US07646880B2
A texture word map is produced by selecting a plurality of texture words to express the makeup textures; classifying the plurality of selected texture words into two types; producing a texture word map by arranging one characteristic in the ordinate and the other characteristic in the abscissa and arranging positional correlations of the texture words one another in the coordinates of the ordinate and the abscissa. A texture image map is produced by overlapping individual images on the texture word map and makeup with a texture is done based on the texture image map.
US07646878B2
The hearing device comprises a housing with electronic components and a battery compartment with an opening in the housing. The battery compartment comprises means for removeably engaging a battery door. The hearing device further comprises a set of battery doors, each comprising mechanical means for detachably receiving a battery, the shells of each battery door of the set of battery doors having different shapes and sizes, each adapted to the size of the assigned specific battery type.
US07646874B2
The invention provides for installing encryption keys on a device not having any previous security credentials. An installation authority generates a security token to be used by the device for secure communications, and an installation credential for the device, and stores them in association with one another. A user of the device is provided with the installation credential, whereby the user inputs the installation credential into the device. The device utilizes the installation credential as a temporary security key, establishes a secure communication channel with the installation authority and requests provision of the security token. The installation authority provides the security token associated with the installation credential to the device over the established secure communication channel, and the device installs the security token, after which the device erases the installation credential from the device. The installation authority may also certify the security token and provide a certified token and a root verification certificate to the device.
US07646868B2
Methods for encrypting a clear text message into hidden cipher text are disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention may be used to encrypt clear text into a contextual altered form that does not appear to an observer to be cipher text. Embodiments of the present invention produce encrypted text without using a mathematical model of prime number factorization. Embodiments of the present invention provide better security by producing better quality cipher text output than known linguistic steganography approaches.
US07646864B2
A telephone headset system having a network interface device, a head set including a headphone and a microphone, and a foot operated, hands free call answering and call ending element. The network interface device, headset, and call answering and call ending element are electronically in communication with each other.
US07646860B2
A method and apparatus for identifying a caller who does not provide caller identification on an unanswered call. The caller is asked to record his/her name (or some other characteristic utterance). If the call is unanswered, the record is retained and can be accessed by the called party when that party requests his/her stored voice mail. Advantageously, even on unanswered calls, the identity of the caller can be presented to the called party when that called party requests stored voice mail messages, even if the calling party has private service.
US07646845B2
A method for single photon counting transmission computed tomography (CT) is described. The method is based on an apparatus consisting of a radiation source and detectors on an opposite side of the subject from the source. The radiation source is for example an X-ray tube. The detectors are independently connected to parallel, fast, low-noise processing electronics capable of recording and counting individual X-ray photons at very high rate. In one embodiment of the invention, said detector is made of a scintillator coupled to a photodetector. The photodetector can be an avalanche photodiode (APD). The method comprises the steps of: directing the low energy radiation source toward the subject; detecting the radiation transmitted through the subject towards the detectors and recording the position and energy of each individual X-ray photon; rotating the radiation source and detectors around the subject; recording data for each position of the radiation source and detectors around the subject to form projections; and creating a CT image from the recorded projection data. The proposed method allows enhancing CT image contrast and reducing radiation dose to the patient by counting individual X-ray photons.
US07646839B2
A unified, unidirectional serial link is described for providing data across wired media, such as a chip-to chip or a card-to-card interconnect. It consists of a transmit section and a receive section that are operated as pairs to allow the serial data communication. The serial link is implemented as part of a VLSI ASIC module and derives its power, data and clocking requirements from the host modules. The logic transmitter portion contains a phase locked loop (PLL), a dibit data register, a finite impulse response (FIR) filter and a transmit data register. The phase locked loop comprises both a digital coarse loop and an analog fine loop. The digital receiver portion contains a PLL, an FIR phase rotator, a phase rotator control state machine, and a clock buffer. The transmitter and the receiver each preferably utilize a pseudo-random bit stream (PRBS) generator and checker.
US07646835B1
A method for automatically calibrating intra-cycle timing relationships between command signals, data signals, and sampling signals for an integrated circuit device. The method includes generating command signals for accessing an integrated circuit component, accessing data signals for conveying data for the integrated circuit component, and accessing sampling signals for controlling the sampling of the data signals. A phase relationship between the command signals, the data signals, and the sampling signals is automatically adjusted to calibrate operation of the integrated circuit device.
US07646818B2
In the video signals provided by broadcasting media, advertising sections are inserted between normal programs, thus causing interruption. An end portion of the normal program will be repeated before an advertising section ends. The invention determines the continuity of two adjacent frames, to search for frame discontinuity to find out if there is a frame similar to a next given frame. If a similar frame is found to have an advertising frame, an advertisement is detected.
US07646817B2
An accelerated video decoding system utilizes a graphics processing unit to perform motion compensation, image reconstruction, and color space conversion processes, while utilizing a central processing unit to perform other decoding processes.
US07646797B1
Current channels, blocking areas, or strips in a semiconductor laser are used to channel injected current into the antinodal region of the optical standing wave present in the optical cavity, while restricting the current flow to the nodal regions. Previous devices injected current into both the nodal and antinodal regions of the wave, which is fed by the population inversion created in the active region by the injected electrons and holes, but inversion created in the nodal regions is lost to fluorescence or supports the creation of undesirable competing longitudinal modes, causing inefficiency. Directing current to the antinodal regions where the electric field is at its maximum causes a selected longitudinal mode to preferentially oscillate regardless of where the longitudinal mode lies with respect to the gain curve. In one embodiment, exacting fabrication of the Fabry-Perot cavity correlates the current channels to antinodal regions, vis-a vis current blocking areas, strips or segmented layers.
US07646788B2
A method and system for executing a protocol for tunneling of transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) packets over a tactical link. The tunneling protocol includes interfacing to a host software on a node of a tactical network using a TAP interface; breaking up ethernet packets from the TAP interface into J16.0 messages that include payload data from the ethernet packet and header information that uniquely identifies the J16.0 message for deterministic reassembly of the ethernet packet from the stream of J16.0 messages in which it is included. The J16.0 messages may be transmitted using a fighter data link over a tactical network link. At the destination node of the link, the J16.0 messages may be reassembled into ethernet packets, allowing the tactical network to be implemented as virtual private network having (internet protocol) IP addresses for each node.
US07646779B2
A hierarchical packet scheduler using hole-filling and multiple packet buffering. Packet references are enqueued into a hierarchical packet scheduler, wherein the hierarchical packet scheduler includes one or more levels, each level including one or more schedulers being served by one or more threads, wherein the number of threads serving a particular level is not dependent on the number of schedulers on the particular level. Packet references are dequeued from the hierarchical packet scheduler at a root level scheduler of the one or more schedulers.
US07646778B2
In one embodiment, a Provider Backbone Edge Bridge (BEB) IEEE 802.1ah compliant apparatus includes a B-component having one or more provider backbone ports, and a first I-component coupled with the B-component, the first I-component being configured to support a S-tagged interface. A second I-component is also coupled with the B-component, the second I-component being configured to support a C-tagged interface, thereby facilitating direct connection to a device operating in compliance with IEEE 802.1Q specification. 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.
US07646774B2
A digital broadcast transmitting/receiving system and a method for processing data are disclosed. The method for processing data may enhance the receiving performance of the receiving system by performing additional coding and multiplexing processes on the traffic information data and transmitting the processed data. Thus, robustness is provided to the traffic information data, thereby enabling the data to respond strongly against the channel environment which is always under constant and vast change.
US07646771B2
An improvement in the compilation of classification tables from across control lists increases the efficiency of memory utilization by fragments in the lower level tables and using the classification ID's from a pair of higher-level tables as pointers to the fragments and as indicators of the depth of the entries in the fragments. A further improvement makes use of aggregate bit vectors, thereby simplifying construction of the lower-level tables. The bit-vector sections preferably coincide with the cache lines of the processing, thereby maximizing the speed with which the relevant bits in the bit vector can be identified from the aggregate bit vectors.
US07646768B2
Techniques are provided for re-mapping and interleaving transport packets of multiple transport streams for processing by a single transport demultiplexor. At least one PID re-map table is employed having re-map values indexed by n possible PID values of transport packets associated with at one transport stream of the multiple transport streams. The n possible PID values is less than or equal to the number of PID values which can be handled by the single transport demultiplexor, and is less than all possible PID values of transport packets within the multiple transport streams. The PID values within at least one transport stream are compared with the n possible PID values of the PID re-map table, and when a match is found, the table is indexed using the matching entry and a re-map value is generated therefrom. The re-map value replaces the original PID value within the transport packet.
US07646761B2
A communications system that supports multimedia components is easily adapted to existing network elements. Voice components arriving at or coming from a user having multimedia capabilities are referred from a telephony server serving the user to a multimedia server. A determination is made as to whether the other party supports multimedia capabilities. If that determination is negative, the component is passed back to the telephony server with an indication that the session is coming from the multimedia server to avoid an infinite loop. If the determination is positive, a parallel multimedia component is established between the parties while the multimedia server remains aware of the bearer path.
US07646759B2
A method and apparatus for configuring data plane behavior on network forwarding elements are described. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving, within a network element control plane, protocol configuration information extracted from a protocol application utilizing a network protocol application programming interface (API). Once the protocol configuration information is received, the protocol configuration information is processed using a control interface corresponding to the network protocol implemented by the protocol application. Once the protocol configuration information is processed, the control interface programs one or more data plane forwarding elements of the network element according to protocol configuration information. Accordingly, by providing similar control interfaces for multiple, network protocols, inter-operability between components from multiple vendors is enabled.
US07646754B2
In a mobile ad hoc network, a method of routing data and a mobile unit for use according to the method are arranged to find the relay capacity of a node and the lifetime of the node, and thereby determine whether the node can relay the data. The method and unit can find the relay efficiency of nodes and this information is used to route data traffic efficiently through a number of nodes along a route.
US07646749B2
A downlink beamforming apparatus and a transmission apparatus including the same includes a subcarrier based user identifier for dividing subcarriers according to users, a beamforming weight buffer for storing first beamforming weights for the subcarriers by each of transmitting antennas, an interpolator for outputting second beamforming weights for each transmitting antenna by interpolating the first beamforming weights, and a signal reproducer for reproducing the signal for each transmitting antenna. Subcarriers are allocated to the signal by each user; and a complex multiplier multiplies the signal for each transmitting antenna by the second beamforming weights.
US07646745B2
Methods and systems are disclosed to enable users of mobile devices to have an easy out of the box experience. In some examples, during the initial powering on of a mobile device, subsequent powering on of the mobile device, or at user direction, the device queries a user about connecting to an alternate wireless access network supported by the mobile device and upon receiving an indication from the user of the mobile device to proceed with the connection to the alternate wireless access network, connects the mobile device to an alternate wireless access network.
US07646741B2
A messaging client and associated method for client-based multicast message transmission is provided. In one embodiment, the messaging client includes a message origination process with an input device, message buffer, recipient list, new message area, and multicast message transmission process. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) receiving a message content to be transmitted in a message, b) receiving delivery information for first and second recipients to whom the message is to be transmitted, c) receiving an instruction to begin the message transmission, d) transmitting the message from the client to the first recipient, and e) transmitting the message from the client to the second recipient. The messaging client and associated method relate to short message service (SMS), enhanced message service (EMS), multimedia message service (MMS), and other types of similar message services.
US07646739B2
Various systems and methods are disclosed for performing multicast routing over unidirectional links. For example, one method involves maintaining a multicast adjacency state, which is associated with an interface that is coupled to receive messages from a network device via a unidirectional link. The multicast adjacency state identifies a network address of the network device. The method also involves sending a multicast protocol control message to the network device via a bidirectional path. The destination address of the network multicast protocol control message is the network address in the multicast adjacency state.
US07646737B2
An apparatus and method are disclosed for system provisioning in a multimode wireless communication device. A multimode wireless communication device may store multiple system provision information internally, or combine system provision information stored internally with removable memory devices, which store additional system provision information. The multimode wireless device may simultaneously have access to a plurality of valid system provision information for a plurality of systems. The wireless device attempts to validate one of the plurality of stored system provision information using a hierarchy. The hierarchy may be established by a phone manufacturer or may be programmed by a service provider or a user. The wireless device attempts to validate system provision information based on the hierarchy. Once a system provision is validated, the device activates service or registers in the system. If a less desirable system is acquired, the device may periodically attempt to validate preferred systems.
US07646727B2
An IP broadcast transmitting device comprises means for acquiring and collecting channel tuning information and program-related information from broadcast signals of each broadcasting station from which the broadcast signals are distributed, means for updating and managing the information, means for distributing the information independently from IP multicast-distributions of the broadcast signals, and means for distributing a service area tuning list with IP multicast-distribution information of the broadcast signals and distribution positions of the channel tuning information and the program-related information of the broadcast signals described therein.
US07646726B2
A system is disclosed for detecting packetization delay of packets in a network. The system includes a router to receive at least one packet containing data. A detection system, which is in communication with the router, extracts a codec information and a packet length information from the packet. A management system, which is in communication with the router, receives the codec information and the packet length information and determines packetization delay based on the codec information and the packet length information.
US07646721B2
Hardware faults location in a data communications network of a parallel computer. Such a parallel computer includes a plurality of compute nodes and a data communications network that couples the compute nodes for data communications and organizes the compute node as a tree. Locating hardware faults includes identifying a next compute node as a parent node and a root of a parent test tree, identifying for each child compute node of the parent node a child test tree having the child compute node as root, running a same test suite on the parent test tree and each child test tree, and identifying the parent compute node as having a defective link connected from the parent compute node to a child compute node if the test suite fails on the parent test tree and succeeds on all the child test trees.
US07646718B1
A switching device comprises M ports, N bandwidth tracking modules, a mapping memory, and a rate limiting module. The N bandwidth tracking modules each have an adjustable first threshold, an adjustable rate, and a fullness level, wherein M and N are integers that are greater than one. The mapping memory contains a map for each of the M ports, wherein each map assigns a set of the N bandwidth tracking modules to a corresponding one of the M ports, wherein each of the sets is individually modifiable to include zero to N of the N bandwidth tracking modules. The rate limiting module that selectively performs an action on a packet received at one of the M ports based on the fullness levels of the set of N bandwidth tracking modules identified by the map for the one of the M ports.
US07646714B2
Queues are provided, which are a high-speed small-capacity queue disposed in a high-speed small-capacity medium inputting and outputting online form messages at high speed and a low-speed large-capacity queue disposed in a low-speed large-capacity medium inputting and outputting batch form messages at a speed slower than the high-speed small-capacity medium. A residence rate detection unit detects a residence rate of the form messages in the high-speed small-capacity queue. When the form message is received, a storage control unit stores the form message into the high-speed small-capacity queue or the low-speed large-capacity queue determined based on the priority, the availability of the high-speed small-capacity medium and the residence rate. A dynamic allocation change unit transfers the form messages between the queues based on the residence rate of the high-speed small-capacity queue 30-1 and the availability of the high-speed small-capacity medium.
US07646710B2
The present invention provides a terminal capable of establishing multiple communication sessions with a public network proxy through different access networks. The terminal actively communicates with the public network proxy to control which of the multiple communication paths are active, as well as control the transition from actively using one communication path to using another. The public network proxy facilitates data and voice sessions between the terminal and any number of other communication devices. In one embodiment, the communication sessions are reserved tunneling sessions, and the terminal cooperates with the public network proxy to effectively control how many tunneling sessions are established, how many tunneling sessions are active at any given time, and the transition from one tunneling session to another for active communications. Each of the communication or tunneling sessions may be established over different access networks using different communication technologies and protocols.
US07646700B2
A transmitting device for transmitting data symbols and pilot symbols in an OFDM transmission system; the device comprising symbol generating means for generating said data symbols and said pilot symbols, means for transmitting said data symbols and pilot symbols respectively by using a plurality of subcarriers of said OFDM transmission system, wherein said symbol generating means is designed to selectively generate a first type pilot symbol and a second type pilot symbol being orthogonal to said first type pilot symbol so that a pilot symbol pattern in the frequency dimension comprises at least said first type pilot symbol to be transmitted by using a predefined subcarrier and second type pilot symbol to be transmitted by using other predefined subcarrier, and wherein said pilot symbol pattern has a different pattern from a succeeding pilot symbol pattern in time dimension.
US07646695B2
A molecular data storage device and method thereof are disclosed. In an aspect, the molecular data storage device includes a laser source for providing a photon beam, a beam splitter for splitting the photon beam to provide a first and second coherent beams, a data page modulator for encoding with the first beam to provide a signal beam and a storage material disposed such that the first beam and the second beam enters orthogonal faces thereof.
US07646691B2
An S-curve discriminating portion discriminates that a recording face of an optical disk is opposed to a pickup when a normal S-curve appears in a waveform of a focus error signal Fe that appears when an objective lens fluctuates vertically, while discriminates that a label face is opposed when the waveform of the focus error signal is distorted and two S-curves with large and small magnitudes appear. A signal indicating this discriminated result is supplied to a control portion for controlling respective portions of an optical disk drive.
US07646690B2
A BCA (Burst Cutting Area) code including a unique disk code indicating the type of a disk is written in a BCA code area of the disk. If the disk is mounted into the optical disk player, the optical disk player reads data written in the BCA code area, extracts the disk code contained in the read data, and confirms the type of the disk corresponding to the extracted disk code by retrieving a disk code table in which disk codes corresponding to the types of disks are mapped.
US07646688B2
A disc with a temporary defect management information area and a defect management area includes a defect management area that is present in at least one of a lead-in area, a lead-out area, and an outer area, a temporary defect information area which is formed in the data area and in which temporary defect information is recorded, and a temporary defect management information area which is present in at least one of the lead-in area, and the lead-out area. Accordingly, it is possible to record user data in a recordable disc, especially, a write-once disc, while performing defect management thereon, thereby enabling efficient use of a defect management area having a limited recording capacity.
US07646687B2
A method for determining recording laser power on a super-resolution optical recording medium, on which information is recorded on a super-resolution optical recording medium by irradiating a laser beam modulated into a recording pulse train according to recording data to thereby form a recording mark train including recording marks and spaces smaller than the resolution limit of a reproduction optical system and recording marks and spaces equal to or larger than the resolution limit, is provided. At the time of recording, the method determines a minimum value and a maximum value of recordable laser powers determined by test-writing before recording, and determines a maximum value of a recordable range of laser power by adding to the minimum value one-third of a difference between the maximum value of the recordable laser powers and the minimum value. The method determines an optimal range of recording laser power from the minimum value of recordable laser powers to the maximum value of the recordable range.
US07646671B2
Marine towed streamer seismic data are combined from a first survey and a second survey, wherein the first survey and the second survey are shot with a bin size of L×L and the second survey is shot with a shooting direction rotated 90° relative to the shooting direction of the first survey. The combined seismic data from the first and second surveys are binned on a bin grid with a bin size of L 2 × L 2 and with a bin grid orientation rotated 45° relative to the shooting directions of the first and second surveys. Then, seismic data processing is applied to the binned seismic data to create an image of the Earth's subsurface.
US07646665B2
There are provided a semiconductor memory device and a burn-in test method thereof. A semiconductor memory device according to an aspect of the invention includes a plurality of memory cell blocks, each of which includes a plurality of memory cells that are respectively coupled to a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines, a word line control unit activating word lines in memory cell blocks that correspond to row address signals and word lines in memory cell blocks that do not correspond to the row address signals, during a test operation, and a write circuit writing data in the memory cell blocks that correspond to the row address signals and not writing data in the memory cell blocks that do not correspond to the row address signals, during the test operation.
US07646659B2
A semiconductor device temperature sensor produces a reference level for temperature detection from two or more reference levels of different temperatures to detect a temperature. The temperature sensor is applied for detecting the temperature of a semiconductor storage device having a memory unit which requires a refresh action. A refresh cycle control circuit provided in the semiconductor storage device controls the cycle of the refresh action for the memory unit in response to an output of the temperature sensor.
US07646656B2
A semiconductor memory device includes: an input pad set configured to receive an external input signal and a reference voltage; an input buffer set configured to detect and transmit the input signal to an internal circuit of the semiconductor memory device by comparing the input signal with the reference voltage; and a reference voltage generation circuit configured to generate the reference voltage to supply the reference voltage to the input pad set and the input buffer set during a test operation, the reference voltage generation circuit being deactivated after the semiconductor memory device is packaged.
US07646654B2
An address strobe latches a first address. A burst cycle increments the address internally with additional address strobes. A new memory address is only required at the beginning of each burst access. Read/Write commands are issued once per burst access eliminating toggling Read/Write control line at cycle frequency. Control line transition terminates access and initializes another burst access. Write cycle times are maximized thereby allowing increases in burst mode operating frequencies. Logic near sense amplifiers control write-data drivers thereby providing maximum write times without crossing current during I/O line equilibration. By gating global write-enable signals with global equilibrate signals locally at sense amps, local write-cycle control signals are provided and valid for essentially the entire cycle time minus an I/O line equilibration period in burst access memory. For nonburst mode, write begins following end of equilibration cycle to provide maximum write time without interfering with subsequent access-cycle address setup time.
US07646645B2
A method and apparatus for testing correct operation of a page decoder in a memory is provided. In one implementation, the method includes erasing the memory to reset all memory cells associated with each of the N pages in the memory, and iteratively generating a unique bit sequence of M bits and programming the unique bit sequence into a plurality of the N pages at a given time until each of the N pages contains a unique bit sequence relative to other pages in the memory. Responsive to each of the N pages having a unique bit sequence, the method further includes using the page decoder to read out each unique bit sequence associated with the N pages to verify correct operation of the page decoder.
US07646643B1
Techniques are described to monitor charging of an integrated circuit during manufacturing processes. In one example, an integrated circuit includes first and second pads adapted to be charged by charge carriers during manufacture of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit also includes a reference nonvolatile memory cell comprising a floating gate and a control gate, wherein the control gate is coupled to the first pad. The integrated circuit further includes a charging protection device coupled to the control gate of the reference memory cell and adapted to limit the gate voltage of the control gate induced by the charge carriers. In addition, the integrated circuit includes a charging monitor nonvolatile memory cell comprising a floating gate and a control gate, wherein the control gate is coupled to the second pad but not to a charging protection device adapted to limit the gate voltage of the control gate.
US07646641B2
NAND flash memory cell array having control gates and charge storage gates stacked in pairs arranged in rows between a bit line diffusion and a common source diffusion, with select gates on both sides of each of the pairs of stacked gates. The gates in each stacked pair are self-aligned with each other, and the charge storage gates are either a nitride or a combination of nitride and oxide. Programming is done by hot electron injection from silicon substrate to the charge storage gates to build up a negative charge in the charge storage gates. Erasing is done by channel tunneling from the charge storage gates to the silicon substrate or by hot hole injection from the silicon substrate to the charge storage gates. The array is biased so that all of the memory cells can be erased simultaneously, while programming is bit selectable.
US07646640B2
A semiconductor memory device includes first and second memory cell blocks, a block decoder, and first and second block switches. The first and second memory cell blocks have a plurality of memory cells connected in a string structure and are respectively disposed in neighboring planes. The block decoder outputs first and second block select signals in response to pre-decoded address signals and first and second plane select signals, which are respectively enabled according to an enable state of the planes. The first and second block switches connect global word lines to word lines of the first and second memory cell blocks in response to the first and second block select signals, respectively.
US07646634B2
Method of magnetization reversal of the magnetization (M) of at least one first magnetic memory element of an array of magnetic memory elements comprising the steps of: applying a first magnetic field pulse to a first set of magnetic memory elements, and applying a second magnetic field pulse to a second set of magnetic memory elements, such that during the application of the first and second magnetic field pulse the magnetization (M) of said first magnetic memory element which is to be reversed upon the field pulse decay performs approximately an odd number of a half precessional turns, wherein the magnetization (M) of at least one second magnetic memory element which is not to be reversed upon the field pulse decay performs approximately a number of full precessional turns. The underlying concept of the invention is to improve the bit addressing in an array of magnetic memory cells by reducing the ringing of the magnetization of the free layer of the magnetic cells which are not selected for reversal but which are nevertheless subject to the application of a magnetic field pulse. This can be achieved by applying a field pulse to these cells which induces approximately a full precessional turn of the magnetization of the free layer of the cells. After the full precessional turn the magnetization is oriented very near the initial orientation along the easy axis of magnetization and the magnetic ringing after application of the half select field pulse is reduced.
US07646632B2
An integrated circuit includes an array of resistance changing memory cells and a first circuit. The first circuit is configured to set a selected memory cell to a crystalline state by applying a decreasing stair step pulse to the selected memory cell. The pulse is based on a reset current distribution for the array of memory cells.
US07646628B2
A toggle magnetic random access memory includes a first memory array, a second memory array and a controller. The first memory array includes a plurality of first memory cells including magnetoresistive elements. The second memory array includes a plurality of second memory cells including magnetoresistive elements and differs from the first memory array in write wirings used for writing. The controller controls the first memory array and the second memory array such that a first state in which a first burst write operation in the first memory array is executed and a second state in which a second burst write operation in the second memory array is executed are alternately executed in a continuous burst write mode. Accordingly, the continuous burst write operation can be executed at the high speed without any drop in the reliability and any increase in the circuit area.
US07646624B2
In a method of providing an operating characteristic of a resistive memory device, material of an electrode thereof is selected to in turn provide a selected operating characteristic of the device. The material of the electrode may be reacted with material of an insulating layer of the resistive memory device to form a reaction layer, the selected operating characteristic being dependent on the presence of the reaction layer.
US07646610B2
A DC-DC converter comprising a soft-magnetic, multi-layer substrate provided with a laminated coil constituted by connecting pluralities of conductor lines, and a semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising a switching device and a control circuit, which are mounted on the soft-magnetic, multi-layer substrate; the semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising an input terminal, an output terminal, a first control terminal for controlling the ON/OFF of the switching device, a second control terminal for variably controlling output voltage, and pluralities of ground terminals; the soft-magnetic, multi-layer substrate comprising first external terminals formed on a first main surface, first connecting wires formed on the first main surface and/or on nearby layers, second connecting wires formed between the side surface of the multi-layer substrate and a periphery of the laminated coil, and second external terminals formed on a second main surface; and terminals of the semiconductor integrated circuit device being connected to the first external terminals on the multi-layer substrate, at least part of the first external terminals being electrically connected to the second external terminals through the first and second connecting wires, and the input or output terminal being connected to the second external terminals via the laminated coil.
US07646608B2
An apparatus for coupling a heat-generating device to a heat-removing device. The apparatus includes a thermally-conductive plate having a first side and a second side. The apparatus also includes a plurality of first channels that intersect with a plurality of second channels formed on at least one of the first side and the second side. The formation of the first channels and the second channels weaken the thermally-conductive plate. The apparatus further includes a plurality of protrusions formed by the intersection of the first channels and the second channels. The protrusions are deformable by coupling the thermally-conductive plate between the heat-generating device and the heat-removing device.
US07646605B2
An electronic module packaging system and an electronic module packaging apparatus are disclosed. The electronic module packaging system includes an exterior packing box, an electronic module packaging apparatus, and antistatic packing foam holding the electronic module packaging apparatus within the exterior packing box. The electronic module packaging apparatus includes a top component made of an antistatic material, and a bottom component made of a conductive material. The bottom component includes multiple support members to hold an electronic module in a stable position. The top component and the bottom component may be coupled with multiple securing clips.
US07646604B2
A heat dissipation device for at least a heat-generating electronic component includes a heat sink, a fan for providing an airflow through the heat sink and a fan holder coupling the fan to the heat sink. The heat sink has a first locking part and a second locking part opposite to the first locking part. The fan holder has a first engaging part engaging with the first locking part at one side of the heat sink and a second engaging part engaging with the second locking part of the heat sink at an opposite side thereof. The first engaging part has a horizontally extending fixing arm and a barb extending downwardly from the fixing arm and hooking with a top side of the heat sink.
US07646600B2
A method and incorporated assembly is provided to enhance structural integrity and prevent interface deflection in a computer rack having a midplane and capable of housing a plurality of nodes. The assembly comprises at least one structural filler book capable of being disposed above or below said midplane where any node may be disposed having geometry and material properties to resist and counteract the plugging force of said node an causing a cancellation effect. The filler book have at least two horizontal supports being connected to one another via a vertical support and a plenum an air for directing air flow. The filler book is being secured to said rack or midplane via an engagement component disposed on one of its horizontal supports. The engagement component has a complementary air duct such that when said filler book and said engagement compartment are engaged and disposed in the rack, the air duct and the plenum align to provide a tuned path of air to be delivered to electronic components plugged to said rack and midplane.
US07646599B2
A latch mechanism for fixing a cover unit to a base unit of a foldable electronic device in a closed position is provided. The cover unit includes two locking portions. The base unit defines two slots. The latch mechanism includes a locking member, and at least one resilient member. The locking member is configured for being slidably received in the base unit. The locking member includes two protrusions. The locking portions of the cover unit extend through the corresponding slots of the base unit, and engage with the corresponding protrusions of the locking member for fixing the cover unit in the closed position. The resilient member is engagable with the locking member, for keeping the locking member in a locked position.
US07646591B2
A support mechanism includes a support member which has a tab slidable along a groove, and can be fixed at a desired position when an engagement teeth array in the tab engages with an engagement hook. Also, a pressing member with a presser portion is movable along the engagement teeth array, and can be fixed at a desired position when an engagement hook engages with an engagement teeth array. Thus, a single front panel can be used for a number of flat display panels of different sizes.
US07646588B2
A carbon nanotube film includes a first carbon nanotube group that is an aggregate of carbon nanotubes crosslinked to each other to form a network structure and a second carbon nanotube group that is an aggregate of carbon nanotubes having a diameter different from a diameter of the carbon nanotubes in the first carbon nanotube group, wherein the first carbon nanotube group and the second carbon nanotube group are in admixture.
US07646584B2
A capacitor body of a multilayer feedthrough capacitor is arranged with grounding inner electrodes and signal inner electrodes. The grounding inner electrodes include first and second grounding main electrode portions, grounding connection electrode portions having no areas opposing the signal inner electrodes, and first and second grounding lead electrode portions. The signal inner electrodes include first and second signal main electrode portions, signal connection electrode portions having no areas opposing the grounding inner electrodes, and first and second signal lead electrode portions.
US07646581B2
An electrostatic chuck capable of widening a temperature range and reducing a variation in thermal conductivity between the electrostatic chuck and the flat substrate over time is provided. The chuck includes: a body that has an internal electrode for attracting a flat substrate by an electrostatic force provided therein, a plurality of protrusions formed on one surface of the body serving as an electrostatic attraction surface, and projections provided on the top surfaces of some or all of the plurality of protrusions. In the electrostatic chuck, a region of the top surface of each of the minute projections on which the flat substrate is loaded is referred to as a mounting surface, and the total area of the mounting surfaces of the minute projections is equal to or larger than 0.01% and equal to or smaller than 2% of the area of the electrostatic attraction surface.
US07646575B2
A circuit protection system includes a normal mode and a maintenance mode. A current sensor senses current in the circuit. An enclosure includes an access panel that is movable between a closed position and open position. A circuit breaker is mounted within the enclosure. An electronic trip unit is in communication with the current sensor and controls interruptions of the current by the circuit breaker based on a trip setting. An interface device is accessible when said access panel is closed and allows selections of the normal and maintenance modes. A display, which is in communication with both of the user interface device and the electronic trip unit, monitors the interface device and transmits data to the trip unit that is based on the selected mode. The display receives data from the trip unit and displays information based on the received data. The display is viewable when the access panel is closed. The trip unit changes the trip setting when said maintenance mode is selected to reduce potential arc flash energy.
US07646573B2
An apparatus for protecting an integrated circuit from electrostatic discharge (ESD) includes an RC trigger device configured between a pair of power rails, a first control path coupled to the RC trigger device, and a second control path coupled to the RC trigger device. A power clamp is configured between the power rails for discharging current from an ESD event, the power clamp having an input coupled to outputs of the first and second control paths, the power clamp independently controllable by the first and second control paths. The first and second control paths are further configured to prevent the power clamp from reactivating following an initial deactivation of the power clamp.
US07646572B2
A system is for an aircraft including a plurality of rows of seats. The system includes a plurality of monitors, a plurality of arc fault circuit interrupters each of which includes three poles having a line terminal and a load terminal. Each of a plurality of electronic enclosures is capable of being energized from a corresponding one of the load terminals of a corresponding one of the poles of a corresponding one of the AFCIs. A panel holds the AFCIs. A single-phase power source powers the line terminals of the poles of the AFCIs. Each of the poles corresponds to one row of the aircraft. Each of the electronic enclosures corresponds to one of a plurality of zones. Three of the rows are disposed in each of the zones. One of the AFCIs is associated with a corresponding one of the zones.
US07646570B2
Current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) read sensors having constrained current paths made of lithographically-defined conductive vias with surrounding oxidized metal sublayers, and methods of making the same, are disclosed. In one illustrative example, at least part of a sensor stack structure which includes an electrically conductive spacer layer is formed. A metal (e.g. Ta) sublayer is then deposited over and adjacent the spacer layer, followed by one of an oxidation process, a nitridation process, and an oxynitridation process, to produce an insulator (e.g. TaOx) from the metal sublayer. The metal sublayer deposition and oxidation/nitridation/oxynitridation processes are repeated as necessary to form the insulator with a suitable thickness. Next, a resist structure which exposes one or more portions of the insulator is formed over the insulator. With the resist structure in place, exposed insulator materials are removed by etching to form one or more apertures through the insulator down to the spacer layer. Electrically conductive materials are subsequently deposited within the one or more apertures to form one or more lithographically-defined conductive vias of a current-constraining structure. Advantageously, the lithographically-defined conductive vias increase the current density of the read sensor in the region of the sensing layers to thereby simultaneously increase its resistance and magnetoresistance. With use of the process of oxidation, nitridation, or oxynitridation on each metal sublayer, degradation of the spacer layer is reduced or eliminated such that the desirable soft magnetics of the sensing layers in the read sensor are maintained.
US07646561B2
Embodiments of the present invention efficiently perform servo correction for prevention of propagation of a position error in a radial direction in self servo write (SSW). According to one embodiment, in SSW, a target position of a reference track TO in writing a servo write track TN is corrected. The target position is represented as a target value of a position signal calculated from a signal read by a read element. A signal indicating a deviation (a position error) from the target position (the target value) is referred to as PES. The SSW in this example performs correction of target positions in respective tracks using an impulse response of a servo system. Consequently, it is possible to efficiently and effectively prevent the propagation of position error in the SSW.
US07646555B2
A system includes a hard disk controller (HDC) module that controls a hard disk and a read channel (RC) device that communicates with the HDC module via a read bus and a write bus. The RC device includes a loopback circuit that selectively loops back the write bus to the read bus. The RC device generates a write clock for the HDC module to write data on the write bus and a read clock for the HDC module to read the data on the read bus, wherein the write clock is independent of the read clock.
US07646545B2
An optical element includes an airtight container having opposing face walls in a thickness direction, and side walls connecting the end face walls; a first liquid sealed in the container and having polarity or conductivity; a second liquid sealed in the container and not mixed with the first liquid so as to define an interface between the first liquid and the second liquid; and voltage applying means for applying a voltage to the first liquid. Further, the first liquid and the second liquid have the same specific gravity and substantially the same refractive index, and minute particles made of a material that does not transmit light are mixed in the first liquid, such that the first liquid has less light transmittance than the second liquid. In a state in which the voltage is applied to the first liquid, the interface between the first liquid and the second liquid deforms, and a transmitting path of light is formed that passes through the end face walls and propagates in the thickness direction of the container.
US07646541B2
The invention relates to a backlighting system for a liquid-crystal display screen, comprising: an illumination source producing an illumination beam; an objective illuminated by said illumination beam; at least one folding mirror illuminated by the illumination beam coming from the objective; and a Fresnel lens capable of collimating and redirecting the illumination beam reflected by said at least one folding mirror, the beam transmitted by the Fresnel lens being intended to back-light said display screen.
US07646539B2
An optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of optical elements formed in an element formation region of the substrate, a plurality of lenses formed over the element formation region so as to correspond to the plurality of optical elements, and a protective layer formed so as to cover the plurality of lenses. A holding member is formed on the protective layer in a region outside the element formation region. The holding member holds a bottom surface of a transparent member. A gap between the protective layer and the transparent member is filled with an adhesive.
US07646533B2
A relatively high spectral bandwidth objective employed for use in imaging a specimen and method for imaging a specimen is provided. The objective includes a lens group having at least one focusing lens configured to receive light energy and form focused light energy. The focused light energy forms an intermediate image. The objective further includes at least one field lens located in proximity to an intermediate image, and a catadioptric arrangement positioned to receive the intermediate light energy from the at and form controlled light energy. The catadioptric arrangement may include at least one Mangin element and can include a meniscus lens element.
US07646532B2
An optical signal processor device (14) intended to be fitted to means (10) for optically transmitting an information-carrying signal (S) comprises means (20, 22) for suppressing backscattered signals (RS) in the optical transmission means (10), an optical propagation medium (16) intended to be connected in parallel with the optical transmission means (10), divertor means (18, 20) for diverting the backs-propagated signals (P, RS) in the optical transmission means (10) into the optical propagation medium (16), and signal discrimination means (22) connected to the optical propagation medium (16).
US07646530B2
In particles for image displaying used in an image display device, in which one or more kind of particles are sealed between opposed substrates, at least one substrate being transparent, and, in which the particles are made to fly and move so as to display an image, each particle has a micro-irregularity at its surface. Moreover, in an image display device, in which one or more kind of particles are sealed between opposed substrates, at least one substrate being transparent, and, in which the particles, to which an electrostatic field produced by two kinds of electrodes having different potentials is applied, are made to fly and move so as to display an image, use is made of each particle having a micro-irregularity at its surface.
US07646529B2
A multi-state light modulator comprises a first reflector 104. A first electrode 142 is positioned at a distance from the first reflector 104. A second reflector 14 is positioned between the first reflector 104 and the first electrode 142. The second reflector 14 is movable between an undriven position, a first driven position, and a second driven position, each having a corresponding distance from the first reflector 104. In one embodiment, the light modulator has latch electrodes 17 and 143, which hold the light modulator in a driven state. In another embodiment the latch electrodes 17 and 143 are used to alter the actuation and release thresholds of the light modulator.
US07646526B1
One exemplary embodiment of an electrochromic thin-film material comprises an alloy of antimony and one or more base metals; and/or an alloy of antimony, one or more base metals, and lithium; and/or an alloy of antimony, one or more base metals, lithium, and one or more noble metals. Another exemplary embodiment of an electrochromic thin-film material comprises a multilayer stack, the multilayer stack comprising at least one layer comprising one of antimony, antimony-lithium alloy, antimony-one or more base metals alloy, antimony-one or more base metals-lithium alloy, antimony-one or more base metals-one or more noble metals alloy, and antimony-one or more base metals-one or more noble metals-lithium alloy; and at least one alternating layer comprising one of a base metal and a base-metal alloy. One or more of the base metals comprise Co, Mn, Ni, Fe, Zn, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Cd, Mg, Al, Ga, In, Sn, Pb, and Bi, and alloys thereof.
US07646525B2
An electro-wetting display panel including a first substrate, an insulator layer, a second substrate, partitioning structures, and electro-wetting display mediums. The first substrate has a plurality of first electrodes. The insulator layer is disposed on the first substrate to cover the first electrodes. The second substrate located above the first substrate and has a plurality of second electrodes. The partitioning structures are disposed on the insulator layer and each defines a pixel region, respectively. At least one of the partitioning structures has a flow channel surrounding the pixel regions, and the flow channel is connected to one of the pixel regions correspondingly. The electro-wetting display mediums are disposed within the pixel regions and the flow channels. When the electro-wetting display mediums are driven by the electric charge between the first electrodes and the second electrodes, the electro-wetting display mediums move between the pixel regions and the flow channels.
US07646524B2
Materials and structures whose index of refraction can be tuned over a broad range of negative and positive values by applying above band-gap photons to a structure with a strip line element, a split ring resonator element, and a substrate, at least one of which is a photoconductive semiconductor material. Methods for switching between positive and negative values of n include applying above band-gap photons to different numbers of elements. In another embodiment, a structure includes a photoconductive semiconductor wafer, the wafer operable to receive above band-gap photons at an excitation frequency in an excitation pattern on a surface of the wafer, the excitation patterns generating an effective negative index of refraction. Methods for switching between positive and negative values of n include projecting different numbers of elements on the wafer. The resonant frequency of the structure is tuned by changing the size of the split ring resonator excitation patterns.
US07646522B2
An optical pattern uses a single rotating component. The rotating component includes a number of deflection sectors. Each sector deflects an incident optical beam by a substantially constant angular amount although this amount may vary from one sector to the next. The rotating component may be combined with an imaging lens group that produces, for example, image points, spots, or lines displaced along a line locus.
US07646518B2
A two dimensional image forming device includes a laser light source which is a coherent light source; a prism array that changes the traveling direction of a beam exiting from the laser light source; a driving portion that rotates the prism array; a rod integrator that guides the exiting beam deflected on the prism array while allowing the beam to undergo internal reflection; a projection optical system that projects the exiting end face of the rod integrator onto a two dimensional spatial light modulation element; and a projection lens that projects light exiting from the two dimensional spatial light modulation element onto a specific plane within a space.
US07646507B2
A calibration system includes: an image formation unit that outputs a patch sheet having a plurality of patch patterns based on different gradation values for each color of color material that is used; a selection unit that receives an instruction to select a device from among a plurality of color measurement devices comprising a first color measurement device and a second color measurement device of a lower color measurement accuracy than that of the first color measurement device; a color measurement unit that receives data of a color measurement result for the patch sheet that is color-measured by the color measurement device selected by the selection instruction; a color measurement value determination unit that acquires color measurement values for each of the patch patterns on the basis of the color measurement result data received; and a color adjustment unit that generates color correction information of the image formation unit on the basis of the color measurement values acquired. In the system, the output patch sheet is common irrespective of the color measurement device selected by the selection instruction and, when the second color measurement device is selected by the selection instruction, the color measurement value determination unit acquires, by averaging a plurality of the color measurement result data that exist in the patch pattern, the color measurement values for each of the patch patterns.
US07646505B2
Approaches for the optimized printing of electronic documents are provided. The approaches are applicable to a wide variety of contexts and implementations and include generating an estimated processing time for an electronic document and reporting the estimated processing time back to a client device. Generating an estimated time to process includes processing at least a portion of the print data. Further, the approaches include re-ordering a processing queue based on the estimated processing time for the electronic document, and additionally based on an in-queue time for each print data in the processing queue. Further, any user-designated priority may be factored into the re-ordering of print data in the processing queue, or in the alternative, bypass the optimization process entirely. These approaches may be implemented on a printing device, a print server, a client device or any other device capable of utilizing these approaches.
US07646504B2
In an image data processing device, correcting of input color image data, converting the input data to monochrome image, and judging whether the image expressed by the input color image data is a color image or a monochrome image, are all performed simultaneously; the corrected color image data and the converted monochrome image data are stored; and based on the judgment, any one of the color image data and the monochrome image data stored are transmitted to an external device via a communicating unit.
US07646502B2
A driver program is provided for causing a host apparatus to execute a processing of generating color-converted image data and transferring it to a printing apparatus, this program making it possible to decrease the volume of image data to be stored in the host apparatus and to conduct data transfer without delaying the printing completion. A driver program causes a host apparatus to execute a processing of generating image data comprising data of a plurality of colors and transferring it to a printing apparatus. When the transfer of the image data of one plane is conducted, the driver program causes the host apparatus to execute a transfer processing conducted by intermingling a step of transferring by each band of the bands obtained by dividing the image data of one plane at the prescribed height, and a step of transferring by each color of the plurality of colors.
US07646500B2
An image formation assisting device calculates layout information such as allocation and pasting position of each page by a BEP from a file size with reference to the orientation tag of image file data in a TIFF produced by an RIP and cuts image data electronically according to the result of the calculation and makes the upper portion and lower portion of each page correspond with those of the other papers and rearranges each electronically cut page according to an instruction of collation or face-down, when the instruction is provided, and activates a print engine to start and specifies predetermined paper automatically and outputs the image data to the print engine. As a result, there is provided an image formation assisting device capable of using image data for CTP for on-demand printing.
US07646499B2
An authentication code detecting unit detects data addition authentication information from a print job. An upper apparatus specifying unit specifies a transmitting source of the print job. A RAM stores the data addition authentication information, the transmitting source of the print job, and the print job. An operating unit receives print request authentication information. An elapsed time measuring unit measures an elapsed time from the reception of the print job having the data addition authentication information. An erasure extension necessity inquiry unit requests an answer about the necessity of extension of an erasing time from the transmitting source when the measurement result indicates the elapse of a predetermined time. When the erasure extension is necessary, an erasure/extension decision processing unit extends the elapsed time until the erasure of the print job after its reception.
US07646495B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for computing focus information prior to scanning digital microscope slides with a line scan camera. The methods include a point-focus procedure that works by moving the slide to the desired measurement location, moving the objective lens through a predefined set of height values, acquiring imagery data at each height, and determining the height of maximum contrast. The methods also include a ribbon-focus procedure whereby imagery data are acquired continuously, while the slide and objective lens are in motion. Both methods may be applied with either a static or a dynamic implementation.
US07646487B2
A reflectance measuring apparatus is provided in the present invention. In addition to measuring the intensity of light directly reflected from a sample, the apparatus is further capable of collecting large-angle reflected light scattered from the sample through a reflecting cover disposed over the sample and measuring the intensity thereof. In one embodiment, the reflecting cover has a parabolic surface for modulating the large-angle reflected light to become parallel light projecting onto a photo-detector. In another embodiment, the reflecting cover has an elliptic surface for modulating the large-angle scattered light to focus on the photo-detector.
US07646484B2
A method of determining an optical parameter or function thereof for a liquid, the method comprising: flowing the liquid through a flow cell; transmitting a pulse of light into the liquid in the flow cell; generating a signal responsive to energy that the material emits responsive to a portion of the light from the light pulse that is absorbed by the liquid; and using the signal to determine the optical parameter or function thereof.
US07646481B2
A method and a microscope, in particular a laser scanning fluorescence microscope, for high spatial resolution examination of samples, the sample (1) to be examined comprising a substance that can be repeatedly converted from a first state (Z1, A) into a second state (Z2, B), the first and the second states (Z1, A; Z2, B) differing from one another in at least one optical property, comprising the steps that the substance in a sample region (P) to be recorded is firstly brought into the first state (Z1, A), and that the second state (Z2, B) is induced by means of an optical signal (4), spatially delimited subregions being specifically excluded within the sample region (P) to be recorded, are defined in that the optical signal (4) is provided in such a way that a standing wave with defined intensity zero points (5) is formed in the sample region (P) to be recorded.
US07646472B2
Provided are an off-axis illumination apparatus, an exposure apparatus, and an off-axis illumination method. The off-axis illumination apparatus may include a mask, a light source for emitting light to the mask, and an incident angle varying section for varying an incident angle of the light. The exposure apparatus may include the off-axis illumination apparatus in addition to a wafer stage and an optical detector. The off-axis illumination method may include irradiating light from the light source to a mask, and moving positions of the light source and the mask to vary an incident angle of the light to the mask.
US07646465B2
Liquid crystal displays and fabrication methods thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display includes first substrate and second substrate facing the first substrate, and liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The first substrate includes a peripheral part spacer of which a surface includes a transparent conductive material, the peripheral part spacer being connected to a common voltage connector of the second substrate. A common voltage is applied to the first substrate through the common voltage connector and the peripheral part spacer. The peripheral part spacer is formed in the same process step with a display part spacer. To provide the peripheral part spacer with conductivity, the surface of the peripheral part spacer is covered with a transparent conductive material in the same process step in which the common electrode is formed on the first substrate. Accordingly, the peripheral part spacer configured to apply a common voltage to a common electrode can be formed without additional processing.
US07646463B2
A pixel structure including a first active device, a second active device, a first pixel electrode electrically connecting the first active device, a second pixel electrode electrically connecting the second active device and a first capacitance lower electrode is provided. Both the first active device and the second active device electrically connect a scan line and a data line. The first pixel electrode has a first interlacing pattern and first stripe patterns connected thereto. The second pixel electrode has a second interlacing pattern and second stripe patterns connected thereto. The first capacitance lower electrode located under the first interlacing pattern has a first region and second regions. The first pixel electrode substantially shields the first region but does not shield the second regions. An area ratio of the first region to the second regions is about 10:1˜300:1.
US07646459B2
The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposed to the first substrate, and a vertically aligned liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates, and has a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix having rows and columns. Each pixel includes a first electrode formed on the first substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate, and the liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second electrodes. The first substrate has a shading region in gaps between the plurality of pixels, and a wall structure is placed regularly on the surface of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer in the shading region. The first and second electrodes have at least one opening formed at a predetermined position in the pixel. At least an arbitrary row or column of pixels is composed of first pixels each having the first electrode to which a voltage of positive polarity with respect to the potential at the second electrode as the reference potential is supplied and second pixels each having the first electrode to which a voltage of negative polarity is supplied, arranged alternately, in a given vertical scanning period. At least one liquid crystal domain having axisymmetric alignment is formed when at least a predetermined voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer, and the center axis of the axisymmetric alingment of the at least one liquid crystal domain is formed in or near the at least one opening.
US07646458B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing an LCD device in which alignment films are formed by a method of printing non-contact alignment films on substrates. Print control patterns are provided between a sealing member and each of display regions. Each of the print control patterns is formed of a highly water-repellent region as well as any one of fine concave structures, fine convex structures and pillar-shaped bodies. The print control patterns control the spreading as liquid of alignment film materials to make the film thickness of each of the alignment film materials uniform.
US07646454B2
A transflective Liquid Crystal Display device has a liquid crystalline (LC) cell with reflective portions (101 R) and transmissive portions (101 T). The LCD device has a dual cell-gap design, the cell gap (dT) for the transmissive portions differs from the cell gap (dR) for the reflective portions. According to the invention, this cell gap difference is effected by means of an optical retarder (120) inside the LC cell. A thickness of said optical retarder (120) is such as to compensate the difference in cell gaps. Preferably, the optical retarder is a patterned retarder extending essentially only over the reflective portions (101 R) of the cell, and having quarter wave retardance.
US07646453B2
A reflective polarizer contains: (a) a light-entrance medium having a light-entrance surface and a microstructured surface with a series of prismatic structures, wherein first and second sidewalls of each prismatic structure have an inclination angle of more than 53 degrees with respect to the light-entrance surface; (b) a polarization-selective thin film optical coating on the series of prismatic structures, for transmitting a first polarization of light and reflecting a second polarization; and (c) a light-exit medium on the polarization-selective thin film optical coating that provides a smooth light-exit surface.
US07646452B2
A production method for a display panel according to the present invention is production method for a display panel 100 including a display panel 101 and a plurality of microlenses 107 provided on a light-incident side of the display panel 101, including: (a) a step of providing a display panel having a plurality of pixels in a matrix arrangement, wherein each of the plurality of pixels has a plurality of picture elements, including a first picture element 104B transmitting first color light and a second picture element 104R (104G) transmitting second color light which is different from the first color light; (b) a step of forming a photocurable material layer 105 on one of a pair of principal faces, being opposite to each other, of the display panel; (c) a step of exposing the photocurable material layer to light via the display panel, wherein the photocurable material layer is at least partially cured with light which has been transmitted through at least the first picture element; and (d) a step of removing an uncured portion of the photocurable material layer 105′ having been exposed to light, thereby forming a plurality of microlenses 107.
US07646444B2
A TFT array panel includes an insulating substrate, a gate line and a storage electrode line formed thereon. The gate line and the storage electrode line are covered with a gate insulating layer, and a semiconductor island is formed on the gate insulating layer. A pair of ohmic contacts are formed on the semiconductor island, and a data line and a drain electrode are formed thereon. The data line and the drain electrode are covered with a passivation layer having a contact hole exposing the drain electrode. A pixel electrode is formed on the passivation layer and connected to the drain electrode through the contact hole. The TFT array panel is covered with an alignment layer rubbed approximately in a direction from the upper left corner to the lower right corner of the TFT array panel or the pixel electrodes. The pixel electrode has approximately a rectangular shape and overlaps the gate line and the data line. The pixel electrode has an expansion located near the upper left corner of the pixel electrode to increase the width of the corresponding overlapping area between the pixel electrode and the gate line and/or the data line.
US07646420B2
A digital camera comprises two photographing systems which are independent of and substantially identical to each other, and each of which includes a photographing optical system and an image pickup device. The photographing optical system is configured to include a photographing lens, a focusing lens and an aperture stop. The focusing lens of one of the photographing systems is driven stepwise from a first predetermined position at which it is to be located when a focusing position lies at an infinite distance, toward a second predetermined position at which it is to be located when the focusing position lies at the closest distance, while the focusing lens of the other photographing system is driven stepwise from the second predetermined position toward the first predetermined position every step width. The contrasts of images formed by the respective photographing systems are evaluated while the two focusing lenses are being moved, and a position corresponding to the maximum value of the contrasts is determined as the focusing position.
US07646412B2
A dc level control method for holding a dc level of a clamp portion in an electric signal to be a prescribed value is disclosed, wherein the method comprises the steps of: comparing a dc level of a sampling interval in said electric signal with a predetermined reference value to obtain a difference between said dc level and said reference value using an A/D converting section for dc level comparison which has a lower bit resolution than an A/D converting section for digital signal processing of said electric signal; and feeding back a clamp signal to said electric signal so that said obtained difference between said dc level and said reference value substantially becomes zero. This method is suitable for applying to a signal processing system for a solid state imaging apparatus.
US07646411B2
To reliably obtain a captured image expected by a user, such as an image precisely showing the shades of a blue sky or a flower, or an image captured under flat illumination and having high contrast, an apparatus comprises an aperture, shutter, CCD, and an AGC, and applies gamma correction to an image signal using gamma correction values. Maximum reflectance, being an index of the amount of incident light according to the maximum output from the CCD, is increased or decreased in multiple levels depending on the subject being photographed, and the exposure amount is accordingly adjusted, thereby changing a dynamic range. A microcomputer revises the gamma correction values in response to changes in maximum reflectance so as to substantially maintain a relationship between an incident light reference amount being a reference for appropriate exposure and the corresponding gamma corrected output value.
US07646410B2
Provided are a solid state image sensing device and method for sub-sampling using inter-column analog domain signal summation, where, in the solid state image sensing device, a CDS unit receives reset signals from neighboring columns of the same color in an APS array, receives video signals from pixels generating the reset signals, and generates modulation signals respectively corresponding to the differences between the reset signals and the video signals, the modulation signals are activated according to activation of the previous modulation signals, and a digital signal output circuit generates a corresponding digital signal based on the final modulation signal corresponding to the sum of inter-column analog video signals among the modulation signals.
US07646407B2
Automatic exposure adjusting device considers the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Each pixel is characterized according to its most significant bits. After the pixels are characterized, the number of pixels in any particular group is counted. That counting is compared with thresholds which set whether the image is over exposed, under exposed, and can optionally also determine if the image is seriously over exposed or seriously under exposed. Adjustment of the exposure is carried out to bring the image to a more desired state.
US07646398B2
A three-color pixel element for a display comprises a blue emitter disposed at the origin of a rectangular coordinate system having four quadrants, a pair of red emitters and a pair of green emitters spaced apart from the blue emitter and symmetrically disposed about the origin of the rectangular coordinate system in a first and a second pair of opposing quadrants.
US07646388B2
A method and system for controlling the algorithmic elements in 3D graphics systems via an improved 3D graphics API is provided. In one aspect, in a 3D graphics system having privatized formats with privatized drivers used to increase the efficiency of display, existing problems are eliminated that are associated with multiple redundant copies of the publicly formatted graphics data made in host system memory pursuant to various graphics operations e.g., lock and unlock operations. The ability to make a system copy of publicly formatted data is exposed to the developer, eliminating the creation of unnecessary, and redundant copies. Efficient switching between the privatized and public format remains hidden from the developers so that applications execute efficiently while removing consideration thereof from the developers. Thus, developers are free to consider other tasks. In the event that a developer wishes to make a copy of the data, the data is copied pursuant to an operation that the developer calls and over which the developer has control, ensuring that multiple redundant copies of the graphics data are not made in host system memory.
US07646383B1
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems to deform a computer-generated three-dimensional surface using a lattice of rigid bone segments driven by an interpolation algorithm to define a muscle. Such embodiments allow a realistic presentation of subdermal muscle mass. In one embodiment, each end of a curve, created by an interpolation function, is attached to a corresponding bone. One or more muscle segments are attached along the curve. The curve along with the attached muscle segments defines a muscle. As the bones move and rotate the curve is expanded or contracted due to the endpoints of the curve being fixed to distinct bones. The attached muscle segments will experience corresponding expansion and contraction thus providing a realistic presentation of skin deformation. For one embodiment, the position of each muscle segment is determined in reference to a standard Bezier interpolation function.
US07646382B2
A power control system comprises a plurality of point-of-load (POL) regulators each adapted to convey regulated power to a load, a serial data bus operatively connecting the plurality of POL regulators, and a digital power manager connected to the data bus. The digital power manager includes a controller adapted to execute stored instructions to program operational parameters of the plurality of POL regulators via the serial data bus and receive monitoring data from the plurality of POL regulators via the serial data bus. The digital power manager further comprises a user interface, such as an I2C interface, adapted to receive programming data therefrom and send monitoring data thereto. The digital power manager further comprises a non-volatile memory containing a plurality of registers, including a digital power manager configuration register containing data values defining a configuration of the power control system, a POL set-up register containing data values reflecting programming state of one of the POL regulators, a POL monitor register containing data values reflecting status of operating conditions within one of the POL regulators, and a user-definable space. The digital power manager is adapted to program voltage margining of each of the POL regulators.
US07646376B2
The invention relates to an electronic device (10) for providing predetermined functions for a user (1) of the device, with a man-machine interface of the device for allowing function-related inputs by the user and function-related outputs from the device, a processor-controlled computer device for processing the inputs of the user and generating the outputs from the device, and coupling means for the electrical and/or mechanical connection of the device to a device support (14) associated with the device. To achieve simpler operation and a wider scope of application for such a device, provision is made according to the invention for the device to have means of detection for detecting the presence of a connection of the device (10) to the device support (14), and for the processor-controlled computer device to effect a modification of the man-machine interface (12) in the presence of the connection. A particular advantage consists in the fact that the modification of the man-machine interface (12′) can be specifically adapted, taking into consideration the application environment concerned (e.g. in the motor vehicle, in the home, etc.), in that during this modification the “device support type” is detected and taken into consideration by the device (10).
US07646372B2
A method for detecting direction when interfacing with a computer program is provided. The method includes capturing an image presented in front of an image capture device. The image capture device has a capture location in a coordinate space. When a person is captured in the image, the method includes identifying a human head in the image and assigning the human head a head location in the coordinate space. The method also includes identifying an object held by the person in the image and assigning the object an object location in coordinate space. The method further includes identifying a relative position in coordinate space between the head location and the object location when viewed from the capture location. The relative position defines a pointing direction of the object when viewed by the image capture device. The method may be practiced on a computer system, such as one used in the gaming field.
US07646370B2
The level of a storage capacitor line changes between two types, an H level and an L level. As a result of this change, the voltage applied to a liquid crystal is shifted so that a sufficient voltage is applied to the liquid crystal to perform a display operation. Then, by changing the voltage value of the difference between a first level and a second level, the contrast and screen brightness are adjusted. Furthermore, the capacitances generated at the locations where the two storage capacitor lines and the data line intersect are set to be substantially the same.
US07646368B2
Embodiments of the invention include a method, device and/or system for spoke recovery. A method for spoke recovery in a sequential multi-primary color display may include producing a primary color image component corresponding to a first primary color during a display period including at least a portion of a spoke period of the first primary color and a second primary color.
US07646367B2
When a resistance load inverter is used to control lighting/non-lighting of a pixel, in accordance with characteristic variations of a transistor forming the resistance load inverter, variations occur in light emission of each pixel. As an inverter in a pixel, an N channel transistor and a P channel transistor are used to apply a CMOS inverter. Even when characteristics of the transistor forming the CMOS inverter vary and inverter transfer characteristics vary, there is little effect on controlling lighting/non-lighting of the pixel, therefore, light emission variations of each pixel can be eliminated. Further, a signal potential of a scan line is used as one power source of a potential of the inverter, therefore, an aperture ratio of the pixel can be increased.
US07646366B2
A driving circuit of an organic light emitting display includes: a first PMOS transistor turned on in response to a driving signal to transfer a data signal; an OLED (organic light emitting diode) where an amount of light emitted is controlled by a control current; a second PMOS transistor for supplying the control current to the OLED; a third PMOS transistor connected to a node to which the first and second PMOS transistors are connected; a first capacitor connected between the first PMOS transistor and the third PMOS transistor; and a second capacitor connected between the second PMOS transistor and the first PMOS transistor.
US07646364B2
A pixel circuit, display device, and driving method thereof are provided. The pixel circuit which is disposed in a place where a signal line through which a signal current is caused to flow, and scanning lines through which control signals are supplied, respectively, cross each other and which includes an electroluminescence element, a drive transistor for supplying a drive current to the electroluminescence element, and a control portion adapted to operate in accordance with the control signals for controlling the drive current of the drive transistor based on the signal current, the control portion including first sampling unit for sampling the signal current being caused to flow through the signal line, second sampling unit for sampling a predetermined reference current being caused to flow through the signal line just before or after the signal current, and difference unit for generating a control voltage corresponding to a difference between the sampled signal current and the sampled reference current. The drive transistor receives the control voltage at its gate and supplies a drive current being caused to flow through its source and drain to the electroluminescence element to make the electroluminescence element emit light.
US07646359B2
There is disclosed a flat display unit which can obtain color signals adapted to a pixel arrangement. The unit has a gate drive circuit and a source drive circuit. Among R, G, B input video signals, a G signal is regarded as a color signal of a reference, R and B signals are regarded as second and third color signals, a plurality of samples of the R signal are multiplied by coefficients and synthesized to generate a first interpolation color signal R′, a plurality of samples of the B signal are multiplied by coefficients and synthesized to generate a second interpolation color signal B′. The R′, B′ and G signal are successively selected and supplied to the source drive circuit.
US07646336B2
A system and method is provided for tracking and maintaining a highly accurate inventory of shipping containers that are stored within container storage facilities. The invention includes using multiple complementary real-time and post-processing positioning techniques associated with various positioning sensors that are associated with inventory pieces or equipment. Examples of such positioning techniques are DGPS, GPS with RTK, DGPS loosely-coupled with INS, DGPS tightly-coupled with INS, and DGPS deeply-coupled with INS. Data correction and fusion techniques are applied to these positioning stages to re-compute a calibrated position with an improved accuracy. An additional trajectory can be iteratively determined using the fusing technique until the position data becomes statistically trustworthy. Further, combinations of multiple real-time positioning techniques combined with past position error correction algorithms provide a high accuracy needed for inventory tracking.
US07646334B1
A radar signal processing system utilizing a specialized neural network generative topographic mapping method which employs an alternative method for characterizing multiple radar signatures wherein specialized phased-codes and wavelet waveform modulations are used. The invention comprises three layers each including a plurality of nodes: input layer, mapping layer, and output presentation layer. The input layer takes the collected signals and congregates them into groups of linear data points. The mapping layer provides a method for projecting the data into points of lower dimensions. The data is assumed to arise by first probabilistically picking a point in a low-dimensional space, mapping the point to be observed in high-dimensional input space, then adding noise. The result is a system in which radar data with multiple reflections in close proximity is manipulated into multiple signatures in systematic ways for use in downhole structure signatures.
US07646332B2
Apparatus and method for real-time determination of radar cross sections is disclosed using interleaved gridding. Radar cross section calculations are amenable to an implementation on parallel processors wherein the shooting window is subdivided into smaller areal units that are assigned to the parallel processors in an alternating fashion, such that the calculations performed by a single processor are not localized to a single area of the shooting window.As further disclosed, the shooting and bouncing ray technique for calculating radar cross sections is implemented using the apparatus and method disclosed herein.
US07646324B2
A pipeline type analog-digital converter includes a first to an N-th (N is an integer of not less than 2) stages (101 to 10N) brought into cascade connection and converting an analog signal input from a preceding stage to a digital signal of a predetermined bit and outputting the digital signal. Each of the first to the (N−1)-th stages (101 to 10N−1) includes an analog-digital converter circuit including comparators comparing an analog signal with reference potential being determined in advance and mutually different in parallel. The first to the (N−1)-th stages are in redundant configuration with the comparators of the stage including an auxiliary comparator.
US07646321B2
Provided is a digital/analog converter including a voltage dividing unit that includes a plurality of voltage dividing elements and divides a reference voltage by voltage division; a first decoder that selects a plurality of voltages among the voltages divided by the voltage dividing unit; a first voltage output unit that is connected to nodes among adjacent voltage dividing elements of the voltage dividing unit and the first decoder, and outputs a plurality of voltages selected by the first decoder; a second decoder that selects any one of the plurality of voltages output from the first voltage output unit; and a second voltage output unit that is connected to the first voltage output unit and the second decoder and outputs the voltage selected by the second decoder.
US07646316B2
A compound portable computing device comprising two or more separate portable devices coupled over a wireless link is described. A first portable computing device contains a keypad with keys dedicated to use with a function of the devices. A circuit of the first portable computing device reconfigures the first keypad to operate as a first portion of a standard QWERTY keyboard or other type of keyboard for text entry. A second keyboard portion comprising keys permanently configured to provide complementary keys to the first keyboard portion is separably linked to the first portable computing device, so that the first and second keyboard portions function as a full QWERTY keyboard.
US07646314B2
The invention relates to displacement encoder for a movable shaft, comprising a sleeve (2) which is intended to be fixed in rotation to the shaft (3) and an encoding element (4) which is made from magnetizable polymer and which is solidly connected to the sleeve, said encoding element being equipped with an encoding zone (6) having at least one polarized mark. The aforementioned encoding zone of the encoding element is covered with a protective layer (10) which is made from a polymer having a surface abrasion resistance greater than that of the magnetizable polymer. The invention also relates to a device comprising one such encoder and to a production method thereof.
US07646306B2
ARRANGEMENT INTRODUCED IN A HIDDEN RECEIVER-SENDER DELIMITER FOR PNEUMATICS AND SIMILARS, especially a constructive arrangement allowing the use of a transponder (device to send and receive radio frequency signals) in aggressive means, be them chemical, mechanical or others, with no losses which may cause damage to said transponder; the conventional transponder (T) for emission and reception of radio frequency signals (RF) composed by a chip (1) and a coil reel (2); the transponder (T), with its new features, may be used, with no prejudice to its features, in aggressive chemical or mechanical means; the transponder (T) receives two protections: the first one by covering the transponder set (T) with a plastic film (F); the second protection is the introduction of said transponder (T), already with the first protection, inside a capsule (3) with special features, made of transparent material to electromagnetic waves and appropriate to resist against different mechanical efforts, be them twisting, flexion, traction or even mechanical vibrations, being the employed material preferably a plastic provided not only with transparence to electromagnetic waves, but also relative flexibility.
US07646304B2
A method for efficiently producing a plurality of EAS or RFID tags or inlays that form a label ready for use. The process utilizes a first web of RFID chip straps or capacitor straps that are releasably secured to a liner using only a low tack adhesive and utilizes a second web of coils or antennas which are secured to a second liner. After indexing these two webs, selective heat and pressure are applied to the chips straps or to the capacitor straps to transfer them and electrically couple them to a corresponding coil or antenna. Where both chip straps and capacitor straps are applied to a common antenna, a third web of the additional strap is used in the process.
US07646297B2
An apparatus and method is disclosed providing the automatic, self configuration of a communication device to adjust to the user's environmental circumstances. Method includes creating a set of mode templates corresponding to a plurality of potential environmental circumstances and may be stored in a database in the computer readable memory of the communication device. At predetermined intervals, a suite of environmental sensors integral to the communication device may periodically sample the user's environment. The user's environmental circumstances may be derived by an analysis module based on the output of the suite of environmental sensors. The derived set of environmental circumstances may then be compared to the mode templates to determine a matching mode template. A change to a plurality of communication device operational settings may then be made based at least partially on the matching mode template.
US07646291B2
A light control system may include a signal coder (e.g., a flasher module), one or more motor vehicle light sources, and a signal decoder. The light control system may be a part of a motor vehicle taillight system. The signal coder may provide a selected signal. The selected signal may be a voltage signal having a modified portion when the signal coder is activated by a turn signal switch. The selected signal may be a substantially non-modified voltage signal when the signal coder is activated by a brake signal switch. The signal decoder may be coupled to the signal coder. The signal decoder may assess the selected signal from the signal coder to determine a selected lighting output of the motor vehicle light sources. The motor vehicle light sources may be coupled to the signal decoder. The motor vehicle light sources may provide the selected lighting output.
US07646287B2
An antitheft apparatus for a vehicle has an inertia sensor, which is also used for an anti-lock braking system. An electronic control unit receives output signals from the inertia sensor and determines a possible vehicle theft when a detected vehicle condition (for example, vehicle acceleration) is larger than a threshold value.
US07646278B2
The present invention relates to a high voltage transformer with high magnetic leakage and dual high voltage output, comprising a base and a core set, wherein the base contains a hollow support into which a first core of the core set pierces, and primary coils are wound on both sides of the hollow support, while a plurality of isolation channels is installed for winding first and second secondary coils on external sides of primary coils. First and second slots are opened between the primary coils and the first and second secondary coils respectively, and both slots cut into an internal through hole. When a second core of the core set is placed at one end of the hollow support, extensions at both ends of the second core go through both sides of the first core, together with first and second protrusive parts between the two extensions that are installed within the first and second slots and combined with the first core to form multiple magnetic paths.
US07646268B1
An electro-mechanical harmonic load pull tuner uses three variable and adjustable shunt air capacitors and three variable and adjustable series phase shifters and creates independently controllable impedances at three harmonic frequencies in the frequency range between 30 and 250 MHz. Independent harmonic tuning is possible because the combination of adjustable shunt capacitors and series phase shifters allows generating more than 1019 impedance states at each frequency covering the entire Smith chart; appropriate impedance-search Error Function-based optimization algorithms allow fast harmonic tuning for impedance tuning and matching the output of RF transistors and amplifiers at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies. Stepper motors, drivers and control software are used to automate, calibrate and use the harmonic tuner in an automated harmonic load pull measuring setup.
US07646267B1
A segmented, electro-mechanical, remotely controlled programmable impedance tuner for the frequency range between 10 and 200 MHz uses a cascade of three continuously variable mechanical capacitors interconnected by a set of two low loss flexible or semi-rigid cables; the electrical length of the interconnecting cables between the capacitors determines the frequency at which tuning coverage of the entire area of the Smith chart is optimum; for maximum impedance coverage the length is to be chosen such as to generate a transmission phase shift of 60 degrees at the center frequency between each capacitor stage. Remote tuning is possible by changing the value of the capacitors using electrical stepper motors. The tuner is calibrated using a vector network analyzer and the data are saved in the memory of the control computer, which then allows tuning to any user defined impedance within the tuning range. Reflection factor values between 0 and higher than 0.9 can be obtained using this tuner.
US07646264B2
An agile frequency converter provides IF-RF level exchange and notch filtering. System noise and spurious levels generated by channel frequency conversion is reduced in applications requiring broadband combining of frequency converters to form multichannel composite signal. A pair of varactor banks is connected in an arrangement whereby varactor pairs are connected in parallel and capacitor pairs are connected in anti-parallel. Tuning is achieved by circuitry for tuning first and second varactors.
US07646250B2
A signal converter includes a signal converting unit and a compensation unit. The signal converting unit generates intermediate differential signals at intermediate nodes in response to a single-ended signal. The compensation unit generates compensated differential signals at output nodes by minimizing phase and amplitude mismatch errors between the intermediate differential signals. The compensation unit includes a pair of transistors and a pair of capacitors configured in symmetry between the intermediate and output nodes. The signal converter of the present invention may be used to particular advantage in an RF receiver.
US07646249B2
A cross-differential amplifier is provided. The cross-differential amplifier includes an inductor connected to a direct current power source at a first terminal. A first and second switch, such as transistors, are connected to the inductor at a second terminal. A first and second amplifier are connected at their supply terminals to the first and second switch. The first and second switches are operated to commutate the inductor between the amplifiers so as to provide an amplified signal while limiting the ripple voltage on the inductor and thus limiting the maximum voltage imposed across the amplifiers and switches.
US07646242B2
A disclosed operational amplifier circuit with a multi-stage amplifier configuration provides fast-response and high withstand-voltage characteristics without using high withstand-voltage transistors as output transistors in its amplifying stages. The output voltage range of a differential amplifier circuit in a first stage is limited by voltage clamping based on a reverse withstand voltage of a bipolar diode. The output voltage range of an amplifier circuit in a second stage is limited by voltage clamping based on a reverse withstand voltage of another bipolar diode. A constant voltage circuit and an apparatus including such an operational amplifier circuit are also disclosed.
US07646236B2
A two-step tuning process for resistors and capacitors in an integrated circuit is described. In the first step of the tuning process, an on-chip adjustable resistor is tuned based on an external resistor to obtain a tuned resistor. The value of the tuned resistor is accurate to within a target percentage determined by the external resistor and the design of the adjustable resistor. In the second step, an adjustable capacitor is tuned based on the tuned resistor and an accurate clock to obtain a tuned capacitor having an accurate value. The adjustable capacitor may be tuned such that an RC time constant for the tuned resistor and the tune capacitor is accurate to within a target percentage determined by the accurate clock and the design of the adjustable capacitor. The resistors and capacitors of other circuits on the integrated circuit may be adjusted based on the tuned resistor and the tuned capacitor, respectively.
US07646230B2
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, which can comprise a circuit adapted to cause an actuation of an output device according to a control output. The control output can be generated comprising a control signal, the control signal extracted from a sequence of clock pulses. The sequence of clock pulses can comprise the control signal.
US07646225B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for accurately detecting a mains phase. The apparatus is constructed with a zero-crossing detector, a digital phase detector, a digital loop filter, and a digital controlled oscillator (DCO) of a direct digital synthesized (DDS) manner. The present apparatus employs an all-digital loop architecture and a high sampling clock to recover a signal with a phase orthogonal with the mains signal and a frequency the same as the mains signal. And jitters in the recovered signal are less than 10 us. The present apparatus is capable of implementing signal tracking of a zero frequency error and a zero phase in a wide range, and can provide a detection result of excellent performance for the power line carrier communication, mains frequency detection, etc.
US07646221B2
A buffer circuit permitting an input signal to pass and prohibiting the input signal from passing corresponding to an output control signal, including an output switching device, a control portion having a first switching circuit controlling the output switching device into conductive state and a second switching circuit controlling the output switching device into non-conductive state, and controlling the output switching device into the conductive state or non-conductive state corresponding to the input signal and the output control signal, wherein a connecting point between the first switching circuit and the second switching circuit is coupled to the output switching device, and a changing portion connected to the second switching circuit in series and limiting the drive capacity of the output switching device when the output control signal is in an output prohibition state of prohibiting the input signal from passing.
US07646219B2
An integrated circuit (200) includes a translator circuit (210) for translating from a lower logic-level voltage range signal (101(a), 101(b)) to a higher logic-level voltage range signal (141(a), 141(b)). The translator (210) includes a differential input stage (110) including a first (Q39) and a second input transistor (Q38) coupled to receive at least a first input signal (101(a), 101(b)) that defines the lower voltage range signal. A voltage follower 120 includes first and second follower transistors (Q41, Q40). An output of the first and second input transistors (Q39, Q38) is coupled to inputs of the first and second follower transistors (Q41, Q40). A dynamic gain boosting switching circuit (130) is coupled to receive outputs from the first and second follower transistors (Q41, Q40) and includes a first and a second control node (131, 132). The switching circuit (130) include a first positive feedback loop including a first internal feedback transistor (MN1) that reinforces a signal level at the first control node (131) and a second positive feedback loop including a second internal feedback transistor (MN2) that reinforces a signal level at the second control node 132. An output stage (140) has at least one input coupled to receive at least one output signal from the switching circuit (130) and provide at least one translated output supplying the higher logic-level voltage range signal.
US07646218B2
An architecture of hierarchical interconnect scheme for field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). A first layer of routing network lines is used to provide connections amongst sets of block connectors where block connectors are used to provide connectability between logical cells and accessibility to the hierarchical routing network. A second layer of routing network lines provides connectability between different first layers of routing network lines. Additional layers of routing network lines are implemented to provide connectability between different prior layers of routing network lines. An additional routing layer is added when the number of cells is increased as the prior cell count in the array increases while the length of the routing lines and the number of routing lines also increases. Switching networks are used to provide connectability among same and different layers of routing network lines, each switching network composed primarily of program controlled passgates and, when needed, drivers.
US07646212B2
A memory system includes a memory controller, a transmission bus, a power divider, a first memory chip, and a second memory chip. The transmission bus is coupled from the memory controller to a first node of the power divider for transferring signals. The first node of the power divider is coupled to a second node of the power divider via a first line, and the first node is also coupled to a third node of the power divider via a second line. The first memory chip is coupled to the second node via a first branch bus and the second memory chip is coupled to the third node via a second branch bus. Accordingly, reflected wave due to an impedance mismatching can be reduced to enhance the signal integrity.
US07646207B2
A method for measuring a property of interconnections is provided. The method includes the following steps. A plurality of interconnection test patterns are provided. A pad to which the plurality of interconnection test patterns are parallelly connected is formed. At least one resistor is formed between at least one of the plurality of interconnection test patterns and the pad. The property of the plurality of interconnection test patterns is measured by applying a current, a voltage and/or a mechanical stress to the pad.
US07646205B2
The invention provides for a method of using a network analyzer and a test controller for measuring S-parameters of a device, which can assume a plurality of states, and which can switch very fast from one state to another. The test controller sends a trigger to the analyzer, which starts a frequency sweep when it receives this trigger. The frequency sweep, having substantially the same start and stop frequency, is provided to the device. The analyzer then executes a measurement of at least one S-parameter of the device, stores the S-parameter data from the measurement and provides the test controller with a trigger. The test controller then updates the device to the next state in a predetermined sequence of states when it receives the trigger from the analyzer. These steps are repeated until all states in the predetermined sequence of states have been measured. In addition, the invention provides for a system for measuring at least one S-parameter of a microwave device, which system comprises a test controller a network analyzer and the microwave device itself.
US07646201B2
An airborne electromagnetic survey system for conducting geological mapping is disclosed. A transmitter closed loop structure is used in the system and is designed for connection to a towing airborne vehicle. The transmitter loop structure comprises a plurality of interconnected loop segments, and transmitting means are fitted to at least one of the loop segments for generating and transmitting an earthbound primary electromagnetic field effective for geological surveying. Sensing means are fitted to the loop segments for receiving and sensing a vertical component of a secondary resulting electromagnetic field which arises from an interaction of the primary electromagnetic field with ground bodies that are traversed by the sensing means, while simultaneously nulling the primary electromagnetic field. Helical sensing means are positioned in close proximity to the transmitting means to receive and sense a horizontal electromagnetic field contained in the secondary resulting field, while simultaneously nulling the primary electromagnetic field.
US07646197B2
To perform execution scheduling of function blocks so as to control the total required power of the function blocks within a supplyable power budget value, and thereby realize stable operations at low power consumption. Function block identifiers are allotted to all the function blocks, and to a RAM area that a power consumption control device can read and write, a list to store identifiers and task priority, power mode value showing power states, and power mode time showing the holding time of power states can be linked. A single or plural link lists for controlling the schedules of tasks operating on the function blocks, a link list for controlling the function block in execution currently in high power mode, a link list for controlling the function block in stop currently in stop mode, and a link list for controlling the function block in execution currently in low power mode are allotted, and thereby the power source and the operation clock are controlled by the power consumption control device.
US07646196B2
Provided is a current sensor capable of detecting an induced magnetic field by a current to be detected with higher precision. The first and second modules are provided on facing surfaces of integrated substrates, respectively, with spacers in between. Each of the first and second modules includes an element substrate, and an MR element layer. On each of the MR elements layers, provided is an MR element having a stacked structure including a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a free layer whose magnetization direction changes according to the induced magnetic field and which exhibits an anisotropic field in a direction different from that of the magnetization of the pinned layer. The stacked structures of the MR elements are provided in a same layer level.
US07646194B2
A resolver of a variable reluctance type includes a resolver stator portion of a substantially annular shape centered about a central axis, and a resolver rotor portion which is attached to a shaft of a motor rotor portion arranged inwardly of the resolver stator portion. The resolver is operable to increase accuracy for detecting a rotational angle when a size of gap g between a rotor core and a resolver stator portion at a predetermined point at an outer circumferential edge of the rotor core is set by using a maximum value for the gap g (gmax), a minimum value for the gap g (gmin), angle θ defined by a predetermined point and a reference point, axial double angle n, and the coefficient.
US07646193B2
A device inspection apparatus that is capable of judging the functions of operating control buttons on a cellular phone or like device automatically and easily. The device inspection apparatus comprises an adapter unit 2 on which a cellular phone 1 is mounted; a camera 4 for picking up the image of an LCD panel 3, which serves as a display section for the cellular phone 1; a plunger unit 7, which has a plurality of releases 6 for pressing a key button 5 on the cellular phone 1; a computer 8 for controlling the operation of the plunger unit 7 and exercising control; and a monitor 9 for displaying an LCD panel image and an image based on a signal from the computer 8. A still picture, motion picture, or audio output, which is acquired when a release 6 presses a key button 5, is compared against a predetermined expected image or sound to judge the functionality of the cellular phone 1.
US07646187B2
This patent specification describes a power adapter which includes a first amplifier configured to amplify a voltage difference between a voltage proportional to an output voltage of a switching regulator and a first reference voltage, a current detector configured to detect a current proportional to an output current of the switching regulator, a second amplifier configured to amplify an output signal from the current detector, a first converter configured to convert an output voltage of the first amplifier to a first current signal, a second converter configured to convert an output voltage of the second amplifier to a second current signal, an oscillator configured to oscillate with rectangular pulses and a controller configured to modulate an oscillation signal of the oscillator in accordance with the first and second current signals output from the first and second converters.
US07646186B2
A holdover circuit is configured with a holdover capacitor, preferably an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, to provide uninterruptible operation for an electrical load operable over a limited range of input voltage during brief power interruptions. The holdover circuit includes a switching regulator configured with two active switches that are controlled with complementary duty cycles to charge and discharge the holdover capacitor at a voltage higher than the voltage of the load. The controller for the switching regulator may be configured to regulate the voltage of the holdover capacitor at a voltage proportional to the load voltage or at a constant voltage. The controller for the switching regulator is configured to operate in different modes during normal powered operation and during holdover.
US07646182B2
A first booster circuit and a second booster circuit include input capacitors, reactors, diodes, switch elements, and output capacitors, and are arranged to be symmetric to each other on a positive side and a negative side. The reactors are magnetically coupled to each other. With such configuration, the switch elements are on/off controlled simultaneously based on terminal voltages of the input capacitors and the output capacitors.
US07646167B2
A system for updating battery software includes a programmable battery unit that includes an internal access point. The programmable battery unit includes a battery control unit that controls the overall functionality of the programmable battery unit. A programmable storage medium may be included on the battery control unit. The storage medium has stored therein battery software operable to control certain features of the programmable battery unit. An input port may be connected with the battery control unit. An update device that includes a second storage medium having stored therein updated battery software for the programmable battery unit. A connector may be included for connecting the update device to the input port of the programmable battery unit. A software routine on the update device is operable to automatically transfer the updated battery software from the update device to the first storage medium of the programmable battery unit thereby reprogramming the programmable battery unit.
US07646164B2
The invention relates to a method of adjusting motor parameters in a variable speed drive intended for controlling a synchronous electric motor with permanent magnets M. The method comprises a step of determining the deviations ΔID and ΔIQ between references and measurements of the flux current and motor torque current, a step of calculating a correction value ΔRS of the stator resistance, a correction value ΔL of the inductance and a correction value ΔKE of the flux constant of the motor, on the basis of the integral terms of the deviations ΔID and ΔIQ, a step of adjusting the values of the parameters of the motor model on the basis of ΔRS, ΔL and ΔKE, a step of formulating the control voltages UD and UQ to be applied to the motor M by using the said adjusted values of the motor parameters.
US07646163B2
An exemplary device for controlling rotation speed of a computer fan includes an identifying device and a control circuit. The identifying device is configured for identifying the type of the computer fan. The control circuit configured for controlling rotation speed of the computer fan includes an electric switch, an integrated circuit, a first output terminal, and a second output terminal. The electric switch has a first terminal coupled to the identifying device to receive an identifying signal, a second terminal coupled to a super I/O chip to receive a PWM signal. The integrated circuit is configured to convert the PWM signal to an analog voltage signal. The first output terminal is configured to output the PWM signal to a PWM control pin of a fan header. The second output terminal is configured to output the analog voltage signal to a power pin of the fan header.
US07646159B2
An electrically commutated motor comprises a plurality of stator phases and a rotor. Further, sensors for detecting the control deviation of the rotor in relation to the stator phases are provided. A phase control unit controls the stator phase rotary field depending on the detected control deviation. The phase control unit comprises a single-phase controller for a single-phase mode of operation, and a multiple-phase controller for a multiple-phase mode of operation. Further, a control deviation evaluation element is provided which evaluates the magnitude of the control deviation, and selects, depending on the evaluation result, the single-phase mode of operation or the multiple-phase mode of operation.
US07646153B2
The present invention has an object to provide a switching regulator power supply apparatus that realizes a plurality of light emitting amount outputs without increasing a total number of structural components thereof. A switching regulator power supply apparatus according to the present invention includes a switching type power converting circuit; a current detecting circuit for producing a feedback signal in response to a load current; and an SWR control circuit for driving the power converting circuit. In the switching regulator power supply apparatus, the SWR control circuit is provided with a control signal input terminal and a reference voltage circuit capable of outputting a plurality of reference voltages based upon a control signal inputted to the control signal input terminal.
US07646152B2
A driver circuit or controller flexibly drives either a half-bridge or a full-bridge switching network in a backlight inverter without modification, redundant circuitry or additional components. The driver circuit includes four outputs to provide four respective driving signals that establish a periodic timing sequence using a zero-voltage switching technique for semiconductor switches in the switching network.
US07646142B2
A Field Emission Device (FED) and its method of manufacture includes: forming a substrate; forming a cathode having a cathode aperture on an upper surface of the substrate; forming a material layer having a first through hole with a smaller diameter than that of the cathode aperture on an upper surface of the cathode; forming a first insulator having a first cavity on an upper surface of the material layer; forming a gate electrode having a second through hole on an upper surface of the first insulator; and forming an emitter in a central portion of the cathode aperture.
US07646139B2
A head plate assembly (1) for an actuator, has a cover (2), a lead-through (3), at least one connecting pin (4) led through the lead-through (3), and a seal (5) obturating the lead-through of the connecting pin. The head plate assembly (1) is pre-assembled without the actuator.
US07646138B2
A thickness shear mode (TSM) resonator is described, comprising a diamond layer. The diamond layer is preferably a high quality diamond layer with at least 90% sp3 bonding or diamond bonding. A method for manufacturing such a resonator is also described. The thickness shear mode resonator according to embodiments described herein may advantageously be used in biosensor application and in electrochemistry applications.
US07646135B1
A module includes a first piezoelectric element and first electronic device. The first piezoelectric provides physical support for said first electronic device. One embodiment includes a first insulating layer. The first insulating layer is mounted on the first piezoelectric element. The first electronic device is mounted on the first insulating layer for providing an electronic support function to the first piezoelectric element. In one embodiment the first electronic device includes a rectifier. One embodiment includes multiple contacts to the piezoelectric element each with its own rectifier. Another embodiment includes a stack of piezoelectric elements.
US07646131B2
According to the invention, an improved copper filling in the slots (4) of a permanently-stimulated synchronous motor (2) may be achieved, whereby such a motor is disclosed, comprising a stator (1), with parallel-edged slots (4), provided with a winding system of flat wires (5), whereby the flat wires (5) each enclose a tooth (3) and are embodied as a tooth coil (6). The flat wires (5) are wound edgewise such that the narrower side of the flat wire (5) faces the tooth (3) and each tooth coil (6) comprises at least two layers of flat wires (5).
US07646124B2
A rotor for a brushless permanent magnet generator/motor comprises a retention slot extending into a rotor flange for receiving a root of a permanent magnet. The retention slot comprises a base extending axially into the rotor flange, a pair of side walls extending radially from the base, and a pair of lugs projecting from the side wall to engage the root to provide radial and tangential retention of the permanent magnet. In other embodiments, the permanent magnet is further restrained in the axial direction by a spring pre-loaded axial retention ring.
US07646121B2
A stepping motor includes a rotor including a cylindrical permanent magnet, ring-shaped first and second yoke units that are arranged so as to be mutually stacked along an axis of the rotor, electrical connection members of resin material that include external connection terminals and are respectively secured to the first and second yoke units, and a pair of lid members. Each of the first and second yoke units includes a ring-shaped air-core coil, an outer yoke that accommodates therein the air-core coil and includes magnetic pole teeth arranged at fixed intervals in a circumferential direction of the air-core coil, and an inner yoke that includes a plurality of magnetic pole teeth arranged at fixed intervals in a circumferential direction of the air-core coil, and is combined with the outer yoke. Winding ends of the air-core coil are electrically connected to the external connection terminals.
US07646112B2
The current sharing using thermal feedback, in accordance with various embodiments, includes controlling an amount of current output from each of a plurality of power modules based on the thermal characteristics of each respective power module.
US07646100B2
The first pad electrode layer is disposed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate with the first insulating film between them. Then, the second insulating film with the first via hole partially exposing the first pad electrode layer is formed over the first pad electrode layer. The plug is formed in the first via hole in the next process. The second pad electrode layer connected to the plug is disposed on the second insulating film. Next, the second via hole reaching to the first pad electrode layer from the backside of the semiconductor substrate is formed. The penetrating electrode and the second wiring layer connected to the first pad electrode layer at the bottom part of the second via hole are disposed. Furthermore, the protecting layer and the conductive terminal are formed. Finally, the semiconductor substrate is diced into the semiconductor chips.
US07646096B2
A semiconductor device having good production stability and excellent in a contact property between an antireflection film on an Al contained metal film and a conductive plug. The device includes a substrate, an insulating interlayer, and a multi-layer structure. The insulating interlayer is formed in the upper portion of the substrate. The structure is provided on the insulating interlayer. A Ti film, a first TiN film, an AlCu film, a Ti film, a second TiN film, and an etching adjustment film are sequentially formed in the structure. The device includes an insulating interlayer and a conductive plug. The insulating interlayer is provided on the insulating interlayer and the structure. The conductive plug penetrates the insulating interlayer and the etching adjustment film, and an end surface of the conductive plug is located in the second TiN film. The conductive plug includes a Ti film, a TiN film, and a W film.
US07646090B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor module having: a semiconductor device (10) having a contact device (11) for making electrical contact with a connection device (17; 20) via a rewiring device (15, 15′, 15″); and a carrier device (12, 13, 14) for mechanically coupling the semiconductor device (10) to a connection device (17), the carrier device (12, 13, 14) having a gradient between a first modulus of elasticity at the semiconductor device (10) and a second, higher modulus of elasticity at the connection device (17; 20). The present invention likewise provides a method for producing a semiconductor module.
US07646089B2
A semiconductor package including a substrate with a semiconductor device mounted on the substrate and a resin member sealing the substrate and semiconductor device. The resin member includes a first surface and a second surface located on the other side of the first surface and a plurality of leads electrically connected with the semiconductor device. The leads project from the resin member and extend to the second surface side; wherein the second surface of the resin member includes a first area having a first concave portion and a second area having a second concave portion which is different from the first area, and the second concave portion is deeper than the first concave portion.
US07646088B2
[Problem] To provide an adhesive sheet which is used for a light-emitting diode device, and which is free from cracks and peeling off of the adhered portions. [Means for Solving the Problem] An adhesive sheet for a light-emitting diode device, which comprises a thermoplastic polymer containing epoxy groups and a compound containing functional groups which are addition reactive with the epoxy groups or a polymerization catalyst which can effect a ring opening polymerization of the epoxy groups, and in which said thermoplastic polymer is cross-linked so that its flowability is restrained.
US07646086B2
A semiconductor package according to the present invention includes a substrate; first and second semiconductor chips mounted on a first surface of the substrate; and a heat-radiation sheet. The heat-radiation sheet includes a heat-transferable conductive layer and first and second insulating layers formed on top and bottom surfaces of the heat-transferable conductive layer, respectively. The heat-radiation sheet includes a first portion arranged between the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip; and a second portion extending at least a side of the first portion. The second portion is connected to the substrate. The second insulating layer of the second portion is formed to expose a part of the heat-transferable conductive layer.
US07646079B2
In the semiconductor device of the present invention, an active region is formed in an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, and is surrounded by a trench filled with an oxide. A through-hole electrode electrically connected to the active region extends from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a lower surface thereof. A bottom end of the through-hole electrode juts out of an insulating film covering the lower surface of the semiconductor substrate. Accordingly, a jutting portion of the through-hole electrode is embedded in the bonding material when the semiconductor device is mounted on a mounting board, and thus the connection reliability therebetween is improved.
US07646073B2
A ferroelectric capacitor includes: a base substrate; a buffer layer formed above the base substrate; a lower electrode formed above the buffer layer; a ferroelectric layer formed above the lower electrode; and an upper electrode formed above the ferroelectric layer, wherein the buffer layer includes titanium (Ti) and cobalt (Co) as metal elements, and a metal element ratio x is 0.05≦x<1, when Ti:Co=1−x:x.
US07646065B2
A semiconductor device includes: an isolation region formed in a semiconductor substrate; an active region surrounded by the isolation region in the semiconductor substrate; a gate insulating film formed on the active region; and a gate electrode formed across the boundary between the active region and the isolation region adjacent to the active region. The gate electrode includes a first portion which is located above the active region with the gate insulating film interposed therebetween and is entirely made of a silicide in a thickness direction and a second portion which is located above the isolation region and is made of a silicon region and the silicide region covering the silicon region.
US07646064B1
A low thermal pathway is provided from the top surface of a silicon substrate to the bottom surface of the silicon substrate by first forming aluminum plugs in the bottom surface of the silicon substrate that contact the silicon substrate and extend up towards the top surface, and then heating the aluminum plugs to a temperature for a period of time sufficient to cause spikes to grow from the sides of the aluminum plugs.
US07646061B2
A power semiconductor device with charge compensation structure and a method for producing the same is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power semiconductor device has in a semiconductor body a drift path between a body zone and a substrate region. The drift path is divided into drift zones of a first conduction type. A field stop zone is provided having the first conduction type, which is arranged on the substrate region, wherein the net dopant concentration of the field stop zone is lower than that of the substrate region and higher than that of the drift zones.
US07646049B2
An image sensor includes a photo diode formed over a semiconductor substrate. At least one IMD layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. A dielectric medium fills a through-hole formed in the IMD layer over the photo diode. The dielectric medium may be made with materials with a higher refractive index than the materials forming the IMD layer.
US07646031B2
A light-emitting device operating on a high drive voltage and a small drive current. LEDs (1) are two-dimensionally formed on an insulating substrate (10) of e.g., sapphire monolithically and connected in series to form an LED array. Two such LED arrays are connected to electrodes (32) in inverse parallel. Air-bridge wiring (28) is formed between the LEDs (1) and between the LEDs (1) and electrodes (32). The LED arrays are arranged zigzag to form a plurality of LEDs (1) to produce a high drive voltage and a small drive current. Two LED arrays are connected in inverse parallel, and therefore an AC power supply can be used as the power supply.
US07646020B2
When bonding a workpiece to a substrate, processed parts of the substrate and the workpiece are observed and behavior such as the production of voids and the flowing of resin is observed. An apparatus for observing an assembled state of components includes: a stage on which a substrate is set; a head mechanism that bonds, by applying heat and pressure, an observation workpiece made of a transparent material to the substrate via resin supplied between the substrate and the observation workpiece; a light source that irradiates an observed part of the substrate and the observation workpiece mounted on the stage with light; and a camera that takes, from the observation workpiece side, an image of the observed part when the observation workpiece is bonded to the substrate set on the stage.
US07646019B2
In view of the problem that a reduced thickness of an EL film causes a short circuit between an anode and a cathode and malfunction of a transistor, the invention provides a display device that has a light emitting element including an electrode and an electroluminescent layer, a wire electrically connected to the electrode of the light emitting element, a transistor provided with an active layer including a source, a drain and a channel forming region, and a power supply line electrically connected to one of the source and the drain of the transistor, wherein the wire is electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the transistor, and the width of a part of the electrode in the vicinity of a portion where the electrode is electrically connected to the wire is smaller than that of the electrode in the other portion.
US07646017B2
Improved thin film transistor array panels are provided. In one embodiment, a panel includes a plurality of gate lines, data lines, and a plurality of switching elements connected to the gate lines and the data lines. An interlayer insulating layer is formed between the gate lines and the data lines. A passivation layer covering the gate lines, the data lines, and the switching elements is also provided having a plurality of first contact holes exposing portions of the data lines, wherein the switching elements and the pixel electrodes are connected through the first contact holes. A plurality of contact assistants are formed on the passivation layer and are connected to the data lines through a plurality of second contact holes in the passivation layer. A plurality of auxiliary lines are connected to the data lines through a plurality of third contact holes in the interlayer insulating layer.
US07646010B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting element capable of reducing malfunction due to oxidation and crystallization of a compound. According to one aspect of the present invention, a light-emitting element has a first electrode and a second electrode, a first layer and a second layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first layer contains an anthracene derivative and a substance that shows electron acceptability to the anthracene derivative, wherein the second layer contains a light emitting substance. According to one aspect of a light-emitting device of the present invention, any one of the above light-emitting elements is used as a pixel or a light source.
US07646009B2
In the nitride semiconductor device of the present invention, an active layer 12 is sandwiched between a p-type nitride semiconductor layer 11 and an n-type nitride semiconductor layer 13. The active layer 12 has, at least, a barrier layer 2a having an n-type impurity; a well layer 1a made of a nitride semiconductor that includes In; and a barrier layer 2c that has a p-type impurity, or that has been grown without being doped. An appropriate injection of carriers into the active layer 12 becomes possible by arranging the barrier layer 2c nearest to the p-type layer side.
US07645996B2
A microscale planar device for detecting particles under high pressure with high sensitivity. The device may have an anode and cathode with an insulator situated between them. The insulator may have a number of holes, cavities or channels between the anode and cathode. There may be conductive rings at the perimeters of openings of the channels on the anode side of the insulator. These rings may be a part of the anode. An ion may be attracted into one of the channels where it interacts with a gas to result in an avalanche breakdown. The breakdown may be detected by instrumentation connected to the anode and cathode. The lateral and/or longitudinal dimensions of the channels may be such that the device may operate as a detector with ambient air as a gas under its pressure of about one atmosphere.
US07645986B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a mass spectrometer that uses a time-of-flight mass spectrometer for performing mass spectrometry on the basis of the difference in flight time based on mass of desired ions, and that is suitable for improving the sensitivity and analysis precision of the mass spectrometer. A gate electrode is located at a stage before an acceleration region that is located before an emitter for emitting ions. This gate electrode is capable of applying the voltage that is set on a mass-number region basis, and is also capable of separating desired ions to be measured on the basis of the mass number by switching the gate electrode at high speed. Therefore, it is possible to improve the resolution.
US07645981B2
An image pickup device mounting structure includes an image pickup device, a reinforcing plate, and a flexible circuit board having at least one electrical component mounted thereon, wherein the reinforcing plate; the image pickup device and a part of the flexible circuit board are superimposed on each other, the reinforcing plate includes at least one cutout portion; and the electrical component is positioned on the part of the flexible circuit board and within the cutout portion.
US07645975B2
A spatial information detecting device for accurately detecting information of a target space is provided. This device has photoelectric converters for receiving a reflection light from the space, in which a flashing light is being irradiated, a charge storage portion formed in each of the photoelectric converters by applying a control voltage to electrodes on each of the photoelectric converters, a controller for controlling the number of electrodes, to which the control voltage is applied, such that an area of the charge storage portion changes based on a flash cycle of the flashing light, and an amplitude-image generator for generating an amplitude image having pixel values, each of which is provided by a difference between electric charges collected in a lighting period of the flashing light by a charge storage portion and the electric charges collected in a non-lighting period of the flashing light by another charge storage portion.
US07645969B2
A method, device, and projectile having a device for guiding or piloting projectiles or missiles (self-propelled or non-self-propelled), to deflect, in a direction Y, a hypervelocity projectile operating in a gas, such as a shell, a bullet, or a missile, having a nose, generally in the shape of a cone, with a more or less pointed tip, by generating a first high-voltage discharge able to produce a plasma over a first limited sector of the projectile surface and in direction Y, maintaining the plasma, and generating another low-voltage discharge able to supply the plasma with energy over a second limited sector of the projectile surface and in direction Y, the first and the second sectors being different and may overlap.
US07645963B2
A heating element includes an electrically insulating layer and an electrically conductive layer. At least the electrically conductive layer is based on a hybrid sol-gel precursor including an organosilane compound.
US07645962B2
This invention relates to a portable grounding mat, and more particularly to a mat specifically designed to protect electrical workers by providing a zone of equi-potential. The mat has a flexible base to which is attached at least one conductive element laid out in a grid pattern. A novel terminal that electrically connects the mat to a power source has an inner core to provide an electrical load path and an outer casing to provide a mechanical load path, resulting in a superior mat design.
US07645960B2
A welder for performing a welding process which includes a wire feeder and a code reader. The code reader is designed to obtain information from the welding wire based on a plurality of different cross-sectional sizes and/or different cross-sectional shapes on the outer surface of the welding wire. The information from the code reader is used to monitor at least one welding parameter of an electric arc welding process and/or to control at least one welding parameter of an electric arc welding process.
US07645958B2
In order to obtain an electric-discharge-machining power supply apparatus that can flow discharge current pulses through the machining gap uniformly and efficiently, and can realize reduction of the amount of electrode wear in machining in the alternate current pulse system, in an electric-discharge-machining power supply apparatus (2) for applying electric-discharge-machining pulse voltage to a machining gap between a machining electrode (8) and an object (9) to be machined, wherein a circuit (22) composed of a parallel connection of a rectifying element (24) and a resistive element (23) is inserted in series along a wiring path extending from an electric-discharge pulse generating unit (6) to the machining gap, and the rectifying element (23) is so connected as to cause machining pulse currents to flow in an intended direction during the electric discharge generation.
US07645955B2
The present invention discloses a metallic linkage-type keying device, which is installed to a casing, such as the casing of a camera, a mobile phone or a video camera. The metallic linkage-type keying device of the present invention comprises: a metallic linkage, having at least two joining portions; and at least one key, having at least two assembling portions. The key is installed to the metallic linkage via fixing two assembling portions to two joining portions. The metallic linkage-type keying device provided by the present invention can prevent ESD from attacking the interior of the casing via key gaps and has the advantages of compactness and low cost.
US07645954B2
The present invention provides a transparent conductor comprising a successive lamination of a support, a conductive particle layer containing a conductive particle and a first binder, and a conductive film layer containing a bead and a second binder; wherein a surface of the conductive film layer opposite from the conductive particle layer is rough.
US07645952B2
A mechanical switch includes a pair of conducting contacts, metal located on and between the conducting contacts, a heater, and an electro-mechanical actuator. The heater is operable to apply heat that melts the metal. The electro-mechanical actuator is capable of moving one or both of the conducting contacts in a manner that causes the metal to either start physically bridging the conducting contacts or to stop physically bridging the conducting contacts.
US07645947B2
Various embodiments of an electrical connector assembly that includes a connector body having an inlet end portion and an outlet end portion. The outlet end portion is held in a knock out hole of an electric box and the inlet end portion is provided with an adjacent opening for receiving a wire conductor retainer in the form of a flat spring configured to be readily connected to an external portion of a connector body for ease of manufacture and assembly. An electric conductor can be unidirectionally inserted in the inlet end portion and secured thereto so as to prohibit any unintentional separation from the connector body, all without the need of any tools.
US07645946B2
Two symmetrical pieces form an escutcheon that seals the gap between a pipe or conduit and the surface through which it penetrates and supports the pipe or conduit. The device is surface mounted with threaded mechanical fasteners which can be adjusted to vary the compression of the sealing gaskets. The escutcheon can be installed without requiring any manipulation of the pipe or conduit. The escutcheon can be removed and reinstalled repeatedly without any degradation in function.
US07645943B2
A configurable printed circuit board can be used with a bussed electrical center in a vehicle and has a dielectric body. The dielectric body defines an array of plated through-holes that are constructed to receive a terminal of an electrical adaptor. A conductive trace is also adhered to a surface of the dielectric body and is routed through some of the plated through-holes for carrying current between them. An aperture is defined through a portion of some of the plated through-holes and the respective conductive traces to electrically isolate one side of the conductive trace from another side; and thus the printed circuit board can accommodate more than one electrical device in a single section.
US07645941B2
A shielded flexible cable having a plurality of shielded electronic circuits in close proximity to one another such that signals transmitted on one of said plurality of shielded electronic circuits do not substantially interfere with signals transmitted on the other of said plurality of electronic circuits comprising a polyimide support member supporting a plurality of etched copper traces on a first side of said polyimide support member and a copper layer on a second side of said polyimide support member; said polyimide support member flexible along at least one axis; said plurality of etched copper traces and said copper layer substantially as flexible as said polyimide support member; a silver based material, including, for example, silver ink or silver film, surrounding a portion of each of said plurality of copper traces along substantially the entire length of each of said plurality of copper traces; said silver based material in electrical communication with (i) said copper layer via discontinuities in said polyimide support member, and (ii) a grounded terminal; an electrically insulative material in substantial proximity to each of said plurality of copper traces so as to electrically insulate each of said plurality of copper traces from (i) the other said plurality of copper traces, and (ii) said silver based material; said electrically insulative material physically located between said silver based material and each of said plurality of copper traces; a first dielectric layer covering substantially the entire exposed surface of said silver based material; and a second dielectric layer covering substantially the entire exposed surface of said copper layer.
US07645923B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS32001. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS32001, to the plants of soybean RJS32001 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS32001 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS32001 with another soybean plant, using RJS32001 as either the male or the female parent.
US07645918B2
The present invention relates to a method for the transformation of plastid genomes of plant species, in particular Asteraceae plant species, comprising the steps of providing a transformation vector carrying a DNA sequence of interest; subjecting a plant material, which comprises plastids, to a transformation treatment in order to allow the plastids to receive the transformation vector; placing the thus treated plant material for a period of time into contact with a culture medium without selection agent; subsequently placing the plant material into contact with a culture medium comprising a selection agent; and refreshing the culture medium comprising a selection agent to allow plant material comprising plastids that have acquired the DNA of interest to grow into transformants.
US07645908B2
A method for the chemoselective hydrogenation of α, β unsaturated carbonyl compounds is disclosed, in which compounds of the formula R4R3C═CR2—C(O)R1, wherein R1—R4 are as defined herein, are reacted with a hybrid donor to form a compound of formula R4R3CH—CH(R2)—C(O)R1, in which R1—R4 are as above. That method permits the selective hydrogenation of α, β unsaturated aldehydes and ketones without the use of metal catalysts.
US07645905B2
Crystalline form IV of the compound of formula (I): characterised by its powder X-ray diffraction diagram. Medicinal products containing the same which are useful in the treatment of melatoninergic disorders.
US07645899B1
In accordance with the present invention, there are provided novel thermosetting resin compositions which do not require solvent to provide a system having suitable viscosity for convenient handling. Invention compositions have the benefit of undergoing rapid cure. The resulting thermosets are stable to elevated temperatures, are highly flexible, have low moisture uptake and are consequently useful in a variety of applications, e.g., in adhesive applications since they display good adhesion to both the substrate and the device attached thereto.
US07645897B2
A process for producing a high-performance catalyst for use in a reaction for acrylic acid production from propane or propylene through air oxidation, is provided. A process for producing a metal oxide catalyst having the following composition formula, the process comprising the following steps (1) and (2): MoViAjBkCxOy Composition formula (wherein A is Te or Sb; B is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, and Ti; C is Si or Ge; i and j each are 0.01-1.5 and j/i is from 0.3 to 1.0; k is 0.001-3.0; x is 0.002-0.1; and y is a number determined by the oxidized states of the other elements), Step (1): a step in which an aqueous liquid containing Mo, V, metal A and metal B is evaporated to dryness and the solid matter obtained is calcined at a high temperature to thereby obtain a metal oxide; and Step (2): a step in which in an atmosphere containing substantially no water, a compound containing metallic element C is adhered to the metal oxide obtained in step (1) to form an oxide of metal C on the surface of the metal oxide.
US07645888B2
A novel process of the preparation of amorphous atorvastatin calcium starting from a compound of Formula (II).
US07645880B2
The invention relates to a novel process for preparing N-methylnaltrexone bromide, comprising at least the steps consisting in: (i) reacting N-methylnaltrexone methyl sulfate in aqueous solution with an alkaline agent chosen from the group constituted by sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, cesium carbonate, strontium carbonate and mixtures thereof, for a pH of the aqueous reaction medium of between 7 and 10, and then in (ii) reacting the product thus obtained with hydrobromic acid, which is added for a pH of the aqueous reaction medium of between 0.5 and 5, in order thus to obtain the N-methylnaltrexone bromide.
US07645872B2
The invention provides a novel method of labeling oligonucleotides, with reporter moieties, including but not limited to, quenchers, fluorophores, biotin, digoxigenin, peptides and proteins. In addition, this invention provides a method of detecting hybridization of oligonucleotides. This invention also provides novel azo quenchers having the general formula shown below. The invention further provides compositions comprising labeled oligonucleotides and solid supports. The invention also provides kits comprising at least one composition of the present invention.
US07645863B2
Methods for the purification of the macrolide moxidectin result in higher purity levels than can often otherwise be obtained. The crystalline moxidectin is then used in a wide variety of pharmaceutical and veterinary applications, including the prevention, treatment and control of parasites in plants, animals and humans.
US07645861B2
The present invention concerns compositions of matter, for example, but not limited to, modified antibodies, in which one or more biologically active peptides are incorporated into a loop region of a non-terminal domain of an immunoglobulin Fc domain.
US07645860B2
The invention is a proteinaceous construct comprising a Factor VIII molecule which is conjugated to a water-soluble polymer via carbohydrate moieties of Factor VIII, and methods of preparing same.
US07645855B2
A process for preparing high-functionality highly branched polyureas which comprises reacting one or more carbonates with one or more amines having at least two primary and/or secondary amino groups, at least one amine having at least three primary and/or secondary amino groups.
US07645850B2
Compositions including poly(block-phophonato-esters) or poly(block-phosphonato-carbonate) and a process for making them from oligomeric phosphonates and/or polyphosphonates and polyester and/or polycarbonates are disclosed. The compositions provide tough flame retardant materials and coatings.
US07645849B2
A cleaning blade member comprising a polyurethane formed by using a polyol consisting essentially of a polycarbonatediol, a polyisocyanate, and a crosslinking agent containing a short chain diol and a triol, the polyurethane having a tensile strength at 60° C. of 200 kg/cm2 or higher, and a tensile strength retention ΔT, represented by the following equation, of 40% or more: ΔT(%)=T60/T10×100 where T10 denotes a tensile strength at 10° C., and T60 denotes the tensile strength at 60° C.
US07645848B2
Process for preparation of SiOC-linked, linear polydimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers
The invention therefore relates to a process for preparation of SiOC-linked, linear (AB)d polydimethylsiloxane-polyoxyalkylene block copolymers of the general formula [(R2SiO)x(CnH2nO)y]d, in which R are monovalent C1-C18, preferably C1-C4, hydrocarbon radicals, n is a number from 2 to 4, preferably 2 or 3, x ≧5, y ≧10, d ≧3, via reaction of aminosiloxanes having primary amino groups with polyoxyalkylenediols, which comprises concomitant use of one or more tertiary amines as catalyst.
US07645846B2
There is provided a process for the preparation of a polymerizable composition comprising a cross-linker and a polymerizable monomer of formula (I) comprising (i) contacting a compound of formula (II) with an acid such as an imobilized acid; and (ii) neutralizing product of (i) such that a crosslinker is formed.
US07645838B2
A modified polyphenylene ether resin is provided which is a product of the reaction of 100 parts by weight of (A) a polyphenylene ether having a main chain structure of the following formula (1): (wherein R1 and R4 each independently represents hydrogen, a primary or secondary lower alkyl, a phenyl, an aminoalkyl or a hydrocarbonoxy, and R2 and R3 each independently represents hydrogen, a primary or secondary lower alkyl or a phenyl), with 0.01 to 10.0 parts by weight of (B) a modifier selected from conjugated non-aromatic diene compounds, dienophilic compounds having one dienophile group and precursors of the diene or dienophilic compounds, wherein the number of rearrangement structures each represented by the following formula (2): (wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 have the same meanings as defined above in the formula (1)) is less than 0.01 per 100 phenylene ether units of the formula (1).
US07645836B2
A reactive extrusion process for producing an ionomer is disclosed. The process comprising adding a polymer containing a carboxyl functionality to an extruder, then homogenously melting the polymer in a melting zone of the extruder. A first melt seal zone of the extruder is formed to separate the melting zone from an injection zone where an aqueous solution of metallic ions are added to the molten polymer. The first melt seal zone is formed by increasing the pressure in the melt seal zone to a pressure which is higher than the vapor pressure of the water at any point in the injection zone and the reaction zone. The aqueous solution of metallic ions is then mixed with the polymer containing the carboxyl functionality in a reaction zone of the extruder under conditions such that the metallic ions are substantially reacted with the carboxyl functionality. A pressure build-up zone is formed in the extruder, wherein the pressure build-up zone is located no earlier than at the end of the reaction zone wherein the pressure build-up zone is formed by increasing the pressure to a level such that the aqueous solution of metallic ions remains in the liquid phase for a time sufficient to allow for the desired reaction between the metallic ions and the carboxyl functionality of the polymer.
US07645833B2
Novel crosslinkable compositions based on elastomers, at least one of which has carboxyl and/or carboxylate groups, are provided, these crosslinkable compositions containing special unsaturated organic salts of metal ions and a crosslinking system which acts as a free radical donor. Crosslinked elastomers which have excellent physical properties are obtainable therefrom. The novel crosslinkable compositions have a wide range of uses.
US07645829B2
Disclosed herein is an adhesive composition comprising: a random propylene polymer component having a heat of fusion of between 1 and 70 J/g and an mm triad tacticity index of at least 75%; and a functionalized polymer component comprising a C2-C20 olefin comprising at least 0.1 wt % of a functional group; wherein the adhesive composition has a T-Peel adhesion on a polar substrate at 20° C. of at least 175 N/m (1 lb/in) and a T-Peel adhesion on a non-polar substrate at 20° C. of at least 175 N/m Pa (1 lb/in) and where the polarity of the polar substrate is at least 0.10 units higher than the polarity of the non-polar substrate. Methods to produce the adhesive and articles comprising the adhesive are also disclosed.
US07645818B2
The invention is related to the preparation of an ionic polymer composite material comprising a protein and carbohydrate-containing vegetable material component that serves as a reinforcement agent for the composite. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the vegetable seed component is selected from the group of soy spent flakes, defatted soy flour, or soy protein concentrate with ionic polymers and the ionic polymer is carboxylated poly(styrene-butadiene). The composites have a significantly higher elastic modulus when compared with base polymer.
US07645811B2
A lamellar crystalline organic polymer containing acidic groups and/or ammonium salt thereof, such as ammonium salt of polymuconic acid, is mixed with a substance containing a metal ion such as alkali metal ion, to prepare a metal ion-containing polymer having a structure in which the metal ion is intercalated between the layers of the lamellar crystalline organic polymer having acidic groups. Subsequently, metal ion exchange reaction is conducted if necessary. Thereafter, the metal ion is reduced to produce fine metal particles. Thus, a crystalline organic polymer in which fine metal particles are dispersed in a crystalline organic polymer is obtained.
US07645808B2
A process for the preparation of propylene and ethylene comprises subjecting a gaseous mixture of a dilution gas and a paraffinic feedstock boiling in the gas oil range and having an iso paraffin to normal paraffin ratio of between 2 and 5 to a thermal conversion step.
US07645805B2
The invention relates to a novel class of gelling agents, to a process of preparing said agents, to the use of said agents to prepare gels, and to the gels thus obtained. A gelling agent or thickener according to the invention comprises a core which is functionalized with three amino acid derived groups by means of an amide or urea linkage. It may be used to gelate or thicken numerous solvents.
US07645801B2
The present invention comprises packaged enemas for the treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), having substantially pure 5-ASA as the active ingredient, with a liquid carrier medium having a material avoidance of bowel irritant substances, such as anti-oxidants for the 5-ASA active ingredient, including such sulfites as potassium metabisulfite, for example, and contained within a sealed and substantially oxygen-free barrier package, which may preferably be formed of a foil/polymer laminate, and which package contains or otherwise includes an oxygen scavenger, such as a an oxygen scavenging sachet.
US07645800B2
The present invention relates to the formulation and delivery of prostaglandin analogs to treat epithelial-related condition. In some embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used to stimulate hair growth. In some embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used to restore hair color to depigmented hair.
US07645799B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I): or a stereoisomer, tautomer, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate form thereof, wherein the variables A, L, Z, R3, and ring B are as defined herein. The compounds of Formula (I) are useful as selective inhibitors of serine protease enzymes of the coagulation cascade and/or contact activation system; for example thrombin, factor Xa, factor XIa, factor IXa, factor VIIa and/or plasma kallikrein. In particular, it relates to compounds that are selective factor XIa inhibitors. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and methods of treating thromboembolic and/or inflammatory disorders using the same.
US07645794B2
A nutritional supplement comprising at least a therapeutically effective amount of ethyl pyruvate and a therapeutically effective amount of at least one α-hydroxy branched-chain amino acid metabolite is provided by the present invention. The ingredients of the present nutritional supplement substantially simultaneously act to induce a anabolically-favorable state for muscle by substantially simultaneously maintaining blood and muscle physiological pH levels as well as increasing cellular concentrations of branched-chain amino acids. Both a composition and a method are provided by the present disclosure.
US07645791B2
Novel salicylic anilides are chemical uncouplers useful e.g. for the treatment of obesity.
US07645787B2
The present invention provides pyrazole-O-glycoside derivatives represented by the following formulae, used as a diabetic medicine.
US07645784B2
Compounds of formula I, wherein R1, m, R2, R3, p, n, R5 and R9 are as defined as in the specification, salts, solvates or solvated salts thereof, processes for their preparation, intermediates used in the preparation thereof, pharmaceutical formulations containing said compounds and the use of said compounds in therapy.
US07645776B2
The invention is concerned with novel substituted piperidine derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and X are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts and esters thereof. These compounds inhibit L-CPT1 and can be used as medicaments.
US07645772B2
Compounds useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, are disclosed.
US07645768B2
The present invention relates to production of polyketides and other natural products and to libraries of compounds and individual novel compounds. One important area is the isolation and potential use of novel FKBP-ligand analogues and host cells that produce these compounds. The invention is particularly concerned with methods for the efficient transformation of strains that produce FKBP analogues and recombinant cells in which cloned genes or gene cassettes are expressed to generate novel compounds such as polyketide (especially rapamycin) FKBP-ligand analogues, and to processes for their preparation, and to means employed therein (e.g. nucleic acids, vectors, gene cassettes and genetically modified strains).
US07645764B2
Compounds of formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making the compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of using the compounds for treatment of p38 MAP kinase-mediated diseases, and methods of using the compounds for treatment of Raf kinase-mediated diseases.
US07645760B2
A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, wherein the symbols have meaning as defined, which are antagonists of CCR-1 and which find use pharmaceutically for treatment of diseases and conditions in which CCR-1 is implicated, e.g. inflammatory diseases.
US07645755B2
The invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: wherein A, X, R2 and W are set forth in the specification, as well as solvates, hydrates, tautomers and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that inhibit protein tyrosine kinases, especially c-fms kinase. Methods of treating autoimmune diseases; and diseases with an inflammatory component; treating metastasis from ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, stomach cancer, hairy cell leukemia and non-small lung carcinoma; and treating pain, including skeletal pain caused by tumor metastasis or osteoarthritis, or visceral, inflammatory, and neurogenic pain; as well as osteoporosis, Paget's disease, and other diseases in which bone resorption mediates morbidity including arthritis, prosthesis failure, osteolytic sarcoma, myeloma, and tumor metastasis to bone with the compounds of Formula I, are also provided.
US07645753B2
This invention is concerned with compounds of the formula wherein A, B1, B2, R1, R2 and G are as defined in the description and claims, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, to a process for their preparation and to their use for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases which are associated with the modulation of SST receptors subtype 5.
US07645752B2
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: which are modulators of the 5-hydroxtryptamine-6 and 5-hydroxytryptamine-2A receptors and which are inhibitors of norepinephrine reuptake. The compounds of the invention, and pharmaceutical composition thereof, are useful in the treatment of disorders related to or associated with the 5-hydroxytryptamine-6 and 5-hydroxtryptamine-2A receptors or with norepinephrine reuptake inhibition.
US07645747B2
The invention is related to phosphorus substituted therapeutic agents, compositions containing such phosphorus substituted agents, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such phosphorus substituted agents, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such agents.
US07645746B1
The present invention relates to an aqueous composition for reducing malodor impression. The composition comprises from about 0.01% to about 1%, by weight of the composition, of perfume. Optionally, but preferably, the composition comprises from about 0.1% to about 5%, by weight of the composition of, water-soluble cyclodextrin, from about 0.1% to about 10%, by weight of the composition, of water-soluble metallic salt, from about 0% to about 3%, by weight of the composition, of solubilizing aid. The composition is essentially free of any material that would soil or stain fabric and contains less than about 5%, by weight of the composition of low molecular weight monohydric alcohols.
US07645743B2
Methods and compositions for immediately immunizing an individual against any molecule or compound. The present invention comprises an immunity linker with at least two sites; (1) at least one first binding site that binds to an immune response component in an individual that has been pre-immunized with a universal immunogen, and (2) at least one second binding site that binds specifically to a desired compound or molecule, the target.
US07645738B2
The invention relates to cyclic depsipeptides, especially 18-membered cyclohexadepsipeptides of general formula (I) and the salts thereof, wherein R1 represents nitrobenzyl or R′R″N-benzyl—wherein R′ and R″ independently represent hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-C4-alkyl, formyl, C1-C4-alkoxy-C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkoxycarbonyl, or hydroxy-C1-C2-alkyl-sulfonyl-C1-C2-alkyl, or, together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bound, R′ and R″ form an optionally substituted monocyclic or polycyclic, optionally bridged and/or spirocyclic, saturated or unsaturated heterocycle containing between one and three other heteroatoms from the group of nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur, or R′ and R″ together form C3-C5-alkylene monocarbonyl or an optionally substituted diacyl radical of a C4-C6-dicarboxylic acid—and R2, R3 and R4 independently represent C1-C4-alkyl. The invention also relates to the optical isomers and racemates of said cyclic depsipeptides, to a method for the production thereof, and to the use of the same for controlling endoparasites.
US07645736B2
Methods for the treatment of a disease of the eye of a patient comprising injecting into the vitreous body of the eye a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an αvβ3 and/or αvβ5 inhibitor sufficient to inhibit angiogenesis and inhibit neovascularization in the treated eye. The αvβ3 and/or αvβ5 inhibitor being a compound of formula II: as defined herein or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof.
US07645730B2
Surfactant-containing compositions are described which include a protein component that has the effect of improving the surface-active properties of the surfactants contained in the compositions. The surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component demonstrate significantly lower critical micelle concentrations (CMC), reduced surface tensions, and reduced interfacial tensions than do comparable compositions having no protein component. In addition, the surfactant-containing compositions having the protein component has the effect of converting greasy waste contaminants to surface active materials.
US07645729B2
The present invention relates to a colored particles and to detergent compositions containing them that can be used to impart a hueing effect to fabrics contacted with these colored particles in aqueous solution. The invention enables the effective hueing while alleviating problems of staining or spotting by combining in the color particle, hueing agent, preferably pigment, binding agent and suspending agent.
US07645714B2
Provided are SiO2—Al2O3-based or Li2O—Al2O3—SiO2-based crystallized glass that solves the cause of cracking and fracture in forming it into large-size shaped articles, that has homogeneous inner quality and that may be produced stably at high efficiency; and a method for producing it. The crystallized glass contains components of SiO2 and Al2O3, wherein the crystal precipitation peak temperature width obtained in differential thermal analysis of amorphous glass, a precursor thereof, is at least 22° C. Preferably, the total amount of the TiO2 component and the ZrO2 component in the crystallized glass is within a range of from 3.0 to less than 4.3%. FIG. 1 is referred to.
US07645710B2
The present invention generally provides methods and apparatuses that are adapted to form a high quality dielectric gate layer on a substrate. Embodiments contemplate a method wherein a metal plasma treatment process is used in lieu of a standard nitridization process to form a high dielectric constant layer on a substrate. Embodiments further contemplate an apparatus adapted to “implant” metal ions of relatively low energy in order to reduce ion bombardment damage to the gate dielectric layer, such as a silicon dioxide layer and to avoid incorporation of the metal atoms into the underlying silicon. In general, the process includes the steps of forming a high-k dielectric and then terminating the surface of the deposited high-k material to form a good interface between the gate electrode and the high-k dielectric material.
US07645699B2
The present invention provides a method of forming a diffusion barrier layer comprising a TaSiN layer. The method includes depositing a TaN layer into a via hole which penetrates an insulation layer exposing a first metal line layer, and transforming the TaN layer into a TaSiN layer using a radio frequency (RF) power and a (remote) plasma using SiH4 gas. Transforming the TaN layer into a TaSiN layer may include: loading a structure including the TaN layer into a plasma reaction chamber; injecting SiH4 gas into the plasma reaction chamber; and forming the TaSiN layer by reacting Si— or Si atom-containing species with the TaN layer.
US07645688B2
A method of growing a non-polar m-plane nitride semiconductor. A (11-23) plane sapphire substrate is prepared, and a non-polar (10-10) nitride semiconductor is grown on the sapphire substrate. The present invention can also be applied to a method for manufacturing other m-plane hexagonal semiconductors.
US07645687B2
An embodiment of fabrication of a variable work function gates in a FUSI device is described. The embodiment uses a work function doping implant to dope the polysilicon to achieve a desired work function. Selective epitaxy growth (SEG) is used to form silicon over the source/drain regions. The doped poly-Si gate is fully silicided to form fully silicided gates that have a desired work function. We provide a substrate having a NMOS region and a PMOS region. We form a gate dielectric layer and a gate layer over said substrate. We perform a (gate Vt) gate layer implant process to implant impurities such as P+, As+, B+, BF2+, N+, Sb+, In+, C+, Si+, Ge+ or Ar+ into the gate layer gate in the NMOS gate regions and said PMOS gate regions. We form a cap layer over said gate layer. We pattern said cap layer, said gate layer and said gate dielectric layer to form a NMOS gate and a PMOS gate. Spacers are formed and S/D regions are formed. A metal is deposited over said substrate surface. We anneal said metal layer to form fully silicided NMOS gate and fully silicided PMOS gate.
US07645671B2
Semiconductor memory devices having recessed access devices are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of forming the recessed access device includes forming a device recess in a substrate material that extends to a first depth in the substrate that includes a gate oxide layer in the recess. The device recess may be extended to a second depth that is greater that the first depth to form an extended portion of the device recess. A field oxide layer may be provided within an interior of the device recess that extends inwardly into the interior of the device recess and into the substrate. Active regions may be formed in the substrate that abut the field oxide layer, and a gate material may be deposited into the device recess.
US07645667B2
System and method for self-aligned etching. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for performing self-aligned source etching process. The method includes a step for providing a substrate material. The method also includes a step for forming a layer of etchable oxide material overlying at least a portion of the substrate material. The layer of etchable oxide material can characterized by a first thickness. The layer of etchable oxide material includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The second portion is positioned between the first portion and the third portion. The method additionally includes a step for forming a plurality of structures overlying the layer of etchable oxide material. The plurality of structures includes a first structure and a second structure.
US07645665B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device has the steps of: (a) implanting boron (B) ions into a semiconductor substrate; (b) implanting fluorine (F) or nitrogen (N) ions into the semiconductor device; (c) after the steps (a) and (b) are performed, executing first annealing with a heating time of 100 msec or shorter relative to a region of the semiconductor substrate into which ions were implanted; and (d) after the step (c) is performed, executing second annealing with a heating time longer than the heating time of the first annealing, relative to the region of the semiconductor substrate into which ions were implanted. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided which can dope boron (B) shallowly and at a high concentration.
US07645662B2
A transistor includes a channel region with a first portion and a second portion. A length of the first portion is smaller than a length of the second portion. The first portion has a higher threshold voltage than the second portion. The lower threshold voltage of the second portion allows for an increased ON current. Despite the increase attained in the ON current, the higher threshold voltage of the first portion maintains or lowers a relatively low OFF current for the transistor.
US07645661B2
A semiconductor device manufactured by forming a plurality of first trenches in each of which a trench gate is formed, in an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type; implanting an impurity of a second conductivity type into a part beneath each of the first trenches to form a first column region; and implanting an impurity of the second conductivity type into a part beneath a base region formed between the first trenches to form a second column region. The first and second column regions are formed with an impurity concentration such that a total depletion charge in the regions is substantially equal to a depletion charge in the epitaxial layer.
US07645659B2
Provided are a power semiconductor device using a silicon substrate as a FS layer and a method of manufacturing the same. A semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type is prepared. An epitaxial layer is grown on one surface of the semiconductor substrate. Here, the epitaxial layer is doped at a concentration lower than that of the semiconductor substrate and is intended to be used as a drift region. A base region of a second conductivity type is formed in a predetermined region of the epitaxial layer. An emitter region of the first conductivity type is formed in a predetermined region of the base region. A gate electrode with a gate insulating layer is formed on the base region between the emitter region and the drift region of the epitaxial layer. A rear surface of the semiconductor substrate is ground to reduce the thickness of the semiconductor substrate, thereby setting an FS region of the first conductivity type. A collector region of the second conductivity type is formed on the ground surface of the semiconductor substrate of the FS region, thereby forming an FS-IGBT.
US07645652B2
A CMOS image sensor and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The CMOS image sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type having a photodiode region and a transistor region defined therein; a gate electrode formed above the transistor region of the semiconductor substrate with a gate insulating layer interposed therebetween; a first impurity region formed of the first conductivity type in the semiconductor substrate below the gate electrode and having a higher concentration of first conductivity type ions than the semiconductor substrate; and a second impurity region formed of a second conductivity type in the photodiode region of the semiconductor substrate.
US07645646B2
In the manufacture of an electronic device such as an active matrix display, a vertical amorphous PIN photodiode or similar thin-film diode (D) is advantageously integrated with a polysilicon TFT (TFT1, TFT2) in a manner that permits a good degree of optimization of the respective TFT and diode properties while being compatible with the complex pixel context of the display. High temperature processes for making the active semiconductor film (10) of the TFT more crystalline than an active semiconductor film (40) of the diode and for forming the source and drain doped regions (s1,s2, d1,d2) of the TFT are carried out before depositing the active semiconductor film (40) of the diode. Thereafter, the lateral extent of the diode is defined by etching while protecting with an etch-stop film (30) an interconnection film (20) that can provide a doped bottom electrode region (41) of the diode as well as one of the doped regions (s2, g1) of the TFT.
US07645642B2
A method of joining a thermoplastic material to a thermoset material, and a resultant thermoplastic-thermoset composite formed from such method are provided. At least one of the thermoplastic material and the thermoset material includes particles that melt when the thermoplastic material and the thermoset material are heated during the joining operation. The particles further produce a solid bond between the materials after the particles have solidified in the course of cooling after the joining operation.
US07645640B2
A system for manufacturing an integrated circuit package system is provided. A dual-type leadframe having first and second rows of leads is formed. A first row of bumps is formed on an integrated circuit chip. Solder paste is placed on the first row of leads, and the first row of bumps is pressed into the solder paste on the first row of leads. The solder paste is reflow soldered to form solder and connect the integrated circuit chip to the first row of leads, and the integrated circuit chip, the first row of bumps, the solder, and the leadframe are encapsulated.
US07645637B2
The invention is based on the discovery that certain self-filleting die attach adhesives are useful in semiconductor die assemblies containing thin die. As used herein, the term “self-filleting” refers to any adhesive that when dispensed and then subjected to suitable cure conditions, will flow and fill up the area between two die or between a die and a substrate while not forming a bulky fillet that can overflow onto the top of the die. In addition, the invention is useful for tight tolerance semiconductor die assemblies, since the fillet from the die-attach adhesives employed in the methods of the invention does not cover bond fingers, thereby causing wire bond yield loss.
US07645634B2
Stacked CSP (chip scale package) modules include a molded first (“top”) chip scale package having a molding side and a substrate side, and a second (“bottom”) package affixed to the substrate side of the top chip scale package, the second package being electrically connected to the first package by wire bonding between the first and second package substrates.
US07645610B2
The present invention is directed to methods for readily generating hepatocyte precursor cell lines that retain hepatocyte-specific functions after extensive in vitro culturing. The methods comprise isolating and culturing hepatocyte precursor cell lines under permissive culture conditions that suppress asymmetric cell kinetics and allow exponential growth of the precursor cells, followed by transferring the hepatocyte precursor cell lines to non-permissive culture conditions that allow expression of asymmetric cell kinetics and induce expression of hepatocyte-specific characteristics.
US07645603B2
An isolated cell having a nucleic acid construct encoding a recombinant Na+, K+-ATPase α1-subunit protein resistant to cardiac glycosides, e.g., ouabain, is disclosed. Selected amino acid substitutions in the normal human Na+, K+-ATPase α1-subunit confers resistance to cardiac glycosides. Cardiac glycoside resistant Na+, K+-ATPase α1-subunits may be useful as selection markers in gene therapy and research applications.
US07645602B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for improving the productivity of recombinant vitamin K dependent protein expression in host cells.
US07645601B2
Isolated PGE synthase, provided from encoding nucleic acid. Methods of production and use. Assays for modulators, especially inhibitors, of PGE synthase activity.
US07645593B2
The present invention relates a method for the enumeration of mammalian cell micronuclei, while distinguishing micronuclei from the chromatin of dead and dying cells. The method utilizes differential staining of chromatin from dead and dying cells, to distinguish the chromatin from micronuclei and nuclei that can be detected based upon fluorescent emission and light scatter following exposure to an excitatory light source. Counting of micronuclei events relative to the number of nuclei can be used to assess the DNA-damaging potential of a chemical agent, the DNA-damaging potential of a physical agent, the effects of an agent which can modify endogenously-induced DNA damage, and the effects of an agent which can modify exogenously-induced DNA damage. Kits for practicing the invention are also disclosed.
US07645589B2
Microphthalmia (Mi) while present in melanocytes, a cells and osteoclast, is not normally present in other cells. We have found that Mi is present in the nucleus of melanoma cells. Melanoma can be diagnosed by contacting a malignant cell with a probe for Mi. If the probe identities Mi in the nucleus of the cell, the cell is a melanoma.
US07645585B2
A method for analyzing a biological sample by antibody profiling for identifying forensic samples or for detecting the presence of an analyte. In an embodiment of the invention, the analyte is a drug, such as marijuana, Cocaine (crystalline tropane alkaloid), methamphetamine, methyltestosterone, or mesterolone. The method comprises attaching antigens to a surface of a solid support in a preselected pattern to form an array wherein locations of the antigens are known; contacting the array with the biological sample such that a portion of antibodies in the sample reacts with and binds to the antigens in the array to form immune complexes; washing away antibodies that do form immune complexes; and detecting the immune complexes, to form an antibody profile. Forensic samples are identified by comparing a sample from an unknown source with a sample from a known source. Further, an assay, such as a test for illegal drug use, can be coupled to a test for identity such that the results of the assay can be positively correlated to the subject's identity.
US07645584B2
Novel, sensitive and specific markers for diagnostics and monitoring of liver injuries, including, but not limited to ischemic liver damage, are provided. This includes identification several enzymes of arginine/urea/nitric oxide cycle, sulfuration enzymes and spectrin breakdown related products, among others.
US07645571B2
Target-specific hybrid capture (TSHC) provides a nucleic acid detection method that is not only rapid and sensitive, but is also highly specific and capable of discriminating highly homologous nucleic acid target sequences. The method produces DNA/RNA hybrids which can be detected by a variety of methods.
US07645566B2
A sulfide phosphor paste composition comprising a sulfur-containing dispersant, and a fluorescent film prepared therefrom, are provided. The sulfur-containing dispersant has a dual head structure containing both a carboxyl group and a thiol group or a structure containing a thiol or thiophene group as a head group. An oligomeric sulfur-containing dispersant is also provided. Adsorption of the dispersant on the surface of the sulfide phosphor prevents aggregation of the phosphor particles, and thereby improves the dispersibility of the sulfide phosphor paste composition, the homogeneity of the phosphor in the paste composition, and the density of a film produced from the paste composition. Fluorescent films and display devices produced from the phosphor paste composition exhibit improved luminescent properties and excellent processability.
US07645561B1
A photosensitive film excellent in workability and making it possible, in a normal pressure laminating process, to laminate photosensitive films on the surface of substrate having a metallic surface with a reduced number of air voids generated and in a high product yield, said film comprising a support film (A), a photosensitive resin composition-containing photosensitive resin layer (B) formed on said support (A) and a protecting film (C) further stuck on said layer (B), wherein the number of fish eyes having a diameter of at least 80 μm included in the protecting film (C) does not exceed 5 fish eyes/m2.
US07645560B1
An image forming medium includes a substrate, and an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into the substrate, wherein the imaging layer includes an imaging composition including a photochromic or photochromic-thermochromic material and an infrared absorbent dissolved or dispersed in a solvent or polymeric binder; wherein the infrared absorber absorbs infrared light of a wavelength in a range from about 730 nm to about 1500 nm; and wherein the imaging composition is imageable by light of a first wavelength and erasable in a short time period by a combination of infrared radiation and light of a second wavelength and exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless and a colored state.
US07645554B2
An electrophotographic recording medium including a substrate and formed on the substrate at least one image receiving layer has a thermoplastic resin, the image receiving layer containing at least one kind of unsaturated fatty acid or an unsaturated fatty acid derivative having a melting point of from about 40° C. to about 120° C.
US07645553B2
An image forming method, which comprises: forming an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a latent image supporting member; developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the latent image supporting member with a toner for developing an electrostatic latent image or an electrostatic latent image developer containing the toner and a carrier to form a toner image; transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the latent image supporting member onto a surface of a transfer receiving material; and fixing the toner image transferred onto the transfer receiving material under pressure, wherein the toner comprises a block copolymer having a crystalline polyester block and a non-crystalline polyester block, and wherein a maximum pressure applied when the image is fixed is 1 MPa or greater but not greater than 10 MPa.
US07645545B2
A colorant-containing curable composition containing a tetraazaporphyrin compound represented by formula (1), wherein rings A1, A2, A3, and A4 each independently represent a benzene ring or a pyridine ring, at least one of the rings A1, A2, A3, and A4 represents a pyridine ring, R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group provided that R1 and R2 are not hydrogen atoms at the same time, m represents an integer of 1 to 8, and n is an integer of 1 to 4.
US07645541B2
Disclosed herein is a secondary battery comprising electrode leads mounted in a sealed fashion in a battery case while the electrode leads partially protrude from the battery case and resin films disposed between the battery case and the electrode leads wherein the electrode leads are provided at predetermined areas of the surfaces thereof, to which the resin films are applied, with irregular parts, by which the adhesive strength between the electrode leads and the resin films is increased. The adhesive strength between the electrode leads and the resin films is large, and the movement path of moisture or electrolyte, through which the moisture contained in the air or the electrolyte contained in the secondary battery may move, is extended. Consequently, the present invention has the effect of minimizing the reduction in service life of the secondary battery due to introduction of the moisture into the secondary battery and leakage of the electrolyte from the secondary battery. The secondary battery is very useful as a unit cell for medium- or large-sized battery systems, such as hybrid electric vehicles.
US07645532B2
A solid-oxide fuel cell system wherein a reformate combustor is disposed in the reformate flow path between a hydrocarbon reformer and a fuel cell stack. At system start-up, reformate is partially burned within the combustor by admitting combustion air, and the partially-burned reformate is passed through the anode chambers of the stack to warm the anodes. In addition, reformate is passed through a cathode-air heat exchanger to warm combustion air entering the cathode chambers of the stack. The combustor may continue to be supplied with a low level of air during steady-state operation of the SOFC, thereby providing a moist environment within the anode chambers to prevent coking of the anodes and providing additional heat to the reformate. The combustor decouples the reformer from the stack thermodynamically, permitting the reformer and the stack each to run in its own optimal temperature range.
US07645531B2
A fuel cell power plant (19, 19a) has a plurality of fuel cells (70, 70a, 70c) arranged in a stack (20, 20c), each fuel cell having porous, at least partially hydrophilic water transport plates (75, 81) with fuel (74) and oxidant (82) reactant gas channels, there being water channels (78, 85, 78a, 85a, 78c, 85c) exchanging water with the water transport plates. On shut down, water is retained in the water channels and water transport plates by means of either a micro vacuum pump (46), one or two valves (89, 90, 118, 120), a check valve (95, 99), capillary force in the water channels to prevent water from entering the reactant channels which, if frozen, could block flow of reactant gas upon startup.
US07645506B2
A radiation protection material for the screening of X- and/or gamma-rays is made from a film-like multi-layer composite material, in which radiation absorbing particles are dispersed. The composite material comprises at least one support layer and a radiation absorbing layer, whereby the radiation absorbing layer comprises a hardening polymeric preparation, which can flow in the working state and with an effective lead content of ≦15%.
US07645492B2
A plasma coating system includes at least one coating station with a first side and a second side defining a pathway with at least one bend. The coating station also includes a first plasma arc that provides a plasma jet directed towards a substrate. The first plasma arc is positioned on either the first side or the second side of the bend.
US07645490B2
A coated glass mat comprises a glass mat substrate having non-woven glass fibers and a coating which essentially uniformly penetrates the glass mat substrate to desired fractional thickness of the coated glass mat. The coating imparts a tensile strength to the coated glass mat which on average is at least 1.33 times greater than the tensile strength of the glass mat substrate without the coating. In example embodiments, penetration of the coating into the glass mat substrate preferably extends to a depth of from twenty five percent of a thickness of the coated glass mat to seventy five percent of the thickness of the coated glass mat. Moreover, a non-coated thickness of the coated glass mat is sufficiently thick for bonding purposes with, e.g., a gypsum slurry or other core materials such as thermoplastic or thermosetting plastics. The coating has a porosity in a range of from 1.3 CFM to 5.0 CFM, e.g., the coating comprises a coating blend which provides the coated glass mat with a porosity sufficient to allow water vapor to escape from a gypsum slurry when heated. The coating is preferably a coating blend comprised of water, latex binder, inorganic pigment, and inorganic binder.
US07645482B2
Systems and methods for synthesizing long carbon nanotubes and using the nanotube as an electrical conductor. A substrate is provided with one or more metal underlayer platforms that allow the nanotube to grow freely suspended from the substrate. A modified gas-flow injector is used to reduce the gas flow turbulence during nanotube growth. Nanotube electrodes are formed by growing arrays of aligned nanotubes between two metal underlayer platforms.
US07645477B2
An apparatus and method for simultaneously coating and measuring a part including a part support, a sprayer, a part measurer including a digital camera and a display device, all of which are positioned adjacent to the part support. The sprayer applies a coating to a section of the part while the part measurer continuously measures at least two dimensions of the section. The digital camera takes at least one picture of the entire section of the part while the part is being coated and enables a user to accurately determine the cross section of the part to the optimum finished part configuration and size and also detect defects, blemishes or coating irregularities formed on the section. The apparatus and method of the present invention significantly reduces the margin of error related to the application of coatings to parts, the number of defective parts and increases the overall efficiency.
US07645474B1
A method and system for purifying polymers to use with medical devices, particularly for a drug eluting stent, is described.
US07645465B2
A process for preparing a processed ginseng extract with enhanced pharmacological effects due to subsequent treatment is disclosed. The subsequent treatment includes an acid-treatment of ginseng and a bio-converting treatment, such as a lactic acid bacterial fermenting and an intestinal bacterial fermenting process.
US07645459B2
Oral dosage forms of a bisphosphonate comprised of a safe and effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a bisphosphonate, a chelating agent, and, means for effecting delayed release of the bisphosphonate and the chelating agent in the lower gastrointestinal tract provide delivery of the pharmaceutical composition to the lower gastrointestinal tract of the mammal subject and pharmaceutically effective absorption of the bisphosphonate with or without food or beverages. The present invention substantially alleviates the interaction between bisphosphonates and food or beverages, which interaction results in the bisphosphonate active ingredient not being available for absorption. The resulting oral dosage form may thus be taken with or without food. Further, the present invention effects delivery of the bisphosphonate and the chelating agent to the lower GI tract, substantially alleviating the upper GI irritation associated with bisphosphonate therapies. These benefits simplify previously complex treatment regimens and can lead to increased patient compliance with bisphosphonate therapies.
US07645453B2
This invention relates to a method of monitoring cancer development by determining the abundance of alpha-enolase protein wherein increased abundance is an indication of the severity of cancer. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method of detecting cancer malignancy by determining the abundance of alpha-enolase antibodies in a sample wherein low levels of such antibodies indicates the malignancy of cancer. Also provided is a method of suppressing tumor growth by inducing the anti-ENO1 immune response.
US07645447B2
Methods of treating a retinal degenerative disorder.
US07645432B1
An exhaust treatment system and method for removing particulates and/or gases from exhaust gases and for cooling exhaust gases. The exhaust treatment system may include a venturi nozzle for injecting a mixture of water and air into the exhaust gases to cause particulate matter and/or certain gases present in the exhaust gases to adhere to water droplets in the mixture. The exhaust treatment system may further include a receptacle positioned in proximity to the exhaust outlet and adapted for collecting water and particulate matter exiting the exhaust outlet, a filter adapted to receive water from the receptacle and remove particulate matter from the water, and/or a heat transfer device adapted to receive water from the filter and remove heat from the water.
US07645425B2
A collection container and a method for collecting a biological sample, particularly whole blood, includes at least one stabilizing agent in an amount effective to stabilize and inhibit protein degradation and/or fragmentation. The stabilizing agent is able to stabilize proteases in the biological sample, particularly at the point of collection, by inhibiting protein degradation and/or fragmentation in the sample when the sample is stored. The stabilizing agent includes one or more protease inhibitors.
US07645420B2
An automated flushing system removes stagnant water and the micro-organisms it contains from dental unit waterlines when a dental chair is not in use. The system prevents the exponential replication of micro-organisms in dental waterlines and can be used to increase the contact time of disinfectants with adherent biofilms in waterlines.
US07645399B2
An electrical component including an electrically conductive composition including a pyrrolized carbon-based material coated with a conductive polymer is disclosed.
US07645396B2
In a thermal recording medium including a basic chromogenic dye, a developer and a sensitizer, a composition for a thermal recording medium which composition contains 50 ppm to 5.0 mass % of 1-(3-methylphenoxy)-2-(4-methylphenoxy)ethane and/or 1,2-bis(4-methylphenoxy)ethane in 1,2-bis(3-methylphenoxy)ethane is used as said sensitizer, whereby the 1,2-bis(3-methylphenoxy)ethane compound is remarkably improved in milling property in the preparation of the above sensitizer, and a thermal recording medium is provided without impairing the colorability, etc., such as thermal colorability.
US07645393B2
A process is described for treating metal surfaces with roughening compositions that use poly(ethyleneamino propionitrile) polymer as an additive in the composition to improve adhesion of polymeric materials to the metal surfaces and to improve peel strength for thermal stability. The polymer of the invention may be added to compositions containing for example, cupric chloride and hydrochloric acid and is also usable in compositions containing an oxidizer/acid/azole mixture. Other additives, such as adiponitrile may also be beneficially added to compositions of the invention.
US07645391B2
A device for disinfecting water by ultraviolet radiation. The device includes two discharged lamps that are connected by electrical wires. A first electrical circuit is disposed in the immediate vicinity of the discharge lamps and controls a warm-up phase of the discharge lamps. A second electrical circuit is disposed remotely from the discharge lamps and functions to control an operational phase of the discharge lamps.
US07645376B2
A process for jointly carrying out selective hydrogenation of polyunsaturated compounds into mono unsaturated compounds contained in gasolines, and for transforming light sulphur-containing compounds into heavier compounds by reaction with unsaturated compounds, said process employing a supported catalyst comprising at least one metal from group VIB and at least one non-noble metal from group VIII used in the sulphurized form deposited on a support and having a specific composition and comprising bringing the feed into contact with the catalyst at a temperature in the range of 80° C. to 220° C. at a liquid hourly space velocity in the range of 1 h−1 to 10 h−1 and at a pressure in the range of 0.5 to 5 MPa.
US07645373B2
The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a concentration of an analyte of interest in a biological fluid, wherein the test strip may be encoded with information that can be read by a test meter into which the test strip is inserted.
US07645370B2
The present invention is a plated resin molded article and process of producing the plated resin molded article, wherein metal plating is carried out on the surface of a thermoplastic resin molded article and either of requirements (1), (2) and (3) described below is included: (1) the thermoplastic resin molded article contains a thermoplastic resin and a water-soluble substance, a step of carrying out the removal of fat from the resin molded article and a step of electroless plating are provided in combination, and a step of etching by an acid containing a heavy metal is not included; (2) the thermoplastic resin molded article contains a polyamide-based resin and a styrene-based resin, a step of carrying out the removal of fat from the resin molded article and a step of electroless plating are provided in combination, and a step of etching by an acid containing a heavy metal is not included; or (3) a step of contact-treating the thermoplastic resin molded article with an acid or base not containing a heavy metal as the pre-treatment of the metal plating step is included.
US07645368B2
According to some embodiments, a method, system, and apparatus for providing an orientation independent electroosmotic pump. In some embodiments, the method includes an anode and a cathode at different electrical potentials, the anode and cathode are each sealed in an ion-exchange membrane and at least partially immersed in an electrolyte contained in a reservoir of an electroosmotic pump, collecting gases generated by electrolytic decomposition of the electrolyte within a space defined by the ion-exchange membranes that seal the anode and cathode, recombining the collected gases to produce a liquid using a catalyst, the catalyst being located outside of the reservoir, and introducing the produced liquid into the fluid reservoir through an osmotic membrane.
US07645359B2
A method for making a fibrous structure including a plurality of synthetic fibers disposed in a predetermined pattern and a plurality of cellulosic fibers generally randomly distributed throughout at least one layer of the fibrous structure. The method includes depositing an aqueous slurry including synthetic fibers and an aqueous slurry including cellulosic fibers onto a fluid-permeable forming member having a pattern of channels. The slurries are dewatered to form a fibrous web, wherein the at least some of the cellulosic fibers are randomly distributed throughout at least a portion of the fibrous web and a plurality of synthetic fibers are at least partially non-randomly distributed in the channels. A fluid pressure differential is applied to the fibrous web disposed on the forming member, thereby molding the fibrous web such that the fibrous web includes a first plurality of micro-regions corresponding to a plurality of fluid-permeable areas of the forming member and a second plurality of micro-regions corresponding to a plurality of fluid-impermeable areas of the forming member.
US07645358B2
This invention relates to a biological process for deinking of office waste paper, and more particularly the present invention relates to a biological process for deinking of xerographic and inkjet printed paper using a gram-negative coccoid bacterium deposited at the National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403 043, India having Accession No. NIO/DI/32 and being deposited at the Agricultural Research Cultural Collection, and International Depository, having Accession Number NRRL B-30638.
US07645357B2
A plasma reactor for processing a workpiece includes a reactor chamber and a workpiece support within the chamber, the chamber having a ceiling facing the workpiece support, a capacitively coupled plasma source power applicator comprising a source power electrode at one of: (a) the ceiling (b) the workpiece support, and plural VHF power generators of different fixed frequencies coupled to the capacitively coupled source power applicator, and a controller for independently controlling the power output levels of the plural VHF generators so as to control an effective VHF frequency applied to the source power electrode. In a preferred embodiment, the reactor further includes a plasma bias power applicator that includes a bias power electrode in the workpiece support and one or more RF bias power generators of different frequencies coupled to the plasma bias power applicator.
US07645339B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to methods for depositing silicon-containing materials on a substrate. In one example, a method for selectively and epitaxially depositing a silicon-containing material is provided which includes positioning and heating a substrate containing a crystalline surface and a non-crystalline surface within a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a process gas containing neopentasilane, and depositing an epitaxial layer on the crystalline surface. In another example, a method for blanket depositing a silicon-containing material is provide which includes positioning and heating a substrate containing a crystalline surface and feature surfaces within a process chamber and exposing the substrate to a process gas containing neopentasilane and a carbon source to deposit a silicon carbide blanket layer across the crystalline surface and the feature surfaces. Generally, the silicon carbide blanket layer contains a silicon carbide epitaxial layer selectively deposited on the crystalline surface.
US07645322B2
A method of removing siloxanes from a gas that contains siloxanes and water, the method comprising: (a) expanding the gas to cool the gas and freeze at least some of the water in the gas; and (b) removing the siloxanes and frozen water from the expanded and cooled gas. The method may also include compressing the gas prior to expanding it. The step of expanding the gas may include expanding it through a turbine. The method may also include using an energy input mechanism to drive one or both of the compressor or turbine. The ice and siloxanes may be removed from the gas with a cyclonic separator.
US07645321B2
A method for the production of ore comprising a proportion of fines, additives and green agglomerates optionally containing a binder, provided with an outer coating consisting of a combustible containing fine-grained carbon, such as coke. According to the method, the ore is mixed with the additives and the optionally available binder. The mixture is pelletized and the green agglomerates thus formed are coated with the combustible, whereby the combustible is introduced into an agglomeration drum. In order to enable continual production of homogeneous-quality green agglomerates, the mixture is pelletized in the agglomeration drum and the combustible is added in an area of the longitudinal extension of the agglomeration drum where the size of the green agglomerates formed in the agglomeration drum is sufficient for further processing.
US07645319B2
The invention relates to a method for renovating a combined system consisting of a blast furnace supplied with an oxidant fluid received at least partly from an air/gas separation unit (ASU). The method consists in injecting, before renovation, at least 50% of the flow rate of the blower feeding the blast furnace into an ASU to produce oxygen whose purity is greater than 90% by volume of O2 which feeds the blast furnace, in controlling the blower airflow rate and the pressure of the air derived therefrom by a regulator which measures the flow rate and/or pressure at the input and/or output of a cleaning stage which is mounted upstream of the separation unit to control the flow rate and pressure of the air derived from the blower. The fluid feeding the blast furnace consists of pure oxygen or diluted by air produced by the cryogenic separation unit.
US07645318B2
In various aspects provided are methods for producing a nanoparticle within a cross-linked, collapsed polymeric material. In various embodiments, the methods comprise (a) providing a shape-static polymer template with a size in the range between about 1 nm to about 100 nm; (b)) incorporating one or more nanoparticle precursor moieties with the shape-static polymer template; and either (c) oxidizing the precursor moieties to form a composite nanoparticle comprising one or more of an inorganic oxide and hydroxide nanoparticle; or (c) adding an ion with an opposite charge polarity to the at least one nanoparticle precursor moieties to effect formation of a composite nanoparticle.
US07645317B2
The present invention relates to a mixed powder for powder metallurgy containing an iron-base powder and a carbon supply component, in which the carbon supply component contains a graphite powder and a carbon black, and in which a mixing ratio of the graphite powder to the carbon black is in the range of 25 to 85 parts by weight to 75 to 15 parts by weight; and a mixed powder for powder metallurgy containing an iron-base powder and a carbon supply component, in which the carbon supply component contains, as a main component, a carbon black having a dibutyl phthalate absorption of 60 mL/100 g or less and a nitrogen absorption specific surface area of 50 m2/g or less.The mixed powder for powder metallurgy of the invention is less in the dust generation and segregation of the carbon supply component. Additionally, when the mixed powder for powder metallurgy of the invention is used, a green compact and a sintered body excellent in the mechanical property can be produced.
US07645312B2
A pleated filter element includes a composite depth filter medium formed into a plurality of pleats. The composite depth filter medium includes a plurality of depth filter media layers. Each of the plurality of depth filter media layers includes adsorber particulate matter. Each of the plurality of depth filter media layers may have a thickness less than about 1300 microns. The plurality of depth filter media layers may have at least 50% by weight of adsorber particulate matter.
US07645310B2
A filter element, a safety element and fluid cleaner assembly. The fluid cleaner assembly generally includes a housing having a cover and a primary fluid cleaner section. The element generally comprises z-filter media, arranged in a straight through configuration, and an axial seal gasket positioned to extend continuously around at outer perimeter of the straight through flow construction. The fluid cleaner assembly can have a precleaner positioned therein. Methods of assembly and use are provided.
US07645309B2
A dust collection unit for a vacuum cleaner includes a first filtering chamber filtering foreign objects using a cyclone airflow, a separation plate defining a top surface of the first filtering chamber, a filter having a diameter that is reduced as it goes downward in response to airflow rate variation in the first filtering chamber, and a blocking member provided under the filter to prevent the foreign objects filtered in the first filtering chamber from flying.
US07645308B2
Osmium, when combined with boron alone, or in combination with rhenium, ruthenium or iron, produces compounds that are ultra-hard and incompressible. These osmium diboride compounds are useful as a substitute to for other super or ultra-hard materials that are used in cutting tools and as abrasives. The osmium diboride compounds have the formula OsxM1-xB2 where M is rhenium, ruthenium or iron and x is from 0.01 to 1, except when x is not 1 and M is rhenium, x is from 0.01 to 0.3.
US07645307B2
A method and apparatus for use in controlling the reaction temperature of a fuel processor are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fuel processor reactor, the reactor including a water gas shift reaction section; a temperature sensor disposed within the reaction section; a coolant flow line through the reaction section; and an automated control system. The automated control system controls the reaction temperature by determining a first component for a setting adjustment for the actuator from the measured temperature and a setpoint for the measured temperature; determining a second component for the setting adjustment from a hydrogen production rate for the fuel processor; and determining the setting adjustment from the first and second components.
US07645302B2
The present invention provides a laundry treatment composition comprising a transition metal compound.
US07645300B2
Disclosed is an injector which comprises an injector housing having a longitudinal axis and an injection probe disposed along the longitudinal axis. The injector further comprises an intraocular lens disposed in the housing. The intraocular lens comprises first and second interconnected viewing elements, and the optical axes of the first and second viewing elements are substantially aligned. The optical axes are substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The injector further comprises a lens carrier which engages one of the viewing elements. The viewing elements are moveable in response to longitudinal movement of the lens carrier relative to the injector housing. The longitudinal movement causes both (i) the optical axes to be displaced relative to each other and (ii) the viewing elements to be disposed substantially on the longitudinal axis of the injector housing.
US07645295B2
A method for postoperatively compressing a bone graft between adjacent spinal vertebrae utilizing first and second plates having openings at remote ends for receiving bone screws to fix the plates to respective vertebrae on opposite sides of a bone graft-receiving site. The first and second plates have male and female parts having interlocking elements cooperable with one another enabling movement of the plates and the adjacent vertebrae to one another to progressively compress the bone graft between the adjacent vertebrae and prevent movement of the first and second plates and adjacent vertebrae away from one another.
US07645294B2
A spinal fixation system comprising at least two bone anchors, a rod connecting the bone anchors and a connecting plate extending from a proximal surface of at least one of the bone anchors. A method of fixing vertebrae relative to each other comprising the steps of: implanting bone anchors in two adjacent vertebrae, each bone anchor having a rod receiving portion; placing a rod in the rod receiving portions, thereby connecting the bone anchors; threadably engaging set screws in the rod receiving portions of at least a portion of the bone anchors, thereby fixing the rod to the bone anchors; mating one end of a connecting plate to a proximal bearing surface of at least a portion of the bone anchors; and engaging a cap with at least a portion of the set screws, thereby fixing the connecting plate to the bone anchors.
US07645281B2
A method of implanting a vertebral implant in a void between a pair of vertebral endplates comprises positioning the vertebral implant between the vertebral endplates and coupling an implantation tool to the vertebral implant. The method further comprises actuating the implantation tool to generate alternating motion relative to the vertebral endplates. The alternating motion has a speed and creates a displacement of the vertebral implant. The method further comprises seating the vertebral implant into a profile formed in at least one of the vertebral endplates and decoupling the implantation tool from the vertebral implant. The vertebral implant remains implanted in the at least one vertebral endplate.
US07645277B2
The invention provides a medical device that includes a housing, a tubular member extending from the distal end of the housing, a first arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the first arm including a first electrode, a second arm extending from the distal end of the tubular member, the second arm including a second electrode and being disposed coaxially with the first arm, at least one solution infusion opening on each electrode, and a solution delivery channel for delivery of a conductive solution to the solution infusion openings. According to the invention, at least one of the first arm or the second arm is translationally moveable, and at least one of the first arm or the second arm is adapted to be coupled to a source of radiofrequency energy. The invention also provides a corresponding method for treating blood vessels or other tissues of the body.
US07645273B2
A carrier catheter (20) for the introduction and positioning or changing of one or more guidewires (GW1, GW2, GW3) or interventional devices in a vessel V in the body of a subject. The catheter (20) includes an elongated, thin flexible body (22) having a primary lumen (24) and ancillary lumens (26, 28). Each lumen has an opening at the proximal end and an opening (30, 32, 34) at the distal end to permit a guidewire or device to extend through and exit the lumen. The openings at the distal ends of the lumens are positioned so that the respective guidewires or interventional devices can exit the lumens at different locations along the distal end of the catheter. One introduction of the device allows the deployment of any combination of multiple guidewires and interventional devices. The catheter can be used for a rapid replacement of an indwelling catheter or rapid replacement of a dedicated guidewire.
US07645270B2
The take-off needle comprises a main hollow lance having a distal end adapted to perform a pricking operation, said hollow lance being connected to two pipes each provided with a spigot for it to be connected to a tube, said needle further comprising a body for holding the main hollow lance, said holding body defining two internal cylindrical surfaces forming said pipes, the main hollow lance comprising, at its proximal end, a sleeve having an internal channel of which the distal end is connected to the proximal end of the main hollow lance, and of which the proximal end opens into the holding body, said sleeve comprising at its proximal end two crescent-shaped surfaces inclined towards the interior of the internal channel and towards the distal end of the sleeve, each of said crescent-shaped surfaces being disposed so as to extend in line with one of the internal cylindrical surfaces of the holding body.
US07645267B2
A prefilled medical syringe includes a syringe barrel. A syringe plunger is disposed in the barrel and displaceable by means of a plunger rod. An end plug closes off a cannula side of the syringe barrel. The plug is provided with a through-channel closed off by a membrane. A finger support is disposed at the end of the syringe barrel opposite the end plug and provided with a through-opening for the plunger rod. A thread system cooperates with the plunger rod and the finger support. The thread system includes a thread sleeve detachably connected with the finger support. The thread sleeve is provided with an inner thread that cooperates with an outer thread on the plunger rod.
US07645258B2
A wireless communication system from an IV medication infusion pump to a hospital information management system (HIMS) is disclosed. The system includes an IV pump having pump operation circuitry for monitoring pre-selected characteristics of pump operation indicative of IV administration of medication to a patient. A transmitter or transceiver is connected to the pump operation circuitry for receiving a wireless pump signal representing instructional data to the IV pump and for transmitting a wireless pump signal representing the pre-selected pump operation characteristics. The wireless pump transmitter or transceiver communicates with a hospital information management system (HIMS). The HIMS includes a receiver or transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving the pump signal representing the pump operation characteristics and also includes a computer processor capable of storing and displaying the pump operation characteristics that are represented by the received wireless pump signal. In one embodiment, a data collection terminal is incorporated into the system. The data collection terminal includes a transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving the pump signal representing the pump operation characteristics and the HIMS signal representing instructional data to the IV pump.
US07645252B2
A dressing having a flexible sleeve shaped to accommodate a substantially cylindrical body or plant portion, the sleeve having a lining which is substantially non-adherent to the body or plant part being bandaged and having a peripheral securement means which attaches two peripheral portions to each other without those portions being circumferentially adhered to the sleeve portion.
US07645249B2
The present invention relates to a medical apparatus for spinal therapy, which is a bed-type apparatus equipped with a treatment head and performs message and acupressure while moving along the length of the spine, and more particularly to a fixing structure of a treatment head in the medical apparatus, which wears out slowly and allows the treatment head to move in a vertical direction. The medical apparatus for spinal therapy having the fixing structure of a treatment head is advantageous over known apparatuses in that it can give various types of stimulation to human body parts and incurs lower maintenance expenses.
US07645232B2
A retractor has a proximal portion comprising a first side portion having a first longitudinal edge and a second side portion having a second longitudinal edge. The first and second portions being movable relative to each other such that the first and second longitudinal edges can be positioned in close proximity to each other or spaced apart by a selected distance. A distal portion is coupled with the proximal portion. The distal portion has an outer surface and an inner surface partially defining a passage. The distal portion is capable of having a configuration when inserted within the patient wherein the cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location is greater than the cross-sectional area of the passage at a second location, wherein the first location is distal to the second location.
US07645222B2
A pressure roller (3; 7) for devices for processing continuous web materials is described, comprising a lateral surface (3S; 7S), including a regulating system (29, 50) to impose an adjustable crown of the lateral surface (3S; 7S) of the roller deforming said lateral surface.
US07645220B2
A perineometer for home or clinical use assesses the strength of pelvic floor muscles and provides audible and visual biofeedback signals as training aids during pelvic exercises. Impedance signals proportional to vaginal contraction pressure forces are developed by a transducer sleeve that is mounted on a vaginal probe. A battery-powered RF transmitter module contained within the probe transmits wireless impedance signals to a hand-held receiver equipped with an audio-visual display monitor. The probe reacts the pelvic contraction forces and thus provides a direct tactile feedback signal that is used in combination with audible and visual feedback signals for improving the endurance and strength of pelvic floor muscles.
US07645211B1
An electronic agility training system, including an array of multilayer, flexible footfall portions, a microprocessor operationally connected footfall portions, a user interface connected to the microprocessor, a pressure sensor positioned in each respective footfall portion and connected to the microprocessor, and a light source positioned in each respective footfall portion and operationally connected to the microprocessor. The microprocessor is programmed to receive user information and to sequentially light respective footfall portions in one of a plurality of predetermined patterns and speeds. Actuation of the pressure sensor positioned in a lit footfall portion generates a first signal to the microprocessor, while actuation of the pressure sensor positioned in an unlit footfall portion generates a second signal. Likewise, a null activation of the pressure sensor positioned in a lit footfall portion generates a second signal to the microprocessor. The microprocessor counts the respective first and second signal received and generates a score based thereupon.
US07645206B2
An electrically-variable transmission is provided with first and second motor/generators and three planetary gear sets. The planetary gear sets have continuous interconnections, and selective connections via a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms, that provide three forward electrically-variable modes. Preferably, the planetary gear sets are characterized by effective gear ratios such that a substantially equal maximum torque is required from each of the motor/generators during the three forward electrically-variable modes for a given torque on the input member. This allows the first and second motor/generators to be substantially equal in size.
US07645199B2
A golf putter head adapted for attachment to a club shaft is provided with a face member having a strike face and a cylindrical back cavity, and a body member configured to fit and rotate within the back cavity is disclosed. Selective rotation of the body member within the back cavity sets a loft of the putter head. The weighting of the putter is adjusted by securing a weight member to the body member. A golf putter head having an increased moments of inertia is also disclosed. The putter head includes a face member, a body member, and a weight member. Placement of the weight member is such that the moments of inertia are increased and the putter head is stable.
US07645198B2
A golf swing training device is configured to prevent lateral movement of a golfer's hips such as during the backswing, downswing and/or follow-through portions of the golfer's swing. In addition, the golf swing training device is configured to prevent reverse rotation of the golfer's hips such as during the backswing portion. The training device may comprise a seat assembly and a horizontal arm assembly. The seat assembly is configured to be mounted to the golfer's hips and defines opposing lateral seat sides. The horizontal arm assembly is coupled to the seat assembly and is configured to be pivotable about a seat pivot axis located adjacent one of the seat sides. The horizontal arm assembly is configured to prevent reverse pivoting of the seat assembly such that reverse rotation of the golfer's hips is prevented.
US07645188B1
An air diffuser for distributing air into a room from a supply duct of an air distribution system having: a frame member, wherein the frame member includes an inner surface, and an outer surface; an attachment member, wherein the attachment member is associated with the frame member, and further wherein the attachment member is configured for associating the air diffuser with a supply duct; and a diffusing member, wherein the diffusing member comprises a substantially hemispherical dome having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of apertures, and wherein the substantially hemispherical dome emanates away from the outer surface of the frame member.
US07645187B2
An air-conditioning duct is provided inside a car console box that has an ornamental portion. The duct has an air passage for conducting conditioned air from an air conditioner to the passenger compartment. The air passage is defined by a first wall portion formed by the ornamental portion, a second wall portion opposed to the first wall portion, a third wall portion located between the first and the second wall portions, and a fourth wall portion located between the first and the second wall portions. The fourth wall portion is opposed to the third wall portion. Each wall portion has an inner surface exposed to the interior of the air passage. A pair of boundary lines are defined on the inner surface of the first wall portion at boundaries between the first wall portion and the third and fourth wall portions. A dew condensation suppression portion is provided on the inner surface of the first wall portion between the pair of the boundary lines. A space is defined between the dew condensation suppression portion and each boundary line. When the thickness of the dew condensation suppression portion on the first wall portion is expressed by T (mm), and the sum of the widths of the spaces is expressed by D (mm), the thickness T and the sum D of the widths satisfy the following expression (1). T≧D+2 mm(D>0 mm) (1)
US07645184B2
An apparatus for the repair and resurfacing of compact discs using a motorized, abrasive surface.
US07645180B2
A method for abrasive material removal that includes the steps of establishing an optimum force profile relating to the force or contact pressure applied by a processing tool on a workpiece. The actual force generated during the metal removal operation is monitored and compared to the optimum force profile. Based on the comparison of the actual force with the optimum force profile machine parameters are adjusted such that the actual force generated follows the established optimum force profile.
US07645176B2
An organic electro-luminescence display (OELD) includes first and second substrates facing each other and having a display region and a non-display region, a first stacking layer in the display region, the first stacking layer including an array layer disposed on the first substrate and having a thin film transistor, a connection pattern connected with the array layer, and an emitting diode disposed on the second substrate and connected with the connection pattern, and a second stacking layer between the first and second substrates and in the non-display region, the second stacking layer corresponding to the first stacking layer.
US07645174B2
A propulsion system for a marine vessel includes a first electric machine coupled to a first drive shaft configured to provide propulsion to the marine vessel, and a second electric machine coupled to a second drive shaft configured to provide propulsion to the marine vessel, in a first mode of propulsion system operation, the first electric machine is configured as a generator to supply power to the second electric machine. The second electric machine is configured as a motor to drive the second drive shaft. A method of operating the propulsion system and a vessel including the propulsion system are also described.
US07645168B2
The invention relates to a distribution module for converting between symmetric and non-symmetric data transmission paths. Said distribution module comprises a housing in which a transformer is arranged for adjusting impedance, first contacts for connecting at least one non-symmetric data cable, and second contacts for connecting at least one symmetric data cable. The first and second contacts are disposed on opposite faces of the housing. The second contacts are embodied as at least one RJ45 plug-in connector.
US07645150B1
The card edge connector is provided. An electrical connecting unit has a slot used for connecting component to insert into, the electrical connecting unit has at least one pivot unit, a retaining device hinges to the pivot unit, and corresponding to the connecting component along the pivot rotation area, the retaining device has an exerting area, and the exerting area has at least a handle unit. The card edge connector, the retaining device has at least one tool operating slot and at least one handle unit, when the connecting component is ejected, the space on the mother board is too small to exerting the force on to said handle unit, an auxiliary tool makes the tool operating slot eject the connecting component, if the space on the mother board is big enough to exerting the force on to the handle unit, then the handle unit ejects the connecting component.
US07645147B2
An electrical connector made up of an array of metallic contacts that act as conductive carriers, each attached to a flexible insulating sheet in one of an array of openings provided in the flexible sheet. The metallic contacts have portions disposed on opposite sides of the flexible insulating sheet that form a contact channel region that retains a rim portion surrounding an opening. The electrical connector provides a flexible carrier for the contacts to conform to irregular mating surfaces of components to be joined. For a given contact height, the electrical connector further provides a minimum electrical path length for components connected by the contacts board. In one aspect, the metallic contacts including at least one side containing elastic portions are formed from sheets of conductive material. In one aspect, circular shaped contacts are singulated after opposing conductive sheets are joined in regions within the openings of the flexible insulating sheet.
US07645134B2
There is provided a tool roll with a cylindrical base and a first ribbon having an inner face, an outer face, and first and second major sides located therebetween. The outer face of the first ribbon includes a plurality of depressions or holes formed therein and the first ribbon is wound in helical coils around the base roll such that the inner face is proximate the base roll. The plurality of depressions or holes in the outer face of the first ribbon form a plurality of discrete mold cavities with each of the discrete mold cavities including a mold opening at the outer face of the first ribbon.
US07645127B2
A peristaltic pump comprising a pump housing, a compressible pump tube positioned between rotatable occluding members and a pump tube track in the housing, where there is an opening in the pump tube track between a first occluding member and a second occluding member such that when the second occluding member has exited occlusion of the pump tube at the opening, a third occluding member completes occlusion of the pump tube thus capturing a compensating volume of fluid between the first and third occluding members, and when the second occluding member reenters occlusion at the end of the opening, it displaces the compensating volume towards the outlet of the pump tube, thus maintaining fluid velocity in the outlet stream.
US07645124B2
A method and apparatus are provided for estimating and/or precluding stick-slip, or other oscillatory or resonant behavior, through use of a virtual transducer, which precludes the need for having sensors located adjacent to a driven element of the system, or adjacent contact surfaces at which the stick-slip relative motion may occur. Parameters measurable at a drive mechanism are utilized for controlling a system in a manner which precludes stick-slip, or other oscillatory or resonant behavior, of the driven element. Relative motion between contacting surfaces in the driven element, prone to stick-slip behavior, is controlled such that, after sufficient force is applied by the drive element to overcome static friction forces between the contacting surfaces and break them free from one another, relative motion between the surfaces is maintained at a high enough relative speed that the surfaces are precluded from statically contacting one another, so that stick-slip behavior is precluded.
US07645122B1
A turbine airfoil used in a gas turbine engine, the airfoil including an internal cooling air circuit that includes two nested and parallel serpentine flow circuits that both flow in the airfoil aft direction. The first and second legs of the two nested serpentine circuits are separated by ribs so that the cooling air flows do not mix. The last leg of the two nested serpentine circuits is separated by a rib which includes a plurality of cross-over holes so that the flows can mix. The aft-most serpentine flow circuit of the two nested circuits includes a last leg that is connected to cooling slots spaced along the trailing edge of the airfoil such that cooling air from the last leg flows out the ducts. The forward-most serpentine circuit of the two nested circuits includes a blade tip channel extending along the blade tip and connecting the first leg with the second leg, the blade tip channel including a plurality of blade tip cooling holes. A leading edge cooling supply channel is connected to at least one impingement cavity by leading edge impingement holes to provide cooling to the leading edge region. The leading edge cooling supply channel is separated from the forward-most serpentine flow circuit by a rib such that the flows do not mix.
US07645121B2
A fan rotor arrangement comprises a fan rotor (24) and a plurality of fan blades (26). Each fan blade (26) comprises a root portion (36) and an aerofoil portion (38). Each aerofoil portion (38) has a leading edge (44), a trailing edge (46) and a tip (48). Concave pressure surface (50) and convex suction surface (52) extend from the leading edge (44) to the trailing edge (46) of each aerofoil portion (38). An annular wall (54) surrounds the fan rotor (24) and fan blades (26) and an inner surface (56) of the annular wall (54) has a circumferentially extending groove (58). The circumferentially extending groove (58) is arranged axially, or chordally, between the leading edges (44) and the trailing edges (46) at the tips (48) of the aerofoil portions (38) of the fan blades (26). The circumferentially extending groove (58) extends axially by at least half a wavelength of an unsteady pressure wave to provide a geometrically tuned cavity and additionally pressure loss to suppress axially upstream propagating unsteady pressure waves. This reduces vibrations of the fan blade (26).
US07645114B2
Described herein is a transport tank trailer having a tank that can be used to more completely and effectively transport, store, load and unload a viscous product, such as a viscous liquid product, or liquid with solid(s) in suspension. Materials for transport, storing, loading and unloading include both food-grade and non-food grade products. Exemplary products include chocolate, paint, wastes, and asphalt. The tank system involves: a) agitation means (e.g., vibration devices) to force viscous product to flow during unloading; b) a heat-traced closed loop venting and unloading system resulting in the elimination of opening of the manhole on the tanker, which results in the release of heat; c) use of enhanced insulating materials to reduce product solidification during product discharge; and d) reduction of thermal bridges to increase product heat retention. The invention also involves an inventive cargo tank shape that promotes viscous product discharge during unloading of the tank. The viscous product trailer can further comprise a heated make-up air system operably associated with the tank housing. The system can provide heat vented air and heated air into the tank interior containing viscous product so as to maintain tank, and consequently product, temperature.
US07645107B2
A push nut including a base plate formed with a bolt passing hole at a center of the base plate and four engaging pieces. Pairs of engaging pieces extend respectively from a pair of opposing sides of the base plate, base portions of the four engaging pieces are folded back to have a U-shape, and tip end portions of the engaging pieces extend to a surrounding of the bolt passing hole. The tip end portions of the four engaging pieces surround a periphery of the bolt passing hole. The four engaging pieces incline toward an insertion direction of a bolt and elastically abut against an outer circumference of the bolt, which is inserted into the bolt passing hole.
US07645106B2
A thrust screw (14) for applying force against an object. The thrust screw (14) comprising a housing having a ball (12) secured therein. The ball (12) having a flat planar surface (16) which contacts the objects for applying force against the object.
US07645105B2
A fastener is provided for projection resistance welding to a panel. The fastener includes a base having a fastening element, such as a threaded stud or a nut integral therewith. Multiple projections formed integral with the base extend therefrom to engage with the panel to be welded to the panel by electric resistance welding. A groove is provided in the base facing the panel and is filled with a heat activated expandable sealer material. Upon heating of the base during the electric resistance welding, or in an oven, the sealer expands to fill and seal any gap between the base and the panel.
US07645102B2
The invention provides a drill head for deep hole machining capable of raising circularity and straightness of a hole and improving precision of hole machining. In the drill head for deep hole machining constituted by fixing a cutting blade to a tip surface of a head body and fixing guide pads to a periphery of a tip of the head body, the length Lm of a margin, which is formed at a tip side of a periphery of the cutting blade in a drill rotating direction, in an axis direction is made substantially the same as the length Lp of the guide pads in the axis direction, and a top end and rear end of the margin are substantially aligned with a top end and rear end of the guide pads, respectively, in a circumference direction.
US07645101B2
A power driver may include a housing, a tool chuck and a power take off mechanism. The tool chuck may have an input shaft mounted for rotation on the housing. The input shaft may support threaded chuck jaws. A chuck actuating shaft may be mounted for rotation on the input shaft. The chuck actuating shaft may be screw coupled to the threaded chuck jaws. The power take off mechanism may be connected to the tool chuck. The power take off mechanism may be adjustable into a DRILL DRIVE MODE to rotationally drive the input shaft and the chuck actuating shaft together as a unit, and a CHUCK MODE to rotationally drive the chuck actuating shaft relative to the input shaft. The power take off mechanism may be internal of the housing. The power take off mechanism in the CHUCK MODE may rotationally fix the input shaft to the housing.
US07645090B2
A method for at least slowing a vehicle moving along a surface, the method comprising: providing first and second panels rotatably disposed on the surface and capable of extending above the surface, wherein each of the first and second panels rotate in a different and opposite direction; providing at least one center panel disposed between the first and second panels, the center panel being capable of being deployed into a position extended from the surface; detecting at least one of a vehicle speed, vehicle type, and vehicle weight; and controlling one or more of the first, second, and center panels based on the detecting.
US07645084B1
A fabric mesh ball attached to a toy member in the shape of an animal such as a duck, fish or frog so as the toy member serves as a grasping handle for the mesh ball and furthermore serves as a squirt toy in that a hollow body portion of the toy member includes a squirt opening preferably positioned near the mouth of the particular animal.
US07645083B2
The instant invention is a mechanical pencil. The pencil includes a body having a cavity and a lead holding mechanism located in the cavity. The lead holding mechanism includes a pair of arms joined together by a bridge. Each arm terminates with a pair of fingers. The fingers close together when the lead holding mechanism is recessed into the cavity. The fingers open when the lead holding mechanism is advanced out of the cavity.
US07645074B2
A shielding plate for controlling the entry of oil between an inner ring and an outer ring is provided in the vicinity of an opening between the inner ring and the outer ring which lies a side where oil enters. In addition, a fluid accommodating plate for accommodating therein oil is provided in the vicinity of an opening between the outer ring and the inner ring which lies on a side where oil exits.
US07645071B2
A device temperature measurement circuit, an integrated circuit (IC) including a device temperature measurement circuit, a method of characterizing device temperature and a method of monitoring temperature. The circuit includes a constant current source and a clamping device. The clamping device selectively shunts current from the constant current source or allows the current to flow through a PN junction, which may be the body to source/drain junction of a field effect transistor (FET). Voltage measurements are taken directly from the PN junction. Junction temperature is determined from measured junction voltage.
US07645070B2
An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing an assembly, a heated cover, and an internal computer, is provided. The assembly is made up of a sample block, a number of Peltier thermal electric devices, and a heat sink, clamped together. A control algorithm manipulates the current supplied to thermoelectric coolers such that the dynamic thermal performance of a block can be controlled so that pre-defined thermal profiles of sample temperature can be executed. The sample temperature is calculated instead of measured using a design specific model and equations. The control software includes calibration diagnostics which permit variation in the performance of thermoelectric coolers from instrument to instrument to be compensated for such that all instruments perform identically. The block/heat sink assembly can be changed to another of the same or different design. The assembly carries the necessary information required to characterize its own performance in an on-board memory device, allowing the assembly to be interchangeable among instruments while retaining its precision operating characteristics.
US07645063B2
A backlight unit, in which an incident surface of a light-guiding plate is formed in a shape of a curve, or a curve-shaped structure is formed in a housing to improve the light efficiency. The backlight unit includes a light source emitting light; a housing surrounding the light source; a light-guiding plate guiding the light emitted from the light source to an LCD panel, wherein the light-guiding plate has an incident surface formed in a shape of a curve; and a reflective sheet formed under the light-guiding plate.
US07645060B2
The present invention relates to a support for a motor vehicle light unit that enables the light unit to be mounted displaceably on an equipment module. The support includes a guide for guiding the light unit along a predetermined path relative to the equipment module.
US07645056B1
An optical irradiation device incorporating a plurality of LEDs arranged in one or more clusters or arrays. A heat pipe is provided to conduct heat away from the LEDs allowing the LEDs to be driven to produce more radiation than would be possible without the heat pipe.
US07645054B2
An illuminating unit comprising a luminous means (5) and an optical element (1) that has a radiation entrance surface (2) facing the luminous means (5) and a radiation exit surface (3) averted from the luminous means (5). The optical element (1) has at least one holographic element (4) that is designed as a beam shaping element for the radiation (7) emitted from the luminous means (5).
US07645052B2
An LED ceiling tile combination is described which includes a ceiling having at least one LED fixture integrated therewith. The LED fixture can include least one LED, and a support structure for the at least one LED strip.
US07645051B2
A lighted chair rail comprises a frame secured to a wall and a horizontal facia mounted on the frame and positioned in a spaced apart relationship to the wall. Light bulbs supported on the frame direct light through a lens mounted on the horizontal facia onto the wall. The horizontal facia may also include decorative items.
US07645048B2
The planar lighting device includes a light source having at least one LED chip for emitting blue light through a light emission face, a transparent light guide plate having at least one light entrance plane through which light emitted by the light source is admitted and a light exit plane through which the light admitted through the at least one light entrance plane is emitted as planar light, and a fluorescent member disposed between the light emission face and each of the at least one light entrance plane and having a fluorescent substance coated area for emitting white light by converting the blue light from the light source into the white light and blue light passing areas through which the blue light from the light source is allowed to pass as the blue light.
US07645047B2
An emergency lighting system comprising a housing further comprising a flat cover, wherein the flat cover automatically opens during an emergency condition; a light source located inside the housing further comprising a rechargeable battery and a wide angle LED light bulb, wherein the light source remains off under a normal condition and the light source automatically turns on in response to an emergency condition, and wherein the light source is removable.
US07645044B2
The present invention relates to a side mirror for an automobile, and more particularly, to a side mirror for an automobile in which an assembled structure is modified such that even in case of an excessive pressing the side mirror to fall in a driver's view, in comparing with pressing a mirror for adjusting to fall in a driver' view as a conventional method, the assembled state is not return to a disassembled state. In accordance with the present invention, an assembly work is easily preformed and further a assemble state is not easily return to a disassemble state by an external force.
US07645038B2
A spitting device for an inkjet head includes an array type inkjet head on which nozzle units are formed, and a platen which is disposed opposite to the nozzle units of the inkjet head. The platen includes ink outlets and printing medium guide ribs formed thereon, and supports a back surface of a printing medium. The platen includes a first platen unit and a second platen unit which is movably connected to the first platen unit and on which second printing medium guide ribs are formed. The spitting device can prevent the printing medium guide ribs from being contaminated by ink ejected from the nozzle units and allows the printing medium to be more stably fed during high-speed printing.
US07645036B2
An ink-jet recording ink set, containing at least one recording liquid containing a colorant and a polymerizable compound and an ink spread suppressing liquid containing at least one surfactant and substantially no colorant, wherein all of the following conditions (A), (B) and (C) are satisfied, and an ink-jet recording method using the same:(A) the surface tension of the ink spread suppressing liquid is smaller than that of at least one recording liquid contained in the ink-jet recording ink set;(B) at least one of the surfactants contained in the ink spread suppressing liquid satisfies the following relationship: γs(0)−γs(saturated)>1 mN/m; and (C) the surface tension of the ink spread suppressing liquid satisfies the following relationship: γs<(γs(0)+γs(saturated)max)/2.
US07645035B2
The present invention provides an ink set which includes a combination of a recording liquid including a resin-coated colorant, and a treatment liquid including a particle which has a reactivity with the resin-coated colorant. The ink set can obtain a high quality image free from feathering and color bleeding, can obtain a high quality image even when used for printing on a plain paper sheet, can obtain a print excellent in wear resistance, can obtain a high image density without causing a deep permeation of a recording liquid in the paper sheet, can perform a favorable double-sided printing with a low image density when the image is viewed from an opposite face of an image print face, can be free from an image stain attributable to drying failure of the recording liquid, and can provide the print with a proper glossiness.
US07645031B2
The liquid ejection head includes: a liquid ejection unit which includes nozzles ejecting liquid, pressure chambers connected with the nozzles and filled with the liquid, and piezoelectric elements pressurizing the liquid in the pressure chambers; a frame substrate which has a hole section passing through the frame substrate and is disposed on a side of the liquid ejection unit reverse to a side on which the nozzles are arranged, the hole section being defined with a lateral wall and corresponding to a common liquid chamber accumulating the liquid to be supplied to the pressure chambers; a cover plate which is arranged on a side of the frame substrate reverse to a side adjacent to the liquid ejection unit; and through electrodes which pass through the lateral wall of the frame substrate and are exposed on the side adjacent to the liquid ejection unit and the side adjacent to the cover plate, wherein the piezoelectric elements are applied with drive signals via the through electrodes.
US07645029B2
Provided is an inkjet printhead nozzle arrangement including side walls located on a wafer substrate with a roof layer deposited on said walls to define an ink chamber, the roof layer defining a nozzle aperture, and an inlet defined in the substrate to supply the ink chamber with printing fluid. The arrangement also includes at least one heater element having two opposite sides parallel to a plane of the ejection aperture and configured such that a gas bubble formed by that heater element is formed at both of said sides. The heater elements and associated electrodes are arranged in the chamber so that the electrodes are non-coincident and have an annular shape with a point of collapse of the bubble near a center thereof.
US07645018B2
A method and an apparatus of adjusting a discharge quantity of a liquid droplet with accuracy. When a plunger moves forward and stops sliding while closely contacting with an inner wall face of a tube, a discharge quantity of the liquid droplet discharged from a discharge port communicating with the tube is adjusted. A moving speed of the plunger is adjusted such that the liquid droplet discharged from the discharge port becomes constant at every discharge. The apparatus for discharging a liquid material, has a tube, a plunger sliding while closely contacting with an inner wall face of the tube, a discharge port communicating with the tube and discharging the liquid material so as to be scattered, and a control means controlling an operation of the plunger. The control means controls a moving speed of the plunger moving forward from start of deceleration to stop.
US07645017B2
The liquid ejection apparatus comprises: a liquid ejection head having a plurality of ejection ports which eject droplets of liquid; a light emitting device which emits a determination light beam intersecting with flight paths of the droplets ejected from at least two of the ejection ports to be examined; a light receiving device which receives the determination light beam having passed through the flight paths of the droplets and outputs a determination signal corresponding to an amount of received light; an ejection port selection device which selects the at least two of the ejection ports to be examined so that the at least two of the ejection ports are disposed on a line parallel to an optical axis of the determination light beam, and that a distance between the at least two of the ejection ports along the optical axis of the determination light beam is smaller than a prescribed specific distance; an ejection control device which performs ejection driving to eject the droplets at substantially same time from the at least two ejection ports selected by the ejection port selection device; and an ejection state judgment device which judges droplet ejection state of the at least two ejection ports according to the determination signal outputted by the light receiving device when the droplets ejected due to the ejection driving performed by the ejection control device pass through the determination light beam.
US07645016B2
A liquid ejection method includes: (A) moving nozzles relative to a medium, (B) ejecting liquid from the nozzles while the nozzles are moving relative to the medium, (C) forming a first pattern on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at either one of a timing delayed from a certain reference timing by a predetermined interval and a timing preceding the certain reference timing by a predetermined interval while the nozzles are moving in a certain direction with respect to the medium, and (D) when the first pattern has been formed on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at the timing delayed by the predetermined interval, forming a second pattern on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at a timing delayed from the certain reference timing by an interval equal to the predetermined interval while the nozzles are moving in a direction opposite to the certain direction with respect to the medium, and when the first pattern has been formed on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at the timing preceding by the predetermined interval, forming the second pattern on the medium with the liquid ejected from the nozzles at a timing preceding the certain reference timing by an interval equal to the predetermined interval while the nozzles are moving in the direction opposite to the certain direction with respect to the medium.
US07645007B2
In this ink jet printer, on the basis of voltage of a nozzle plate 27 at the time that a print head 24 is driven and in a state in which a predetermined potential difference has been generated between the nozzle plate 27 and the inspection area 52, a nozzle inspection is performed so as to confirm whether or not ink is in practice being ejected from each nozzle 23, so that ink can be sequentially ejected to an inspection area 52 from each nozzle. According to the nozzle inspection voltage change is detected in the nozzle plate 27 by a voltage detection circuit 54 provided on an encoder board 64 on a carriage 22. Since both the nozzle plate 27 and the voltage detection circuit 54 are installed on the carriage 22, and the distance between the two of them is shorter, they are less likely be affected by noise. In addition, there is no need to prepare a new board on which the voltage detection circuit 54 needs to be mounted.
US07645005B2
The invention provides for a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly for a pagewidth printer. The assembly includes a number of modular printhead controller PCBs each configured to control a respective modular printhead integrated circuit, and modular supports defining a raised portion and a recessed portion at an end thereof. Each PCB has electrical connecting strips which operatively overlie the respective recessed portions. The assembly also includes at least one connecting member for operatively connecting respective PCBs to each other, each connecting member having a series of parallel spaced conducting strips, said member shaped and configured for fitment into a cavity defined by the raised and recessed portions of two abutting supports to connect the connecting strips of two PCBs via said conducting strips.
US07645002B2
A piece of furniture with a furniture body and a first and at least one second drawer, displaceable relative to the furniture body, the front panel of the first drawer essentially completely covering the front panel or front wall of the second drawer in the closed position for both drawers, characterized in that the first and the at least one second drawer comprise an opening device for displacing the drawers from a closed position to an open position and a switch element is provided between both opening devices which couples both opening devices in a first switch position and uncouples the same in a second switch position.
US07644999B2
An idler assembly is disclosed for a shovel having a flexible track assembly. In an embodiment, the idler assembly comprises an idler gear operatively associated with the track assembly; a sleeve; a shaft, sets of splines on the shaft and on the sleeve sized for engagement, and connectors at ends of the shaft; at least one bearing block forming a bore therethrough; at least one bushing liner disposed within at least one bearing block; and at least one retaining device for constraining the shaft from withdrawal from the bearing block. A method for retrofitting a shovel with an existing idler assembly is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method comprises positioning at least one bushing liner within a bore of at least one bearing block; attaching an idler shaft and an idler gear together; and positioning the idler shaft within the at least one bushing liner.
US07644997B2
A fill-up device of a master cylinder is included in a hydraulic brake system for an automotive vehicle and generates a hydraulic pressure corresponding to an operation of a brake operating member. A coupled switching valve is switched by being mechanically coupled with movement of a piston relative to a housing. The coupled switching valve is in a first state where a fill-up chamber is in communication with a reservoir via a relief valve until the piston is advanced by a predetermined distance from a rearmost position, and switched to a second state where the fill-up chamber is in direct communication with the reservoir via the communication passage without the relief valve disposed therebetween when the piston is advanced by a distance larger than the predetermined distance. Thus, the hydraulic pressure in the fill-up chamber rapidly decreases, and the hydraulic pressure in pressure chambers rapidly increase.
US07644990B2
A personal support apparatus for supporting the head and body of a person sleeping in a seated position includes a generally U-shaped collar member for contacting the wearer's neck from the back, with the collar being made from a soft resilient material that retains its shape, and first and second side arm support members permanently or reversibly and adjustably attached to the collar, with the side arm support members being made from a soft malleable material that reversibly conforms to the contours of the passenger's body and/or the vehicle seat or other surface, the first and second side arm support members being characterized by a first level of firmness, and the collar member being characterized by a second level of firmness that is greater than the first level of firmness.
US07644988B2
A highchair assembly includes a seat supported by a plurality of legs with an upstanding back wall and opposite first and second side walls. An access device is mounted to one of the side walls. The access device has an upper end located generally at the one side wall and the lower end for placement on a support surface. A child can enter and exit the highchair through use of the access device.
US07644981B2
A portable two-frame collapsible chair comprised of an inner and outer frame with the frames hingably joined for rotating between a first position for carrying and a second position for sitting. The chair includes a flexible seat member connected to both frames. The chair further includes a flexible backrest hingably connected to the outer frame with optional armrests hingably attached. The frames can be folded into substantially the same plane when in the first position for carrying. The position for carrying includes a variety of configurations including a backpack configuration, wherein the user uses shoulder straps to carry the chair, and a roller bag configuration wherein the chair has wheels and a pull handle.
US07644980B2
The invention relates to a vehicle roof with a movable roof section which can be deployed into a ventilation position by means of a deploy and/or displacement mechanism and/or then displaced above or below the vehicle roof or an at least temporarily stationary roof section for at least partially releasing a roof opening in the vehicle roof. The deploy and/or displacement mechanism comprises at least one vertical gate (9) which has at least one guide web (10), disposed perpendicular to the gate (9) and having slide tracks (15, 16) that are at least partially encircled by a slide element of a slide (8) that can be displaced along a guide rail. The gate (9) is produced from metal and the guide web (10) at least partially from plastic. In order to provide a simple and stable gate (9) having good sliding properties, the gate (9) comprises a plurality of spaced-apart openings (11) for anchoring the plastic (14) of the guide webs (10).
US07644978B2
A cross member passes a longitudinal member. The cross member is connected, on its outer end, to a side sill assembly and includes a connecting portion that divides the cross member into a remote cross member portion from the outer end of the cross member, and the other cross member portion. A reinforcement element extends through the connecting portion into the remote cross member portion and terminates in at its inner end spaced by a gap from a top wall of the longitudinal member, and it extends into the other cross member portion and terminates in at its outer end in the neighborhood of the side sill assembly. It is connected to an upper inner wall of the remote cross member portion, but spaced from an upper inner wall of the other cross member portion.
US07644977B2
A post pressurizing material treatment for bodies moving through fluid includes a series of compartments joined to the rear surface of the body. Each compartment is sealed by a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a front wall and is open at a rear end thereof. Each compartment retains at least one V-shaped base having diverging walls opening into the rear end of each compartment. Post pressurizing material is secured in a spaced between the walls of the V-shaped base for trapping fluid flow and accumulating forward pressure between the walls of the V-shaped base so as to reduce drag and propel the body forward.
US07644975B2
A mounting arrangement for securing a cladding to a vehicle body includes a vehicle body defining at least one aperture and a cladding having a body portion and at least one integral attachment structure extending from the body portion. The attachment structure includes a retaining portion received through the at least one aperture for securing the body portion to the vehicle body and a plurality of spaced apart ribs connecting the retaining portion to the body portion.
US07644973B2
An anti-chucking device (14) for a tailgate assembly (12) for a vehicle (10), includes a bracket member (36) and a striker member (38). The striker member (38) engages the bracket member (36) and prevents the tailgate assembly (12) from moving in a lateral direction on the vehicle (10) when the tailgate assembly (12) is moved to an open position and a closed position. The bracket member (36) includes a first pair of tabs (50) and a second pair of tabs (52). The first pair of tabs (50) extends from the second pair of tabs (52) by a predetermined angle. The first pair of tabs (50) defines a first slot (60), and the second pair of tabs (52) defines a second slot (62). The striker member (38) pivots between the first slot (60) and the second slot (62), with the tailgate assembly (12) moving between open and closed positions.
US07644971B1
This invention relates to an expandable motor home. The motor home of this invention has a lower body portion having a first floor, a front wall, a back wall and a pair of opposite side walls. The motor home also has an upper body portion having a movable upper segment and a lower segment that is connected to the lower body portion. The lower segment has a front wall, a back wall and a pair of opposite side walls. The upper segment has a front wall, a back wall, a pair of opposite side walls, and a roof. The upper segment is movable relative to the lower segment such that the upper segment has a raised and lowered position relative to the lower body portion. The motor home may have extendable rooms in the upper segment and lower segment defining separate living areas.
US07644963B2
A hooking device includes a hook for clasping a latching device, a spring mounted to the hook for providing a restoration force to the hook, and a base securing the hook and the spring thereon. The hook includes a main portion, a catch portion, and a pair of shaft portions extending from the other end along opposite direction. The spring includes two winding portions, two first arms extending from ends of the winding portions, the first arms acting on the hook; and two second arms extending from the other ends of the winding portions. The base includes a base plate defining an opening, two supporting plates accommodating the shaft portions, two bearing plates extending from the base plate, the second arms acting on the bearing plate, and an elastic arm extending from the base plate pushing on the other end of the main portion of the hook.
US07644962B2
A universal attachment flange to connect equipment utilized to perform a task to various connection arrangements. A universal attachment flange is provided with a plurality of hole patterns to permit a bolted attachment of the flange to other devices that present varying patterns of bolt receiving holes. The universal attachment flange is capable of connection to a variety of four (4) hole patterns and at least one three (3) hole pattern. In one form the universal attachment flange includes a through hole threaded to receive a connection fitting.
US07644960B2
A clamp for coupling mating radially projecting flanges, each flange having a tapered outer face. The clamp includes at least a pair of component halves. Each half includes a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile having a base portion and two opposing side limbs projecting from the base portion defining a recess intermediate the side limbs for receiving the mating flanges and a bolt and a lug for fastening the component halves together. Each side limb has a contact face for abutting a tapered face of a flange and a non-contact face. The base portion has a non-contact face. The contact faces of the side limbs are remote from the non-contact face of the base portion.
US07644956B2
A sleeve assembly (2) for supporting flexible duct (4) includes a frame (6) with first and second frame sections (10a, b). The frame sections are secured together by fastener subassemblies (8). The sleeve assembly accommodates flexible duct in various angular and straight configurations. The frame can comprise various suitable materials and skeletal or solid-exterior construction. The sleeve assembly is adapted for various installations in air distribution systems of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems.
US07644953B2
A marker pole for embedding in a support medium for drawing attention to potentially hazardous subsurface structures within the support medium includes a generally elongate pole body molded from a generally brightly colored plastic material with a penetrating end formed with a tapered tip for insertion into the support medium, the taper being greater than forty-five degrees from a centerline longitudinal axis of the; and a metal impact cap fitted over the distal end, the impact cap including a generally cylindrical body having an access opening on one end thereof and a substantially planar surface opposing the access opening, the planar surface being in substantial contact with the upper surface of the pole body for enhanced force transmission between the impact cap and the pole body during insertion of the pole into the support medium using an impact producing tool.
US07644949B2
A module assembly for an airbag device for protecting occupants of motor vehicles includes a carrier for the assembly, an inflatable airbag packet, a flexible protective envelope, and a fixing mechanism. The airbag packet is fixed to the carrier. The airbag packet is accommodated in the flexible protective envelope. The protective enveloped can be closed off in a gastight manner. The fixing mechanism fixes the airbag packet to the carrier. The fixing mechanism includes a holding element. The holding element, which includes a securing mechanism provided on the carrier to fix the airbag packet to the carrier, extends along an edge of the airbag packet. The securing mechanism is formed integrally on the carrier and is resiliently pivotable with respect to a lateral section of the carrier. Alternatively, the securing mechanism is fixed on the carrier as a separate assembly.
US07644944B2
A multiple gear transmission for a bicycle with an input shaft and an output shaft supported in a transmission housing, whereby the input shaft is embodied to receive pedal cranks and both ends of the input shaft protrude from the transmission housing. One of the ends of the output shaft protrudes from the transmission housing and the output shaft is embodied at this end to receive a drive sprocket. At least one intermediate shaft is supported in the transmission housing parallel between the input shaft and the output shaft. Respectively, at least two gear wheels are arranged on the input shaft, the at least one intermediate shaft and the output shaft. The gear wheels arranged on at least two of the shafts can be connected in a torque-proof manner to the respective shaft via clutch mechanism. All the gear wheels are permanently meshed with another gear wheel.
US07644937B2
A child carrier attachable to a shopping cart having a basket mounted to a frame supported by a plurality of caster wheels for contacting a ground surface. The child carrier comprises a support member having at least one stabilizing wheel connected thereto for contacting the ground surface. The support member has a bottom member, with a seat disposed on the support member; and an attachment fixture is connected to the support member for connecting the support member to the cart.
US07644935B2
A spring carrier for mounting a spring strut to a vehicle body includes a vibration damper having a cylinder and a piston rod which is axially guided in the cylinder, first and second spring collars, and a spring located between the spring collars. An actuator includes a nut and a threaded spindle surrounding the piston rod, the actuator being driven to change the relative axial position of the spring collars. A guide tube extends coaxially between the piston rod and the threaded spindle, the threaded spindle being supported radially against the guide tube by a bearing.
US07644933B2
A suspension system adaptable for cross-flow operation includes a plurality of gas springs, a transfer passage in communication between the gas springs, and a transfer valve for selectively permitting gas flow along the transfer passage. A control system selectively actuates the transfer valve. A method of operation is also described.
US07644925B2
A method and apparatus for playing a trick-taking card game for two or more players that includes two decks of playing cards: a numbered character card deck and a modifier card deck. Each player's goal is to play a card, or combinations of cards, that is/are higher in numerical rank value than their opponents' cards in order to win the trick in each round of play. Players can improve their chance of winning the round by playing, in their turn and in conjunction with one character card, one or more modifying cards that they possess in their hand to increase the numerical rank value of their played character card or decrease the numerical rank value of the other players' cards. Tricks are collected for points in multiple hands comprising a game. The player with the greatest number of points at the end of the game is declared the winner.
US07644917B2
An apparatus for handling sheet-like products having: a truck glidable on rails, a supporting structure for an assembly for gripping a sheet, the supporting structure performing a translational motion on the truck through a lateral translational motion with respect to the direction of advancement of the truck, a grip assembly for a sheet, which is rotatably coupled to the supporting structure by way of rotation elements adapted to move it from a first raised grip configuration to a second substantially horizontal configuration, and a worktable arranged above the rails and provided with through openings that can be crossed downward from above by the grip assembly during the rotary motion from the first raised configuration to the second substantially horizontal configuration.
US07644907B2
A drum assembly for accommodating a well access line. The drum of the assembly may include a core coupled to flanges at either side thereof. The core may be configured to accommodate the well access line thereabout. Additionally, the core may be configured with an inner portion for coupling to the flanges at an arcuate junction therebetween as well as a collar about the inner portion for directly accommodating the well access line in a stable manner.
US07644905B2
A method and apparatus including an easily installed spiral support useful laying a cable. The spiral support is composed of a counterclockwise spiral portion and a clockwise spiral portion, both of which are connected to each other with a reverse portion therebetween. The spiral support is installed on a messenger wire in such a way that the reverse portion is fitted on the messenger wire; the spiral support is rotated counterclockwise or clockwise; and these steps are repeated.
US07644900B2
A portable hanger for hanging a purse from a table has a base adapted to rest upon and frictionally engage the table. A plurality of links are pivotally linked to each other in series to form a chain having a first link and a last link. A pivot pin pivotally connects the base and the first link of the plurality of links. The plurality of links are adapted for pivot between a stored configuration in which the plurality of links are positioned generally adjacent the perimeter of the base, and an operative configuration in which the plurality of links form a hook adapted for hanging the purse.
US07644899B2
A saw horse comprises a pair of frames each assembled from a plurality of wooden struts joined by metal formings of sheet stock. Fabric hinges join the frames at their upper ends. The metal formings are positioned and closed around the beams with piercings engaging the fabric hinges. Spreader struts are also hinged by a fabric strap that permits the spreader struts to lay in horizontal positions when the frames are pulled into an A-shape, and to be oriented in side-by-side vertical positions when the frames are folded together.
US07644895B2
A clamping device for electronic products includes a combining member and a clamping base that is made of elastic steel sheet having its outer periphery coated with a layer of soft rubber and its central portion bored with a combining hole. Thus, after the clamping base is combined with an electronic product by the combining member, the electronic product can be hung on a user's girdle by turning over the elastic steel sheet of the clamping base, and an earphone line can be wound on the steel sheet in a space between the clamping base and the electronic product, having great practicability and convenience in use.
US07644893B2
A pedal system particularly tailored to a Fly-By-Wire (FBW) flight control system includes a double gradient linkage assembly. The double gradient linkage assembly includes a damper system and a spring system that improves yaw axis (azimuth) control of the aircraft. Control is only required when a change in the yaw axis state is demanded. Since only minimal displacement inputs to such a FBW flight control system is required, the travel of the pedals are exceeding compact, such that pilot workload is significantly reduced through the reduction in the frequency and magnitude of aircraft control inputs.
US07644888B2
A high-speed transport aircraft. In one embodiment, the aircraft includes a fuselage, delta wings, and integrated engine nacelles. The fuselage is configured to carry a payload and has a forward portion and an aft portion. The aft portion defines a generally constant-width planform and includes first, second, third, and fourth passenger seat sections, with each of the seat sections having at least two passenger seats positioned abreast at least generally normal to a longitudinal axis of the fuselage. In one aspect of this embodiment, the wings extend from the fuselage adjacent to the aft portion, and the fuselage further includes first and second rows of windows above the wings. The first row of windows are positioned in the fuselage directly adjacent the first seat section and the second row of windows are positioned in the fuselage directly adjacent the fourth seat section.
US07644886B2
The invention of the present application provides a reel, which can improve the dimensional accuracy of a hub, having a configuration in which a reinforcing tubular member is disposed on the hub by insert molding. A resin layer extends from one end portion side of the hub at which a first flange is integrally formed in a height direction of the hub. The resin layer is disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the tubular member in the reel. The reel is provided with a resin hub having an outer peripheral surface on which a recording tape T is wound, the first flange is integrally formed at one end portion of the hub, a second flange is welded at the other end portion of the hub, and a reinforcing tubular member is disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the hub by insert molding.
US07644882B2
A breaker having a first end and a second opposed end and a plurality of breaker drums arranged side by side in a row extending between said ends, the drums being arranged with their axes of rotation parallel to one another, at least two neighboring drums adjacent to the first end being arranged to continuously rotate in the same direction to define feeder drums for feeding material toward the second end, each breaker drum having radially projecting breaker teeth which co-operate with opposed breaker teeth on the adjacent drum to grip oversized material therebetween to cause breakage thereof, to permit passage of undersized material therebetween and to move unbroken oversized material toward said second end.
US07644872B2
A powder port blow-off system for a plasma spray process includes a faceplate that includes a bore therein that is co-radially aligned with a nozzle of a plasma spray gun, which emits a plasma plume. A plurality of powder feed ports are arranged circumferentially around the nozzle for injecting a flow of powder particles toward the plasma plume. A plurality of powder port blow-offs are arranged circumferentially around the nozzle in order to direct blow-off gas across the powder feed ports. The powder port blow-offs are directed across the plasma plume to create a vortex for carrying away powder particles unconsumed by the plasma plume.
US07644871B2
Methods and apparatus to improve flux spray atomization and/or splash control are described. In one embodiment, a flux nozzle includes a plurality of injection holes to deposit flux fluid through an exit hole of an air cap onto a substrate (such as a printed circuit board). The flux fluid may atomize prior to deposition onto the substrate as relatively smaller broken down flux droplets that may aid reduced spray splash. Other embodiments are also described.
US07644860B2
An information processing apparatus includes a first recording medium, a password input unit, a password judging unit, and a condition judging unit. The first recording medium is capable of recording programs and data. The password input unit requests a user to input a password. The password judging unit judges whether a password inputted to the password input unit and a password stored in advance coincide with each other. The condition judging unit judges, when the apparatus is started, whether a condition set in advance is satisfied. When the condition set in advance is satisfied, the information processing apparatus sets a self-erasing program in the first recording medium. The first recording medium self-erases programs and data recorded in the first recording medium according to the self-erasing program.
US07644851B2
Clincher holders hold a pair of clinchers for bending the legs of a staple driven by a driver, and have slanting guide faces for guiding the tips of the legs of the staple toward the clinchers. In a stapling table for receiving sheets of paper, an opening is made. The clincher holders are movable inside the opening. Drop-preventing portions for preventing the sheets of paper from dropping inside the opening in stapling are projected from opening edges of the opening toward the inside of the opening.
US07644849B2
An effort-saving stapler includes a shell, a magazine, a hammer, an elastic element, a block, a trigger and an extensive element. The magazine is disposed in the shell for supporting and feeding nails. The hammer is disposed in the shell for hammering the nails, one at a time. The elastic element is disposed in the shell for biasing the hammer. The block is disposed in the shell. The trigger is movably and pivotally connected to the shell and engaged with the block at an engagement point. The extensive element includes a first end connected to the hammer and a second end telescopically connected to the trigger. When the trigger is operated, the hammer is lifted by the extensive element and the engagement point is moved towards the hammer.
US07644847B2
A backpack frame comprises side rails defining a first profile. The first profile has a flat first base segment lying on a first reference plane, and a first concave segment leading from the first base segment to an upper end of the frame, with the first concave segment being spaced a maximum distance from the first reference plane at a first location between the first base segment and the upper end of the frame. An intermediate structure interconnects the side rails. The intermediate structure defines a second profile having a second flat base segment lying on a second reference plane parallel to the first reference plane, and a second concave segment leading from the second base segment to the upper end of the frame, with the second concave segment being spaced a maximum distance from the second reference plane at a second location between the second base segment and the upper end of the frame. The first and second locations are offset from one another.
US07644846B2
Apparatus for restricting movement of a lawn implement shaft, for use in a lawn implement support system in cooperation with a vertically upstanding support member for horizontal support of shafted lawn implements during storage or transportation thereof including a support post for supporting a first end of a shafted lawn implement in conjunction with the vertically upstanding support member for supporting a second end of the shafted lawn implement. Further the apparatus includes a shaft support hook mounted to the support post, and projecting outwardly therefrom for a predetermined distance, the support hook being curved generally vertically and at a predetermined angle away from a first generally vertical plane defined by the support post, with a distal end of the shaft support hook being curved back toward a second vertical plane defined by the support post and perpendicular to the first vertical plane to define a shaft support region intermediate the hook and the support post. The present apparatus also includes a compression pin adjustably mounted to the support post adjacent the support hook for sliding movement therealong, the compression pin including a shaft abutment surface; and a device for fixing the compression pin at a predetermined position along the support post for restrictive contact with the lawn implement shaft.
US07644844B1
A clothes hanger is provided having a first fixed arm and a second retractable arm to allow for easy placement of clothing thereon. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US07644833B2
A can end member for a beverage container is disclosed. The end member has a curl at least substantially defining a perimeter of the can end, a chuck wall extending downwardly and radially inwardly from the curl, and a central panel wall centered about a longitudinal axis. The central panel wall has a product side and a public side. The public side has a means for opening a frangible panel segment. The end member also has a fold joining the chuck wall with the central panel wall. The fold has an opening. A fluid is located adjacent the opening.
US07644832B1
A removable serving lid is provided that sealingly covers the opening of a pet food can. A sealing sidewall extending downward form a flexible lid cover circumscribes the upper opening of a pet food can, and thereby forms an air-tight seal. The flexible material is designed to apply and remove easily, even when cold such as to accommodate refrigeration of any un-dispensed contents of a pet food can. A gripping flange extending laterally outward from the perimeter of the sidewall provides a gripping surface to facilitate removal of the sealed lid. Finally, an adjustable scoop is perpendicularly disposed through the flexible lid cover through a scoop aperture that seals against the handle of the scoop, maintaining a sealed environment even as the sloop is vertically adjusted into the contents of the food can.
US07644821B2
Sealed delivery unit 10 (shown in exploded format in FIG. 1A) contains medication 10M, and is formed by a generally flat member 10F pressed into selective engagement with an opposed shaped member 10S. Pumping chamber 12P, enclosed between the members generates a rupturing pressure in response to an external force applied by the user (indicated by arrow F shown in FIG. 1B). Enclosed Medication chamber 12M contains the medication to be delivered. Tunnel conduit 14 provides fluid communication between the chambers for rupturing the medication chamber in response to the rupturing pressure. Perimeter seal 16 extends around the pumping chamber and the medication chamber and the tunnel conduit. The perimeter seal is secure enough to withstand the internal rupturing pressure generated during delivery. Delivery port 18 with pull-away closure 18C (see FIG. 1C) delivers the medication out of medication chamber 12M. Rupture site 18S is proximate the delivery port. Rupture flap 18F produced by the rupturing at the rupture site, is connected to the pull-away closure. The flap projects outward permitting the user to grasp the pull-away the closure and open the delivery port for delivery of the medication.
US07644819B2
An apparatus comprising a base defining a recess shaped to accommodate a bottom of a tank, a pair of side walls extending upwardly from the base, and a pair of end walls extending upwardly from the base. Each side wall defines an indentation on the inner surface thereof shaped to conform to an outer surface of the tank when the bottom of the tank in the recess. One of the end walls defines a notch shaped to accommodate a neck of a bottle lying on a side thereof between the side walls. The apparatus may be used to transport one of the tank and the bottle at a time.
US07644809B2
A spring member for disc-brake calipers is interposed between a lateral edge of at least one pad and reaction surfaces of the caliper so as to act resiliently on the pad. The spring member comprises a ‘U’-shaped portion suitable for forming a connection with a protuberance of the reaction surfaces, a first resilient portion suitable for acting on the pad in a tangential direction, and a second resilient portion suitable for acting on the pad in a radial direction. The first and second resilient portions constitute a single body projecting from a first connection end of the first resilient portion that is connected to the ‘U’-shaped portion, so that, when the at least one pad is in a mounted configuration, it is acted on resiliently by the spring member both in a radial direction and in a tangential direction.
US07644806B2
Low lift truck, with a load part, which has a load carrying means and is coupled with a drive part via a lift cylinder arrangement and a bar linkage for load wheels of the load carrying means, a steered drive wheel, which forms with a drive motor a drive unit, which is rotatably bearing mounted around a vertical axis by the frame of the drive part, a drawbar, pivotable in the drive part around a horizontal and a vertical axis, which is in a driving connection with the drive unit, an hydraulic power pack for the hydraulic lift cylinder arrangement, and a battery casing, connected with the load part, whereby the drive motor is a wheel hub motor and the battery casing (34) is disposed above the drive unit.
US07644803B2
A silencing device disposed to the outside of a fan 2 that discharges air from the interior of a device 1 to the outside. The silencing device includes a reflection plate 6 provided substantially normal to the rotation axis 2a of the fan 2, and a right-angled parallelepiped shaped duct 4 that guides air from the fan 2 to the outside of the device 1. The reflection plate 6 is disposed at the other end of the duct 4, an air discharge slit 7 is formed in at least one of the four sides of the reflection plate 6, and the distance from the fan 2 to the reflection plate 6 satisfies the relationship L=(λ/2)×n. n is a natural number, and λ is the wavelength of the maximum component from among the wavelength components that constitutes the sound generated by the fan 2.
US07644798B2
A safety arrangement for detecting the position of an occupant (4) of a seat (1) which is provided with a safety belt (9) which is mounted on a retractor (10) includes a sensor (11) which measures the length of belt withdrawn from the retractor The sensor is associated with a processor unit (8) which is associated with a seat position sensor (7). By determining the position of the seat and by determining the minimum length of belt paid-out from the retractor (10) after the seat belt has been buckled in position, and by determining how additional belt has been paid-out at any incident, the position of the seat occupant (4) relative to an air-bag (19) can be determined. If the seat occupant is very close to the air-bag, the nature of deployment of the air-bag can be moderated by the central processor unit (8).
US07644796B2
A motorcycle frame is provided such that the spacing between a main frame and a side plate can be easily adjusted, and joint surfaces, at which the side plates and engine hangers abut the main frame, can be easily formed. Each side plate is provided with upper and lower plate-side bosses used for adjusting the spacing between itself and a main frame. A surface of an upper first boss of the main frame, which abuts on the upper plate-side boss, and surfaces of upper second bosses of the main frame, which abut on an upper engine hanger, are provided on the same plane. In addition, a surface of a lower first boss of the main frame, which abuts on the lower plate-side boss, and surfaces of lower second bosses of the main frame, which abut on a lower engine hanger, are provided on the same plane.
US07644789B2
A mechanism of a four-wheel drive vehicle for enabling an engine and a transmission to be arranged compactly by using an empty space within a body frame of the vehicle. The transmission includes a power take-off part for driving the front wheels of the vehicle, and a rear reduction gear mechanism for driving the rear wheels of the vehicle. The transmission and the engine are mounted on a swing arm which is supported on the body frame of the vehicle so as to be able to swing in an up and down direction.
US07644785B2
Methods and apparatuses associated with a rotary driven well drilling rig. One method includes providing a rig having: an erectable mast; a head drive unit for rotatably driving drill pipes into a surface; a pumping unit to deliver a fluid through a drill pipe secured to the head drive, the fluid being forced out a bottom end of the drill pipe and up to the surface along the outside of the drill pipe during a borehole drilling operation; and a deck unit pivotally mounted on a turret attached to a set of tracks. This method embodiment includes, while the rig is in a first location, performing a first borehole drilling operation to form a first borehole at a second location; and performing a second borehole drilling operation to form a second borehole at a third location while the rig remains in the first location.
US07644777B2
A fire-fighting monitor includes a housing, a nozzle coupler, and a pivot joint coupler comprising an internal passageway and a pivot member. The pivot member is pivotally mounted to the housing at the outlet of the housing. The nozzle coupler is mounted to the pivot joint coupler wherein the internal passageway of the pivot joint coupler is in communication with the internal passageways of the housing and the nozzle coupler, wherein the weight at the nozzle coupler generates a gravitational moment about the pivot axis. In addition, the nozzle coupler has a central axis defining a reference line, which is offset from the first pivot axis wherein a reaction force generated by fluid flowing through the nozzle coupler generates a moment about the first pivot axis in a direction opposed from said gravitational moment.
US07644772B2
Apparatuses for restricting fluid flow through a well conduit comprise a housing having a longitudinal bore and a seat disposed within the bore. The seat has a first position when the apparatus is in the run-in position and a second position when the apparatus is in the set position. The seat comprises an arcuate member comprising a plurality of slits defining a plurality of segment members having a gap there-between. Each of the gaps are variable such that movement of segment members inwardly causes the gaps to be narrowed or closed off completely when a plug element is disposed into the bore and landed on the arcuate member to move the arcuate member from the first position to the second position, causing restriction of fluid flow through the bore and the well conduit.
US07644755B2
A connector is made up downhole and can connect electrical signal or power circuits. The male component features one or more circumferential bands on the exterior and the female component features like bands on its interior. The bands are preferably covered with removable sleeves until the connection is made up. In the preferred embodiment, the sleeves push each other out of the way as the connection is made up. The bands are preferably cylindrically shaped on their respective supporting connection half to make easy and reliable contact when the connection halves are advanced together without need for rotation to get the desired contact. Seals surround the connected contacts after makeup to keep out well fluids.
US07644752B2
A regulating heat exchange and cooling method and system for monitoring and controlling the temperatures of walls subjected to high temperatures. The system is used to cool the inner wall of a thermal system having a double wall, the inner wall being subjected to temperatures equal to or greater than the physical capacity thereof. The system includes a network of tubes which is independent of the thermal system to be cooled. The tubes contain pressurized cooling water which circulates therethrough. The tubes have nozzles which spray and project water in the form of solid cones against the inner wall, the nozzles being controlled by adjustable-flow valves. The network of tubes forms an integral part of the outer wall of the thermal system to be cooled and the system also includes elements for maintaining the water projection area defined by the inner and outer walls in a vacuum condition.
US07644750B2
The invention provides a method for manufacturing a powertrain component enclosure member, including the steps of: (A) positioning at least one insert into a mold, wherein the insert is provided with a coating to prevent bonding between the insert and the casting material; and (B) casting a wall of the powertrain component enclosure member in the mold around the insert such that a major portion of the insert is substantially non-bonded with the casting material to provide a proper interfacial boundary with the casting material for damping.
US07644747B2
A rectangular substrate dividing apparatus, which can divide a rectangular substrate in a smaller space, accommodate devices, formed as individual pieces by the division, into device cases, and pick up the devices reliably and efficiently from a protective tape affixed to the back of the rectangular substrate, is provided. This apparatus separates a rectangular substrate, to whose back a protective tape is affixed and on which a plurality of devices are partitioned by a lattice of scheduled-separation lines, along the scheduled-separation lines to divide the rectangular substrate into the individual devices, and accommodates the devices in device cases. In a cutting-responsible region, the rectangular substrate is carried out of cassettes, cut by a cutter, and then cleaned by a cleaner. In a tape peeling-responsible region, the devices are picked up with the protective tape being peeled off. In a device accommodation-responsible region, the picked-up individual devices are accommodated into device cases.
US07644744B2
A lid sealing machine includes a casing attached to a housing, a sealing device disposed in the casing, a container holder for supporting and moving containers into and out of the casing, a supply reel, a take up reel and a roller rotatably attached onto the housing for supporting a film material and for transmitting the film material from the supply reel around the roller and to the take up reel, and for moving the film material between the sealing device and the container holder, and for allowing the film material to be forced to seal the containers by the sealing device. A detecting device may be used for detecting a rotating movement of the roller and a movement of the film material relative to the housing.
US07644741B2
A glass filler defines a main body having a lower surface. An inlet and outlet are each defined in the lower surface of the main body. An outlet chamber is defined in the main body and contains an outlet valve, which includes an outlet valve housing defining a castellated edge. The outlet valve includes a cylindrical sleeve that defines an inner surface that is crenellated and configured to receive an implement that can be inserted and used by the operator to rotate the cylindrical sleeve in a manner that controls the amount of liquid exiting the outlet of the glass filler.
US07644733B2
A duct (10) for transporting a two phase mixture has a length portion of circular cross-section (12) leading, via a transition zone (14) in which the duct cross-section changes from circular to lobed, to a zone in which its cross-section exhibits at least one lobe (16) extending helically around and along the duct. The duct has a cross-sectional area which is substantially constant, or which progressively increases, over the transition zone. The transition from circular to lobed cross-section is alternatively smooth and continuous, and the transition zone occupies a duct length in which the or each lobe becomes relocated by at least one position.
US07644732B2
A flapper valve assembly attaches to a fluid device, such as a heat exchanger and has a fluid port in communication with the fluid device to provide by-pass flow in cold flow or pressure spike conditions. The flapper valve assembly includes a shim plate and a face plate that together define a slot therebetween. A spring flapper slides into the slot and is retained therein and intermittently blocks flow through the fluid port to provide the by-pass flow when required.
US07644727B2
A hydraulic fluid reservoir and hydraulic pump combination has at least one hydraulic fluid port and includes a container with a hollow body having a top and a conduit having a bottom within the container and a top above the bottom. The conduit has an opening adjacent to the bottom of the conduit. The opening is spaced apart below the top of the container. A closure member is releasably, sealingly connected to the top of the conduit. Hydraulic fluid can be added to the container via the conduit up to the level of the opening of the conduit. Addition of further hydraulic fluid fills the conduit to the top thereof and the conduit overflows if additional hydraulic fluid is added after the top of the conduit is reached by the fluid. Preferably the container has a main interior chamber and a smaller chamber which is adjacent to one of the side walls of the container. The smaller chamber is has a bottom opening near the bottom of the smaller chamber which communicates with the main interior chamber. Hydraulic fluid enters the smaller chamber through the opening and reaches the level of hydraulic fluid in the main interior chamber. Bubbles in the hydraulic fluid within the main interior chamber are isolated from the smaller chamber and accordingly do not impair the reading of the hydraulic fluid level by a photo detector.
US07644722B2
An apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a hospitalized patient includes a urinary catheter connected to a urine valve providing selectable communication between a discharge end of the urinary catheter and either a drain or a fluid source. Preferably, the urine valve is adapted for remote actuatation and has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve contact. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply and drain conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits between a patient's legs. When the urine valve is oriented to permit communication with the fluid source, an infusion pump may be used to infuse a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve and into the patient's bladder. A pressure transducer desirably is connected in-circuit to indicate the fluid's pressure. To facilitate the infusion process, an automatic flow control device may be included in a fluid supply path and arranged to permit repetitive operation of a syringe to inject a bolus of fluid into the patient's bladder. Subsequent to a period of time in which to make a pressure measurement, preferred embodiments of the urine valve automatically return to a bladder draining position.
US07644721B2
A mechanism that is comprised of two or more four-bar linkages is shown. Each linkage shares a common link with each adjacent linkage and the movement of said two or more linkages is synchronized by mechanical means such that said mechanism may move between a collapsed and an extended state. Said mechanical means may be in the form of additional links or geared connections.
US07644719B2
An improved walker leg tip having a felt nap is provided. The walker leg tip has an arcuate shaped shell with the shell having a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion has an aperture at least partially therethrough, the aperture dimensioned to accept an end portion of the walker leg. The felt nap covers at least part of the bottom portion of the arcuate shaped shell. In some instances, the arcuate shaped shell is spherically shaped and can be made from a polymer, vulcanized rubber and the like. Optionally, a sleeve can extend from the top portion of the shell, the sleeve having a sleeve aperture that is in alignment with the aperture of the top portion and dimensioned to fit at least partially over an end portion of a walker leg. A removable insert can also be included, the insert having an outer diameter dimensioned to fit at least partially into the aperture of the top portion and an inner diameter dimensioned to fit at least partially onto the end portion of the walker leg.
US07644713B2
The apparatus provides for the determination of the instantaneous phase in the respiratory cycle, subject's average respiration rate and the provision of ventilatory assistance. A microprocessor (16) receives an airflow signal from a pressure transducer (18) coupled to a port (17) at a mask (11). The microprocessor (16) controls a servo (19), that in turn controls the fan motor (20) and thus the pressure of air delivered by the blower (10). The blower (10) is coupled to a subject's mask (ii) by a conduit (12). The invention seeks to address the following goals: while the subject is awake and making substantial efforts the delivered assistance should be closely matched in phase with the subject's efforts; the machine should automatically adjust the degree of assistance to maintain at least a specified minimum ventilation without relying on the integrity of the subject's chemoreflexes; and it should continue to work correctly in the presence of large leaks.
US07644711B2
A device for arresting spark and ash issuing from, and precisely controlling the ventilation of and temperature inside, a heat source-containing vessel such as a cooking grill, stove, oven, cooker, fireplace, heater, or firebox. The device comprises a spark arrestor assembly including a base plate, a cover plate, and a spark arrestor. The base plate defines an opening. The cover plate and spark arrestor are slidably mated in two channels formed in the base plate around the opening. The cover plate and spark arrestor may be adjusted to extend across or only partway across the opening as selected by a user of the device. Tabs are provided on the cover plate and spark arrestor for easy adjustment thereof. Tabs in the base plate are positioned to define a range of slidable motion of the cover plate and spark arrestor. The spark arrestor assembly engages a fire-containing or heat source-containing vessel over an opening defined by the vessel so that the vessel opening cooperates with the spark arrestor assembly opening.
US07644703B2
A straddle type motorcycle includes a frame, an engine mounted on the frame and having a substantially vertical cylinder assembly and an intake air passage extended backward from a rear surface of the cylinder assembly, a fuel tank disposed above the cylinder assembly, and a fuel supply device. The fuel supply device includes a fuel pump disposed at a rear portion of the fuel tank, the fuel pump being overlapped with the cylinder assembly in a longitudinal direction of the motorcycle in a side view of the motorcycle, a fuel injector installed on the intake air passage, and a fuel hose connecting the fuel injector with the fuel pump.
US07644695B2
A rotary machine which can be either a pump or an internal combustion engine has a housing enclosing a plurality of rotor spindles lying on the surface of an imaginary cone for driving an output shaft positioned at the vertex of the imaginary cone. The spindles have a beveled gear on one end and engaging an output shaft and a conical bearing on the other end. Angled eccentric rotors are mounted to each spindle shaped to maintain tangential sliding contact with two adjacent rotors to form a compression or combustion chamber. A spherical version of a compressor or an engine uses a plurality of rotary pistons each of which is eccentrically mounted and forms a spherical segment. Each rotary piston is mounted for tangential sliding contact with at least two other rotary pistons to form a displacement chamber therebetween. The rotary pistons use a generally “tear drop” shape. A rotary pump has a housing having a manifold for distributing intake and exhaust air. The pump has a plurality of lobe shafts, each having an eccentrically mounted rotor attached thereto mounted in the housing to form a compression chamber in the middle of the rotor when the rotors are all in contact with each other during rotation.
US07644691B2
A device (1) for varying the control times of an internal combustion engine (100) is provided. A device (1) is proposed, with a means for limiting the angle of rotation, this being optimized in terms of the magnitude of the transmittable forces. A further aspect of the invention relates to making the mounting of the device (1) more flexible to the effect that the same components can be used in devices (1) with different relative angle-of-rotation ranges.
US07644690B2
An arrangement structure of an electrically-driven actuator is used in a variable valve operating mechanism capable of adjusting an operation of a valve of an engine. A part of the electrically driven actuator exposed to the outside of the engine is arranged at a position shifted in a car width direction with respect to an exothermic body provided at a periphery of the engine.
US07644689B2
A variable valve operating device that makes it possible to reduce the loss in driving force transmission from a camshaft to a valve during a valve lift is provided. The rotary motion of a drive cam is transmitted to a swing member via intermediate rollers. A coupling member couples the intermediate rollers, to a swing fulcrum that is fastened to a control shaft. The swing fulcrum is positioned eccentrically to the center of the control shaft. Further, when the control shaft is positioned at a predetermined rotation position, the swing fulcrum is positioned so that the control shaft is placed between the swing fulcrum and the intermediate rollers. Preferably, the swing fulcrum, the control shaft, and the intermediate rollers are aligned.
US07644682B2
An elevated feeder or framework holds the round bales of feedstock off the ground while providing a convenient height for the livestock to feed from. The bale feeder is made by rigidly connecting tubular elements, of the same or different diameters together, at any angle, without the use of special fasteners. The elevated feeder holds the bales with the flat ends in a position that is the most convenient for the livestock to consume the feedstock. The elevated feeder keeps the feedstock bales off the ground by supporting the feedstock on an adjustable, flexible mesh bale support, with openings to permit rain and water to drain away from the feedstock. The mesh bale support length is adjusted by moving the mesh support clamping bars closer to or farther away from the ends of the mesh raises or lowers the bale to accommodate the feeding height of the livestock being fed.
US07644679B2
The invention relates to a plant for the treatment, in particular the cataphoretic dip coating of objects, in particular of vehicle chassis, comprising at least one transport car (5) which runs the objects (4) through the plant and introduces and retrieves the above to and from several treatment containers. The transport car (5) comprises a chassis (7, 8, 9 to 12), which travels along the trajectory of the objects (4), at least one pivot arm (50, 51), connected to the chassis (7, 8, 9 to 12), a mounting (61) joined to the pivot arm (50, 51), for at least one object. The translational displacement and the pivoting displacement of the at least one pivot arm (50, 51) and the mounting (61) are effected by independent drive devices. In order to reduce the energy required for the pivoting of the pivot arms (50, 51), at least one energy store (42) is provided, which buffers the energy released on dropping the object as elastic energy and from which the buffered energy can be recovered to support the upwards motion of the object.
US07644674B1
An outrigger and hull provides outriggers mounted with hinges to plates that enable pivotal or rotatable movement of each outrigger between storage and operating positions. Locking members secure the outriggers from substantial movement when in the operating position.
US07644660B1
A pad printing system comprises, in one aspect, a flexible pad (100) with a front surface (125). One or more applicator heads (120, 130) applies one or more substances, including inks, paints, coatings, decals, water, varnish, solvents, catalysts, adhesives, and the like, to the front surface of the pad. The various substances can be applied in layers in any order. During or after application of the substance, applicator heads (140, 145) optionally apply treatments, such as radiative energy, gas, humidity, and the like, to the substance being applied. All components of the system are under the control of a controller (150) that derives information about the image to be printed from an image source (155). After an image and any overlying or underlying coatings are applied, the surface of the pad is urged into contact with a receiving object 200, whereupon the image and coatings are transferred from the pad to the receiving object. The pad is flat during application of substances to the pad. It is optionally bulged prior to transfer of the substances to the receiving surface.
US07644659B2
A cleaning device for surfaces of cylinders of a printing machine is provided, having at least one nozzle 23 with a nozzle opening 4 for a jet of cleaning fluid 13, a distribution line 22 for cleaning fluids, in which the nozzle 23 is inserted, as well as a cleaning element 20 for lifting contaminants, dissolved by the cleaning fluids, off the surface of the cylinder. The nozzle 23 is embodied as a separate component and detachably inserted in the distribution line 22. The nozzle 23 is made from a soft-elastic material. The nozzle 23 is provided with a deflector surface 6 arranged downstream from the nozzle opening 4 for deflecting and fanning a jet 13 exiting the nozzle opening 4, as well as a base 1 for inserting it into a distribution line 22, and a channel 11, which extends, on the one side, to a base opening 3 and, on the other side, to the nozzle opening 4. Furthermore, the invention relates to a nozzle for insertion in such a cleaning device.
US07644658B2
A blanket fastening assembly for securing an image transfer blanket to an intermediate transfer member drum of an electrostatic printer comprising a resilient biasing arrangement adapted to be connected to an end of the blanket to act in use so as to resiliently tension the blanket, with at least one end portion of the blanket being held in use by a resilient biasing clamping member which is adapted to move during the operational life of the drum so as to accommodate stretching of the blanket whilst maintaining tension in the blanket.
US07644657B1
A deformable pad (100) for pad printing has an initially flat side (105) and an opposite bulged side (110). An ink image (610) is applied to the flat side of the pad using an inkjet head (605) or other ink image source. The pad is then distorted using a ram (600) or hydrostatic or pneumatic source applied to a chamber (1300) so that the initially bulged side is flattened and the initially flat side bulges. After distortion, the now bulged side with the ink image is pressed against a receiving surface for transfer of the ink image to the surface. An alternative embodiment starts by deforming a pad to produce a flat surface, inking the surface with an image, then allowing the pad to relax, rendering the previously flat, image-bearing surface newly bulged. The newly-bulged surface is then temporarily urged against a receiving surface for transfer of the ink image.
US07644655B1
A commercial tomato strainer attachment includes a hopper having open top and bottom ends and a downwardly converging wall. The bottom end has a cylindrical shape and a smaller diameter than the top end. A bottom support member is coupled to the hopper bottom end and has a cavity vertically aligned therebeneath. A drive shaft extends through the cavity and has a helical blade traveling along a major length thereof that is partially seated within the bottom support member. The blade radius decreases from a proximal to a distal end thereof. A universal coupling is mounted to the support member exterior surface. The proximal drive shaft end and the coupling are attachable to a commercial mixer. The hollow chamber is coupled to the bottom support member, houses a major length of the blade and the drive shaft, and has a distal end for discharging tomatoes therefrom.
US07644654B2
A continuous flow pasteurization apparatus for a liquid product includes a pasteurization area divided into plural pasteurization zones, each with a connection for heating and/or cooling the product, so that if production stops, it is possible to hold the temperature below the pasteurizing temperature. Upon restarting, the product is reheated to a temperature close to the pasteurizing temperature. The apparatus provides for the control and monitoring of pasteurization units (PU's).
US07644651B2
Method and control arrangement for terminating an accidental switch on of a deep fryer apparatus when it is not filled with oil, the apparatus comprises a vessel having closed bottom and sides, and a horizontally formed electric heating element for direct contact with the oil within the vessel. At one or more points of the inner space of the vessel the temperature is measured, by which the accidental switch on state of the apparatus is detected and terminated at the same time in such a way that a derivative of the temperature measured at the one or more determined points is defined. The heating power is automatically cut off to terminate switched on state when the value of the derivative exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US07644642B2
A top clamp for steering systems used in cycles, such as motorcycles, is provided. The top clamp may be adapted to allow a hand guard crossbar to couple directly thereto. The top clamp may also have a steering damper mount plate adjustably coupled thereto to enable the movement of the handlebars from a forward position to a rearward position without causing the steering damper to move from axial alignment with the axial center of a steering tube.
US07644641B2
A rotor and a seat mounted on a first shell is disposed between an annular first shell and an annular second shell both constituting a damper case, thereby forming a rotary damper device. A damper lever on which the rotor is mounted is hooked on a fixing pin fixed to a body. Viscous fluid such as highly viscous oil is charged into a damper chamber formed between the rotor and the seat, and a viscous resistance is applied to the rotor and the seat. In a state in which a rotation center of the rotary damper device is deviated from a rotation center of the shaft which is rotated by the operating lever, the damper case is fixed to a flange portion of the shaft, the rotor and the seat are allowed to rotate relatively to each other by an inclining operation of the operating lever, and a resistance force from the rotary damper device is applied to the operating lever.
US07644639B2
A transmission is provided having a dual clutch, to achieve torque flow through a countershaft gearing arrangement. The countershaft gearing arrangement includes a plurality of co-planar gear sets having gears that are selectively connectable to a plurality of countershafts. At least one transfer gear set transfers torque from the counter shafts to an output shaft. The output shaft is connected to a final drive unit that has a final drive unit output shaft that is transverse to an input member connected at one end to a torque converter and at the other end to the dual clutch.
US07644638B2
An automatic transmission has a clutch mechanism, an oil pump, and a valve body that encloses a clutch hydraulic pressure control mechanism. The valve body is arranged axially adjacent to the clutch mechanism. The oil pump is offset from an input shaft of the transmission and arranged so as to overlap the valve body and/or the clutch mechanism when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the automatic transmission. This automatic transmission improves the control response of the clutch of the transmission while avoiding an increase in the size of the transmission.
US07644637B2
An apparatus for the transfer of samples from an analytical instrument has a sealable transfer capsule and a means for connecting the transfer capsule to a vacuum instrument, such as a FIB, through an interface connected to the instrument. The capsule has a door that can be opened to insert a sample holder, such as a TEM sample holder, into the instrument, and then closed when the sample holder holding an excised sample is retracted back into the transfer capsule. The instrument interface contains means for sealing the instrument before the transfer capsule holding a sample is disconnected, and for purging the transfer capsule with an inert gas. The sample may thus be transported in the sealed transfer capsule without exposure to the ambient atmosphere. The sample may be transported to and connected to a glove box also purged with an inert gas for examination or further operations.
US07644635B2
The invention relates to a position sensor which is intended, in particular, for detecting a steering column torsion. The invention consists of: a first magnetic rotor structure (10) comprising a plurality of radially-oriented magnets; a second stator structure comprising two rings (23, 24) which extend into axially-oriented overlapping teeth (25, 26); and a third fixed collector structure (30) comprising two flux-closing parts which define at least one air gap in which at least one magneto-sensitive element is placed. The invention is characterized in that the flux-closing parts and the stator rings (23, 24) define therebetween a constant collection surface that is independent of the relative radial position of the two structures.
US07644632B2
A meter for reproducibly and accurately measuring the delivery or flow rate of known fluids in chromatography and other pressure driven pumping systems, comprising a sense tube of known effective radius and length, coupled to a temperature measuring device, and enclosed in such a way as to allow the temperature of the tube and fluid to be measured, and optionally regulated. The invention is also useful for determining the viscosity of an unknown fluid or combination of fluids.
US07644630B2
The invention relates to a test bench that reproduces the performance of a gearbox. The invention consists of: at least one gearshift module (2) comprising a linear motor (12) and a ball joint (14) that can be used to convert a linear motion of the motor (12) into a rotational motion of a gearshift shaft (5) and a force sensor (17) that can be used to measure the force applied to the gearshift shaft (5). In particular embodiments of the invention, the test bench also comprises a vertical linear selection module or a horizontal selection module. The modules employed can be used to simulate forces as a function of the shift and selection position in a manner that is representative of a gearbox.
US07644627B2
An ultrasonic load measurement transducer is mated with a thread-forming fastener to provide a load indicating thread-forming fastener that can be used for the precise and reliable assembly of critical bolted joints, such as those in the automobile and aerospace industries, among others. Steps can then be taken to accurately measure and control the load in the thread-forming fastener during tightening, and to inspect the load in the thread-forming fastener after assembly. A similar result can be achieved for a thread-locking fastener by mating an ultrasonic transducer with the thread-locking fastener assembly.
US07644624B2
An artificial sensor comprises at least one substrate, and a plurality of flow sensors disposed on the at least one substrate for providing a plurality of spatial-temporally varying signals representing a hydrodynamic stimulus. The plurality of flow sensors are spatially distributed on the at least one substrate. A processor is coupled to the plurality of flow sensors for receiving the signals and determining spatial-temporal information from the received signals.
US07644621B2
The present invention relates to a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor includes a substrate assembly. The substrate assembly defines closed channels and includes a conductive layer. A conductive membrane extends from the substrate assembly and is spaced from the conductive layer. The conductive membrane defines a plurality of apertures. A cap extends from the substrate assembly to cover the membrane.
US07644617B2
An enclosed test stand may be enclosed by at least two reverberant boundary surfaces. Two of said at least two reverberant boundary surfaces may abut against each other to form an edge. A first linear array of microphones may be configured to detect acoustical signals of a sound field. The linear array of microphones may be arranged along the edge. An evaluating unit may be coupled to the linear array of microphones. The evaluating unit may be configured to locate sound sources of the sound field.
US07644613B2
A thermal flow sensor is equipped with a self-test unit that monitors the device and generates a fault signal in the presence of a malfunction. The self-test unit can e.g. monitor the integrity of a membrane carrying the heater and temperature sensors, or it can monitor various operational parameters of the device, thereby increasing the safety of the device.
US07644612B2
The disclosure relates to a thermal mass flow meter for determining a material flow through a vessel. The mass flow meter has at least two measuring elements immersed into a vessel with a flowing medium, with one of the measuring elements being heated. It is proposed that the heated measuring element is arranged in front of the unheated measuring element in the flow direction of the medium for at least part of the time, and for part of the time the unheated measuring element is arranged in front of the heated measuring element.
US07644610B2
Apparatus and method for downhole formation fluid sampling include conveying a carrier into a well borehole that traverses a subterranean formation of interest, the carrier having a port and placing the port in fluid communication with the subterranean formation of interest. The method includes urging a fluid into the port using a fluid control device, the fluid containing a formation fluid and a contaminant, generating a first signal indicative of a first fluid characteristic of the fluid using a first test device in communication with the fluid, and generating a second signal indicative of a second fluid characteristic of the fluid using a second test device in communication with the fluid. The first signal and the second signal are processed using a processing device to estimate a level of contamination in the fluid, and a control signal is generated when the estimated level of contamination meets a predetermined value, the control signal actuating the fluid control device to direct fluid having a level of contamination at about or below the predetermined value to a fluid sampling chamber carried by the carrier.
US07644609B2
Some embodiments include a housing including a dielectric portion, a particulate matter (“PM”) sensor fixed inside the housing such that the exhaust streaming through an exhaust system passes near and in electrical isolation from the PM sensor, the PM sensor including a terminal couplable to a PM sensing circuit to produce a PM sensor indication associated with sensed PM and a fastener coupled to the housing and mountable to the exhaust system to dispose the housing into the exhaust system such that exhaust streaming through the exhaust system passes outside the dielectric portion of the housing.
US07644606B2
Photoacoustic spectroscopy system and technique for remote sensing of explosives and toxic chemicals
A user-friendly photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) system and process (technique) provides an open-field PAS instrument, unit and device to remotely sense explosives, chemicals and biological agents. The PAS system and process can include: a pulsed tunable laser, such as a CO2 laser, a reflector, such as a parabolic reflector, an acoustic reverberant resonator in which a microphone is installed, and a data acquisition and analysis system.
US07644605B2
Displacement occurring by external force between a first member (a case, for example) and a second member (an LCD holder, for example) facing the first member is applied to a detection body (an external force detector), and a loading history of the external force (fracture surfaces) is detected by deformation of the detection body occurring when the force exceeds an allowable limit. Provided are a body section and a force receiving section (a head, arms) projected from the body section. The body section is provided between the first member and the second member facing the first member and is supported by either first or second members. The force receiving section deforms when external force acting in the direction crossing a gap between the first and second members or in the direction along the gap exceeds the allowable limit.
US07644600B1
The invention relates to a vacuum-assisted method and a device for forming an essentially flat blank (12) of metal into a thin-walled, shell-type body (14), especially for performing the method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, that has a supporting structure (16) forming a mold chamber (18) that holds the blank (12) during increasing deformation into the thin-walled, shell-body (14), a device (20) allocated to the supporting structure (16) for clamping the blank (12) about its circumference (22) to the supporting structure (16), that seals the reverse face (24) of the blank (12) facing towards the mold chamber (18) against the front face (26) of the blank (12) facing away from the mold chamber (18), and a device (28) allocated to the mold chamber (18) that also communicates with the mold chamber (18) for applying a vacuum and evacuating the mold chamber (18), and at least one forming tool (50) applied to the front face (26) of the blank (12) is/are allocated to the supporting structure (16), and the use of same.
US07644598B2
A vacuum valve for use with a blow mold in an I.S. machine. When the blow molds close around a parison, vacuum is applied to the wall of the blow mold. At some time following the application of the vacuum, final blow will occur blowing the parison into a bottle. This vacuum will be applied until the parison has been blown into a bottle. During the period during which vacuum is applied but final blow has not started, vacuum is reduced by operating a needle valve in the vacuum line.
US07644593B2
CO2 refrigeration circuit (2) for circulating a refrigerant in a predetermined flow direction, comprising in flow direction a heat-rejecting heat exchanger (4), a receiver (10) having a liquid portion (12) and a flash gas portion (14), and subsequent to the receiver (10) a medium temperature loop (20) and a low temperature loop (24), wherein the medium and low temperature loops (24) each comprise in flow direction an expansion device (26, 28), an evaporator (30, 32) and a compressor (46, 38), the refrigeration circuit (2) further comprising a liquid line (16) connecting the liquid portion (12) of the receiver (10) with at least one of the medium and low temperature loops (20, 24) and having an internal heat exchanger (54), and a flash gas line (50) connecting the flash gas portion (14) of the receiver (10) via the internal heat exchanger (54) with the inlet of the low temperature compressor (46), wherein the internal heat exchanger (54) transfers in use heat from the liquid flowing through the liquid line (16) to the flash gas flowing through the flash gas line (50).
US07644585B2
A multi-stage turbocharging system recovers exhaust energy that is conventionally lost in bypassing exhaust flow from one stage to another in a multi-stage turbocharging system. The exhaust energy is preserved through converting a portion of the exhaust energy of the bypassed flow from pressure to kinetic energy (velocity) by passing the bypassed flow through a VGT vane outlet or other variable geometry valve/nozzle, and then not allowing the accelerated flow to dissipate energy before reaching the subsequent stage's turbine wheel, where the accelerated flow may then be converted to a mechanical rotational force by the lower pressure turbine's wheel.
US07644584B2
A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes compressing intake air using a compressor, supplying the compressed intake air to at least one combustion chamber of the engine, operating the at least one combustion chamber to output exhaust gas, and directing the exhaust gas to an inlet of a turbine configured to drive the compressor. The method also includes directing the exhaust gas from an outlet of the turbine to an exhaust system, bypassing at least a portion of the compressed intake air around the at least one combustion chamber, and adjusting a geometry of the turbine from a first configuration to a second configuration. The turbine is in the second configuration when the at least the portion of the compressed intake air is bypassed around the at least one combustion chamber.
US07644581B2
A stirling engine includes a flow path which communicates a working space of the stirling engine and a crankcase of the stirling engine. An output of the stirling engine is controlled so that the output lowers when a pressure inside the working space is higher than a pressure in the crankcase, with a transfer of a fluid in the working space to the crankcase via the flow path thereby causing a decrease in the pressure of the working space.
US07644578B2
A vehicle exhaust aftertreatment system for controlling emissions from an engine includes, in serial order: an exhaust outlet from the engine, an exhaust catalyst assembly that is in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet and includes a first NOx component coupled with a downstream oxidation catalyst, and a second NOx adsorber that is downstream from and in fluid communication with the oxidation catalyst of the exhaust catalyst assembly.
US07644573B2
A system capable of both increasing warm day output and maintaining compressor operating margin across the ambient and load range of a gas turbine combined cycle installation. The proposed solution takes advantage of the fact that both goals can be satisfied by manipulation of compressor inlet air temperature. Specifically, the system is designed to heat inlet air as may be required to maintain safe compressor operating margin at low ambient air temperatures or when burning dilute fuels. In the alternative, the system is designed to cool inlet air on warm days.
US07644566B2
A curtain for directing severed crop movement in a cutting header in an agricultural harvester. The curtain optimizes crop movement between a cutterbar to a crop conveying auger for lateral movement of the crop material from outboard ends of the cutting header toward an interior discharge zone for formation of a windrow. The curtain also reduces the tendency for clogging that occurs when crop approaches conveying augers on both sides of an axial centerline by directing all crop material toward the trailing side of the rotating auger and by preventing airflow generated by the auger from disrupting crop approaching the auger. Crop smoothing by the curtain also reduces disturbances to the crop material during movement within the header which reduces seed loss in seed-bearing specialty crops.
US07644565B2
A device for mounting an edge trimmer to a lawnmower, comprising a front clamp mounted to the lawnmower, and a rear clamp mounted to the lawnmower, wherein the front and rear clamps receive and support a shaft of the edge trimmer, and are adjustable to different angles with respect to a first axis substantially parallel to a surface on which the lawnmower rests.
US07644564B2
A modular pruning machine used in agriculture, viticulture, fruit growing, tree growing or for brush clearing has at least one cutter bar. The cutter bar has cutting modules affixed thereto. Each of the cutting modules has a rotary cutting tool and a three-phase asynchronous electric motor such that the three-phase asynchronous electric motor individually rotatably drives the rotary cutting tool.
US07644560B2
A new method and system for establishing, and optionally maintaining, a desired atmosphere for perishable or atmosphere-sensitive goods during their storage and/or transportation. In one embodiment, a conveyor is used to move a pallet with goods from station to station. A mechanical arm at a sheeting station lifts goods from a pallet while one or more sheets are placed between the goods and the pallet. A bottom plate with fingers having hollow tubes holds the pallet while the pallet is being wrapped and enclosed. A portable manifold may also be connected to the hollow tubes and a controller samples and adjusts atmosphere inside the pallet via the portable manifold.
US07644555B2
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US07644553B2
The invention relates to a novel covering, especially a floor covering or similar, based on panels (9, 9′) made of wood or a derived timber product, especially (décor) laminated panels of wood or derived timber products, with a carrier on the underside and a wear layer on the visible side. Said panels are adhesively supported, can be arranged laterally and adjacently, and are provided with laterally, optionally mutually latchable or clickable positive locking elements such as grooves (92) and tongues (91). The covering is characterised in that the groove(s) (92) and/or the tongues (91) of individual panels (9, 9′) or individual surface areas thereof (921 925; 911 915) is/are provided with a filling, and a coating (95) with an extrusion (96) or similar made adhesive properties during the lateral adjacent assembly of the panels (9, 9′) which is carried out by means of the groove(s) (92) and tongue(s) thereof, and/or made out of an adhesive activator which initiates or activates adhesive properties. The invention also relates to the panels used for the covering and production thereof.
US07644547B2
An exterior sill assembly preferably for a window has a preferably extruded body, and attachable facial and preferably end caps for covering open ends of a cavity defined by the body. The body has a substantially vertical flange for mounting to a structure preferably below a window frame. A sill projects outward from the flange to a distal portion and preferably a support plate spaced below the sill and projecting outward from the flange to a distal segment. Attachment features are carried between the facial, the distal portion and the distal segment for releasable engagement of the facial to the body. Fasteners disposed in-part in the cavity extend through the flange for engagement into the structure. Preferably, the fasteners are used in conjunction with respective members for distributing stress loads across the flange.
US07644531B2
An apparatus and method for aligning and aiming a firearm include a firearm alignment device. In an embodiment, the firearm alignment device includes a reflective surface. The reflective surface provides an image. The firearm alignment device also includes an opening in the reflective surface. A barrel of a firearm is disposable in the opening. In addition, the firearm alignment device includes a removeable band. The removeable band is horizontally disposed on the reflective surface.
US07644527B2
An accordion sign assembly includes a sign holder and an accordion sign. The sign holder has an elongate shape and an upper surface. The accordion sign includes a plurality of sections for displaying indicia, the sections defining a top edge, a bottom edge, and being interconnected at a plurality of pleats. The accordion sign also includes a plurality of tabs connected to the bottom edge of the plurality of sections at a plurality of fold lines that are substantially orthogonal to the plurality of sections. The plurality of tabs are folded relative to the plurality of sections to extend substantially orthogonally from the plurality of sections. A plurality of fasteners secures the plurality of tabs to the sign holder.
US07644526B2
An extension tool is provided for stretching a sheet-shaped material over its entirety with minimal adjusting portions and uniform tension. Four corner members are disposed along with four frame members for forming a rectangular frame. Four rods are disposed so as to pass through the four frame members and allow the sides and corners to move towards and away from each other for adjusting the size of the frame. One set of corner members are located on the diagonals and are provided with a moving mechanism for moving the rods along the sides of the rectangle. The extension tool for tensioning the material further comprises a transmission mechanism for converting the movement of a rod in a first side of the rectangle between first corner pairs into a reversing and approaching movement of a second rod in a second side of the frame between second corner pairs.
