preparation task includes preparing a roll of film and drawing the film out and fixing a head end thereof at a first position. The film drawing task includes holding the film and drawing the film along a film feeding direction to have the head end to a second position. The film cutting task includes cutting the film off to have a film piece,. The film feeding task includes holding the film piece and moving the film piece to a third position. The film preparation task, the film drawing task and film cutting task are repeated in sequence for continuously feeding film pieces for the molding process.
US07641829B2
Methods are provided for mechanically chopping nanotubes and other nanoscale fibrous materials. The method includes forming a macroscale article which include the nanoscale fibers, and then mechanically cutting the macroscale article into a finely divided form. In one embodiment, these steps are repeated. The nanoscale fibers may be carbon nanotubes, which optionally are aligned in the macroscale article. The macroscale article may be in the form of or include one or more buckypapers. In one embodiment, the macroscale article further includes a solid matrix material in which the nanoscale fibers are contained or dispersed. The forming step can include making a suspension of nanoscale fibers dispersed in a liquid medium and then solidifying the liquid medium to form the macroscale article. After the mechanical cutting step, the medium can be dissolved or melted to enable separation of the chopped nanoscale fibers from the medium.
US07641819B2
The present invention provides conductivity control agents derived from the trans esterification of dialkyl phosphonium 5-sulfoisophthalate salts with poly(alkylene glycols). The conductivity control agents can be used with semi-conductive rolls, belts and other biasable members. The inclusion of the conductivity control agent in the polymeric or polyurethane elastomers extends the electrical life of the polymer biasable member in low humidity environments. Additionally, the resistivity of the elastomeric polymers or polyurethane on the biasable member is controlled to a desirable value by adjusting the conductivity control agent level in the polymer elastomers.
US07641818B2
A sintered body target for transparent conductive film fabrication is chiefly composed of Ga, In, and O; has a Ga content ranging from 49.1 at. % to 65 at. % with respect to all metallic atoms; is chiefly constructed from a β-GaInO3 phase and an In2O3 phase; provides an In2O3 phase (400)/β-GaInO3 phase (111) X-ray diffraction peak intensity ratio that is 45% or less; and has a density of 5.8 g/cm3 or more. A transparent conductive film obtained by using a sputtering technique is an amorphous oxide transparent conductive film chiefly composed of Ga, In, and O, so that a Ga content ranges from 49.1 at. % to 65 at. % with respect to all metallic atoms, a work function is 5.1 eV or more, and a refractive index for light with a wavelength of 633 nm ranges from 1.65 to 1.85.
US07641812B2
The present disclosure encompasses provides thermal stabilizer compositions comprising a phase change material admixed with a support material such as a diatomaceous earth, and a nucleator. The present disclosure further encompasses a heat insulation blanket for reducing heat transfer between adjacent spaces, comprising at least two plies of thermoplastic sheet material in superposed relationship and a seal, wherein the seal connects the plies of sheet material to form a cell containing a volume of a thermal stabilizer comprising a phase change material, a support material such as a diatomaceous earth, and a nucleator.
US07641809B2
The present invention relates to the field of compression refrigeration and air conditioning. Specifically, the present invention relates to a tracer-containing compositions comprising refrigeration/heating fluid and tracer compound(s). Additionally, the present invention relates to a method for detecting tracer compounds to identify gases after leaving the custody of the original manufacturer or prior source, and the verification of authenticity. The aforementioned method provides for the detection of tracer compounds, which in turn, may alert the refrigeration industry to when dilution, adulteration, contamination or other unauthorized practices have occurred with refrigeration products.
US07641804B2
A filter unit (10) and a filter device formed from several such units for filtering a fluid, especially a process fluid such as required for chip-removing machining processes. The filter units (10) each comprise a frame (11) and a filter medium (16). The frame (11) has support webs (12), which reinforce the frame (11) and support the filter medium (16). The support webs (12) are arranged on the downstream side (18) of the filter medium (16) to prevent clogging on the upstream side (17) and permit a simple removal of the filter cake. The filter units (10) are stacked on each other in alternating orientation such that the upstream sides (17) or the downstream sides (18) of two adjacent individual filter units (10) face each other. The frame (11) forms unfiltered fluid and filtered fluid flow nozzles (13), (14) through which the fluid to be filtered or the filtered fluid can flow.
US07641803B2
A filter cartridge including a frame that is formed of one or more fluid conductive members and has a fluid outlet and a plurality of spaced inlets; and a flexible fabric material that allows the flow of water therethrough, the flexible fabric material being connected to the frame in a manner defining an internal zone, whereby substantially all fluid entering the internal zone from an opposite side of the flexible fabric material passes therethrough; wherein, upon connection of the fluid outlet to a fluid intake system, fluid is drawn through the flexible fabric material into the internal zone, thereby filtering the fluid, and filtered fluid is drawn through the plurality of spaced inlets and passes to the fluid outlet for delivery into the fluid intake system. A system and method for filtering fluid intake are disclosed.
US07641800B2
A process for the removal of liquid, gaseous and/or dissolved constituents from a process stream. The process stream is contacted with an adsorbent comprising a first porous material which has been incorporated into a second porous material at least 30 vol. % of the pores of the first and second porous materials of which are filled with an extraction liquid. The affinity between the adsorbent and the constituents to be removed exceeds the affinity between the constituents and the extraction liquid.
US07641793B2
A plurality of magnets can be positioned around a container through the use of a plurality of holders that can be releaseably positioned around the container. Each holder has an area compatible in shape to the magnet to hold a magnet. The base of the holder which contracts the container is of a shape compatible to that of the container. There is at least one aperture on at least two sides of the holder. A strap is placed through the apertures and secured at each end. This secures the magnets to the container. The holder can have a flexible base portion or can itself be flexible. The holders can be at an angle of about 150° to about 210° to the axis of the container. The magnets can be positioned in various polar arrays around the container. The container will hold an aqueous liquid either in a static or flow condition. The container can be a bottle, pipe conduit and/or a filter within pipe conduit system.
US07641786B2
The invention relates to a method for analyzing a lubricating oil for low temperature properties. The method utilizes 2-dimensional gas chromatography (2D GC) to determine the amounts of paraffins and isoparaffins in the oil. In particular, the method analyzes for a particular isoparaffin fraction which is correlated to low temperature performance. The compositional information thus obtained is correlated with formulated oil Mini Rotary Viscometer (MRV) properties.
US07641781B2
In a method for coating a substrate, and a coated object, in a first step, in an external current-less or electrolytic manner, nickel and/or cobalt and/or platinum are deposited on a substrate in a deposition bath. In the deposition bath, particles are additionally suspended which contain at least one metal selected from Mg, Al, Ti, Zn and no Cr, the particles becoming occluded in the coating. In a second step, the actual protective layer is produced by heat treatment. The coating of component parts may be used for aircraft turbines or gas turbines or for garbage incineration systems having temperature-resistant protective layers against high temperature corrosion.
US07641778B2
A gel electroelution device can have a gel spot column having upstream and downstream openings in fluid communication with an inlet and outlet, respectively. The gel spot column receives a gel spot and negative and positive electrodes are fluid communication with the inlet and outlet, respectively. A gel electroelution process can involve flowing a buffer solution through the gel spot in a first direction, and creating an electric field across the gel spot in the same direction. A separator device can have a generally cylindrical collection reservoir in fluid communication with inlet, filtrate, and retentate ports, a filter intermediate the inlet and filtrate ports. The inlet and retentate ports can intersect the collection reservoir in a manner to induce a cyclonic flow. A flow separation process can involve inducing a generally cyclonic flow in the collection reservoir, and filtering the fluid therein to retain the retentate.
US07641772B2
A distillation unit (10) employs a fluid circuit (FIG. 8) in which a counterflow heat exchanger (102, 104, 106, 108, 110) transfers heat from condensate and concentrate to feed liquid to be distilled. The pumping system (100, 238) that drives fluid through the circuit is arranged to keep the pressure in the counterflow heat exchanger's condensate higher than that in its feed-liquid passage. This tends to discourage the contamination that could otherwise occur in the concentrate if the fluid isolation ordinarily maintained between those passages is compromised.
US07641770B2
A system for recovering hydrocarbons from tar sands includes a heated enclosure 66, one or more input conveyors 60, 67 move tar sands through the heated enclosure, provide a flow line with a temperature gradient of at least 150° F., and mechanically move the tar sands along the flow line. A heated rotary drum 74 is in fluid communication with the flow line, and condenser unit 94, 98 receive vapors from the flow line and the rotary drum and output hydrocarbons. One or more discharge conveyors 76 discharge stripped sands from the rotary drum. Control valves 80, 82 seal a vacuum downstream from the discharge conveyors, and control valves 34, 46 seal vacuum upstream from the one or more input conveyors. Various types of vacuum pumps may be used to maintain a selected vacuum between the control valves.
US07641768B2
A method of joining two ends of a fabric for use in a paper machine, carried out using a joining assembly, includes the steps of: placing a first end of the fabric on a first portion of a pin plate, the pins in the first portion of the pin plate extending into the first end; placing a second end of the fabric on a second portion of the pin plate such that the first end and the second end are in close proximity to each other in a join area, the pins in the second portion of the pin plate extending into the second end; and joining the first end and the second end in the join area. The method results in a perforated (and therefore permeable) join area.
US07641767B2
An apparatus and method serves, e.g., to deaerate, clean or screen a fibrous suspension and is provided with a closed housing and a rotor arranged centrally therein. The rotor puts at least a part of the fibrous suspension guided into the housing into a rotational flow. The fibrous suspension flowing into the housing through the inlet is put into rotation by a guide element acting hydraulically. This increase the efficiency of the apparatus and prevents disturbing turbulences in the apparatus.
US07641761B2
A plasma CVD apparatus includes a showerhead comprised of a body having a hollow structure. The shower plate is detachably integrated with the body at a peripheral surface of the body and a peripheral surface of the shower plate, and at least one of the peripheral surface of the body or the peripheral surface of the shower plate is surface-treated.
US07641753B2
A PVC-free multilayer tube, preferably for medical purposes, with more dependable peelability, comprises at least three layers, of which a base layer comprising a first plastics material has been bonded to at least one connection layer comprising a second plastics material by means of at least one buffer layer arranged between the base layer and the at least one connection layer, the buffer layer comprising a third plastics material, wherein the multilayer tube can be used to mold a coil or a loop with a diameter of down to 50 mm without undesirable kinking. Each of the first and second plastics materials is comprised of at least 25% by weight, based on the total weight of the base layer and the connection layer, respectively, of polyolefins, while the third plastics material has a proportion, based on the total weight of the buffer layer, of more than 75% by weight of a thermoplastic elastomer which is not a polyolefin.
US07641743B2
Methods and compositions that serve to both darken a zinc or other active! metal surface and impart corrosion-resistant properties thereto, are disclosed. The compositions include an aqueous solution containing about 0.1 percent to about 5 percent ammonium chloride and about 0.1 percent to about 5 percent ammonium molybdate. The compositions utilize particular ratios of concentrations of ammonium chloride and ammonium molybdate.
US07641738B2
A method of wet cleaning a surface is disclosed. The method of wet cleaning a surface of at least one material chosen from silicon, silicon-germanium alloys, A(III)/B(V)-type semiconductors and epitaxially grown crystalline materials, such as germanium, includes the following successive steps: a) the surface is brought into contact with an HF solution; b) the surface is rinsed with acidified, deionized water, then a powerful oxidizing agent is added to the deionized water and the rinsing is continued; c) optionally, step a) is repeated, once or twice, while optionally reducing the contacting time; d) step b) is optionally repeated, once or twice; and e) the surface is dried.
US07641726B2
A mixture of compounds of Formula (1) and salts thereof: wherein: M is 2H, Si, a metal, an oxymetal group, a hydroxymetal group or a halometal group; Pc represents a phthalocyanine nucleus of formula; R1 is H or optionally substituted C1-4alkyl; R2 is optionally substituted alkyl; R3 is H or optionally substituted C1-4alkyl; R4 is optionally substituted heterocycyl; L is a direct covalent bond or a divalent linking group; w, x, y and z are each independently greater than zero. Also compositions and inks, printing processes, printed material and ink-jet printer cartridges.
US07641699B2
Provided is a novel hip replacement implant system that includes a ball assembly having a ball trunnion, the ball assembly being configured as a replacement for the head of the femur and capable of being secured by the ball assembly trunnion to a calcar implant element that can be securely seated in the calcar bone of the femoral neck, thus maintaining the load transfer function of the calcar bone of the femoral neck. A method of using the device is also provided.
US07641698B1
A modular hip joint implant and associated method. The modular hip implant includes a femoral stem having a proximal surface defining a dovetail groove having first and second female wings, and a neck component having a distal surface defining a semi-dovetail projection engaging the dovetail groove. The projection includes a single male wing mating with the first femoral wing.
US07641692B2
The invention relates to a surgical implant that provides an artificial diarthroidal-like D joint, suitable for use in replacing any joint, but particularly suitable for use as an intervertebral disc endoprosthesis. The invention contains two rigid opposing shells, each having an outer surface adapted to engage the surfaces of the bones of a joint in such a way that the shells are immobilized by friction between their outer surfaces and the surfaces of the bone. These outer surfaces are sufficiently rough, while the inner surfaces of the shells are relatively smooth. The central body has a shape that cooperates with the shape of the inner surface of the shell so as to provide a range of motion similar to that provided by a healthy joint.
US07641682B2
Implantable medical grafts fabricated of metallic or pseudometallic films of biocompatible materials having a plurality of microperforations passing through the film in a pattern that imparts fabric-like qualities to the graft or permits the geometric deformation of the graft. The implantable graft is preferably fabricated by vacuum deposition of metallic and/or pseudometallic materials into either single or multi-layered structures with the plurality of microperforations either being formed during deposition or after deposition by selective removal of sections of the deposited film. The implantable medical grafts are suitable for use as endoluminal or surgical grafts and may be used as vascular grafts, stent-grafts, skin grafts, shunts, bone grafts, surgical patches, non-vascular conduits, valvular leaflets, filters, occlusion membranes, artificial sphincters, tendons and ligaments.
US07641669B2
An intravascular occlusion balloon catheter having a removable hub, a profile sized to approximate a guidewire, and a means for venting air from the balloon. The removable hub and the small profile allow the occlusion balloon catheter to be used as a guidewire. The venting means allows air to be easily and reliably removed from the balloon prior to use.
US07641666B2
The present invention relates generally to a prosthetic spinal disc for replacing a damaged disc between two vertebrae of a spine. The present invention also relates to a method for implanting a prosthetic spinal disc via posterior or posterior lateral implantation. Other surgical approaches for implanting the prosthetic disc may also be used. The present invention also involves a method for implanting the prosthetic spinal disc while either avoiding or minimizing contact with the spinal cord and nerve rootlets, or reducing the time and extent that they need to be repositioned during implantation.
US07641660B2
A system for cutting a bone at a desired location may include an image guided drill cylinder configured to receive either a drill bit to create a bore at a target location on the bone or a pin for insertion into the target location, and a cutting block having a plurality of adjustable guides, each defining a cutting path to guide a cutting instrument, a mounting location configured to attach to the bone at the target location, and a plurality of adjustors for adjusting the position of the guides relative to the target location. The system may further include a tracking instrument for providing image guidance of the adjustments to the positions of the guides.
US07641657B2
Methods and apparatus for providing percutaneous access to vertebrae in alignment with a visualized, trans-sacral axial instrumentation/fusion (TASIF) line in a minimally invasive, low trauma, manner are disclosed. A number of related TASIF methods and surgical tool sets are provided by the present invention that are employed to form a percutaneous pathway from an anterior or posterior skin incision to a respective anterior or posterior target point of a sacral surface. The percutaneous pathway is generally axially aligned with an anterior or posterior axial instrumentation/fusion line extending from the respective anterior or posterior target point through at least one sacral vertebral body and one or more lumbar vertebral bodies in the cephalad direction. The provision of the percutaneous pathway described herein allows for the formation of the anterior or posterior TASIF bore(s) and/or the introduction of spinal implants and instruments.
US07641653B2
A removable handswitch and electrode assembly for use with a forceps having opposing end effectors and a handle for effecting relative movement of the end effectors with respect to one another includes a housing having at least one portion which removably engages at least a portion of a mechanical forceps and a handswitch assembly disposed on the housing. A pair of electrodes is included which removably engage a distal end of the mechanical forceps such that the electrodes reside in opposing relation to one another. At least one electrode is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical generator through the handswitch assembly. At least one stop member is operatively associated with the electrodes and controls the distance between the opposing electrodes to affect a tissue seal.
US07641647B2
A marker band and medical devices such as catheters and guidewires that include a marker band. A marker band may include a generally cylindrical body portion having one or more slots or openings defined therein. The marker band is configured for being secured to a medical device. Methods of making and using a marker band and a medical device having a marker band are also disclosed.
US07641639B2
The present invention provides a body fluid suction reservoir including a flexible bag, two plates for supporting the bag, and a spring put between the two plates. The body fluid suction reservoir further includes a lock having a hook and a release part and consisting of a member different from the two plates, by which lock the spring is held in a state compressed between the two plates, and the held state is releasable. The lock has flexibility and is held by one of the plates so as to be deformable from a first state in which the hook is engaged with the other plate to a second state in which the hook is not engaged, and the lock is urged to take the first state.
US07641638B2
Medical devices, kits, and methods for utilizing an elongate surgical needle that may be used through an endoscope working channel or through an external accessory channel device used with an endoscope are provided. The needle has a proximal end and a flexible distal end, an opening at or near the proximal end and an opening at or near the distal end, the openings defining a channel. The surgical needle distal end comprises a tissue engaging section and an intermediate section being operatively coupled in an axial direction. The tissue engaging section and intermediate section have different flexibility such that the tissue engaging section has greater flexibility than the intermediate section. Optionally, the needle distal end has a preformed bend at or near the tissue engaging section, the preformed bend capable of being constrained to a substantially linear configuration and capable of returning to the preformed configuration when unconstrained.
US07641634B2
An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a needle to contact and penetrate tissue. The apparatus also includes a device coupled to the needle, wherein the device detects the needle contacting the tissue, and measures depth of tissue penetration.
US07641633B2
A catheter delivers an electrode within a vein for a minimally invasive treatment of varicose veins and venous insufficiency using RF energy. The catheter is introduced into a patient and positioned within the section of the vein to be treated. The electrode radiates high frequency energy towards the vein, and the surrounding venous tissue becomes heated and begins to shrink. The catheter includes a controllable member for limiting the amount of shrinkage of the vein to the diameter of the member. The electrode remains active until there has been sufficient shrinkage of the vein. The extent of shrinkage of the vein may be detected by fluoroscopy. After treating one section of the vein, the catheter and the electrode can be repositioned intraluminally within the vein to treat different sections of the vein until all desired venous sections and valves are repaired and rendered functionally competent.
US07641630B2
The drainage catheter hub includes a locking cam for securing a suture to maintain an anchor configuration of the distal end of the drainage catheter. The locking cam is rotatable to a first position for securing the suture and a second position for releasing the suture. The locking cam includes a tapered surface which includes a release portion and a securement portion. The release portion allows movement of the suture while the securement portion cooperatively engages the suture in connection with the seat to minimize movement of the suture.
US07641626B2
The invention relates to support element (4) comprising a main body (6) having a front wall (25) and a peripheral wall (32) projecting away from the front wall. The front wall and the peripheral wall define a housing compartment (33) designed to receive a fluid distribution circuitry cooperating with a treatment unit for defining an integrated blood treatment module.
US07641618B2
A heart beat/respiration measuring device comprising a sheet-like capacitance-type pressure sensor adapted to be pressed against the human body, and a measuring circuit for measuring a heart rate and/or respiration rate from the output of the sensor. The capacitance-type pressure sensor includes a sheet-like dielectric body elastically deformable in all directions and a pair of conductive clothes with stretchability disposed on opposite sides of the dielectric body. The measuring circuit comprises a resonant circuit wherein the capacitance-type pressure sensor serves as an oscillation capacitor, and a calculation processing circuit for detecting variations in the oscillation frequency of the resonant circuit and calculating the heart rate and/or respiration rate based on the frequency component or components of heart beats and/or respiration included in the variations.
US07641613B2
A method for improved detection and imaging of ultrasound contrast agents using dual-band transmitted pulses, is described. The method is based on transmitting a pulse consisting of two frequency bands, a low frequency band which purpose is to manipulate the high frequency scattering properties of the contrast agent, and a high frequency band from which the image reconstruction is based. In addition, a general form of pulse subtraction is used to significantly suppress the received tissue signal.
US07641604B2
Various embodiments of the invention are directed towards an exercise device for use with Pilates method exercise and other exercise methods. The exercise device is used either the arms or legs of the user for various exercises. The exercise device improves upon related-art system by allowing users to performing exercises while actively engaging the hands or legs of the device with the device in a manner that remains comfortable during exercises.
US07641590B2
A lap counter for use by a swimmer, has a case for attaching to the swimmer, and a compass sensor housed in the case for providing an output signal which changes between opposite directions along which the swimmer swims back and forth. An operating circuit includes a processor programmed to distinguish the change in the output signal of the compass sensor between the opposite directions to identify a reversal in direction of swimming by the swimmer and to count laps, each lap being based on two successive reversals in direction. The processor may also be programmed to distinguish the change in the compass sensor output signal to detect a rise above an upper threshold and a subsequent fall below a lower threshold, or vice versa, to identify, a wave in the output signal that represents a swimming stroke of the swimmer and to count the strokes.
US07641580B2
The invention relates to a transmission, in particular between a drive shaft and a wheel driving shaft of an engine, in particular of an automotive engine, such as a riding mower engine, whereby this transmission is of the belt-controlled variable-speed drive unit type (2) combined with a clutch device (7).This transmission is characterized in that it is equipped with at least one progressive-type clutch device (7), preferably friction-based, and comprises a control mechanism (20) that is common to clutch device(s) (7) and to the variable-speed drive unit (2), whereby this control mechanism (20), in a first step, acts on the clutch device (7) to pass from the disengaged position, so-called of zero speed, to the engaged position that corresponds to the minimum operational speed of the variable-speed drive unit (2), then, in a second step, acts on the speed variation mechanism (6) of the variable-speed drive unit (2) to regulate as desired the speed of the engine that is equipped with such a variable-speed drive unit (2).
US07641578B2
There is provided a double-face driving silent chain wherein the size of each inner link plate of an exterior driving link train to a back face thereof is set to be equal to or greater than the size of each link plate of an interior driving link train. Thereby, inner side planes of the back face of the inner link plate abut against the both side planes of an interior driving sprocket and guide and prevent the silent chain from engaging with the sprocket in twist. All the link plates, other than the inner link plates of the exterior driving link train, have the same shape when seen from the side and the outermost link plate of the interior driving link train is thin as compared to the other link plates.
US07641576B2
A reversible locking device 1 for a tensioner 100 of a timing chain 20 includes a locking device body 3, integral with the tensioner 100 and protruding with respect to the body of the tensioner 100, which has a shaped slot 2. A perforated protrusion 4 is integral with the shoe 5 carried by the piston 6 and protrudes with respect to the shoe 5 so that its hole is aligned with the shaped slot. A rod 7 has a first part 8 with a shape complementary to that of the shaped slot 2 and a second part 9 bearing at one end a conical portion 10 adapted to couple it irreversibly to the perforated protrusion 4 integral with the shoe 5.
US07641572B2
A golf ball having an outside surface with a plurality of dimples formed thereon. The dimples on the ball have a cross-sectional profiles formed by a catenary curve. Combinations of varying dimple diameters, shape factors, and chordal depths in the catenary curve are used to vary the ball flight performance according to ball spin characteristics, player swing speed, as well as satisfy specific aerodynamic magnitude and direction criteria.
US07641569B2
A golf club head with a vibration damping insert is disclosed. The club head includes a face member, a damping member, and a body member. The damping member is sandwiched between the face member and the body member and extends along a large percentage of the face member. The damping layer attenuates vibrations, providing consistent feel across the length of the striking face.
US07641564B2
Grooves as ball rolling grooves are formed in a side peripheral wall of a preparatory formed body that is to be an inner member. A recess opened so as to be continuous to curved bottom sections of the grooves, which face a through-hole, is formed in one end surface of the preparatory formed body. In carburizing, carburizing gas entering into space between the through-hole and a support shaft member flows through the recess after coming into contact with inner teeth, and is then discharged to the outside of the preparatory formed body via the curved bottom sections of the grooves. On the contrary, the carburizing gas having been in contact with the curved bottom sections of the grooves flows through the recess to come to be in contact with the inner teeth and is then discharged through the space.
US07641563B2
A boot for constant-velocity universal joint includes a major-diameter fastener, a minor-diameter fastener, and a bellows. The bellows includes a first root, a first crest, a second root, a second crest, a third root, a third crest, a fourth root, a fourth crest, a fifth root and a fifth crest. The first crest, the second crest, the third crest, the fourth crest and the fifth crest have a top, respectively, and the tops of the second crest, third crest and fourth crest are disposed on an outer peripheral side with respect to a line L1, which the tops of the first crest and fifth crest make there between, in a cross section involving the central axis of the bellows.
US07641557B2
A flexible coupling capable of transmitting moments and comprising a first member having a longitudinal axis (30) connected by at least three joints (27) to a second member (41) having a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the first member, the joints being circumferentially spaced apart about said axis, each joint comprising a first part (27) on one of the members and a second part (31) on the other member, the parts of each joint interfitting so that moments can be transmitted between said members by the joints and so that relative sliding and rotational movement can take place between the parts of teach joint, the joint parts on at least one of the members being flexibly arranged (41) so that the members may articulate relative to one another.
US07641547B2
A method of motivating players to return to a casino includes receiving a request to convert a predetermined value of casino currency to cash. Upon the receipt of the request, a premium value is calculated based at least in part on the predetermined value. Subsequently, the customer is provided an instrument having a total value equal to the predetermined value plus the premium value when the instrument is used at the casino. The instrument may comprise a check having a negotiable value equal to the predetermined value, and a second pay-line defining the total value with the premium to be provided if the check is cashed at the issuing casino.
US07641530B2
An organic EL panel and a method of forming the same, in which a bottom electrode of an organic EL device is flattened at the surface so that organic layers deposited thereon have uniform thicknesses, thereby avoiding the occurrence of leak currents and allowing favorable luminescence characteristics. The organic EL panel has an organic EL device formed on a substrate, the device comprising the bottom electrode, the organic layers including at least an organic luminescent layer, and a top electrode. The bottom electrode has an etched surface obtained by chemically etching a polished surface of an electrode material film. The organic layers are formed on the etched surface.
US07641522B2
An electrical-connection device, particularly for photovoltaic-cell panels, has: a first electrical terminal, designed to be connected to apparatuses for generation or use of electrical energy and to extend in a fixed position through a wall for support of the connection device; a seal for fluid-tight coupling of the first electrical terminal to the supporting wall; a second electrical terminal connected to the first electrical terminal and to an electrical wiring external to the supporting wall; and an electrically insulated liquid-tight chamber, housing at least partially the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal.
US07641517B2
A lamp base has a projection that carries lamp contacts and has an outer surface formed with retaining formations arrayed with irregular spacing. A socket forms a recess into which the projection can be inserted with play and apertures provided with contacts engageable with the lamp contacts. Retaining formations in the socket fit with the lamp-base retaining formations in only one defined angular alignment of the lamp base and the socket. The projection has a central plug projecting toward the socket and forming a lamp key coded for a predetermined lamp wattage. The socket has a hole corresponding to the plug and itself forming a socket key coded for the maximally admissible lamp wattage for the socket. The lamp base only fits into the socket when the lamp wattage indicated by the lamp key does not exceed the maximally admissible lamp wattage defined by the socket key.
US07641514B2
An electrical connector assembly (100) includes a connector holder (2) defining a plurality of positioning cavities (2101) therein, and at least a slot (2103) located in a front portion of each of the positioning cavities; a plurality of grounding members (5) respectively mounted to the positioning cavities, each of the grounding members (5) having a body portion (50), a first contacting portion (51) connected to a front edge of the body portion, a second contacting portion (52) connected to a back edge of the body portion and at least an arm (53) connected to a lateral edge of the body portion, said at least an arm received in the at least a slot, and the first contacting portion disposed out of the connector holder; a plurality of connectors respectively mounted to the positioning cavities, each of the connectors having a metallic shell contacting the second contacting portion; and a metallic cage (4) enclosing the connector holder and the connectors, with the first contacting portion contacting inner surface of the metallic cage.
US07641513B2
An upgradeable patch panel assembly and associated method of upgrading a patch panel assembly. The upgradeable patch panel assembly including a panel base having an aperture sized to receive a scanner interface cable. The method including removing a first cover from the panel base, inserting a scanner interface cable through the existing aperture in the panel base, and attached an upgraded cover to the panel base. Upgrading the patch panel assembly is completed while the assembly remains mounted to a frame and without disconnecting rear cable connections. The upgraded patch panel assembly provides jack-occupancy monitoring capabilities.
US07641510B2
A jumper assembly (100) adapted for use in connecting junction block to conduit having electrical cable running therethrough and wherein the junction blocks are half junction blocks, the jumper assembly including: a first plurality of wire conductors (306) and a second plurality of wire conductors (308) are each electrically and structurally connected to a terminal set comprising a half H-shaped terminal set having a series of first terminal blades (312) and a series of second terminal blades (314), each set of terminal blades bein commonly integral with an elongated common blade (316).
US07641509B2
A battery connector comprises an insulative housing comprising mounting surface and a top surface opposite to the mounting surface. A receiving chamber is defined in the housing from the top surface with first and second conductive terminals spatially arranged within the chamber. The chamber features at least a rounded corner for conforming to a rounded edge of a battery to be inserted so as to prevent the battery from being inserted incorrectly. The rounded corner has a curve surface tangent to two inner side walls of the chamber.
US07641507B2
A cable connector includes an insulative housing, some terminals, an insert and a shield. The insulative housing includes a main body, a pair of side arms respectively rearward extending from the middle of the two sides of the main body to form a receiving space between the two side arms. The forward section of said main body is a mating portion with some evenly disposed grooves. The rearward section of said main body is a connecting portion with some troughs corresponding to the grooves. Each side arm includes two pair of separated receiving slots on the tail thereof to be connected to the receiving space. Each of terminals includes a mating piece on the forward part thereof to be received in the mating portion and a connecting piece on the rearward part thereof to be received in the connecting portion. The insert includes a main body with a grid to form some passages corresponding to the troughs of the housing and two pair of fastening portions respectively extending from two sides of the main body. The main body of insert is received in the receiving space between the two side arms of the housing through said fastening portions being inserted into the receiving slots of the housing. The shield includes an upper cover assembled on the upper surface of the housing to cover the connecting portion and the insert, and a lower cover assembled on the lower surface of the housing to cover the connecting portion and the insert.
US07641504B1
An electrical connector backshell adapter for terminating sheathed electrical cables, the electrical connector backshell adapter having a housing having a first and at least a second port, the electrical connector backshell adapter further having a cable sheath termination nipple having a proximal end, the cable sheath termination nipple overlying the housing's first port, the cable sheath termination nipple's proximal end being fixedly attached to or formed wholly with the housing; the electrical connector backshell adapter further having a seam extending through the housing, the seam further extending through the cable sheath termination nipple, the seam dividing the housing into first and second housing sections, the seam further dividing the cable sheath termination nipple into first and second nipple sections, and the electrical connector backshell adapter further having a hinge connected operatively to the housing's first and second housing sections for motions of the first and second housing sections between opened and closed positions.
US07641498B2
A Universal Serial Bus socket-equipped arrangement (USB-SEA) configured for mating with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug having a plug metal housing and an aperture disposed in the plug metal housing. The arrangement includes a plug-receiving cavity configured to receive the USB plug. The arrangement further includes a spring-loaded mechanism disposed within the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is biased toward an interior region of the plug-receiving cavity. The spring-loaded mechanism is also configured to slide along the connector metal housing of the USB plug when the USB plug is inserted into the plug-receiving cavity and to movably mate with the aperture disposed in the plug metal housing when the USB plug is in a terminal mating position with the USB socket assembly. The spring-loaded mechanism represents one of a spring-loaded ball and a spring-loaded pin.
US07641497B2
A socket, for electrically connecting an IC package and a printed circuit board, comprises a base received with a plurality of contacts, a stiffener surrounding the base and bolts mounting the socket to the printed circuit board. The stiffener has a horizontal plate, which has engaging holes by drawing, so the engaging hole has a sidewall extending beyond the horizontal plate to keep the bolt in the engaging hole of the stiffener.
US07641486B2
A first housing (10) and a second housing (30) are connected by leverage brought about by the engagement of pinions (24) of a lever (20) rotatably supported on the first housing (10) and racks 33 of the second housing (30). In the process of rotating the lever (20), cam action brought about by the engagement of cam grooves (25) of the lever (20) and cam followers (37) of the second housing (30) is exhibited. This cam action prevents the first housing (10) from being inclined with respect to the second housing (30) with engaged positions of the pinions (24) and the racks (33) as supports.
US07641483B2
An electronic assembly (100) includes a housing having a plurality of walls together defining a receiving space and an outlet defined in one of the walls and in communication to the receiving space; a connector (53) pivotally linked to the housing and projected outward of the housing via the outlet; a locking member (6) mounted to the housing, said locking member including a base portion (60) having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, a stopper portion (62) formed on the first side and extending into the receiving opening, and a resilient member (61) arranged adjacent to the second side for exerting a resilient force to the base portion.
US07641478B2
A card bus connector assembly mounted within a housing (40) includes a card bus connector (10) and an electronic card (20) having a number of grounding pads (23) disposed on a bottom surface thereof and a wedge-shaped protruding portion (29) disposed in an end portion of the electronic card. The card bus connector has a base (11) and a grounding plate (4) mounted to a bottom surface of the base. The grounding plate has a number of grounding terminals (431) extending upwardly for engaging with the grounding pads of the electronic card.
US07641477B2
An electrical plug and receptacle relying on magnetic force from an electromagnet to maintain contact are disclosed. The plug and receptacle can be used as part of a power adapter for connecting an electronic device, such as a laptop computer, to a power supply. The plug includes electrical contacts, which are preferably biased toward corresponding contacts on the receptacle. The plug and receptacle each have a magnetic element. The magnetic element on one of the plug or receptacle can be a magnet or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic element on the other of the plug or receptacle is an electromagnet. When the plug and receptacle are brought into proximity, the magnetic attraction between the electromagnet magnet and its complement, whether another magnet or a ferromagnetic material, maintains the contacts in an electrically conductive relationship.
US07641476B2
A rotatable quick disconnect electrical connector assembly is provided. The assembly includes a male component and a female component, which have a mating fit together and which have an electrical connection when in mating contact. The connection is further enhanced by magnetic attraction, one of either the male or female components having a magnetic material and the other having a magnet-sensitive material. Each of the male and female components has a generally circular cross-section, to permit relative rotation through unlimited degrees in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The components may be made separately. A system of such connectors is also provided (e.g. for displays).
US07641470B2
The cooking appliance (1) having a control panel (2) is equipped with one or more gas flow (Q) regulating valves, wherein the rotary regulating plug (6) is provided with various peripheral through holes (16-19). The control knob (9) being interchangeable for fitting to the actuating shaft (7), is chosen from the two units available, one and the other permitting different angular limit positions of the regulating plug (6) for the supply of a constant minimum gas flow Qmin, adjusted each one for a different type of gas N gas or LP gas. The outlet conduit (5) of the valve is equipped with a further injector nozzle (21,23) for adjusting a constant gas flow Qmax to be fed into the conduit (25) of the correspondent burner, when the cooking appliance is supplied with a LP gas.
US07641459B2
A molding system for foam-in-bag cushions comprises a mold defining a mold cavity, an air plenum separate from the mold cavity, a plurality of air passages that connect the mold cavity to the air plenum, and at least one port connected to the air plenum. The mold cavity has an open side and the mold includes a door that is movable between a closed position closing the open side of the mold cavity and an open position allowing a cushion to enter and exit through the open side. The system further comprises a pneumatic vacuum/blowout system connected with the at least one port. The vacuum/blowout system comprises a vacuum source, an air tank containing pressurized air, and a vacuum/blowout valve structured and arranged to alternately couple the at least one port either to the vacuum source or to the air tank.
US07641449B2
For a motor that drives a compressed air generator, three operating modes which includes a powerful mode for rotating a motor in a high speed range, a silent mode for rotating the motor in a low speed range, and an automatic mode for automatically changing the rotation speed of the motor from the low speed to the high speed in accordance with a setup condition are prepared. A user can designate a desired operating mode by using an operating mode selection switch.
US07641442B2
The turbine casing includes a circumferential wall coaxially surrounding a ring that surrounds the moving blades of the turbine. The casing includes a plurality of perforations delivering air for ventilating the outside face of the circumferential wall in uniform manner.
US07641436B2
A bale tote implement for a skid steer vehicle including an elongated body having a plurality of openings. Each opening is configured to receive one or more fasteners and at least one of the openings is configured to receive a fastener to retain the implement in position on a bucket of the skid steer vehicle. The implement also includes a plurality of substantially hollow gathering teeth having a first end and a second end. The first end is substantially flattened and the second end includes a support dowel inserted therein. Slots are configured to receive the second end of the gathering teeth. U-shaped fasteners are positioned adjacent the second end and through at least two of the openings in the elongated body. The U-shaped fasteners apply a retention force on the second end and the support dowel to retain the teeth in position within the slots.
US07641428B2
A floating fastener base and pocket are disclosed. The base and pocket permit the adjustable positioning of a stud, such as a striker bolt, prior to final assembly and tightening. A floating fastener base has one or more flanges which fit within a pocket created by one or more respective flange receptacles formed on a substrate. The floating fastener base is inserted into the floating fastener base pocket. This provides a fastening base for a stud wherein the fastening base and the stud are positionally adjustable prior to final retention of the stud, typically accomplished by tightening of the stud.
US07641426B2
A device for fixing an object to a rail by way of a fitting (P1, P2, P3, P4) that is movable along the rail within a groove together with a sliding member and is provided with a retainer which can be sunk into at least one lateral groove cavity in the rail. The retainer is joined to a sliding member via a connecting element. The retainer is supported relative to the sliding member and/or a rotating element via at least one energy accumulator while the pressurized retainer is fixed relative to the rail in at least two vertical positions.
US07641419B1
A control system for heating a screed assembly of a paving machine is provided. The control system includes a plurality of resistive heating elements positioned adjacent to a screed plate of the screed assembly. An electrical power supply is selectively connected with the resistive heating elements via switches operated by a controller. The controller is responsive to inputs from at least manual switches and temperature sensors. The controller is configured to automatically adjust the temperature of the screed plate by selectively energizing fewer than all of the resistive heating elements at a time.
US07641415B2
An automatic locking ball coupler for a power take off includes a ball keeper connected to the power take off and having a longitudinal axis and openings in a cylindrical surface thereof. Locking balls are received in the openings and can move radially with respect to the axis of the cylindrical ball keeper. A ball collar is positioned around the cylindrical ball keeper and has a plurality of internal circumferential rings and recesses between each ring. The ball collar can slide axially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ball keeper between a coupled position in which the locking balls are on the rings and an uncoupled position in which the locking balls are in the recesses.
US07641413B2
A ball joint is provided that when a load equal to or greater than a first predetermined value is applied in the axial direction of a ball stud, if a cushion seat is deformed by a predetermined amount, an opposing surface portion contacts a first load receiving portion of a ball seat, preventing the cushion seat from being deformed by a predetermined amount in the central axis direction. When a load equal to or greater than a second predetermined value greater than the first is applied in the axial direction of the ball stud, a second load receiving portion of the ball seatcontacts a bottom surface portion of an inner chamber of a socket, whereby an axial load onto the cushion seat is reduced, and the ball seat prevents the cushion seat from being deformed by a predetermined amount or more in the axial direction.
US07641412B2
A ball-point pen, wherein a cover member (6) is fitted to a joint member (3) connecting a writing tip (1) rotatably supporting a writing ball (2) at the tip thereof to an ink storage tube. When the cover member (6) is fitted to the joint member (3) along the outer peripheral surface thereof, a part of the cover member does not come within 0.2 mm (within the range of the chain double-dashed line) from around the writing tip. Thus, even if the accuracies of parts and assembly machines are dispersed, a problem with an existing ball-point pen wherein a cover member is brought into contact with a writing tip and the writing tip is damaged in an assembly step can be avoided.
US07641400B2
A package design for electro-optic devices has been developed in which the substrate supporting the electro-optic element serves also as the base of the device housing. The electro-optic element is flip-chip bonded to the substrate. In a preferred embodiment the substrate is a multi-level wiring board.
US07641396B2
A connection device for connecting an optical fiber to an electrical device has a housing, a cable gland, and a plug for insertion into the corresponding socket of the electrical device, the housing having a cable passage for insertion of the optical fiber, the plug being held at least partially in the housing and being connectable to the fibers of the optical fiber which has been inserted into the cable passage. The housing has a first housing part for holding the plug and a second housing part for connection to the cable gland. The first and second housing parts are connectable in a manner enabling them to be axially moved relative to each other in the connected state by an extent defined by at least one stop on the second housing part that is engageable with at least one opposing stop on the first housing part.
US07641393B2
A hub unit is fixed to a body's side in such a state that a lubricating ring member is held between a hub receiving surface which constitutes a step portion of a large-diameter portion and a vehicle inner side end face of an inner ring with at least either of an abutment surface of the lubricating ring member with the hub receiving surface and an abutment surface thereof with the vehicle inner end face of the inner ring made to constitute a lubricant holding surface which holds a lubricant, whereby the hub receiving surface and the vehicle inner side end face of the inner ring are made to easily slip relative to each other, thereby making it possible to prevent the generation of an abnormal noise between contact surfaces of the inner ring and the hub receiving surface of the axle.
US07641383B2
An apparatus and method for testing thermal switches is disclosed including modulating the temperature of a receiver in thermal contact with a thermal switch at a first rate within a range containing the nominal switch temperature of the thermal switch. A first temperature at which the switch changes state is recorded. The temperature is then modulated at a second rate and a second temperature at which the switch again changes state is recorded. The temperature may be modulated at a third rate slower than the second rate to determine a third temperature. The first, second, and third switch temperatures are then processed and output to an operator. The first, second, and third rates may be determined according to an exponentially decreasing function.
US07641382B2
In a deposited-film formation apparatus or process having the means or steps of evacuating the inside of an inside-evacuatable chamber through an evacuation piping by an evacuation means, feeding a material gas into the chamber while evacuating the inside of the chamber, and applying a high-frequency power to form a deposited film on a substrate disposed inside the chamber, a leak is detected on the basis of a measured value of a temperature sensor which detects the heat of reaction that is generated when the material gas fed into the chamber reacts with oxygen contained in air having entered from the outside, so as to be able to stop the material gas feeding.In deposited-film formation apparatus or processes making use of spontaneously ignitable gases, the leak can quickly be detected when air enters the chamber because of any unexpected accident such as a break of piping.
US07641370B2
A lighting apparatus for a vehicle cab or cabin, having a plurality of reading lights for a plurality of passenger seats. A number of the reading lights is at least equal to the number of passenger seats, and a mean distance between the reading lights is less than a shortest possible distance between the passenger seats.
US07641363B1
The present invention discloses an LED streetlight structure, which comprises: a heat-conduction pipe frame, an upper casing, a lower casing, a light concentration plate, and a transparent cover. The upper and lower casings are made of a plastic material and pivotally coupled to each other. The heat-conduction pipe frame has a heat-dissipation seat with main heat-dissipation fins. Two stabilizer boxes with fins are respectively arranged at two sides of the heat-dissipation seat. Heat-dissipation lamp sets insert through the bottom of the heat-dissipation seat. The present invention installs the main heat-dissipation fins on heat-conduction pipe frame and installs the fins on the stabilizer boxes to increase heat-dissipation area. Further, an auxiliary heat-dissipation ventilation device is arranged above the heat-conduction pipe frame and made of aluminum, and aluminum itself benefits heat dissipation. Furthermore, air can be compulsively conducted to the main heat-dissipation fins, then can enhance the dissipation effect.
US07641361B2
An example light emitting diode bulb assembly includes a base having a first end portion and a second end portion defining an axis, a plurality of first light emitting diodes secured adjacent a plurality of first base surfaces about the axis, and at least one second light emitting diode secured adjacent a second base surface of the first end portion, wherein the second base surface is transverse to the plurality of first base surfaces.
US07641354B1
An assembly that combines a flashlight with at least one secondary tool element. The flashlight has an elongated casing. At least one tool element is provided. The tool element is coupled to the elongated casing of the flashlight, wherein the tool element is capable of moving reciprocally with respect to the elongated casing between a retracted position and an extended position while remaining coupled to the casing. The tool element lays parallel to the central axis of the flashlight and protrudes beyond the front of the flashlight when in its extended position. A locking mechanism is provided for selectively locking the tool element into its extended position. As such, the tool element can be locked into an extended position in front of the flashlight or retracted back into a stored position along the casing of the flashlight.
US07641350B2
A fold mirror for a projection display system is designed to lessen a perceived variation in white color balance of light reflected across the mirror wherein the white light is comprised of sub-beams of orthogonal polarization states. The mirror comprises a metal reflective layer and a plurality of optically transparent layers, wherein thicknesses and materials of the optically transparent layers are such that wavelength-averaged reflectance for p-polarized incident green light varies by less than 1%, wavelength-averaged reflectance for s-polarized blue light varies by less than 1.5%, and wavelength-averaged reflectance for s-polarized red light varies by about 4% over a range of angles of incidence between 0 and 65 degrees.
US07641344B2
A device to determine the contrast sensitivity of an individual's visual system by means of a series of tests in a measurement session, comprising a means for producing real time digital images, corresponding to modulated visual stimuli; and a display means for presenting said images to an individual's eye, wherein said stimuli may be modulated around an average stimulus in any direction of the color space and may be configured in their spatial and temporal characteristics for each measurement session. Said stimuli are usually chosen in the cardinal directions of the color space and respond to a sinusoidal grid pattern with spatial and temporal modulation, and with a two dimensional gaussian envelope.
US07641343B1
The objective of the present method and apparatus is to provide a portable diagnosis system for a quick and reliable method to examine the conditions of a human eye-lens. The method provides precise and safe technique for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) which is not involved brain surgery or biopsy. The detection of deposited layers of amyloid plaque in the eyes of the patient has been discovered to be a possible diagnosis solution. The disclosed method uses terahertz waves instead of laser for scanning the eye of the AD patient to precisely image the amyloid layer non-evasively in real time and to map the deposited plaque with high resolution which can easily distinguish the abnormality of an AD patient with the comparison of the patient eye-lens test to the available signature of a normal person and the signature of a person with common age-related cataracts.
US07641323B2
The liquid ejection head includes an ejection port which ejects liquid onto an ejection receiving medium; a pressure chamber which applies pressure for ejection to the liquid to be ejected from the ejection port; and a plurality of pressure determination elements which are provided on at least one of wall faces constituting the pressure chamber and have characteristic different from each other.
US07641320B2
An ink jet head has a plurality of first ink chambers (3) front end portions of which open at an end surface (A) of the substrate and rear end portions of which are blocked, and a plurality of second ink chambers (4) front end portions of which open at an end surface (B) on the opposite side to the end surface (A) and rear end portions of which are blocked. Furthermore, this ink jet head has electrodes formed upon inner walls of the first ink chambers (3) and the second ink chambers (4), a first common ink chamber (6) formed between the rear end portions of the second ink chambers (4) and the end surface (A) and communicated with the first ink chambers (3), and a second common ink chamber (7) formed between the rear end portions of the first ink chambers (3) and the end surface (B) and communicated with the second ink chambers (4). And this ink jet head has a nozzle plate covering the first ink chambers (3) and the second ink chambers (4), and having nozzle holes formed to correspond to those ink chambers.
US07641318B2
The image forming apparatus comprises: a plurality of ejection ports through which liquid is ejected toward a prescribed recording medium; a plurality of pressure chambers which are respectively connected to the plurality of ejection ports; a plurality of first actuators which respectively change volume of the plurality of pressure chambers; a common liquid chamber which is connected to the plurality of pressure chambers; a second actuator which changes volume of the common liquid chamber; and a drive unit which supplies drive signals to the first actuators and the second actuator, such that the first actuators cause the volume of the pressure chambers to contract to eject the liquid through the ejection ports and subsequently to expand the volume of the pressure chambers, and causes the second actuator to contract the volume of the common liquid chamber after the volume of the pressure chambers has been expanded.
US07641315B2
A printhead is provided for an inkjet printer. The printhead includes a wafer assembly supporting rows of ink ejection nozzles. Each nozzle includes a nozzle structure defining a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with an ink ejection port. A cantilevered thermal actuator terminates in a free end over an ink supply channel. The thermal actuator includes a serpentine heater layer connected to a CMOS drive circuitry layer of the wafer assembly. The CMOS drive circuitry layer is configured to actuate the thermal actuator and reciprocate the actuator to eject ink in the nozzle chamber out through the ink ejection port.
US07641314B2
Provided is a micro-electromechanical nozzle arrangement for a printhead integrated circuit. The arrangement includes a nozzle chamber defined in a substrate with a roof that defines an ink ejection port. The nozzle arrangement further includes a paddle located inside the chamber below the ink ejection port, said paddle operatively ejecting ink from the chamber through the port. Also included is an actuator arm having a fixed end fixed to the substrate and a working end that is displaceable towards and away from the substrate upon receipt of a drive signal in the form of a current pulse emanating from a drive circuitry layer on the substrate. The arrangement further has a motion transmitting structure interconnecting the working end of the actuator arm and a proximal end of the paddle.
US07641304B2
A printhead maintenance system for maintaining a printhead in an operable condition is provided. The maintenance system comprises: (a) a printhead having an ink ejection face; (b) a foaming system for providing a liquid foam on the face; and (c) a foam transport assembly comprising: a transfer surface for receiving the foam or a collapsed foam from the face and a transport mechanism for feeding the transfer surface through a transfer zone and away from the printhead. The transfer zone is adjacent to and spaced apart from the face.
US07641298B2
A heat-insulated wall has two outer covering layers which are disposed at a distance from one another and are constructed at least substantially vacuum-tight. The two outer covering layers are connected to one another in a vacuum-tight manner by a connecting profile that runs along their contour and has a U-shaped cross section. The two outer covering layers together with the connecting profile enclose an intermediate space that can be evacuated and filled with an evacuable heat insulating material. At least one tubular bushing for cables or the like runs through the intermediate space. The bushing connects apertures to one another that are formed the spaced-apart outer covering layers. The tubular bushing is provided on its two end sections with a flange-shaped expanded and flattened region by which the bushing is fixed in a vacuum-tight manner on the mutually facing inner sides of the two outer covering layers.
US07641297B2
The present invention discloses a rack mountable to a computer cabinet without using a tool, and the rack includes a slide module and a latch element, and the slide module includes an adjusting element and a latch element. The latch element includes at least one hook extended horizontally and at least one protruding pillar proximate to the hook. During installation, the hook is latched into a positioning hole of the computer cabinet, and a turning member of the latch element is turned to extend the protruding pillar deep into the positioning hole, so that the hook will not be separated from the positioning hole when the protruding pillar is pressed. On the other hand, users simply need to return the turning member to its original position to separate the protruding pillar from the positioning hole, so as to disassemble the rack.
US07641270B2
In a car body frame member that couples a front side member and an extension member to each other, a portion thereof extending from a rear portion of the front side member to the extension member is formed as a bent portion that is smoothly curved and inclined downward. A side surface that is continuously extending from the bent portion to the front side member as a straight portion of the car body frame member is continuously formed with a reinforcing bead.
US07641267B2
A harness protecting structure is provided for a vehicular horn for a vehicle, in which the vehicle has a grille defining an air intake opening in a front part of the vehicle, a radiator located posterior to the grille, and the horn being disposed in front of the radiator and facing the opening of the grille. The grille is provided with a peripheral wall, the peripheral wall extending posterior to the lower and side edge of the grill, and a part of the peripheral wall extending across and anterior to a peripheral region of the horn so as to form a protective surface. The harness of the horn is laid from the outside of the region of the horn behind the protective surface.
US07641263B2
In the first variant, a designer set of elements is embodied in such a way that it makes it possible to shape different modifications of a passenger car body. The body is embodied such that it is splitable on a transversal plane. The element set consists of changeable front and rear elements. In the body split plane, the external surfaces of all front and rear elements have the same shapes and sizes. In the second variant, the body is splitable in two transversal planes. The body element set consists of changeable hood, cab and body rear part elements, wherein the external surfaces of the elements are smoothly mating with each other.
US07641251B1
A collapsible truck rack that can be assembled and disassembled easily without the use of tools. The rack can be stored in the interior periphery of the truck bed so as not to appreciable diminish the capacity of the truck bed for the placement therein of items to be transported. The rack does not increase the profile of the vehicle when in the collapsed position and therefore reduces drag during transport. An X-load is added to reduce shift of the load during turns. An optional brace can be bolted to the top surface of the periphery of the truck bad. An optional canvas cover can be used to cover the collapsed rack to secure and protect the rack when not in use.
US07641237B2
The seatbelt device includes: a current wound position detection unit; a driving state detection unit that detects a driving state of the vehicle to transmit a driving state detection signal; a driving state change determination unit that determines a driving state change status based on the driving state detection signal from the driving state detection unit to transmit a driving state change signal; a target wound position setting unit that sets a target wound position of the belt reel based on the current wound position detection signal and the driving state change signal; and a motor control unit that controls a current to be supplied to the motor so as to maintain a state in which the current wound position of the belt reel is equal to the target wound position in accordance with the driving state change signal.
US07641236B2
A high-rigidity, light-weight bottom structure for a vehicle body is disclosed. The structure comprises a rectangular framework and an X-shaped frame member positioned inside the rectangular framework. The framework in the vicinity of an area where front wheels or rear wheels are provided is formed by a triangular frame part.
US07641235B1
A transporting dolly attachable to a vehicle includes a metal frame having a base with a top surface and a bottom surface mounted on opposed peripheral side brackets, a peripheral front bracket and a peripheral rear bracket. A center support member and outer support members are secured to the bottom surface of the base. The center support member is integrally formed as a hitch connector to engage with a conventional trailer hitch receiver. The top surface of the base provides an area to carry cargo. Swivel jacks are mounted on the frame to allow the frame to be raised and lowered, and additionally provide means to move the dolly with an attached demountable handle.
US07641232B2
A gas generator (10) is provided including a housing (12). A gas generating composition (16) produces expanded gases upon activation of the inflator (10), thereby increasing the internal pressure and compressing the spring (50) operably coupled to the gas release member (40). As the spring (50) is compressed, at least one gas exit aperture (44), sealed prior to gas generator (10) activation, is opened as the gas release member (40) slidably engages an inner wall (11) of the housing (12). After gas generator (10) activation, the spring energy of the spring (50) gradually equalizes and then exceeds the gas pressure of the system gases, thereby once again attenuating the gas exit opening to maintain an optimum average system pressure as the gas is released from the housing (12).
US07641228B2
In at least one embodiment, an air bag system comprises an air bag having an impact surface which in a non-inflated state is arranged in a housing located below the upper edge of a windowsill of a vehicle door. In an inflated state, at least part of the impact surface is positioned above the windowsill. There is a supporting surface for the air bag below the upper edge of the windowsill. The air bag defines a main chamber and a supporting chamber. The impact surface forms part of the main chamber. The supporting chamber, in an inflated state, is situated between the main chamber and the supporting surface and is supported at least in part by the supporting surface.
US07641225B2
A motorcycle airbag module includes an inflatable airbag, which is deployed between the rider's seat and the steering handlebar of a motorcycle. First and second recessed portions are formed in the front face of the airbag, when in an inflated and deployed state. The first recessed portion extends in a longitudinal direction in the center part of the front face and the second recessed portion diverges and extends respectively to the right and left from the lower end of the first recessed portion arranged in the longitudinal direction. The front face of the airbag is sectioned by the first and second recessed portions to form right and left inflated portions as well as a lower inflated portion. The right and left inflated portions are positioned respectively on the right and left sides of the first recessed portion, and the lower inflated portion is positioned below the second recessed portions.
US07641221B2
An impact absorbing airbag module is disclosed. The module includes a chassis that holds an inflator, and is connected to a mounting system. The chassis includes a forward side wall, a first lateral side wall, a second lateral side wall, and a rear side wall. One of the side walls includes a deforming zone that includes a first angled portion and a second angled portion. In some cases, the deforming zone extends around the periphery of the chassis.
US07641218B2
A two-dimensional gas bag blank (10) has a first, a second, and a third side section (12, 14, 16). The first side section (12) is connected to the second side section (14) via a common side edge (18) forming a first edge fold line (18k), and the second side section (14) is connected to the third side section (16) via a common side edge (20) forming a second edge fold line (20k). A surface fold line (12s, 14s, 16s) extends on the surface of each section (12, 14, 16). The surface fold lines (12s, 14s, 16s) form an acute angle with the respective adjacent edge fold lines (18k, 20k).
US07641215B2
Gliding board equipment systems and individual components are disclosed herein. A gliding board equipment system of one embodiment includes a gliding board, a boot having an upper cuff and a lower boot, and a binding selectively attaching the boot to the gliding board. The upper cuff of the boot defines opposed slots, and a respective pin passes through each slot to couple the upper cuff to the lower boot and allow the upper cuff to move laterally relative to the lower boot.
US07641211B2
A transportation apparatus includes a backrest and leg support pivotably connected to a seat portion. The seat portion is slidably connected to first and second spaced apart slide rails. Each slide rail includes a plurality of telescoping members. At least one middle leg and at least one rear leg depends downwardly from the seat portion. At least one middle wheel is connected to the middle leg and at least one rear wheel is connected to the rear leg. The middle wheel and rear wheel define a middle and rear rotation axes, respectively. At least one front wheel is operatively connected to the leg support. The middle leg is movable to adjust the vertical position of the middle wheel, and the rear leg is movable to adjust the vertical position of the rear wheel. The plurality of telescoping members slide the seat portion in a substantially horizontal direction in relation to the rear rotation axis or the middle rotation axis.
US07641203B1
A multi-blade ice-skate footwear includes a foot-retaining section with a substantially planar bottom surface, a first blade adjustably connected to an anterior portion of the bottom surface, and second and third blades adjustably connected to a posterior portion of the bottom surface and spaced from the first blade respectively. The ice-skate footwear includes a mechanism for selectively biasing the first blade along a first reciprocating linear path while simultaneously biasing the second and third blades along second and third reciprocating linear paths respectively.
US07641200B2
Disclosed is a variable clearance packing ring arrangement including a packing ring, wherein the packing ring includes a sealing face. The variable clearance packing ring arrangement also includes an actuating arrangement internal to the packing ring.
US07641199B1
A basketball-like member is mounted on one end of a pendulum adapted to swing in an arc about a cylindrical bearing attached to a support extending from a discontinuity of a first side of a partially cylindrical hoop through which the basket-ball member is repetitively swung to score points. A handle on a second opposite side is grasped and the tethered ball manipulated to cause the repetitive arcuate travel through the hoop. A battery-powered counter keeps track of the number of baskets or points scored, at the preference of the player.
US07641194B2
A drum for conveying a sheet has a cohesive sheet-guiding surface provided at little effort or cost and includes a drum body, a jacket forming a circumferential surface and a device for fixing the jacket onto the drum body. The jacket is located above a gap formed in the drum body so as to extend parallel to a longitudinal axis. The device for fixing the jacket includes at least one tensioning body that acts on the jacket in the region of the gap and is adjustable in radial direction.
US07641180B2
A rail and supported panel assembly having first and second rail portions, each portion having a constant cross section defining an elongate recessed channel on an underside. Also included are a panel supported at a top edge, a post for supporting the rail portions, and a rail-to-post connection assembly located between the post and the rails. The connection assembly has a pair of partially overlapping arms movable with respect to each other about a pivot to accommodate a range of first and second rail portion alignment angles.
US07641172B2
An actuator installation bracket is provided for a water shutoff system including a water line, a shutoff valve having a stem, and an actuator. The actuator includes a housing having first and second ends, sides, and a pivotable actuating member. The actuator installation bracket includes a first mounting portion having first and second ends and a base portion extending therebetween. The base portion includes a number of apertures and receives the actuator. A second mounting portion extends outwardly from the base portion and is coupled to one of the water line and the shutoff valve, in order that the pivotable actuating member of the actuator is aligned with a corresponding one of the apertures of the base portion and with the stem of the shutoff valve. A key couples the pivotable actuating member to the shutoff valve stem to open and close the shutoff valve.
US07641166B2
A device assembly includes a device (20), a supporting member (30), and a positioning member (10). The device includes a bottom wall (21). The supporting member includes a main portion (32) to support the device. The positioning member includes a central portion (12) attached to the main portion of the supporting member, and a pair of positioning arms (14) attached to the bottom wall of the device.
US07641162B2
An adjustable support arm assembly includes a holder frame affixed to a support, a mounting frame for supporting an object, and a coupling structure coupled between the holder frame and the mounting frame. The coupling structure comprises a female coupling member, a male coupling member inserted into the female coupling member, a polygonal shaft with a peripherally toothed head inserted through the female coupling member and the male coupling member and movable between a locking position to lock the female coupling member to the male coupling member and an unlocking position for allowing turning of the female coupling member about the polygonal shaft relative to the male coupling member, and a compression spring that supports the polygonal shaft in the locking position.
US07641158B2
A portable intravenous stand comprising: (a) a base including a plurality of wheels; (b) a plurality of vertical supports extending from the base; (c) a plurality of cross-members mounted to the plurality of vertical supports to maintain the vertical supports in relative position to one another; and (d) an intravenous retainer loop mounted to at least one of the plurality of vertical supports.
US07641157B2
A beverage support apparatus has first elongate body having a first penetrator at a lower end capable of piercing the ground in a generally vertical manner. A first beverage support is provided on a raised end of the first elongate body. A handle may be disposed on the elongate body and/or be a single beverage support structure. A second elongate body may be spaced from, and arranged in parallel to, said first elongate body and may be structured similar to the first elongate body. A high-volume beverage container retaining member is slidably coupled between the first elongate body and second elongate body for vertical movement therealong, said beverage container retaining member having a retaining portion adapted to fit over a top of a beverage container and rest against an outer surface of the beverage container. The first or second elongate bodies may independently act as beverage holders.
US07641155B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for at least partially compensating a torque caused by gravitational forces acting on a mass body (2), which is rotatably supported on an axis of rotation (3). The arrangement includes a gas pressure spring (5) for providing a linear force. This linear force is transformed into a torque by means of a converter unit (7). The mass body (2) and the converter unit (7) can be coupled to each other in a way which allows for adjusting the amplitude and the phase of a compensating torque.
US07641147B2
An airplane wing has a lower wing cover, an upper wing cover and a wing spar. A first end portion of the wing spar is welded to the lower wing cover and/or a second end portion of the wing spar is welded to the upper wing cover.
US07641146B2
In one embodiment, an aircraft comprises a plurality of hoop frame support members and a landing gear enclosure comprising a curved surface. The plurality of support frame support members abut against and extend over the curved surface to provide support to the landing gear enclosure. In another embodiment, loads are transferred from a landing gear strut through a strut fitting, through at least one inner surface of the landing gear enclosure, through at least one outer surface of the landing gear enclosure, and into the plurality of hoop frame support members.
US07641139B2
A quick acting clutch, the quick acting clutch comprising: a friction plate; a clutch plate movably mounted to the friction plate about a center of rotation of the friction plate and the clutch plate, the clutch plate being configured to rotate with respect to the friction plate; an actuator arm pivotally mounted to at least one of the friction plate or the clutch plate, the actuator arm being configured to amplify movement of a first end of the actuator arm and rotational movement of the friction plate relative to the clutch plate moves the first end of the actuator arm; and a lock pawl pivotally mounted to the clutch plate for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, the lock pawl and a second end of the actuator arm each being configured to contact each other and rotational movement of the friction plate with respect to the clutch plate causes movement of the first end to be amplified at the second end such that the second end of the actuator arm and the actuator arm contacts the lock pawl and the lock pawl is moved from the locking position to the unlocking position.
US07641133B2
The invention relates to a cleaning lance with a nozzle tube (1), on whose outlet-side end there is a discharge nozzle (2), which can be switched by means of a switching mechanism between a high-pressure position and a low-pressure position. In order to be able to perform both the foam application and also the high-pressure wash with such a cleaning lance, without requiring manual switching of the operating function on the cleaning lance itself, it is provided that the nozzle tube (1) has an air inlet (3), which can be closed with a valve (4), wherein the valve function is coupled to the switching mechanism of the discharge nozzle (2), such that the valve (4) closes the air inlet (3) when the discharge nozzle (2) switches from its low-pressure position into its high-pressure position.
US07641124B2
A Q-Chip MEMS magnetic device comprises a thin-film electronic circuit for implantation in the Track-2 area of a magnetic stripe on the back of a credit card. The Q-Chip MEMS magnetic device periodically self-generates new sub-sets of magnetic data that are to be read in combination with other magnetic data that is permanently recorded in the surrounding surface of the magnetic stripe. A collocated battery and microcontroller provide operating power and new data for magnetic bit updates. A swipe sensor triggers such updates by sensing electrical contact with a legacy card reader. Several thin-film coils of wire are wound end-to-end around a common, flat, ferrous core. These are driven by the microcontroller. In one instance, such core comprises “hard” magnetic material with a coercivity of 200-300 Oersteds. Magnetic data written from the corresponding adjacent coils will persist for later readings by a legacy card reader. In another instance, the core comprises “soft” magnetic material with a coercivity of about one Oersted. A media stripe of “hard” magnetic film material overlays respective coils to receive magnetic data transfers. Magnetic data written from the corresponding adjacent coils will persist in the overlaying hard media for later readings by a legacy card reader. In a data input mode, the thin-film coils can be used as readers to provide updates and new programming to the microcontroller.
US07641122B2
To provide a technology for making it possible to control enable/disable of an IC card function provided in a mobile device. A mobile device including an IC card unit for executing an IC card function, and a communication unit for carrying out communication through a radio telephone line detects a voltage of a battery unit for supplying an electric power to each of the IC card unit and the communication unit, judges whether or not the IC card function can be used in accordance with the detected voltage value, and issues an enable/disable instruction to the IC card unit in accordance with the Judgment results.
US07641118B2
In order to greatly simplify the electronics of devices utilizing memory cards, a new type of interface specification is presented which is called DPXD for a “Dual Ported eXtended Digital” memory card. The DPXD interface specification comprises an electrical 5 signal set definition based upon a new dual USB concept call Dual Ported USB or DPUSB, a mechanical and electrical definition for a memory card socket, an associated memory card signal and mechanical specification for a memory card, and a mechanical definition for cables compatible with the DPXD socket.
US07641107B1
An automated banking machine includes a card reader operative to read data from user cards and to use the data read by the card reader in operation of the machine. Status messages are received from automated banking machines operating in a network. The messages are received by an event management system operating at least one computer in operative connection with a data store. The data store includes information representative of the banking machines in the network, status messages generated by the banking machines and actions to be taken including entities to be notified of conditions which cause status messages to be sent by the various banking machines.
US07641106B1
A cash dispensing automated banking machine activated responsive to user cards includes a secure enclosure. The secure enclosure includes a chest portion and a moveable door. The door has mounted thereon a locking bolt work mechanism which is operative to selectively secure the door in a closed position. The door is mounted to the chest through hinge assembles that enable the door to be selectively adjusted in up-down and right-left directions. The chest door includes dead bolt portions at the hinge side that resist separation of the door from the chest if the hinge is compromised.
US07641103B1
A wall mounted log chute for holding and transferring fire wood through a wall of a dwelling is disclosed. The chute is mounted within the confines of the wall of a dwelling and having an outside and an inside position. In the outside position the chute is capable of receiving fire wood and other materials. These other materials include but are not limited to coal, feed, bio fuels and household refuse. The chute is capable of material transfer of any nature. When the desired amount of wood or other material is arrived at the chute is mechanically or manually operable from the outside position to the inside position. The reverse operation is also true. The chute is capable of holding the wood in the inside position and a storing facility or can be emptied to repeat the process. One embodiment allows the chute to be controlled from the first position to the second position by a hydraulic arm and an electrical switch.
US07641101B2
A cooling system assembly method including: providing a support fixture having a multi-level support surface and multiple positioning dowels extending therefrom; positioning multiple liquid-cooled cold plates on the support surface employing the multiple dowels, the dowels providing relative positioning and alignment of the cold plates for facilitating subsequent coupling thereof to electronic components to be cooled; sealing multiple coolant-carrying tubes in fluid communication with the cold plates; and sealing a header subassembly to the coolant-carrying tubes to provide an assembled liquid-based cooling system. In operation, the support fixture facilitates shipping of the assembled cooling system by maintaining the components in fixed relation. A transfer fixture is employed in removing the cooling system from the support fixture and placing the cooling system in engagement with the electronics system. The transfer fixture includes multiple clips engaging and holding components of cooling system in fixed relation when removed from the support fixture.
US07641100B2
A method and apparatus for cold forming a battery terminal having a base and an insert. The insert includes a first portion encapsulated within the base and a second portion that extends beyond a first side of the base.
US07641095B2
An articulating surgical instrument is provided including a handle, an articulating portion extending distally of the handle and an end effector positioned on a distal end of the articulating portion. A flexible drive band is provided for movement through the articulating portion and end effector. The flexible drive band includes a first portion having a first height and the second portion having a second height greater than the first height. The difference in heights being sufficient to eject staples from a body portion of the end effector into an anvil member of the end effector. An actuation mechanism is provided for drawing the flexible drive band through the articulating surgical instrument.
US07641090B2
A quick-releasable nail output nozzle for a nail gun includes a nozzle base, which is affixed to a nail outlet port of a nail magazine and has a nail output groove on the front side for guiding out a bar of nails, two side wings, and two hooks spaced below the side wings. A nozzle cover is covered on the front side of the nozzle base and has two flanges with protruding blocks respectively hooked on the back side of the side wings of the nozzle base. A locking lever is pivoted to the nozzle cover. A hook rod is pivoted to the locking lever for hooking up with the hooks of the nozzle base by means of the control of the locking lever.
US07641087B2
A dispensing device for adhesive tape has a flat cylindrical base member with a coaxial axle element inside for the mounting of a roll of adhesive tape. A slit is provided along the wall of the cylindrical base member through which the tape is pulled out. On a section of the wall adjacent to the slit, a curved rectangular buckle is hinged to the wall, which can be flipped away from the slit to be held at an appropriate included angle with the wall. A cutting blade is provided along the outer edge of the buckle for cutting the tape while the end of the remaining tape is automatically adhered to the edge of the buckle. When the buckle is closed to the wall, the exposed segment of the tape is folded between the buckle and the section of wall.
US07641085B2
An umbrella support device includes a halter strap formed as a loop having a connection point formed thereon for attachment to a belt, an umbrella cup attached to the halter strap proximate to the connection point for receiving an umbrella handle therein, and an umbrella stabilizer attached to the halter strap at a point furthest from the umbrella cup for accommodating an umbrella pole therethrough. A method of donning the umbrella support device includes placing the halter strap over a user's first shoulder, placing the halter strap over the user's second shoulder, such that the halter strap extends behind the user's neck, in front of the user's shoulders, under the user's arms and across the user's back, and orienting the halter strap such that the umbrella cup is approximately centered across the user's back and the umbrella stabilizer is approximately centered behind the user's neck.
US07641066B2
A collapsible container with latches provides a more consistent knockdown force in more situations. At least one of the engaging surfaces of the latch is curved outwardly toward the other engaging surface. This provides substantially tangential contact between the surfaces, even when the wall is deformed slightly by the knockdown force. The tangential contact provides consistent frictional force resisting the knockdown force.
US07641064B2
A child-resistant package includes a container having a finish with at least one external thread, at least one axial lug on a shoulder spaced from the thread and an external abutment on the finish adjacent to the lug. A closure of integrally molded plastic construction includes a base wall, a peripheral outer wall, and an inner wall spaced from the outer wall and having at least one internal thread for securement to the container finish. The outer wall has diametrically opposed gaps, and the inner wall extends axially in radial alignment with the gaps for circumferential abutment with the at least one lug on the container. The inner wall is flexible inwardly for clearing the lug between the lug and the external abutment, and for permitting removal of the closure from the container finish. The external abutment preferably is in the form of an external bead that extends circumferentially around the finish in alignment with an edge of the lug.
US07641061B1
A retail display system for increasing density of merchandising of products, by using the otherwise unused space of existing display configurations. A hanger display configuration, which may hold vertical strip displays, is installed in such a manner as to adapt to a diverse range of product packaging and shelving fixture types, efficiently provide signage, pricing and scanning information, and to reduce theft. The hanger display configuration can be manufactured for a specific product and specific quantity of such product. Faceplates have clamps on the rear face for clamping the faceplates to seldom-used non-shelve portions of the rack display and other store fixtures, such as bars, stanchions, corners, etc.
US07641048B1
A toolbox assembly includes a toolbox casing and at least one auxiliary plate. The toolbox casing has at least one surface recess including a mounting segment defined in a front face and a fixing segment defined in a side face. The mounting segment has at least one slot. The at least one auxiliary plate has a first portion corresponding to the mounting segment and a second portion corresponding to the fixing segment. The first portion has at least one flange extended from an outer peripheral thereof and corresponding to the at least one slot. The at least one flange engages with the at least one slot. The first and second portion respectively and tightly fit within the mounting and fixing segment for protecting the toolbox assembly.
US07641046B2
Combination case for providing a versatile protective case for a handheld device, such as a PDA. The combination case has a rigid inner shell that attaches to an outer shell with a mounting plate. The handheld device is inserted into the rigid inner shell, which is then attached to the rear panel of the outer shell. The rigid inner shell is a three-sided shell that holds the handheld device and allows free access to the LCD display and operational components on the device when the outer shell is open. A soft inner shell may be used instead of the rigid inner shell. This soft inner shell attaches to the outer shell with the mounting plate and provides a water-resistant enclosure for the device.
US07641042B2
An inverted coil brush assembly is particularly useful for the cleaning of a chain or belt and the like as a hand tool or part of an apparatus through which the chain or belt moves. The inverted coil brush assembly has an open coil structure with a long lead and can easily be threaded on and removed from a belt or chain. The tool is sufficiently flexible that the axial hole (ID) through its center can be enlarged or contracted by axial elongation or compression of the tool. The tool and its method of application and use enable it to be used as a hand tool or as a component in a transmission for example. It may be adjusted manually or automatically. The tool preferably has a lead or space between adjacent coils of from about ¼ to 2 times or more the outside diameter (OD) of the coil. The OD to ID ratio may vary from our 2:1 to about 7:1. A preferred ratio is about 3:1.
US07641040B2
A textile separating apparatus may include a textile collection area for supporting the pile of textile items, and a transport mechanism having an inclined face intersecting the pile of textile items. One or more pick members may project from the face of the transport mechanism, and may successively separate and carry individual textile items from the pile of textile items towards a textile receiving area.
US07641037B2
A bill handling apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention has a bill insertion slot into which a bill is inserted, a bill feeding mechanism for feeding the bill inserted from the bill insertion slot, a sensor for reading the fed bill, and a bill identifying section for identifying authentication of the bill read by the sensor, a sensor board on which the sensor is installed, and a control board for controlling each operation of the bill feeding mechanism, the sensor and the bill identifying section. The bill handling apparatus further has a first connector installed on the sensor board, and a second connector installed on the control board, and the first connector and the second connector are fitted with each other for electrical continuity.
US07641034B2
A chute system for conveying articles, preferably documents, from an upper to a lower elevation in a building. The system includes a vertical post, an outer wall that is concentric therewith, and a helical chute wound around the post. The chute is secured at an inner edge to the post and at an outer edge to the wall. The chute comprises a plurality of chute segments secured together in stepped relationship to each other. Each chute segment has a triangular upper wall disposed at a first angle to the post and sloping downwardly toward the outer wall. The upper wall is simultaneously disposed at a second angle to the horizontal and slopes generally downwardly toward a lower end of the post. Each chute segment further includes a first flange extending upwardly from the upper wall and a second flange extending downwardly from the upper wall. Adjacent chute segments are secured together by welding the second flange of a first chute segment to the first flange of a second chute segment.
US07641019B2
A ground engaging vehicle having a frame, a power unit connected to the frame, at least one ground traction device, a power transfer device directing power from the power unit to the at least one ground traction device. The control system controls the power transfer device. An input device accepts commands from an operator and provides a signal to the control system. The input device includes a first bracket, a second bracket pivotally connected to the first bracket and a joystick device connected to the first bracket.
US07641009B2
Upon incompletion of abnormality detection of an air-fuel ratio sensor provided in an exhaust pipe of an engine during operation of the engine (steps S310 and S320), when the state of charge SOC of a battery is lower than a preset reference charge level Sref or when the accelerator opening Acc is not less than a preset reference opening Aref (steps S330 and S340), the abnormality detection is not performed (step S350). When the state of charge SOC of the battery is not lower than the preset reference charge level Sref and when the accelerator opening Acc is less than the preset reference opening Aref (steps S330 and S340), the abnormality detection is performed to identify abnormality or normality of the air-fuel ratio sensor based on an air fuel ratio AF output from the air-fuel ratio sensor (steps S360 to S420). The drive control cuts off a fuel supply to the engine, controls a motor to enable motoring of the engine, and ensures output of a torque demand to a driveshaft, while the abnormality detection is performed.
US07640994B2
A soil aeration device may include a plurality of arcuate blades mounted to an assembly adapted to rotate and translate the blades proximate a ground surface, thereby forming aeration pockets in the soil. In certain embodiments, the arcuate tines penetrate and fracture the soil while minimizing the amount of soil lifted from the pocket deposited on the top of the soil. In various embodiments, a planetary gear assembly imparts to the tine a translational and rotational movement which creates a fractured pocket in the soil while minimizing the amount of soil lifted from the pocket and deposited on the surface of the soil. In still other embodiments, the arcuate tine may have mounted thereon a coring tube that cuts and removes a plug from the pocket formed in the soil.
US07640991B2
The present invention provides a ball seat apparatus for actuating a downhole component. The ball drop apparatus comprises a plurality of ball seat bores and at least one passage extending therethrough.
US07640990B2
A flow control valve for use inside a wellbore. In one implementation, the flow control valve may include a housing, a chamber disposed inside the housing and an entry port disposed at a first end of the chamber. The entry port may be configured to allow fluid to enter into the chamber. The flow control valve may further include an exit port disposed at a second end of the chamber. The second end may be opposite of the first end and the exit port is configured to allow fluid to flow out of the chamber. The flow control valve may further include a check valve assembly disposed between the entry port and the exit port. The check valve may be configured to allow fluid to flow from the entry port to the exit port and to prevent fluid to flow from the exit port to the entry port.
US07640988B2
A method and apparatus for treating a subterranean section surrounding a wellbore with a fluid. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a three-dimensional tubular element capable of fluid flow in a wellbore with at least one burst disk with a pre-determined pressure rating positioned at a desired location on the tubular wherein the burst disk ruptures at the pre-determined pressure at the desired location on the tubular in the wellbore. The method provides the ability to choose the order in which the subterranean interval sections surrounding a wellbore are treated with fluid.
US07640980B2
A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation. Heat may transfer from one or more heaters to a part of a formation. In some embodiments, heat from the one or more heat sources may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in a part of a subsurface formation. Hydrocarbons and/or other products may be produced from a subsurface formation. Certain embodiments describe apparatus, methods, and/or processes used in treating a subsurface or hydrocarbon containing formation.
US07640975B2
Flow control for increased permeability planes in unconsolidated formations. A well system includes a casing expansion device interconnected in a casing string for initiating an inclusion propagated into a formation surrounding the casing string. The device has at least one opening in a sidewall for fluid communication between the inclusion and an interior of the casing string. A flow control device is retrievably installed in the expansion device and controls flow between the formation and an interior of the casing string. A method of controlling flow of fluid between a formation and an interior of a casing string includes the steps of interconnecting a casing expansion device in the casing string; expanding the device to thereby initiate propagation of an inclusion into the formation; and installing a flow control device in the expansion device to thereby control flow between the inclusion and the casing string interior.
US07640971B2
A heat exchanger manifold with improved sealing between the tank and header. The manifold includes a plastic heat exchanger tank having an opening for mating with a header and a lip extending substantially around a periphery of the opening. The lip has an outer surface and an upper surface extending outward of the tank opening, and a ridge extending upward from a portion of the upper surface extending substantially around the tank. The manifold further includes an aluminum heat exchanger header adapted to connect to a heat exchanger core. The header has a groove around the periphery thereof receiving the tank lip and a plurality of plastically deformable tabs extending from an edge of the groove. The tabs are bent inward and contact the ridge on the tank lip to secure the tank to the header.
US07640965B2
A method is provided of in-situ casting well equipment wherein a metal is used which expands upon solidification. A body of such metal is placed in a cavity in a well. Before or after placing the metal in the cavity in the well, the body is brought at a temperature above the melting point of the metal. The metal of the body in the cavity is solidified by cooling it down to below the melting point of the metal.
US07640964B2
Magnetic tilt and raise/lower mechanisms for a venetian blind disposed between the glass panes of a multi-pane window are disclosed. The magnetic mechanisms act on tilt lines and a raise/lower line coupled to the venetian blind. An inner follower carriage is magnetically coupled to an external carriage moveable over one of the glass panes. Movement of the external carriage imparts movement of the follower carriage, which in turn actuates the tilt or raise/lower lines, causing the venetian blind to move. The inner follower carriage and the external carriage include at least one magnet assembly mounted on at least one wheel set to facilitate movement of the carriages over the glass panes as well as to reduce the force required to raise or lower the venetian blind. A multiplier is employed to reduce the stroke length required to raise or lower the venetian blind. Further, a clutch coupling an external slider to the external carriage is provided and to disconnect the slider from the external carriage upon the application of a force exceeding a threshold level.
US07640958B2
A pneumatic tire (10) according to the present invention includes a first side reinforcement layer (110) and a second side reinforcement layer (120). The first side reinforcement layer (110) has a plurality of reinforcement cords (110s), and the second side reinforcement layer (120) has a plurality of reinforcement cords (120s) each crossing the reinforcement cords (110s). Additionally, an inclination angle of each of the reinforcement cords (110s) and the reinforcement cords (120s) with respect to a circumferential line extending in a circumferential direction of the pneumatic tire (10) is 5 to 30 degrees. According to the pneumatic tire (10), high speed durability thereof can be further enhanced without reducing wear life of a shoulder portion thereof.
US07640955B2
An apparatus for use in splitting and cutting wood is provided, including a frame having a log support for holding a log to be split and cut, a vertically extending frame for holding a removable wedge or axe head connected to a manually operable drive means for engaging the wedge on an upper portion of a log for cutting and splitting the log.
US07640950B2
A collapse tolerant flexible pipe and method of manufacturing same according to which an inner tubular layer is provided within an outer tubular layer in a coaxial relationship thereto. The inner layer maintains the maximum allowable strain on the outer layer below a value that will cause damage to the outer layer when the pipe collapses.
US07640949B2
The invention provides a plug for sealing an end of a duct. The plug includes a sealing member for sealing against an interior surface of the duct, and gripping means having one or more teeth for gripping the interior surface of the duct. The plug may include a pair of opposed camming surfaces arranged for relative axial movement therebetween whereby the relative axial movement results in the teeth of the gripping means being urged radially outwardly into gripping engagement with the interior surface of the duct.
US07640942B2
An air-permeable simple car cover tent is formed by covering a cover onto a plurality of supports and a base. One end of the cover is provided with a falling part, two holes, and at least an air window. The top of the falling part is connected with the cover. The base is provided with a first and a second lateral plate that are parallel to each other and connected to the bottoms of a first and a second support legs and each support, so that each support is movable on the base. The tops of the first and the second support legs are inserted into the holes of the cover and connected to the bottom of the falling part to prop the falling part open and air can flow through the cover.
US07640941B2
A brush and roller cleaner includes a hollow canister to receive a spray wand. A control knob pivots with respect to the canister to direct pressurized liquid from apertures of the spray wand. A top cap assembly mates with the canister in one of two positions, 180 degrees offset from one another. The top cap assembly has a tool holding assembly that is capable of holding a paint tool or roller. The tool holding assembly rotates in response to the liquid output from the spray wand apertures. The top cap assembly is capable of holding a roller in a first or second position. The roller rotates within the canister in response to the liquid output from the spray wand apertures to clean the roller cover. A handle for the cleaner supports a roller frame clip for holding the roller in a first or second position.
US07640940B2
A drive unit for dish washing machines includes a flow channel housing, a filter housing and an arm holder, which are thermally fused to one another to form an integral unit. Consequently, assembly of the drive unit is simplified, leakage of wash water is prevented, and pumping performance is increased. Also, the flow channel housing, the filter housing and the arm holder are concurrently fixed to a pump housing of the drive unit by fixing members. Consequently, the assembly process of the drive unit is simplified, and the coupling force between the components of the drive unit is increased.
US07640937B1
An artificial nail removal container for containing a solvent to loosen artificial nails from a hand includes a bag receiving a solvent and a hand with artificial nails thereon to allow the artificial nails to soak in the solvent and loosen the artificial nails from the hand. The bag includes a peripheral wall defining an interior space of the bag. The interior space receives the solvent and the hand. Each of a pair of complimentary fasteners is coupled to an interior surface of the peripheral wall. One of the complimentary fasteners is complimentary to the other one of the complimentary fasteners to selectively close the bag. A constriction band is coupled to the peripheral wall and positioned adjacent to the complimentary fasteners. The constriction band constricts around a wrist to inhibit odors from the solvent exiting the interior space when the hand is positioned in the interior space.
US07640935B2
Cigarette filters are supplied to the infeed portion (1) of a filter tip attachment machine by a unit (2) comprising rollers (11) which divert the filters (3) into an upstream hopper (8), and a channel (9) carrying the filters (3) from the upstream hopper (8) to a downstream hopper (4) where they are released to the infeed portion (1) of the machine. Located between the infeed rollers (11) and the feed channel (9) is a variable volume storage buffer (16) with a movable wall (28) attached to the top branch (23) of a conveyor belt (24); the Belt is driven by a motor (27) interlocked to sensors (31) which monitor and control the level of the mass of filters (3) occupying the upstream hopper (8), so that the size and capacity of the buffer (16) can be adjusted to accommodate fluctuations in the flow of filters through the hopper (8).
US07640916B2
An economical method for controlling a lift pump operating as part of a direct injection fuel system is described. According to the method, the lift pump is operated at efficient operating conditions and then stopped until additional fuel is requested.
US07640913B2
Fuel management system for operation of a spark ignition engine. The system includes a source of gasoline and a source of anti-knock fuel. A proportioning valve receives the gasoline and the anti-knock fuel to discharge a mixture having a controlled gasoline/anti-knock fuel ratio. A single high pressure pump receives the mixture and delivers the mixture to an injector. A fuel management control system controls the proportioning valve and the injector for injection of the mixture into a cylinder of the engine to control knock. A preferred anti-knock fuel is ethanol.
US07640912B2
A method for operating an engine having a first injector for injecting a first fuel into a cylinder of the engine and a second injector for injection a second fuel into said cylinder of the engine, the engine further having at least an exhaust gas oxygen sensor, the method comprising of varying an amount of said first fuel injection in response to said sensor under a first operating condition, and varying an amount of said second fuel injection in response to said sensor under a second operating condition.
