US07671456B2
An integrated circuit (IC) package is disclosed. The IC package includes a first die; and a second die bonded to the CPU die in a three dimensional packaging layout.
US07671448B2
It is an object of the present invention to form an organic transistor including an organic semiconductor having high crystallinity without loosing an interface between an organic semiconductor of a channel where carriers are spread out and a gate insulating layer and deteriorating a yield. A semiconductor device according to the present invention has a stacked structure of organic semiconductor layers, and at least the upper organic semiconductor layer is in a polycrystalline or a single crystalline state and the lower organic semiconductor layer is made of a material serving as a channel. Carrier mobility can be increased owing to the upper organic semiconductor layer having high crystallinity; thus, insufficient contact due to the upper organic semiconductor layer can be compensated by the lower organic semiconductor layer.
US07671437B2
A photogate structure having increased quantum efficiency, especially for low wavelength light such as blue light. The photogate is formed of a thin conductive layer, such as a layer of doped polysilicon. A nitride insulating cap is formed over the conductive layer. The nitride layer reduces the reflections at the conductor/insulator interface. A pixel cell incorporating the photogate structure also has a buried accumulation region beneath the photogate. A method of fabricating the photogate structure is also disclosed.
US07671434B2
An electronic component includes: a base a seal body fixed to the base, constituting a hermetically sealed space together with the base; and an electronic component main body attached to a metal substrate via an adhesive containing silver within the hermetically sealed space. The base has a nickel plated layer, substantially not containing phosphor, on the seal body side.
US07671426B2
In a MIS transistor of which gate length is 10 nm or less, a gate insulator comprising a silicon oxide film formed on a silicon substrate and a high-k film formed on the silicon oxide film has a nitrided region including more nitrogen at the lateral side than at the central side in the gate-length direction, and including more nitrogen at the upper side than at the lower side in the film thickness direction. The reliability and characteristics of a MIS transistor using a gate insulator including a high-k (high dielectric constant) film is enhanced.
US07671422B2
A pseudo 6T SRAM cell design comprising eight transistors is provided. An embodiment comprises a pair of cross-coupled inverters and a pair of pass-gate transistors electrically coupled to each inverter through the substrate. Each pass-gate transistor has a different beta ratio from the other transistor in its pair, and the smaller beta ratio in the pair acts as a “read” port while the larger beta ratio in the pair acts as a “write” port. Two pairs of bit lines are connected to the pass-gate transistors. A variety of word lines are connected to the pass-gate transistors. In one embodiment, a single word line is connected to all of the pass-gate transistors. In another embodiment, a pair of word lines is connected to the pass-gate transistors. In yet another embodiment, a different word line is connected to each pass-gate transistor.
US07671420B2
Disclosed are processes and techniques for fabricating semiconductor substrates for the manufacture of semiconductor devices, particularly CMOS devices, that include selectively formed, high quality single crystal or monocrystalline surface regions exhibiting different crystal orientations. At least one of the surface regions will incorporate at least one faceted epitaxial semiconductor structure having surfaces that exhibit a crystal orientation different than the semiconductor region on which the faceted epitaxial semiconductor structure is formed. According, the crystal orientation in the channel regions of the NMOS and/or PMOS devices may be configured to improve the relative performance of at least one of the devices and allow corresponding redesign of the semiconductor devices fabricated using such a process.
US07671419B2
A transistor having an electrode layer that can reduce or prevent a coupling effect, a fabricating method thereof, and an image sensor having the same are provided. The transistor includes a semiconductor substrate and a well of a first conductivity type formed on the semiconductor substrate. A heavily-doped first impurity region of a first conductivity type surrounds an active region defined in the well. Heavily-doped second and third impurity regions of a second conductivity type are spaced apart from each other in the active region an define a channel region interposed therebetween. A gate is formed over the channel region to cross the active region. The gate overlaps at least a portion of the first impurity region and receives a first voltage. An electrode layer is formed between the semiconductor substrate and the gate, such that the electrode layer overlaps a portion of the first impurity region contacting the channel region and receives a second voltage. An insulation layer is formed between the semiconductor substrate and the electrode layer, the semiconductor substrate and the gate, and the electrode layer and the gate. The insulation layer surrounds the electrode layer.
US07671406B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having a non-volatile memory cell includes forming an insulation layer as an uppermost/outermost portion of the memory cell to enhance the charge retention capability of the memory cell. The insulation layer is formed after the gate structure and integrate dielectric of the non-volatile memory cell, and a gate of a logic transistor are formed. The insulation layer thus enhances the function of the intergate dielectric. Subsequently, a conductive layer is formed on the substrate including over the gate of the logic transistor. A silicide layer is then formed on the gate of the logic transistor and on the substrate adjacent opposite sides of the gate. The insulation layer thus also serves prevent the formation of a silicide layer on the non-volatile memory cell.
US07671403B2
A device includes a substrate and multiple wells formed over the substrate and isolated from one another by dielectric trenches. The device further includes multiple memory elements formed over the wells, each of the memory elements extending approximately perpendicular to the wells and including a material doped with n-type impurities. The device also includes multiple source/drain regions, each source/drain region formed within one of multiple trenches and inside one of the plurality of wells between a pair of the memory elements, each of the source/drain regions implanted with p-type impurities. The device further includes a first substrate contact formed in a first one of the multiple trenches through a first one of the wells into the substrate and a second substrate contact formed in a second one of the multiple trenches through a second one of the wells into the substrate.
US07671402B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: a substrate; a photoelectric transducer that is provided within the substrate and generates light-generated charge in accordance with incident light; a floating diffusion that retains the light-generated charge generated from the photoelectric transducer; a transfer and retention unit that is provided between the photoelectric transducer and the floating diffusion for a purpose of controlling a transfer of the light-generated charge and has a charge-retaining region that can retain the light-generated charge generated from the photoelectric transducer; a reset unit that initializes a potential of the floating diffusion; an amplifying transistor that generates an output based on a potential of the floating diffusion; a selection transistor that selectively outputs an output of the amplifying transistor; and an excessive charge-discharging unit that discharges excessive electric charge generated from the photoelectric transducer.
US07671399B2
A semiconductor storage device in which product cost is reduced includes a memory cell section (cells belonging to word lines) and a bypass section (cells belonging to bypass word lines). The memory cell section has a select gate, floating gates, a first diffusion region, a second diffusion region and a first control gate. The bypass section has the first select gate, the first diffusion region, the second diffusion region and a second control gate. The second control gate controls a channel in an area between the select gate and the first diffusion region or between the select gate and the second diffusion region. The channel of the bypass section becomes a current supply path when a cell of the memory cell section is read out.
US07671394B2
A deep trench is formed in a semiconductor substrate and a pad layer thereupon, and filled with a dummy node dielectric and a dummy trench fill. A shallow trench isolation structure is formed in the semiconductor substrate. A dummy gate structure is formed in a device region after removal of the pad layer. A first dielectric layer is formed over the dummy gate structure and a protruding portion of the dummy trench fill and then planarized. The dummy structures are removed. The deep trench and a cavity formed by removal of the dummy gate structure are filled with a high dielectric constant material layer and a metallic layer, which form a high-k node dielectric and a metallic inner electrode of a deep trench capacitor in the deep trench and a high-k gate dielectric and a metal gate in the device region.
US07671382B2
A semiconductor device which includes a radiating plate, a wiring patterned layer on the radiating plate via an insulating layer, at least one semiconductor chip mounted on the wiring patterned layer. The semiconductor chip has a surface electrode. The semiconductor device further includes a conductive lead plate electrically connected with the surface electrode of the semiconductor chip, and a resin package of thermoplastic resin having anisotropic linear expansion coefficient varying based upon directions. The resin package covers the wiring patterned layer, the semiconductor chip, the conductive lead plate, and at least a portion of the radiating plate. The conductive lead plate extends in a direction which provides the resin package with the maximum linear expansion coefficient. In the semiconductor device so structured, the warpage of the resin package is reduced both in longitudinal and transverse directions.
US07671379B2
A semiconductor system for voltage limitation includes a first cover electrode, a highly p-doped semiconductor layer that is connected to the first cover electrode, a slightly n-doped semiconductor layer that is connected to the highly p-doped semiconductor layer and a second cover electrode. At least one p-doped semiconductor layer and two highly n-doped semiconductor layers are provided next to one another in an alternating sequence between the slightly n-doped semiconductor layer and the second cover electrode.
US07671369B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor display device having an interlayer insulating film which can obtain planarity of a surface while controlling film formation time, can control treatment time of heating treatment with an object of removing moisture, and can prevent moisture in the interlayer insulating film from being discharged to a film or an electrode adjacent to the interlayer insulating film. An inorganic insulating film containing nitrogen, which is less likely to transmit moisture compared with an organic resin, is formed so as to cover a TFT. Next, an organic resin film containing photosensitive acrylic resin is applied to the organic insulting film, and the organic resin film is partially exposed to light to be opened. Thereafter, an inorganic insulting film containing nitrogen, which is less likely to transmit moisture compared with an organic resin, is formed so as to cover the opened organic resin film. Then, in the opening part of the organic resin film, a gate insulating film and the two layer inorganic insulating film containing nitrogen are opened partially by etching to expose an active layer of the TFT.
US07671368B2
A capacitor including a polysilicon layer doped with impurities to be conductive, a first dielectric layer formed on the polysilicon layer, a first conductive layer formed on the first dielectric layer, a second dielectric layer formed on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer formed on the first dielectric layer. The second conductive layer is coupled to the polysilicon layer.
US07671366B2
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor. The thin film transistor includes a semiconductor having first, second, third, fourth, and fifth electrode regions arranged in a direction and spaced apart from each other and first, second, third, and fourth offset regions disposed between the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth electrode regions, respectively. An input electrode is connected to the third electrode region, an output electrode is connected to the first and fifth electrode regions, an insulating layer is disposed on the semiconductor, and a control electrode is disposed on the insulating layer and the second and fourth electrode regions.
US07671364B2
A thin film transistor (TFT) substrate comprises: a plastic insulation substrate; a first silicon nitride layer with a first refractive index, formed one surface of the plastic insulation substrate; and a TFT comprising a second silicon nitride layer formed with a second refractive index smaller than the first refractive index on the first silicon nitride layer. Thus, the present invention provides a TFT substrate wherein there is reduced a problem in that thin films are lifted from a plastic insulation substrate.
US07671355B2
The present invention relates to a phase change memory and a method of fabricating a phase change memory. The phase change memory includes a heater structure disposed on a phase change material pattern, wherein the heater structure is in a tapered shape with a bottom portion contacting the phase change material pattern. The fabrication of the phase change memory is compatible with the fabrication of logic devices, and accordingly an embedded phase change memory can be fabricated.
US07671348B2
Carbon contamination of optical elements in an exposure tool is minimized by incorporating a hydrocarbon getter. Embodiments include EUV lithography tools provided with at least one hydrocarbon getter comprising a substrate and a high energy source, such as an electron gun or separate EUV source, positioned to direct an energy beam, having sufficient energy to crack heavy hydrocarbons and form carbon, on the substrate. Embodiments also include exposure tools equipped with a hydrocarbon getter comprising an energy source positioned to impinge a beam of energy on a quartz crystal thickness monitor, a residual gas analyzer, and a controller to control the electron-current and maintain the amount of hydrocarbons in the system at a predetermined low level.
US07671340B2
Embodiments relate to an imaging system that includes a collimator assembly having one or more pinhole apertures therein. The imaging system is configured so that one or more of the pinhole apertures has an adjustable focal length. The imaging system further includes a detector assembly configured to generate one or more signals in response to gamma rays that pass through the one or more pinhole apertures. Embodiments also relate to methods of changing collimator performance and methods of imaging a volume.
US07671334B2
A viewing device is used with coded data on a surface. The device includes a sensor arrangement for sensing the coded data when the device is placed on the surface, and a processor in signal communication with the sensor arrangement. The processor is configured to decode the coded data. Also included is a transceiver for transmitting the decoded data to a computer system, and to subsequently receive a file pre-associated with the decoded data from the computer system. The device also includes a display configured to display the received file to a user.
US07671326B2
Disclosed is an image inputting apparatus including: a base; a sensor main body coupled with the base so as to be able to move in a vertical direction on the base; a switch provided on either one of an upper surface side of the base or a lower surface side of the sensor main body; and a convex part provided on another one of the upper surface side of the base or the lower surface side of the sensor main body at a position facing to the switch.
US07671315B2
Provided is a 4-transistor CMOS image in which a driving condition or a pixel structure is changed so that a transfer transistor in a pixel operates in a pinch-off condition during reset and transfer operations in order to reduce dark current and fixed-pattern noise caused by a change in an operation condition of the transfer transistor and inter-pixel characteristic discrepancy. The image sensor includes a photosensitive pixel including a transfer transistor for transferring photon-induced charges created in a photodiode; and a voltage control unit for controlling a turn-on voltage applied to a gate of the transfer transistor to be lower than a floating diffusion node voltage plus the threshold voltage of the transfer transistor during a partial or entire section of a turn-on section of the transfer transistor such that the transfer transistor operates in a pseudo pinch-off mode.
US07671307B2
A transversal field heating installation for inductively heating flat objects transported in an advancing direction includes at least one inductor unit that extends across the width of the flat object. The inductor unit has at least two superimposed inductor layers parallel to the plane of the flat object. These inductor layers can be independently displaced transversally in relation to the advancing direction of the flat object, and each have two inductor sections with two parallel interspaced base limbs extending transversally in relation to the advancing direction and one lateral limb. Each inductor layer has lateral limb per strip edge of the flat object. The inductor sections of an inductor layer can be independently displaced transversally in relation to the advancing direction of the flat object.
US07671306B1
An improved method for the production of single walled carbon nanotubes that utilizes an RF-induction heated side-pumped synthesis chamber for the production of such. Such a method, while capable of producing large volumes of carbon nanotubes, concurrently permits the use of a simplified apparatus that allows for greatly reduced heat up and cool down times and flexible flowpaths that can be readily modified for production efficiency optimization. The method of the present invention utilizes a free electron laser operating at high average and peak fluence to illuminate a rotating and translating graphite/catalyst target to obtain high yields of SWNTs without the use of a vacuum chamber.
US07671296B2
The present invention concerns the nose-piece of a laser-beam drilling head for a drilling machine, emitting a pulsed laser beam, where the drill head includes a resource which is suitable for mounting the nose-piece, where the nose-piece includes a first laser beam entry opening and a second pulsed laser beam exit opening and a beam focusing resource arranged upstream of the second opening, characterized by the fact that a mirror is positioned in the optical path of the laser beam downstream of the said beam-forming resource, so that the emerging beam forms an angle of less than 180° with the entering beam, and where the nose-piece includes a laser-beam fluid assisting feed that is arranged so that the said fluid is emitted via the second opening in the direction of the laser beam.
US07671293B2
A sorting device and method for dynamically allocating bins to objects such as mail pieces. The device has at least one reading device for reading delivery information of objects and a conveying system which transports the objects. At least one feeder inducts the objects onto the conveying system. A plurality of physical bin locations are adjacent to the conveying system for storage of the object injected from the conveying system. A controller or processor dynamically assigns and reassigns sort locations, as required, to the plurality of physical bin locations during a sorting operation for each object of the objects.
US07671291B2
An operations panel wherein a board having an upper surface where a plurality of switches is provided is provided in a housing, the operations panel includes a base where the board is arranged; a cover forming the housing together with the base, the cover having an upper surface having a part where a plurality of concave parts is formed in positions corresponding to the switches; a plurality of key tops provided at the concave parts from outside in a state where operations parts and projection parts including engaging claws are inserted via a plurality of openings formed in the concave parts; and an intermediate member provided between the cover and the board.
US07671281B2
An inexpensive multilayer wiring circuit board capable of conducting high frequency switching operation on the circuit while the generation of high frequency noise is being suppressed by reducing the inductance of the circuit in provided. A multilayer wiring circuit board with an uppermost layer designated as a first layer on which parts are mounted; a second layer on which one of a ground layer and an electric power source layer is arranged; a third layer on which the other is arranged; and an insulating layer arranged between the ground layer and the electric power source layer. A resin layer having a thermoplastic adhesion property on both faces is used as material of the insulating layer arranged between the electric power source layer and the ground layer.
US07671278B2
Provided herewith a cable (1, 2) with EMI suppressing arrangement which comprises a conductive wire (10) and an insulative layer (20) enveloping over the wire. A braided metal layer (30) envelops over the insulative layer, and a magnetic layer (40, 501) is arranged thereover. And an insulative jacket (50, 502) envelops over the magnetic layer.
US07671271B2
A method for producing a solar cell including the steps of forming a p-type microcrystalline silicon oxide layer on a glass substrate using a PECVD method and raw gases comprising Silane gas, Diborane gas, Hydrogen gas and Carbon Dioxide gas. The method may employ a frequency of between about 13.56-60 MHz. The PECVD method may be performed at a power density of between about 10-40 mW/cm2 and a pressure of between about 0.5-2 Torr, and with a ratio of Carbon Dioxide to Silane of between about 0.10-0.24; a ratio of Diborane to Silane of 0.10 or less, and a ratio of Silane to Hydrogen of 0.01 or less. A tandem solar cell structure may be formed by forming top and bottom layers by the method described above, and placing the top layer over the bottom layer.
US07671264B1
A lightweight, portable, flexible protective cover for a guitar is disclosed. Upon placement of the cover in an operative position onto the guitar, the protective cover is adapted to provide unobstructed access to and use of the functional control elements of the guitar during the playing thereof.
US07671259B1
In order to be able to salvage toy pianos that have become damaged during shipping, a process has been developed to manufacture toy pianos using a set of predetermined jigs in order to cut the parts of the piano in order to achieve uniform pieces in the event of damage to the piano and the replacement of a piece on the piano becomes necessary. Rather than the entire piano needing to be discarded the damage part can simply be removed and a new piece put in its place.
US07671246B2
A catalytic process for converting biomass-derived carbohydrates to liquid alkanes, alkenes, and/or ethers is described. The process uses combinations of self- and crossed-aldol condensation reactions, dehydration reactions, and hydrogenation reactions, over specified metal-containing catalysts, to yield alkane, alkene, and ether products from carbohydrate reactants.
US07671241B2
The invention provides a host material for organic light emitting diodes, having the general formula: wherein R1 is selected from a C1-8 alkyl group, each R2 is independently selected from a hydrogen or a C1-8 alkyl group, Ar is selected from a C5-14 aromatic or hetero aromatic group, R3 is selected from a C5-14 aromatic or hetero aromatic group, a C1-8 alkyl group, a C5-8 cycloalkyl group, a C1-8 fluoroalkyl group, or a C1-8 alkoxyl group, and n is an integer of 1-10. The host materials have a higher energy gap (greater than 4.0 eV), and high thermal stability.
US07671238B2
The present invention is directed to arylamino-arylpropanolamine derivatives of formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, compositions containing these derivatives, and methods of their use for the prevention and treatment of conditions ameliorated by monoamine reuptake including, inter alia, vasomotor symptoms (VMS), sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal and genitourinary disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, nervous system disorders, and combinations thereof, particularly those conditions selected from the group consisting of major depressive disorder, vasomotor symptoms, stress and urge urinary incontinence, fibromyalgia, pain, diabetic neuropathy, and combinations thereof.
US07671228B2
A method of forming a polyethercarbonate polyol enhances incorporation of CO2 into the polyethercarbonate polyol. The method provides a catalyst including a multimetal cyanide compound. An H-functional initiator, an alkylene oxide, and CO2 are reacted in the presence of the multimetal cyanide compound in a reactor. The method further provides a CO2-philic compound or a CO2-philic substituent. The CO2-philic compound and substituent enhance incorporation of the CO2 into the polyethercarbonate polyol and reduce formation of cyclic alkylene carbonates, such as cyclic propylene carbonate, which are undesirable byproducts.
US07671226B2
The present invention relates to a transition metal complex represented by the formula (I): wherein M represents a Group 4 transition metal; —Y— represents (a): —C(R1)(R20)-A-, (b): —C(R1)(R20)-A1(R30)—, (c): —C(R1)=A1-, or (d): —C(R1)=A1-A2-R30; A represents a Group 16 element and A1 and A2 each represents a Group 15 element; R1 to R9, R20, and R30 are the same or different and each represents an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group, etc.; and X1 and X2 are the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an optionally substituted C1-10 alkyl group, etc., and an intermediate product thereof, and a catalyst for olefin polymerization which comprises said transition metal complex as a component.
US07671224B2
According to the present invention there is provided a compound in the form of a transition metal compound including a transition metal, a phosphorus containing ligand, and a cyclic organic ligand. The phosphorus containing ligand is a heterocyclic organic compound with a ligating phosphorus atom which ligates with the transition metal, and which ligating phosphorus atom is an atom in the heterocyclic ring structure of the heterocyclic organic compound. The cyclic organic ligand is a cyclic organic compound with a ligating carbon atom in the cyclic ring structure of the cyclic organic compound which ligates with the transition metal by means of a double bound. The invention also relates to a method preparing such a compound and a metathesis reaction wherein such a compound is used as a catalyst.
US07671213B2
Optically active bisoxazoline compounds represented by the general formula (1), a process for producing the compounds, and a process for producing cyclopropanecarboxylic esters by using the same: wherein R1 and R2 are the same and each represents C1-6 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or R1 and R2 are bonded each other together with the carbon atom of oxazoline ring to which they are bonded to form a ring; R3 is substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl; R4 and R5 are the same and each represent hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl, or R4 and R5 are bonded each other together with the carbon atom to which they are bonded to form a cycloalkyl ring having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; and * represents an asymmetric center.
US07671209B2
Methods of synthesizing nicotine analogs and derivatives are described. The methods are particularly useful for the regioselective production of enantiomerically pure nicotine analogs having substituents at the C4 position. Intermediates useful for the synthesis of such compounds are also described.
US07671208B2
An acetone solvate of phthaloyl amlodipine, as well as a process for its preparation including dissolving phthaloyl amlodipine in acetone and cooling the mixture. The present invention also comprises a method for the synthesis of amlodipine, its salts or solvates, which comprises the use of an acetone solvate of phthaloyl amlodipine.
US07671207B2
A process for preparing thiazolidinediones, preferably pioglitazone, is described. Also described are intermediates involved in synthesizing thiazolidinediones, and processes for preparation and use in medicine.
US07671203B2
An apparatus and method for separating at least one narcotic alkaloid that includes loading a stationary phase media into a high performance preparative liquid chromatography column, feeding a crude narcotic alkaloid solution into the chromatographic column, applying a mobile phase to the chromatographic column, and recovering a narcotic alkaloid eluate from the chromatographic column. The narcotic eluates arc collected and treated separately from each other. Each separated alkaloid, however, has sufficient recovery and purity.
US07671202B2
Mono- and diimide perylene and naphthalene compounds, N- and core-substituted with electron-withdrawing groups, for use in the fabrication of various device structures.
US07671201B2
Certain novel phenyl substituted cyclic derivatives have unexpected insecticidal activity. These compounds are represented by formula I: where B is a cyclic bridging group containing at least one N or N oxide link and a, A, b, B, c, d, D, L, M, R1 through R9, inclusively, and R13, R14 and R15 are fully described herein. In addition, novel intermediates useful in preparing compounds of Formula I, compositions comprising an insecticidally effective amount of at least one compound of formula I, and optionally, an effective amount of at least one of a second compound, with at least one insecticidally compatible carrier are also disclosed; along with methods of controlling insects comprising applying said compositions to a locus where insects are present or are expected to be present.
US07671196B2
The present invention relates to methods for synthesizing compounds useful as 5HT2C agonists or partial agonists, derivatives thereof, and to intermediates thereto.
US07671189B2
The invention relates to haloalkane dehalogenases and to polynucleotides encoding the haloalkane dehalogenases. In addition methods of designing new dehalogenases and method of use thereof are also provided. The dehalogenases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.
US07671187B2
Tools and methods are provided for determining whether or not a dog is genetically normal, is a carrier of, or is affected with or predisposed to progressive rod-cone degeneration. The method is based on the detection of a transversion from G to A at position corresponding to nucleotide position 1298 of SEQ ID NO: 1.
US07671186B2
Multimeric hybrid genes encoding the corresponding chimeric protein comprise a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a first pathogen linked to a gene sequence coding for an antigenic region of a protein from a second pathogen. The pathogens particularly are parainfluenza virus (PIV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A single recombinant immunogen is capable of protecting infants and similar susceptible individuals against diseases caused by both PIV and RSV.
US07671165B2
A method of forming polycarbonate includes the steps of introducing a plurality of reaction components to a reactor operating under melt polymerization conditions and removing ester-substituted phenol from the reactor. The plurality of reaction components include a dihydroxy compound, an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate, and a melt transesterification catalyst. The reaction components are introduced in a plurality of reaction component streams. A first reaction component streams includes a melt transesterification catalyst dissolved or suspended in a liquid carrier containing an ester-substituted phenol. The composition of the first reaction component stream is selected such that ester-substituted phenol is not generated as a reaction product in the first reaction component stream.
US07671158B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in which a double diphenylethylene compound is reacted with a polymer that contains a carbocationically terminated chain thereby providing a 1,1-diphenylene end-functionalized chain. Subsequently, an alkylating agent is reacted with the 1,1-diphenylene end-functionalized chain, thereby providing an alkylated 1,1-diphenylene end-functionalized chain. In some embodiments, the method further comprises (a) optionally combining a 1,1-diphenylorganolithium compound with the alkylated 1,1-diphenylene end-functionalized polymer followed by (b) reacting an organolithium compound with the alkylated 1,1-diphenylene end-functionalized polymer. This provides an anionically terminated polymer, which can be used, for example, in subsequent anionic polymerization and coupling reactions. According to another aspect of the present invention, a novel polymer is provided that comprises a polymer chain, which chain further comprises the following: (a) a plurality of constitutional units that correspond to cationically polymerizable monomer species and (b) an end-cap comprising a group or a group, where R is a branched or unbranched alkyl group containing from 1 to 20 carbons and R1 is a branched, unbranched, or cyclic alkyl group or an aryl group, containing from 1 to 20 carbons. Other aspects of the present invention relate to novel copolymers that comprise: (a) a first polymer block that comprises a plurality of constitutional units that correspond to isobutylene; and (b) a second polymer block that comprises a plurality of constitutional units that correspond to hydroxyethyl methacrylate.
US07671157B2
The C—H bond of pendant aromatic groups such as commercial polystyrenes with three types of tacticities (syndiotactic, isotactic, atactic) undergo catalyzed functionalization with boron reagents. A boronic ester group formed on the polymer in the polystyrene was further converted to hydroxy and arene via oxidation and coupling reactions, respectively. These functionalizations proceeded without significantly affecting the molecular weight of starting polymer and the functional concentrations could be easily controlled by changing the ratio of boron reagent to monomer unit.
US07671143B2
Disclosed herein is a flame retardant polycarbonate resin composition having high heat resistance and good impact resistance. The flame retardant polycarbonate composition is prepared by incorporating into a polycarbonate resin a silicon-based core-shell graft copolymer, in which a vinyl monomer is graft polymerized onto a rubber comprising about 20 to about 95% by weight of silicon, and optionally a phosphoric acid ester compound. The present invention can accordingly provide superior flame retardance while maintaining good impact resistance, high flowability and high heat resistance.
US07671142B2
A thermoplastic resin composition which comprises (A) 1 to 99 parts by weight of polytrimethylene terephthalate and (B) 99 to 1 part by weight of a polycarbonate, wherein the ingredient (A) crystallization enthalpy, ΔHcc, which is obtained when the thermoplastic resin composition is heated from 0 ° C. at a rate of 20° C./min is 0 to 15 J/g.
US07671138B2
A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (i) polymerizing conjugated diene monomer by employing a lanthanide-based catalyst to form a reactive polymer, and (ii) reacting the reactive polymer with a hydrobenzamide compound.
US07671136B2
A functionalized polymer prepared by a process comprising the steps of preparing a pseudo-living polymer by polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, the polymer having greater than about 85 percent in the 1,4-cis microstructure and less than about 3 percent in the 1,2- or 3,4-microstructure, and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with at least one functionalizing agent defined by the formula (I) or (II): where Z is a substituent that will react or interact with organic or inorganic fillers; with the proviso that each group attached to the imino carbon is attached via a carbon atom and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R13, R14 and Z are substituents that will not protonate a pseudo-living polymer.
US07671133B2
A vulcanized fluoro rubber is provided by vulcanizing a composition comprising 100 parts by mass of mixture in which a raw fluoro rubber (A) in which appropriate amount of vulcanizing agent has been previously compounded and a raw fluoro rubber (B) in which the vulcanizing agent is not compounded are mixed at a rate of 8/2 to 3/7, 1 to 10 parts by mass of an acid acceptor and 0 to 5 parts by mass of another compounding agent which is compounded as needed. Number average molecular weight of each of the raw fluoro rubber (A) and the raw fluoro rubber (B) is 3.5×104 to 2.0×105.
US07671132B1
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a ground contacting tread, the tread comprising a rubber composition comprising from 30 to 70 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of s first elastomer (phr) having a glass transition temperature Tg ranging from about −40° C. to about −10° C. and a solubility parameter ranging from about 4.1 MPa1/2 to about 4.5 MPa1/2; from 70 to 30 phr of a second elastomer having a Tg ranging from about −105° C. to about −30° C. and a solubility parameter ranging from about 3.7 MPa1/2 to about 4.1 MPa1/2; from 1 to 40 phr of a first plasticizer having a solubility parameter ranging from 3.4 MPa1/2 to 3.8 MPa1/2; from 1 to 20 phr of a second plasticizer having a solubility parameter ranging from 4.3 MPa1/2 to 4.7 MPa1/2; and from 30 to 150 phr of silica.
US07671111B2
A process for reducing the fluorosurfactant content of a stabilized fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion by passing dispersion through a first fixed bed of anion exchange resin to reduce fluorosurfactant content. The first fixed bed has a working zone which moves though the column as the ion exchange resin is saturated. The process includes monitoring a property of the dispersion as the dispersion exits the fixed bed to determine break though of the working zone indicating saturation of the fixed bed. The property being monitored is selected from the group consisting of pH and conductivity.
US07671104B2
The invention relates to a process for the production of water-blown, finely cellular rigid foams containing urethane groups and/or isocyanurate groups by the reaction of polyisocyanates with a polyol component in the form of an emulsion. The invention also relates to open-cell polyurethane foams which are foamable in the mould.
US07671103B2
The invention relates to the use of compounds of the general formula (VII) as stabilizers in the preparation of polyurethane foams.
US07671096B2
The light stabilizer emulsion composition of the present invention includes: water; an emulsifier; and a light stabilizer and/or a UV absorber, in which components constituting the light stabilizer emulsion composition has an average particle size of 150 nm or less.
US07671092B2
Disclosed is a compound represented by the Structural Formula (I): Y is a covalent bond, a phenylene group or a substituted or unsubstituted straight chained hydrocarbyl group. In addition, Y, taken together with both >C=Z groups to which it is bonded, is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group. Preferably, Y is a covalent bond or —C(R7R8)—. R1 and R2 are independently an aryl group or a substituted aryl group, R3 and R4 are independently —H, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group. R5-R6 are independently —H, an aliphatic group, a substituted aliphatic group, an aryl group or a substituted aryl group. R7 and R8 are each independently —H, an aliphatic or substituted aliphatic group, or R7 is —H and R8 is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or, R7 and R8, taken together, are a C2-C6 substituted or unsubstituted alkylene group. Z is ═O or ═S. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.Also disclosed is a method of treating a subject with cancer by administering to the subject a compound of Structural Formula (I) in combination with Paclitaxel or an analog of Paclitaxel.
US07671091B2
A method for causing a permanent increase in the length and girth of a male subject's penis, the method comprising treatment comprising the step of (a) administering to the male an effective amount of a vasodilator selected from the group consisting of a vasodilator per se and compositions thereof comprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable diluent or carrier, to induce a cumulative prolonged engorgement of the subject's penis; and (b) repeating step (a) as necessary to cause the increase during the treatment. A potentiator which enhances the effect of the vasodilator may also be used.
US07671088B2
Etoposide analogs with improved water-solubility such as 4′-O-Demethyl-4′-(N′,N′-dimethyl-glycyl)-4β-(4″-nitroanilino)-4-desoxy-podophyllotoxin (8) and 4′-O-Demethyl-4′-(N′,N′-dimethyl-glycyl)-4β-(4″-fluoroanilino)-4-desoxy-podophyllotoxin (9) are described, along with pharmaceutical formulations containing the same, methods of use thereof, and intermediates and methods of making the same.
US07671084B2
This invention provides estrogen receptor modulators of formula I having the structure where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are as defined in the specification and the use of such compounds as estrogenic agents.
US07671080B2
The present invention relates to i-benzylindole-2-carboxamide derivatives of formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said 1-benzylindole-2-carboxamide derivatives and to their use in therapy, particularly for the treatment of obesity or nicotine dependence.
US07671077B2
The present application is directed to therapeutic compounds, compositions, and methods for culturing neuronal cells and for preventing and the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
US07671076B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), which inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and are useful for the prevention or treatment of diabetes, especially type II diabetes, as well as hyperglycemia, syndrome X, hyperinsulinemia, obesity, atherosclerosis, and various immunomodulatory diseases.
US07671075B2
Compounds of Formula I, wherein R1-R8 are defined herein are provided, together with pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates, metabolites, and/or prodrugs thereof. Uses of these compounds for inhibiting beta amyloid production and for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Down's syndrome are also described.
US07671074B2
Sulfonylguanidine compounds corresponding to the tautomeric formulas I and Ia, a method for producing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and methods of using them to prepare medicaments and for treating various medical conditions. The sulfonylguanidine compounds have an affinity for the gabapentin binding site and can be used to treat conditions such as pain, epilepsy, migraine and others.
US07671070B2
Ophthalmic, otic and nasal compositions containing a new class of antibiotics (e.g., moxifloxacin) are disclosed. The compositions preferably also contain one or more anti-inflammatory agents. The compositions may be utilized to treat ophthalmic, otic and nasal conditions by topically applying the compositions to the affected tissues.
US07671065B2
The present invention is directed to novel pyridine derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders related to ion channels such as potassium channels.
US07671054B1
Conformationally constrained compounds that mimic the secondary structure of reverse-turn regions of biologically active peptides and proteins as well as their prodrugs are disclosed. Such reverse-turn mimetic structures and prodrugs have utility over a wide range of fields, including use as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Libraries containing the reverse-turn mimetic structures of this invention are also disclosed as well as methods for screening the same to identify biologically active members. The invention also relates to the use of such compounds and prodrugs for inhibiting or treating disorders modulated by Wnt-signaling pathway, such as cancer, especially colorectal cancer, restenosis associated with angioplasty, polycystic kidney disease, aberrant angiogenesis disease, rheumatoid arthritis disease, tuberous sclerosis complex, Alzheimer's disease, excess hair growth or loss, or ulcerative colitis.
US07671052B2
Novel phenyl compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, and methods for their pharmaceutical use are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the compounds are agonists and/or ligands of cannabinoid receptors and may be useful, inter alia, for treating and/or preventing pain, gastrointestinal disorders, genitourinary disorders, inflammation, glaucoma, auto-immune diseases, ischemic conditions, immune-related disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, for providing cardioprotection against ischemic and reperfusion effects, for inducing apoptosis in malignant cells, and as an appetite stimulant.
US07671046B2
This inventive subject matter relates to novel metal complex protein kinases inhibitors, methods for making such compounds, and methods for using such compounds for treating diseases and disorders mediated by kinase activity.
US07671036B2
The present invention relates to novel types of peptide nucleic acids (PNAS) with improved properties. In particular, it relates to positively charged PNA units having an ethylene linker between the backbone and the nucleobase, to oligonucleotide analogs comprising these units, to oligomers comprising these units, and to the use of positively charged PNAs as novel delivery agents with therapeutic and diagnostic applications including for antisense therapy.
US07671033B2
An amphiphilic dendritic dipeptide, comprises a dipeptide(s) comprising one or more of a naturally occurring or synthetic amino acids and a dendron. These are suitable for use in various formulations, films, coatings, membranes and sensors, among other applications.
US07671030B2
The invention describes compounds, compositions, and methods of using the same comprising a chemical moiety covalently attached to amphetamine. These compounds and compositions are useful for reducing or preventing abuse and overdose of amphetamine. These compounds and compositions find particular use in providing an abuse-resistant alternative treatment for certain disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ADD, narcolepsy, and obesity. Oral bioavailability of amphetamine is maintained at therapeutically useful doses. At higher doses bioavailability is substantially reduced, thereby providing a method of reducing oral abuse liability. Further, compounds and compositions of the invention decrease the bioavailability of amphetamine by parenteral routes, such as intravenous or intranasal administration, further limiting their abuse liability.
US07671029B2
Pharmaceutical agents, compositions containing the same and methods for their use for enhancing the bioavailability and pharmacological efficacy of therapeutic peptides. The pharmaceutical agents have the formula Carrier-Linker-Peptide Wherein Peptide is a therapeutically active peptide species having the formula aan wherein n is the number of amino acid residues in the peptide and n is 2 to 40, Carrier is benzoyl, phenylacetyl, cinnamoyl, 3-OH-cinnamoyl, 3,4-OH-cinnamoyl, 3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl, 3,4-methylenedioxycinnamoyl, 3-methoxycinnamoyl, 3,4-diethoxy-cinnamoyl, 3,4,5-trimethoxy-cinnamoyl, t-butoxycarbonyl, benzyloxycarbonyl, pivaloyl, N-9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl, fumaroyl and derivatives thereof and Linker is a C6 to C16 lipidic chain or a derivative thereof, an 8-amino-3,6-dioxaoctanoic acid or polymeric derivative thereof, pseudo peptide, or peptide mimic. Methods of use of compositions having the formula Carrier-Peptide wherein Carrier and Peptide are as just defined are also disclosed.
US07671027B2
The present invention concerns the use of an agonist of an hypothalamic hormone for the preparation of a pharmaceutical agent to support the luteal phase during infertility treatment of female mammals and more specifically of woman. According to this invention, the pharmaceutical agent is suitable to be used for supporting the luteal phase after a spontaneous ovulation or after stimulation of follicular growth, trigger of final follicular maturation and ovulation with one or several additional agents.
US07671025B2
This document provides methods and materials for treating pain. For example, this document provides methods that involve administering a neurotensin receptor (NTR) agonist and an opioid receptor agonist to a mammal (e.g., a human). Compositions containing an NTR agonist in combination with an opioid receptor agonist also are provided.
US07671017B2
A method of treating a patient having a HCV infection which method comprises administering to said patient a cyclosporin A or a cyclosporin A derivative in association with a conjugate of interferon to a water-soluble polymer in an amount effective to alleviate or eliminate one or more of the signs or symptoms of HCV.
US07671012B2
Formulations, kits and methods for bone or cartilage repair, including treatment of osteogenic defects, including formulations of synthetic heparin-binding growth factor analogs, non-ionic polymers, gelling agents and calcium-containing agents.
US07671008B2
The concentrated liquid fabric softening composition of the present invention comprises an ester-linked triethanolamine (TEA) quaternary ammonium fabric softening material having an Iodine Value of between 0 and 60 and comprising a mixture of at mono-, di- and tri-ester linked components; a single long chain cationic surfactant based on quaternized fatty acid amido-amine surfactants with optional ethoxylate groups and preferably having a methylsulphate counter-ion; and a co-fragmenting agent which is a polyol selected from trihydric and polyhydric polyols. The compositions have a desirable pearly appearance which is stable across a range of storage temperatures.
US07670997B2
An aqueous ophthalmic composition comprising a branched, glycerol monoalkyl compound and a fatty acid monoester. The fatty acid monoester comprises an aliphatic fatty acid portion having six to fourteen carbon atoms and an aliphatic hydroxyl portion. The composition will also have an osmolality in a range from 200 mOsmol/kg to 400 mOsmol/kg. The invention is also directed to a method of inhibiting the formation of foam in an aqueous ophthalmic composition that includes a surfactant as well as to a method of enhancing the biocidal efficacy of an aqueous ophthalmic composition containing a fatty acid monoester.
US07670994B1
A two step process for treating an oil or gas well. The first step uses a cross linking agent, such as borax, as a preliminary wash for the well following drilling. The cross linking agent cleans the well of excess mud and pre-coats the tubing and the formation surfaces with the cross linking agent. The second step introduces a cement-polymer mixture into the well. A polymer, such as for example polyvinyl alcohol, that undergoes cross linking when exposed to the cross linking agent is employed. When the polymer comes into contact with the cross linking agent in the well, cross linking of the polymer occurs. This cross linking helps to prevent fluid loss into the formation. Also, because the cross linking agent wash previously cleaned the surfaces of the tubing and the formation, better bonding between the cement and the surfaces of the tubing and the formation occurs.
US07670977B2
The invention relates to a glass composition of silica-soda-lime type colored blue which comprises the coloring agents below in a content varying within the following limits, by weight: Fe2O3 (total iron)0.2 to 0.51% CoO10 to 50ppm Cr2O310 to 300ppm CuO0-400ppm the glass exhibiting a redox factor of less than 0.35, a dominant wavelength λD of between 485 and 489 nm, an excitation purity of less than 13% and a selectivity at least equal to 1.1 under a thickness of between 3 and 5 mm. It also relates to the glass sheet obtained from the abovementioned composition, said sheet being intended in particular to form an automobile window or for the construction industry.
US07670976B2
The present invention relates to a glass substrate composition comprising SiO2 55˜70 wt %, Al2O3 0˜1 wt %, ZrO2 0.1˜5 wt %, Na2O 0.1˜5 wt %, K2O 7˜13 wt %, MgO 7˜14 wt %, CaO 0˜4 wt %, SrO 7˜12 wt % and SO3 0.01˜0.5 wt %. The glass substrate prepared by using the above composition shows less thermal deformation at a baking process under a high temperature since the strain point of the glass is at least 570° C., does not have such disadvantages as increase of fuel cost and short life cycle of refractories resulted from less than 1460° C. of melting point, and has 80˜95×10−7/° C. of thermal expansion coefficient in the temperature range of 50˜350° C. Therefore, the glass according to the present invention is suitable as a substrate.
US07670969B2
A device for obtaining off-axis reinforcement of a woven object. The device is made up of a fixed mandrel and a rotating mandrel. The rotating mandrel is connected to the fixed mandrel by a shaft that rotates through the middle of the fixed mandrel. The shaft allows the rotating mandrel to move up and down in relation to the fixed mandrel. A portion of the woven object can be clamped to the fixed mandrel while a second portion of the woven object can be clamped to the rotating mandrel. When rotated, the rotating mandrel causes the warp fibers in the woven object to twist off the 0° direction while fill or hoop fibers remain substantially parallel to the 90° direction.
US07670968B2
The subject of the invention is a functional textile material (1), wherein the functional textile material (1) comprises a textile backing (2) in the form of a two-dimensional textile formation, and the textile backing (2) is provided with microcapsules (3), which contain at least one active ingredient, and the microcapsules (3) are secured to the textile backing (2) by means of an adhesive (4) applied discontinuously to the textile backing (2). In this way, one obtains a functional textile material (1) with high air-permeability and high water vapor-permeability at reduced basis weight, which material can be used in particular for making functional clothing.
US07670966B2
Method of processing a substrate containing at least one semiconductor of the SiXAY type and comprising at least four separate types of light elements, comprising at least the following steps: carrying out a first anneal of the substrate at a temperature T1 corresponding to a thermal activation temperature for a first one of the four types of light elements, carrying out a second anneal of the substrate at a temperature T2 corresponding to a thermal activation temperature for a second one of the four types of light elements, carrying out a third anneal of the substrate at a temperature T3 corresponding to a thermal activation temperature for a third one of the four types of light elements, carrying out a fourth anneal of the substrate at a temperature T4 corresponding to a thermal activation temperature for a fourth one of the four types of light elements, each anneal comprising a holding at the temperature T1, T2, T3 or T4 and the temperatures T1, T2, T3 and T4 being such that T1>T2>T3>T4.
US07670965B2
A silicon wafer is thermal-annealed in an atmosphere to form new vacancies therein by thermal annealing and the atmosphere in the thermal annealing contains a nitride gas having a lower decomposition temperature than a decomposable temperature of N2 so that the thermal annealing is carried out at a lower temperature or for a short time to suppress generation of slip and to provide satisfactory surface roughness.
US07670959B2
A method of manufacturing a memory device forms a first dielectric layer over a substrate, forms a charge storage layer over the first dielectric layer, forms a second dielectric layer over the charge storage layer, and forms a control gate layer over the second dielectric layer. The method also forms a hard mask layer over the control gate layer, forms a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) layer over the hard mask layer, and provides an etch chemistry that includes tetrafluoromethane (CF4) and trifluoromethane (CHF3) to etch at least the control gate layer.
US07670955B2
The invention is directed to a semiconductor device having a penetrating electrode and a manufacturing method thereof in which reliability and a yield of the semiconductor device are enhanced. A semiconductor substrate is etched to form a via hole from a back surface of the semiconductor substrate to a pad electrode. This etching is performed under an etching condition such that an opening diameter of the via hole at its bottom is larger than a width of the pad electrode. Next, a second insulation film is formed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate including in the via hole 16, exposing the pad electrode at the bottom of the via hole. Next, a penetrating electrode and a wiring layer are formed, being electrically connected with the pad electrode exposed at the bottom of the via hole 16. Furthermore, a protection layer and a conductive terminal are formed. Finally, the semiconductor substrate is cut and separated in semiconductor dies by dicing.
US07670943B2
The present invention provides an enhanced interconnect structure with improved reliability. The inventive interconnect structure has enhanced mechanical strength of via contacts provided by embedded metal liners. The embedded metal liners may be continuous or discontinuous. Discontinuous embedded metal liners are provided by a discontinuous interface at the bottom of the via located within the interlayer dielectric layer.
US07670935B2
Island-like semiconductor films and markers are formed prior to laser irradiation. Markers are used as positional references so as not to perform laser irradiation all over the semiconductor within a substrate surface, but to perform a minimum crystallization on at least indispensable portion. Since the time required for laser crystallization can be reduced, it is possible to increase the substrate processing speed. By applying the above-described constitution to a conventional SLS method, a means for solving such problem in the conventional SLS method that the substrate processing efficiency is insufficient, is provided.
US07670922B2
A resist pattern for alignment measurement being shrunk by a heat flow includes a plurality of positive type or negative type line patterns. Widths of spaces between the line patterns are greater than twice those of the line patterns. Alternatively, the resist pattern comprises a box-shaped or slit-shaped measurement pattern and a pair of box-shaped or slit-shaped auxiliary patterns provided inside and outside the measurement pattern, respectively.
US07670913B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having multiple gate dielectric thickness layers. The method, in one embodiment, includes forming a masking layer over a semiconductor substrate in a first active region and a second active region of a semiconductor device, patterning the masking layer to expose the semiconductor substrate in the first active region, and subjecting exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate to a nitrogen containing plasma, thereby forming a first layer of gate dielectric material over the semiconductor substrate in the first active region. The method, in that embodiment, may further include incorporating oxygen into the first layer of gate dielectric material located in the first active region, and then removing the patterned masking layer, and forming a second layer of gate dielectric material over the first layer of gate dielectric material in the first active region and over the semiconductor substrate in the second active region, thereby resulting in a first greater thickness gate dielectric in the first active region and a second lesser thickness gate dielectric in the second active region.
US07670906B2
Embodiments relate to a flash memory device and to method of fabricating a flash memory device is disclosed. According to embodiments, a method may include forming a device isolation layer on a semiconductor substrate to define active regions, forming floating gate patterns on the active regions, forming the photoresist patterns on the device isolation layer such that the photoresist patterns have side walls higher than the floating gate patterns, forming spacer patterns at the side walls of the photoresist patterns such that the spacer patterns partially cover the floating gate patterns, and etching the floating gate patterns by a predetermined depth using the spacer patterns as an etching mask.
US07670899B2
A MIM capacitor includes a lower electrode disposed on a semiconductor substrate. A dielectric layer is disposed on the lower electrode to completely cover an exposed surface of the lower electrode. An upper electrode is disposed on the dielectric layer. A method for forming a MIM capacitor includes forming a lower electrode on a semiconductor substrate. A dielectric layer and an upper metal layer are formed on an entire surface of the substrate to cover the lower electrode. The dielectric and upper metal layers are patterned on the lower electrode.
US07670895B2
A process of forming an electronic device can include patterning a semiconductor layer to define an opening. After patterning the semiconductor layer, the opening can have a bottom, and the semiconductor layer can have a sidewall and a surface. The surface is spaced apart from the bottom of the opening. The sidewall can extend from the surface towards the bottom of the opening. The process can also include forming a layer over the semiconductor layer and within the opening, and removing a part of the first layer from within the opening. After removing the part of the layer, a remaining portion of the layer may lie within the opening and adjacent to the bottom and the sidewall, and the remaining portion of the layer may be spaced apart from the surface. In another aspect, the electronic device can include a field isolation region including the first layer.
US07670886B2
A method of fabricating a polysilicon film includes: forming a seed layer on a surface of a substrate; forming a silicon layer over the surface of the seed layer; and performing a laser annealing process to transform the silicon layer into a polysilicon layer at a laser energy equal to or greater than that needed to cause complete melting of the silicon layer.
US07670879B2
The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a semiconductor module which enables the joining at a low temperature within a short time and can obtain more reliable joining portions by performing the joining without using a solder joining medium. The manufacturing method of a semiconductor module includes a first joining step for joining first circuit electrodes which are formed on a circuit board and back-surface-side die electrodes of a semiconductor die, a second joining step for joining the front-surface-side electrodes of the semiconductor die and one ends of lead frames, and a third joining step for joining another ends of the lead frame and second circuit electrodes which are formed on the circuit board, wherein a low-melting-temperature metal layer is formed on one conductive portion of a pair of conductive portions to be joined and, thereafter, the low-melting-temperature metal layer is heated and pressurized thus diffusing the low-melting-temperature metal layer into the pair of conductive portions by solid-liquid diffusion whereby the conductive portions are joined to each other.
US07670875B2
In a state of a first semiconductor integrated circuit device on which a first semiconductor integrated circuit board including a first mask ROM and a programmable ROM are mounted, an ultimate program determined by using the programmable ROM is stored in a second ROM of a second semiconductor integrated circuit board which is substantially similar in structure to the first semiconductor integrated circuit board, thereby manufacturing a second semiconductor integrated circuit device as an ultimate product.
US07670859B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: preparing a semiconductor module including: a semiconductor substrate having an electrode; a test pad electrically connected to the electrode; a land electrically connected to the test pad; and an external terminal provided on the land; and testing an electrical characteristic by bringing a probe into contact with the test pad.
US07670856B2
A method of making a nitride semiconductor substrate having the steps of providing a free-standing substrate that is of a nitride semiconductor and has one of a penetrating pit and a penetrating crack that penetrate from a top surface to a back surface of the free-standing substrate, attaching a metal to the penetrating pit or the penetrating crack, the metal being adapted to be nitrided, and nitriding the metal to form a nitride that seals the penetrating pit or the penetrating crack. A nitride semiconductor substrate has a free-standing substrate that is formed of a nitride semiconductor and has one of a penetrating pit and a penetrating crack that penetrate from a top surface to a back surface of the free-standing substrate, and a metal nitride that seals the penetrating pit or the penetrating crack. The metal nitride is formed of GaN, InN and AlN.
US07670851B2
The present invention relates to assay methods used for detecting the presence of PIF, and to PIF peptides identified using this assay. In particular, the present invention relates to flow cytometry assays for detecting PIF. It is based, at least in part, on the observation that flow cytometry using fluorescently labeled anti-lymphocyte and anti-platelet antibodies demonstrated an increase in rosette formation in the presence of PIF. It is further based on the observation that flow cytometry demonstrated that monoclonal antibody binding to CD2 decreased in the presence of PIF. The present invention further relates to PIF peptides which, when added to Jurkat cell cultures, have been observed to either (i) decrease binding of anti-CD2 antibody to Jurkat cells; (ii) increase expression of CD2 in Jurkat cells; or (iii) decrease Jurkat cell viability. In additional embodiments, the present invention provides for ELISA assays which detect PIF by determining the effect of a test sample on the binding of anti-CD2 antibody to a CD2 substrate.
US07670848B2
In a luminescence detecting apparatus and method for analyzing luminescent samples, luminescent samples are placed in a plurality of sample wells in a tray, and the tray is placed in a visible-light impervious chamber containing a charge coupled device camera. In the chamber, light from the luminescent samples pass through a collimator, a Fresnel field lens, an infrared filter, and a camera lens, whereupon a focused image is created by the optics on the camera. The use of an infrared filter suppresses stray IR radiation resulting from plate phosphorescence (which can result in abnormally high backgrounds and/or alteration of the image received by the camera).
US07670843B2
A method of and device for sampling polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the ambient environment, the method including: (a) providing a polymer film for collecting the PAHs; (b) exposing the polymer film to a gas containing the PAHs, and (c) performing an analysis of the PAHs collected by the polymer film, the analysis being selected from the group consisting of fluorescence analysis and Fourier Transform Imaging Microscopy (FT-SIM).
US07670837B2
The present invention provides novel MDCK-derived adherent non-tumorigenic cell lines that can be grown in the presence or absence of serum. The cell lines of the present invention are useful for the production of vaccine material (e.g., viruses). More specifically, the cell lines of the present invention are useful for the production of influenza viruses in general and ca/ts influenza viruses in particular. The invention further provides methods and media formulations for the adaptation and cultivation of MDCK cells such that they remain non-tumorigenic. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for the production of vaccine material (e.g., influenza virus) in the novel cell lines of the invention.
US07670836B2
The present invention provides an antimicrobial peptide, monodoncin, which is isolated and purified from Penaeus monodon and is capable of being mass produced by molecular cloning techniques in a heterologous expression system, such as yeast. Monodoncin demonstrates a wide-range of bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects on G(−) and G(+) bacteria as well as fungicidal activities, and can be used in combination with conventional antibiotics as “cocktail therapy” to improve the therapeutic effects of the conventional antibiotics.
US07670834B2
The present application relates to an apparatus and method for thermal cycling using a source of cooling gas.
US07670831B2
Conductive carbon nanotubes (CNTs) obtained by dotting carboxylated CNTs with metal nanocrystals by chemical functional groups, are described, as well as a method for fabricating a pattern or film of the conductive CNTs which involves repeatedly depositing conductive CNTs on a substrate to achieve high surface density. A biosensor is described, in which bioreceptors that bind to target biomolecules are selectively attached to conductive CNTs or a conductive CNT pattern or film. By use of the conductive biosensor, various target biomaterials that bind or react with the bioreceptors can be precisely measured directly or by electrochemical signals at large amounts in one step. Additionally, the biosensor can be used for an electrical detection method capable of providing precise measurement results even with a small amount of source material.
US07670819B2
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having beta-glucosidase activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US07670815B2
A previously unknown mammalian UDP-N-acetylglucosamine:α-6-D-mannoside β-1,6-N-acetylglucosaminyl-transferase (termed GlcNAc T-Vb herein) coding sequence, protein, recombinant host cells and antibodies which specifically bind GlcNAc T-Vb are described. In particular, GlcNAc T-Vb of mouse is disclosed.
US07670807B2
The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide sequence from the genome of Bacillus stearothermophilus (Geobacillus stearothermophilus) and an amino acid sequence encoded by the polynucleotide sequence, the corresponding amino acid sequence comprising a novel enzyme, Tirt (thermostable intron reverse transcriptase), having reverse transcriptase activity and retaining that activity at temperatures of up to about 75° C.
US07670804B2
The present invention provides humanized, chimeric and human anti-CSAp antibodies and anti-CSAp antibody fusion proteins that are useful for the treatment and diagnosis of various cancers, including colon cancer.
US07670802B2
A novel CXC-chemokine binding protein is cloned from the salivary glands of Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Compounds prepared in accordance with the present invention can be used as anti-inflammatory and immuno-modulatory compounds and in the treatment or prevention of CXC-chemokine-related diseases.
US07670798B2
The present invention describes semi- and fully-automated methods and reagents therefor for the assay and analysis of body fluid samples, particularly non-blood samples. The methods and reagents are especially useful for the assay and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. The reagent compositions sphere and fix all cells in the sample in suspension. Reported results can include red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, WBC differential values, cell-by-cell volumes and dry-mass concentrations.
US07670795B2
The invention provides methods and kits for characterizing the activity of an acetyl transferase or deacetylase. The method involves enzymatically acetylating or deacetylating in vitro a substrate that is a peptide fragment of a full-length polypeptide, and then non-enzymatically acylating the peptide substrate with acyl groups that differ in molecular weight from the enzymatically added or removed acetyl groups. Typically, deuterated acetic anhydride is used to non-enzymatically acylate the substrate. The fully acylated substrate is then characterized by mass spectrometry to determine the amino acid positions of the substrate that are enzymatically acetylated or deacetylated.
US07670790B2
The present invention relates to the diagnosis of hematopoietic disorders and to determining the prognosis of patients affected by such disorders. The methods generally comprise determining a level of myeloperoxidase in a body fluid sample from the individual and using the level as a factor for diagnosing the disorder in the mammal or as a factor for determining the prognosis of a patient diagnosed with such a disorder. Myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia are exemplary disorders. Also provided are method of cancer therapy involving reducing the level of myeloperoxidase in the body fluid of the individual.
US07670787B2
Proteins that interact with c-Fos, nucleic acids encoding them and inhibitors utilizing them as well as methods for detecting an interaction and screening methods utilizing a protein that interacts with c-Fos are provided. Comprehensive analysis of transcription control factor complexes in a mouse brain cDNA library with c-Fos as a bait by using the cotranslation selection and screening of in vitro virus (IVV) and the C-terminal labeling method are conducted, thereby to analyze proteins unknown so far, proteins known so far, but unknown to form a complex with the c-Fos protein, and so forth.
US07670782B2
CAT1 is consistently expressed at high levels in brain microvessel endothelial cells. Disclosed herein are assays for determining whether a test material/molecule is a substrate for, and/or is actively transported by, the CAT1 transporter, and therefore a candidate substrate for crossing the blood brain barrier. The assays are useful in screening for therapeutic, cytotoxic or imaging compounds used in the treatment or diagnosis of neurological diseases.
US07670780B2
Compositions are disclosed as nucleic acid sequences that may be used as amplification oligomers, including primers, capture probes for sample preparation, and detection probes specific for Candida albicans 26S rRNA sequences or DNA encoding 26S rRNA. Methods are disclosed for detecting the presence of C. albicans in samples by using the disclosed compositions in methods that include in vitro nucleic acid amplification of a 26S rRNA sequence or DNA encoding the 26S rRNA sequence to produce a detectable amplification product.
US07670774B2
Oligonucleotide probes for analyzing 40 types of HPV were synthesized, and DNA chips were produced by using the oligonucleotide probes. The synthesis of the oligonucleotide probes is based on clones of L1 and E6/E7 genes of 35 types of HPV obtained from cervical cell specimens from 4,898 Korean adult women and tissue specimens from 68 cervical cancer cases in addition to information based on American and European cases. The DNA chips can analyze the 40 types of HPV found in cervical, diagnose complex infection by at least one type of HPV, and have excellent diagnostic sensitivity and specificity on HPV genetic type up to 100% and reproducibility. Also, the DAN chips are superior to conventional analytic method, and very economical, since they can analyze numerous specimens in shortest time. Accordingly, the DNA chips are useful for predicting cervical cancer and precancerous lesion.
US07670772B2
Provided are a microfluidic chip for multiple bioassay and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes: forming microfluidic channels by coupling a channel structure having grooves for sample channels and probe channels in a bottom surface and a substrate; forming probe immobilization regions at intersections between the probe channels and the sample channels; and forming blocking walls in the probe channels before and after each of the probe immobilization regions to prevent mixing of target sample. Since the probes are immobilized in the microfluidic channels after the formation of the microfluidic channels, difficulty in connecting fluidic channels after the immobilization of probes on a substrate can be removed. In addition, a microfluidic platform for a multiple bioassay into which a plurality of samples can be simultaneously loaded can be formed.
US07670765B2
Methods and compositions for identifying and characterizing the affinity of one or more ligands of a peptide are provided. In particular, a “stripped phage ligand sensor device” (SPLSD) is provided comprising a sensor coupled to a binding element of interest. Binding elements of the invention comprise phage which in most embodiments express a peptide of interest on the phage surface. Assays using the SPLSD allow detection and quantitation of ligands. Also provided are improved methods for forming monolayers using phage. In particular, methods for the formation of monolayers using “stripped phage” are provided. Further provided are monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett films formed by the methods of the invention as well as substrates having deposited thereon the films of the invention. The monolayers, films and substrates of the invention are useful as components of biosensors and/or chemosensors.
US07670764B2
The present invention provides a method of diagnosing the presence or severity of tissue fibrosis in an individual by detecting α2-macroglobulin (α2-MG) in a sample from the individual; detecting hyaluronic acid (HA) in a sample from the individual; detecting tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) in a sample from the individual; and diagnosing the presence or severity of tissue fibrosis in the individual based on the presence or level of α2-MG, HA and TIMP-1.
US07670763B2
This invention describes unique patterns of distribution of ganglioside GM1 in non-capacitated sperm and demonstrates that the pattern of distribution of GM1 undergoes changes that can be correlated with the process of capacitation and/or with acrosomal exocytosis. Accordingly, the present invention discloses a method for determining the ability of sperm to respond to capacitation and/or acrosomal exocytosis stimuli. The method comprises determination of distribution pattern for GM1. The method can be used for both diagnostic and predictive purposes when assessing male reproductive fitness, and can also be used to assess the effects on sperm of cryoprotective agents and protocols, and contraceptive agents.
US07670760B2
A method for reducing line edge roughness (LER) in a layer of photoresist is provided. In accordance with the method, a layer of photoresist is applied to a substrate. The layer of photoresist is then patterned and annealed in an atmosphere comprising at least one gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen and fluorine-containing materials. Preferably, the anneal is performed after patterning the photoresist, but either immediately after, or subsequent to, the trim.
US07670757B2
To provide a positive type photosensitive resin composition, containing at least an acrylic resin having a carboxylic anhydride structure in a molecule, and a compound that generates an acid when irradiated with light.
US07670756B2
First, a first exposure process is performed using dipole illumination with only a grating-pattern forming region as a substantial object to be exposed. Next, a second exposure process is performed with only a standard-pattern forming region as a substantial object to be exposed. A development process is then performed to obtain a resist pattern. A mask for the first exposure process is such that a light blocking pattern is formed on the whole surface of a standard-pattern mask part corresponding to the standard-pattern forming region. A mask for the second exposure is such that a light blocking pattern is formed on the whole surface of a grating-pattern mask part corresponding to the grating-pattern forming region.
US07670753B2
To provide a lithographic printing plate precursor which generates no stains in the non-image area and is also excellent in development latitude. Disclosed is a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and a photosensitive layer, said lithographic printing plate precursor further comprising a subbing layer containing a maleamic acid (co)polymer, in which at least one hydrogen atom on a nitrogen atom is substituted with an onium group, provided between the photosensitive layer and the support.
US07670752B2
A photosensitive resin composition which is excellent in storage stability required for one-part type compositions and in processability required for dry-film formation and gives a cured product suitable for FPC substrates or suspension substrates for hard-disc which each retains essential properties required for solder resists, such as heat resistance, water resistance, and electrical-insulation reliability, and has flexibility and low polluting property. The composition comprises: a compound which has a carbon-carbon double bond and carboxy group and is obtained by allowing a bisphenol type epoxy compound and an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid to react and then allowing a polybasic acid anhydride to undergo addition reaction with part or all of the secondary hydroxy groups of the reaction product; a urethane (meth)acrylate compound having a structure derived from a polycarbonate polyol structure; another polymerizable compound having a carbon-carbon double bond; and a photopolymerization initiator.
US07670741B2
A toner containing a toner particle manufactured by dispersing an organic solvent in which a component comprising a polymer having a portion reactive with an active hydrogen group is dispersed or dissolved in an aqueous medium; and reacting the polymer with a compound having at least one active hydrogen group, where the polymer is prepared by reacting an aliphatic polyol, a polyester resin and a diisocyanate compound and has an isocyanate group on at least one end of the polymer.
US07670735B2
A photoconductor containing a substrate, a layer thereover wherein the layer comprises, for example, a polyol resin, an aminoplast resin, an ester of phosphoric acid adhesion component, and a metal oxide; and at least one imaging layer of, for example, a photogenerating layer and a charge transport layer formed on the polyol resin containing layer.
US07670733B2
A photoconductor containing an optional supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the photogenerating layer contains a Type V hydroxygallium phthalocyanine having incorporated therein a silanol.
US07670728B2
A method for repairing a bridge in a photo mask includes disposing a phase shift layer pattern and a light shielding layer pattern over a transparent substrate with the phase shift layer pattern disposed between the transparent substrate and the light shielding layer; forming a resist layer over the entire surface of the photo mask having a defective pattern causing a bridge between neighboring portions of the phase shift layer pattern; exposing the defective pattern by etching the resist layer; and removing the exposed defective pattern.
US07670714B2
A battery pack for an electrical device has a base body, a locking element for locking the base body to the electrical device, and an actuating element for actuating the locking element. The locking element has a retaining region, which is provided for retaining the actuating element at least in the unlocked state of the base body.
US07670712B2
An electrode catalyst that maintains catalytic activity under conditions of an electrode potential as high as 0.4 V or above and exhibits improved stability. The metal oxynitride electrode catalyst is composed of an oxynitride containing at least one transition metal element selected from the group consisting of La, Ta, Nb, Ti, and Zr, the metal oxynitride electrode catalyst being used at a potential of 0.4 V or higher relative to the reversible hydrogen electrode potential in an acidic electrolyte. The metal oxynitride electrode catalyst is useful as an electrode catalyst for electrochemical systems used in acidic electrolytes in the fields of water electrolysis, organic electrolysis, fuel cells, etc.
US07670708B2
Provided is a solid polyelectrolyte fuel cell capable of suppressing a gas leak between a fuel electrode film side and an oxide electrode film side by suppressing deterioration of a solid polyelectrolyte film on its peripheral side. A solid polyelectrolyte fuel cell includes: a cell in which electrode films are provided on one side and the other side of a solid polyelectrolyte film, respectively; a first gas diffusion layer provided so as to cover the electrode film on one side of the cell; a second gas diffusion layer provided so as to cover the electrode film on the other side of the cell; and separators provided on the one side and the other side of the cell, respectively, with the gas diffusion layers interposed therebetween. The solid polyelectrolyte fuel cell includes: first insulating layers which are provided between the solid polyelectrolyte film of the cell and the gas diffusion layers and have electrical insulating properties; and second insulating layers which are provided on peripheral edges of the gas diffusion layers and have electrical insulating properties.
US07670704B2
A diffusion media and a process for its fabrication are provided for addressing issues related to water management in electrochemical cells and other devices employing the diffusion media. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a process for fabricating a diffusion media is provided. A diffusion media substrate is provided comprising a porous fibrous matrix defining first and second major faces. The substrate comprises an amount of carbonaceous material sufficient to render the substrate electrically conductive. A mesoporous layer is applied along at least a portion of one of the first and second major faces of the substrate. The mesoporous layer is applied to the substrate by providing a coating comprising a hydrophobic component, a hydrophilic component, and a pore forming agent. The substrate is free of fluorinated polymers outside of regions of the substrate carrying the mesoporous layer. The pore forming agent is decomposed such that the mesoporous layer is more porous than the diffusion media substrate.
US07670702B2
A liquid-gas separator assembly is used in separating gas bubbles from a liquid coolant which liquid coolant is used in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plant. The assembly includes a cylindrical housing containing a central tube which is surrounded by an annular chamber. The annular chamber is defined by the outer surface of the central tube and the inner surface of the cylindrical housing. An inlet line injects a stream of the coolant from the fuel cell stack area of the power plant into the bottom of the central tube in a tangential flow pattern so that the coolant and gas bubble mixture swirls upwardly through the central tube. The swirling flow pattern of the coolant and gas bubble mixture causes the gas bubbles to separate from the liquid coolant so that the gas in the mixture will migrate to the central portion of the swirl tube and the liquid component of the mixture will centrifugally migrate to the inner wall of the swirl tube. The gaseous component of the separated mixture is then expelled from the housing through an outlet in the upper portion of the housing, and the coolant liquid descends through the annular chamber to the bottom of the housing where the coolant liquid will be returned to the cell stack area of the power plant. The gas bubbles may include reactant from either the cathode or the anode. The separator of this invention is particularly useful in mobile applications since it is less sensitive to vehicular acceration forces.
US07670701B2
A fuel cell or fuel cell stack heater using resistive heat. A resistive conductor (preferably some type of metal wire) is attached to a source of electricity such as a battery. The resistive conductor is in proximity with the fuel cell or stack so that when the resistive conductor is heated, the cell or stack will also become hot. An insulating material surrounds the outside of the fuel cell or stack, so that it encloses the cell or stack and the resistive conductor. The insulating material will capture heat from the resistive conductor and any waste heat given off by the operation of the fuel cell or stack. A means for modifying the amount of electrical current in the resistive conductor is attached to the apparatus. When the fuel cell or stack reaches the desired temperature, the means is employed to reduce or turn off current in the resistive conductor.
US07670696B2
A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium of the type that has spaced-apart pillars with magnetic material on their ends and with trenches between the pillars that are nonmagnetic regions is made with a method that allows use of a pre-etched substrate. A nonmagnetic capping layer is located in the trenches above the nonmagnetic regions. The substrate has diffusion material in the trenches that when heated will diffuse into the magnetic recording layer material and chemically react with it. The pillars are formed of material that will not diffuse into the recording layer. The recording layer is formed over the entire substrate and a nonmagnetic capping layer that is not chemically reactive with the diffusion material is formed over the recording layer in the trenches. The substrate is annealed to cause the recording layer material in the trenches and the material in the substrate to diffuse into one another and chemically react to render the trenches nonmagnetic. The capping layer suppresses the diffusion of material from the substrate to the surface in the trenches and thus prevents migration of diffusion material to the recording layer material on the ends of the pillars.
US07670690B2
A vacuum deposition method for fabricating high-strength nitinol films by sputter depositing nickel and titanium from a heated sputtering target, and controlling the sputter deposition process parameters in order to create high-strength nitinol films that exhibit shape memory and/or superelastic properties without the need for precipitation annealing to attenuate the transition conditions of the deposited material. A vacuum deposited nitinol film having high-strength properties equal to or better than wrought nitinol films and which are characterized by having non-columnar crystal grain structures.
US07670683B2
A composition includes a cross-linkable epoxy resin, a polystyrene-polybutadiene-polymethylmethacrylate tri-block copolymer, and a filler material. The polystyrene-polybutadiene-polymethylmethacrylate tri-block copolymer has a concentration ratio of from about 1:1:1 to about 1:1:1.5.
US07670675B2
Layered systems in prior art are inefficient at cooling an external hot gas. The inventive layered system comprises an external porous layer, in which the pore walls of the pores have differing thicknesses. This improves the cooling action by preventing too much heat from entering the layered system.
US07670661B2
A synthetic-grass covering, usable, for example, for making artificial pitches for sports activities, consisting of a substrate made of sheet material and filiform formations, implanted in the sheet material so as to present a looped part that extends up against one of the surfaces of the sheet material and lateral branches that extend in order to simulate the grassy sward of natural turf from the opposite surface of the sheet material. The substrate made of sheet material comprises a pad with coupled thereto a layer made of heat-meltable material, and the filiform formations are also made of heat-meltable material, with the aforesaid looped parts that extend in an area corresponding to the layer made of heat-meltable material, heat-welded to the aforesaid layer.
US07670656B2
A plastic substrate includes resin and glass fibers. In an end surface of the substrate, interfaces between the glass fibers and the resin are covered with a solidified melt of the glass fibers.
US07670654B2
A bistable nematic liquid crystal display device includes two cell walls enclosing a layer of a nematic liquid crystal material, means for applying an electric field across at least some of the layer, and means for inducing local planar alignments of said liquid crystal material at an inner surface of each cell wall. The local planar alignments are oriented to each other at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°. The device also includes means for selectively masking an alignment effect of either of the local planar alignments by applying a unidirectional electric field pulse of suitable magnitude and duration to stabilise the device in one of two different homeoplanar configurations determined by the polarity of the pulse.
US07670652B2
A method of manufacturing a patterned film by which an accurately patterned film is formed when film formation is performed by using the AD method. The method includes the steps of: (a) disposing a multilayered mask containing at least one soft mask layer formed of a soft material and at least one hard mask layer formed of a hard material on a substrate or an electrode formed on the substrate; (b) spraying powder formed of a brittle material toward the substrate, on which the multilayered mask has been disposed, and allowing the powder to collide with an under layer to deposit the powder thereon, thereby forming a brittle material layer; and (c) removing the multilayered mask after step (b).
US07670651B2
A composition is provided having cylindrically shaped metal or metal-coated particles and a polymer latex dispersion. A coating is provided having cylindrically shaped metal or metal-coated particles and a polymer matrix formed from a latex dispersion. The particles form a continuous, conductive network. A method of electromagnetic shielding is provided having the steps of providing the above composition, applying the composition to a surface, and drying the applied composition.
US07670631B2
A method for the prevention of infection of humans by plasmodium parasites is provided. The method consists of the application of compounds that interfere with the infection of hepatocytes by Plasmodium viax.
US07670630B2
A composition for treating cancer cells and a preparation method therefor are provided. The novel flavonoid compounds are obtained from natural plants, and more particularly the compounds have a cytotoxicity on cancer cells.
US07670624B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for the multiple release of a drug in the gastrointestinal tract of a subject through the use of an oral multiple drug release system. The system provides site-specific release of the drug to both the small intestine and the colon in the form of multiple controlled doses for long-lasting efficacy, thereby reducing the drug dosing frequency.
US07670616B2
Variation in precursor ratio and mass of double bond functionalized polyhydric alcohol precursor and polyethylene glycol diacrylate precursor provide a wide range of release rates of drug or other biologically active agent from hydrogel formed therefrom.
US07670613B2
The present invention is directed to a new class of 4-cycloalkoxy benzonitriles and to their use as androgen receptor modulators. Other aspects of the invention are directed to the use of these compounds to decrease excess sebum secretions and to stimulate hair growth.
US07670609B2
A vaccine against Mycobacteria tuberculosis (Mtb) is provided. The vaccine comprises a recombinant Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) subunit-based vaccine in which one or more Mtb antigens and one or more Mtb resuscitation or reactivation antigens are overexpressed, and in which at least a portion of the DosR regulon is up-regulated. The vaccine is protective against active Mtb infection both pre- and post-exposure to Mtb, and thus prevents disease symptoms due to the recurrence of a latent Mtb infection.
US07670607B2
A pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing a papillomavirus infection or tumor, including, as the therapeutical agents, a polypeptide from an early region and a polypeptide from a late region of a papillomavirus, optionally combined with a polypeptide having immunostimulatory activity or a polypeptide from an early or late region of a papillomavirus and a polypeptide having immunostimulatory activity, or alternatively, a recombinant vector containing inserted DNA fragments coding for the above-mentioned polypeptide combinations.
US07670605B2
The invention features polymeric biomaterials formed by nucleophilic addition reactions to conjugated unsaturated groups. These biomaterials may be used for medical treatments.
US07670599B2
This invention provides methods for detecting cancers and for evaluating the prognosis of cancer patients. In particular, the methods of this invention utilize YKL-40 as a marker for the presence or absence of a cancer and for the prognosis (e.g. likelihood of recurrence) of a cancer. Elevated levels of YKL-40 are indicative of the presence of a cancer in undiagnosed subjects and indicate likely recurrence of the cancer in subjects diagnosed as having a cancer.
US07670595B2
Disclosed are Fc-interferon-beta (Fc-IFN-β) fusion proteins and nucleic acid molecules encoding them. The Fc-IFN-β fusion proteins include variants of the interferon-beta (IFN-β) protein that are altered to achieve enhanced biological activity, prolonged circulating half-life and greater solubility. Also disclosed are methods of producing the fusion proteins and methods of using the fusion proteins and/or nucleic acid molecules for treating diseases and conditions alleviated by the administration of interferon-beta.
US07670591B2
The present invention relates to novel heteroaryl substituted benzoxazole derivatives and therapeutic uses for such compounds, having the structural formula (Ia) below: and to their pharmaceutically acceptable salt, compositions and methods of use. Furthermore, the invention relates to novel heteroaryl substituted benzoxazole derivatives that are suitable for imaging amyloid deposits in living patients, their compositions, methods of use and processes to make such compounds. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of imaging amyloid deposits in brain in vivo to allow antemortem diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease as well as measuring clinical efficacy of Alzheimer's disease therapeutic agents.
US07670579B2
Nano-particles of calcium and phosphorous compounds are made in a highly pure generally amorphous state by spray drying a weak acid solution of said compound and evaporating the liquid from the atomized spray in a heated column followed by collection of the precipitated particles. Hydroxyapatite (HA) particles formed by such apparatus and methods are examples of particle manufacture useful in bone and dental therapies. Dual nozzle spraying techniques are utilized for generally insoluble compounds.
US07670578B2
The invention relates to a method of preparing a polycrystalline block of a halide of formula AeLnfX(3f+e) in which Ln represents one or more rare earths, X represents one or more halogen atoms selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I, and A represents one or more alkali metals selected from the group consisting of K, Li, Na, Rb and Cs, e, which may be zero, being less than or equal to 3f, and f being greater than or equal to 1, having a low water and oxyhalide content, in which the method comprises heating a mixture of, on the one hand, at least one compound having at least one Ln—X bond and, on the other hand, a sufficient amount of NH4X in order to obtain the oxyhalide content, resulting in a molten mass comprising the rare-earth halide, the heating being followed by cooling, and the heating, after having reached 300° C., never going below 200° C. before the molten mass has been obtained. The blocks thus produced allow very pure single crystals having remarkable scintillation properties to be grown.
US07670574B2
A method of cooling syngas in a gasifier is provided. The method includes channeling cooling fluid through at least one tube-bundle that includes at least three tubes coupled together within a radiant syngas cooler and extends through a reaction zone of the gasifier, and circulating reactant fluid around the at least one tube-bundle to facilitate transferring heat from the reactant fluid to the cooling fluid.
US07670573B2
A process for decoking of a process that cracks hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid and coke precursors, wherein steam is added to the feedstock to form a mixture which is thereafter separated into a vapor phase and a liquid phase by flashing in a flash/separation vessel, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and recovering cracked product. Coking of internal surfaces in and proximally downstream of the vessel is controlled by interrupting the feed flow, purging the vessel with steam, introducing an air/steam mixture to at least partially combust the coke, and resuming the feed flow when sufficient coke has been removed. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.
US07670570B2
A casing tube is provided for a honeycomb element used for exhaust gas treatment. The casing tube is provided with a first area which is located close to a first front face and a third area which is located to close a second front face. The casing tube has a first inner diameter in the first and third area and is provided with a second area that is disposed between the first and the third area. The second area has a second inner diameter that is larger than the first inner diameter. The casing tube is characterized in that the axial length of the first area is less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm. The relatively narrow first area enables the honeycomb to be permanently fixed and ensures that only a small amount of heat is transmitted to the casing tube. As a result, a significant improvement is achieved in the cold start performance of a catalytic converter.
US07670567B2
The present invention provides a scalable microreactor comprising a multilayered reaction block having alternating reaction plates and heat exchanger plates that have a plurality of microchannels; a multilaminated reactor input manifold, a collecting reactor output manifold, a heat exchange input manifold and a heat exchange output manifold. The present invention also provides methods of using the microreactor for multiphase chemical reactions.
US07670558B2
A chemical analysis apparatus in which a sample to be analyzed and a reagent are placed into a reaction container, and sound waves are irradiated to said reaction container so as to agitate them, wherein said chemical analysis apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element producing said sound waves, and drivers for driving said piezoelectric element, said sound waves being intermittently irradiated into said reaction container.
US07670556B2
Disclosed is a method for fabricating 1-dimensional micro-arrays using parallel micro-fluidic channels on chemically-modified metal, carbon, silicon, and/or germanium surfaces; a μL detection volume method that uses 2-dimensional nucleic acid micro-arrays formed by employing the 1-dimensional DNA micro-arrays in conjunction with a second set of parallel micro-fluidic channels for solution delivery, and the 1-dimensional and 2-dimensional arrays used in the methods. The methodology allows the rapid creation of 1- and 2-dimensional arrays for SPR imaging and fluorescence imaging of DNA-DNA, DNA-RNA, DNA-protein, and protein-protein binding events. The invention enables very small volumes necessary for a variety of bioassay applications to be analyzed by SPR. Target solution volumes as small as 200 pL can be analyzed.
US07670553B2
An automated chemical or biological sample analyzer includes a plurality of linear sample carrying racks that are moved to a processing station for conducting an analysis using one or more carousel devices. Under computer control, rotational movements of the carousel or carousels, linear movements of the transfer or shuttle mechanisms, and operation of a pipetting station are performed in a coordinated fashion so as to handle the processing of a large number of samples simultaneously in an optimized fashion that allows random ordering of samples for processing.
US07670551B2
A device and method for sanitizing and deodorizing including the selective transportation of a sanitizing composition by the capillary action of a wick to an acidic composition which may be held in a reservoir, or which also may be selectively transported through the capillary action of a wick to the reservoir.
US07670550B2
A method of sterilizing an article includes placing the article into a chamber containing an inner atmosphere and exhausting the inner atmosphere to lower pressure in the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide vapor is present in the chamber during at least a portion of the step of exhausting the inner atmosphere. Exhaustion of the inner atmosphere is terminated and additional hydrogen peroxide is admitted into the chamber. Hydrogen peroxide vapor contacts the article for a sufficient period to effect sterilization of the article.
US07670548B2
A lead free solder is provided. The lead free solder includes about 1.5 wt % to about 2.5 wt % silver (Ag), about 3 wt % to about 6 wt % bismuth (Bi), about 0.005 wt % to about 0.1 wt % of a deoxidizing agent, and a balance of tin (Sn). The lead free solder has improved wettability, a lowered melting point, little or substantially no formation of oxidation layer in a solder bath, suppressed brittleness, improved thermal shock resistance and drop resistance.
US07670542B2
This invention is directed to a method for creating a triple layer like golf ball core out of a single material. A thermoset material is cured for only a partial period of time in a compression mold, therein creating a short-cured core wherein the innermost region of the core is substantially softer than the outer region. Subsequently, the short-cured core is heated with infrared radiation to create a cure gradient in the skin of the core. This results in a relatively hard skin, which is at least 2 Shore D points harder than the rest of the core. The hardness gradients created in the skin are in the range of about 0.005 inches to about 0.040 inches.
US07670539B2
The injection molding apparatus includes a cavity mold formed with a cavity surface for defining a cavity in which a molten injection material is injected, a core mold formed with a core surface for defining the cavity upon engagement with the cavity mold and installed to be movable forward and backward to open or close the cavity by guidance of a guide pin, an injection unit for injecting a material into the cavity during an injection process, and an injection controller for controlling a hydraulic cylinder to move the core mold forward or backward and the injection unit to inject the material into the cavity.
US07670538B2
A cannula casting mould and casting method for improving quality by making it possible to cast a smooth surface. An opening is formed in the side of the front side and a casting mould for casting a cylindrical cannula formed with a liquid flow path that is connected inside to the opening that comprises a mould body in which a casting groove is formed, a core area placed in the casting groove forming a casting open area between the surfaces of the casting groove, and an angle pin prepared in the mould body in an elongated state of the area corresponding to the open area of the casting groove. Furthermore, the injection opening for injecting casting material into the casting opening is prepared on the opposite side of the core area centre of axis from the area where the angle pin was placed in the mould body.
US07670534B2
The present invention is directed towards a method of controlling an atmosphere about a substrate, the method including, inter alia, positioning a body a distance from a surface of the substrate, the body having a wall coupled thereto placed in a position to create a flow resistance of a fluid between first and second regions of the substrate; and altering the position of the wall such that when a magnitude of the distance between the body and the surface of the substrate is decreased, a probability of the wall contacting the substrate is minimized.
US07670533B2
A cylindrical switch has one or more passages which open onto a lateral cylindrical surface of the switch. The switch is capable of being tightly received in a cylindrical hole in a hot plate and of being selectively orientated so that the passages are angularly in line with or offset from two or more channels in the hot plate which open onto the hole in order to selectively permit, interrupt or divert the flow of molten plastics material between the aforesaid channels. The switch incorporates a circuit for a cooling fluid.
US07670517B2
A method of producing a polyurethane foam sheet, and a laminated sheet that uses such a foam sheet, that can be applied to artificial leather, synthetic leather, and cushioning materials used in all manner of applications. A polyurethane foam sheet is produced by applying a liquid mixture, obtained by mixing together a heated and melted hot melt urethane prepolymer (A) containing isocyanate groups at molecular terminals, and a compound (B) containing at least 2 active hydrogen atom-containing groups, onto a substrate in a sheet-like manner, and then water foaming the liquid mixture by bringing the sheet-like liquid mixture into contact with water vapor or moisture (water). A laminated sheet is produced by bonding a third substrate to the polyurethane foam sheet.
US07670515B2
A method for fabricating a mold for a microlens having a desired radius (R) of curvature by electroplating. In this method, a minimum radius (Rmin) of curvature is utilized to achieve the desired curvature radius.
US07670514B2
A method for manufacturing an optical disc master using an existing exposure system, and a method for manufacturing an optical disc having higher recording capacity. The method for manufacturing an optical disc, using a master to produce the optical disc having an irregular pattern thereon, the master being produced by the steps of forming a resist layer composed of a resist material including an incomplete oxide of a transition metal such as W or Mo on a substrate, the oxygen content of the incomplete oxide being smaller than the oxygen content of the stoichiometric composition corresponding to a valence of the transition metal; selectively exposing the resist layer with laser according to a recording signal pattern; and developing the resist layer to form the predetermined irregular pattern.
US07670491B2
Acid concentrates, and dialysate compositions prepared therefrom, contain citric acid and an effective amount of a buffering agent selected from acetate and/or lactate. The buffering agent allows a physiologically acceptable amount of citrate to maintain the desired pH of the dialysate.
US07670488B2
A reliable, cost effective system and method are disclosed for exchanging fluid-filtration filters associated with electrical discharge machines (EDMs) and other applications. The basic system comprises a housing to receive the filter, the housing having a top that opens and a bottom cap with an interior inlet fitting coupled to a supply line carrying fluid to be filtered. A pair of opposing swing arms, each having one end pivotally connected to a filter cabinet or other suitable base and another end pivotally connected to an opposing side of the housing, facilitate a first state, wherein the housing and filter are vertically oriented with the bottom opening of the filter sealed against the fitting for filtering operation, and a second state, wherein the housing is pivoted such that the top is oriented downwardly allowing the filter to disengage from the fitting and slide out of the housing.
US07670485B2
A water treatment assembly includes a housing having a plurality of water treatment component interfaces. The water treatment assembly also includes a plurality of water treatment components selected from a group of a particulate filter component, a taste and odor filter component, a lead and mercury filter component, a water softener component, and a water disinfection component, wherein each of the water treatment components are coupled to a respective one of the water treatment component interfaces. Plumbing lines provide flow communication between the components, and the plumbing lines include a system water inlet and a system water outlet.
US07670482B2
A self-cleaning screen for shallow water pumping includes a rotatable drum made of mesh material for removing debris from water passing into the drum, and a suction chamber within the drum for feeding water to a suction pipe connected to a centrifugal pump. Inlet openings are arranged across a bottom side of the suction chamber. A check valve assembly is provided to prevent water from back flowing through the inlet openings, to thereby maintain a prime in the suction pipe when the pump is off. The check valve assembly includes valve members that are slidably mounted above the inlet openings for movement between closed and open positions. The valve members move upwardly from their closed positions to their open positions upon movement of water through the inlet openings into the suction chamber, and return to their closed positions by force of gravity when water stops flowing into the suction chamber.
US07670481B2
A device is provided for treating waste water, the device including a closed housing containing at least one stack of disks through which waste water can flow. A circulating pump is provided for pumping the fluid, the pump forming a structural unit including the housing and the stack of disks arranged therein.
US07670476B2
Process to optimize the yield of gas oils from a Fischer-Tropsch derived feed by performing the following steps: (a) performing a hydroconversion/hydroisomerisation step on part of the Fischer-Tropsch derived feed; (b) performing a hydroconversion/hydroisomerisation step on another part of the Fischer-Tropsch feed at a conversion greater than the conversion in step (a); and (c) isolating by means of distillation a gas oil fraction from the two reaction products obtained in steps (a) and (b).
US07670474B2
A method of reduction reclamation of an oil or prevention of oxidation degradation of the oil of the present invention includes: using an electrolytic cell 13 having an anode 11 and a cathode 12 made of a hydrogen storage material, and inside of the cell divided by the cathode 12 into an electrolytic chamber 13A and a reduction chamber 12A; supplying the oil to the reduction chamber 12A while applying an electric voltage between the anode 11 and the cathode 12 to electrolyze an electrolytic solution supplied to the electrolytic chamber 13 (Translator's comment: correctly, 13A); and absorbing hydrogen generated on the cathode 12 in the electrolytic chamber 13A in the cathode 12 to reduce the oil in the reduction chamber 12A, the method for reduction reclamation of the oil or prevention of oxidation degradation of the oil allowing continuous treatment.
US07670471B2
The invention relates to a microfabricated device and methods of using the device for analyzing and sorting polynucleotide molecules by size.
US07670470B2
Novel membranes comprising various polymers containing heterocyclic nitrogen groups are described. These membranes are usefully employed in electrochemical sensors, such as amperometric biosensors. More particularly, these membranes effectively regulate a flux of analyte to a measurement electrode in an electrochemical sensor, thereby improving the functioning of the electrochemical sensor over a significant range of analyte concentrations. Electrochemical sensors equipped wish such membranes are also described.
US07670468B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for processing a substrate in an electrochemical mechanical planarizing system. In one embodiment, a contact assembly for electrochemically processing a substrate includes a housing having a ball disposed in a passage formed through the housing. The ball is adapted to extend partially from the housing to contact the substrate during processing. The housing includes a fluid inlet that is positioned to cause fluid, entering the housing through the inlet, to sweep the entire passage. In another embodiment, a method for electrochemically processing includes flowing a processing fluid through a passage retaining a conductive element. The flow sweeps the entire passage of the housing. A first electrical bias is applied to the conductive element in contact with the substrate relative an electrode electrically coupled to the substrate by the processing fluid. After the substrate is separated from the conductive element, flow of processing fluid is continued through the passage past the conductive element.
US07670463B2
When fresh water is produced from salt water or similar by evaporation of untreated or crude liquid in an evaporation device under partial vacuum and by vapor condensation in a condensation device connected with the vapor outlet of the evaporation device a high degree of evaporation and cost effectiveness can be obtained in that the evaporation device and the condensation device in a disconnected condition, are filled with crude or clean liquid, respectively, and are subsequently exposed to a partial vacuum created by volume enlargement under hermetically sealed conditions and that the evaporation device and the condensation device are not flow-connected with each other until they are under partial vacuum.
US07670454B2
In a microwave plasma processing apparatus, the reflection of microwave by the joint unit between the microwave supplying waveguide and the microwave antenna is reduced by providing a taper surface or a member having a medium permittivity between the microwave supplying waveguide and the microwave antenna so as to moderate an impedance change. Accordingly, the efficiency of power supplying is improved, and reduced discharge ensures stable formation of plasma.
US07670450B2
A thermal transfer donor element is provided which can include a support, light-to-heat conversion layer, interlayer, and transfer layer. When the donor element is brought into contact with a receptor and imagewise irradiated, an image is obtained which is free from contamination by the light-to-heat conversion layer. In order to enhance the lifetimes of the transferred material, thermal treatments such as annealing are applied to the receptor before transfer, to the transfer layer after transfer, or a combination of them. The construction and process of the donor element is useful in making colored images including applications such as color proofs, color filter elements, and organic light emitting diode displays and devices.
US07670442B2
A process for iron phosphating ferrous metal substrates having undesirable ferrous oxides thereon, such as that formed by laser cutting, that eliminates at least the pickling step in the phosphating process and provides good paint adhesion, and compositions of matter useful in the process.
US07670440B2
A nozzle (54) for cleaning a gas turbine unit (1) during operation. The invention further relates to a method for washing a gas turbine unit (1) during operation. The nozzle (54) is arranged to atomize a wash liquid in the air stream in an air intake (2) of the gas turbine unit (1) and comprises a nozzle body (40) comprising an intake end (41) for intake of said wash liquid and outlet end (55) for exit of said wash liquid. The nozzle further comprises a number of orifices (42, 46; 42, 46, 60) that are connected to the outlet end (55) and respective orifice (42, 46; 42, 46, 60) is arranged at a suitable distance from a center axis (49) of said nozzle body (40), whereby the local density of the injected wash liquid in a desired area can be increased with preserved droplet size and thereby the efficiency of the cleaning process can be significantly improved at the same time as the risk for damaging the components in the gas turbine unit is significantly reduced.
US07670438B2
A method of removing particles from a wafer is provided. The method is adopted after a process for removing unreactive metal of a salicide process or after a salicide process and having oxide residue remaining on a wafer or after a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process that resulted with particles on a wafer. The method includes performing at least two cycles (stages) of intermediate rinse process. Each cycle of the intermediate rinse process includes conducting a procedure of rotating the wafer at a high speed first, and then conducting a procedure of rotating the wafer at a low speed.
US07670424B2
A method and system for reclaiming and beneficiating fly ash particles includes recovering at least a portion of fly ash particles from reclaimed feed and supplying at least a portion of the recovered fly ash particles to at least one mixing reactor with a chamber where at least a portion of the supplied fly ash particles are thermally beneficiated.
US07670418B2
A yellow ink composition for inkjet recording, containing one or more pigments selected from a group consisting of C. I. Pigment Yellow 213, 185, and 155 as a colorant.
US07670416B2
A combination of selected substances in paint to prevent the settlement and growth of different bio-fouling organisms with a reduced negative effect on the ecosystems compared to present methods. Useful substances include medetomidine with various copper and zinc formulations, tolylfluanide, diclofluanide, DIURON™ and IRGAROL™, or more general biocides such as SEANINE™ (4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3(2H)-isothiazolone) or ECONEA™ (2-(p-chlorophenyl)-3-cyano-4-bromo-5-trifluoromethyl pyrrole).
US07670413B2
An antimicrobial purification device for ventilation, heating and/or air conditioning systems diffuses a volatile purification agent. The antimicrobial purification device includes an air filter (1) having a frame (2) holding a filtering agent (3). The filter (1) comprises at least one means for integrating substrate (5) holding the purification agent, consisting of a housing (4) holding the substrate (5) positioned in the frame (2) of the filter (1) or in a container mounted on this frame (2). A cap (6) sealing the housing (4) is fitted with a pin (18) to pierce a protective cover (19) in order to diffuse the purification agent as required.
US07670408B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an industrially viable PSA process that requires small volumes of molecular sieve carbon and feed air. In order to achieve the above object, the PSA process uses the molecular sieve carbon satisfying the following relationships (I) and (II). (1)ln C≦0.325+5.14×ln {(0.64+0.098)×Q/(P+0.098)} (I) (2)ln U≦2.124−0.135×ln C (II) where C indicates an oxygen level (ppm) in the nitrogen gas product; Q indicates a volume of nitrogen gas produced per minute per unit effective volume of a single adsorption column; P indicates an adsorption pressure (MPa); and U indicates a ratio of the volume of the feed air to the volume of the nitrogen gas produced.
US07670406B2
A composite powder for a deposition of a composite coating comprises a nonmetallic component and a metallic component, the metallic component having an amorphous structure or a nanocrystalline structure. The metallic component may include an amorphous metallic alloy. The metallic alloy may include constituents having the amorphous structure. The metallic component may include a combination of the metallic alloy existing in the amorphous state and constituents of the amorphous metallic alloy in the amorphous state. The composite metal-ceramic powders are used for depositing composite coatings on a selected surface. Disclosed are several methods and systems for producing such composite powders. Disclosed are also several methods and systems for depositing composite coatings. Advantageously, the deposited coatings exhibit high corrosion resistance, high wear resistance, and excellent structural properties.
US07670401B2
A filter frame is removably attachable to a box fan. The filter frame is adapted for receiving a standard HVAC-style filter for removing contaminants from air flow induced by the fan. In this manner, a cost-effective means for filtering a flow of air is provided for residential and commercial settings. The filter frame is adaptable to a variety of standard box fan types of different styles and dimensions. The frame is configured to accommodate standard filters, such as those readily available from retail hardware stores and home centers.
US07670399B2
Provided are an exhaust pipe having turbulence wings, and an exhaust system. The exhaust pipe includes an outer pipe and an inner pipe. The exhaust pipe is connected to a scrubber of the exhaust system. The outer pipe has a gas inlet port. The inner pipe is installed in the outer pipe. A gap exists between the outer pipe and the inner pipe. The inner pipe includes a plurality of turbulence wings and gas discharge ports. The gas discharge ports are in communication with the gas inlet port via the gap. The turbulence wings project inward from the inner pipe and are disposed adjacent to the gas discharge ports. The inner pipe has an exhaust gas passage formed therein. When a gas is flowed through the gas discharge ports and over the turbulence wings, a jet layer is formed adjacent to an interior sidewall of the inner pipe. The jet layer forms a buffer between the exhaust gas passage and the inner pipe sidewalls. In this way, exhaust gases passing through the exhaust gas passage are prevented from contacting the inner pipe surface. Absorption of exhaust gas byproducts at the surface of the exhaust pipe is therefore reduced.
US07670398B2
A filter element (10) is disclosed having a integral clamp (100) thereon. The adjustable clamp (100) is held against a sleeve (90) by attached tabs (91). The sleeve (90) covers a collar (70) with a plurality of fingers (72) thereon. A high head, e.g., the apex, formed by a bead (80) in the fingers (72) permits better sealing between the filter (10) and the filter's support housing.
US07670395B2
Reforming reactor for the conversion of a process fluid into hydrogen comprising: a reforming section which is contained within a closed volume, a boiler section and a combustion section, in which said reforming section contains one or more catalyst tubes filled with reforming catalyst, said boiler section is provided with one or more flow channels for the passage of flue gas from the combustion section and said combustion section is provided with at least one burner, wherein the heat exchanging medium required for the reforming of said process fluid in the one or more catalyst tubes is a gas-liquid mixture that self-circulates and is encapsulated inside said closed volume and wherein at least a portion of said closed volume protrudes inside said boiler section.
US07670391B2
The dust-free coated dye-containing pellet is a granulated carrier material that is encapsulated with a dye-containing coating material. The dye-containing coating material contains a mixture of a water-soluble or water-dispersible film-former with at least one direct dye and/or at least one oxidation dye precursor. Preferred carrier materials include dextrose, oligosaccharides and cellulose compounds. The dust-free coated dye-containing pellet is preferably made by granulating the carrier material together with optional antioxidants and auxiliary agents, heating the resulting granulate at no more than 34° C., subsequently coating the granulate by spraying it with a solution or dispersion of the coating material and optionally drying as needed.
US07670384B2
Formed compositions for application to a bone surface of a human or animal subject, comprising: a bone material; and a carrier comprising denatured demineralized bone, where the composition is formed into a shape suitable for administration to the bone. Methods are provided for making formed compositions for application to a bone surface of a human or animal subject comprise mixing a demineralized bone and water; heating the mixture to form a carrier; mixing the carrier with bone to form a moldable composition; and molding the moldable composition to produce a formed composition. Several apparatuses are provided in which to hydrate the formed bone composition. Methods of hydrating a formed bone composition are also provided.
US07670379B2
A stent, or device for repair and reconstruction of the spinal disc wall, or annulus fibrosus, after surgical incision or pathologic rupture, which is inserted through an aperture into the subannular space. The stent has radial extensions which are caused or allowed to expand into an expanded configuration to bridge the aperture. The stent thereby occludes the defective region from the inside of the vertebral disc and prevents the migration of nucleus pulposus therethrough, while also providing a scaffold for tissue growth.
US07670378B2
The invention is related to an implant, in particular a bone replacement implant for insertion into a bone cavity, or an intervertebral implant for insertion between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a human or animal spine. The implant can be brought from a normal position, in which the implant encompasses a maximum total volume, into an insertion position, in which the implant encompasses an insertion volume, which is smaller than the maximum total volume. Moreover, the implant has a plurality of cavities in fluidic connection with one another, and a net volume encompassed in the normal position by the plurality of cavities in fluidic connection with one another is smaller than the maximum total volume, which allows insertion of the implant through as small as possible an opening in a human or animal body while maintaining a high inherent stability.
US07670374B2
Methods of separating and/or supporting layers of tissue in the human spine. Such methods generally comprise inserting at least a distal end portion of a guide member between layers of tissue in the human spine wherein the distal end portion defines a predetermined shape. A distraction device is advanced over at least the distal end portion of the guide member so that the distraction device substantially assumes the predetermined shape of the distal end portion of the guide member to form a support structure between the tissue layers that separates and/or supports the tissue layers.
US07670370B2
A method for automatically fixing sutures to secure a valve sleeve including an annular cuff and a replacement heart valve to an annulus formed in a patient's heart, includes the steps of removing an existing heart valve thereby forming an annulus in the patient's heart, and placing a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface and comprising first securing means formed on the exterior surface adjacent to the second end of the first cylinder, in which the first cylinder includes a valve sleeve having an annular cuff, such that the annular cuff surrounds the exterior surface adjacent to the first end of the first cylinder. Moreover, the method includes creating a blood-tight seal between the cuff of the valve sleeve and the annulus, and securing the plurality of sutures between the first cylinder and the second cylinder.
US07670365B2
A stent delivery system which has a stent, a catheter, and a tether. The catheter has a balloon with at least one fold. The balloon and the stent both have unexpanded configurations with smaller diameters and expanded configurations with greater diameters. The tether defines a length and has a first end connected to the unexpanded stent and a contacting span enwrapped within the fold of the unexpanded balloon. The tether holds the unexpanded stent to the unexpanded balloon and releases the expanded stent from the expanded balloon.
US07670364B2
A system/assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel, comprising a catheter having proximal and distal ends; a stent, inflation expandable from a delivery diameter to a deployment diameter, such that the delivery diameter is reduced from the deployment diameter for conforming the stent to the catheter, such that the stent, in its delivery diameter, is coaxially mounted on the catheter near the catheter distal end; an expandable inflation means coaxially mounted on the catheter axially within the stent, for expansion of the stent from the delivery diameter to the deployment diameter upon application of fluid deployment pressure to the inflation means; and a securement component coaxially mounted on the catheter, axially within the expandable inflation means, the securement component designed and adapted to provide a securement pressure to the stent in the delivery diameter to maintain the stent in position on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site.
US07670363B2
A method and apparatus for protecting an electronic implantable medical device prior to it being implanted in a patient's body. The apparatus affords protection against electronic component damage due to electrostatic discharge and/or physical damage due to improper handling. The apparatus is comprised of a circuit board having conductive surface means for receiving and releasably grasping the electrodes of the medical device to support the device's housing proximate to the surface of the circuit board. First and second conductive paths are formed on the circuit board extending between the first and second conductive surfaces for shunting electrostatic discharge currents to prevent such currents from passing through the device's electronic circuitry. The respective shunt paths include oppositely oriented diodes, preferably comprising diodes which emit light (i.e., LEDs) when current passes therethrough. Additionally, means are provided to enable functional testing of the medical device.
US07670362B2
An absorbable screw fastener and a method of firing with an applicator capable of applying a surgical fastener to tissue in order to form tissue connection to secure objects to tissue, the fastener including a body portion having a helical thread, a head portion disposed at the proximal end of the body portion. The head portion includes a driver receiving configuration on its outer surface. The screw fastener further includes a cannulated center lumen with an opening extending from the head portion through the longitudinal length of the body portion.
US07670350B2
An improved system for mammography analysis and methods of using the same. In one aspect, a clip comprises a first portion and at least one additional second portion connected to the first portion, the first and second portions adapted for elastic deformation for engaging tissue. In another aspect, an improved actuator for performing a breast biopsy is used to deploy a clip. In yet another aspect of the invention, there is contemplated a system for marking an evacuated breast cyst.
US07670334B2
An articulating surgical instrument is shown, which comprises a shaft and an end effector. The shaft has a longitudinal axis, and the end effector is operationally coupled, preferably mechanically coupled, to the shaft at an articulation pivot. The instrument also comprises a first band, and in some embodiments, a second band, each operationally connected to the end effector and extending through at least a portion of the shaft. An articulation control applies a force in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the force, when applied in one direction, is translated through the first band to the end effector to effect rotation of the end effector relative to the shaft about the articulation pivot in a first rotational direction, and when the force is applied in the opposite direction, is translated through the second band to the end effector to effect rotation of the end effector relative to the shaft about the articulation pivot in a second rotational direction.
US07670333B2
Presented are methods and apparatus for delivering a surgical instrument to a treatment site within the body of a subject, enabling accurate placement of surgical tools in areas not directly visible to a surgeon during a surgical procedure, while reducing or eliminating need for real-time imaging modalities to guide placement of those surgical tools. A treatment tool is guided to a treatment site by placing a guiding element at a reference site within a body of a subject, the reference site having a known spatial relationship to the treatment site, and utilizing a positioning tool to guide a treatment tool to a locus so positioned with respect to that guiding element that the spatial relationship between that guiding element and that locus is substantially similar to the spatial relationship known to exist between the reference site and the treatment site, thereby positioning the treatment tool substantially at the treatment site. Methods and apparatus for treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia are also presented.
US07670330B2
A method for operating a surgical system including a control unit having a vacuum sensor and/or a flow rate sensor, the method including placing a handpiece in an operative relationship with an eye for a surgical procedure and thereafter supplying irrigation fluid to the handpiece while applying a vacuum to the handpiece to aspirate the irrigation fluid from the eye through the handpiece. During fluid aspiration, a vacuum level and/or flow rate is sensed which corresponds to an occlusion of the handpiece and from the sensed vacuum level and/or flow rate, a duration of the occlusion is determined. In response to the determined duration of occlusion, at least one of the handpiece parameters is varied.
US07670329B2
A transvascular system (10) for delivering a drug to a tissue region from a blood vessel, such as a coronary vein, includes a catheter (12) having a distal portion (26) with puncturing (14), orientation (16), drug delivery (62), and imaging elements (18). The puncturing element (14) is deployable for penetrating the vessel wall to access the tissue region. The orientation element (16), e.g. a “cage” including a plurality of struts (38) (40) and/or a radiopaque marker, has a predetermined relationship with the puncturing element (14), the imaging element (18) detecting the location of the orientation element (16) with respect to the tissue region to orient the puncturing element. The catheter (12) is percutaneously introducing into the vessel, the puncturing element (14) is oriented towards the tissue region, the puncturing element (14) is deployed to access the tissue region, and the drug is delivered to the tissue region. An ablation device (230) may also be deployed to create a cavity or fluid reservoir in the tissue region for receiving the drug therein, or an indwelling catheter (214) may be advanced into and left in the tissue region.
US07670325B2
A disposable diaper is provided, including an absorber, a top sheet disposed to cover an upper surface of the absorber and at least partially formed of a liquid permeable material, and a back sheet disposed to cover a lower surface of the absorber and formed of a liquid impermeable material. The disposable diaper further includes a skin contact sheet disposed above the top sheet and formed with a stool passing opening, which is an opening capable of passing a stool therethrough, and to the both sides of the skin contact sheet, at least a pair of standing gathers are formed, which are leakage prevention walls capable of standing three-dimensionally.
US07670317B2
A one-piece low drag septum is provided for preventing escape of fluid from an introducer needle during removal of such a needle from a catheter and introducer needle assembly. The septum generally includes a distal portion, a proximal portion, a cavity portion, and a longitudinal axis. The distal portion acts as a primary seal to prevent escape of blood from the catheter into the assembly and is generally positioned furthest away from the user of the apparatus and nearest the patient. The cavity portion reduces friction placed on the introducer needle. The proximal portion of the septum acts as a secondary seal to prevent escape of material from the cavity, seals the cavity, and wipes the needle as it is being withdrawn from the catheter assembly.
US07670316B2
Locking device that is mounted on an endoscope or the like for selectively securing the position of a guide wire and/or catheter relative to the endoscope or the like. The locking device preferably includes a side wall with an opening therein for receiving the proximal end of a guide wire or catheter. The opening is preferably J-shaped or boot shaped, and has an entry end and a locking end. Once a guide wire or catheter is in a desired position within a body cavity, the portion of the guide wire or catheter that extends outside of the endoscope or the like may be moved into the opening. More particularly, a portion of the guide wire or catheter may be inserted by an operator through the entry end of the opening and into the locking end, wherein the locking end frictionally secures the position of the guide wire or catheter relative to the endoscope or the like.
US07670314B2
A manually-powered injection device that self-administers a painless injection. The injection device provides a method for substantially painless injections of vaccine and other medication into a patient that does not require the use of an anesthetic, that does not require the medical personnel to spend a substantial amount of time performing the injection procedure, that is relatively simple and inexpensive to perform and operate, and that provides a relatively high degree of safety for both the medical personnel and for the patient. The injection needle can have an outside diameter greater than 0.10 mm and less than about 0.38 mm. The vaccine or other medicament can be injected painlessly through the needle and into the patient at a substantially constant volumetric flow rate of about 0.05 μL/s to about 50 μL/s, typically over a 3- to 5-minute period of time. The injection device is configured for easy handling, and is manually powered by the use of the hand or fingers of the medical technician, patient or other person.
US07670312B2
The invention provides a device and methods for analyzing body fluids wherein the device is implanted in the body and provides for both the delivery of substances into the body and for the testing of body fluids.
US07670303B2
A body motion measuring apparatus is described, embodiments of which include an apparatus for detecting the magnitudes of motions in different directions at a time using body motion sensors, calculating the size V of a composite vector based on the relationship between the magnitudes of the motions, comparing the size V of the composite vector with a reference value to determine whether the size V of the composite vector is adequate, calculating an angle θ based on the relationship between the magnitudes of the motions when V is determined to be adequate, calculating a body motion output M taking the angle θ into account, and counting a predetermined body motion based on the relationship between M and a predetermined elapsed time.
US07670301B2
An integrated sampling device defines a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is connected to a channel for drawing fluid automatically towards a test media upon incision by an incision portion. The second opening is positioned over the test media allowing manual sampling of fluid if the channel fails to draw a sufficient amount of fluid onto the test media.
US07670286B2
The electronic endoscope device in accordance with the present invention comprises an image pick-up unit capable of acquiring an object image with respect to illumination light employed for illuminating the object for each prescribed wavelength band, an exposure period setting circuit for setting the exposure period of the image pick-up unit corresponding to the each wavelength band, an amplification circuit for amplifying picked-up image signals of the object image obtained with the image pick-up unit corresponding to the each wavelength band, and a control circuit for controlling the amplification circuit such that the picked-up image signals corresponded to the each wavelength band of the object image that are acquired with the image pick-up unit at the exposure period set corresponding to the each wavelength band set by the exposure period setting circuit are amplified at amplification factors computed corresponding to the exposure period that is set corresponding to the each wavelength band.
US07670285B2
An endoscope treatment instrument stopper fitted in a channel opening of a treatment instrument insertion channel of an endoscope, includes a first stopper section having a first treatment instrument insertion hole into which a treatment instrument is inserted; a stopper frame having a stopper section fitting portion, fitted in the channel opening, having therein the first treatment instrument insertion hole of the first stopper section to be opposite the channel opening, and provided with a tearing capable of tearing the stopper frame removed from the channel opening; and a second stopper section having a second treatment instrument insertion hole into which the treatment instrument is inserted, removable from the stopper section fitting portion of the stopper frame, and formed so that the second treatment instrument insertion hole is opposite the first stopper section when the second stopper section is fitted in the stopper section fitting portion.
US07670279B2
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for implantation into the walls of an organ such as the stomach. Deformable or inflatable anchors with a connector between are used to pull the walls of the organ together, or to implant devices in the wall of the organ. Also disclosed are surgical instruments useful in practicing the disclosed methods.
US07670269B2
A chest press exercise machine has a self-aligning pivoting user support on a main frame and an exercise arm which is linked to the pivoting user support to translate movement of the exercise arm into movement of the user support. A user support pivot pivotally connects the user support to the main frame. A connecting link is movably associated with the user engagement device or exercise arm and at least one of the main frame, user support, or user support pivot. A user-activated positioning device controls positioning of the exercise arm in an exercise ready position at the start of an exercise. The user support pivot is positioned so that part of the combined weight of the user and user support is positioned on both sides of the gravitational centerline throughout the exercise movement and a portion of the combined weight passes through the centerline to redistribute the weight as the exercise arm is moved.
US07670267B2
A pace-adjusting mechanism of an elliptical cross trainer having an electric adjusting motor installed at the bottom of a flywheel transmission unit for driving a telescopic tube in displacement. Meanwhile, a w-shaped driven connecting rod and two L-shaped connecting elements are employed to adjust the vertical position of two treadle planks, thereby achieving different exercise paces.
US07670264B2
The Integrated Body Conditioning (IBC) exercise system is a method of exercising employing three defining elements: integration of aerobic, resistance, and Range of Motion exercises performed at a properly elevated heart rate with exercise intensity and duration adjusted in view of biofeedback data.
US07670261B2
The present invention relates to the control of fuel pressure in a common rail engine in connection with an automatic gearshift procedure. Upon receipt of a primary gearshift command, a fuel pressure in the common rail fuel system is decreased. This decrease is initiated during a time interval prior to reducing engine torque. A gear is released after the engine torque is lowered, thereby enabling a smooth gear release.
US07670260B2
A method is provided for increasing a temperature of oil in a continuously variable transmission during engine start-up, the transmission including a fluid pump and motor, and a mechanical transmission. The method includes starting the engine, maintaining the fluid pump at substantially zero displacement, and heating the transmission oil by relative rotation of a first clutch disc and first clutch hub of a first clutch assembly and by relative rotation of a second clutch disc and second clutch hub of a second clutch assembly. The method further includes maintaining a substantially zero net torque from the transmission during the heating of the oil by the first and second clutch assemblies.
US07670254B2
Method and apparatus to monitor devices of a hydraulic circuit of an electro-mechanical transmission
A method and an apparatus are provided to control operation of an electro-mechanical transmission device selectively operative in one of a plurality of fixed gear modes and two continuously variable modes. The method comprises controlling the flow control devices of the electro-hydraulic control circuit, and monitoring a plurality of pressure monitoring devices in the electro-hydraulic control circuit. A fault is identified in the electro-hydraulic control circuit when a signal output of one of the pressure monitoring devices does not correspond to an expected signal output for the pressure monitoring device after an elapsed time period.
US07670250B2
A multi-speed transmission has three planetary gear sets and six torque-transmitting mechanism packaged in various ones of five zones within a transmission cavity. Each planetary gear set has a ring gear member, a sun gear member and a carrier member that rotatably supports a plurality of pinion gears that intermesh with both the sun gear member and the ring gear member. Certain members are continuously connected for common rotation. Specifically, an interconnecting member continuously interconnects for common rotation the carrier member of the first planetary gear set, the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the third planetary gear set. Additionally, the sun gear member of the first planetary gear set is grounded to the transmission casing via a radially-extending structural member.
US07670243B2
Embodiments of the inventions disclosed include a continuously variable transmission (CVT) where power is transmitted from a group of balls to a shaft via an idler. In one application, the CVT couples to a gearbox and to a generator of a wind turbine. Traction elements of a CVT can be coated and/or textured, using various coating materials and textures, via disclosed coating and/or texturing methods. Methods and systems for shifting a CVT are disclosed. Certain components for a CVT are disclosed. For example, in one embodiment, a CVT includes a shaft having a spline and a shift flange. In another embodiment, a CVT includes a stator adapted to cooperate with shifter components. Disclosed is a CVT configured to produce a variable output speed that is always greater than an input speed. In one embodiment, a CVT produces a variable output speed that is always lower than an input speed.
US07670235B2
A golf club head includes a body and a retaining element removably mounted to the body. The retaining element includes a main body and an annular wall extending from a side of the main body of the retaining element. The annular wall defines a compartment for receiving a weight that is retained to the body of the golf club head by the retaining element. A vibration absorbing washer is received in the compartment of the retaining element and mounted to the weight. The vibration absorbing washer absorbs vibration during swing, thereby enhancing assembling reliability of the weight.
US07670214B2
Methods and systems for providing a depressurization alert. An example method includes receiving a cabin depressurization discrete signal, determining if the cabin depressurization discrete signal is valid, and issuing a cabin depressurization alert, if the cabin depressurization discrete signal was determined to be valid. In accordance with further aspects of the invention, a time delay is executed before the receiving, determining, and issuing steps are repeated. The cabin depressurization discrete signal is determined not valid if uncorrected pressure is not greater than a predefined altitude. The uncorrected pressure is a raw pressure value produced by a Pitot-Static system. Also, the cabin depressurization discrete signal is determined not valid if the aircraft's altitude above an intended runway is not greater than a first predefined value. Additionally, the cabin depressurization discrete signal is determined not valid if an aircraft's altitude above terrain is not greater than a second predefined value.
US07670204B2
A playground toy which is easily accessible to, and easily graspable by, a small child, a wheelchair-bound individual, or any other person with limited mobility. The playground toy generally includes a spherical-shaped ball, a ring handle, and an axle connecting the ball to the ring handle. The ring handle has a slightly different diameter than a diameter of the ball to ensure that the toy will return to the child and/or individual playing with the playground toy if, for some reason, the toy rolls away from the child and/or individual. Thus, the toy will roll away from the child and/or individual for the first half of a circular path and, if the toy continues to roll, the toy will roll towards the child and/or individual for the other half of the circular path. The ring handle provides an efficient gripping structure for picking up the ball.
US07670201B2
An adjustable rigging system for a boat including a bracket adapted to connect to an outboard end portion of a stay mechanism for a boat, the bracket including a top hole and a bottom hole, wherein an axis is defined between a center of the top hole and a center of the bottom hole, a pin extending along the axis including two ends, each end removably connected to the bracket adjacent to one of the top and bottom holes, and wherein the location of at least one of the top and the bottom holes is adjustable to change a pitch of the axis and the pin.
US07670196B2
An electrical terminal of the type to be inserted into an aperture of an electrical panel member is provided. The electrical terminal may include a base, an insertion portion extending from the base to a first end, a slit formed through the insertion portion and defining a compliant portion having a first leg and a second leg. A segment of the first leg may be deformed in one direction, while a segment of the second leg may deformed in the opposite direction. Midpoints of each or both legs may be offset from the midpoint of the slit to achieve improved mechanical and electrical performance within a connector. Also provided is an electrical terminal having a tip that facilitates alignment with a panel member aperture and provides tactile feedback to a user, as well as an electrical terminal having a mounting end that is substantially smaller than its mating end, and connectors containing such terminals. Methods of routing electrical traces between adjacent electrical terminals are also provided.
US07670194B1
RJ-45 style communications jacks include a housing having a plug receiving cavity, a guide protruding from a first surface of the housing into the plug receiving cavity and a stop provided at a second surface of the housing. The guide is configured to contact a plug housing of an RJ-11 communications plug when the RJ-11 communications plug is inserted within the plug receiving cavity so that the guide directs the RJ-11 communications plug toward the second surface where the stop prevents the RJ-11 communications plug from being fully inserted within the plug receiving cavity.
US07670187B2
A stacked card connector (100) includes a first electrical card connector (1), a second electrical card connector (2) under the first electrical card connector. The first card connector comprises a first insulating housing (12) received a plurality of first terminals (13), and the first terminals comprises a vertical portion (132). The second card connector (2) includes a second insulating housing (22) received a plurality of second terminals (24), the second terminals comprises a tail portion (242). And the tail portion of the second terminals defines at least one cutout (2420) among the tail portion (242), the distance between two adjacent vertical portions (132) being equal with the distance between two adjacent tail portions (242).
US07670183B2
A modular jack (100) has a housing (10), a magnetic module (200) having a printed circuit board (21), a first and a second set of terminals (26, 221) mounted to the printed circuit board. The magnetic module includes a set of toroidal coil units (2) having a first core (23), a second core (24) and a third core (25), a number of first wires (233) wound around the first core and the third core, and a second wire (243) wound around the second core and the third core.
US07670182B2
A coaxial connector with a built-in capacitor includes: a core wire connection terminal having, on a rear end thereof, a core wire connection portion for connecting thereto a core wire of a coaxial cable; an inner terminal having, on a tip end thereof, a fitted/connected portion fitted and connected to an other party's terminal; an insulator holding the inner terminal while covering an outer circumference of the inner terminal, and having a holding hole of the core wire connection terminal on a rear end thereof; a shield terminal having, on a tip end thereof, a cylindrical shell portion that covers an outer circumference of the insulator, and having, on a rear end thereof, a shield conductor crimping portion for crimping and connecting thereto a shield conductor of the coaxial cable; and an inner dielectric that is sandwiched between a tip end portion of the core wire connection terminal and a rear end portion of the inner terminal, and thereby composes a capacitor function portion while using, as opposite electrodes, the tip end portion of the core wire connection terminal and the rear end portion of the inner terminal.
US07670180B2
A shielded subminiature connection assembly having two subminiature connectors with housings provided with means of locking, two molded thermoplastic half-shells having a high contact density miniature sub-assembly with a molded thermoplastic insulating body provided with contact cavities for the positioning and retention of contacts, a back plate provided with a contact-retaining clip and whose sidewalls comprise projecting members, a molded thermoplastic receptacle shell including a flange provided with oblong apertures into which the projecting members of the back plate are locked. The disclosed embodiments also concern the process of forming the connection assembly.
US07670178B2
An electrical connector for mating with a plug includes an insulative housing, a number of contacts retained in the insulative housing, a metal shield and at least one metal spring fixed to the metal shield. The metal spring and the metal shield are made of different materials. The metal shield covers the insulative housing to define a receiving cavity formed by a plurality of peripheral walls. One of the peripheral walls defines a slot communicating with the receiving cavity. The metal spring is securely fixed to the peripheral walls and including an engaging arm extending into the receiving cavity through the slot.
US07670177B2
An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating cavity extending to a base wall and at least one terminal cavity through the base wall to the mating cavity. The terminal cavity being configured to receive a terminal therein having a pin extending into the mating cavity. A primary terminal lock extends from an interior wall of the housing and is configured to engage the terminal to retain the terminal in the terminal cavity. An alignment member is received within the mating cavity and has an alignment plate having at least one opening aligned with a corresponding terminal cavity. The alignment member is movable within the mating cavity between a seated position in which the alignment plate is proximate to the base wall and a supporting position in which the alignment plate is positioned remote from the base wall. A tip of the terminal is held within the opening when the alignment member is in the supporting position, and a pin base of the terminal is held within the opening when the alignment member is in the seated position.
US07670173B2
A modular jack (100) adapted for receiving a pair of mating connectors includes an insulative housing (1) having a pair of cavities (10) for receiving the corresponding mating connectors, a number of terminal modules (3) received in the cavities for electrically connecting with the mating connector, and a conductive outer shield (2) enclosing the corresponding insulative housing. The modular jack further has a detachable grounding member (7) made from conductive material and electrically connected with the conductive outer shield for grounding. The grounding member has a number of contacting plates (7121,7131,7141) extending into the corresponding cavities for connecting and grounding the corresponding mating connectors.
US07670166B2
An burn-in socket used for connecting an IC package includes an base urged upward by springs, an actuated device floatably assembled on said base, a frame retained on said base, a plurality of contacts received in said base. Said actuated device includes a plurality of sustaining shafts with a plurality of rollers ringed thereon. Said latching assembly includes a plurality of rotating shafts retained on said base and a plurality of latching members engaged with said rotating shafts and rotating between an open position and a locking position. The actuated member when urged upwardly causes to rollers to press on back side faces of the latching members to rotate them between an open position and a closed position with lowered abrasion.
US07670162B2
Separating connector assemblies of a separable connector system. The separable connector assemblies include one or more pairs of connectors configured to engage and disengage one another in electrical connection and disconnection operations, respectively. An operator can disengage the connectors by pushing the connectors together and then pulling the connectors apart. Pushing the connectors together shears interface adhesion between the connectors, making it easier for the operator to pull the connectors apart. One of the connectors can include a nose end having an undercut segment configured to not engage an interior surface of the other connector when the connectors are engaged. Limiting the surface area of the nose end that interfaces with the interior surface of the other connector reduces surface adhesion and a pressure drop when separating the connectors, making separation easier to perform.
US07670157B2
A female housing (10) includes cam pins (14). A lever (70) is mounted on a male housing (30), and arms (73) of the lever (70) are formed with bearing portions (74) and cam grooves (71) engageable with the cam pins (14). An engaging groove (78) is formed adjacent to the cam groove (71) in each arm (73), and an engaging pin (17) is provided adjacent to each cam pin (14) on the female housing (10). The engaging grooves (78) can receive the engaging pins (17) during the rotation of the lever (70) and have inclination restricting surfaces (79) for restricting the inclination of the female housing (10) by sliding in contact with the engaging pins (17) as the lever (70) is rotated if the posture of the female housing (10) being connected is inclined relative to the female housing (30).
US07670156B2
The present invention relates to an electrical connector, comprises a housing; a base body having a tongue piece, one surface of the tongue piece is provided with a plurality of first terminal slots, the other surface of the tongue piece is provided with a plurality of second terminal slots, and a gap is provided in the middle portion of the tongue piece; a first terminal assembly respectively received in the first terminal slots; a second terminal assembly respectively received in the second terminal slots; and a grounding piece inserted in the gap of the tongue piece, a contact portion is provided by extending from the end of the grounding piece, when assembly the contact portion is in contact with a grounding terminal of any said terminal assemblies mentioned above, so effects of grounding and prevention of static electricity can be achieved.
US07670155B2
A multiplex electrical receptacle adapted for receiving at least a pair of power cords, such that the ground prongs of the power cords are directed outward from the center of the multiplex electrical receptacle in a “grounds out” configuration. The electrical receptacle of this invention includes an electrical outlet receptacle having a receptacle body, a conductive mounting strap, a conductive live blade receiving assembly, a conductive neutral blade receiving assembly, and a non-conductive housing.
US07670149B2
An electric board is configured to be removably installed in a main body of an apparatus. The electric board includes a board member on which electric components can be mounted. A shielding member is attached to the board member. A handle member is fitted on the shielding member whereby a user can hold the handle member when pulling-out the electric board from the main body.
US07670139B2
A system for combusting carbon-containing fuel includes a reactor 10 for simultaneously supporting oxidation of the fuel and conversion of CO2 within the reactor. A metal oxide or metal is input to the reactor to convert the CO2 to a mineralized CO2 product. A cold trap 44 is provided for capturing exhaust gases from the reactor and returning condensate to the reactor, and a gas pump 50 maintains a desired vacuum or pressure within the reactor and the cold trap. Combustion products may be recycled to increase their energy value.
US07670115B2
A turbo fan includes a plurality of blades positioned vertically in a radial direction between a main plate and a shroud. Each of the plurality of blades is formed with a slope at an outer periphery thereof to suppress generation of turbulence.
US07670111B2
A seal for a compressor for sealing a shaft includes a first seal part of a first material, a second seal part of a second material different from the first material, and a stiffening part. The second seal part is connected at least with a radially extending surface area to at least one of the other parts and the surface area of the second seal part opposite the aforementioned surface area is kept from making contact with the stiffening part. The first seal part is provided, toward the axial side, with a sealing lip which is adapted for sealing contact with the shaft, and the second seal part is made such that the radially inner area of the second seal part extends axially and is free from collision with the sealing lip when the seal is properly installed.
US07670099B2
A wide plate-like material (27), having thin and thick wall portions in a transverse direction, is prepared by alternately joining one of flat thin plates (28, 29) and one of thick corner plates (30) or thick plates (31). The wide plate-like material (27) is bent at and along right and left thick corner plates (30) and formed into a U-shaped structure (32) which is U-shape in cross section. Separately from the U-shaped structure (32), a plate-like member (33) is prepared by butt welding thick plates (35) to right and left sides of a thin plate (34). The plate-like member (33) is welded to a lower side of the U-shaped structure (32) by laser welding or the like to form a square tubular structure, which is in a square shape in cross section and serves as a major part of an operating arm.
US07670098B2
An attachment used in conjunction with a backhoe or track hoe to convert it into a machine to unload ties off of railroad cars. Two pins on an upper end of the attachment secure it to the distal end of the working arm of the backhoe or track hoe so that a front edge of the attachment point toward the backhoe or track hoe. Upper ends of four c-shaped members attached to an upper plate on the upper end of the attachment. Opposite lower ends of each of the four spaced apart c-shaped members are flattened on upper and lower surfaces into a point. A lower plate is secured to the upper surfaces of the lower ends of the c-shaped members to form the front edge. Support bars secure between adjacent c-shaped members and openings are provided in the c-shaped members to reduce weight while maintaining strength.
US07670093B2
Non-prismatic shank fasteners, such as nails, for wood and similar soft materials have a plurality of longitudinal extending non-congruent sections having different geometries, different configurations, and varying diameters such that the shank has the widest nominal diameter arranged to span a joint between wood members being fastened. The shank has four circumferentially symmetrically disposed grooves and ridges having dimensions within pre-determined ranges such that the ridges have sufficient strength to withstand the forces imposed on the shank being driven into the parent material and to resist loads imposed upon them by the loads to the parent material. The grooves have a sufficiently wide jaw opening to allow elastically compressed parent material to enter the groove and provide support to the shank. The non-prismatic grooved shanks demonstrate significantly greater load handling capability than that possessed by other known types of fasteners.
US07670090B1
A system for transporting an airfoil having a root end, a tip end, and a midsection over a railroad, utilizing a first railcar coupled to a second rail car. The system includes a bracket fixed to the root end of the airfoil and also connected to the first railcar, where the bracket is oriented to align the tip end of the airfoil toward the second rail car. A sling stand is connected to the second railcar, and a sling is hung from the sling stand and aligned to engage and support the midsection of the airfoil, and thereby accommodates misalignment during transport over the railroad. A pair of rollers are disposed on either side of the airfoil to limit lateral movement thereof.
US07670089B2
A simple inclined-hole drilling jig comprises a jig body having a crossover plane at the bottom to evenly press against the wood workpiece, and a beveled end member at the front concavely disposed with a guiding shaft hole extending downwardly from the beveled end member through the crossover plane. The upper end of guiding shaft hole is configured with a guide bushing for drill bit to pass through. The rear end and side surfaces of jig body are respectively formed with a reference face and sidewalls perpendicular to the crossover plane; the sidewall is at least concavely disposed with a dust guide groove intercrossing the guiding shaft hole and slidingly disposed with a graduated extension board to allow axial displacement and positioning. The end of the extension board is bent to form a retaining end plane parallel to the reference face to extendingly adjust the axle spread of reference face.
US07670087B1
A wall for retaining water includes a backing support, formed by vertically arranged sheet piling, a base attached to the sheet piling, and a rock or boulder facade supported on the base. The sheet piling is formed of undulating, interlocking steel sheets. A backing plate is welded to the sheet piling. A high quality plaster is applied between the facade and the backing plate and between the backing plate and the sheet piling. Preferably, the plaster is a pool plaster type, typically used to seal cracks and form an exposed surface in in-ground swimming pools.
US07670083B2
A fish passage system is provided that includes a first weir and a second weir upstream of the first weir. The first and second weirs are each moveable between a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The fish passage system further includes a controller to move the first and second weirs between the inflated and deflated conditions to create at least one pool between the first and second weirs so that fish can migrate upstream and/or downstream of the system without having to jump the first and second weirs.
US07670077B2
An exemplary rotatable joint (100) includes a socket (10), a rotatable arm (20), and a connecting device (30) configured for being mounted in the socket. The connecting device includes a sub-socket (31), two elastic sleeves (33), and two pivot shafts (35) fixed to the socket. The sub-socket includes a first half (311) and a second half (312). A pivot hole (315, 316) is defined in each of the first half and the second half for engaging with an outer surface (331) of one of the elastic sleeves. An outer surface (351) of each of the pivot shafts engages with an inner surface (332) of one of the elastic sleeves. A through hole (317) is defined in the sub-socket for rotatably engaging with the rotatable arm. Each of the elastic sleeves abuts the rotatable arm.
US07670073B2
A device, for applying a flowable medium to a surface, includes a container, equipment to be worn on a back, a hose and a hose adapter, which can attach the hose to an outlet opening of the container, and which includes a ventilating element. The device further includes a handle having an end to which a wiping or applying device is mounted. The equipment includes a mounting plate attached to supporting straps to hold the container; and the container includes coupling elements for coupling the container to the mounting plate. A duct of the device extends from a first end of the hose, such that, when the hose is attached to the container, at the first end thereof, by the hose adapter, the duct conducts the flowable medium, from the container, to an outlet of the handle, which outlet is spaced apart from the wiping or applying device.
US07670071B2
An exemplary objective holder engages with a PCB substrate having an image sensor and several passive components arranged thereon. The passive components surround the image sensor. The objective includes a lens barrel extending from a side of a base, and a plurality of walls extending from an opposite side of the base. The walls enclose a chamber thereamong for receiving the image sensor and define notches therein for receiving the passive components therein. A transparent cover is received in the objective holder between the lens barrel and the chamber. An adhesive is used to connect the objective holder to the PCB substrate. The PCB substrate is rested on the walls. At least one of the notches communicates the chamber to an exterior for outgassing and is sealed by a mass of sealing material after a heating process of the adhesive.
US07670068B2
An actuator includes: a coil for excitation; a stator excited with different magnetic poles by energization of the coil; a rotor magnetized with different magnetic poles in a circumferential direction, and rotated by magnetic force generating between the rotor and the stator; and an outputting member rotated in conjunction with the rotor and outputting rotational movement of the rotor to a member. The outputting member fits onto the rotor, and the rotor has at least one of a recess portion and a projection portion at a fitting surface of the rotor. The outputting member is jointed with the rotor so as to have a shape corresponding to the at least one of the recess portion and the projection portion by welding.
US07670066B2
According to one embodiment, a camera device includes a camera body including an optical system, a rotational shaft having both ends extending on both sides from the camera body, and a pair of holders which rotatably support both ends of the rotational shaft, respectively and permit the camera body to rotate about the rotational shaft. At least one of the holders includes a cup-shaped bearing portion into which an end of the rotational shaft is inserted, a holder body, and a spring portion which extends from the holder body, supports the bearing portion at the extended end thereof, and urges the bearing portion toward the other holder side in the axial direction of the rotational shafts.
US07670057B2
A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus for a driven wheel has an outer member integrally formed with a body mounting flange on its outer circumference. The body mounting flange is adapted to be mounted on a knuckle forming part of a suspension apparatus of the vehicle. The outer member inner circumference includes double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member includes a wheel hub and at least one inner ring. The inner member has a plurality of inner raceway. Double row rolling elements are freely rollably contained, via cages, between the outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces. The knuckle is integrally formed with a disc-shaped bottom. The outer member is adapted to be connected to the knuckle, via bolts, with the body mounting flange abutted against the knuckle. The inner side end of the inner member is covered by the knuckle.
US07670052B2
The invention provides for a slider for a child proof slider-zipper assembly having a leading edge, a trailing edge and a top edge with a top surface and a top frame comprising: a pair of protrusions at the bottom of the leading edge, a pair of protrusions at the bottom of the trailing edge, and an opening plow protruding from the top surface of the slider, between the leading edge and trailing edge, and having height not more than the height of the slider such that the top surface projects upwards from the top frame.
US07670049B2
An adjustment method of a plane of rotation possesses has a step (S62) of detecting a range of the first X-rays from the X-ray tube 125 positioned at a first position with an X-ray detector 70; a step of moving the X-ray tube from the first the position to a second position; a step of detecting a range of the second X-rays from the X-ray tube positioned at the second the position with the X-ray detector 70; a step (S64) of calculating quantity of adjustment of the X-ray tube 125 and the collimator 126 based on the detected ranges by the first X-rays and the second X-rays.
US07670030B2
A concave reflector can form a more uniform beam of light. The light source can be an LED with a nominally lambertian radiation pattern. LED can be high power requiring heatsink. Light reflected by reflector and light exiting without hitting reflector can form coinciding beams of essentially same size. Matching of sizes of reflected and unreflected components can be achieved in part by having a tangent at a rim parallel to axis of reflector. For some LEDs hot spot in center of beam is reduced by curvature becoming increasingly sharp when approaching along reflective curve a critical radius at which tangent to reflector curve in plane containing axis of reflector has angle near 45 degrees with respect to axis of reflector. Reflector can be used in, for example, work lights, desk lamps, accent lights, headlamps, and flashlights. Lamps can have multiple reflectors with one LED for each reflector.
US07670019B2
A backlight assembly including a universal lamp unit with a common connecting structure coupling a lamp and an inverter through a lamp socket and a conductor when connecting the lamp and the inverter with each other, a liquid crystal display including the same and a method of manufacturing thereof. Backlight assembly includes a mold frame including a receiving space therein and a lamp unit disposed in the receiving space of the mold frame. The lamp unit includes at least one lamp, and at least one pair of lamp sockets disposed on the mold frame. The pair of lamp sockets secure the lamp and apply electric power to the lamp.
US07670012B2
A projection system has a housing and a projector removably, pivotally attached to the housing. The projector can pivot relative to the housing between a first position, where a light outlet of the projector is covered by the housing, and a second position, where the light outlet of the projector is exposed.
US07670010B2
An information handling system projector lamp housing includes a safety interlock to reduce the risk of electrical shock to an end user during lamp insertion and removal. A ballast disposed in the projector interfaces with a low voltage power supply through a ballast power supply circuit and transforms the low voltage into high voltage for use by the lamp. A connector associated with the ballast connects with a connector on the lamp housing to supply the high voltage to the lamp. The safety interlock breaks the ballast power supply circuit if the ballast connectors are exposed, such as during insertion or removal of the lamp. The safety interlock completes the ballast power supply circuit as the lamp housing fully inserts in the projector to allow power supply for illumination of the lamp.
US07670009B2
In a projection-type image display apparatus, comprising an enlarged projection optical unit, which is configured to project the lights from the light source unit onto the display portion, enlargedly, the enlarged projection optical unit, further comprises: a projection lens for projecting the image on the image display element, enlargedly, and a reflection mirror having a reflection surface made up with a freely curved surface, and the image display element has a display surface larger than the display portion, when a whole body thereof is projected on the display portion, through the enlarged projection optical unit, to be displayed by projection thereof, and the image on the display surface of the image display element is movable, within the display surface of the image display element, so as to project a portion fitting to the display portion, selectively, to be displayed, when projecting it through the enlarged projection optical unit upon the display portion, to be displayed, thereby enabling an installation position of the projection-type image display apparatus to be movable with respect to the display portion.
US07669996B2
An inkjet printer that has an elongate array of nozzles for ejecting ink and ink conduits for supplying the array of nozzles with ink. The ink conduits are aligned with the longitudinal extent of the elongate array and have a plurality of pulse dampers individually in fluid communication with the ink conduits. Each pulse damper contains a volume of gas for compression by pressure pulses in the ink conduits, distributed along the length of the elongate array. A pressure pulse moving through an elongate printheads, such as a pagewidth printhead, can be damped at any point in the ink flow line. However, the pulse will cause nozzle flooding as it passes the nozzles in the printhead integrated circuit, regardless of whether it is subsequently dissipated at the damper. By incorporating a number of pulse dampers into the ink supply conduits immediately next to the nozzle array, any pressure spikes are damped at the site where they would otherwise cause detrimental flooding.
US07669987B2
An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head having actuators that are caused to deflect so as to vary a volume of a pressure chamber according to a drive signal applied between an electrode associated with a pressure chamber from which ink is ejected and ones associated with two pressure chambers sandwiching the former, and a drive signal generator that generates a drive signal for driving the pressure chambers in the five time-divisional drive method. The drive signal generator simultaneously supplies drive signals for alleviating deflection of an actuator or actuators at the outmost position among six actuators disposed close around a pressure chamber from which ink is to be ejected to electrodes associated with the five pressure chambers close around one from which ink is not to be ejected at a timing when the ink ejection therefrom is enabled. Thus, variations in velocity and volume between ink droplets ejected that are caused due to cross-talk between chambers can be reduced.
US07669981B2
An ink jet print head substrate capable of precisely blowing fuse element to store data reliably is provided. An ink jet print head incorporating such a substrate and an ink jet printing apparatus are also provided. The interlayer insulating film formed over the fuse element is made of a material that has a lower melting point than the material of the fuse element and which forms a cavity therein by heat produced when the fuse elements is blown.
US07669974B2
A nozzle assembly is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle assembly includes a substrate assembly defining an ink inlet. A nozzle extends from the substrate assembly in register with the ink inlet and defines an opening through which ink can be ejected. A lever arm extends from the nozzle. A thermal bend actuator assembly is mounted to the substrate assembly and engages with the lever arm so that, upon actuation, the lever arm moves and ink within the nozzle is ejected out through the opening.
US07669972B2
An inkjet printhead is disclosed. The printhead includes a substrate defining a plurality of ink inlet passages; a plurality of nozzle chambers formed on the substrate, each nozzle chamber being in fluid communication with at least one of the ink inlet passages, and at least one heater element suspended in each nozzle chamber, each heater element, when energized by an electrical signal, forms a gas bubble in ink in the nozzle chamber so that a drop of ink is ejected from the nozzle chamber.
US07669962B2
A capping sheet that seals a nozzle surface of a liquid jet head having a liquid jet nozzle that ejects liquid onto a target, the capping sheet includes: a sheet body including an opposite surface facing the nozzle surface of the liquid jet head, the sheet body being provided separately from a capping-sheet carrying mechanism that carries the sheet body from a non-capping position where the opposite surface does not face the nozzle surface to a capping position where the opposite surface faces the nozzle surface; and on the opposite surface, a sealing part that seals the nozzle surface with a sealed space therebetween if the capping sheet is carried to the capping position by the capping-sheet carrying mechanism and relatively moved in a way that the opposite surface comes close to the nozzle surface at the capping position.
US07669960B2
A technique for servicing an inkjet printhead on an inkjet printer including a first service module. The technique includes identifying a printhead-related service condition not adequately addressed by servicing the printer with the first service module, providing a second service module different from the first service module and adapted to address the printhead-related service condition. A set of instructions can be provided for using the second service module with the inkjet printer. The technique can further include removing the first service module from the printer, installing the second service module in the printer, and using the set of instructions, conducting a special printer servicing operation. After completion of the special printer servicing operation, the second service module can be removed from the printer, and the first service module reinstalled in the printer in place of the second service module.
US07669956B2
A printhead IC is provided which has an array of nozzles, drive circuitry for receiving print data and sending drive pulses of electrical energy to the array of nozzles in accordance with the print data, and a temperature sensor connected to the drive circuitry to adjust the drive pulse profile in response to the temperature sensor output. During use, the temperature sensor can be de-activated after a period of use. The drive circuitry sets the duration of the pulse profile to a sub ejection value for any of the nozzles in the row that are not to eject a drop during that firing sequence.
US07669955B2
A printhead IC is provided having an array of nozzles, drive circuitry for receiving print data and sending drive pulses of electrical energy to the array of nozzles in accordance with the print data, and a temperature sensor connected to the drive circuitry to adjust the drive pulse profile in response to the temperature sensor output. During use, the temperature sensor can be de-activated after a period of use. The drive circuitry is programmed with a series of temperature thresholds defining a set of temperature zones, each of the zones having a different pulse profile for the drive pulses sent to the nozzles in the region currently operating in that temperature zone.
US07669951B2
A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The nozzle assembly includes an inkjet nozzle having an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from the inkjet nozzle when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current. A drive transistor provides an energy pulse to the resistive element of the actuator, and control logic controls the drive transistor. The energy of the energy pulse is less than 1 μJ.
US07669948B2
A fluid ejector includes a drop size symbol that is based on the fluid ejector's drop size relative to one or more fixed drop sizes. The drop size symbol is formed by comparing the fluid ejector's drop size to the one or more fixed drop sizes. An image forming device includes a marking fluid ejector that includes a drop size symbol based on the marking fluid ejector's drop size relative to one or more fixed drop sizes. The image forming device forms an image based on the drop size symbol by determining the drop size symbol and then either selecting a marking fluid look-up table based on the drop size symbol, or forming an image correction factor based on the drop size symbol.
US07669938B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a high impact resistant tool, having a super hard material is bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. The cemented metal carbide substrate is bonded to a front end of a cemented metal carbide segment. A stem is formed in the base end of the carbide segment opposite the front end and the carbide stem is press fitted into bore of a steel body.
US07669934B1
The adjustable leg rest is a support for a user's legs. The adjustable leg rest includes a base and a vertical support. A lower end of the vertical support is secured to an upper surface of the base. The vertical support has an adjustable height and may be a telescopic tube or the like. A horizontal support is secured to the vertical support, with the horizontal support having laterally opposed first and second ends. First and second support pads are secured to the horizontal support, with each of the first and second support pads being respectively positioned adjacent one of the first and second ends of the horizontal support. Each of the first and second support pads is angularly adjustable with respect to the horizontal support. The support pads are formed as cushions or the like, and each has an upper surface adapted for supporting a leg of the user.
US07669925B2
A trim set attachment assembly is provided comprising a retaining strip attached to a mesh panel encapsulated within a seat frame, and at least one tab extending from the trim set and securedly seating between the retaining strip and the mesh panel, thereby securing the trim set in relation to the mesh panel. The tab includes a trim piece seated within an anchor. The trim piece extends from the trim set to seat beneath the retraining strip atop the mesh panel, while the anchor prevents the trim piece from sliding out from under the retaining strip. The retaining strip includes a base, with at least one retainer extending from the base to secure the trim piece therebeneath. The retaining strip further includes a flange, with at least one connector extending through the mesh panel and the flange to connect the retaining strip to the mesh panel.
US07669920B1
A modular a lower body support device is shown herein. An adjustable frame supports the bodyweight of a user such that the knee of the user rests within a knee frame, the shin of the user rests within a bend frame, and the ankle of the user rests within an ankle frame; a knee pad insert is removably attachable to the frame, and a skid plate insert is removably attachable to the knee pad insert; straps and slots are used to fasten the user to the frame; the user may sit on an integrated seat while kneeling, or may wear the device while ambulatory.
US07669919B2
The present invention provides an actuating device for a wind deflector device in a vehicle, with a roof opening and a roof closure element, wherein the actuating device has at least one actuating cable which can be coupled to a sun-shielding device, wherein the actuating cable can actuate the sun-shielding device when it is coupled to the sun-shielding device, wherein the actuating cable can be moved in a first direction in which the sun-shielding device uncovers the roof opening, wherein the actuating cable can be decoupled from the sun-shielding device in a predetermined position, and wherein, in the state in which it is decoupled from the sun-shielding device, the actuating cable can be moved further in the first direction and, in the process, can adjust the wind deflector device.
US07669916B2
A rear door is supported at a rear end of a vehicle by a hinge assembly, which includes a hinge base part and a door hinge part. The hinge base part is provided in a groove formed at a joint between a roof panel and a side panel of a vehicle body, and the door hinge part is attached to the rear door and swingably supported by the hinge base part. The hinge base part includes an anchor portion fixed to a bottom of the groove, a swing motion support portion disposed in a position aligned in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle with the anchor portion and separate from the anchor portion to support the door hinge part, and a connecting portion extending between the anchor portion and the swing motion support portion to fix the swing motion support portion relative to the anchor portion.
US07669914B2
The rear door is for fitting to a motor vehicle having a rear chassis and a rear insurance impact absorber system suitable for absorbing insurance type impacts so as to prevent plastic deformation of the rear chassis of the vehicle. The door carries the rear impact absorber system of the vehicle.
US07669906B2
Wheels for goods wagons with small and large diameters, in addition to wheel sets equipped with wheels of this type for running gear, which are dependent on a highly passive radial positioning when negotiating curves and must remain stable at high speed. The inventive wheel profile is characterized as a result of the relatively large entry radius into the transition area from the running surface to the wheel flange by a low equivalent conicity. This enables a quieter running of the wheel set when the latter is travelling in a straight line. In curves, there is a sufficient rolling circle differential, permitting less wear and tear.
US07669896B2
Road wheels of a vehicle are provided with a steering shaft for transmitting a steering force from a steering wheel. An electric power steering unit (accessory) is disposed to a lateral side of the steering shaft. A clutch pedal is disposed below the electric power steering unit and pivotally mounted to a dash panel. The electric power steering unit is provided with an anti-intrusion bracket extending to the vicinity of the rear of the clutch pedal so that the anti-intrusion bracket can abut on the clutch pedal pushed rearward in a collision.
US07669895B2
A knee-bag to be inflated in front of an occupant leg includes a first member facing the occupant, a second member facing the first member, and a tether provided in the knee-bag for connecting the first member and the second member. The tether extends in a lateral direction and has end portions in a thickness direction of the knee-bag, and lateral ends in the lateral direction. At least one of the lateral ends has a portion located inwardly in the lateral direction so that air-flow spaces are formed between a left end of the tether and a left side of the knee-bag and between a right end of the tether and a right side of the knee-bag.
US07669893B2
A method of producing a gas generator includes arranging an igniter in an inner chamber surrounded by a housing of the gas generator. The igniter is supported in a first direction on a part of the gas generator and in the first direction opposite a mounting orifice of the housing. The method includes arranging a sealing element in the mounting orifice to seal the mounting orifice. The sealing element presses over a bearing area deformable in the first direction with a force acting in the first direction against a first bearing area of the igniter and forms a gas-tight joint between the sealing element and the igniter. A side of the sealing element facing the part of the gas generator in the first direction abuts against a side of the part of the gas generator to limit deformation of the bearing area of the sealing element in the first direction.
US07669890B2
An open-looped rim portion which results when an upper part thereof is open is provided on a steering wheel, and airbags of an airbag apparatus are accommodated in a pad portion lying inside of the rim portion. Then, when an impact of a predetermined value or greater is applied to a front end of a vehicle, the individual airbags are deployed by injecting the gas from an inflator. In addition, when an occupant is captured by the first airbag which is so deployed, the second airbag applies a reaction force which is directed to the rear of the vehicle so as to resist a pressure applied to the first airbag by the occupant.
US07669889B1
An air bag chute directs the deployment of an air bag from an air bag housing mounted on a seat frame through a separable seam sewn between inboard and outboard seat cover panels. An air bag housing is box shaped with a base wall mounted on the seat frame and rear, front, and end walls extending from the base wall and a cover wall. An inboard chute panel and an outboard chute panel each have inner ends attached to the air bag housing and outer ends attached to the inboard and outboard seat cover panels adjacent to the separable seam. The attachment of the inner ends of the inboard and outboard chutes to the air bag housing is provided on the walls of the housing with the inner ends spaced from one another.
US07669877B2
A trailer coupler pivot assembly comprising a pivot mount member connected to a trailer frame member and a hinge bracket connected to a trailer tongue arm. The hinge bracket is pivotally connected to the pivot mount member so that the trailer tongue arm is pivotal relative to the trailer frame member between an open position and a closed position. However, either of the pivot mount member or the hinge bracket comprises a single, prefabricated component to make assembly more efficient and cost effective. With both the pivot mount member and the hinge bracket being single, prefabricate components, the trailer coupler pivot assembly can be more easily installed with fewer components and welds and by less skilled labor.
US07669875B2
A remotely releasable brake hose coupler for pressure fluid operated brake systems, such as on a motor truck and semi-trailer unit, and a retrieval mechanism for retrieving flexible hoses connected to the coupler. Pressure air from the truck tractor brake system is conducted through a valve to an actuator for effecting movement of a coupler member to release engagement with a corresponding coupler fitting mounted on a trailer. One or more air brake hoses connected to respective remotely releasable couplers are connected to tensioning mechanisms and to a movable boom mounted on the truck tractor for extending the hoses during a remote release operation and then retracting the hoses and couplers to a stored position when the remotely releasable couplers are disconnected from the trailer fittings.
US07669861B2
Twinned circular, parallel arrays of spoke-like second-class levers (10, 12) enclosing a centered cargo cradle for towing 2½ ton stone blocks (26) up a stepped structure of stone courses (34) by rotation of the whole.
US07669857B2
An electronic game that awards the last player to correctly answer a question before the expiration of a timer. The game includes a plurality of buttons and corresponding indicators coupled to a housing. A question is provided to the players. A timer counts to a time interval. The controller activates an indicator associated with a button that was depressed last by a player that provides a correct answer to the question at the expiration of the timer. The last player can then move a token on a board. The player that moves their token to the end of the board wins the game.
US07669848B2
A conveying apparatus for conveying a flexible sheet along a sheet-convey path including a curved portion. The conveying apparatus includes an outer guide which defines an outer portion of the curved portion of the sheet-convey path. The outer guide includes at least one curved plate having a first curved guide surface which contacts and guides the flexible sheet; and a guide base including at least one holding portion which holds the at least one curved plate. The at least one curved plate is formed of a synthetic resin assuring that the first curved guide surface thereof has a first frictional resistance lower than a second frictional resistance of a surface of the guide base.
US07669847B2
There provided is a post-processing apparatus which has a simple structure and makes more than one sheet of recording paper easily slide down a slope of a post-processing tray, has no irregularity in the alignment of the sheets of recording paper in the discharging direction, and makes the alignment of sheets of recording paper easier after that. A finisher unit is provided with conveyance rollers for discharging sheets to a processing tray, aligning plates for guiding both sides of the sheets discharged by the conveyance rollers, and a control CPU for controlling an operation of the aligning plates. When the sheets guided by the pair of aligning plates slide down a slope of the processing tray, the control CPU causes the pair of aligning plates to vibrate in the cross direction of the sheet and in the same direction.
US07669834B2
A hose end lever controlled ball valve spigot incorporating a quarter turn lever actuated ball valve having a valve housing with a 90° inlet which protrudes 180° away from the valve actuating lever so that the lever handle of the valve is exposed in a vertical plane for easy access and operation. An outlet spout is secured to the valve housing at the valve outlet and extends at an approximate angle of 45° from the valve housing in the same direction as the actuating lever.
US07669833B2
An apparatus for assisting in turning the handle of a spigot. The apparatus comprises a first substantially flat member having a first predetermined shape and made of a predetermined material. The first member has a plurality of apertures disposed therein. There is a second member which has a second predetermined shape and is engageable with the first member adjacent an outer edge thereof, such second member is disposed at substantially a right angle to the first member and a means engageable with the first member and such handle for attaching the first member to such handle of such spigot.
US07669827B2
The present invention features a kit for hanging string lights. The kit comprises a bracket and a mounting tool. In some embodiments, the bracket comprises a first plate having a first edge and a second edge, a second plate extending upwardly and along the first edge of the first plate, a third plate extending upwardly and along the second edge of the first plate, and a hook disposed on a surface of the third plate that extends in a direction away from the second plate. In some embodiments, a mounting tool comprises cup member attached to a pole. The cup member comprises a base member having a first end and a second end, a first arm attached to and extending outwardly from the first end of the base member, a second arm attached to and extending outwardly from the second end of the base member, the first and second arm extending outwardly in the same direction relative to the base member, and a pole attaching to and extending downwardly from the base member.
US07669825B2
A seat sliding apparatus for vehicles is provided. The seat sliding apparatus includes a track and a guide bracket with legs connected to stepped locking pins to regulate the locked state of the locking pins which engage the track. In one embodiment, the track includes through-holes which are engaged by the locking pins. Accordingly to another aspect of the apparatus, a plastic bushing is provided to prevent horizontal/vertical floating of the locking pins, thereby minimizing the play of the locking pins and prevent floating. The apparatus also may simultaneously prevent a half-locked state of the locking pins.
US07669822B2
A wall-mounted storage rack assembly facilitates storage of articles such as bicycles, lawn care implements, tools, and the like by providing a pair of independently pivotally movable support arms, which are pivotally supported on an associated mounting bracket. The support arms are independently movable about respective pivot axes arranged in intersecting, angular relationship to each other, whereby in a lowered position of the support arms, they are arranged in a generally V-shaped, diverging orientation, while in a raised position of the support arms, they are positioned more closely together in a relatively compact configuration. By this compact configuration, efficient storage, shipment, and display for retail sales of the storage rack assembly is promoted.
US07669818B2
The invention employs a clamp securable to a baby carriage, highchair, stroller, car seat, table or baby carrier, attached to one end of a tether of a length short enough so that the tether cannot accidently wrap around an infant's or child's head, whose opposite end employs a hook-and-loop adhesive strap of a length long enough to allow wrapping around the toy whose falling is to be restrained, or inserted through various openings of the toy to prevent it from falling to the floor or ground.
US07669814B2
A stand with at least three stand legs (2, 3, 4), which is embodied to fasten a leveling, plumbing, or angular calibration device (5), is provided, with the stand legs (2, 3, 4) being embodied rotational around a common axis (6) at their ends facing each other. Each stand leg (2, 3, 4) is bent by the same angle (α) at a distance from the axis (6), with a freely projecting section (14) of one leg being provided with a threaded bolt (15) freely protruding transversely thereto.
US07669811B2
A display holder for a tubular cylindrical roll, such as a lint roller. The holder includes a planar main section constructed of a flexible material as well as a roll support which is pivotally mounted to the lower end of the main body between an operable position and a collapsed position. In its operable position, the roll support extends outwardly from the main body and supports the lower end of a roll inserted over the main body. Conversely, in its collapsed position, the roll support folds flatly against the main body for shipping and high density packing.
US07669808B2
A display module exhibition station includes a housing body, a bottom lid and a movable bracket. The bottom lid has one end pivotally engaged with the housing body to form an openable case. The movable bracket may hold a display module. The movable bracket is pivotally engaged with an inner side of the housing body and may be extended outside the openable case to exhibit the display module or house the display module inside the openable case to facilitate carrying of the exhibition station.
US07669791B2
Highly-active rubber powder is obtained from old tires etc. by 2-stage pulverisation in a special extruder, involving an increase in volume stress to 15-250 MPa at 5-90 MPa/second, pulsating with an amplitude of +/−5-20 MPa and a frequency of 5-600 Hz, and at 90-380° C. (increasing at 50-150° C./sec), followed by a sharp reduction of volume stress at 50-150 MPa/sec. A method for the production of highly-active rubber powder with a specific surface of 0.4-5 m2/g from old tires and scrap vulcanised rubber articles based on various rubbers by 2-stage thermo-mechanical treatment in an extruder. This involves (a) fine pulverisation and (b) sharp reduction of the volume stress. An apparatus for the production of highly-active rubber powder includes a cylindrical housing with feed and discharge connections, a compression zone and pulverisation zone(s), each with a compression screw with grooves decreasing in depth in the machine direction and a rotating coaxial activator with grooves on its outer working surface, the housing, screw and activator being provided with cooling elements. One of the two pulverisation zones (A) is a zone formed by the housing and a multi-thread compression screw in which the inter-thread volume decreases towards the outlet and the inner surface is formed by a conical opening which slopes towards the outlet and by 3-6 meshing grooves of rectangular cross-section. The second pulverisation zone (B) is formed by (a) a rotating activator with a discharge screw rigidly fixed to it and aligned with the compression screw and (b) the surrounding housing.
US07669790B2
Method for processing of pozzolans comprising fly ash such as Class F and/or Class C fly ash used for preparation of mortars and concretes, characterized in, that the pozzolans is subjected to a high energetic mechanical processing by means of grinding in a grinding equipment to a fineness of the final product with a retention on a sieve 30 microns being less than 5%, whereby the pozzolan particles receive mechanical impulses when non-cenosphere in the form of coarse scoria particles are disintegrated and whereby the surface of cenosphere grinded particles is activated.
US07669789B2
A nozzle for a low pressure fuel injection that improves the control and size of the spray angle, as well as enhances the atomization of the fuel delivered to the cylinder for an engine, at relatively low pressures. The nozzle includes a metering plate having inner and outer exit cavities in rings spaced circumferentially about a center exit cavity.
US07669786B2
In the case of a windshield washer device (2) for a motor vehicle, a nozzle holder (6) is connected via a spring element (12) to a fastening flange (4) fastened to the motor vehicle. The nozzle holder (6) has a connection (9) for a washer fluid line (10). The spring element (12) is formed as a cross-sectional tapering (15) of a connecting element (14). The angle of inclination of the nozzle holder (6) and therefore the angle of inclination of a washer nozzle (7) arranged in the nozzle holder (6) can be adjusted via an adjusting means (13) at a distance from the spring element (12).
US07669785B2
Integrated engine exhaust systems and methods for reducing drag and thermal loads are disclosed. In one embodiment, a propulsion system includes an engine installation configured to be mounted on a wing assembly of an aircraft. The engine installation includes an engine, and an exhaust system operatively coupled to the engine. The exhaust system includes at least one nozzle configured to exhaust an exhaust flow from the engine. The nozzle includes a variable portion configured to vary an exit aperture of the nozzle from a first shape to a second shape to change a flowfield shape of at least a portion of the nozzle flowfield proximate the wing assembly, thereby reducing at least one of drag and thermal loading on the wing assembly. In a further embodiment, the exhaust system includes an inner nozzle that exhausts a core exhaust flow, and an outer nozzle that exhausts a secondary exhaust flow, the outer nozzle having the variable portion configured to vary the exit aperture of the outer nozzle.
US07669770B2
A technique for re-mapping the input elements disposed on a hand-held electronic device to an executable function that is different than the pre-loaded or pre-assigned function(s) provided in software applications may include receiving configuration settings for a software application or a class of software applications, including at least one physical input element, such as a key, rotary dial, or a button, associated with at least one function, such as a shifting or index function or insertion of a specific character; modifying a mapping function, such as a keyboard device driver, a device layout or a translation layer, based on the configuration settings; and executing the function associated with the physical input element upon an activation, e.g., a press or actuation, of the physical input element during operation of the software application.
US07669769B2
Systems and methods consistent with embodiments of the present invention provide for a method for preserving and maintaining document integrity. In some methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity, the contents of a document, or contents of a document layer may be encoded into a machine-readable form. In some embodiments, the encoded information may be represented using a 2-dimensional bar code. In some methods for preserving and maintaining document integrity, the machine-readable code is printed along with contents of the document based on space available in the document. In some embodiments, a printed document containing the machine-readable code may be scanned and digitized, and content extracted from the scanned data. In some embodiments, the machine-readable code printed on the document is used to recreate layer data from the printed document.
US07669767B2
A tag access control system capable of setting an appropriate parameter for controlling a reader/writer can be provided. The tag access control system includes a control portion that controls data communication between an IC tag and a reader/writer by sending a command to the reader/writer in accordance with a parameter and receiving an execution result; and a parameter adjustment portion that adjusts the parameter to an appropriate value. The parameter adjustment portion includes a parameter change portion that changes the parameter a plurality of times, a result storage portion that records execution results of commands based on a plurality of parameters that are changed and a calculation portion that calculates an appropriate parameter based on the execution results stored in the result storage portion.
US07669762B2
A billing system that allows a consumer to order products from computers connected to the Internet, wherein the consumer is automatically billed for the ordered good or service by its telephone service provider. When a consumer orders a product over the Internet, a plug-in component of the consumer's computer establishes an Internet connection to a billing server. A billing server component transfers an encrypted version of the product to the plug-in component. The plug-in component then disconnects from the Internet and establishes a point-to-point (PPP) connection with the billing server. During the PPP connection, the billing server component transfers an access key assigned to the order to the plug-in component so that the plug-in component may decrypt the product. The consumer is charged a unit rate or “drop-charge” for the product by the telephone service provider when the PPP connection is established using a premium-rate telephone number assigned and administered by the telephone service provider.
US07669761B2
Conventionally, to acquire specific information of a customer, acquisition of the information is only possible by using information such as a bank account number owned by the customer, and further it is not possible to present information beneficial to the customer unless information owned by the customer is acquired from the customer. More specifically, there is a problem in that much time is necessary for a customer or a system operator to input such information.To solve the above-stated problem, the present invention outputs information associated with a customer by using biometric information including a face image. More specifically, biometric information is acquired from a user of a first terminal unit included in a plurality of terminal units, and information associated with an operation made by the user is identified. Then, when the user is going to use a second terminal unit (or when the second terminal unit executes processing of information on the user based on inputs by a third party, etc.), biometric information is acquired from the user, and information that is identified by an operation made on the first terminal unit is retrieved for output by using the biometric information.
US07669749B2
A procedure for squeezing off and sealing a tube, in which the tube is positioned between a sonotrode and an associated anvil, counter electrode, of an ultrasonic device, and the sonotrode is activated and displaced relative to the counter electrode for squeezing off and sealing the tube. In order to enable automatic squeezing off and sealing of a tube without individually entering the data of the tube into an ultrasonic welding device in advance, the invention proposes positioning the tube and fixing it between the sonotrode and the counter electrode, retrieving stored welding parameters on the basis of the characteristic variable and activating the sonotrode and moving the sonotrode and counter electrode in relation towards each other for consolidating and sealing the tube.
US07669747B2
A surgical stapler including a “breakaway” washer that is inserted into an anvil. The washer can include a circular inner portion and a circular outer portion. The outer portion may include a number of staple guide sections that define openings through which staple ends of surgical staples are driven when the surgical stapler is fired and are thereafter bent, or turned, by the anvil. The staple ends may then contact and be retained by the staple guide sections so that the staple ends do not re-penetrate or otherwise re-puncture stapled tissue. The washer can be dissolvable or bioabsorbable.
US07669744B2
An optical fiber cleaving device includes an auxiliary support section movably disposed on a base section independently from a blade section and a pusher section. The auxiliary support section can be selectively disposed at the operable position for supporting an unsheathed optical fiber in cooperation with a pair of clamp sections. The auxiliary support section is constituted by a thin plate member having fiber support faces locally located between the clamp sections at the operable position and a relief area formed adjacent to the fiber support faces. The fiber support faces come in contact with the portions of a local length of the unsheathed optical fiber extending between the clamp sections, the local length being located away from the fiber cleaving position, and the relief area is so arranged as to avoid the contact with a portion of a second local length of the unsheathed optical fiber, located at the fiber cleaving position. The cleaving device can provide highly accurate cleaving for optical fibers having different fiber structures without changing the preset conditions for the clamp sections.
US07669741B2
A method of manufacturing a pleated product capable of partially pleating a fabric so that boundaries between pleat portions and non-pleat portions can be conspicuous and a fabric for the pleated product used for the method. In this method, a part of the fabric for the pleated product in which one of warp and weft is formed of easy-to-pleat yarn and the other formed of hard-to-pleat yarn is folded along a folding line tilted relative to the warp and the weft, the fabric is pleated up to the folding line in the passing direction of the warp or the weft, and the fabric is unfolded and washed. Effective pleats are formed only in the passing direction of the easy-to-pleat yarn on a plane on one side of the folded portion and not formed in the passing direction of the hard-to-pleat yarn on a plane on the other side of the folded portion. The pleats in the passing direction of the hard-to-pleat yarn are eliminated by a washing step to form a non-pleat portion, and the pleats formed on the passing direction of the easy-to-pleat yarn form a pleat portion in which the pleat lines are firmly shaped up to the folding line.
US07669738B1
Apparatus for transferring water to a bottled water dispenser preferably comprises a wand assembly, a cover assembly and a water bottle transport assembly. The wand assembly engages a neck of a non-inverted water bottle and includes a bent, rigid first conduit and a second conduit which preferably surrounds the first conduit. A flow of water from the water bottle passes along the first conduit in response to the introduction of pressurized air via the second conduit from a pressurized air source in the cover assembly. The water bottle transport assembly preferably supports the water bottle at a suitable, non-inverted angle, and includes a rigid frame supporting at least one wheel and a rotatable cradle. The cradle comprises first and second support arms configured to contactingly support the bottle, and rotates with respect to the frame during movement of the transport assembly to place the bottle at the desired non-inverted angle.
US07669737B2
A beverage dispensing system includes a base to which a dispensing head is removably attached without additional fasteners. Beverage-forming liquids are supplied through a plurality of separate conduits in the base. Each base conduit has a normally closed valve that normally blocks fluid flow. The dispensing head has at least one passageway that receives liquid from an associated one of the base conduits. A projection associated with each dispensing head passageway opens the associated conduit valve to allow fluid flow from the base to the head. Dispensing valves in the dispensing head regulate the dispensing of the beverage. By selectively opening the dispensing valves, a plurality of beverages are formed from combinations of one or more liquids. A dispensing head includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening at each end of a passage extending through a body, the inlet opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than the outlet opening.
US07669735B1
A toothpaste dispenser is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the toothpaste dispenser includes a base, a roller mount arm carried by the base, a motor carried by the roller mount arm and drivingly engaging the base and a pair of rollers carried by the roller mount arm.
US07669730B2
The present invention discloses and claims a multifunctional beverage cup that can be used to contain and dispense beverages and to store small items. The cup of the present invention comprises a cup body, a lid means and a storage bin which engages a recess in the cup body. The lid means comprises a hinged port cover, which both covers the drinking port in the lid means and comprises a bottle opening means. The cup body comprises a recess in its exterior surface which acts as a storage compartment when the storage bin is engaged to the recess.
US07669729B2
The present invention relates to a tank for holding a cryogenic liquid. According to the present invention, there is provided a light and durable tank which is airtight even at cryogenic temperatures without generating cracks. The tank includes: a pressure-resistant layer having an inner shell and an outer shell; and an airtight resin layer on an inner surface of the inner shell, wherein the inner shell is comprised of a fiber-reinforced resin composite which can withstand temperatures above the melting point of the airtight resin layer, and the outer shell is comprised of another fiber-reinforced resin composite which can be cured at a temperature below the melting point of the airtight resin layer.
US07669728B2
A container holds plastic bags which are sequentially linked together and deployed one at a time. When the last bag is deployed, the container which the bags are stored follows the last bag out of the receptacle. The container can then be disposed of, recycled, or refilled.
US07669722B2
A system for managing and securing product and deterring theft in a retail setting includes a system that resides either on a standard retailer shelf or may be a stand-alone system. In an embodiment, the system includes a plurality of shelves and product dividers positioned between the shelves and extending from the front edges of the shelves toward the rear of the shelves. Front retaining walls are positioned at the front edges of the shelves and are configured to have a height that inhibits access to products on the shelves. Individual retaining tabs of varying height may be added in front of rows of taller product to inhibit access to these products. In an embodiment, rigid or moveable barriers may be positioned above retaining walls that further restrict access to the products. With the invention, the “sweeping” of numerous products by a thief is deterred. In another embodiment, an alert device may be configured to detect and monitor movement of the moveable barriers and may provide an alert signal corresponding to the management of product on the shelf or corresponding to a potential theft situation. In an embodiment, the alert device may communicate with a security camera to monitor the vicinity and provide a notification to the potential thief that his actions are being monitored and recorded, or provide a notification to store computer, pager, cellular telephone, or the like. In yet another embodiment, lock mechanisms may be used to further secure high-risk theft items. Also, clips or clip members may be incorporated to further secure the product dividers to the shelves. In addition, an adjustable power bar may be included that is adjustable to accommodate the height adjustments made to the shelves.
US07669717B2
A container body 1 for accommodating a multiple number of precision substrates in alignment, a door element for opening and closing the open front of container body 1 and a multiple number of positioning parts 40 arranged on the bottom of container body 1 are provided. Each positioning part 40 is formed as a concave portion with a pair of parallel ribs 2 formed on the bottom surface of container body 1 and inner surfaces 9 of curved portions 8 of a track 6 formed in a bottom plate 4. Inner surfaces 9 of track 6 are formed to be inclined linearly becoming gradually wider downwards from their top while the upper ends of inner surfaces 9 are extended to an opposing area 2a located between the lower ends of paired parallel ribs 2.
US07669715B2
A wastebasket includes an outer container, an inner container housed in the outer container, and a lid positioned on top of the outer container; the outer container has a hollow detaining portion on an outer side thereof for holding a toilet brush and a plunger in position; the outer container has a bearing barrel held in the hollow detaining portion thereof for receiving the toilet brush; the outer container further has a receiving plate held adjacent to the hollow detaining portion in a lower end thereof for supporting the plunger as well as receiving foul water dripping from the plunger.
US07669712B2
A storage case has a base and a lid parallel to the base. The base has a rigid base plate with a rigid support for a data disk that stores digital information. The base has a fastening zone arranged centrally on the base plate and connected to the base plate by springy radial sections. The fastening zone has a central rigid pressure element and tongues distributed about the pressure element for securing positively the data disk. The tongues have integral snap-on cams projecting past an edge of a central opening of the data disk resting on the support. The radial sections have inner ends connected directly to the pressure element. The tongues are connected by a bending location to the inner ends. The support is arranged directly about the radial sections so as to be proximal to the edge of the central disk opening.
US07669707B2
A material handling apparatus includes a part feeding device such as a bowl feeder with a perimeter track, a second track extending around the perimeter track, a vision inspection system, and an ejector device. The second track has a transparent floor and the vision inspection system includes a controller and at least one camera operably connected to the controller for looking through the transparent floor to identify defective parts. The ejector device is operably connected to the controller for ejecting bad ones of the received parts, the ejector device being located downstream of the cameras. A related method is also provided. The arrangement is very compact, and has a very small foot print, but can operate at speed up to or more than 4000 pieces per minute.
US07669698B2
Elevator system and a method for determining the position information of an elevator car is disclosed. The elevator system includes at least one elevator car, which is fitted to move in an elevator shaft, a control unit for controlling the motions of the elevator car according to calls conveyed to the control unit, and at least one landing call unit fitted in connection with a landing. The landing call unit includes a feature for giving a call and for sending a call to the control unit and a data transfer channel between the landing call unit and the control unit. At least one identifier is fitted in connection with the elevator car. The landing call unit also includes at least one reader fitted to detect the identifier of the elevator car when this is situated in the proximity of the reader.
US07669688B2
A front structure for a vehicle comprises a power unit mounted at a front end of the vehicle, a steering gear box provided in front of or behind the power unit in the vehicle, and a suspension member supporting the steering gear box, the steering gear box being situated at a bottom surface of the suspension member so as to move beneath the power unit when the front end of the vehicle is deformed due to a frontal collision.
US07669675B2
An agricultural sprayer is provided, having a plurality of wheels. By providing six wheels, a narrow overall wheel width may be maintained to allow for use of the sprayer in post-emergent crop spray applications. By providing six wheels, a greater amount of fluid may be provided on the vehicle without increasing soil compaction. By providing low soil compaction and a high fluid capacity, the applicator may be utilized in both pre-emergent and post-emergent situations, and may be utilized on wet or soft ground, where standard applicators may not be utilized.
US07669673B1
An auger generally comprising a shaft having flighting which is helically wound around the shaft to convey spoil to the surface of the area being excavated. The shaft has a first end and a second end. The shaft first end is adapted to be combined with and rotated by a drilling machine. The shaft second end is adapted to be removably combined with a boring head and one or more drilling elements to bore through the ground. The invention comprises two interchangeable boring heads. A first boring head is adapted to drill through soft ground conditions such as dirt or clay and a second boring head adapted to drill through hard ground conditions such as rock.
US07669670B2
A procedure for the installation of horizontal drains for uptake of seawater of the type of those that use horizontal directional drilling (HDD) with widening by means of reamers and use of drilling muds for consolidation of the drilled galleries, and subsequent installation of drains, characterized in that the horizontal directional drilling (HDD), of single or multiple holes, is carried out from behind the coastline and directed towards the sea, crossing predetermined submerged productive strata; in the boreholes drilled, tubular drains are introduced, with grooves or holes only in stretches that correspond to predicted productive areas, remaining closed in the other sections; the space between the hole and the drain is sealed in the non-productive parts.
US07669663B1
In one embodiment of the invention, a downhole tool string component comprising a through bore running there through formed to accept drilling fluid. At least one mechanical actuation device is also disposed within the through bore. A guide channel is disposed within the through bore and comprises a geometry shaped to conduct the at least one mechanical actuation device. A switch is disposed within the guide channel in an original position and actuatable by the at least one mechanical actuation device to a subsequent position. A resettable mechanism is in contact with the switch wherein the resettable mechanism returns the switch to its original position. A receptacle may also be disposed within the through bore comprising a geometry shaped to accept the at least one mechanical actuation device.
US07669659B1
A system for prevention of hydrate formation has a manifold, a production piping communicating with the manifold, a chemical injection line positioned in heat exchange relationship along the production piping, and a fluid delivery system connected to the chemical injection line for passing a heated fluid through at least a portion of the chemical injection line. The chemical injection line has a first portion affixed to a surface of the production piping and a second portion extending outwardly therefrom. The fluid delivery system is in communication with the second portion of the chemical injection line. The chemical injection line extends in a U-shaped pattern or in a spiral pattern around an outer surface of the production piping.
US07669658B2
A method for making hollow spheres of alumina or aluminate comprises: coating polymeric beads with an aqueous solution of an alumoxane, drying the beads so as to form an alumoxane coating on the beads; heating the beads to a first temperature that is sufficient to convert the alumoxane coating to an amorphous alumina or aluminate coating and is not sufficient to decompose the polymeric beads; dissolving the polymeric bead in a solvent; removing the dissolved polymer from the amorphous alumina or aluminate coating; and heating the amorphous alumina or aluminate coating to a second temperature that is sufficient to form a hollow ceramic sphere of desired porosity and strength. The hollow spheres can be used as proppants or can be incorporated in porous membranes.
US07669654B2
A cup tool for use with a high-pressure mandrel of a wellhead isolation tool has a three-part packoff assembly that slides over a cup tool tube from an unset position to a set position. The three-part packoff assembly includes an elastomeric cup, a rigid alignment ring located above the elastomeric cup and an elastomeric packoff element located above the rigid alignment ring. The rigid alignment ring helps ensure that the elastomeric cup remains correctly aligned in a casing or tubing that is not straight, is out of round or is washed, and helps ensure that the elastomeric packoff achieves a high-pressure seal in the set position, even under adverse downhole conditions.
US07669652B2
A pumping system is disclosed for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea production well with at least one electrical submersible pumping (ESP) hydraulically connected to at least one multiphase pump to boost production fluid flow.
US07669649B2
A stripper rubber insert comprises a central bore and a plurality of retention member bores substantially perpendicular to the central bore. The retention member bores are angularly spaced apart around a perimeter of the stripper rubber insert. Each one of the retention member bores extends through an exterior insert edge face and an interior insert edge face. Each one of the retention member bores includes a respective retention member securing structure therein.
US07669646B2
A plate heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger block having a plurality of heat exchange passages. On the heat exchanger block, a header is mounted that extends over at least one part of one side of the heat exchanger block and establishes a flow connection between the heat exchange passages. The plate heat exchanger is provided with a fluid connection, which is formed by the header-side end of a pipeline. The fluid connection is essentially perpendicular to the side of the heat exchanger block over which the header extends. Within the pipeline directly in front of the header, there is a flow guide.
US07669639B2
A mold, or die is easily and conveniently maintainable, includes releasably retained parts and permits access and removal of mold parts or elements that may need maintenance, repair or replacement without removal of the mold or die from a die casting machine.
US07669632B2
A lateral pull wire screen with a net attached, between a first longitudinal frame member in a wire screen frame and a movable frame for an opening/closing operation, to be openable/closable by a lateral pull; a net guide guiding the lower end of the net goes in and out in compliance with the opening/closing of the net. The left/right convenience in the net opening/closing can be altered by the first longitudinal frame member and the movable frame, together with the net attached between them, having substantially upside/downside symmetrical shapes, and reversing them in their upsides/downsides without reversing their fronts and backs. Also, the net guide can be altered in its attachment position by, upon the upside/downside reversions, selectively attaching the net guide to attachment parts provided in both ends of the first longitudinal frame member fixing one end of the net guide.
US07669629B2
A system for fabricating a corrugated board sheet fabricated includes warp status information obtaining means (6, 6A-6H, 7, 7A, 7B, 8, 8A-8H, 240a, 240b, 241a, 241b) for obtaining warp status information concerning status of the warp of the corrugated board sheet fabricated by a corrugated-board fabrication machine (1); running-state information obtaining means (5, 5A-5H) for obtaining running state information concerning a running state of the corrugated-board fabrication machine (1); control variable calculating means (4, 4A-4H) for calculating a control variable of a particular control factor that affects the warp of the corrugated board sheet and that is one among control factors used to control the corrugated-board fabrication machine (1) based on the warp status information of the corrugated board sheet and the running state information of the corrugated-board fabrication machine (1); and control means (5, 5A-5H) for controlling the particular control factor using the control variable calculated by the control variable calculating means (4, 4A-4H).
US07669626B1
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising at least one component, the at least one component comprising a rubber composition, the rubber composition comprising a diene based elastomer and from 1 to 30 parts by weight, per 100 parts by weight of elastomer (phr), of a polyketone short fiber having a length ranging from 0.5 to 20 mm having a weight ranging from 0.5 to 5 decitex, and from 1 to 15 phr of a polyethyleneimine having an average molecular weight of 800 to 2000000.
US07669625B2
A pneumatic radial tire has a carcass and a tread. The carcass has at least one carcass reinforcing ply and opposing bead portions. Each bead portion has a bead core and a bead apex radially. The apexes in each bead portion having the same radial height (HA), as measured from a bead base line (B). The tire has a bead reinforcing ply comprising aramid fiber reinforcing cords located in only one bead portion of the tire, with the bead reinforcing ply being adjacent to the carcass reinforcing ply.
US07669620B2
A router includes a base for supporting the router on a work piece surface, a motor housing coupled to the base for movement along a first axis relative to the base, a motor supported by the housing and operable to drive a tool element, and a cantilevered shaft rotatable about a second axis and oriented substantially parallel with the first axis and offset from the first axis. The shaft includes a first end supported by the motor housing, a second end, and a threaded portion between the first and second ends. The threaded portion is engaged with the base. Rotation of the shaft about the second axis causes movement of the housing relative to the base along the first axis.
US07669612B2
A male coupling member is provided that is selectively couplable to a first female coupling member (for 25 MPa, for example) and a second female coupling member (for 90 MPa), which handle different fluid pressures. When the male coupling member is coupled to the first female coupling member, a second O-ring that is provided for the second female coupling member is prevented from being displaced by the fluid supplied from the first female coupling member. A through-hole (70) is provided therein with an O-ring retaining member (82) that is displaceable between an advance position
US07669611B2
A motorized fluid control valve includes a valve unit having a fluid inlet and outlet provided in a tube for controlling fluid flow, wherein the valve unit is adapted to operate between an opened and closed position. The motorized fluid control valve includes a motor and a driving pin providing a rotational power, a cam including a cam body rotatably mounted in such a manner that the motor is arrange to drive the cam body to rotate to operate the valve unit and to produce a valve signal showing a corresponding position of the valve unit. The motorized fluid control valve includes a valve safety arrangement having two fingers. When the valve unit is stuck, the driving pin will break the two fingers to disengage the cam from the motor, thus stopping any further rotation of the cam and provide a true signal regarding the position of the valve unit.
US07669610B2
Dome-loaded pressure regulators are disclosed. An example pressure regulator includes body having a pressure inlet and a pressure outlet. A piston is disposed in the body and fluidly coupled to the pressure inlet, the pressure outlet, and the pressure control inlet. The piston is configured to contact a valve seat and to control the flow of fluid from the pressure inlet to the pressure outlet in response to a pressure applied to a surface of the piston via the pressure control inlet.
US07669603B2
A patient's pharyngeal wall is treated by inserting an expander member into the airway and positioning an active portion of the expander member in opposition to portions of the pharyngeal wall to be treated. The expander member is activated to urge the wall portions outwardly to an outwardly displaced position. The expander member is then deactivated while leaving the wall portions in the outwardly placed position and the expander member is removed from said airway. A further aspect of the treatment includes stabilization of at least a portion of the pharyngeal wall after compression of portions of the wall.
US07669598B2
A system and method are for monitoring control signals provided to a medical apparatus bases upon tactile feedback from the apparatus. The system and method employ a monitoring signal indicative of a parameter relating to the apparatus or to a condition of a patient associated with the apparatus. The system includes a first feedback device in communication with the apparatus and arranged to provide tactile feedback to a first individual based upon the monitoring signal; a first controller actuatable by the first individual to provide a control signal to the apparatus for carrying a control action in the apparatus; a second feedback device in communication with the apparatus and arranged to provide tactile feedback to a second individual based upon the monitoring signal from the apparatus; and a second controller in communication with the first controller such that the control signal given by the first individual to the first controller is reflected in the second controller and communicated to the second individual. The first feedback device, first controller, second feedback device and second controller are in communication with the apparatus such that the first and second individual can be distant from the apparatus and patient and move about the apparatus and patient to a desired location.
US07669595B1
A junction device for administering nebulizer treatments directly to a supply of oxygen supplied to a patient mask includes a supply conduit being couplable to an oxygen supply and a patient mask to allow oxygen from the oxygen supply to be supplied to the patient mask. A side conduit is coupled to and is in fluid communication with the supply conduit. An elbow conduit is rotatably coupled to the side conduit opposite the supply conduit. The elbow conduit is couplable to a nebulizer to permit treatments from the nebulizer to flow through the elbow conduit and the side conduit into the oxygen being supplied to the patient mask. A valve assembly is positioned in the elbow conduit between the side conduit and the nebulizer. The valve assembly opens and closes to control the treatments from the nebulizer to flowing into the elbow conduit.
US07669593B2
A high concentration central receiver system and method provides improved reflectors and a unique heat removal system. The central receiver has a plurality of interconnected reflectors coupled to a tower structure at a predetermined height above ground for reflecting solar radiation. A plurality of concentrators are disposed between the reflectors and the ground such that the concentrators receive reflective solar radiation from the reflectors. The central receiver system further includes a heat removal system for removing heat from the reflectors and an area immediately adjacent the concentrators. Each reflector includes a mirror, a facet, and an adhesive compound. The adhesive compound is disposed between the mirror and the facet such that the mirror is fixed to the facet under a compressive stress.
US07669585B2
A fuel injection system (1) with at least one fuel injector (1a) and a heatable adapter (1b), which is connected to a fuel rail (1c) and to the fuel injector (1a) of the fuel injection system (1); a thermoswitch (2) is provided in the fuel rail (1c), which is connected with an external door contact switch (3) and with the heatable adapter (1b). The thermoswitch (2) includes a thermosensor, so that a reliable cold start is ensured by the fact that, when a previously specified fuel temperature is fallen below, the thermoswitch (2) switches over and causes fuel (8) to be heated.
US07669584B2
The invention comprises a method to determine a position of a piston in a cylinder of an engine during ongoing operation, comprising adapting pressure sensing devices to monitor in-cylinder pressure, and, operating the engine. In-cylinder pressure is monitored along with a corresponding engine crank position. The engine is operated in a motoring mode and in a cylinder firing mode, and a plurality of instantaneous in-cylinder pressure states are determined during compression and expansion strokes. Pressure ratios are determined based upon the instantaneous in-cylinder pressure states, which are used to determine an engine crank angle and compression ratio error and, adjust the monitored engine crank position based upon the crank angle error and readjust engine operation according to these sensed errors.
US07669576B2
An oil chamber of an oil pan 6 divided into a main oil chamber that collects oil from a crankcase and an auxiliary oil chamber that is positioned adjacent to the main oil chamber. The main oil chamber is connected with an oil supply pump that supplies oil to lubricated sections of an engine and the auxiliary oil chamber is connected with an oil collecting pump that returns oil to the main oil chamber.
US07669571B2
A Calibrated Air Intake Tract for Internal Combustion Engine is disclosed. The intake includes a Mass Airflow Sensor section that defines an inner diameter that differs from the diameter of the overall intake air tract piping. The Mass Airflow Sensor length and diameter are precision-tuned in order to provide the best engine performance without the typical “check engine” light being lit due to faulty mass airflow sensor readings.
US07669558B2
An integrated high and moderate temperature cooling system both for an internal combustion engine and for auxiliary vehicle components requiring cooling. The integrated cooling system shares a coolant, yet the shared coolant is stratified to retain thermal identity between the portion of the coolant used for engine cooling and the portion of the coolant used for auxiliary vehicle components cooling. A shared coolant reservoir is used; preferably a shared heat exchanger, and optionally a common coolant pump may also be used.
US07669557B2
A cooling device for a vehicle is provided at a vehicle comprising an engine control unit which stops an engine due to establishment of engine stoppage conditions and restarts the engine due to establishment of engine restart conditions. The cooling device for a vehicle is able to cool a coolant within a heat exchanger for cooling by cooling wind, which is guided from an exterior of the vehicle, passing through the heat exchanger for cooling. Cooling by driving force of either one of an electric motor or the engine can be selected in accordance with preset conditions.
US07669550B2
A device for applying a medium in the form of a liquid or a paste to a moving substrate, the substrate being a surface of a web of paper, a paper board, fibrous material and/or a transfer element including an application chamber, a first element, a second element and at least one limiting element. The first element is associated with the application chamber on an output side of the application chamber in a direction of movement of the moving substrate. The second element is associated with an input side of the application chamber. The at least one limiting element is associated with a lateral end of the application chamber. The at least one limiting element adjusting a width of application of the medium on the moving substrate. The at least one limiting element having a flexible sealing plate that substantially seals a space between the moving substrate, the first element and the second element. The sealing plate includes a fitted wearing body that is directed toward the moving substrate, with the wearing body being proximate to the first element and the second element.
US07669549B2
A machine for single or double sided application of a liquid or viscous coating medium by way of at least one applicator unit onto the surface of a mating material web, especially a paper or cardboard web. A medium collecting device that is allocated to the applicator unit or to a dispensing component of the applicator unit which includes the dispensing openings, is equipped with a receiving and release component which is allocated to the medium collecting device and which is or can be mounted detachably on same. During the start of the application process the component releases the curtain or veil due to a common adjustment with the medium collecting device or of a section component of same relative to the curtain or veil from a rim extending across the moving background or from an edge extending across the moving background.
US07669547B2
An apparatus for coating an article where the apparatus includes an applicator, a conveyor for sequentially transporting a plurality of articles to the roller and a metering bar positioned against the applicator to meter a predetermined amount of coating composition to the applicator for transfer to an article transported to said applicator by the conveyor.
US07669545B2
An indicator for a vehicle instrument cluster is provided. The indicator includes a dial configured to guide light from a light source to a pointer which further guides the light so that it is visible by a user.
US07669544B2
To provide a display apparatus which is intended to improve the miniaturization and illumination efficiency, an indicator 8 is disposed on the rear surface side of a transparent display panel 3. A printed board 5 mounts a movement 7 on the front surface thereof so as not to overlap the movement 7 and the transparent display panel 3 and mounts the indicator 8 on the rear surface thereof. LEDs 6 for the transparent display panel are mounted on the front surface of the printed board 5 so as to oppose to the outer peripheral surface of the transparent display panel 3.
US07669531B2
In general, in a first aspect, the invention features a production system for producing items having an image printed thereon. The production system includes a conveyor configured to carry articles along a path relative to one or more stations of the production line, wherein each article is positioned at a site on the conveyor. The production system also includes a printing station configured to print an image on the articles as the conveyor moves the items past the printing station and an electronic controller configured to provide instructions to the printing station, wherein the electronic controller modifies the printing operation based on the operation of another station in the production system.
US07669525B2
A food preparation apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprises: a main frame having a central opening for receiving a food preparation implement and having opposing ends; and at least one interchangeable food preparation implement designed to be inserted within the central opening and locked onto the main frame during usage and being removable for cleaning and storage during non-use, the food preparation implement is selected from a group consisting of mandolins, graters, cutting devices, potato fry cutters, slicers, corers, peelers, pressing devices, food mashers, food presses and mixtures thereof.
US07669518B2
Espresso coffee machine comprising a reservoir for the water (20), a pump (21) for delivering the said water to a boiler (24), a hot water supply unit (2, 102, 122, 4, 304), and filter holder means (1, 301, 3, 103) for housing a portion of ground coffee (16), preferably pre-packaged, and provided with coffee delivery means (201; 203), characterized in that the said supply unit (2, 102, 122, 4, 304) and the said filter holder means (1, 301; 3, 103) are coupled together with a seal and the trajectory of the coupling movement lies on a plane substantially perpendicular to the median plane of coupling of the said supply unit (2, 102, 122; 4, 304) and the said filter holder means (1, 301; 3, 103), the facing surfaces of the said supply unit (2, 102, 122; 4, 304) and the said filter holder means (1, 301; 3, 103) coming into contact only at the time of their coupling.
US07669513B2
Land vehicle weapon system including a base mount coupled with a land vehicle, a weapon mount, a plurality of weapons coupled with the weapon mount, a weapon moving mechanism coupled between the base mount and the weapon mount, a plurality of moving elements coupled with at least one of the base mount, the weapon mount, the weapons, and with the weapon moving mechanism, a sensing mechanism coupled with at least one of the weapon mount, the weapons and the base mount, and at least one user interface coupled with the weapons, the weapon moving mechanism, the moving elements, and with the sensing mechanism, the user interface enabling a user to remotely operate the weapons, the weapon moving mechanism being operable to move the weapons between a plurality of configurations.
US07669510B2
A miter saw having a holder fixing mechanism for fixing a pivot posture of a holder. The holder supports a support section on which a saw blade section is pivotally movably supported. The holder is laterally pivotally movable about a holder shaft to change angle of a side surface of a circular saw blade relative to an upper surface of a base. The holder fixing mechanism includes a clamp bolt whose axis is directed perpendicular to the holder shaft and in parallel with the side surface of the circular saw blade. By the rotation of the clamp bolt about its axis, a fixing relationship between the holder and the base section is established.
US07669501B2
A device for automatically compensating the length of cables comprises a length-variable receiving element (1, 3, 4) for a section of a pulling means (5), a spring element (2) for applying a tensile force on the received pulling means (5) and a locking element (4), which is rotatable relative to a section of the receiving element (1, 3) about an axis that agrees substantially with the axis of the pulling means, wherein the relative motions of two sections of the receiving device (3, 4) intended to bring about the length variations are coupled to the rotational motion of the locking element (4) by means of mechanical devices (311, 421) with clearance and detent elements (15, 43) substantially block the rotation of the locking element (4) in a direction of rotation.
US07669494B2
A variable-speed gearbox comprises a main transmission (2) arranged in a housing (30) and a downstream range-change transmission (32), the range-change transmission having power distribution on two countershafts (12, 14). On a main shaft (4) of the main transmission (2), a gear wheel (6) is arranged in a radially movable manner which meshes with respective first gear wheels (8, 10) each on one of the countershafts. In the housing of the variable-speed gearbox, a drive output shaft (22) is radially and axially fixed which is connected a gear wheel (20) that meshes in each case with a second gear wheel (16, 18), respectively, on each of the countershafts. The gear wheel on the main shaft that meshes with the first gear wheels on the countershafts is maintained in its axial position relative to the drive output shaft by way of pressure combs (50, 52, 54, 56).
US07669490B2
To provide a filter test apparatus that can easily and efficiently test parallel filters in a clean room, a plurality of filters for purifying air supplied into the room are disposed in parallel, and a moving frame oriented along the exit surfaces of a filter group is disposed in the clean room, in which the exit surfaces of the filter group are used as the ceiling surfaces or side surfaces of the room, so as to allow movement in the direction along the exit surfaces of the filter group in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the moving frame. The moving frame is disposed so as to span opposing room walls and in a position near the exit surfaces of the filter group in the room. A filter test device is movably mounted on the moving frame in the longitudinal direction of the moving frame.
US07669486B2
The weight sensing device may include a base, a cover, a first load cell attached to the base and the cover, a second load cell attached to the base and in contact with the cover but not attached, and an analyzing circuit which is connected by electrical wires to the load cells. The base may be a fork, for example, a lift truck fork. When a load is positioned on the load bearing surface of the cover, the load cells flex and cause an electrical signal to be transmitted over the wires to the analyzing circuit.
US07669485B2
An air velocity sensing system not requiring external power supply is applied to an air duct system, comprising: (1) a sensor module disposed in the air duct for measuring the air velocity therein and for saving the measured air velocity value; and (2) a control module for wirelessly transmitting a signal to the sensor module, which sends the measured air velocity value back to the control module after receiving the signal from the control module, so as to have the air velocity value displayed on control module. The present invention also provides an air velocity sensing method not requiring external power supply.
US07669480B2
A sensor element capable of appropriately detecting an external force operating three-dimensionally is provided. The sensor element includes an elastic member which can be compressed or expanded by an external force received from an object, a resistance element whose electric resistance value rises or falls when deformed by the external force, and a support member arranged inside or on the surface of the elastic member and capable of supporting the resistance element disposed at a predetermined position. The sensor element is applied to an object movement control device and an object judgment device.
US07669468B2
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining downhole mud flow rates and other downhole parameters. A method for determining a downhole parameter includes operating a pulsed neutron generator (6), pulsing the pulsed neutron generator (6) off, detecting a substantially unactivated drilling fluid slug at a known distance (d) from the pulsed neutron generator (6), and determining a time-of-flight (t) for the unactivated drilling fluid slug to travel from the pulsed neutron generator (6) to a detection point.
US07669466B2
Tire sensor packaging capable of being installed on a standard snap-in tire valve stem is provided. The sensor package includes an attachment member capable of being disposed in the flexible bore of a snap-in tire valve stem, and of securely engaging with the inner wall of the flexible bore. The attachment member can be an integral part of the sensor package, or it can be a separate part that acts as an expansion device (e.g., an expansion nut) when engaged with the sensor package. Preferably, the attachment member includes features, such as barbs, to provide more secure engagement with the tire valve stem. Packages according to embodiments of the invention include a package passage (e.g., a channel or a bore) to permit the flow of air past the sensor, so that the tire can be inflated or deflated. Sensors can be attached to the tire valve stem before or after the tire valve stem is installed in the wheel.
US07669459B2
An engine ECU includes a bandpass filter (1) extracting only vibrations at a first frequency band A, a bandpass filter (2) extracting only vibrations at a second frequency band B, a bandpass filter (3) extracting only vibrations at a third frequency band C, and a bandpass filter (4) extracting only vibrations at a fourth frequency band D including the first to third frequency bands A-C. The engine ECU determines whether knocking occurred or not based on a vibration waveform of the fourth frequency band D and a peak value in magnitude of vibrations in a synthesized waveform of the first to third frequency bands.
US07669451B2
A sheet metal bending brake having a frame with a sheet metal support surface. A clamping jaw is movable relative to the frame support surface to clamp the sheet metal between the clamping jaw and the frame. The clamping jaw has a linear front edge. An elongated bending arm is pivotally mounted to the frame by an elongated flexible strap having spaced apart edges. One edge of the strap is secured to the bending arm while the other edge of the strap is secured to the frame such that the bending arm extends parallel to and closely adjacent the clamping jaw front edge.
US07669445B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a lock assembly comprises a dial, a lock device, and a spindle having a spindle base and an elongate spindle shaft extending from the spindle base. The spindle shaft comprises a plurality of spindle segments having four sides and separated by a plurality of spaced apart grooves. Each of the spindle segments includes a chamfered leading edge. In another aspect of the present invention, a method of mounting a lock assembly on a mounting surface comprises positioning a dial on a first side of the mounting surface, positioning a lock device on a second side of the mounting surface, determining a distance between the first and second sides, providing a spindle including a plurality of spindle segments having four sides and separated by a plurality of spaced apart grooves, and cutting the spindle at a selected one of the spaced apart grooves.
US07669439B2
A glass melting furnace has a gas inlet positioned proximate to a charging section oxy-fuel combustion region to introduce gas into the region and to at least partially displace gas having a partial pressure of alkali vapor from the region, and optionally a gas outlet is adapted to provide an exit for a volume of furnace atmosphere. A method for reducing alkali vapor corrosion of glass furnace refractory structures includes providing a gas inlet proximate to the oxy-fuel combustion region; introducing a volume of gas from the inlet into the region, displacing a volume of gas having a partial pressure of alkali vapor from the region; and, optionally providing a gas outlet adapted to provide an exit for a volume of furnace atmosphere.
US07669436B2
A soft sided insulated container assembly includes a first portion having an insulated, soft sided external wall structure, and an internal, substantially rigid molded plastic receptacle mounted therein. It has a cover structure that includes a reinforcement member for engaging a land region of the molded receptacle, thereby tending to yield an interface tending to have a sealing relationship. Both the receptacle and the engaging seal member of the lid may be outwardly splayed. The container may also include a thermal storage element, and the container may have an accommodation for receiving the thermal storage element.
US07669433B2
Provided is a multi-air conditioner central control system, which shares the physical network and control resources with a multi-air conditioner system so as to control a ventilation system in an integrated manner. The central control system includes a multi-air conditioner system including one or more multi-air conditioners connected to a network for indoor air conditioning, a ventilation system including one or more ventilation devices connected to the network for ventilating indoor air by inhaling and exhausting the indoor air, and a central controller connected with the multi-air conditioner system and the ventilation system for monitoring, in real time, a state of each of the multi-air conditioners and the ventilation devices and controlling an operation thereof.
US07669432B2
A method includes cycling an electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve fluidly coupled to a refrigeration circuit to regulate flow through the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve and sensing a current drawn by the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve during cycling of the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve. The method further includes determining a valve condition of the electronic evaporator pressure regulator valve based on the sensing.
US07669429B2
An improved method and apparatus for rapidly cooling prepared food uses a novel combination of cold fluid recirculation and vibration to rapidly cool prepared food in a manner that is cost-effective and easy to practice. One embodiment of an improved rapid food chiller includes a tank for holding ice water or another cooling fluid, baskets for holding standard restaurant pans containing prepared food, a pump for circulating the cooling fluid around the outside of the restaurant pans, and a vibrator for vibrating the cooling fluid and the prepared food.
US07669428B2
Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure, among others, include vortex vapor compression refrigeration (VCR) systems and methods of cooling.
US07669417B2
An engine after-cooling system (10) comprises an after-cooler (11) for cooling compressed air which is output from a compressor for combustion by an internal-combustion engine, a heat exchanger (19) for cooling a coolant which is output from the after-cooler (11), a pump (21) for continuously pumping the coolant through the system (10), an outlet air temperature sensor (27) for sensing the temperature of the compressed air after being cooled by the after-cooler (11), a coolant temperature sensor (17) for sensing the temperature of the coolant output from the after-cooler (11), and a controller (26) for controlling the flow-rate of coolant through the system (10) in response to the sensed air and coolant temperatures.
US07669414B2
A power transfer system for a vehicle that comprises a an internal combustion engine, one or more drive wheels, and power transfer apparatus transfers power from the prime mover to the wheels for propelling the vehicle. The system further comprises an auxiliary hydraulic pump that has a drive shaft that coupled to a power take-off unit driven by engine, and to an auxiliary hydraulic motor powered by hydraulic fluid supplied from a hydraulic energy storage device such as an accumulator. As a result, the auxiliary hydraulic pump can be powered by hydraulic fluid from the accumulator when the prime mover is not operating, or by the prime mover when operating. A tandem arrangement of one way clutches can be employed to avoid the need to disconnect the auxiliary hydraulic pump from the prime mover during operation of the auxiliary hydraulic motor, and vice versa.
US07669411B2
A device for cooling a gas is provided. The device comprises an inlet having a first diameter, a mixing section downstream of the inlet and having a second diameter, and an opening in fluid communication with the mixing section and a source of air. The device is such that the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter and a vacuum is created for drawing in the air from the opening as gas passes from the inlet to the mixing section so that the air drawn into the mixing section mixes with the gas. A method for mixing two gases and an exhaust system are also provided.
US07669408B2
Desulfation methods for an exhaust treatment system having a fuel reformer configured upstream of a LNT. Reductant is injected upstream of the fuel reformer. The reductant reacts within the reformer to generate heat, but the system is configured for some reductant to breakthrough and react in the LNT to generate further heat. This configuration allows the LNT to operate at temperatures higher the than first device and facilitates independent control of the LNT and first device temperatures. An outer loop controls the LNT temperature by issuing instructions to an inner loop that controls the reformer. Typically, the inner loop will pulse the reductant injection rate in order to limit the reformer temperature. The outer loop can pulses the loop on a longer time scale, resulting in two pulse periods. Through timing, a reformate peak from one period is made to overlap a temperature peak from a previous period.
US07669401B2
The invention relates to a method and device for producing a chain composed of chain links and of connecting elements. According to the invention, the chain can be produced in an essentially continuous manner whereby largely eliminating the need to make separating cuts and enabling the production of loadable and durable articulated connections of chain links. To this end, the invention provides that: connecting elements each having two holes are used; the connecting elements are inserted in cavities in first tools, and; chain links are produced with contact at least to partial areas of connecting elements. Inside the holes, joint pins are produced that are a part of the chain links. The invention also relates to a method and device for producing a chain, which is composed of chain links and of connecting elements, made of shapeable materials, particularly plastic.
US07669393B2
A stall detection system for mower blade clutch engagement determines if there is a stall condition by sensing one or more operating conditions such as engine deceleration or blade spindle rotation. If a stall condition is detected, a microcontroller shuts off actuating current to the electric clutch coil and automatically disengages or discontinues engagement of the clutch. The microcontroller may also provide a signal to inform the operator of the stall condition, and prevent repeated activation of the clutch until the stall condition is corrected.
US07669384B2
An extruded hollow aluminum alloy panel includes a panel body and a guide rail that are integrally formed by extrusion so as to extend in an extrusion direction. The panel body has a plurality of closed spaces defined between plates by ribs in a cross section perpendicular to the extrusion direction. The guide rail has an open space in the cross section.
US07669381B1
A concrete reinforcing bar support has a base, a support structure extending upwardly from the base and having a channel formed in an upper surface thereof, a first clamping structure affixed to the support structure on one side of the channel and a second clamping structure affixed to the support structure on an opposite side of the channel. The base is a generally planar surface. The channel has a length dimension that is less than a length dimension of the base. The support structure has first and second side panels extending vertically upwardly from the base to a bottom of the first and second clamping structures.
US07669379B2
A metal truss system comprising a pair of chord members of generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration is joined together by a web formed of a single continuous piece having a wave shape. The apexes of the web are adapted to be received in each chord. The legs of the chords have inwardly recessed portions to form a narrowed throat portion, which provides a stop against which the apex of the web abuts. The resulting positioning of the web apex presents a maximum surface area for welding the web to the chord member. This enables an optimum amount of welding, while minimizing the weakening of the metal being welded. The configuration of the chords and web permits rapid fabrication of the truss.
US07669374B2
A straight rollformed beam made for use in a suspended horizontal drywall ceiling is modified so that it can be used in a drywall ceiling underhang known as a drywall ceiling soffit. The beam is made with repetitive configurations along the length of the beam that are selectively cut, in the field, so that the beam can be bent to, and then fixed at, a desired angle. Drywall panels are secured to a plurality of such beams that form a framework for the soffit.
US07669372B2
An improved structural insulated panel and panel joint includes a panel having a core with cementitious facings where the core edge is grooved and along the panel side edges rebated to accommodate a connecting column. A connecting column is “H”-shaped, formed from two “C”-shaped channels sealed together along other webs with legs directed outwardly and for use between two of the panels. Multiple wall structures and details are disclosed.
US07669365B2
A lawn edging consisting of an elongated extrusion made of a flexible and resilient polymer, the extrusion having opposite ends. The extrusion has a bottom, first and second side walls extending from the bottom and a transverse cross brace connecting the side walls together. The bottom has a toe portion extending perpendicularly from the first wall. The first wall is divided into an upper portion above the transverse cross brace and a lower portion between the transverse cross brace and the toe portion, the lower portion being perpendicular with respect to the toe portion. The upper portion of the first wall is at an obtuse angle to the lower portion such that the upper portion extends away from the lower portion of the side wall and away from the second side wall. The upper portion is configured to be flexible and resilient. The extrusion has an open top defined byte upper portion of the first and second walls which flare out relative to lower portions of the first and second walls.
US07669362B2
A trap for catching woodland, garden, and agricultural insect pests, consisting of a catching part (37) with an outlet opening, and a container (31) for storing caught pests, has a device for separating the captured pests from water and small debris. The device for separating the captured pests from water and small debris is placed between the outlet opening of the catching part and the container. The device for separating the caught pests from water and small debris has a shape of a funnel (135) having a funnel inlet covered up by a mesh (32) and an funnel outlet (36) situated outside of the container (31) for storing the caught pests. The funnel inlet is placed below the outlet opening of the catching part (37).
US07669332B2
An endodontic reamer and a method for manufacturing endodontic reamers and files, more specifically an endodontic reamer having a cylindrical shaft and a working portion extending forward from a removed end of the shaft. The working portion includes, typically, a pair of wedged shaped projecting sections that extend beyond the diameter of the shaft. Forward from the wedge shaped sections is a nose, typically non-cutting nose, that has a diameter of about equal to diameter of the shaft. There are typically two (2) wedge shaped sections projecting outward opposite one another. Applicant also provides a novel method for manufacturing an endodontic reamer, which consists of using a two piece mold and placing a wire blank between the mold, followed by forcing the mold together, under compression, against the wire blank, to deform the blank into the shape of the mold parts.
US07669330B1
A method for structuring a gear assembly housing may include: identifying the lowest surface structure of ring gear teeth top lands; forming a lower gear housing portion having a wall positioned below a gear assembly centerline; shaping the wall relative to an axis of an axle to form: a convex curved wall segment adjacent the lowest surface structure joined to a first concave curved wall segment that is joined to a generally linear wall segment; a first transition wall segment that is joined to the generally linear wall segment; a ring gear wall segment of generally linear form joined to the convex curved wall segment; the ring gear wall segment joined to a second concave curved wall segment that transitions to a second transition wall segment; and attaching an upper housing portion.
US07669319B2
A substrate transferring method and a method for fabricating a flexible display by using the same are disclosed. The method for transferring a substrate includes providing a glass substrate with a recess formed thereon, aligning a flexible substrate on the glass substrate, inserting the flexible substrate in the recess of the glass substrate, and transferring the flexible substrate-inserted glass substrate for a process. The flexible substrate is insertedly fixed in the recess of the glass substrate and transferred, or a process is performed thereon, so that the transfer method is simplified and the process stability can be obtained.
US07669313B2
A method is provided of fabricating a thin film resistor semiconductor structure. In one aspect of the invention, the method includes forming a dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming a thin film resistor on the dielectric layer, and annealing the thin film resistor at a substantially high temperature for a predetermined time period to set the thermal coefficient of resistance of the thin film resistor. A passivation layer is formed over the semiconductor structure.
US07669312B2
A differential circuit layout can advantageously use step symmetry for inductors and mirror symmetry for the rest of the circuit. Interconnect segments can be used to connect the terminals of the inductors to other components in the circuit. These interconnect segments facilitate the transition from the step symmetry of the inductors to the mirror symmetry of the other components. To provide this transition, the terminals of an inductor and its associated interconnect segments are formed on a middle axis of the inductor. This mixed symmetry can advantageously cancel the common-mode magnetic field, reduce the parasitic inductor coupling, and balance parasitic wiring capacitances between the two sides of the differential circuit.
US07669310B2
An acoustic mirror of alternately arranged layers of high and low acoustic impedances is manufactured in that a basic material having a first layer of the layer sequence is initially provided, on which a second layer of the layer sequence is created on the first layer such that the second layer of the layer sequence partially covers the first layer. Subsequently, a planarization layer is applied onto the layer sequence, and the planarization layer is removed in an area which in the common layer plane projects laterally beyond the second layer so as to result in a residual planarization layer. Finally, a termination layer is applied onto the layer sequence and the residual planarization layer.
US07669295B2
A clip to be inserted into and fixed to a rectangular hole formed in an attached member includes: a base body portion that engages the rectangular hole on a one side of the attached member; a stem portion that extends from the base body portion to be insertable into the rectangular hole; and a pair of engaging legs that extend from an end portion of the stem portion toward the base body portion in an anchor leg-like manner. Engaging portions are disposed in ends of the engaging legs, respectively, to engage the rectangular hole on the other side of the attached member. Widths of the engaging legs are formed to be gradually enlarged from the end portion of the stem portion toward the base body portion, respectively.
US07669283B2
A rug or carpet cleaner includes a housing, a suction generator carried on the housing and agitator carried on the housing. The agitator includes a hollow body, a cleaning projection carried on the hollow body, an air intake aperture provided in the cleaning projection and an outlet in fluid communication with the suction generator.
US07669279B2
A wall-mountable mounting bracket and fluid-dispensing attachment for a vacuum cleaner. The attachment can be used to dispense cleaning fluid to an area to be cleaned. The fluid is sucked up along with dirt by the vacuum. A remotely-activatable valve allows user's to selectively shut off the flow of fluid. Retractable wheels can be moved between a usage position and a storage position. In the storage position, the axis of the wheels is above the lowermost side of the attachment and any overhang of the lowermost edge of the wheels is less than the thickness of a corresponding part of the mounting bracket.
US07669278B2
The invention provides a brush mounting structure of an automatic cutting machine that can allow dismount of any desired brush from a brush mount, can allow sequential rotation of the movable brushes so that the brushes on the brush mounts can be rearranged in parallel, and can allow a clamping force for clamping engagement between the brush and the brush mount to be held against a load applied from a particular direction. In order to prevent undesired disengagement of the projection at the back side of the cut-support-surface brush against a load applied from a particular direction orthogonal to a direction in which the brush is movable over the brush mount, an engaging projection having an engaging surface which is adapted to be hooked more firmly than an engaging surface of a back-row projection and serves as a holding surface is formed in a front low of the brush, while also a holding rib having a holding surface which confronts the engaging surface of the engaging projection of the brush and is adapted to be hooked more firmly than the engaging surface of the engaging rib is formed in the brush mount.
US07669276B2
A wiper lever (10) with a wiper arm (12) and a wiper blade (14) linked to it to clean windows of motor vehicles in particular is proposed, whose wiper blade is provided with a band-like, long-stretched-out, elastic supporting element (22) that is curved in the longitudinal direction over its band surfaces (26, 28), which features a rubber elastic wiper strip (30) that can be applied to the window on its concave-curved band surface (26), on whose convex-curved band surface (28) an articulated part (20) sits, on which an adapter (40) is positioned so that it can move in a pendulum fashion, which has walls (42) aligned in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and standing on the band surfaces of the supporting element (22) with planes situated at a distance from one another, and locking means (72) are arranged on the adapter that are moveable against a restoring force, which cooperate with counter-locking means (66) of the wiper arm. A particularly operationally reliable connection between the wiper arm and the wiper blade to form the wiper lever is achieved if the locking means are arranged on at least one of the two walls (42) and are moveable essentially transverse to the surfaces of these walls.
US07669266B2
A body pillow includes an outer enclosure, first, second and third chambers disposed within the outer enclosure, the first and second chambers disposed adjacent to one another, and the second and third chambers disposed adjacent to one another, each of the first, second and third chambers adapted to be filled by respective filling material, a first baffle disposed between the first and second chambers, and a second baffle disposed between the second and third chambers, the first and second baffles adapted to prevent filling material within each of the first, second and third chambers from shifting to an adjacent one of the chambers. Beneficially, among other benefits, the body pillow's baffles prevent filling material disposed within each of the chambers from shifting to adjacent chambers, both during normal use of the body pillow and during washing.
US07669255B2
A storable dual action hydraulic device has a base unit from which floor supports extend, and a series of arms that articulate relative to the base unit to lift and re-orient a lifting device. The base unit houses an on-board power supply and control systems for hydraulic cylinders. A first arm and associated hydraulic cylinder extend from the base, and a second arm and associated hydraulic cylinder extend from the extreme end of the first arm opposite the base unit. At the extreme end of the second arm opposite the first arm, a mechanism is disposed for connecting to a lifting device capable of lifting subjects such as immobile persons. The device is equipped with weight measuring equipment, a retractable handle for maneuvering the device, a hinge member from which the lifting device motorized control for the lifting device and a controller for articulating the arms of the device.
US07669248B2
Continuousness and stability of an effect of preventing hip hemlines from rising in walking or a crouching posture are improved. A clothing has: a front body 11 and back body 12 which are stretchable; and a gusset 13 which is disposed between an inner crotch front portion 22 of the lower end of the front body 11 and an inner crotch rear portion 23 of the lower end of the back body 12, to cover a groin portion. The curvature of the rear end portion 13b which is formed in the gusset 13 into a convex arcuate shape is made larger than that of the inner crotch rear portion 23 which is formed in the lower end of the back body 12 into a concave arcuate shape, and the rear end portion 13b and the inner crotch rear portion 23 are stitched together to dispose a dart 26 which three-dimensinalizes so as to suit a bulged shape of a buttock lower portion.
US07673346B1
Mechanisms for enforcing permissions on stored data. Prior to storing the data, a data structure containing the data is accessed, and then modified to include a license that represents permission(s) for how the data should be used when the data structure is later accessed. The modified data structure is then stored, after perhaps some optional transformation. When the data structure is later accessed, the license is acquired from the data structure. The license is then used to determine whether or not to honor specific requests to use the data. This determination may be made based on license validation instructions executed from a removable media. Furthermore, the license may be the exclusive determining factor for the license validation instructions in determining whether or not to honor specific requests.
US07673344B1
A method and apparatus for detecting preselected data embedded in information content is described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving information content and detecting in the information content a sequence of content fragments that may contain a portion of preselected data. The method further comprises determining whether a sub-set of these content fragments matches any sub-set of the preselected data using an abstract data structure that defines a tabular structure of the preselected data.
US07673343B1
A system, method and computer program product are provided for scanning data. Initially, scanning control logic is executed utilizing a central processing unit. A request related to data is then identified at the central processing unit. In response to the request, the data is indicated to a scanning co-processor coupled to the central processing unit so that the data is scanned by the scanning co-processor under the control of the scanning control logic. The central processing unit then waits for results from the scanning co-processor. Additional logic is executed utilizing the central processing unit while waiting for the results from the scanning co-processor. An event is then initiated based on the results from the scanning co-processor. By this design, the scanning co-processor offloads intensive scanning operations from the central processing unit.
US07673342B2
An e-mail client serves to detect mass mailing malware by detecting if over a threshold number of addressees from within the address book of that e-mail client are being sent an e-mail or over a predetermined number of substantially identical e-mails are being sent by that e-mail client. A quarantine queue may be provided in which e-mail messages are held for a predetermined period prior to being sent out in order that separate e-mail messages being sent to a large proportion of the address book addressees may be identified and linked together.
US07673337B1
A system for online configuration and communication for a supervisory control and data acquisition system comprising an online configurable enterprise server, at least one intelligent electronic device, an online configurable intelligent electronic cryptographic module, and a configurable server interface. Both the online configurable enterprise server and the online configurable intelligent electronic cryptographic module include respective cryptography chips and computer instructions for instructing respective processors to selectively encrypt and decrypt commands, messages, data, and responses, allowing non-encrypted transmissions between the at least one intelligent electronic device and the online configurable intelligent electronic cryptographic module, and selectively encrypted transmission between the intelligent electronic cryptographic module and the online configurable enterprise server.
US07673334B2
A communication system and a security assurance device are proposed, which are capable of assuring that a target party for communication is implementing security countermeasures. A server 3 transmits information 104 necessary for AC issuance to a security assurance authority 2. The security assurance authority 2 verifies the security of the server 3 during communication based upon this information necessary for AC issuance 104. And, when the security of the server 3 during communication is confirmed, the security assurance authority 2 issues an AC 105 which proves the security of the server 3 during communication, and transmits it to the server 3. Upon receipt of this AC 105, the server 3 transmits the AC 105 to a client 4, according to a connection request from the client 4. And, upon receipt of this AC 105, the client 4 verifies the security during communication of the server 3, based upon the AC 105.
US07673328B1
A network system includes a plurality of individual Internet service providers each having access points, and a parallel Internet service provider connected to the plurality of individual Internet service providers, the individual Internet service providers and the parallel Internet service provider each include an authentication server. When the access point of a provider receives a connection request from a user who contracts with the parallel service provider, the provider transfers a connection ID and a password to an authentication server of the parallel Internet service provider to perform user authentication. When a result of the authentication is good, the user terminal is connected to the user terminal through the access point.
US07673326B2
A system and method that utilizes clean groups for reducing security management complexity. The system reduces the complexity of managing security technologies by automatically assigning objects such as computers or persons to clean groups which are defined by existing management infrastructure. In an embodiment where members are computers, ongoing automatic efforts ensure that clean groups include only computers that satisfy specified security principles, which allows administrators to treat all computers that are in compliance as a group. Separately, the members of the clean group are required to implement self-governance, which is an ability to detect being compromised and to take steps to remove themselves from the clean group when they are compromised. In addition to attempting to remove itself from the clean group, a compromised computer may take additional steps aimed at minimizing further damage, such as erasing or hiding computer domain credentials, hiding/protecting/disabling cryptographic (e.g. EFS) keys, or logging out a user.
US07673323B1
A system and method for maintaining security in a distributed computing environment comprises a policy manager located on a server for managing and distributing a security policy, and an application guard located on a client for managing access to securable components as specified by the security policy. In the preferred embodiment, a global policy specifies access privileges of the user to securable components. The policy manager may then preferably distribute a local client policy based on the global policy to the client. An application guard located on the client then manages access to the securable components as specified by the local policy.
US07673320B2
It is targeted that CMs by e.g., television broadcast be detected automatically, an access site to detailed contents of a specified one of the CMs be acquired automatically, and connection be made automatically to the access site to enable accessing to the detailed information. A broadcasting station 302 sends out airing signals containing CMs. A consumer terminal (303) detects these CMs from the aired signals and connects to an access site information furnishing device (305) based on the airing time and the airing channel of the detected CM to acquire the access site information of the distribution terminal (301) for e.g., an article of commerce owning the detailed information pertinent to the CM. Based on the access site information, the consumer terminal (303) accesses the distribution terminal (301) to acquire the detailed information pertinent to the CM.
US07673305B2
In one embodiment, jobs requiring short processing time are given preference over jobs requiring long processing time by processing to completion all jobs for the first N seconds of the job. Jobs requiring longer than N seconds to complete are given a lower priority than a newly arriving job can and continue being processed, but are subject to reduction in resources by new jobs as each new job arrives.
US07673304B2
Systems and methods are provided for scheduling the processing of a coprocessor whereby applications can submit tasks to a scheduler, and the scheduler can determine how much processing each application is entitled to as well as an order for processing. In connection with this process, tasks that require processing can be stored in physical memory or in virtual memory that is managed by a memory manager. The invention also provides various techniques of determining whether a particular task is ready for processing. A “run list” may be employed to ensure that the coprocessor does not waste time between tasks or after an interruption. The invention also provides techniques for ensuring the security of a computer system, by not allowing applications to modify portions of memory that are integral to maintaining the proper functioning of system operations.
US07673299B2
In a computer operating system having a user interface, a resource loader, and a registry resource database, a method for dynamically verifying whether the resource content of a resource module is compatible with the most current version of the operating system. Upon obtaining a request for a resource, the resource loader verifies that the resource modules remain compatible with the operating system prior to loading a resource from an alternate resource module. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the operating system has a multilingual user interface and utilizes resource modules that are language specific.
US07673289B1
Methods, systems and computer program products are provided for ignoring one or more output arguments of a function in a programming environment. Users or programmers may designate one or more output arguments that are not desired by the users. The called function determines which output arguments are designated by the users. The one or more output arguments designated by the users are ignored by the function. The called function may reclaim memory space for the output arguments designated by the users. The called function may also avoid operations for generating values for the output arguments designated by the users. The called function does not need to return values for the output arguments designated by the users.
US07673278B2
The invention provides apparatus and methods for processing substrates using a hot-spot library.
US07673276B2
Method and system for conducting low-power design explorations are disclosed. The method includes receiving an RTL netlist of a circuit design, creating one or more power requirement files, wherein each power requirement file comprises power commands corresponding to the RTL netlist, generating one or more low-power RTL netlists using the corresponding one or more power requirement files and the RTL netlist, and conducting low-power design explorations using the one or more low-power RTL netlists.
US07673272B1
Method and apparatus for generating an area constraint for a module in a programmable logic device (PLD) is described. In an example, first logic resources are selected in a floorplan of the PLD for implementing a first module of a circuit design. A routing resource area constraint is defined that reserves first routing resources associated with the first logic resources and second routing resources associated with second logic resources. The second routing resources are required for use of the first logic resources. A logic resource area constraint is defined that reserves the first logic resources and excludes the second logic resources. The logic resource constraint area for the module may be non-rectangular or include multiple disjoint regions.
US07673270B1
Method and apparatus for compensating an integrated circuit design for mechanical stress effects. One aspect of the invention relates to designing an integrated circuit. Layout data is obtained that describes layers of the integrated circuit. At least one of the layers is analyzed to detect at least one structure susceptible to damage from mechanical stress. A bias is automatically added to each of the at least one structure to reduce mechanical stress of the at least one structure as fabricated. Augmented layout data is then provided for the integrated circuit.
US07673269B2
Automatic trace determination apparatus comprises: means for setting candidate starting route and candidate ending routes that are tangent to an obstacle existing on a straight line connecting between a starting point and an end point of a trace; means for, when a plurality of obstacles exist on the straight line, setting, with respect to each pair of two of the obstacles, straight routes, each of which is tangent only to such two obstacles and does not intersect with any obstacle other than such two obstacles; means for setting tentative routes, each of which includes any one of the candidate starting routes and any one of the candidate ending routes and, when the plurality of obstacles exist, may further include any of candidate intermediate routes selected with respect to each pair of the obstacles; and means for, among the tentative routes, determining the tentative route that has the shortest distance between the starting point and the end point as an optimal trace route.
US07673267B1
Methods and circuits to reduce jitter in a design block including partitioning the design block. A circuit design is partitioned into multiple partitioned design blocks performing the same task as the original circuit deign. In one embodiment, a core clock signal is supplied to each of the partitioned design blocks, having a frequency higher than frequency of the reference clock signal. Additionally each of the partitioned design blocks receives a mutually exclusive enable signal, where each of the partitioned design blocks may be activated once at a given time.
US07673265B2
A simulation apparatus, including a first simulator assigning an operating cycle number, a second simulator assigning an operating cycle number, and a control portion for synchronously controlling the first simulator and the second simulator, the control portion causing communication between the first simulator and the second simulator so as to control control-information and synchronous-information of the first simulator and the second simulator, the control-information controlling operations of the first simulator and the second simulator, wherein the control portion sets up the operating cycle numbers of the first simulator and the second simulator at a first cycle value when a synchronous condition of the synchronous-information is established, the control portion sets up at least one of the operating cycle numbers of the first simulator and the second simulator at a second cycle value being larger than the first cycle value when the synchronous condition of the synchronous-information is not established.
US07673254B2
An apparatus, system and method that allow for context and language specific data entry via a user interface. A user interface is displayed on a display device, where the user interface includes a data entry menu having one or more menu selections. A menu selection is activated. A data entry method is displayed, where the data entry method is context and language specific to the activated menu selection. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07673251B1
Panel presentation is described, including presenting a foreground panel over a background panel, detecting an input associated with the background panel, the input being configured to invoke the background panel, and rendering the foreground panel and the background panel in a substantially similar region of an interface, the foreground panel and the background panel being rendered without modifying the foreground panel.
US07673250B2
Systems and methods for a dimmable user interface. A user interface is simultaneously displayed with video content or other data in the same window of a display device. The user interface has a level of transparency that is user adjustable. The user can thus make the user interface either more or less visible with respect to the video content. At the same time, the video content is correspondingly made less or more visible. Each item included in the user interface may also have a level of transparency that can be adjusted independently of the level of transparency of the user interface.
US07673236B2
There is disclosed a method of inputting text into a data processing apparatus, including the steps of (a) providing a database of words arranged hierarchically into a plurality of levels; (b) displaying at least one window on a visual display unit of said data processing apparatus; (c) showing a plurality of said words in said at least one window; (d) choosing a word or words from said plurality of words shown in said at least one window; and (e) outputting an output in response to choosing of said word(s) in said step (d). There is also disclosed a computer program configured and executable, when installed in a data processing apparatus, to (a) provide in said data processing apparatus a database of words arranged hierarchically into a plurality of levels, (b) display at least one window on a visual display unit of said data processing apparatus, (c) show a plurality of said words in said at least one window, (d) choose a word or words from said plurality of words shown in said at least one window; and (e) output an output in response to choosing of said word(s) in (d) above.
US07673230B2
A user may discover and navigate among hyperlinks through the use of a keyboard. For example, a user may press a tab key to discover and navigate to a first hyperlink that is part of a hypertext document. The first hyperlink is, in response, given focus and a focus shape is drawn around the text or graphics for the hot region of the hyperlink. If the user again presses the tab key, the next hyperlink is given focus and a focus shape (i.e., an outline that surrounds the next hyperlink) is drawn around the next hyperlink. A user may also tab to a placeholder for an image in order to make a decision whether the image should be downloaded or not.
US07673225B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in a communication system using a structured Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code. The transmitter performs structured LDPC coding on input information data using a structured LDPC code, parallel-converts a structured LDPC codeword generated by performing the structured LDPC coding, in units of groups having a predetermined size, and transmits data. The receiver receives a plurality of parallel data streams, serial-converts the received parallel data streams in units of groups having a predetermined size, and performs structured LDPC decoding on the data which was serial-converted group by group, using a structured LDPC code.
US07673220B2
A flash memory device is disclosed that comprises memory cells, a sense node connected to a selected bit line, a sense circuit configured to selectively provide a first voltage to a common node in accordance with a voltage level of the sense node, a first register connected to the sense node and the common node and configured to store data in accordance with a voltage level of the common node, a second register configured to store data in accordance with the voltage level of the sense node, a switch configured to provide a second voltage to the second register, and a discharge circuit configured to selectively discharge the sense node in accordance with the data stored in the second register.
US07673216B2
A memory cache device in which a storage area used for a memory data protection function is effectively used at the time of not using the memory data protection function. A mode selection signal makes ECC code sections for storing an ECC code function as a storage area for storing ECC codes used for performing error detection or error correction on data stored in data RAMs at the time the memory data protection function is enabled and as a way added to the data RAMs at the time the memory data protection function is disabled.
US07673210B2
A method for diagnosing a degree of interference between a plurality of faults in a system under test, the faults being detected by means of applying a test suite to the system under test, includes: 1) for each of the plurality of faults, and for each of a plurality of test syndromes, where a test syndrome is a pattern of passing and failing tests of the test suite, determining relative frequencies at which particular ones of the faults are coupled with particular ones of the syndromes; and 2) using the relative frequencies at which particular ones of the faults are coupled with particular ones of the syndromes to calculate and display to a user, via a graphical user interface, and for the test suite as a whole, test suite degrees of interference between pairs of the faults. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US07673196B2
A system and method are disclosed which may include establishing a stored test vector, including a plurality of data bits, within a vector data engine; transmitting the stored test vector to a memory array; performing at least one arithmetic or logical operation upon the stored test vector by a vector data generator within the vector data engine to update the stored test vector; and repeating the steps of transmitting and performing so as to continuously transmit continuously changing stored test vectors to the memory array.
US07673190B1
A system and method are provided for detecting and recovering from errors in an Instruction Cache RAM and/or Operand Cache RAM of an electronic data processing system. In some cases, errors in the Instruction Cache RAM and/or Operand Cache RAM are detected and recovered from without any required interaction of an operating system of the data processing system. Thus, and in many cases, errors in the Instruction Cache RAM and/or Operand Cache RAM can be handled seamlessly and efficiently, without requiring a specialized operating system routine, or in some cases, a maintenance technician, to help diagnose and/or fix the error.
US07673184B2
A network diagnostic device or component such as a network analyzer or a jammer that is placed in-line between two nodes in a network to perform a flow control operation transparently without the requirement of a separate link layer implementation. The network diagnostic device may include a diagnostic module configured to perform network analyzer operations, a memory a first flow control module a second flow control module. In some embodiments, when performing the flow control operation, various modules and/or components may cause the network diagnostic device to enter a first pass-through mode and to then enter into a first flow control handshaking mode from the first pass-through mode. The various modules and/or components may also cause the network diagnostic device to enter a second pass-through mode from the first flow control handshaking mode and to then enter into a second flow control handshaking mode from the first pass-through mode.
US07673178B2
Break and optional hold preserves a state of a computing environment on which a software program has failed. Being able to examine the status of the environment existing upon the occurrence of the failure, including the condition of various processes and values facilitates resolution of the cause of the failure. Upon occurrence of a failure during the execution of a first software program in a first computing environment, execution of the first software program breaks. A first state of the first computing environment existing upon the breaking in execution of the first software program is then held. A failure notification is generated to signal the failure to a monitoring system. The monitoring system accesses hold information to determine whether the first computing environment should hold its current state and whether one or more other computing environments interacting with the first computing environment should also hold their states.
US07673172B2
Provided is a method, system, and program for processing Input/Output (I/O) requests to a storage network including at least one storage device and at least two adaptors, wherein each adaptor is capable of communicating I/O requests to the at least one storage device. An error is detected in a system including a first adaptor, wherein the first adaptor is capable of communicating on the network after the error is detected. In response to detecting the error, a master switch timer is started that is less than a system timeout period if the first adaptor is the master. An error recovery procedure in the system including the first adaptor would be initiated after the system timeout period has expired. An operation is initiated to designate another adaptor in the storage network as the master if the first adaptor is the master in response to detecting an expiration of the master switch timer.
US07673168B2
A switch includes a reference log storage table for storing a plurality of reference logs for performing normal connection processing between network nodes, a connection candidate log search program for searching for a connection candidate log from among a plurality of reference logs based on a failure log acquired when a connection failure occurs between network nodes; and a re-connection program for re-connecting the network nodes by using the connection candidate log.
US07673162B2
An information processing terminal includes a WOL monitoring unit for monitoring whether or not a particular packet for indicating resumption of operation from a suspended state is received, a resume processing unit for resuming the operation from the suspended state, a factor monitoring unit for recording a factor of the resumption to a memory, a cancel monitoring unit for monitoring whether or not a cancel signal to a communication request received after the resumption is received, and a suspend processing unit for switching the operation to the suspended state when the factor of the resumption is reception of the particular packet as well as the cancel signal is received after the resumption. With this arrangement, power consumption of the information processing terminal can be suppressed.
US07673161B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for selecting a waking process. An input module receives a specified input during the off state of a data processing device. In addition, the input module stores the input in the storage module. The storage module may be integrated within the input module. The input module activates the data processing device in response to the input. A wake module retrieves the input from the storage module. In addition, the wake module determines a process that corresponds to the input. The wake module wakes the data processing device using the process.
US07673159B2
A device state control method for use in an information processing apparatus that has a body, a device connectable to the body, a storage portion which stores information of a state of power supply to the device, the device state control method including: determining whether the information of state of power supply stored in the storage portion is information of power-supply OFF state or not, after instructing to shift the state of the power supply to the device from the power-supply OFF state into a power-supply ON state; and starting the power supply to the device, when the information of power-supply OFF state is stored in the storage portion.
US07673158B2
A method (and system) of managing heat in an electrical circuit, includes using a thermal instruction appended to an instruction to be processed to determine a heat load associated with the instruction.
US07673157B2
Method and system for controlling a mixed array of point-of-load regulators through a bus translator
A power control system comprises at least one point-of-load (POL) regulator adapted to provide an output voltage to a corresponding load and a system controller operatively connected to the at least one POL regulator via a data bus and adapted to send a first data message in a first format to the at least one POL regulator via the data bus. A bus translator is interposed along the data bus between the at least one POL regulator and the system controller. The bus translator converts the first data message from the first format to a second format that is compatible with the at least one POL regulator. The bus translator is adapted for bi-directional operation to convert a second data message communicated from the at least one POL regulator in the second format to the first format compatible with the system controller. The first and second data formats may comprise either a digital data format or an analog data format. The bus translator may further include a phase-locked loop circuit adapted to synchronize operation of the bus translator to a detected data rate of the data bus.
US07673149B2
A method and apparatus for identifying and/or authenticating a user of a mobile device in a server on the basis of fingerprints of the user that have been read through haptic input means of the mobile device with a fingerprint reader in the mobile device.
US07673147B2
The present invention provides a policy specification framework to enable an enterprise to specify a given insider attack using a holistic view of a given data access, as well as the means to specify and implement one or more intrusion mitigation methods in response to the detection of such an attack. The policy specification provides for the use of “anomaly” and “signature” attributes that capture sophisticated behavioral characteristics of illegitimate data access. When the attack occurs, a previously-defined administrator (or system-defined) mitigation response (e.g., verification, disconnect, de-provision, network re-routing, or the like) is then implemented.
US07673144B2
The invention concerns a system enabling a member (M) of a group (G) to produce, by means of customized data (z; K), a message (m) accompanied by a signature (8) proving to a verifier that the message originates from a member of the group (G). The invention is characterized in that the customized data is in the form of an electronic physical medium (26). Advantageously, the latter also incorporates: encrypting means (B3) for producing a customized cipher (C) from the customized data prior to the signature S of the message (m), means (B5) for producing a combination of a message m to be signed and the cipher (C) associated with said message, for example in the form of a concatenation of the message (m) with the cipher (C), and means (B6) for signing (Sig) the message (m) with the customized data (z; K) in the form of a cipher (C) associated with said message. Advantageously, the physical medium is a smart card (26) or the like.
US07673135B2
An authentication mechanism for use in network-based services generates an authentication token. The authentication token is provided to a client device as part of the code comprising a content page. The content page code is received and loaded by a browser application at the client device. When the content page code is received and loaded by the browser application, the authentication token is loaded by the browser as well. Upon receiving subsequent input, the browser application may send a content request to the server. The content request includes the authentication token maintained by the browser application in the content page. A server may validate the authentication token provided in the request using version information and one or more master authentication tokens.
US07673131B2
A computing device is configured to assemble and boot an operating system in stages. A primary boot image is first obtained that includes enough of the operating system to support basic networking. Once the primary boot image is obtained, either through download or from storage on the device, the primary boot image is booted to start the networking. Once the networking is active, the boot activity for the device is suspended and one or more secondary operating system images are downloaded by the device. These images are chained to the primary boot image thereby creating a single/cohesive operating system. These secondary operating system images are successively booted in “stages” with each successive stage building upon the functionality of the previous stage.
US07673129B2
Provided are a method, device, and system for booting from a memory device having an array of blocks of cells. An initial memory map has a mapping of memory addresses to accessible blocks of cells in the memory device that are accessible following a boot sequence. There are secure blocks of cells in addition to the accessible blocks of cells that are not accessible through the memory addresses in the initial memory map. In response to detecting an initialization event, the secure blocks of cells are mapped to a range of memory addresses in the memory map to generate an altered memory map. Code is executed in the secure blocks using the range of memory addresses in the altered memory map. The range of memory addresses mapping to the secure blocks are remapped to map to the accessible blocks to which the range of memory addresses mapped in the initial memory map to restore the initial memory map from the altered memory map.
US07673123B2
The invention relates to a microprocessor device and to a branch prediction method that determines which of a plurality of predetermined branch classes a respective branch instruction to be executed is assigned to, and determines whether the branch is likely to be taken or not, depending on the branch class determined. Advantageously, a respective adaptive branch prediction device assigned to the determined branch class is used for determining whether the branch is likely to be taken or not.
US07673121B2
A method for the transmission of digital messages by the output terminals of a monitoring circuit which is integrated into a microprocessor, the digital messages being representative of first specific events which are dependent on the execution of a series of instructions by the microprocessor. The method includes transmitting the following signals to the monitoring circuit by dedicated access points, namely (i) a request signal for the sending of a message that is associated with a specific event from second specific events which are independent of the execution of the series of instructions by the microprocessor and (ii) a signal comprising characteristic data which are associated with the aforementioned specific event; forcing the monitoring circuit to read the request message and, if the resource management conditions are fulfilled, sending an acknowledgement message and storing said characteristic data signal and transmitting a digital message which is representative of the stored characteristic data signal.
US07673118B2
This present invention brings to the multiprocessor what vectorization brought to the single processor. It provides similar tools to speed communication that have traditionally been used to speed computation; namely, the capability to program optimal communication algorithms on an architecture that can replicate their performance in terms of wall clock time. In addition to the usual complement of logic and arithmetic units, each processor contains a programmable communication unit that orchestrates traffic between the network and registers that communicate directly with comparable registers in neighboring processors. Communication tasks are performed out of these registers like computational tasks on a vector uniprocessor. The architecture is balanced and the hardware/software combination is scalable to any number of processors.
US07673113B2
Methods, systems and apparatuses to dynamically balance execution loads on a partitioned system among processor cores or among partitions.
US07673112B2
The system according to the present invention comprises a first storage area for storing a plurality of logical volume data where the attributes on a plurality of logical volumes are recorded respectively, a second storage area for storing allocation destination candidate data where the attributes on an allocation destination candidate selected from one or more allocation destination candidates are recorded, a third storage area for storing one or more history data to indicate a relationship of a logical volume having a certain attribute among the plurality of logical volumes to an allocation destination candidate having a certain attribute among one or more allocation destination candidates, a device refining unit for refining the plurality of logical volume data to one or more logical volume data based on the plurality of logical volume data, allocation destination candidate data, and one or more history data, and a refined result output section for outputting the content of the refined one or more logical volume data.
US07673110B2
In a system where a first storage system and a second storage system are connected to a third storage system, when the first storage system virtualizes and provides a device in the third storage system as a device in its own storage system, update data stored in a cache in the first storage system is written into the device of the third storage system to be reflected, attributes of the device are transferred to the second storage system, and the second storage system virtualizes the device of the third storage system as a device of its own storage system.
US07673108B2
Techniques for cache management including cache replacement are provided. In one aspect, a distributed caching technique of the invention comprises the use of a central cache and one or more local caches. The central cache communicates with the one or more local caches and coordinates updates to the local caches, including cache replacement. The invention also provides techniques for adaptively determining holding times associated with data storage applications such as those involving caches.
US07673099B1
Described are techniques for initializing a cache in connection with storing a received data set. A previously stored data set that is similar to the received data set is identified. A cache is initialized in accordance with the previously stored data set. Processing is performed using the cache to store the received data set.
US07673098B2
A system and method for synchronizing mirrored and striped disk writes. A data storage system may include a client computer system coupled to a first data storage device and a second data storage device and configured to transmit a first data write request. The first storage device may be configured to transmit a sequence number to the client computer system in response to receiving the first data write request. The client computer system may be further configured to transmit a second data write request including the sequence number to the second storage device. The second data storage device may include a counter and is configured to compare a current counter value to the sequence number. If the counter value is equal to the sequence number, the second storage device stores the data bytes corresponding to the second data write request and increments its counter.
US07673095B2
A FIFO memory with a frequency f and a size of M n-bit words, to successively store n-bit words received serially at an input and give said words serially at an output in the order in which they are stored, comprises a basic memory with a frequency f/2, capable of simultaneously storing two n-bit words successively received at the input of the FIFO memory. The memory also comprises a storage circuit to store either one n-bit word received at the input of the FIFO memory or simultaneously two n-bit words produced by the basic memory and to produce, at the output OUT of the FIFO memory, one of the words that said storage circuit stores.
US07673093B2
A computer system having a memory system having a memory controller and a memory. The memory controller is coupled to a processor and to the memory. The memory comprises one or more daisy chains of memory chips. An address/command word is chained through a daisy chain of memory chips and is handled by one of the memory chips in the daisy chain of memory chips. Data to be written to a memory chip is sent as part of the address/command word, or is transferred on an outgoing data bus chain. Data read from a memory chip is transferred on an incoming data bus chain. A daisy chain of memory chips can include memory chips on multiple carriers, or the daisy chain of memory chips can all be attached to a single carrier.
US07673091B2
A bus bridge between a high speed DMA bus and a lower speed peripheral bus sets a threshold for minimum available buffer space to send a read request dependent upon a frequency ratio and the DMA read latency. Similarly, a threshold for minimum available data for a write request depends on the frequency ratio and the DMA write latency. The bus bridge can store programmable values for the DMA read latency and write latency.
US07673079B2
In an apparatus to be controlled 20 such as a USB-compatible peripheral device connected to a controlling apparatus such as a personal computer, when a specification change is detected such as a change in the apparatus to be controlled 20 itself and a change in the connection situation of an attached device 30 (S201: YES), identification information corresponding to the changed specification is extracted (S205) and the extracted identification information is set as identification information to be transmitted to the controlling apparatus 10 (S206). The identification information having been set is transmitted to the controlling apparatus 10, and the controlling apparatus 10 controls the apparatus to be controlled 20 having the changed specification, on the basis of the identification information. This controlling apparatus for controlling the apparatus to be controlled on the basis of the identification information for identifying the apparatus to be controlled adjusts easily to the change in the specification of the apparatus to be controlled.
US07673078B2
A mechanism is provided for storage enclosures to communicate with one another using pre-existing cables allowing the user to dynamically attach different types and speeds of Fiber Channel enclosures together. The mechanism uses a transmit disable line and receive loss of signal line of a small form-factor pluggable optical cable to provide a communication link between enclosures before the Fiber Channel loop is setup and stable. The mechanism on the transmit side pulses the transmit disable line to communicate configuration information. The mechanism on the receive side receives the configuration information on the receive loss of signal line. The transmit disable line and the receive loss of signal line operate as a one-wire communication scheme, providing a communication link to communicate configuration information before the Fiber Channel loop is established.
US07673076B2
An enhanced direct memory access (EDMA) operation issues a read command to the source port to request data. The port returns the data along with response information, which contains the channel and valid byte count. The EDMA stores the read data into a write buffer and acknowledges to the source port that the EDMA can accept more data. The read response and data can come from more than one port and belong to different channels. Removing channel prioritizing according to this invention allows the EDMA to store read data in the write buffer and the EDMA then can acknowledge the port read response concurrently across all channels. This improves the EDMA inbound and outbound data flow dramatically.
