US07670518B2
A method for producing a composite product including a substrate material and a binder, wherein either the binder includes a plastics material in an emulsion form, or a plastics material is added to an emulsion including the substrate material. The invention is also directed to composite products including a particulate substrate and particles of a plastics material therein.
US07670516B2
A system of manufacturing a custom set of pre-manufactured upper and lower dentures is provided. In one form, a set of master upper and lower dentures is created. The master upper and lower dentures are used to create reusable upper and lower dental matrices, respectively. These re-usable upper and lower dental matrices are repeatedly used to manufacture upper and lower pre-manufactured or standard sized dentures, respectively. Optionally, a dental patient can have these upper and lower pre-manufactured dentures custom fit or relined to fit the dental patient's mouth to form upper reline and/or lower reline pre-manufactured dentures. The dental patient can have custom fit dentures in two visits with the dentist, even two visits in the same day.
US07670504B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal composition having a negative dielectric anisotropy whose absolute value is large, and a low viscosity, and also provides a VA type liquid crystal element using the same.Disclosed is a liquid crystal composition containing a compound represented by the general formula (I) and an alkenyl compound represented by the general formula (II): By combining the liquid compounds according to the present invention, a liquid crystal composition having a low viscosity and a negative dielectric anisotropy could be obtained while nearly maintaining physical properties such as refractive anisotropy. By using the composition, a liquid crystal element having excellent reliability, capable of maintaining a high voltage retention until a high temperature region, is provided, and the display is very applicable as a VA type, ECB type, or IPS type liquid crystal display, and is particularly effective for speeding up response without thinning cell gaps.
US07670503B2
A liquid crystal display device includes an illuminator and a liquid crystal panel for performing displaying by using light which is emitted from the illuminator. The liquid crystal panel includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer provided therebetween. The liquid crystal layer is formed of a liquid crystal material which contains molecules having at least one of a carbon-carbon triple bond and a polycyclic group. The illuminator includes a light source causing primary generation of at least blue light, among other light which is used for displaying.
US07670502B2
The invention is directed to liquid crystal compositions for use in bistable liquid crystal devices and to bistable liquid crystal devices containing said liquid crystal compositions. The liquid crystal composition comprises a component (π) said component (π) containing one or more compounds having a phenyl ring of formula A Whereby XA is F, CI, SF5, NCS or a C1 to C8 alkanyl, alkenyl or alkoxy radical substituted with at least one F atom; and LA is H or F.
US07670501B2
Microcellular polyurethane flexible foams having densities no greater than 0.3 g/cc which are suitable for use as lightweight shoe sole components are produced with carbon dioxide in an amount such that the polyurethane-forming mixture has a free rise density of from about 0.03 to about 0.3 g/cc. At least a portion of that carbon dioxide is dissolved as a gas into one or both of the reaction components. The amount of dissolved carbon dioxide must be such that the froth density of the isocyanate and/or isocyanate-reactive component(s) in which the carbon dioxide is dissolved will be from about 0.1 to about 0.8 g/cc. Additional carbon dioxide may be formed by the reaction of water and isocyanate during the polyurethane-forming reaction but the total amount of CO2 present should be controlled to ensure that the polyurethane-forming mixture has a free rise density of from about 0.03 to 0.3 g/cc. Use of a preferred isocyanate-reactive component in which a specified ratio of diol to triol is satisfied makes it possible to use more water than had been expected. Use of a preferred prepolymer makes it possible to produce microcellular polyurethanes having good physical properties solely with a diol. The product microcellular foams possess a uniform cell structure and enhanced physical properties as compared to all water-blown foams of the same basic formulation and density. The hardness of the foams is more suitable for shoe sole, particularly midsole applications, than that of the water-blown foams, despite the lower urea hard segment content of the CO2 blown foams.
US07670496B2
A structural body comprising a substrate and a structural layer formed on the substrate through an air gap in which the structural layer functions as a micro movable element is produced by a process comprising a film-deposition step of successively forming a sacrificial layer made of a silicon oxide film and the structural layer on the substrate, an air gap-forming step of removing the sacrificial layer by etching with a treating fluid to form the air gap between the substrate and the structural layer, and a cleaning step. By using a supercritical carbon dioxide fluid containing a fluorine compound, a water-soluble organic solvent and water as the treating fluid, the sacrificial layer is removed in a short period of time with a small amount of the treating fluid without any damage to the structural body.
US07670494B2
A method of providing end-to-end water quality control from a water system operator to a point of delivery proximate a consumer, which may be at the point of entry, and/or between the point of entry and point of use, and/or at the point of use. The method includes treating the water and delivering the water to the consumer at the point of delivery, filtering/purifying the water at the point of delivery, monitoring water quality at the point of delivery, and reporting water quality at the point of delivery to the water system operator over a network.
US07670492B2
The present invention relates to an organo-ceramic composite material useful for the extraction of metal ions from solution. The organo-ceramic composite material is formed according to a sol gel synthesis scheme by reacting a functional precursor silane and its homopolymers with either (i) a mixture of a cross-linking silane and its homopolymers or (ii) the cross-linking silane, under conditions effective to yield the composite material of the present invention. Further aspects of the present invention relate to methods of removing a metal ion from a water stream and recovering a metal ion from a water stream, both of which include contacting a water stream containing a metal ion with an organo-ceramic composite material of the present invention under conditions effective to remove the metal ion from the water stream.
US07670483B2
System and apparatus for filtering drainage which includes a configurable and adjustable rigid frame, hanger support structures adapted to contact a surface of a drainage structure, and a sediment bag. The frame may be adjusted or configured by modifying the location of connecting fasteners and/or by altering the orientation of frame components. Additional embodiments provide for an overflow gap comprising a vertical distance between an above grade surface of a drainage structure and the rigid frame, wherein the overflow gap is capable of allowing runoff to bypass the sediment bag when the sediment bag is obstructed. A configurable lifting tool device adapted to lift inlet grates and inlet filter devices includes a lifting bar, a plurality of connectors, a plurality of lifting arms, and a plurality of lifting hooks adapted to contact a grate and/or an inlet filter device lifting bar.
US07670480B2
A supply flow path for supplying a solvent is described. The supply flow path includes metering devices each with a piston, the metering devices being adapted for metering the solvent through separate source paths feeding the supply flow path. The supply flow path further includes a control unit adapted for controlling the metering devices' piston movement in accordance with solvent pressure, wherein a variation of the solvent pressure gives rise to a corresponding variation of a solvent volume contained in the supply flow path or a part thereof. The control unit is adapted for compensating for the variation of the solvent volume by corresponding movements or forward or backward displacements of the pistons.
US07670478B2
This invention relates to an apparatus and process for injecting a petroleum feed. More particularly, a liquid petroleum feed is atomized with a nozzle assembly apparatus in which the apparatus has injection nozzles that produce a generally flat spray pattern of finely dispersed feed. The injection nozzles are each designed such that the overall effect of the different spray patterns from the individual nozzles provides a more uniform feed coverage across the catalyst stream.
US07670472B2
A membrane electrolysis cell comprising an anodic compartment and a cathodic compartment is described, wherein at least one of the two compartments contains an electrode fed with gas and a porous planar element is interposed between the membrane and the gas-fed electrode. A flow of chemically aggressive electrolyte crosses the porous planar element downwards under the effect of the gravity force. The planar element consists in a plastic element withstanding the aggressive operative conditions: The use of perfluorinated plastics such as ECTFE, PTEFE, FEP, PFA is preferred, even though they are strongly hydrophobic. When the gas-fed electrode is a cathode and the gas contains oxygen, the gas crosses the cathodic compartment upwardly so as to minimize the risk of hydrogen build up. The cell equipped with the oxygen cathode is particularly advantageous for the sodium chloride electrolysis.
US07670462B2
A system and method whereby on-line cleaning of black oil heater tubes and delayed coker heater tubes may be effectuated by injecting a high pressure water charge through the tubes during normal process operations so as to prevent tube fouling and heater downtime. The high pressure water charge begins the on-line cleaning process once it enters the heater tube by undergoing intense boiling and evaporation. The cleaning occurs by two methods—a scrubbing action and a shocking action. The scrubbing action occurs because of the complete turbulence caused by the water charge's intense boiling within the heater tubes. The shocking action is caused by the expansion and contraction of the heater tubes resulting from the colder water charge flowing through the heater tubes which is then followed by the hotter process fluid flowing through the heater tubes.
US07670461B2
The invention relates to a papermachine fabric for dewatering and drying a fibrous web in a machine producing a fibrous web, including a plurality of layers with at least one carrier structure and a fiber batt having at least one fiber non-woven. The papermachine fabric according to the invention includes a fiber batt provided with a coating on at least one side.
US07670455B2
The present invention provides an inductively coupled, magnetically enhanced ion beam source, suitable to be used in conjunction with probe-forming optics to produce an ion beam without kinetic energy oscillations induced by the source.
US07670452B2
An apparatus and method are provided for separating two objects attached to each other in a sandwich structure, such as a stamp and a substrate pressed together in an imprint process. The apparatus includes a support structure, carrying first fastening means having a base surface and first gripping means for supporting and holding a first object, second fastening means, positioned opposite to the first fastening means, having second gripping means for holding a second object, and a pulling force mechanism to provide a pulling force at an angle to the normal direction of the base surface for displacing the two fastening means away from each other. Preferably, the second object is gripped at a periphery portion, and the pulling force is angled inwardly from said periphery portion.
US07670449B2
A method of producing a tire having an outside-in ply construction is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a tire building drum; laying an inner liner on said drum, applying a first layer of ply on the right hand side of the drum so that a first end of the first ply layer is located over a first bead area while the second end of the first ply layer extends laterally outwards therefrom, applying a first bead over the first bead area and ply end; applying a second layer of ply on the left hand side of the drum so that one end of the second ply layer is located over a second bead area, while the second end extends laterally outwards therefrom; applying a second bead over the second toeguard and end of second ply layer; folding the second end of the first layer of ply over the first bead until the second end of the first layer of ply contacts the second bead; folding the second layer of ply over the second bead and apex so that the outer end of the second layer of ply is located over the first bead; and shaping the carcass into a toroid. A second method of building a tire carcass comprising the steps outlined above, with an additional third layer of ply being added that has lateral ends extending from said first bead to said second bead. The tire carcass may additionally comprise one or more pairs of sidewall inserts.
US07670448B2
A vehicle wheel having a tire mounted on a wheel rim with a precured and foamed elastomeric material in a closed cavity in the tire and a polyurethane formed in the closed cavity around the precured and foamed elastomeric material.
US07670443B2
A method of making a magnetic alloy material includes the steps of: preparing a melt of an alloy material having a predetermined composition; rapidly cooling and solidifying the melt to obtain a rapidly solidified alloy represented by: Fe100-a-b-cREaAbTMc where RE is at least one rare-earth element selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Tm and including at least about 90 at % of La; A is at least one element selected from Al, Si, Ga, Ge and Sn; TM is at least one transition metal element selected from Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn; and 5 at %≦a≦10 at %, 4.7 at %≦b≦18 at % and 0 at %≦c≦9 at %; and producing a compound phase having an NaZn13-type crystal structure in at least about 70 vol % of the rapidly solidified alloy.
US07670437B2
A system for of aligning a mask to a substrate comprising: a fixture for holding the mask and the substrate in fixed positions relative to each other; means for holding the substrate, the means for holding the substrate protruding through openings in a table and the fixture, the means for holding fixedly mounted on a stage, the stage moveable in first and second directions and rotatable about an axis relative to the table; means for affixing the fixture containing the mask and the substrate to the table; means for controlling the means for temporarily affixing so as to generate a uniform force around a perimeter of the fixture to effectuate the temporarily affixing; means for aligning the mask to the substrate, the means for aligning controlling movement of the stage in the first and second directions and rotation about the axis; and means for fastening the fixture together.
US07670428B2
A low viscosity aqueous slurry of hydrated lime is obtained by combining as dispersants a carbohydrate such as glucose syrup and a polycarboxylate polymer salt. The slurries obtained exhibit good viscosity stability over practical storage periods.
US07670426B2
Flowable concrete mixtures have an aqueous foam admixture mixed therein to give the concrete mixture desired strength, flowability, and density. The concrete mixtures include a hydration stabilizer to stabilize the aqueous foam. The hydration stabilizer inhibits the reaction between the hydraulic cement and the water in the aqueous foam. The aqueous foam can be further stabilized using a fluorochemical surfactant. Preferred fluorochemical surfactants comprise an oligomer having at least one hydrophilic nonionic monomer and at least one hydrophilic anionic monomer.
US07670425B2
An ultra high strength fiber-reinforced cement composition includes cement, silica fume, coal gasification fly ash, insoluble anhydrous gypsum, and metal fiber having a length between 5 and 30 mm and a diameter of between 0.1 and 1 mm. The coal gasification fly ash is spherical fine particles having a maximum particle size between 5 and 10 μm. Mass ratio of the silica fume: the coal gasification fly ash is 95 through 50 portions: 5 through 50 portions.
US07670423B2
Provided herein are defoaming agents that comprise lecithin and a solvent. Optionally, they may comprise hydrophobic particles. One embodiment provides a defoaming agent that comprises lecithin and a solvent.
US07670419B2
A hydraulic cement based on calcium phosphate for surgical use comprising A) a first component comprising powder particles of calcium phosphate; and B) a second component comprising water. The calcium phosphate comprises anhydrous, amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and the ACP is obtained by milling a calcium phosphate synthesized above 500° C. The cement according to the invention has the advantage of being very fast setting compared to prior art calcium phosphate cements. The setting reaction is finished much faster although the initial part of the reaction proceeds at the same speed as with known cements.
US07670414B2
Disclosed is a filter unit for an air conditioner, which is provided at an indoor unit for the air conditioner so as to purify the air discharged to a room. The filter unit includes a filter for purifying air, a filter case accommodated in the filter and having a filter gate at a side thereof for placing/withdrawing the filter, and a cover for opening/closing the filter gate.
US07670412B2
Inside of a first absorption chamber of a canister, a heat storage material container in which a heat storage material constituted of a material that is larger in thermal conductivity and higher in heat capacity than an absorber is accommodated is provided. Since the heat storage material is isolated from the absorber, a larger contact area of the absorber with vaporized fuel gas and air can be secured, and thereby the absorption capacity and desorption capacity of the absorber can be highly exerted. Accordingly, the heat storage material can inhibit the absorber from varying in temperature, the absorber can be prevented from deteriorating in absorption capacity, and the heat storage material can be prevented from deteriorating.
US07670411B2
An air-cleaner includes a housing attached to an induction system of an internal combustion engine. The air-cleaner includes a filter element located within the housing and separating the internal of the housing into a dust side and clean side, the dust side having an introduction portion for introducing an external air into the housing, the clean side having a feeder portion for feeding a filtered air to an engine. The air-cleaner includes a plate-shaped adsorption element including an adsorbent to adsorb a vaporized fuel returned from an engine side and permitting an air to pass therethrough, the adsorption element arranged to cross the direction of an air flow and fitted to occupy the entire surface of the clean side in the housing. The adsorption element defines a port connecting the filter element and the feeder portion, and includes a valve disc to open or close the port. The valve disc is controlled to open during air inspiration for permitting an air to flow toward the feeder portion. The valve disc includes an adsorbent, and permits an air to pass therethrough.
US07670407B2
A method of producing titanium metal from a titanium-containing material includes the steps of producing a solution of M″TiF6 from the titanium-containing material, selectively precipitating M′2TiF6 from the solution by the addition of (M′)aXb and using the selectively precipitated M′2TiF6 to produce titanium. M″ is a cation of the type which forms a hexafluorotitanate, M′ is selected from ammonium and the alkali metal cations, X is an anion selected from halide, sulphate, nitrite, acetate and nitrate and a and b are 1 or 2.
US07670405B2
This invention describes a process for the preparation of bio-release molybdenum fertilizers which comprises heating molybdenum trioxide, one or more basic compound(s) of metal(s) selected from magnesium, calcium and sodium, and phosphoric acid till a solid polyphosphate is obtained and finally obtaining the dried powder.
US07670403B2
A device for adapting a cover for an existing air filter assembly to seal an end portion of a replacement cylindrical air filter having a round cross-sectional shape is disclosed. The cover has a plate with a radially inner convex guide separated from a radially outer convex guide by a concave receiver, a tightening member connected to the plate, and a catch having a first end movably connected to the tightening member, and the catch having a second end configured to engage a keeper, the tightening member adjustable to vary a distance between the catch and the plate. An adaptor is attachable to the plate of the cover. The adaptor has a first side for engagement with the plate and an opposing second side for engagement with an end portion of a cylindrical filter. The first side has a sealing surface extending radially inwardly from a peripheral edge. The sealing surface has a sufficient area to overlap a portion of the radially inner guide of the plate and a portion of the receiver when the adaptor is attached to the plate.
US07670392B2
An environmentally-safe, disposable, and combustible charcoal-based heat source includes a first chimney structure and a second wall structure surrounding the chimney structure. An inner chimney flue receives air for igniting and burning the charcoal-based heat source and an outer chimney flue exhausts combustion fumes from the charcoal-based heat source. A bottom wall member secures to the inner chimney flue and the outer chimney flue and forms of a combustible material to be consumed during the ignition and burning of the charcoal-based fuel. A top wall member secures to the inner chimney flue and the outer chimney flue to be consumed during the ignition of the charcoal-based fuel. A plurality of exhaust apertures are arranged within the top wall for exhausting the combustion fumes from the outer chimney flue. An ignition ring establishes a sustained ignition of sufficient duration to ignite uniformly the charcoal-based fuel. A plurality of flaps provide an initial ignition of the ignition ring. The inner chimney flue, the outer chimney flue, the plurality of exhaust apertures, the flaps and the ignition lattice cooperating to provide uniform and rapid burning of the charcoal-based fuel.
US07670390B2
The invention relates to the use, for dyeing keratin fibers, of at least one latent pigment, which is soluble in a medium that is suitable for dyeing, and which can be chemically, thermally or photochemically converted in the fibers into water-insoluble pigments, of formula A(B)x with A representing the chromophoric radical of dyes, and B representing a hydrogen atom or a group of formula (II) with Z representing a cationic water-solubilizing group Z+ or a polyethylene glycol residue, Y representing a hetero atom, F and F′ representing a linear or branched C1-C14 alkylene chain, which may contain hetero atoms and may be substituted with one or more hydroxyl, amino or halogen groups. The invention also relates to processes for dyeing keratin fibers using latent pigments, to particular compositions containing them and to multi-compartment dyeing devices or “kits”.
US07670387B2
The invention relates to a synthetic fiber fabric having translucent printing (dyeing) patterns thereon. The invention also relates to a process for producing a synthetic fiber fabric having translucent printing (dyeing) patterns thereon, which includes a printing step prior to an etching step, wherein the printing step includes printing a paste for dyeing and/or printing containing a transparent printing developer onto a surface of the fabric.
US07670385B2
A fitting including an electrode assembly mounted and sealed therein. The fitting configured to be positioned within an aperture in a wall of a socket of a prosthetic apparatus. The prosthetic apparatus may include an external socket that receives and is attached to the socket as an internal socket. The electrode assembly has one or more skin contacts for conduction of myoelectrical signals to a prosthetic system. The fitting includes a groove and a retention rim to secure and seal the fitting within the aperture in the socket wall, in order to prevent the passage of air and moisture from the interior of the socket when a stump of a limb is received therein. A unidirectional valve provides for the release of air from the interior of the socket.
US07670377B2
An intervertebral disk implant is adapted to be placed between two vertebrae using a lateral insertion method. The implant is characterized by features including a first end plate having a first socket and a second end plate having a second socket with a spacer that is at least partially received in the first socket and the second socket. The implant includes at least one keel that is adapted to be inserted laterally into a vertebral body of the spine. The spacer allows for pivotal or rotational motion and also for twisting motion of the spine once the implant is inserted between vertebrae of a patient.
US07670371B2
A method of designing a multifocal ophthalmic lens with one base focus and at least one additional focus, capable of reducing aberrations of the eye for at least one of the foci after its implantation, comprising the steps of: (i) characterizing at least one corneal surface as a mathematical model; (ii) calculating the resulting aberrations of said corneal surface(s) by employing said mathematical model; (iii) modeling the multifocal ophthalmic lens such that a wavefront arriving from an optical system comprising said lens and said at least one corneal surface obtains reduced aberrations for at least one of the foci. There is also disclosed a method of selecting a multifocal intraocular lens, a method of designing a multifocal ophthalmic lens based on corneal data from a group of patients, and a multifocal ophthalmic lens.
US07670356B2
Medical devices for filtering fluids flowing through a lumen and a method of forming medical devices. The devices can be used in vascular channels, urinary tracts, biliary ducts and the like, and filter emboli and other debris generated at a treatment site.
US07670352B1
Disclosed is an adjustable tip for a blood lancet device that is adjustable between several distances for varying the depth of skin puncture by a lancet needle. The adjustable tip includes a sleeve having a helical groove with spaced depressions and an end cap placed over and attached to the sleeve. The end cap includes a lug that fits with the helical groove of the sleeve to secure the end cap to the sleeve.
US07670338B2
An excisional biopsy method is disclosed. The method can include rotating an arcuate shaped electrode around a tissue specimen, and drawing a sheath around the tissue specimen as the specimen is cut from a tissue mass. In one embodiment, the method includes tunneling to a tissue site with one electrode, and cutting with a second electrode to obtain the tissue specimen.
US07670337B2
An ablation device includes a cannula having a lumen, a first array of electrodes deployable from within the lumen, and a second array of electrodes deployable from within the lumen, wherein the first array of electrodes has a configuration that is different from a configuration of the second array of electrodes.
US07670318B2
A prepackaged safety needle device has fitted to a holder a double-ended needle assembly and a needle protection housing pivotally connected to the neck of the housing. The hub of the double-ended needle is mated to the neck of the holder. A circumferential sleeve extending from the neck of the holder envelops the hub so that when the needle that extends away from the holder is capped by a sheath, the lower portions of the sheath would coact with the sleeve to form a relatively tight fit. The configurations of the sleeve and the sheath with respect to the needle hub, at their respective interacting portions are such that a tortuous path is established which allows sterilizing gas to pass into the space capped by the sheath, but yet prevents bacteria or other contaminants from intruding into the space. The opening at the end of the holder away from the needle assembly is sealed by a porous cover that allows sterilizing gas to pass into the interior of the holder while acting as a barrier to prevent bacteria from entering into the holder. Thus, configured, the prepackaged device is a convenient to use device that remains sterile until use.
US07670313B2
To eliminate needle-stick risk by encapsulating the needle of a syringe immediately after discharge of syringe contents, the entire syringe is housed in a device comprising a hollow body, a spring and a plunger. The barrel of the syringe is held in the body interior against the force of the spring by latching formations internal to the body. The plunger is hollow to provide a chamber to receive the syringe piston and at least part of the barrel. The plunger has deflectable engagement elements at its forward end so it is pushed into the body, it reliably displaces the syringe piston/rod to discharge the syringe contents via a hollow needle, the elements ultimately being deflected outwards as the contents are fully discharged so as not to impede syringe retraction into the hollow plunger. The plunger also has latch opening projections at its forward end.
US07670310B2
An implant includes a tube for permitting fluid flow. A flow controlling rod may be inserted within the tube passage. One or more holes around the circumference of the tube may be selectively permanently or temporarily occluded to give desired flow characteristics.A delivery device for implanting the implant may include a central bore in which a retractable wire is located. The retractable wire penetrates a tube passage of the implant when the implant is attached to the delivery device. A hook on the delivery device prevents the implant from moving down the wire. After the implant is in position in the eye, the retention wire is retracted out of the implant. With the retention wire retracted, the implant is then free to slide away from the hook, allowing the delivery device to be withdrawn, leaving the implant in place.In a method for manufacturing an implant, two tubes of different diameters are utilized. The smaller tube fits inside the longitudinal bore of the larger tube. When the tubes are cut, the smaller tube forms the tube of the implant and the remaining portions of the larger tube form the retention projection and/or disk of the implant.
US07670307B2
The cervical traction/stretch device kit comprises a cervical traction/stretch device including an expandable bellows section which is made of non-elastic and non-stretchable material. The device further includes a shoulder section which can be fixed to or made integral with the bellows section. At least two, preferably three, interchangeable head sections are provided so that substantially all human head sizes can be supported by the device. Also provided is a head frame section which is releasably assembled with one of the head sections, the bellows section and the shoulder section to provide a cervical traction/stretch device. The bellows section, the shoulder section and the head section have aligned U-shaped openings therein adapted to receive and support a patient's neck. A pumping mechanism, preferably including an air pump and pressure relief structure are connected to the bellows section for pumping air into the bellows section for expanding the bellows section and for relieving or releasing air out of the bellows section. A triangular-in-cross-section base is provided in the kit for supporting the device at a small angle to the horizontal.
US07670305B2
A device for showering has a housing and a rotatable massaging element arranged in the housing so that it is rotatable by water and capable of massaging with the simultaneous discharge of water. A rotary unit is located in the housing and is connected with the massaging element to be acted on by water so that the rotary unit rotates and rotates the massaging element. The rotary unit is composed of at least two rotors which are configured so that in a first mode of operation only one of the rotors rotates and provides rotation of the massaging element and issuance of water for showering, and in a second mode of operation both the rotor elements rotate to provide a turbo rotation of water.
US07670304B2
A vertical movement vibrator of a magnetic gap type is provided. The vibrator can provide a sufficient vertical movement force by a structure that a bobbin coil connected to a vibration plate is disposed in a magnetic gap of a magnetic circuit. The vibrator includes a magnetic circuit which forms an annular magnetic gap, and forms a DC magnetic field in the magnetic gap, a driving coil which is movably inserted into the magnetic gap, the driving coil being vibrated up and down when a driving signal is applied, a driving signal supply unit for supplying the driving signal, a vibration plate to the lower side of which the bobbin is attached to accomplish vibration up and down, a vertical movement guide unit for guiding the vibration plate to perform vertical movement, and a unit which limits a movement range of the vibration plate, and simultaneously absorbs an impact.
US07670302B2
A guidewire having a super elastic core surrounded by a shape memory polymer jacket. The super elastic core wire permits the guidewire to be navigated through tortuous vasculature without undergoing plastic deformation, and the shape memory polymer jacket permits the guidewire to be shaped by the physician.
US07670298B2
An implantable device and method for monitoring S1 heart sounds with a remotely located accelerometer. The device includes a transducer that converts heart sounds into an electrical signal. A control circuit is coupled to the transducer. The control circuit is configured to receive the electrical signal, identify an S1 heart sound, and to convert the S1 heart sound into electrical information. The control circuit also generates morphological data from the electrical information. The morphological data relates to a hemodynamic metric, such as left ventricular contractility. A housing may enclose the control circuit. The housing defines a volume coextensive with an outer surface of the housing. The transducer is in or on the volume defined by the housing.
US07670295B2
The present invention relates to the field of ambulatory and non-invasive monitoring of a plurality of physiological parameters of a monitored individual. The invention includes a physiological monitoring apparatus with an improved monitoring apparel worn by a monitored individual, the apparel having attached sensors for monitoring parameters reflecting pulmonary function, or parameters reflecting cardiac function, or parameters reflecting the function of other organ systems, and the apparel being designed and tailored to be comfortable during the individual's normal daily activities. The apparel is preferably also suitable for athletic activities. The sensors preferably include one or more ECG leads and one of more inductive plethysmographic sensor with conductive loops positioned closely to the individual to preferably monitor at least basic cardiac parameters, basic pulmonary parameters, or both. The monitoring apparatus also includes a unit for receiving data from the sensors, and for storing the data in a computer-readable medium. The invention also includes systems comprising a central data repository for receiving, storing, and processing data generated by a plurality of physiological monitored apparatus, and for making stored data available to the individual and to health care providers.
US07670293B2
Methods and systems for scan sequencing in an ultrasound imaging system are provided. The method includes determining an interleave factor based at least partially on a pulse repletion interval (PRI). The method further includes dividing a total number of colorflow imaging vectors into interleave groups based on the interleave factor. Further, the method includes modifying at least one scan sequencing parameter such that all colorflow imaging vectors are included in a colorflow region of interest (ROI).
US07670291B2
Disclosed herein is a method for obtaining a composite interference-free ultrasound image when non-imaging ultrasound waves would otherwise interfere with ultrasound imaging. A conventional ultrasound imaging system is used to collect frames of ultrasound image data in the presence of non-imaging ultrasound waves, such as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). The frames are directed to a processor that analyzes the frames to identify portions of the frame that are interference-free. Interference-free portions of a plurality of different ultrasound image frames are combined to generate a single composite interference-free ultrasound image that is displayed to a user. In this approach, a frequency of the non-imaging ultrasound waves is offset relative to a frequency of the ultrasound imaging waves, such that the interference introduced by the non-imaging ultrasound waves appears in a different portion of the frames.
US07670289B1
A fluid loss detection device for dressings at pre-existing port sites, catheter sites, operative sites, ostomy sites, drain sites, line sites such as those utilized in hemodialysis, wound sites, or other areas for which monitoring of fluid or blood loss is medically indicated. The detection device includes a patch having a primary loop circuit and an early warning alarm circuit loop. In one embodiment, closure of the early warning alarm circuit loop activates an alarm. The alarm may be connected directly to the patch and sound locally or may be activated remotely via radio transmission. The detection device may additionally cause a medical device such as a hemodialysis system to shut down.
US07670271B2
A hanging fitness device for exercising abdominals includes a flatbed upper arm platform assembly having an arm cushion, vinyl cushion covering, two rubber non-skid floor stands, and a vertical stabilizer bar with an opening to connect to a vertical handle extender and a connector rod. The fitness device includes a safety bar assembly including a small opening that connects the safety bar to the flatbed upper arm platform assembly by a transverse member. The fitness device also includes a handle extender assembly with small vertical round openings on all four sides and horizontal insertion round bar with an inner V spring button. A hand grip unit assembly is configured to slidably receive the horizontal insertion bar of the handle extender, the insertion bar being locked therein by way of an inner V spring button. The device also includes a top hook assembly with a connection assembly to connect a height girder member of the hand grip unit assembly and the connector rod.
US07670270B2
Exercising machine (1) provided with a frame (10) (110) (210) and with at least one operating apparatus (30) (130) (230) which can be used to perform a physical exercise and comprising a load group (15) (115) (215) supported by the frame (10) (110) (210) and connected to the operating apparatus (30) (130) (230) by means of at least one cable (26) (126) (226) wound around a plurality of transmission members (25) (140) (240) supported by the frame (10) (110) (210) and arranged so as to define a path (P) for the cable (26) (126) (226); the load group (15) (115) (215) comprising at least two load units (16, 17) separate from each other and connected together by means of the said cable (26) (126) (226) and arranged at ends of the path (P) on opposite sides of the operating apparatus (30) (130) (230) so that the latter can be tensioned on respective opposite sides by means of different loads.
US07670257B2
A method of operating a motor vehicle drive train having a hybrid drive including an internal combustion engine, an electric motor and an automatic transmission. A clutch is located between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, and a clutch or a torque converter is located between the electric motor and the automatic transmission such that, when the drive train is powered exclusively by the electric motor, the internal combustion engine can be started by engagement of the clutch located between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor. The clutch, arranged between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, is engaged during the process of downshifting when the internal combustion engine is started.
US07670244B2
A power transmission system having an input member (6) and an output member (2) for transmitting power, and an oil pump (7) for discharging oil by a relative rotation between a first (8, 70) and a second rotary members (9, 87, 88) which is driven by the power transmitted between the input member (6) and the output member (2), characterized in that: the input member (6) and the first rotary member (8, 70) are connected with each other in a power transmittable manner, and the output member (2) and the second rotary member (9, 87, 88) are connected with each other in a power transmittable manner; and characterized by comprising: a transmission member (11, 13, 76, 77) for connecting the first and the second rotary members in a power transmittable manner; and a control valve (9, 87, 88) for controlling a power transmission state between the first and the second rotary members, by controlling a discharge condition of the oil pump (7).
US07670236B2
An iron club head for an iron golf club, includes: an upper portion of a face member; and a lower portion of the face member, wherein: a maximum height (H) on the face member at which a ball is to be hit is obtained by an equation: H=Rb×(1−sin(loft angle−8)+DP/2×cos(loft angle) where, Rb: ball radius (21.4 mm), and Dp: strike mark diameter (15 mm); the upper portion is arranged upper than the height (H) obtained by the equation as a boundary; and a thickness of the upper portion, excluding a circumferential edge, is formed thinner than a thickness of the lower portion, the thickness of the upper portion being made to be 1±0.2 mm (0.8 to 1.2 mm).
US07670230B2
A balance training apparatus includes a base and a driving device is connected to the base so as to drive a seat portion in different axes. The driving device has a power source, a swing portion, an active portion driven by the power source and a passive portion which is driven by the active portion. The active portion has a first axle which is driven by the power source of the driving device and cooperated with two eccentric wheels. The passive portion has a second axle which includes a straight section and two crank portions are connected to two ends of the straight section. The two distal ends of the two crank portions are rotatably engaged with the first and second blocks on the base. The active and passive portions drive the seat portion to simulate a horse-riding motion.
US07670229B2
A displacement unit and a jointed shaft which includes such a displacement unit. The displacement unit is formed of an external part and of an internal part which can be displaced in an axial direction in the external part, in which the external and internal parts have guide paths provided with balls arranged in the guide paths for the transmission of torque.
US07670228B2
A coupling apparatus is provided with a first coupling member, a second coupling member and a damper member. The damper member is arranged between the first coupling member and the second coupling member. At least one of the first coupling member and the second coupling member has a tubular circumferential wall surrounding the outer circumference of the damper member. Accordingly, it is easy to control the diameter of an accommodating hole accommodating the coupling apparatus.
US07670224B2
A gaming apparatus may include a display unit capable of generating video images, a detection apparatus capable of detecting the presence of a person by detecting radiation from the person, and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and said detection device. The controller may comprise a processor and a memory and may be programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a video image representing a video gambling game to be generated on the display unit, to determine an outcome of the video gambling game and a value payout associated with the outcome of the video gambling game, and to cause the gaming apparatus to enter a sleep mode after no detection of a person for a period of time, and to cause the gaming apparatus to terminate the sleep mode upon detection of a person.
US07670207B2
An impeller (2) for feeding blasting shots, which are to be accelerated, into the centrifugal wheel of a blasting installation, the impeller (2) being arranged in the central region of the centrifugal wheel inside a distributing sleeve (1) which has a distributing opening (8) and can be rotated in the direction of rotation of the centrifugal wheel, and the impeller (2) having, in particular platelike, guiding elements which are directed toward the distributing sleeve (1), are intended for guiding the blasting shot to the outside and are arranged on at least one lateral disk (4), and in that in each case at least two adjacent guiding means are designed as limbs (5, 6), interconnected, in particular, integrally, of a profiled piece (3), adjacent limbs (5, 6) of adjacent profiled pieces (3) forming channels (7) through which the blasting shot can be discharged to the outside.
US07670186B2
An electrical card connector assembly includes an electrical card connector (100) and a PCB (4) where the electrical card connector is assembled. The electrical card connector includes a metal shield (1), an insulating housing (2) and a terminal module (3) received in the insulating housing. The insulating housing associates with the metal shield to define a card receiving room. The metal shield forms a base (10) and a plurality of sidewalls (11) extending from the base. Each sidewall forms a locking portion (111) thereof. Each locking portion has a vertical portion (1110) and a horizontal portion (1111) extending from a lower end of the vertical portion. At least one of the sidewalls forms an elastic piece (12) extending along a card insertion/ejection direction and the elastic piece forms a declined portion (120). The PCB defines a plurality of cutouts (44) and at least one aperture (47). The elastic piece is locked with the aperture under a guiding force of the declined portion while the horizontal portions of the locking portions pass through the cutouts and then confront the bottom surface of the PCB.
US07670185B2
An electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (2) having upper and lower surfaces, with a plurality of passageways (not label) extending therebetween, the insulative housing (2) further including longitudinal ends each form a block (212) with an end surface thereof; a plurality of contacts (3) assembled to the passageways, each including a contact engaging portion (not label) extending above the upper surface; metal shell (4) attached to the housing (2) and defining a receiving space with the upper surface of the housing (2), the metal shell (4) including an end tab (not label) corresponding to end surface of the block (212). The block (212) comprises a vertical stopper (2120) and a horizontal stopper (2121) extending from the underside of the vertical stopper (2120). While assembling the metal shell (4) to the insulative housing (2), the vertical stopper (2120) fastens the metal shell (4) in the horizontal direction, and the horizontal stopper (2121) fastens the metal shell (4) in the vertical direction, thereby the insulative housing (2) fastens with the metal shell (4) stably.
US07670184B2
An electrical junction box including a box main body and a wiring block. The box main body includes a cassette block. The wiring block includes a first bus bar, a second bus bar, and a fuse. Each bus bar includes an electric parts connecting part and the power source connecting part. The electric parts connecting part is connected to electric parts attached to the cassette block. The power source connecting part includes a fuse connecting piece and a connecting piece. A terminal fitting connected to a power source is connected to the connecting piece. The fuse connects the fuse connecting pieces of the bus bars.
US07670179B2
A connecting element (1) for shielded data and/or telecommunications cables (2, 3), with a metal housing (10) and with at least one connector jack (15, 16), where contact means (20, 21) are provided for contacting the metal housing (10) with a plug housing (6, 7), particularly with the plug housing (6, 7) of an RJ-45 plug (4, 5), and where at least one spring tab (20, 21) forming a single piece with the metal housing (10), or with a part (8, 9) of the metal housing, is provided as the contacting means (20, 21).
US07670174B2
An electrical connector comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals received in the insulative housing and a pair of retaining members assembled to the insulative housing. The insulative housing has a pair of positioning shoulders at two sides thereof, and each positioning shoulder defines a lower surface and a positioning hole extending there through. Each retaining member defines a main plate covering the lower surface of the positioning shoulder and a though hole corresponding to the positioning hole.
US07670170B2
A connector assembly includes a first connector having a housing and a plurality of contacts extending from the housing. The housing and the contacts define a mating interface and the first connector includes a light source. A second connector has a housing and a plurality of contacts defining a mating interface configured to mate with the mating interface of the first connector. The connector assembly also includes a light pipe assembly having a plurality of separate light pipe segments, wherein a first light pipe segment is provided with the first connector and directs light from the light source, and a second light pipe segment is provided with the second connector and receives light from the first light pipe segment to direct light to an external portion of the second connector.
US07670169B1
The present invention relates to a connecting device with cable, a top housing, one end of a hollow main body provided in the top housing is extended with a connecting device for being connected to a power adapter; an interior retaining sleeve; two copper contact rings; a bottom plastic housing; a conduction wire retaining section for being mounted in a latching slot; and a cable having at least two conduction wires, end sections of the two conduction wires enter the top housing and the bottom plastic housing then are respectively connected to a clamping section. Accordingly, with the above mentioned structure, one end of the connecting device with cable is connected to an AC power source through the cable, the other end thereof is coupled with a power adapter through the connecting device so as to supply converted DC power to an electronic device.
US07670168B2
A card connector (100) includes a first housing (1), a second housing (2) stacked with the first housing, and a pair of standoffs (7). The first housing includes a first shell (10) having a first main body (11) comprising a pair of clasps (15). The second housing includes a second shell (20) having a second main body (22) and a pair of side walls (21) extending from the second main body, and each side wall has a plurality of elastic pieces (210, 211, 212). The standoffs mounted on opposite lateral sides of the first shell and the second shell. Each standoff comprising a fixing plate (71) and a locking piece (72) extending towards to the first shell from the fixing plate. The fixing plate has a plurality of through holes (74, 75) to assemble with corresponding elastic pieces of the second shell, and each locking piece provides with a locking hole (720) to fasten with corresponding clasps of the first shell.
US07670167B2
An example socket includes a plurality of contacts and a base. The base includes exterior walls and interior walls which extend between the exterior walls to form openings within the base such that each opening in the base includes one of the contacts. At least some interior walls include indentations that are adapted to receive projections on the contacts such that when the projections on the contacts are positioned within indentations in the interior walls, the contacts are secured to the base. Another example socket includes a first group of the interior walls that is oriented in a first direction and a second group of the interior walls oriented in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. The first and second groups of interior walls form openings within the base with the first group of interior walls being higher than the second group of interior walls.
US07670160B2
A card connector, comprising a housing having a card insertion slot, a contact carried by the housing, a slider carried by the housing and disposed substantially coplanar with the card insertion slot, the slider comprising a cam groove and a lock spring disposed substantially adjacent the lock spring, and a positioning member carried by the housing and being movable within the cam groove is disclosed.
US07670154B2
An cable assembly (100) includes an insulated housing (1) defining a plurality of contact slots; a plurality of contacts (2) accommodated in the contact slots, with tail portions thereof disposed outside of the insulated housing; at least a cable (4) including two wires (41) enclosed within a conductive shielding portion (43); a grounding member (3) including a main portion (31), a finger portion (33) extending forwardly from the main portion and a connecting portion (32) formed at a rear segment of the main portion, said connecting portion gripping outside of the conductive shielding portion of the cable; and the finger portion and inner conductors of the wires clamped by the tail portions of the contacts.
US07670152B2
A dual interface separable insulated connector comprising a faraday cage molded over a bus bar for use in an electric power system and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The faraday cage can be disposed within a semi-conductive shell. The configuration of the separable insulated connector can provide for easier bonding between the faraday cage and insulating material. Additionally, the configuration can eliminate or reduce the need to coat the bus bar with an adhesive agent and to smooth the metal bus bar to remove burrs, other irregularities, and sharp corners from the bar. Manufacturing the dual interface separable insulated connector can include molding a semi-conductive rubber faraday cage over a conductive bus bar, inserting the faraday cage into a shell, and injecting insulating material between the faraday cage and shell.
US07670145B2
An electrical connector assembly comprises an insulating housing (1), a plurality of terminals (2) retained in the insulating housing and a picking up section (5) mounted on the insulating housing. Wherein the insulating housing has a base section (10) and an engaging plate (14) extending backwardly from the base section. The picking up section comprises a plurality of elastic clasps (52) engaging with the opposite sides of the engaging plate directly.
US07670144B2
There is provided a method of manufacturing a conductive layer of in a signal transmission substrate. The method includes sewing conductive thread in sheet-like material having an insulating property so as to form one of a plurality of low resistance regions using the conductive thread in a high resistance region formed by the sheet-like material, moving the conductive thread from an end point of a previously sewed low resistance region to a start point of a low resistance region to be sewed subsequently, repeating the sewing and moving steps to form the plurality of low resistance regions in the high resistance region, and forming a plurality of holes in the conductive layer by press working so that an electrical component attached to at least one of the plurality of holes is able to transmit a signal between neighboring ones of the plurality of low resistance regions.
US07670143B2
A model for demonstrating a physiological condition of a part of a being includes a chamber with a transparent wall, and first and second components located in the chamber and configured to represent the part of the being and a substance capable of affecting the normal condition of the being's part, respectively. The components interact with one another to demonstrate the physiological condition of the organ caused by the substance during displacement of the model.
US07670135B1
A low NOx burner and method wherein (a) combustion air flows through the interior of the burner in a manner effective for drawing an amount of inert flue gas diluent from the fired heating system into the combustion air stream, preferably via one or more induction channels provided through the burner wall, and/or (b) air or an inert gas is discharged into the induction channel(s) in a manner effective for delivering flue gas into the combustion air stream.
US07670131B2
The invention provides an imprinting jig for transferring a pattern onto a thermoplastic sheet. The imprinting jig is provided with: a first die having a surface with a pattern; a die holder for supporting the first die; an elastic member placed between the first die and the die holder; and a second die opposing to the first die. The thermoplastic sheet is placed on the surface with the pattern of the first die. The imprinting jig optionally includes an adhesion reducing means between the elastic member and the first die or between the elastic member and the die holder.
US07670129B1
Gypsum boards are bent to curved shape by placing a water dampened flat rectangular gypsum board upon a resiliently bendable panel positioned below a bender shell having a wall of arcuate cylindric contour which grips a margin of the gypsum board, and rolling the bender shell upon the gripped board to produce bending. A circular cylindrical weight rolls within the bender shell to apply compressive force upon the gypsum board during the bending process.
US07670128B2
An apparatus of forming a fine pattern includes a chamber having a predetermined process space, a stage for supporting a substrate on which a photosensitive organic layer is formed, using buoyancy, a template disposed away from the stage to imprint a preprocess pattern dividing etching and non-etching regions on the organic layer of the substrate, and a driving unit for moving the stage toward the template so that the pattern formed on the template can be formed on the organic layer of the substrate.
US07670124B2
A metal mold for vulcanizing tire treads reliably preventing incorrect assembling of split pieces. The metal mold 1 for vulcanizing tire treads to form a tread of a tire, comprises a plurality of sector molds 3 equipped with a plurality of pieces 6 which are arranged on the inner circumferential surface of a casing 5 and are split in the circumferential direction in which a tread pattern of the tire is formed, wherein among the adjacent pieces 6 in the sector molds 3, a protuberance 8 is formed on the contact surface of the one piece 6, a dent 9 corresponding to the protuberance 8 is formed in the contact surface of the another piece 6, and the positions for forming the protuberance 8 and the dent 9 are differed for each of the adjacent pieces 6 in the sector molds 3.
US07670123B2
A tire has at least one tread wear indicator. Each wear indicator is a single mark that provides continuous information to the consumer, while changing its presentation based upon the amount of tread wear. The mold blade employed to form the ear indicator has a series of stacked portions, each portion having a different configuration, the configuration being constant for the length of each portion.
US07670119B2
The present invention provides a multistage vacuum pump comprising at least a low pressure first stage and at least a high pressure second stage. At least one of the stages has at least one suction inlet for admitting gas to be pumped, and at least one of the stages has at least one delivery outlet that is open to the outside for exhausting pumped gas. The first and second stages communicate with each other in order to pass gas from the first stage to the second stage. The first stage operates at a flow rate that is smaller than that of the second stage. For an oil-seal rotary vane positive-displacement pump, the oil is injected into the stage having the greater flow rate.
US07670112B2
A turbine blade, including an intrados wall, an extrados wall, at least one first radial trailing edge cavity, at least one second radial cavity upstream of the trailing edge cavity, an internal wall separating the radial cavities and with at least one channel connecting the cavities to one another, the channel being oriented in an axis intersecting the internal surface of the intrados wall.
US07670100B2
In a stack of flexible sheets on a substrate having an outer edge, some of the sheets project laterally past one of the edges. The stack is tamped together by a stabilizing element shiftable horizontally toward and away from the one edge of the substrate and a drive that shifts the stabilizing element horizontally toward the stack and substrate for engaging the projecting sheets and pushing same inward on substrate to a position lying on or inward of the outer edge without vertically bending or deflecting the sheets.
US07670097B2
A cargo management device and vehicle including a cargo management device having a base portion having a surface. The device also includes a support portion pivotably mounted to the base portion and being configured to receive cargo. A locking member is pivotably mounted to the support member and in sliding contact with the surface of the base portion. The support member is capable of detachable engagement with a portion of the surface. A bridge portion is associated with the support portion and is capable of being secured at a first position with respect to the support portion. The device is capable of loading and unloading cargo from a cargo compartment by an incline formed by the support portion. A method for unloading cargo is also disclosed.
US07670079B2
A combination mounting ring of resilient material, for connecting a shaft within a bore of a housing, has a hollow cylindrical part having radially extending projections. This part is for locating between the outer surface of the shaft and the inner surface of the bore, the radially extending projections being under compression and thus securing the shaft within the bore. The combination mounting ring further has an axial spring element extending radially inward from the cylindrical part and having two portions at different axial positions. The axial spring element is for locating between the shaft and a body axially displaced from the shaft, and serves to minimize axial movement of the shaft within the bore of the housing. The axial spring element may either be an annular part or a tab extending from an axial edge of the cylindrical part.
US07670074B2
A video slide projection book is shown. The video slide projection book has a front cover and a back cover connected to the front cover at a binding. A plurality of pages are interposed between the front cover and the back cover and are connected to the binding. The video slide projection book also has a projector configured to accept a video slide source. The projector is configured to have a casing defining an interior volume; a circuit positioned in the interior volume and a lens. A holder is connected to the back cover wherein the holder is configured to accept the projector.
US07670063B2
An optical transceiver includes a transceiver housing configured to receive an optical sub-assembly insert. The optical sub-assembly insert includes duplex cavities configured to hold a transmit optical sub-assembly front end and a receive optical sub-assembly front end in a fixed spatial orientation for a given optical connector interface. The optical sub-assembly insert is configurable to fit inside a transceiver housing with a relatively wide range of X and Y dimensional tolerance. In one implementation, the X-Y position of the optical sub-assembly insert is dictated by the position of the transmit optical-sub assembly front end after its corresponding back end has been mounted to a heat dissipation element. Any gaps that form between the optical sub-assembly insert and the inside surface of the transceiver housing as a result of the transmit optical sub-assembly position can be accommodated with filler material.
US07670062B1
A universal holder for optical subassembly devices includes a clamping element affixed to a main body. The main body of the holder includes four locating surfaces to accurately position the optical subassemblies in the transceiver module. The main body further includes a central opening that receives a front ferrule of the optical subassembly. The central opening locates the optical subassembly in the x-y plane so that the optical subassembly is concentric with the holder. The locating surfaces accurately seat the optical subassembly in the transceiver module. The clamping element comprises a plurality of clamping arms that contact the back side of a flange on the front ferrule of the optical subassembly. When the holder is assembled to the optical subassembly, hooked ends of the arms secure the holder to the flange.
US07670056B2
An exemplary bearing assembly for a turbocharger includes a center housing with a bearing bore having a bearing bore turbine end radius and an inlet for lubricant and a unitary bearing disposed in the bearing bore and forming an outer lubricant film between the bearing and the bearing bore wherein the bearing includes a central axis, an internal bore to receive a shaft extending between a compressor end and a turbine end of the bearing and forming an inner lubricant film between the internal bore and the shaft, a locating mechanism between axial ends of the bearing to prevent rotation and translation of the bearing within the bearing bore and a turbine end protrusion wherein the protrusion comprises a radius that exceeds the bearing bore turbine end radius to thereby deflect lubricant from the outer lubricant film layer radially outward. Other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
US07670048B2
The invention relates to a drive unit (12) for vertical or horizontal movement of a component (7) of a diagnostic X-ray device (1), comprising a motor and gear unit (14), a pulley (10) mounted on a drive shaft (13) of the motor and gear unit (14), and traction means (9), e.g. a rope or a drive belt, wound around the pulley (10), the component (7) to be moved being either attached to the traction means (9) or connected with the drive unit (12). In order to provide a drive unit (12) enabling collision detection, emergency stop functionality, and improved handling with regard to control of the motion of the component (7) by an operator of the X-ray device (1), the invention proposes that the motor and gear unit (14) is rotatable about the axis of the drive shaft (13) against the elastic force of a balancing spring (15), wherein provision is made for a rotation sensor (17,24), which rotation sensor (17,24) is adapted for detecting a rotation of the motor and gear unit (14) and for generating a corresponding rotation detection signal.
US07670046B2
Hotwire element for thermal conductivity detectors, that comprises one or two individual nickel filaments each having resistance of above 200 ohm at 20° C. and an insulation coating of polytetrafluoroethylene with a thickness less than 5 micrometers, that are wound into a uniformly filled spherical or cylindrical body that has at least 33% gas-permeable hollow volume. Relevant hotwire sensor for thermal conductivity detectors, that comprises a wound on a centering holder filled element enveloped by fixed fillers forming a symmetric to it built-in cavity with an inlet and a gas outlet surrounding the centering holder. Radii of the filled elements and their cavities are in proportion, at which minimum electric current is needed for heating the elements to desired temperature.
US07670035B2
A fragrance releasing electronic candle comprises a housing constructed in the form of a cylinder and including a circuit board and a battery case, both of which are assembled therein, the battery case including a power switch arranged thereon and a bottom lid covered to the opening thereof, characterized in that the housing includes a receiving compartment formed on the top end thereof for receiving a fragrance piece, and includes a fan secured in the lower side thereof for the connection with the circuit board, the housing also includes an upper cover covered thereon and having a plurality of bores arranged thereon and having a central hole formed at the center thereof for inserting at least one LED lamp therein, such that the at least one LED may be electrically conducted with the circuit board, and a lamp shield in the shape of a flame may be adhesively affixed in the central hole of the upper cover.
US07670033B2
A fire stop for use with a light fixture in a suspended ceiling or wall. It prevents flames and smoke from passing through the light fixture and spreading throughout a building by moving above the ceiling or behind the walls. The fire stop has a lightweight enclosure that defines an interior space disposed above the suspended ceiling, or behind the wall. Contained within the interior space are a portion of the light fixture and a layer of intumescent material. The intumescent material forms a material with a relatively low thermal conductivity that substantially fills the interior space, impeding the movement of flames or smoke, when the intumescent material reaches at least a pre-determined activation temperature.
US07670024B2
A portable utility light comprises a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and a light-emitting source disposed in the second housing portion. The first housing portion has a first end rotatively coupled by a joint to a first end of the second housing portion. The first housing portion is rotatable about the first end of the second housing portion to a first position and a second position. The light-emitting source is electrically coupled to a power supply by an activation switch. The first housing portion is configured to at least partially cover the light-emitting source when disposed in the first position. The first housing portion is configured to support the second housing portion and the light-emitting source in an upright bearing when disposed in the second position.
US07670022B2
A floor mat system that includes a mat having a decoratively shaped first portion that allows light to transmit therethrough and is surrounded by a second portion that does not allow light to transmit therethrough. A light source is positioned beneath at least the first portion of the mat. When activated, the light source shines through the first portion and thereby illuminates and draws attention to the decorative image. The light source is coated in a polycarbonate resin film to protect and strengthen the same against damage as people walk over the mat. A non-transparent coating may be applied to selective regions of the protective film to create the same decorative transparent image therein and to thereby allow light to only be emitted from a particular region of the light source. The mat may be made from a flow-through material, a non-flow-through material with a gripping upper surface and wells; or a combination of flow-through and non-flow-through material. The mat also includes a transformer housing and channels to protect a transformer and electrical wiring from being damaged as people walk over the mat.
US07670020B2
An exemplary optical plate includes at least one transparent plate unit. The transparent plate unit includes a first surface, a second surface, a plurality of first protrusions, a plurality of second protrusions and a lamp-receiving portion. The second surface is opposite to the first surface. The first protrusions are formed at the first surface, and each first protrusion is a rectangular pyramidal protrusion. The second protrusions are formed at the second surface, and each second protrusion is a conical frustum protrusion. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in one of the first surface and the second surface. A backlight module using the optical plate is also provided.
US07670017B2
A luminous key mechanism. A keycap moves with respect to a base plate and includes a transparent window. A light-emitting element is disposed under the keycap. A condenser is connected to the transparent window and opposes the light-emitting element. Light output from the light-emitting element is condensed by the condenser and output via the transparent window.
US07670006B2
A pattern projector including a source of light to be projected, a spatial light modulator arranged in a spatial light modulator plane, the spatial light modulator receiving the light from the source of light and being configured to pass the light therethrough in a first pattern and projection optics receiving the light from the spatial light modulator and being operative to project a desired second pattern onto a projection surface lying in a projection surface plane which is angled with respect to the spatial light modulator plane, the first pattern being a distortion of the desired second pattern configured such that keystone distortions resulting from the difference in angular orientations of the spatial light modulator plane and the projection surface plane are compensated.
US07669992B2
A recording apparatus having a diaphragm valve disposed between an ink tank and a recording head, in which closing and opening the valve produces a flow of ink. The ink tank includes two independent connection ports adjacent to one end at the bottom and a structure being configured to restrict an upward flow of ink and being located above the connection ports. Restricting the upward flow allows a small amount of ink flowing in and out to produce an entire flow of ink within the ink tank. Therefore, variations in concentration caused by precipitation of ink can be reduced.
US07669979B2
An inikjet printhead including an ink chamber. The ink chamber includes a nozzle defined in a first wall and an ink inlet aperture for introducing ink into the ink chamber. Also provided is a movable circular paddle positioned within the ink chamber for ejecting ink from the nozzle, the movable circular paddle having an annular upturned edge surface. An annular rim edge is positioned internally adjacent a cylindrical wall of the ink chamber, the annular upturned edge surface and the annular rim edge defining an annular aperture between the nozzle and the ink inlet aperture. The paddle can also incorporate a plurality of truncated pyramids circularly positioned adjacent the annular upturned edge surface.
US07669978B2
An inkjet printhead has a body and a heater chip attached thereto. A nozzle plate on the heater chip includes a periphery and plurality of nozzle holes. An encapsulant bead lines the periphery of the nozzle plate and has a leading edge extending in a direction away from the periphery toward the plurality of nozzle holes. The boundary of the bead embodies an irregular shape and the leading edge exists less than about 500 microns from any of the nozzle holes. A tape attaches to the nozzle plate and covers each of the nozzle holes. The tape does not, however, touch the encapsulant bead. Preferably, the tape has a narrow width portion shorter than a width of the nozzle plate. In this manner, the encapsulant bead may encroach upon the nozzle holes closer than heretofore known. In turn, the heater chip can have reduced size and silicon savings.
US07669967B2
A printhead having a hydrophobic ink ejection face is provided. At least part of the ink ejection face is coated with a hydrophobic polymeric material selected from the group comprising: polymerized siloxanes and fluorinated polyolefins.
US07669964B2
An ink supply unit is provided for supplying ink to a printhead in a printer. An elongate manifold defines a plurality of sets of ink passages and further defines a recess in which the printhead can be received so that the ink passages are in fluid communication with respective ink inlets of the printhead. An ink supply includes an elongate housing encasing a partitioning unit to define a plurality of ink chambers which can each contain a respective type of ink. The ink supply is engageable with the manifold so that ink from the ink chambers can be provided to respective sets of ink passages.
US07669963B2
A multi-carriage printing device has a first member, a first bar mounted on the first member, and a first printer carriage mounted on the first bar. The device further has a second bar mounted on the first member, a second printer carriage mounted on the second bar, and a first temperature sensor positioned to sense a first temperature of the member.
US07669961B2
A print engine for an inkjet printer including: a removable inkjet cartridge of a type having a pagewidth printhead and an ink supply; and a cradle having a body adapted to receive the removable inkjet cartridge and to control the operation of the printhead for printing; wherein the cradle is configured to be secured to the inkjet printer to receive print media from a media input tray and to deliver printed media to a media output tray.
US07669943B2
In the roll-over preventing control, a vehicle motion control device 10 causes inner-wheel braking force, according to the absolute value of an actual lateral acceleration Gy, only on the rear wheel at the inner side of the turning direction when the absolute value |Gy| of the actual lateral acceleration is not less than a rear-wheel-side reference value Gyr and not more than a front-wheel-side reference value Gyf thereby causing height lowering force at the vehicle rear-side section of the inner side of the turning direction. In addition, when the absolute value |Gy| of the actual lateral acceleration becomes not less than the front-wheel-side reference value Gyf, the inner-wheel braking force according to the absolute value |Gy| of the actual lateral acceleration is kept to be caused on the rear wheel at the inner side of the turning direction and outer-wheel braking force according to the absolute value |Gy| of the actual lateral acceleration is also caused on the front wheel at the outer side of the turning direction, thereby forcibly generating a yawing moment on the vehicle in the direction opposite to the turning direction.
US07669937B2
A method for extracting minerals from a narrow-vein deposit by thermal fragmentation is provided. The method includes locating the vein and determining the extent thereof to form the boundaries of a stope. Access to the stope is prepared by forming a panel having an upper drift and a lower drift. Equipment for thermal fragmentation, including a burner, is installed from the upper drift. The burner moves along the panel surface in a sweeping motion, while rock chips spalled from the rock panel surface are collected. Multiple panels for processing can be realised, with lower panels being processed before upper panels, by excavating a sub-level to separate the lower and upper panels.
US07669935B2
There is provided a chair capable of providing protection to an occupant in the event of an explosion. The chair may provide a protective “cocoon” for an occupant and may intercept projectiles such as debris, fragments and glass shards. The chair may also reduce blast over-pressure acting on an occupant's ears, reduce shock levels acting on an occupant's lungs and provide protection against an occupant being unseated by an explosion.
US07669930B2
A lockable pressure adjustment seat of a fitness apparatus includes a base, a seat back, and an adjustment unit. The base is disposed with a slide track and a locating hole. The seat back is pivotally connected to the base. The seat back includes an extension rod. One end of the extension rod is linked and fixed to the seat back. A through hole is disposed adjacent to the other end of the extension rod. The adjustment unit includes a lever, a pressure bar, and a locking set. The lever penetrates the slide track. The pressure bar includes a push rod and a fixation base. The push rod holds against the lever. The fixation base is secured to the other end of the extension rod. The locking set is fixed to the fixation base, and comprises an elastic member and a locating rod.
US07669929B2
An adjustable motor vehicle seat with an underframe (20), a seat carrier (28) carried by the underframe (20), a cushion shell (34), a first longitudinal guide (44) being disposed between the seat carrier (28) and the cushion shell (34), and a first drive being provided for adjusting the cushion shell (34) relative to said seat carrier (28). The seat includes a front transverse beam (65) associated with a front edge (72) of the seat. A second longitudinal guide (64) is interposed between the cushion shell (34) and the transverse beam (65). A second drive is responsible for adjusting the seat carrier (28) relative to the cushion shell (34).
US07669924B2
A saddle with proper deformability is provided. The saddle comprises a base, a pad, and a fastening device adapted to fasten the base and pad together. Therein, the materials of the pad comprise Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). Thereby, the saddle of this invention is adapted to deform appropriately according to the buttocks and the crotches of a cyclist and to absorb the vibration that is experienced during the ride, so that the comfort of the saddle is greatly improved.
US07669922B2
A reclining chair includes: a base; a seat; a backrest; and a reclining mechanism attached to the base, seat and backrest. The reclining mechanism comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected links and is configured to move the seat and backrest relative to the base between a fully upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed above the base and the backrest is generally vertically disposed at a first angle to an underlying surface above a rear portion of the backrest, and one or more reclined positions, in which the backrest is disposed at a second angle to the underlying surface, the second angle being less than the first angle. One of the links of the reclining mechanism is a backrest support link that moves in concert with the backrest between the upright and reclined positions. The backrest support link includes a first longitudinally disposed panel pivotally interconnected with at least one other link of the reclining mechanism, and further includes a second transversely disposed panel to which the backrest attaches.
US07669917B2
A bearing structure of a motor vehicle has at least two opposite node elements. Each of the node elements has at least one longitudinal beam segment and one transverse beam connection. A transverse beam joins the transverse beam connections to each other. A profiled transverse beam segment emerges from each transverse beam connection. The transverse beam segments are joined together by a glue connection in an overlap segment, and at least one open beam profile is set thereon to form the transverse beam.
US07669911B1
A tarping system for removably covering the open top of a container resting on a platform of a truck frame, or directly on the truck frame, includes a cover support structure extending upwardly from the pivoted platform, a tarping frame displaceably secured to the cover support structure, a covering medium secured to the tarping frame and dimensioned to protectably cover the container open top, a power system extending between the cover support structure and the tarping frame for raising the tarping frame and thereby the covering medium above the container open top to permit the container to be removed from the truck frame.
US07669909B2
An arrangement (10) for assisting a passenger (22) to obtain a correct seating position in a seat (21) of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprising at least the seat (21) and an area (20) which may be seen by the passenger (22) when seated in the seat (21). The arrangement (10) comprising a position indicator (11) arranged to be provided on the area (20). The position indicator (11) displaying at least a first image (13) when seen in at least a first corresponding optic angle interval (α), and a second image (14) when seen in at least a second corresponding optic angle interval (β).
US07669905B1
A carrier device for facilitating the suspended support of a vehicle rear suspension assembly. The device includes a pair of rotatably coupled members having support legs that are adapted to pass at least partially through an existing opening in the vehicle rear suspension assembly. Projections extending from the support legs subsequently engage the vehicle rear suspension assembly structure adjacent the opening, thereby providing support for the vehicle rear suspension assembly once suspended. A suspension element such as a cable or chain is coupled to the device and to a lifting mechanism, overhead conveyor, etc., for suspending the vehicle rear suspension assembly.
US07669904B1
The present invention relates to coating of lifting slings with a polyurea elastomer, polyurethane, or hybrid polyurethane-polyurea elastomer. In addition, optionally the coating material can include one or more additives such as a catalyst, stabilizer, pigment, fire retardant, or other additives. In the present invention use of additives can enhance the lifting slings effectiveness and improve the operational condition and or suitability for use of the lifting sling. The present invention also relates to the ability to form a multi-core sling from a plurality of single cores. More specifically, the single cores can be tenaciously bonded together with the coating material to form a multi-core lifting sling. The present invention also relates to embedding a safety core along the length of the lifting sling core. The safety core allows monitoring of certain operational parameters related to the lifting sling by way of an indicator and or electronic system.
US07669900B2
A flange structure (10′) for a fuel supply unit of a vehicle includes at least one electrically conductive fuel port (16′) having first and second ends (22, 24) and features (25, 26) defining a channel (28) about a periphery thereof. An elastomer seal (30) is disposed in the channel. A plastic flange (20′) is overmolded on at least a portion of the fuel port between the first and second ends and on at least a portion of the elastomer seal, with the elastomer seal defining a barrier preventing fuel or fuel vapor from passing between the periphery of the fuel port and the overmolded flange.
US07669898B2
A proximal portion of a first link is pivotally supported by a rear end portion of a frame. A second support shaft is provided in a distal portion of the first link. A first cylinder and a second link to which a counterweight is connected are supported by the second support shaft. A second cylinder is connected to the second link. Through pivoting of the second link by the second cylinder, the counterweight is selectively raised and lowered between a mounting position defined on the frame and a separating position above the mounting position. Through pivoting of the first link by the first cylinder, the counterweight moves between the separating position and the ground surface.
US07669894B2
An airbag system is disclosed comprising a gas generator and an airbag having at least two inflatable airbag regions. The airbag regions are attached to the gas generator by an interconnecting a T-shaped connecting piece having symmetrically opposed outlet stubs with differently sized outlet cross-sections for inflating the airbag regions. In order to neutralize the thrust of the system in case of accidental fire, several means for controlling the outlet cross-section on at least one of the outlet stubs are disclosed.
US07669891B2
A vehicle occupant protection system includes: a seat belt apparatus including a shoulder belt (11) and a lap belt (13); an upper air bag (27, 113); a lower air bag (29, 67, 73, 83); and an inflation limiting structure (37, 53, 55, 57, 75, 85) which is provided in the lower air bag and limits inflation of a part of the lower air bag in a vehicle back-and-forth direction when the lower air bag is inflated. When the vehicle collision is detected or predicted, the upper and lower air bags are inflated and vertically come into contact with each other. Further, an upper part (41, 71, 79, 91) of the inflated lower air bag positioned above the inflation limiting structure is pressed by the upper air bag and bends toward the front of the vehicle at the inflation limiting structure.
US07669888B2
In a vehicle to which a side airbag apparatus is applied, a rear frame portion of a seat frame is arranged near a rear end of an intermediate portion in a seat back, and an intermediate pad portion of a seat pad is arranged near a front end of the intermediate portion. An airbag is provided with a main airbag and an auxiliary airbag. The main airbag is inflated between a body side portion of the vehicle and an occupant by shooting out forward from an outer side portion of the seat back by a gas jetted out of an inflator. The auxiliary airbag presses a position near the outer side portion of the intermediate pad portion forward by being inflated between the rear frame portion and the intermediate pad portion by the gas jetted out of the inflator.
US07669887B2
A side air bag is disclosed for a motor vehicle, and takes the form of a three-dimensional airbag which is formed from two super-imposed layers of fabric. The super-imposed layers of fabric, when laid flat, have a substantial common area of super-imposition. Infill pieces formed from either at least one gusset forming insert or from a portion or portions of fabric of one or both of the fabric layers which extend beyond the area of super-imposition are provided. The air-bag has an inflatable region towards the upper part of the air-bag and an inflatable region towards the lower part of the air-bag. The two inflatable regions are separated by a part of the air-bag which is constrained when the air-bag is inflated, to have a thickness less than the thickness of either of the said regions.
US07669885B2
An airbag case includes a line of weakness which enables the case to be ruptured under the effect of a force exerted by the airbag during inflation of the airbag. The line of weakness is formed by a junction, by injection, of two layers of material defining respective parts of the surface area of the case.
US07669883B2
An airbag installation fastener includes first and second fastener members connected by a hinge member. The first and second fastener members rotate from a fastener open condition to engage each other in a fastener closed position. The fastener closed position provides for an air bag member positioned between the first and second fastener members. The first and second fastener members have an aperture receiving a vehicle connected stud to support both the airbag installation fastener and the air bag member from the stud. An arm extending from the second fastener member rotates with respect to the second fastener member. The arm extends from the second fastener member in the fastener closed condition and both engages the second fastener member and abuts the stud to visually indicate a fastener completed installation condition.
US07669879B2
A high-strength skateboard deck includes an elongated body having opposite ends, opposite sides, an upper side and a lower side, the lower side including a plurality of embossments therein, improving the strength in the skateboard deck, reducing fatigue in the skateboard deck, and reducing the coefficient of friction of the lower side of the skateboard deck.
US07669874B2
The invention relates to a system for the transportation of construction machines, preferably excavators, with a front subassembly, which can be used to couple a tractor vehicle, and a rear subassembly. According to the invention, the construction machine itself can be joined into a single transportation unit with the front subassembly and the rear subassembly.
US07669868B2
An attachment (4, 30, 40) for connecting a first bicycle (1) to at least one second bicycle (2), the bicycles (1, 2) being connected in the direction of motion, and the attachment (4, 30, 40) being rotatably connected to at least one bicycle (1, 2) and extending in a substantially fixed length transversally to the direction of motion, between its respective mounting points (8, 12, 34, 42, 44, 46) on the first bicycle (1) and the second bicycle (2), respectively.
US07669867B2
A pair of left and right shackles operative to support the vehicle-rear-side end portions of a pair of left and right suspension leaf springs. The left and right shackles have structures whereby the rigidity center positions of the leaf-spring-side bushings are offset to further outside areas of the vehicle than the rigidity center positions of the vehicle-body-side bushings, respectively.
US07669866B2
A suspension trailing arm suspends a vehicle chassis from a beam type axle. The trailing arm includes a chassis mounting feature, an axle mounting feature, and an arm portion intermediate the chassis mounting feature and the axle mounting feature. The arm portion has a generally X-section profile with four limbs.
US07669864B2
This invention relates to wheeled vehicles and particularly to motorised road vehicles. The wheeled vehicle (10) includes two frames (12) for carrying road wheals (18, 20), the frames (12) being laterally spaced apart. A pair of road wheels (18, 20) are mounted on each frame (12) for supporting that frame (12) on the ground, the wheels (18, 20) of each pair being mounted for rotation about operatively more or less horizontal rotational axes which are spaced apart along the associated frame (12). A motor (36) is connected by a drive train (48, 28, 30, 32) to a rear wheel (20) on each of the wheeled frames (12). The wheeled frames (12) are connected together for synchronous tilting relative to the vertical, so that the camber angles of all the wheels (18, 20) change in response to lateral tilting of the frames (12).
US07669842B2
A sheet turning apparatus includes a vacuum source used to capture and hold a sheet onto a rotatable disc that is connected to a servo motor. Actuation of the servo motor causes rotation of the disc which in turn rotates the sheet 90°.
US07669837B2
A process for producing carbonated water having a high concentration, inexpensively and easily, involves using a static mixer having 20 to 100 elements so as to provide a value Re×N of 100,000 to 2,000,000, in with Re represents a Reynolds number, when a mixture of water and carbonic acid gas flow in the static mixer.
US07669826B2
A seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle includes a lower rail fixed to a vehicle floor, an upper rail fixed to a vehicle seat, rolling engagement members disposed between the lower rail and the upper rail for making the upper rail to be movable relative to the lower rail in a longitudinal direction thereof, and two retainers arranged between the lower rail and the upper rail along a longitudinal direction thereof and each including a notch. The rolling engagement members are rotatably held at a front end portion and a rear end portion of the retainer. In addition, the lower rail includes a first engagement projection engaging with front end and rear end surfaces of the notch in response to a sliding movement of the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
US07669823B2
The present invention is directed to a seat and seat suspension assembly comprising a seat mounted to a seat supporting platform and suspension mechanism, the platform and suspension mechanism being rotationally mounted to a base by a pedestal so that the platform, suspension mechanism and seat may rotate through 360 degrees. The pedestal comprises two swivel housings, the first swivel housing being mounted in fixed position on the base and the second swivel housing being rotationally mounted to the first and supporting the suspension mechanism, platform and seat. A suspension spring and damper are associated with the suspension mechanism to enhance the ride characteristics of the seat, with the damper being positioned inside the pedestal and having one end connected to the first swivel housing and the other end connected to the suspension mechanism.
US07669816B2
A clamp comprises an anvil and a jaw member moveable relative to the anvil between a secured positioned and an unsecured positioned. A driver, which moves the jaw member between the secured and unsecured positions, includes a torque limiter to inhibit overtightening the jaw member against an object. The jaw member has a rigid engagement portion and an elastomeric pad on its engagement surface. In the unsecured position, the elastomeric pad projects above the rigid material such that when the jaw member is brought into contact with the object, the elastomeric pad contacts the object and the object is substantially free of contact with the rigid engagement portion. In the secured position, the elastomeric pad is compressed such that both the elastomeric pad and rigid engagement portion contact the object.
US07669806B2
A versatile sway brace fitting, includes a pair of spaced jaws, for firmly and deformingly gripping a brace, and a method for manufacturing the fitting. The fitting can withstand substantial loads and is adaptable to receive a variety of braces such as bracing pipes, angle irons, channels, plates, among others. The fitting includes a set screw, preferably angled, and a sharp-cornered recess which assist in resisting withdrawal of the brace from the jaws. The method of manufacturing is desirably simple and expeditious, thereby ensuring that the fitting is inexpensive.
US07669805B2
A device for remotely controlling the control surfaces of an aircraft, the device comprising: an actuator member pivotable about an axis and entraining a rotary shaft; a stationary finger parallel to the shaft and supported at a radial distance from the shaft; a moving finger secured to the shaft and supported at a radial distance therefrom, both fingers being parallel to the shaft; a first slab supported at a radial distance from the shaft beside the two fingers on one side thereof and suitable for turning about the axis of the shaft; a second slab supported at a radial distance from the shaft beside the two fingers on their side opposite from the first slab, and suitable for turning about the axis of the shaft; a third slab supported at a radial distance from the shaft beside the second slab at an angular distance therefrom and suitable for turning about the axis of the shaft; a first spring between the first and second slabs; and a second spring between the first and third slabs.
US07669792B1
An improvement is provided for controlling the temperature of recycled asphalt product being processed in an indirectly heated recycled asphalt product heater, and the temperature of component parts of the heater itself, as the recycled asphalt product progresses through the heater and is heated by heat transferred from gases at an elevated temperature passed through the heater. Temperature sensors are placed at strategic locations within the heater and provide temperature information to a central processor arranged to receive information pertaining to temperature from the temperature sensors and to process the information and generate control signals. A controller arrangement controls the temperature of the heated gases entering a heat exchange arrangement within the heater in response to the control signals such that the temperature of the recycled asphalt product and the temperature of component parts of the heater are maintained within a desired predetermined range of temperature.
US07669782B2
The present invention provides a liquid atomizer for atomizing liquid and applied in an atomizing device having an accommodating space and a through hole. The liquid atomizer includes a vibrating element having a first hole corresponding to the through hole; a spray plate having a plurality of spraying holes corresponding to the first hole and being connected with the vibrating element; and a structure element having a second hole corresponding to the plurality of spraying holes of the spray plate and being connected with the spray plate so that the spray plate is disposed between the vibrating element and the structure element. The vibrating element, the spray plate and the structure element are assembled in the accommodating space of the atomizing device. Liquids are atomized via the spraying holes of the spray plate.
US07669768B2
A remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device employing an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The device includes an integrated circuit layer having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, and a programmed processor in electrical communication with the addressable display assembly and an antenna structure. A signal transmitting layer transmits signals from the antenna structure to the remote activator module. A signal receiving layer receives electromagnetic signals from the remote activator module, using the antenna structure. An on-board battery power layer, operably connected to the integrated circuit layer, supplies electrical power the integrated circuit layer, which is responsive to electromagnetic signals received from the remote activator module by the antenna layer and the signal receiving layer. The addressable display assembly is responsive to output signals generated by the programmed processor, to display the determined graphical indicia. The antenna layer, integrated circuit layer, signal transmitting layer, signal receiving layer, on-board battery power layer are arranged and stacked together behind and within the spatial extent of the addressable display assembly so as to form the remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device having a stacked-layer construction.
US07669766B2
A multiple technology router for radio frequency identification (RFID) and barcode, the device has three ports, one to connect to an external barcode reader, and one to connect to an internal or external RFID reader/writer and finally one to connect to a host computer. The device constantly monitors port connected to barcode reader for intercepting a barcode symbol, sends request to RFID device and checks for RFID tag being sensed. Upon receiving data from either port, the device executes a pre-programmed series of actions. The action can be simply routing data from either port to the host computer or read one or many barcode symbols and write the information to a RFID tag without using a host computer. Additional actions such as EAS bit operation, incrementing/decrementing counters within a RFID tag and writing current time and date to an RFID tag can be done along with the main action of the device. The device can indicate the success or failure of operations audibly and visibly.
US07669753B2
The invention provides a foldable box design having a box flap locking system, comprising: a first flap having an edge with a generally trapezoidal shaped tab cut therein, wherein said generally trapezoidal shaped tab is defined by two inwardly projecting grooves; and a second flap that locks with the first flap, wherein the second flap includes an edge with a second generally trapezoidal shaped tab cut therein, and wherein said second generally trapezoidal shaped tab is defined by two outwardly projecting grooves.
US07669751B2
Method of forming low profile wire bonds between integrated circuits dies and printed circuit boards
A method of profiling a series of wire bonds between a line of contact pads on a die, and a corresponding set of conductors on a supporting structure, by electrically connecting each of the contact pads on the die to a corresponding conductor on the supporting structure with a respective wire bond, each of the wire bonds extending in an arc from the contact pad to the conductor, and, pushing on each of the wire bonds individually to collapse the arc and plastically deform the wire bond such that the plastic deformation maintains the wire bond in a flatter profile shape.
US07669748B2
A system provides solder into cavities in a circuit supporting substrate. The system places a fill head in substantial contact with a circuit supporting substrate. The circuit supporting substrate includes at least one cavity. A linear motion or a rotational motion is provided to at least one of the circuit supporting substrate and the fill head while the fill head is in substantial contact with the circuit supporting substrate. Solder is forced out of the fill head toward the circuit supporting substrate. The solder is provided into the at least one cavity contemporaneous with the at least one cavity being in proximity to the fill head. The system brings a second circuit supporting substrate in close proximity to the circuit supporting substrate, at least one receiving pad on the second circuit supporting substrate substantially contacts the conductive bonding material of the at least one cavity.
US07669746B2
A staple cartridge for use with a stapling device that has an actuator that is selectively actuatable in an axial direction and an anvil portion that is selectively movable between open and closed positions is disclosed. Various embodiments of the present invention include a cartridge body that movably supports first and second staple drivers. The staple drivers each support a staple thereon and serve to drive the staples into forming contact with the anvil upon actuation by the actuator. The various embodiments of the present invention enable the final formed heights of the staples to be varied without the need to use different sizes of staples.
US07669745B2
The present invention provides a dual protective device of a heavy-duty stapler, in particular to a control device of stapler that controls safely the action of striking slice with spring; of which, a base-controlled active protective device is mounted at rear side of the main body of the stapler, and operated in combination with a manually-operated safety switch that's arranged at front side of the main body of the stapler, thus forming an easy-to-use dual protective device.
US07669742B2
A tactical device holster (TDH) system is described that is a complete carry and deployment solution allowing for split-second deployment of hand-held non-lethal/lethal deployable devices (HNLDD) by tactical personnel. The TDH system allows tactical personnel to deploy HNLDDs without having to disarm because deployment requires only a single hand, and the TDH system indexes the HNLDD in the proper position for deployment. The TDH system allows the HNLDD to go from secure carry to deployment in under one second while not impeding the deadly force option during deployment. The TDH system keeps the fuze lever of the HNLDD fixed in a pre-specified position. The HNLDD is not altered for use with the TDH system and allows quick insertion of the HNLDD. The TDH system supports numerous HNLDDs and tactical pyrotechnic and incendiary devices, and can be fixed to various tactical clothing, vests, holsters, equipment, and vehicle components.
US07669740B2
A beverage vending machine installation comprising a cabinet and a trolley unit, the cabinet defining a void in which, in use, the trolley unit can be positioned. The cabinet has an opening and at least one door moveable between open and closed positions. A trolley unit comprises at least one beverage vending machine. The trolley unit is moveable relative to the cabinet between an installed position and an uninstalled position. In the installed position the trolley unit is positioned within the void of the cabinet such that at least one door may be closed to allow operation of the vending machine installation. In the uninstalled position, the trolley unit is removed from the cabinet after opening at least one door to allow access to the trolley unit.
US07669734B2
A dosing system to dispense a predetermined quantity of a fluid medium comprises a digital signal processor control having an interface to emit a start signal and a stop signal and an interface to measure a sensor signal. A dispenser is provided that is triggered by the start signal and the stop signal and, in the interval between the two signals, dispenses a specific quantity of fluid, as well as a sensor unit which, triggered by the start signal, continuously measures the flow rate of the fluid fed to the dispenser and emits a sensor signal as a function of this flow rate. The digital signal processor control measures the sensor signal, determines the quantity of fluid dispensed by the dispenser from this signal and sends a stop signal to the dispenser when the quantity of fluid dispensed by the dispenser corresponds to the predetermined quantity of fluid.
US07669731B2
A dispenser for dispensing healthcare products comprising at least one dispenser section having at least one dispensing orifice and one disposal section having a disposal opening. The disposal section has fully compressed and fully uncompressed positions and is capable of remaining positioned in any position between the fully compressed and uncompressed positions.
US07669713B2
A three level nestable stacking comprising a base, a pair of opposing sidewalls, a pair of opposing endwalls and at least two bail arms. Each of the opposing sidewalls comprises a plurality of peanut or kidney shaped receptacles, and in an alternative embodiment, a plurality of slot shaped receptacles. The receptacles allow for ease of rotational movement of the bail arms between any of at least three positions. The three positions for the bail arms provide three stacking configuration for a second, upper container, in regard to a first, lower container: a nearly fully nested configuration; a partially nested configuration; and a substantially un-nested configuration. The opposing sidewalls also comprise a sidewall interlock system, as well as a container stacking structure. The bails arms are completely contained within the area of the container, and mate with grooves in the base of the container.
US07669709B2
A conveyor belt aligning device (1) comprising a support frame (2) mounted on a support beam (3) and being substantially horizontal pivotable about a first axis (4), the support frame (2) comprising a frame formed by a cross member 96) and a lever arm (8) extending from the cross member (6); at least one conveyor belt support roller (10) mounted on the cross member (6); a guide roller (14, 15) mounted on a transverse beam that is pivotably mounted on the lever arm (8); the transverse beam (16) being pivotable about a second axis (18); a stay member (20) extending between the support beam (3) and the transverse beam (16). The conveyor belt aligning device further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the distance (19) between the first axis (14) and the second axis (18) and adjusting means for adjusting the distance between the second axis (18) and a central axis (26) of rotation of the guide roller (14, 15).
US07669705B2
The present invention provides a coin recognition device comprising an integrated circuit, a coin receiving member, and a retractable trigger mechanism. The integrated circuit comprises a built-in recognition program and a plurality of pads as signal input ends thereof. The recognition program is configured for discriminating denomination of coins based on signals from the pads. The coin receiving member defines a coin slot for coins to be inserted. The retractable trigger mechanism is associated with the coin slot and is disposed on the coin receiving member. The trigger mechanism comprises a conductive contact part attached thereto. The contact part moves together with movement of the trigger mechanism in response to the insertion of coins. When the contact part moves to corresponding positions in relation to varying diameters of coins, the contact part at each specific position is electrically connected to one respective pad to stimulate a signal.
US07669704B1
A device that holds money within a secure box which is constructed of a chute body of elongated shape having a sealed and an open end, the sealed end has a money drop aperture on a top surface while the open end body being sealed by a locked door, the chute body being fixedly installed in a wall with the sealed end exposed in an open-access space and the open and exposed in a restricted-access space; and a bottom wall of the chute body being sloped downwardly from the sealed end toward the open end by at least 30° to facilitate money dropped through money drop aperture to roll down the slope toward the open end of the chute body.
US07669697B2
In an elevator apparatus, a brake control device has a first brake control portion, a second brake control portion, and a third brake control portion. The first brake control portion operates a hoisting machine brake to stop a ascending/descending body as an emergency measure when an abnormality is detected. The second brake control portion reduces a braking force of the hoisting machine brake when a deceleration of the ascending/descending body becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value during an emergency braking operation of the hoisting machine brake. The third brake control portion monitors a slip speed of a main rope with respect to a drive sheave during emergency braking operation of the hoisting machine brake, and reduces a braking force of the hoisting machine brake when the slip speed of the main rope becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value.
US07669693B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust muffling device having a simple structure, which is capable of suppressing air column resonance favorably, irrespective of a length of an outlet pipe of an exhaust pipe which communicates with a muffler, and with which it is possible to achieve appropriate reductions in weight and cost. The exhaust muffling device of the present invention comprises a muffler having an expansion chamber whose length is L in an exhaust direction, and an outlet pipe being in communication with the expansion chamber and whose pipe length is approximately 2nL in which n is a natural number.
US07669685B2
A pedestrian protecting apparatus is provided with a pedestrian protecting unit which is mounted at a hood of a vehicle to protect a pedestrian in a collision with the vehicle, a detecting unit for measuring an inclination angle of the obstacle entering a predetermined region at an upper side of the hood, a pedestrian collision determining unit for determining the collision between the vehicle and the pedestrian based on the measured inclination angle of the obstacle, and a control unit. In the case where the measured inclination angle of the obstacle varies with the time elapse so that the obstacle inclines to the side of the hood, the pedestrian collision determining unit determines that there occurs the collision between the vehicle and the pedestrian. Thus, the control unit actuates the pedestrian protecting unit.
US07669684B2
A steering drive for a steeled wheel of an industrial truck, particularly a rear wheel of a three-wheeled industrial truck, comprising a steering bolster supporting the rear wheel which is supported to be pivotable about a vertical steering axle inside the flame of the industrial truck, a steeling motor coaxial with the steering axle, a bearing assembly between the flame of the industrial truck and the bolster, and a steering transmission between the steering motor and bolster, wherein the steering transmission has a single-stage or multi-stage stepped planetary mechanism or planetary coupler mechanism which is coaxial with the steering axle and the bearing assembly for the bolster is arranged within the steering transmission.
US07669674B2
In one aspect of the invention, a tool has a working portion with at least one impact tip brazed to a carbide extension. The carbide extension has a cavity formed in a base end and is adapted to interlock with a shank assembly of the cutting element assembly. The shank assembly has a locking mechanism adapted to interlock a first end of the shank assembly within the cavity. The locking mechanism has a radially extending catch formed in the first end of the shank assembly. The shank assembly has an outer surface at a second end of the shank assembly adapted to be press-fitted within a recess of a driving mechanism. The outer surface of the shank assembly has a coefficient of thermal expansion of 110 percent or more than a coefficient of thermal expansion of a material of the driving mechanism.
US07669669B2
Exhaust pressure from at least one actuator (34,36) which can tilt joint 6 of a bottom hole assembly 4 can be utilized to determine the direction 26 tiltable joint 6 is pointing (e.g., orientation, angular displacement, and/or inclination and azimuth). In one embodiment, a known exhaust pressure can be correlated to a known orientation and/or angular displacement, and the measured exhaust pressure can be compared to the known exhaust pressure to determine the orientation and/or angular displacement. In another embodiment, the flow rate of fluid exhausted from an actuator (34,36) can be derived from the exhaust pressure. The exhaust flow rate can then be used to calculate the state of actuation, which can allow determination of the angular displacement of the tiltable joint 6. Orientation and/or angular displacement with respect to the bottom hole assembly 4 can be resolved into an inclination and azimuth with respect to a formation 14.
US07669668B2
A method is provided for conducting measurements of a borehole while drilling the borehole in a geological formation. First, a rotatable drilling assembly is provided that has, at a forward end, a drill bit and a borehole measurement tool connected rearward of the drill bit. The measurement tool includes at least one caliper arm extendible outward from the measurement tool. The method involves drilling the borehole by operating the rotatable drilling assembly. While drilling, the wall of the borehole is contacted with at least one extendable caliper arm of the borehole measurement tool and the extension of the caliper arm contacting the borehole wall is measured, thereby determining a distance between the measurement tool and the borehole wall. During rotation of the drilling assembly, contact is maintained between the caliper arm and the borehole wall and the measuring step is repeated at multiple positions of the drilling assembly.
US07669666B2
A soil aeration device may include a plurality of arcuate blades mounted to an assembly adapted to rotate and translate the blades proximate a ground surface, thereby forming aeration pockets in the soil. In certain embodiments, the arcuate tines penetrate and fracture the soil while minimizing the amount of soil lifted from the pocket deposited on the top of the soil. In various embodiments, a planetary gear assembly imparts to the tine a translational and rotational movement which creates a fractured pocket in the soil while minimizing the amount of soil lifted from the pocket and deposited on the surface of the soil. In still other embodiments, the arcuate tine may have mounted thereon a coring tube that cuts and removes a plug from the pocket formed in the soil.
US07669664B2
The present invention relates to a downhole tool (102) for selectively opening and closing a lateral borehole extending from a primary borehole. The tool (102) comprises a body (104) incorporating a wall provided with an opening (116) extending therethrough; a deflector member (106) slidably mounted in the body (104) and having a deflecting surface (126) for deflecting, in use, downhole equipment laterally within the body (104). The deflector member (106) is slidable between an open position, in which the deflecting surface is located adjacent and facing towards said opening so that, in use, downhole equipment laterally deflected by the deflecting surface is directed through said opening, and a closed position, in which the deflecting surface is oriented relative to said opening so as to prevent downhole equipment from being laterally deflected through said opening during use. In either position, equipment may pass into the primary borehole downhole of the primary/lateral junction. The tool (102) also comprises constraining means (138, 140) for restricting movement of the whipstock relative to the body.
US07669648B2
A shock absorber for use with a lubricator assembly comprises a body made substantially of a polymer material. An end of the body is supportable by a cup. Upon plunger strike, the cup can travel upward in the lubricator assembly and cause the polymer body to deform and dissipate a force of impact caused by the plunger. The body can resiliently compress and expand to substantially an original form. Equalization slots on the body can enable fluid carried to the surface by a plunger to flow from the lubricator assembly.
US07669644B2
A heat exchanger comprises a casing, within which there is present a first pipe wound in a spiral, in which a first fluid flows, the casing being designed to receive a second fluid that is in heat-exchange relationship with the first fluid. The heat exchanger further comprises at least one second pipe wound in a spiral, which connects, in parallel to the first pipe, two gaps formed in the casing, the spiralled pipes being arranged in a coaxial way and at a distance from one another, and having different sections of passage.
US07669640B2
A casing houses a heat exchanger in a vehicle HVAC system. The heat exchanger includes air inlet and air outlet faces, rear end and front end faces, and first and second side faces. The side faces are each capped with a radiator tank comprising a front end. Each radiator tank defines an orifice for connection to a heat transfer fluid supply circuit. The casing includes a front end wall defining an opening opposite the front end face of the heat-exchanger. The casing also includes a cover defining at least two passages adapted to suit the orifices of the radiator tanks and fixedly attached to the front end wall. The cover also includes seals for limiting the outlet of air via the opening and/or the passages.
US07669638B2
A control system for regulating the flow of liquid metal in a device for casting a metal. A detector measures a process variable. A control unit evaluates data from the detector. At least one process parameter is automatically varied in order to optimize casting conditions. The detector measures a characteristic of the meniscus at at least two points on the meniscus instantaneously throughout the casting process.
US07669637B2
A lost-wax cast impeller for a supercharger having no parting line on a hub surface and a blade surface in each space demarcated by pairs of long blades adjacent to each other and having excellent aerodynamic performance. A method of manufacturing the impeller involves forming a lost form pattern in substantially the same shape as the impeller, forming a mold by eliminating the lost form pattern after the lost form pattern is coated with a refractory, and pouring a molten metal in the mold for casting. In the molding step, lost material is injection-molded in a space demarcated by radially arranging, toward a center shaft, a plurality of slide molds having short blade-shaped bottomed groove parts and space shapes between the pairs of long blades adjacent to each other, and the slide molds are released by moving in the radial direction of the center shaft while rotating.
US07669635B2
A window shade arrangement having a manually operated window shade web whose movement between open and closed positions is guided by guide rails at each side. A pull rode having oblong sliding blocks travels in the two guide rails. The sliding blocks, together with the pull rod, can swivel about an axis parallel to the pull rod. In this way, the sliding blocks can become secured in corresponding locking pockets in the guide rails. The locking can be released by manual turning of the pull rod in the opposite direction.
US07669631B2
A new and improved adhesive tape dispenser is adapted to dispense tape wound upon a tape core and includes a frame, an application roller, a cutter assembly, and handle mounted on the frame. The adhesive tape dispenser includes a core support assembly secured to the frame and having a first axis. The core support assembly comprises a shaft secured to the frame, and an axle assembly disposed about at least a portion of the shaft. A spindle adapted to support the tape core is rotatably mounted on the axle assembly. The axle assembly includes a hub having an outer surface with a second axis adjacent the first axis, at least one flange extending radially from the hub, and a cam rotatably mounted on the hub. The spindle freely rotates in a first direction. Wherein rotation of the spindle in a second direction rotates the cam about the second axis in the second direction whereby the cam engages the spindle preventing further rotation of the spindle in the second direction about the axle assembly.
US07669628B2
A pneumatic tire having a noise damper, a method for manufacturing the same, and a method for fixing the damper to the tire are disclosed. The inner surface of the tread portion of the vulcanized tire is buffed, and the noise damper is fixed to the buffed inner surface, using a double-sided adhesive tape which has specific characteristics such as adhesive force, tensile strength, thickness, cold-resistant property, heat-resistant property and water-resistant property.
US07669627B2
A tube-type tire to be mounted on the rim of a (e.g., spoke-type) wheel such as that commonly used by a bicycle or a motorcycle, whereby the tube-type tire will operate without a conventional inner tube and as if it were tubeless. The tire includes a main tire section that is seated upon the generally flat shelf of the rim and a pneumatic sealing ring having an inner tube that is seated upon the beadwell of the rim. An air chamber of the inner tube of the sealing ring is inflated to a greater pressure than an air chamber of the main tire section so as to isolate the air chamber of the main tire section from the rim and force the main tire section against the vertical lip of the rim. The sealing ring also has an outer inflatable liner that is located in surrounding engagement with the inner tube to separate the inner tube from the air chamber of the main tire section. The outer liner has one or more O-ring seals projecting outwardly from the side walls thereof and a centering lip projecting downwardly from the side walls. The O-ring seals are moved into sealing engagement with the inside of the main tire section when the air chamber of the inner tube is inflated and the liner is expanded. The centering lips of the liner are seated upon the beadwell of the rim to cause the liner to be automatically centered over the inner tube.
US07669624B2
A pneumatic tire includes a tread surface on which a plurality of circumferential groove portions is formed. From among circumferential groove portions, a circumferential groove portion situated closest to a shoulder portion side in a tire width direction has a center of a groove-bottom innermost portion at a portion where a groove width in at least a tire circumferential direction is the narrowest, positioned closer to an equatorial surface in the tire width direction than a center of the groove width. An angle between a virtual extension portion of the tread surface and a groove wall on the equatorial surface side is equal to or less than an angle between the virtual extension portion of the tread surface and a groove wall on the shoulder portion side.
US07669622B2
A jointer/planer with an internal sawdust collection system, includes a machine frame having a board inlet end and a board outlet end, a rotating cutter mounted to the frame for rotation in an axis located transverse to a board feed direction, a dust collector hood disposable on the frame in a first position for jointing, and a second position for planning, a dust collecting impeller disposed in an impeller housing on the frame, a conduit having a first end in communication with the hood and a second end in communication with the impeller housing regardless of being in the first position or the second position, and a power source associated with the frame and constructed and arranged for powering the cutter and the impeller.
US07669619B2
An electric pencil sharpener includes a frame, a first motor, a first transmission mechanism driven by the first motor, and a continuing feeding mechanism. The feeding mechanism includes a roller, a feeding wheel rotatably mounted to the frame and driven by the first transmission mechanism, and a driving assembly. An end of the driving assembly is driven by the first transmission mechanism, and the other end of the driving assembly is connected to the roller. The roller defines a groove in a bottom thereof, for pencils falling through. The feeding wheel defines a plurality of receiving slots each for receiving a pencil. The roller is driven by the driving assembly to swing, when the groove of the roller aligns with one of the receiving slots of the roller. Thus, a pencil falls into the receiving slot.
US07669616B2
Apparatus for puncturing a gas filled bottle uses a spring force upon an inflator tack, which punctures the gas filled bottle, rather than a manual or explosive force. The spring force is retained prior to puncturing the bottle by a retention element disposed in a hole. The retention element is released upon actuation of the apparatus.
US07669613B2
A connecting device (100) for a wall mixer has a cold water inflow (2) and a hot water inflow (3), a mixer insert (5), a mixer cartridge (7) and an outlet (29). Mixed water is directed to outlet (29) regardless of the rotary position of the outlet.
US07669597B2
Dosage forms containing pharmaceutical compositions for use in devices to produce a spray or mist delivery of the compositions include dosage blister compartments and a dispensing blister compartment, wherein crushing of the compartments delivers the compositions in a desired spray pattern. Certain dosage forms include a plurality of dosage chambers each containing a component or a portion of a pharmaceutical composition, the contents of which are mixed or combined just prior to or during administration.
US07669596B2
An aerosolization apparatus comprises a body defining an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and an aerosolization chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The aerosolization chamber is adapted to receive an elongated receptacle, such as a capsule, containing a pharmaceutical formulation. The elongated receptacle rotates end-over-end about an axis substantially orthogonal to an axis passing through the outlet opening when air or gas flows through the body. In another version, the elongated receptacle rotates end-over-end about an axis substantially orthogonal to an inhalation direction.
US07669579B2
In a method for controlling the air ratio lambda and for controlling the torque of an internal combustion engine, e.g. of a diesel engine, a fuel is supplied in at least two injection processes, including a main injection of a main injection quantity and a post-injection of a post-injection quantity, and the main injection quantity is influenced to control the torque and the post-injection quantity is influenced to control the lambda value. A corrective main injection quantity ascertained for the torque control is at least proportionally subtracted from the post-injection quantity.
US07669565B2
An internal combustion engine is provided having an engine block defining a pressurized oil source and rotatably supporting a crankshaft. A camshaft is rotatably mounted within the engine block and defines an axially extending cavity. The cavity extends between opposed first and second ends of the camshaft. A cam phaser is mounted to the second end of the camshaft and is operable to vary the timing of the camshaft with respect to the crankshaft in response to pressurized oil. A cover is removably mounted to the engine block and is operable to substantially enclose the first end of the camshaft. The cover at least partially defines a passage in communication with the pressurized oil source and cavity. The passage and the cavity are operable to communicate pressurized oil from the pressurized oil source to the cam phaser to actuate the cam phaser.
US07669563B2
A variable valve control apparatus includes a variable valve timing mechanism that adjusts an actuation timing of an intake valve and an actuation timing of an exhaust valve; a variable working angle mechanism that adjusts a working angle of the intake valve; a variable valve control section that controls at least one of the variable valve timing mechanism and the variable working angle mechanism based on an engine load; and a negative pressure suppression control section. The negative pressure suppression control section suppresses a negative pressure of an inside of a cylinder when the negative pressure suppression control section determines that both of the intake valve and the exhaust valve close after an intake top dead center, based on opening conditions of the intake valve and the exhaust valve.
US07669561B2
A two-stroke engine has a piston, mounted to be displaced in a cylinder, connected by means of a connecting rod to a crankshaft mounted to rotate about an axis in a crankcase that defines a crankcase chamber. The crankshaft includes a crankshaft duct that opens into the crankcase chamber which is, depending on the angle of rotation of the crankshaft, connected by way of an inlet opening in the crankshaft to an inlet manifold for an air/fuel mixture. The cylinder includes a transfer port, by way of which, the air/fuel mixture flows from the crankcase chamber past the piston into the working chamber based on the position of the piston in the cylinder. An increase in engine power is achieved by a gas mixing duct, a slot or a deflecting element arranged within the crankcase which improve(s) the filling of the crankcase chamber with the air/fuel mixture.
US07669556B2
A pet platform assembly configured to securely mount to a window sill may include a base configured to support the weight of a pet, at least one clamp secured to the base, and a support bracket secured to an underside of the base. The clamp is configured to securely mount the base to an edge of the window sill. The support bracket is configured to brace the base with respect to a wall that supports the window sill. The support bracket may include a cord passage that routes the electrical cord therethrough.
US07669555B2
A self-cleaning pet litter box has a conveyor to incrementally transport clumped litter material and solid pet waste to a waste receptacle. The conveyor has one end configured to extend into a pet litter container of the self-cleaning litter box and an opposite exit end. The conveyor is configured for reciprocating movement to lift the clumped litter material and solid pet waste from below, transport it some distance along the conveyor, place the material down again, return to its original position, and repeat the motion again to incrementally move the material along the conveyor toward the exit end for subsequent disposal.
US07669546B2
A coating such as liquid milk chocolate is applied to articles such as confectionery bars. The bars are conveyed by conveyor under a curtain of liquid chocolate issuing through an outlet slot in a trough. A layer of air is caused to flow through the outlet slot in the trough so as to modify the flow characteristics of the curtain. The layer of air permits a curtain of even thickness to be achieved.
US07669542B2
A retractable convertible top for a pleasure craft, including a canvas type fabric and stowable linkage mechanism, is described. This convertible top may be fully deployed and retracted automatically to provide a quick and efficient means of providing shelter for the open cabin of a pleasure craft while still allowing easy entrance and egress from the cabin when the top is fully deployed. The convertible top may be fully stowable within a small volume storage bin with watertight covers. The stowage bin may be integrated into the craft. The craft's existing hydraulic and control systems may be utilized to automatically deploy and retract the convertible top.
US07669538B2
An air velocity indicator and control device is provided for use with pneumatic distribution systems used in air seeders that pneumatically discharge agricultural product to the ground, seedbed, or furrow. The air velocity indicator and control device includes a tubular housing, extending between an inlet and an outlet, and pivotally housing a deflectable plate that actuates in response to encountering an airflow entrained with agricultural product. A magnitude of deflection of the deflectable plate, corresponding to airflow velocity, can be displayed through an indicator assembly. This enables a user to identify velocity variances and differentials within the air seeder and make corrective adjustments. In some implementations, multiple air velocity indicator and control devices are ganged together with deflectable plates that pivot in unison with each other. The relative angle of fixation of the deflectable plates, upon the pivot pin, can be adjusted to permit airflow tuning as needed.
US07669537B1
A knife opener includes a pair of flared blades designed to cut spaced, but paired furrows. The knife opener is particularly well-suited for use in no-till or minimum-till agricultural operations primarily in conjunction with seed and/or fertilizer placement adjacent a soil cut-line generally in the direction of travel. In addition to being angled away from the main body of the knife, one of the blades is angled forward and the other blade is angled rearward. Seed and/or fertilizer dispensing receivers may be associated with each of the blades.
US07669536B2
An opener unit having a pair of single disc openers mounted upon a parallel linkage which may be mounted onto a tool bar or drawbar is disclosed and claimed. The pair of single opener discs may be used for controlled creation of a pair of furrows to which seed, fertilizer or other soil amendments may be delivered. The opener unit may be mounted in combination with a row clearing or cleaning unit. The opener unit may also be mounted in combination with an auxiliary depth tire or a ski, and or a furrow closing apparatus such as a wheel, a chain or a strap.
US07669533B2
The connection guide for a rail transport apparatus is provided with a first direction control guide and a second direction control guide such that when the transport vehicle travels in a forward direction, after the guiding operation of the first direction control guide is released the transport vehicle is guided by the second direction control guide, wherein a forward shift guide abuts a guide roller of the transport vehicle during the shift operation.
US07669530B2
A sheet transfer assembly for use above an ultraviolet curing unit in a flexographic printing press used for printing corrugated sheets includes a vacuum plate with heat sinks. The vacuum plate includes openings for rollers that extend through the vacuum plate to drive printed sheets across the bottom of the transfer assembly. Heat sinks are formed on the top surface of the vacuum plate between rollers to remove heat from the vacuum plate. Heat from the UV curing unit is effectively dissipated from the vacuum plate into the air used to hold printed substrates against the rollers in the transfer assembly.
US07669522B2
A cooking appliance, includes a pair of cooking plates pivotally mounted to various angular positions, including a vertical position. Each plate is formed, centrally of its lower edge in the vertical position of the two plates, with a ribbed formation defining a drain channel for draining from the plates fluids emanating from the food article during the cooking thereof between the plates. A disposable food holder is provided including a pair of panels of heat-resistant sheet material joined to each other to define a compartment for holding the food article during the cooking thereof, the compartment having a small drain opening aligned with the drain channel of the cooking plates for draining fluids emanating from the food article.
US07669515B2
A pair of cylinder holes 10 are formed in a cylinder tube 2 in the axial direction, a slit 25 is formed between these cylinder holes, and an iron plate 22 is inserted in the slit covering the whole range of the movement of the pistons 3 in the cylinder holes. Spacers 23 made of a synthetic resin are interposed on both sides of the iron plate 22 to reliably hold the iron plate 22 in the slit 25. The iron plate 22 disposed between the cylinder holes works to decrease the repulsive force acting between the inner magnets 14 of the pistons and produce an attracting force between the iron plate 22 and the inner magnets 14, and a contact surface pressure between the wear rings 9 of the pistons 3 and the wall surfaces of the cylinder holes 10 can be adjusted to a suitable value.
US07669514B2
A device to guarantee the sequence of movement of at least two fluid-actuated displacement units. A primary displacement unit includes a cylinder (Z) with a retractable and extendable piston rod (4). Integrated into the cylinder (Z) is a directional control valve that can be controlled by the piston rod (4). The directional control valve has a closed position and an open position. The directional control valve is switched into the closed position when the piston rod (4) is not fully extended or not approximately fully extended, and into the open position when the piston rod is fully or approximately fully extended, and a compression chamber (1a) of the cylinder (Z) is thereby placed in communication with a compression chamber of the secondary displacement unit (secondary cylinder 2b).
US07669512B2
An automatic clutch is integrated in a weapon system between an ammunition feed system and a cannon. A feeder feeds ammunition into the cannon. The clutch mechanism includes an actuator, a locking pin with an assisting spring or the like, and locking cams. The clutch mechanism allows the drum shaft of the cannon to be disengaged from the gear of the feeder between the cannon and the ammunition supply system and thus from the conveyance mechanism of the feeder.
US07669509B2
A guillotine cutter (1) of the invention is provided with a pressing block driving mechanism (6) positioning a pressing block (5) at a standby position which is spaced upwardly from a sheet bundle (10), a first operating position pressing the sheet bundle by a first pressing force, and a second operating position pressing the sheet bundle by a second pressing force which is larger than the first pressing force. The pressing block is carried by a rod (61) through a compression spring (62) at the standby position, the pressing block is supported on an upper surface of the sheet bundle at the first operating position, thereby applying the first pressing force to the sheet bundle on the basis of a resultant force of a gravitational force generated by its own weight and an biasing force generated by the compression spring, and the pressing block is pushed down by an expansion portion (61b) of the rod while the pressing block is kept being supported on the upper surface of the sheet bundle at the second operating position, thereby applying the second pressing force on the basis of a resultant force of the first pressing force and the push-down force generated by the rod.
US07669504B2
A bicycle pedal comprises a central block combined with an upper block settled thereon and with a lower block settled thereunder. The central block, the upper block and the lower block are all formed in one piece, respectively. Further, the upper block and the lower block are identical in shape and have the same features because they are formed by means of an identical mold. The central block has an axial bolt tube and two stepping portions. The upper block and the lower block each provides a receiving portion, a plurality of ribs and two stepping portions. Thereby, when the receiving portions engage the axial bolt tube, the stepping portions of the central block, the upper block and the lower block can be combined as a stepping frame by means of a plurality of fastening components.
US07669498B2
A transmission system includes two or more independent chambers, in each of which shafts with gears thereon are provided for rolling in synchronous motion, and a carrier with adjustable gear devices on a bottom thereof. Each of the adjustable gear devices has a base, a movable rack member, vertical springs and horizontal springs. The movable rack member is connected to the base to be moved along a horizontal direction. The vertical springs are provided between the base and the carrier to urge the adjustable gear device along a vertical direction. The movable rack member has a rack portion to be meshed with the gears of the shafts, such that the carrier is moved by the gears to cross the chambers. With the movement of the movable rack member both along the horizontal and the vertical direction, the carrier is transported in a smooth, synchronous, skid-proof, stable and real-time motion during the crossing chamber process.
US07669484B2
A system for screening a drag reduction agent that includes at least one pressure vessel, comprising: at least one container having an outlet; a first tube fluidly connected with the outlet of the at least one container; a second tube fluidly connected with the first tube; a timer; and a collection vessel configured to receive a fluid from the second tube is disclosed.
US07669479B2
A transducer sensor is positioned within a hollow of the body of a housing. The housing has an extending alignment pin, which pin coacts with a corresponding slot or aperture in the wall of a vessel whose pressure or temperature is to be monitored. The transducer body is associated with a connector where the alignment pin is placed and extends from the housing in a fixed relation to the connector. A suitable aperture or slot in the wall of the vessel to be monitored accommodates the extending pin whereby when the transducer is placed in the vessel aperture the connector associated with the transducer is always located in proper position. Positioned on the housing is a sliding nut which can move in a direction parallel to the central axis of the housing and either to the right or left. This sliding nut is rotatably positioned in the housing and coacts with threads formed in the aperture in the wall of the vessel to enable tightening of the transducer housing when placed in the wall and when the alignment pin is positioned within the corresponding slot or aperture. This assures a proper alignment so that an external connector which is not moveable or rotatable can be immediately connected to the transducer connector without further experimentation or adjustment.
US07669474B2
For driving and simultaneously evaluating a deflection and/or a rate of motion of an electrostatically excited oscillator element, excitation currents flowing during electrostatic excitation are determined, and deflection and/or the rate of motion of the oscillator element are determined based on the determined excitation currents.
US07669471B2
A fluid flow tester for measuring minute volumes of fluid and for calibrating medical devices, such as intravenous infusion pumps, includes a plurality of valves and associated conduits which direct fluid from the device being tested to a transparent vertical column. A plurality of sensors, each including a light emitting diode and a light detector, are arranged along the axial length of the column at a predetermined spacing between adjacent sensors. Fluid from the device being tested is directed through the flow tester by the valves and associated conduits into the column where it rises. The meniscus of the fluid rising in the column is detected by the sensors. The sensors provide signals to a microcontroller which calculates the time that it takes for the fluid to pass each sensor. Knowing this timing and the volume of the column, the flow rate of the fluid may be calculated by the microcontroller.
US07669470B2
An apparatus for determining the stiffness of mail pieces includes a bar or similar deflector for contacting a mail piece conveyed past the bar by a conveyor system, and vibrates when in contact with a passing mail piece, either due to the impact of the mail piece or by the action of a device which causes the deflector to vibrate before the mail piece hits it. A sensor measures a parameter indicative of change in the vibrations of the deflector and generates a signal indicative of the measured parameter. A processor, e.g. programmable controller or circuit, receives the signal from the sensor and determines a stiffness value for the mail piece based on decay in vibrations of the deflector caused by contact with the mail piece.
US07669458B2
A method and apparatus for predicting the quality of compaction of beds of material with a vibratory device as a function of the vibration of the compaction device, the material of the bed, the lift thickness, the temperature, among other process parameters is described in this invention. The vibration of the compacting device during the compaction of the bed is compared with the vibration characteristics of the compacting device on a bed of known properties. The quality of compaction of the bed is then estimated based on the knowledge of the process parameters. The output of the apparatus may be used as a visual input to the operator of the compacting device or stored in an electronic format to depict the progress during the compaction process.
US07669449B1
A method may be present for sending shot onto a surface. A stream of shot may be directed into an inlet of a nozzle. The stream of shot may be redirected to form a plurality of streams of shot within the nozzle. The plurality of streams of shot may be directed out of a plurality of outputs of the nozzle.
US07669441B2
The finishing needle is a hand sewing tool used for weaving loose ends of yarn back into a hand-knitted item when finishing a knitting work. The finishing needle is a long needle with two ends that taper to a semi-point at each end. The needle has a single eye that extends through the length of the needle. The eye has a beveled edge that provides for easier threading and to hold the yarn securely. The finishing needle can weave loose ends of yarn into a knitted item when finishing without stopping to turn the needle around, and with no need to re-thread, when weaving in the opposite direction. The finishing needle can more easily make use of shorter lengths of yarn than a conventional needle or hook, and can finish a large knitted item or one with multiple colors much faster than with a conventional needle.
US07669440B2
A side-hole optical cane for measuring pressure and/or temperature is disclosed. The side-hole cane has a light guiding core containing a sensor and a cladding containing symmetrical side-holes extending substantially parallel to the core. The side-holes cause an asymmetric stress across the core of the sensor creating a birefringent sensor. The sensor, preferably a Bragg grating, reflects a first and second wavelength each associated with orthogonal polarization vectors, wherein the degree of separation between the two is proportional to the pressure exerted on the core. The side-hole cane structure self-compensates and is insensitive to temperature variations when used as a pressure sensor, because temperature induces an equal shift in both the first and second wavelengths. Furthermore, the magnitude of these shifts can be monitored to deduce temperature, hence providing the side-hole cane additional temperature sensing capability that is unaffected by pressure. Additionally, the side-hole cane can be used to measure a differential pressure between a first pressure ported to the side-holes and a second external pressure.
US07669431B2
A method for controlling cooling provisioning for heat generating devices includes correlating the heat generating devices with primary actuators, such that the heat generating devices are associated with primary actuators having at least a predefined level of influence over the respective heat generating devices. The flow rates of air supplied by the primary actuators are set based upon volume flow rate requirements of the heat generating devices, such that the volume flow rate setting for a primary actuator is based upon the volume flow rate requirement for the heat generating devices associated with the primary actuator. In addition, the temperatures of the airflow supplied by the primary actuators are varied to substantially maintain associated heat generating devices within predetermined temperature ranges.
US07669427B2
A temperature calibration device uses Peltier cells for heating and cooling. The Peltier cells are driven by a power controller that gradually changes the power applied to the Peltier cells from a starting power to a target power. However, during this transition, the power controller holds the power applied to the Peltier cells constant for a period to minimize the stress on the Peltier cells. This period of constant period may last until the temperature of an object reaches a predetermined temperature, or it may have a fixed or variable duration, which may be based on the difference between the starting power and the target power. By changing the power applied to the Peltier cells in this manner, the useful life of the Peltier cells is preserved.
US07669422B2
A combustor liner includes a liner having an upstream end and a downstream end having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, and a plurality of cooling holes formed in the liner, the cooling holes are arranged along the longitudinal axis into a plurality of circumferentially extending rows that are variably spaced apart along the longitudinal axis.
US07669418B2
A heat energy supply system and method capable of drastically increasing energy efficiency and energy supply efficiency, as well as a reconstruction method of the heat energy supply system. The heat energy supply system comprises a boiler for heating a heat medium and producing steam including water and other vapors, a heat pump including a steam turbine driven by the steam supplied from the boiler and a heat exchanger for heating the heat medium by employing waste heat or heat obtained from environment, thereby producing the steam at a setting temperature, and a steam supply line for supplying the steam discharged from the steam turbine and the steam heated by the heat exchanger to a heat utilization facility.
US07669416B2
The invention relates to a circuit (NK) for cooling charge air (LL) in a motor vehicle comprising a turbocharger that is provided with a circulating pump (5) for the circuit (NK). Said pump (5) is coupled to a turbine (2) and forms a turbine/pump combination (1) along with the turbine (2).
US07669415B2
An external combustion engine provided with a plurality of evaporators and stabilized in output and efficiency, that is, an engine provided with at least one main container, a plurality of evaporators heating the working medium to evaporate, condensers cooling the vapor of the working medium evaporated at the evaporators to make it condense, an output part communicated with the other end of the main container and converting displacement of a liquid part of the working medium occurring due to fluctuations in volume of the working medium accompanying evaporation and condensation of the working medium to mechanical energy for output, a single main container pressure adjusting means adjusting an internal pressure of the main container, and controlling means for controlling the main container pressure adjusting means based on a lowest temperature in the temperatures of the plurality of evaporators constituting a minimum evaporator temperature.
US07669405B2
A detonation chamber for a pulse detonation combustor including: a plurality of dimples disposed on at least a portion of an inner surface of the detonation chamber wherein the plurality of dimples enhance a turbulence of a fluid flow through the detonation chamber.
US07669400B2
A rotor reversing mechanism for a baler comprises a ratchet 12 mounted for rotation with the rotor, a pawl 22 carried by a reversing arm 16 for engaging the ratchet 12, a double acting hydraulic cylinder 32 for reciprocating the reversing arm 16 to cause the rotor to rotate in a reverse direction and means for disengaging the pawl 22 from the ratchet when the reversing arm is in a park position. In the invention, a spring 40 is provided for urging the reversing arm 16 towards the park position and the working chambers of the double acting hydraulic cylinder 32 are permanently connected to one another by way of a throttled passage 74.
US07669399B2
Apparatus for harvesting grapes without damaging the grapes. A cluster hanger clip is provided to securely hold a cluster of grapes by the stem, in order to cut, carry, and transport the cluster with minimal or no touching of the grape berries. A grape harvesting vehicle which moves between the rows of grapevines in the vineyard, includes grape conveyors, on which the hanger clips are suspended, either temporarily or permanently. The conveyors convey the grape clusters to packers at packing stations on the platform. The packers segregate the grape clusters and pack the clusters into boxes. A palletizer stacks the boxes on pallets in a bin. The platform can change configuration for use in the vineyard, and for travel on the highway.
US07669397B1
An autonomous mass damper is positioned proximate to each reel cutting unit in a ganged configuration of such cutting units. One mass damper is preferably mounted or directly carried on each such reel cutting unit. The mass damper is free to move independently of vertical up and down movement of the reel cutting unit as the reel cutting unit travels over the ground. The mass damper is connected to the reel cutting unit by a coupler or by coupling components that allow the mass damper to move in a counter motion to vertical up and down bouncing or bobbing of the reel cutting unit. The counter motion of the mass damper lessens or damps the bouncing or bobbing of the reel cutting unit to provide a more consistent height of cut.
US07669395B2
An automated system for selecting the cutting height and orientation of a mower deck attached to a power vehicle. An actuator and a system of links and slotted members are configured to operatively couple to a mower deck carriage and a front portion of the mower deck. Operation of the actuator by extending or retracting an actuator length, working in concert with the system of links and members, causes the mower deck to lower or raise in relation to a surface underlying the mower deck. Operation of the actuator further permits the mower deck to be rotated about an axis to and from an operation orientation and a service and or storage orientation. The actuator maintains the position of the mower deck without assistance of additional locking mechanisms or load bearing members. The system is controllable through a single interface convenient to the operator.
US07669394B2
A mower has a frame that supports a rotary cutting deck. A height of cut system is provided for adjusting the height of cut of the deck. In addition, two longitudinal struts and a lateral strut connect between the frame and the rear of the deck. The longitudinal struts propel the deck in forward and reverse directions while the lateral strut provides lateral stabilization to the deck to prevent excessive side-to-side motion of the deck. Each of the struts is a simple elongated rod or bar having a hub at either end that contains a rubber bushing allowing three-axis motion. Each strut is pivotally connected at each hub to corresponding portions of the frame or the deck.
US07669392B2
A system and apparatus for controlling height of a header of a work machine such as an agricultural windrowing machine or a harvesting machine, which includes height control cylinders jointly or individually operable for raising or lowering the opposite ends of a header to achieve a desired overall height or angle of tilt in relation to the surface of a field or pasture to be cut, which allow the header to be raised, and lowered to the previously selected cut height, without changing the lengths of the cylinders, so as to be usable in combination with an optional header lift and/or float system, and including a flow divider capability which increases accuracy of height control, having particular utility for more precisely controlling the heights of the ends of the header, especially when subjected to uneven dynamic loading conditions, such as during rapid spin turns and the like.
US07669390B2
A stopper and container body are molded in the same molding machine. An assembly device, such as a pick and place robot, transfers the stopper from one mold cavity into the opening in the container body located within another mold cavity, or vice versa, to assemble the stopper and container body. Then, the assembled container body and stopper are removed from the molding machine and transported to a needle filling and laser resealing station for filling and laser resealing. A laminar flow source directs a substantially laminar flow of air or sterile gas over the mold surfaces, stoppers and container bodies, and assembly device, to prevent contamination during assembly.
US07669386B2
An apparatus and method for filling a continuous air filling type air enclosure with air comprises moving first an air cylinder film sheet onto a working platform, hot-sealing two outer films of the air cylinder film sheet using a hot sealing device to form an air filling passageway, moving an air filling head into the air filling passageway and then using a clamping apparatus to press the two outer films tightly to attach onto the air filling head to allow air in the air filling head to be filled into the air filling passageway and enter an air cylinder of the air cylinder film sheet via an air inlet of the air cylinder film sheet to cause the air cylinder to be filled with air and expanded.
US07669380B2
A shutter assembly mounts adjacent an opening of a building. The shutter assembly includes a right stile and a left stile disposed in a spaced and parallel opposing relationship with one another and each having a U-shaped cross section presenting a base and side walls. The side walls extend from the base to spaced distal edges to define a channel open at each end of the respective stiles. A top rail and a bottom rail extend in a spaced and parallel opposing relationship between the bases of the stiles. The top rail is disposed in one of the open ends of each of the stiles and the bottom rail is disposed in the other open ends of each of the stiles. Each of the rails define a glue manifold for distributing an adhesive onto the rails and into the channels for securing the rails to the stiles.
US07669378B2
The present invention relates to a polygonal rib structure having ribs directed orthogonal to one plane and intersecting each other to form polygonal shapes. More particularly, to a shock absorbing polygonal rib structure. In a polygonal rib structure having ribs directed orthogonal to one plane and intersecting each other to form polygonal shapes, a thickened central portion located at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of each side of the polygonal rib is bisected. The opposed parting surfaces formed upon the bisection are spaced from each other to form an opening portion, and each side of the polygonal rib is so shaped that the cross-sectional area of the opening portion is reduced as one goes from the opening end toward the depth. Thus, an opened polygonal rib structure is formed.
US07669377B2
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US07669376B2
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling.
US07669375B2
A building block arrangement comprises a first layer of building blocks and a second layer of building blocks. The first layer of building blocks includes two spaced apart rows of building blocks whereby a space is provided between adjacent side faces of the building blocks of the first layer. The second layer of building blocks includes two spaced apart rows of building blocks whereby a space is provided between adjacent side faces of the building blocks of the second layer. The space includes communicative horizontal and vertical portions such that that the space at least partially isolates an interior wall portion from an exterior wall portion. The second layer of building blocks is positioned on top of the first layer of building blocks. The second layer of building blocks spans across at least a portion of the space in the first layer of building blocks.
US07669360B2
An improved fishing system that records ambient conditions existing at or around the time a fish is caught. The fishing system includes a lure which records ambient conditions, including time, date, depth, temperature, ambient light, an underwater picture of a hooked fish and water quality. After catching a fish, the recorded data is transmitted from the lure to a handheld control unit. The handheld control unit is also capable of recording location (via GPS), fish weight, water quality, and an out-of-water picture of the fish. The data stored by the handheld control unit is transmitted (via a wireless or wired network) and recorded in an Internet database. The lure can also be controlled to release a hook that becomes irretrievably stuck in an underwater obstruction. The path of the lure in the water can also be controlled.
US07669359B2
An adapter for mounting an accessory on a shroud such as is found on an M2 machine gun includes a rigid block embracing the shroud. Blunt-nosed helically threaded plugs penetrate the block and intrude partly into perforations of the shroud. Retaining rings, threaded oppositely to the threaded plugs, prevent the plugs from backing out. A key tool is provided to tighten the plugs and retaining rings. A longitudinally oriented T-rail projects radially from the block. A slide body engages the T-rail and includes a locking mechanism, a lamp assembly, a logically switched power control, a power cable, and a control cable with interchangeable switches.
US07669357B2
Devices, systems and methods of canting firearms such as rifles relative to fore grip having extendable and expanded legs. One version allows for a rocking and canting of the firearm by pivotally attaching an upper portion of the expanded legs. Another version allows for a separate canting member to be clamped to both the upper portion of a vertical fore grip and to the lower mounting rail of the firearm. The canting member has portions that cant (move to the left or to the right) relative to one another. An operator can cant the firearm in a free-state or to fixed positions as desired.
US07669356B2
Device for detecting and counting shots fired by an automatic or semi-automatic fire arm with a barrel and moving parts to recock the fire arm, sliding in the axial direction (Y-Y′) of the barrel between a front position and a rear position, whereby the fire arm undergoes accelerations in the axial direction (Y-Y′) of the barrel for every fired shot, caused by a succession of shocks due to the shot being fired and to the movements of the moving parts, whereby the progression in time of the accelerations is typical for a fire arm and for the type of ammunition used, thus forming a typical signature for the fire arm and for the type of ammunition, characterized in that it comprises an accelerometer (2) with a pass band which is sensitive to shocks in the axial direction (Y-Y′) of the barrel and a microprocessor (3) for analyzing the signal (S) of the accelerometer (2) while firing, whereby the microprocessor (3) is equipped with an algorithm to count the number of shots fired, based on the discernment and recording of a shot being fired on the basis of the detection, in the signal of the accelerometer, of all or part of the characteristic elements of the acceleration signature which is typical of the type of fire arm and of the different types of ammunition used, whereby these characteristic elements are recorded beforehand in a memory (4) of the device.
US07669340B2
A surveying apparatus is provided that includes a telescope block, a support block, and an imaging unit. The telescope block includes a sighting telescope and is rotatably supported about a first axis. The support block rotatably supports the telescope block about the first axis. The imaging unit is provided inside the telescope block. The imaging unit comprises an image-display device and at least one of an image data output device and an image data recording device.
US07669338B2
Range finder for determining the distance between the user and an object of known height or width, such as a golf flagstick, structure, etc. The range finder is a flat card, having a series of graduated apertures, each aperture being dimensioned to correspond to a particular distance to the flagstick. Range information is provided for each aperture. The user holds the card 24 inches from the eye and sights the flagstick through the apertures. The range information for the aperture whose diameter most closely corresponds to the height of the sighted flagstick is the actual distance between the user and the flagstick. The apertures are graduated in size, to represent range information in specific increments. The size of the increments is selected to facilitate optimal performance and may vary within a series of apertures.
US07669337B2
A safety scalpel that incorporates a reusable metal scalpel handle similar in shape and feel to the conventional metal handle preferred by most surgeons, and a disposable blade cartridge that covers the blade before, during and after use, and is easily mounted and released from the scalpel handle. The blade cartridge includes a blade with similar cutting profiles as standard surgical blades, a blade holder that is permanently fixed to the blade, and a blade guard that covers the blade and within which the blade holder is able to slide. The scalpel handle is reusable, while the blade cartridge is disposable. The blade cartridge is attached to and detached from the scalpel handle in a direction generally perpendicular the longitudinal axis of the scalpel handle.
US07669331B2
A calender roll, which was already in use and has a metallic core with engaged textile material sheets, can be worked for a new use. In the surface of the sheets are cut grooves, to which is subsequently applied a layer structure of synthetic resin-impregnated fibrous material forming a certain thickness over each point of the roll. Onto said layer can be applied a functional covering, for example of rubber.
US07669325B2
A method of assembling a portable compressor package comprises steps of assembling a sub-frame module that comprises the mechanical components of an apparatus for ease of assembly to associated structural modules for minimisation of assembly time and ease of assembly.
US07669323B2
In one embodiment, a method for electrically connecting a stinger into a network node may include installing a non-conductive force exerting means through a port of a closed node housing of a network node. The method may include extending the force exerting means from outside the node housing to within the interior of the network node and adjusting the force exerting means without accessing the interior of the node housing to exert a force on the conductor of a stinger installed within the interior of the network node to contact and forcibly bring the conductor of the stinger into electrical contact with an interface means installed within the interior of the network node to establish an electrical interface and seize the conductor of the stinger within the interior of the network node.
US07669318B2
A high-speed process includes removing chips or interposers from a carrier web having a first pitch and transferring the chips or interposers to electrical components, such as RFID antenna structures, on a moving web having a second pitch. According to one method, a transfer drum transfers chips or interposers to a moving web of electrical components by picking a chip when the transfer drum is stationary, and transferring the chip to the moving web when the transfer drum is rotating such that a tangential velocity of the transfer drum is substantially equal to the linear velocity of the moving web. According to another method, a primary drum removes chips or interposers from a carrier web having a first pitch, and transfers the chips or interposers to a variably rotating secondary drum which then places the chips or interposers onto an electrical component on a moving web having a second pitch.
US07669317B2
In a chip reversing method for holding and vertically reversing a chip placed by a bonding nozzle, the chip is held on a chip holding unit disposed in a reversing member and is vertically reversed by turning the reversing member downward on an reversal shaft. After the reversed chip was received by a chip receiving unit, this chip receiving unit is lowered to a retracted position to return the reversing member to an original position. In this state, the chip receiving unit is raised to position the chip at a height level L for a chip transferring action. As a result, the reversing member does not protrude to above the height level for the chip transfer thereby to interfere with another mechanism, so that the chip mounting actions can be made efficient.
US07669309B2
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a medical device, catheter or lead having electrically conductive traces and external electrical contacts. Each trace may be in electrical connection with one or more external electrical contacts. More specifically, each trace is typically electrically connected to a single contact. The traces and contacts may assist in diagnosis and/or detection of bio-electrical signals emitted by organs, and may transmit such signals to a connector or diagnostic device affixed to the catheter. The external electrical contacts may detect bioelectric energy or may deliver electrical energy to a target site. Also disclosed herein is a medical device made in accordance with the method described above.
US07669308B2
An collet and lock nut assembly includes a collet for receiving a cutting tool shank and a lock nut for creating a gripping force between the collet and the shank. The collet has a nose portion and a body portion separated by an annular groove. The lock nut has a plurality of retention tabs and a corresponding number of clear portions. The collet and lock nut assembly can be easily assembled by inserting at least one retention tab within the groove of the collet, and then applying pressure to the collet such that the remaining retention tabs of the lock nut are received within the groove of the collet to place the assembly in a locked position. The collet and cutting tool shank can be drawn from the tool holder by applying rotational torque to the lock nut. The collet is easily removed from the lock nut by applying pressure in any circumferential, lateral direction against the collet.
US07669305B1
A method and article for designing dual-mode adapters in a joint press kit. A plurality of ball joints for use with the adapters are selected. An adapter design is created by defining a first variable representative of a physical characteristic of the adapter design; defining a second variable representing a quantity of ball joints that are not compatible with the adapter design in a second operational mode; generating data sets including the first and second variables; and utilizing the data sets to determine a value for a characteristic of the adapter.
US07669300B1
Fasteners for suspending aperture curtains, such as shower curtains, from a horizontal rod comprise pivotally connected top and bottom members adapted to close and lock through the insertion of a male protrusion on the bottom member into an aperture on the top member.
US07669299B2
A connector for securing a guitar to a strap, having a body with an opening and an engagement member slidable within the body. The engagement member has an opening with two portions. The first portion is large enough to receive the anchor post and the second portion is narrow enough to prevent the anchor post from passing through it. The user slides the first portion into alignment with the opening in the body and inserts the anchor post. Then, the user slides the engagement member so that the second portion impedes the release of the anchor post. The body may also have an opening for removal of the engagement member and/or an opening to facilitate sliding of the engagement member. Also there is disclosed a flexible support with one or more connectors and a strap, and a system including connector(s), a strap and a guitar.
US07669294B2
Cable terminations having features which reduce stress in the transition between the potted region and the freely flexing region of a cable when the cable flexes laterally with respect to the anchor. Several favorable geometries are disclosed. The use of a supplemental buffer material to reduce stress is also disclosed.
US07669290B2
Described is an anti-vibratory handle for installation on a reciprocating tool supplied with a pressurized fluid and producing vibrations in the direction of an axis of reciprocation of the tool. The anti-vibratory handle comprises a stationary portion mounted to a body of the tool, a mobile portion comprising a hand-grip member and an articulation between the stationary and mobile portions. This articulation comprises a pivot assembly interconnecting the stationary and mobile portions, the pivot assembly defines a pivot axis substantially perpendicular to the tool reciprocation axis, and the hand-grip member of the mobile portion is spaced apart from both the pivot axis and the tool reciprocation axis. The articulation also comprises a resilient vibration-damping assembly interposed between the stationary and mobile portions to avoid transmission of vibrations through the articulation. At least one conduit extends through the mobile portion, the articulation and the stationary portion to supply pressurized fluid to the tool.
US07669288B2
A hinge arrangement for a cover element in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, for example a hinged cover for a glove compartment or a CD player compartment is disclosed. The cover can be pivoted from a closed position into an open position about a pivot axis. The hinge arrangement includes an arrangement whereby the cover may be displaced (for example, substantially transversely to the pivot path) during the pivoting movement.
US07669286B2
A pivotal hinge has a seat and a shaft, and a first end of the shaft is inserted into the seat. A second end of the shaft is inserted into multiple washers, a first and a second positioning ring, multiple elastic rings and a cushion ring in turn. The first positioning ring can be positioned relative to the second positioning ring and with the friction force of the washers, the excellent position effect can be achieved. Hence, a cover of a laptop computer can be positioned to the chassis of the laptop computer at a desired height.
US07669284B2
Disclosed are apparatus for a block and tackle window balance to be incorporated in single and double hung window assemblies. In one embodiment the block and tackle window balance includes a roller secured within a bottom guide to increase range of travel of a window sash.
US07669282B2
Disclosed is a vacuum cleaner including a suction nozzle; a dust collecting assembly which includes a dust collecting container having a dust collecting space and an opened bottom, an inlet, a filtering device provided in the dust collecting container, and an outlet; and a cleaner body which includes a dust collecting assembly receiving recess for detachably receiving the dust collecting assembly, a polluted air outlet provided at the dust collecting assembly receiving recess and communicating with the inlet of the dust collecting assembly, a clean air inlet provided on an inner wall of the dust collecting assembly receiving recess to face the dust collecting assembly and communicating with the outlet of the dust collecting assembly, and a clean air conduit having a fan provided therein, for exhausting the clean air to the outside of the vacuum cleaner.
US07669272B2
A method for spans launched, as self-supporting bridge beams, approximately horizontally from support structure to successive support structure without significant temporary false work or scaffolding between permanent support structures. Bridge spans assembled atop previously constructed roadbed are launched individually onto supporting structures or columns spaced at span widths beyond said roadbed. 3 individual spans are placed or assembled with a longitudinal girder into a unit atop the roadbed surface, the assembly becoming a launching truss. Load moving air cushion pallets are placed upon the roadbed beneath and before the 3 spans. The launching truss moves forward one span length beyond the roadbed end placing one span and assembled girder in cantilever. That span is disconnected from the truss and emplaced upon supporting structures, at eventual roadbed level, beyond the previously constructed roadbed. Repeated, the process completes the bridge.
US07669271B2
The invention relates to a data and energy transmission system for telescopic boarding bridges with an inner section (2) joined to a first structure (4) and an outer section (3) connected to a second structure (5). The system has conductor rails (6) along the inner section (2) of the telescopic tunnel (1) connected to the first structure (4), and at least one pantograph mechanism (7) for electrically connecting the conductor rails (6) with the second structure (5), which is in permanent contact with said conductor rails (6) sliding along such rails accompanying the extension and retraction of the telescopic tunnel (1). There are additionally data transmission means connected to the first structure (4) and to the second structure (5).
US07669265B2
Some embodiments of the present invention generally relate to pillow devices comprising a pair of opposing lobe cushions connected by a cross member comprising a neck supporting cushion. In some embodiments the cushions may define a region for receiving a back portion of a human head in a cradling relation. Furthermore, according to some embodiments the cradle region can optionally be adjustable by the user.
US07669264B1
A harness includes a single and unitary body with a plurality of longitudinal members and a plurality of latitudinal members monolithically formed therewith. The apparatus further includes a plurality of fasteners with opposed ends directly and oppositely mated to the longitudinal members and extending towards a center of the body for being engaged about the patient. Each of such fasteners has male and female members detachably and directly mated along a width of the body and between the longitudinal sides respectively. The apparatus further includes a first plurality of handles monolithically connected to the longitudinal members and extending laterally away therefrom along opposed sides of the body, and a second plurality of handles are monolithically connected to opposed corners of the body and diagonally protruding outwardly therefrom.
US07669263B2
A patient support including a frame and a mattress supported by the frame. The frame includes a deck support and a deck supporting the mattress.
US07669256B2
End portions of a pair of crossbar bed frame members are detachably connected by a locking mechanism including an arm attached by the pivot element to one frame member to rotate between a locked condition and an unlocked condition. One frame member has a first projection and the pivot element includes a second projection. A pair of elongated slots in the frame members receive the projections when the frame members are longitudinally oriented and the end portions are overlapping. The end portions have openings therein that are aligned when the end portions overlap. The arm has a portion that is inserted in the aligned openings when in the locked condition and withdrawn from the aligned openings to allow the frame members to be disconnected and separated when in the unlocked condition.
US07669252B2
A stocking to be worn on a foot of a person, includes a flattenable hollow tube of stretch material having a first portion with a first open end, a second portion extending from the first portion and having a second open end, and a folded portion folded backward from the second open end of the second portion to surround the second portion and having a circumferentially extending connecting part secured to the second portion along a circumferentially extending securing line, and a circumferentially extending open part movable between a folded position, where the circumferentially extending open part of the folded portion is folded back to surround a corresponding area of the second portion, and an unfolded position, where the circumferentially extending open part of the folded portion is extended forward from the second open end of the second portion away from the second portion.
US07673341B2
The present invention provides a system, method, and computer-readable medium for identifying and removing active malware from a computer. Aspects of the present invention are included in a cleaner tool that may be obtained automatically with an update service or may be downloaded manually from a Web site or similar distribution system. The cleaner tool includes a specialized scanning engine that searches a computer for active malware. Since the scanning engine only searches for active malware, the amount of data downloaded and resource requirements of the cleaner tool are less than traditional antivirus software. The scanning engine searches specific locations on a computer, such as data mapped in memory, configuration files, and file metadata for data characteristic of malware. If malware is detected, the cleaner tool removes the malware from the computer.
US07673336B2
A method and apparatus for controlling access to data communication applications is disclosed. According to the method, the DNS names of the servers of the data communication applications are identified. The identified DNS names are used to determine the IP addresses of the servers. Furthermore, the identified IP addresses are used to control access to the data communication applications for the requests going to the servers of the data communication applications.
US07673335B1
A system and method for analyzing events from devices relating to network security, includes a device interface(s), for receiving events from devices. One or more processors, responsive to the event received pursuant to the device interfaces, evaluate the event in accordance with rules, wherein the rules define, inter alia, an operation the system is to take to evaluate the event and an action to be taken under specified conditions. Also, the processor can determine, responsive to the received event, whether the event is of interest, and if not, discarding the event. The processor can provide a correlation corresponding to the at least one event, for the rules.
US07673330B2
Provided is ad-hoc creation of groups based on contextual information comprising. Two mechanisms are used to restrict valid members of a group. First, to make sure that devices are somehow related, devices provide contextual information that is compared to the contextual information provided by other devices willing to join the group. Only devices providing “similar” contextual information are accepted as possible candidates in the group. Second, to scope the group, a time window is used to limit the duration of the group creation. In other words, access to the group is reserved to the devices that can provide similar context information to existing member of the group in a defined time window. Security properties are ensured by enabling a visual check of the list of group participants. For instance, a member can verify that the displayed pictures indeed represent the attendees of an ongoing meeting.
US07673329B2
Encrypted communications to a secure server. A user at a terminal, communicatively coupled to the secure server by a secure link, can obtain web pages from web sites in a network, in encrypted form, via the secure link. Addresses associated with the web pages are altered to make it appear as if the web pages come from the secure server rather than from the web sites. Spoofing units may be used as alternative access points to the secure server, with the secure server sending the requested web pages directly to the terminal.
US07673318B2
A channel merging method for a VOD system, said method comprises the steps of: in response to requests from a plurality of clients for a video program, establishing a root channel (S1) and at least one sub-channel (S11), said root channel (S1) being established according to a request from a client that makes the earliest request, each of said sub-channels (S11) being established in response to a request from a client that makes a later request; and monitoring variation of the number of the clients that are using each of said established channels, and maintaining the channel if the number of the clients using the monitored channel is not zero, and closing the channel if the number of the clients using the monitored channel becomes zero.
US07673315B1
A system and method are disclosed for providing program criteria representing a plurality of audio and/or visual programs. A plurality of tokens are stored in a database of one or more computers, each token having an identifier for identifying a predetermined audio and/or visual program. Each token may be a universal program identifier that represents a specific program in a global programming environment (e.g., the token may identify a program across multiple tuning spaces). Alternatively or additionally, a token may be a tuning-space specific program identifier that represents program criteria associated with a specific program for particular tuning space. The server is programmed to provide at least one token to a remote computer based on selection criteria.
US07673311B2
A disc cartridge comprises a rotary member (25) that is held on first and second shutters in a disc storage unit in which a disc is stored with a first surface externally exposed from a disc opening and that is engaged with the first and second shutters so that the first and second shutters are opened and closed as the disc rotates within the disk storage unit, wherein the rotary member has a disc receiving portion comprising a contact area (25n) that comes into contact with the periphery of a second surface of the disc and receives the disc when the first and second shutters are closed state and a groove (25p) provided outside the contact area.
US07673309B2
An apparatus and system for recording, playing, handling, and storing a plurality of media disks in a plurality of configurations and a device for moving any disk into and out of a media disk storage mechanism and into or out of a selected media player/recorder on demand, and a controller for directing operation of the device for moving the disks and controlling selection of operation of the media disk storage mechanism.
US07673308B2
Multiple, semi-independent virtual operating system (OS) environments coexist within a single (OS) such that a change made in one environment does not affect the main OS or any other environment. In this way each virtual OS environment appears to be an independent OS for the applications running within it. The file system and registry information for each environment is independent of the base OS and other environments. Each of the environments can contain a group of installed applications that will run independently of each other. Although the invention is described in terms of a Windows® environment, the approach is applicable to other operating systems through appropriate modification.
US07673298B2
Before applying a software object such as virus detecting software to a customer's real time control apparatus, in order to verify an effect on real time control of the software object, the software object is downloaded from a first web site to a verifying real time control apparatus, and the software object is applied to the verifying real time control apparatus to evaluate whether the customer's real time control apparatus stably maintains the real time control or not. The software object which has been evaluated as one capable of maintaining a stability is uploaded to a second web site, and made to be applicable to the customer's real time control apparatus. Moreover, an observation computer observes whether the verification is performed normally or not.
US07673295B1
Compile-time non-concurrency analysis of parallel programs improves execution efficiency by detecting possible data race conditions within program barriers. Subroutines are modeled with control flow graphs and region trees having plural nodes related by edges that represent the hierarchical loop structure and construct relationship of statements. Phase partitioning of the control flow graph allows analysis of statement relationships with programming semantics, such as those of the OpenMP language, that define permitted operations and execution orders.
US07673293B2
Dynamic binary translators enable binaries of a source platform to execute on a target platform without recompilation. This is achieved by runtime (on-the-fly) translation of source machine instructions into equivalent target machine instructions. Typically dynamic binary translators are used for migrating from an older platform to a newer one, implementing complex instruction set architectures, speeding up simulators and in profiling tools. In all these applications, the speed of translation is critical to ensure that the overheads incurred by the translator do not outweigh the advantages of dynamic translation. One such overhead is created by the analysis required when code is translated for execution in a parallel processing environment.
US07673292B2
A method and system are described for migrating test scripts written for a current test tool (CTT) to a new test tool (NTT). A conversion tool sets the CTT in a playback mode and the NTT in a record mode. The CTT provides actions to an application under test (AUT) causing objects to be created and modified. The NTT monitors the actions of the CTT and creates a script to mimic the actions of the CTT. The current test script is modified to add comments, and translated using standard translation tools. Application-specific statements do not translate and are replaced with those previously created by the NTT in the record mode. This results in a script that performs the same functions as the original test script.
US07673286B2
A mechanism for converting control types in a user interface (UI) development framework. The framework includes a UI generation component that facilitates the development of the UI in which control types will be employed and bound to data of a data source. In communication with the generation component is a conversion component that facilitates changing the default control choice immediately after creation, or for evaluating the UI, and later choosing to change the UI control choice. The conversion component employs a service to inspect all controls on a particular form in the designer, and advertises a “Change To” or similar smart tag item for that control, if the control supports data binding and conversions. Selection of the control type or control group view creates the UI of the user's choice, and intelligently maps all control properties and data bindings across the conversion.
US07673283B2
Computer method and system improves implementation of modeling language profiles. The invention method and system enables user definition of an extension and application of the defined extension to a model element. During runtime, a metamodel object is dynamically created for representing the defined extension, and a link is dynamically generated. The link provides a reference between the metamodel object and the model element.
US07673282B2
An enterprise information unification system including an information modeler for modeling business entities and their properties as an information model, the information model being comprised of business constructs, a data rationalizer for generating mappings from physical data assets to the information model, the physical data assets being comprised of data asset constructs, and a data thesaurus for automating tasks of data management based on the mappings. A method is also described and claimed.
US07673280B2
An optical proximity correction (OPC) processing method may include at least one of the following steps: Detecting coordinate values of individual piece patterns constituting a graphic design system (GDS). Merging to the form of a specific pattern, composed of outermost coordinate values, on the basis of the detected coordinate values. Shrinking the merged GDS pattern and forming a GDS pattern having a desired magnifying power. Performing an optical proximity correction (OPC) process on the GDS pattern having the desired magnifying power.
US07673274B2
A system for data processing comprises a host circuit (104) and an integrated circuit (102). The integrated circuit (102) is in communication with the host circuit (104) and the host circuit (104) is external to the integrated circuit (102). The integrated circuit (102) includes a plurality of programmable elements for data processing (300), each programmable element (300) including a host interface (305) for receiving host data and a host control signal from the host, a crosspoint switch (318), and an interpolation module (310). The host data includes a serial stream of input data values. The interpolation module (310) selectively inserts one or more interpolation data values, such as zero, between selected ones of the input data values according to the host control signal, and communicates the input data values and interpolation data values to the crosspoint switch (318).
US07673264B1
An intellectual property (IP) integrity verification system and method operable with respect to integrating an IP design into a user's embedded IC design. In one embodiment, the IP design is partitioned into a plurality of IP modules based on the requirements of the embedded IC design. For each IP module, a corresponding integrity checker module is provided, wherein each integrity checker module has a port-wise correspondence with its corresponding IP module. The embedded IC design is simulated with the integrity checker modules rather than the IP modules for generating a netlist, which may be verified with respect to any interconnectivity errors associated with the IP modules.
US07673263B2
A system and method for representing digital circuits and systems in multiple partitions of Boolean space, and for performing digital circuit or system validation using the multiple partitions. Decision diagrams are built for the digital circuit or system and pseudo-variables are introduced at decomposition points to reduce diagram size. Pseudo-variables remaining after decomposition are composed and partitioned to represent the digital circuit or system as multiple partitions of Boolean space. Each partition is built in a scheduled order, and is manipulable separately from other partitions.
US07673261B2
Methods and systems are presented for generation of a test suite in order to validate compliance of a process with its process specification. The methodology involves a formal description of the process using a flowchart, refinement of the flowchart to include misinterpretations of the process specification, defining compliance coverage models over the flowchart, and automatically generating test case scenarios that cover the models. Internal and external types of misinterpretation are distinguished. A compliance test suite is automatically generated and observations made of the details of the traversal through the flow chart when the tests are executed.
US07673253B1
A system indirectly infers concepts associated with a document. The concepts may be indirectly inferred based on information that does not include characteristics of the document, such as the characteristics that include a textual content of the document not associated with links included in the document, a domain of the document, and the document's Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The system may label the inferred concepts as useful to an audience of the document.
US07673248B2
A method for displaying a calendar event on an electronic map includes steps of: receiving a request to generate a map view of a selected timeline of calendar events, wherein the calendar events are associated with event locations; converting event locations to geographic locations; generating a map view showing the geographic locations of the calendar events and legends representing the calendar events; and displaying the map view with the legends shown in close proximity to the locations of the calendar events. A user can elect to switch between a display of the map view and a display of a view of the selected timeline. A user can also select to create a calendar event on an electronic map by selecting a location associated with the calendar event on the map; receive a graphical user interface display, enter information about the calendar event on the graphical user interface display, and view the electronic map.
US07673246B2
An image information processing apparatus is provided to generate, from previously held image data, a display image according to a viewpoint designated by a user, and to communicate with a control apparatus which can communicate with plural image information processing apparatuses respectively generating display images and has a controller for controlling viewpoint information shared by the plural image information processing apparatuses on the basis of viewpoint information sent from the image information processing apparatus. This apparatus comprises a transmitter to calculate the viewpoint information based on a user's instruction and transmit it to the controller, a receiver to receive from the controller the viewpoint information for generating the display image, and an image generator to read the image data corresponding to the viewpoint information from the previously held image data for generating the display image, and generate and output the display image to a display.
US07673245B2
Converting a computer user interface panel between different panel types. An automated process is activated that reads field attributes of a first panel in a computer system. A configuration table associated with the first panel is tied to logic that specifies how the panel of the first type interacts with a backend of the computer system. Entries are created in a second configuration table that can be used to display a second panel in the computer system. The second panel comprises at least some of the plurality of fields and belongs to a second type of panels in which a panel of the second type is formed of configuration table entries and is independent of the backend. The automated process converts the field attributes to be compatible with the second type of panels and stores them in the second configuration table for use in displaying the second panel.
US07673244B2
Systems and methods for delayed function activation in a responsive environment are described. A responsive environment includes an intermediary system and notification manager to determine when a responsive environment will launch an application triggered by a sensed event. The environment includes sensor components and transparent software components that reside wholly within the environment for providing responsiveness. The environment also includes interactive software components that give users the means to provide input and/or experience output. Since changes to the interaction components may disrupt the user by requiring the user's attention when it is not convenient, the system helps the user manage the responsive environment by using an application/function delay technique. The environment uses an intelligence and notification mechanism to determine what might be useful and primes the apparatus to provide that functionality. However, the user actually initiates the execution of that function.
US07673237B2
The invention relates to a computerized method for a user to create an advertisement by displaying a plurality of advertising formats for selection by a user; displaying a template corresponding to a selected advertising formats; displaying a plurality of product references for selection by the user; displaying on the template a selected product reference to create a proposed advertisement; and creating a preview of the proposed advertisement, all of which may be implemented using the Internet. The invention further relates to a computerized system for creating an advertisement that comprises a template database for storing advertising formats; a product database for storing product references; and a computer to access the databases. Preferably, the user has a network interface such as Internet access that permits access via a remote location, software to permit a user to specify specifications such as quantity, printing information, ship date, paper type, pricing information, and payment information, and may be configured to receive images and text for new products.
US07673235B2
A method and apparatus are provided for utilizing a document object model to manage document parts for use in an electronic document. The document object model enables a user to retrieve, insert, add, and delete document parts to and from an electronic document using a programmable interface from within a word processing application program. A document part programming interface is exposed in the object model and methods associated with the object model are called which return objects enabling the location and management of document parts in a document parts collection.
US07673232B2
A method of migrating Cartesian coordinate-based views is disclosed. The method includes providing applet-based templates and associating the templates to Cartesian coordinate-based views. Controls of the applet can be modified according to the requirements of the Cartesian coordinate-based view. The views are used as user interfaces.
US07673231B2
A computer-implemented method of parsing markup-language source data is described. The markup-language source data comprises a plurality of elements. A first portion of the elements is processed by interoperating with a symbol table to determine unique string objects associated with the elements of the first portion of the elements. A structure is recorded associated with the first portion of the elements collectively, including the determined unique string objects in association with the corresponding elements of the first portion. A second portion of the elements is processed, using the structure determined associated with the first portion of the elements, to determine the unique string objects associated with the elements of the second portion, without interoperating with the symbol table.
US07673227B2
An architecture integrates spreadsheet functionality into tables commonly used in word processing programs and HTML documents. The architecture presents a table user interface (UI) that resembles a table when not being edited and adds spreadsheet elements to the table when being edited. Underlying the table UI, the architecture separates data handling functions from presentation functions. The architecture includes a table appearance manager to manage how the table appears in a document including such characteristics as table resizing, selection, cut, copy, paste, split, merge, table formatting and so on. The architecture also has a spreadsheet functionality manager to manage the spreadsheet functions for the table, such as recalculation, formula handling, sorting, referencing, and the like. The bifurcated architecture supports cross-table referencing, reference editing, automatic universal recalculation throughout all tables in the document, and nested table structures in which one table is nested within a cell of another table.
US07673219B2
A system and method for communicating information in a wireless cooperative relay network of nodes, the nodes including a source, a set of relays, and a destination. The source broadcasts a code word encoded as a data stream using a rateless code. The relays receive the data stream, decode the data stream to recover the code word, and reencode and transmit the recovered code word as the data stream with the rateless code. The destination receives and decodes the reencoded data streams to recover the code word.
US07673214B2
A method of verifying the accuracy of blocks of data. In one embodiment, a method of verifying the accuracy of data in a message that includes a checking mechanism with hidden data is provided. The method comprises observing two or more initial messages. Comparing the residual error of each of the observed initial messages. If the residual errors of at least two of the initial messages match each other, storing the matched residual error. For subsequent messages, comparing residual errors of the subsequent messages with the stored matched residual error.
US07673205B2
According to the present invention, the outputs of the last scanning flip-flop circuits 12 included in scan chains 111 are compiled and compressed in an output compression circuit 112, a sum of the outputs from the scan chains 111 and an expected value written in an expected value storage circuit 113 from the outside are compared with each other in an expected value decision circuit 114, the sum being outputted from the output compression circuit 112, a pass/fail decision result obtained by the comparison can be outputted from an output terminal 116 of the expected value decision circuit 114 to the outside, and the decision result can be stored regardless of the reset of a system.
US07673202B2
A method, involving: inputting an initial data pattern into a scan chain circuit of an integrated circuit device; applying a particle beam to the integrated circuit device, while driving the scan chain circuit with a clock signal, to generate an output data pattern; and generating a single event upset error rate test result based on a comparison between the output data pattern and the initial data pattern.
US07673195B2
A circuit includes a comparator circuit configured such that its output toggles from a first digital logical level to a second digital logical level when its first and second inputs transition between a first state wherein the first input has an applied voltage greater than an applied voltage at the second input and a second state wherein the first input has an applied voltage less than an applied voltage at the second input. A plurality of cells each have at least one series-connected pair of field effect transistors interconnected at an output node intermediate the field effect transistors. Decoding logic is configured to select a given one of the cells for measurement, and selectively interconnect the output node of the given one of the cells to the first input of the comparator circuit. Voltage supply circuitry is configured to (i) apply voltages to the gates of the pair of transistors of the given one of the cells selected for measurement, such that the pair of transistors operate in a linear region, and have a variable voltage difference, Δ, between their gate-to-source voltages, and (ii) vary the Δ until the comparator circuit output toggles from the first digital logical level to the second digital logical level.
US07673194B1
An apparatus for generating a function activation signal to activate a function in an integrated circuit device comprises a power-on circuit receiving a power input and initializing and generating a test activation signal, a test circuit receiving the test activation signal and generating a test result signal, and a threshold decision circuit receiving the test result signal and generating the function activation signal. The test circuit models a function of the integrated circuit device and generates the test result signal when the power input has reached a sufficient voltage to perform the function of the integrated circuit device. The threshold decision circuit generates the function activation signal if the test result signal indicates the power input has reached a sufficient voltage to perform the function of the integrated circuit device.
US07673189B2
A computer and method for problem detection and determination for automated system management in a system, wherein the method comprises monitoring system state, workload, and performance parameters of the system; comparing the monitored parameters against normal system performance behavior of the system, wherein the normal system performance behavior is maintained as a mapping of a system state and workload-to-performance parameters; summarizing performance abnormalities at a specified layer in the system as computation and data-processing attributes, wherein the performance abnormalities comprise deviations from the normal system performance behavior; correlating the performance abnormalities across multiple layers in the system using an attribute-based framework; and communicating a root-cause of the performance abnormalities.
US07673182B2
A data collector for a massively parallel computer system obtains call-return stack traceback data for multiple nodes by retrieving partial call-return stack traceback data from each node, grouping the nodes in subsets according to the partial traceback data, and obtaining further call-return stack traceback data from a representative node or nodes of each subset. Preferably, the partial data is a respective instruction address from each node, nodes having identical instruction address being grouped together in the same subset. Preferably, a single node of each subset is chosen and full stack traceback data is retrieved from the call-return stack within the chosen node.
US07673181B1
Recording and replaying computer programs includes detecting whether a race condition exists among multiple threads of a multithreaded application program. In an embodiment, detecting race conditions comprises detecting and preventing an operation of a first thread of an application program to read or write a computer memory, wherein the application program executes a plurality of threads; storing an exception point representing a current location in an execution path of the application program; allowing the operation to read or write the memory; creating and storing a record identifying the memory, the first thread, and an index value for a location in the execution path; and determining, based on the record and a plurality of other similar records, whether a race condition exists at the exception point for the first thread and one or more other threads in the plurality of the threads.
US07673177B2
A circuit and method for providing a power-on self test capability for peripheral devices that allows direct testing of address-line data. The preferred embodiment includes a multiplexer circuit that allows the read address line outputs of a microprocessor to be directly returned to the data inputs of the microprocessor, thus providing a direct verification of the integrity of the read-address connection.
US07673175B2
A system and method for tracking and restoring computer configuration are disclosed. In one aspect, the system and method monitors for a series of changes in watched one or more computer configuration variables. The changes are registered into a series of saved states. The one or more computer configuration variables may be restored to a desired saved state using the registry of saved states. In one aspect, the system and method monitors the changes by intercepting system calls, determining which system calls affect the one or more computer configuration variables, and logging the system calls and the results of the system calls that affect the one or more computer configuration variables. A recovery script may be dynamically generated to restore to a saved state.
US07673174B2
A solution to the problem of maintaining application integrity when device drivers fail. This solution employs a new mechanism, the shadow driver, which is an operating system (OS) kernel agent that monitors communication between the OS kernel and the device driver it “shadows.” When a device driver error occurs, the shadow driver acts in place of the failed device driver, intercepting and responding to calls from the OS kernel and the device driver during cleanup, unloading, reloading, and re-initialization of the failed device driver. Applications and the OS kernel are thus isolated from the failure. An initial embodiment was developed for use with the Linux™ OS and was tested with a dozen device drivers. Results demonstrate that shadow drivers successfully mask device driver failures from applications, impose minimal performance overhead, require no changes to existing applications and device drivers, and can be implemented with relatively little code.
US07673173B2
Provided are a method, system, and program monitoring paths between a first controller and second controller. A determination is made as to whether one path has been unavailable for a predetermined time period in response to detecting that the path is unavailable. Indication is made that the path is in a first failed state if the path has been unavailable for more than the predetermined time period and indication is made that the path is in a second failed state if the path has not been unavailable for the predetermined time period.
US07673171B2
Systems and methods for repairing a processor are provided. In one embodiment, a method for repairing a processor is provided that includes, for example, the steps of initializing and executing an operating system, determining that a cache element is faulty, and swapping in a spare cache element for said faulty cache element while the operating system is executing.
US07673169B1
Techniques for implementing an adaptive data access error handling policy are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a system comprising a shared storage device communicatively coupled to a network, and a computer cluster communicatively coupled to the network, the computer cluster comprising a plurality of nodes each mounting a shared file system thereon, a first node of the plurality of nodes to send a data access request to the shared storage device, to identify a data access error associated with the data access request, and to determine whether to permit access to the shared file system based on the data access error being a local data access error or a global data access error.
US07673160B2
A system and method of power management for computer processor systems, the method including measuring power usage; monitoring execution of instructions for a finishing instruction; determining a finishing instruction address for the finishing instruction; determining measured power usage for the finishing instruction; and storing the finishing instruction address in association with the measured power usage in a Power History Table (PHT). The information stored in the PHT can be employed to manage the power used by the computer processor system.
US07673155B2
A tamper resistant microprocessor has a task state table for assigning a task identifier to a task that can take a plurality of states, and storing a state of the task in correspondence to the task identifier; a task register for storing the task identifier of a currently executed task; an interface for reading a program stored in a form encrypted by using a program key at an external memory, in units of cache lines, when a request for the task is made; an encryption processing unit for generating decryption keys that are different for different cache lines, according to the program key, and decrypt a content read by the interface; a cache memory formed by a plurality of cache lines each having a tag, for storing the task identifier corresponding to a decryption key used in decrypting each cache line in the tag of each cache line; and an access check unit for comparing the task identifier stored in the tag of each cache line with a value of the task register, and discarding a content of each cache line when the task identifier in the tag and the value of the task register do not coincide.
US07673153B1
A data processing apparatus includes an encrypting apparatus for encrypting data in units of an encryption block having a predetermined data length. A processing apparatus is also provided for performing predetermined processing on data in units of a processing block having a data length of a whole multiple of the predetermined length of the encryption block. A controller is also provided for writing the encrypted data in a storage medium so that the data positioned in the same encryption block is also positioned in the same processing block. The controller also reads the data from the storage means in units of the processing block when the data is to be read out.
US07673143B1
A method for securing a communication between a peer node and an intermediary peer node in a peer-to-peer network comprises the peer node generating a secured communication request to the intermediary peer node. The intermediary peer node authenticates the peer node in response to the secured communication request. The intermediary peer node issues a signed certificate of authority upon successful authentication.
US07673142B2
A remote user, two-way authentication and password change protocol that also allows parties to optionally establish a session key which can be used to protect subsequent communication. In a preferred embodiment, a challenge token is generated and exchanged which is a one-time value that includes a random value that changes from session to session. The construction and use of the challenge token avoids transmission of the password or even the transmission of a digest of the password itself. Thus the challenge token does not reveal any information about a secret password or a digest of the password.
US07673140B2
A data processing system, circuit arrangement, and method to communicate data over a multi-channel serial communications interface (14) using a dedicated encrypted virtual channel from among multiple virtual channels supported by the communications interface (14). Encryption for the dedicated encrypted virtual channel is provided by a hardware encryption circuit (34) that is coupled to the interface, such that encryption may be performed at a relatively low level, and with substantial protection from compromise, particularly along chip boundaries. In one particular application, access control may be provided for a digital data stream using a multi-chip access control scheme that relies on one chip (148) to provide access control over a received digital data stream, with another chip (150) utilized to process the digital data stream once authorized to do so. A secure, multi-channel serial communications interface between the multiple chips re-encrypts a digital data stream that has been decrypted on the access control chip (148) using hardware encryption logic (162) disposed on the access control chip (148), communicates the re-encrypted digital data steam over a dedicated encryption virtual channel supported by the multi-channel serial communications interface, and decrypts the re-encrypted digital data steam using hardware decryption logic (164) disposed on the other chip (150).
US07673139B1
A technique is disclosed for protecting a computer system. In one embodiment, the technique comprises configuring a first account with a first privilege and configuring a second account with a second privilege, wherein the first account is restricted at a configured time.
US07673136B2
A system and method for sending a secure multicast transmission. The system includes a computer system coupled to a public network and configured to generate a multicast broadcast, and encrypt the generated multicast broadcast. The system also includes a router coupled to the public network, and a user system configured to request to join a multicast broadcast, wherein the user system is associated with the router. The router is configured to retrieve the encrypted multicast broadcast from the computer system over the public network, decrypt the sent multicast broadcast, and send the decrypted multicast broadcast to the user system requesting to join.
US07673124B2
A method, of manipulating a raw branch history (RBH), can include: providing a RBH relevant to a conditional branching instruction in a program; and filtering the RBH to obtain a filtered branch-prediction predicate. A related method, of making a branch prediction, can include: manipulating, as in the above-mentioned method, a RBH relevant to a given conditional branching instruction (CBI) to obtain a corresponding filtered branch-prediction predicate; and predicting a branching direction of the given CBI based upon the corresponding filtered branch-prediction predicate. Such methods operate upon data provided by a memory representing a Branch Register-Dependency Table (Br_RDT) that includes: entries corresponding to registers in a CPU, respectively; each entry in the Br_RDT being indicative of how content of a corresponding register in the CPU is dependent or not upon other ones among the plurality of registers in the CPU.
US07673117B2
An operation apparatus able to continuously perform processing involving computations differing according to the input conditions, able to keep down useless processing when for example the processing may be interrupted in the middle if certain conditions are satisfied, and able to achieve an improvement of transfer efficiency of course and also able to keep down any increase of the system cost and able to reduce the processing time and power consumption, including an address generator for generating first source data and outputting it together with a control signal, an address generator for generating second source data and outputting it together with control signals, and an operation element for performing predetermined operation with respect to the first source data from the first generator and the second source data by the second generator while switching the type of operation in accordance with a control signal and having registers for temporarily holding operation results, wherein reading and writing of held data of registers are controlled according to control signals.
US07673114B2
In a computer system that includes multiple nodes and multiple logical partitions, a dynamic partition manager computes current memory affinity and potential memory affinity at the request of a logical partition to help the logical partition determine whether a reallocation of resources between nodes may improve memory affinity for the logical partition. If so, the logical partition requests reallocation of resources by the dynamic partition manager so memory affinity for the logical partition is improved.
US07673106B2
A storage network system that can be kept running despite a failure in a host computer is provided. A computer system includes: first, second and third storage systems which store data and are connected to one another; a primary host computer connected to the first storage system; a secondary host computer connected to the second storage system; and a management portion which manages data transfer between the storage systems, in which the management portion sets the storage systems such that, while the primary host computer is in operation, data stored in the first storage system is transferred to the second storage system and data stored in the second storage system is transferred to the third storage system, and wherein the management portion sets the storage systems such that, while the secondary host computer is in operation, data stored in the second storage system is transferred to the first storage system and data stored in the first storage system is transferred to the third storage system.
US07673105B2
A method, and corresponding software and system, is described for paging memory used for one or more sequentially-accessed data structure. The method includes providing a data structure representing an order in which memory pages are to be reused; and maintaining the data structure according to a history of access to a memory page associated with one of the sequentially-accessed data structures. A position of the memory page in the order depends on a transition of sequential access off of the memory page.
US07673104B2
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus equipped with a plurality of storage units and a plurality of system controllers sharing communication control on the plurality of storage units. For shortening the processing time needed for a memory access request, each of the plurality of system controllers includes a local snoop control unit for, when receiving the memory access request, retrieving target data on the memory access request from the storage unit, this system controller takes charge of, in parallel with transmission/reception processing on a retrieval instruction in a broadcast transmitting/receiving unit or processing in a global snoop control unit and a memory access control unit for fulfilling the memory access request when the target data is retrieved by the local snoop control unit and a predetermined condition reaches satisfaction.
US07673103B2
A plurality of processor cores on a chip is operated in a normal fashion in a debug and diagnostic mode of operation of the processor. A crossbar switch on the chip couples and decouples the plurality of processors to a plurality of banks in a level-two (L2) cache that is also on the chip. As data is passed from each of the processor cores through the crossbar switch to the L2 cache, the data in cached in a first plurality of banks of the L2 cache. The commands associated with the data and information concerning the status of the data in the level-one cache are logged in another plurality of banks of the L2 cache. This logged information can be readout and used in diagnosis and debugging of L1 and L2 cache problems.
US07673092B2
The present invention discloses a PCI Express interface compatible with USB interface comprising a power supply terminal and a ground terminal, in which four data terminals include two data transmitting terminals and two data receiving terminals, characterized in that the power supply terminal and the ground terminal of said interface coincide with the corresponding terminals of USB interface specification, two of said four data terminals are guaranteed to have their positions and widths overlaid with the position of terminal D+ in USB interface specification and not with the position of terminal D− in USB interface specification, and the other two data terminals are guaranteed to have their positions and widths overlaid with the position of terminal D− in USB interface specification and not with the position of terminal D+ in USB interface specification. The PCI Express interface compatible with USB interface can provide a data transmission rate up to 3 Gb/S according to PCI Express interface specification and support to the conventional USB peripheral devices without any modification on them. It further has the advantages of small-sized outline and convenience in use.
US07673088B2
The subject disclosure pertains to a multi-tasking interference system. A gatekeeper receives primary and secondary inputs, and a quantifier ascertains attention values associated with primary inputs and interruption values associated with secondary inputs. Attention values are ascertained based on attributes associated with primary inputs such as type or genre of media presentation, temporal location within media presentation, or a likelihood of impending commercials. Based on a comparison between attention values and interruption values the gatekeeper determines whether, when, and how to interrupt the primary input with the secondary input and accordingly thereafter interrupts the primary input with the secondary input based on the foregoing assessment.
US07673077B2
A target discovery manager associated with a target discovery layer is interposed between a host initiator and one or more discovery protocols. The target discovery manager maintains a list of target devices found by each of several target discovery protocols. For each discovered target device listed, the associated discovery protocols that discovered the target device are prioritized and coalesced into a single enumerated target device register. The target device register provides the host initiator with a single list of known target devices produced from multiple discovery protocols with the discovery protocols that independently discovered each device prioritized according to various parameters.
US07673075B1
A device communicatively coupled to a host in a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) format. The device includes a processor to control operations in the device and a serial interface to control serial communication in accordance with the SATA format with the host. The serial interface during the transmission of primitives in a pass-through phase, inserts pass-through information to the host within or outside of a Frame Information Structure (FIS). If the host is not pass-through enabled, the host ignores the pass-through information. However, if the host is pass-through enabled, the host recognizes the pass-through information.
US07673073B2
A multiphase encoded protocol has sufficient density of commands to allow a rich language to be realized on a bus. When ten field bits are dedicated to commands, it is possible to have more than six million words to choose from per clock. Architecture to implement the multiphase encoded protocol and synchronize the bus includes an extracted clock, a command element, and a data element. One-bit multipliers are used as correlation elements to provide feedback into slaved delay-locked loop (DLL) devices, which provides precise phase alignment for successful data extraction of several channels.
US07673065B2
A computer is programmed to process a continuous query that is known to perform a new aggregation on one or more stream(s) of data, using one or more other aggregations on the stream(s). The computer creates an operator to execute the continuous query, and schedules the operator for execution in a specific order. In several embodiments, the computer determines the order based on dependency of the new aggregation on other aggregation(s), and on the order of performance of the other aggregation(s). The new aggregation is scheduled for performance after performance of each of the other aggregations. The computer is further programmed to pass results of the other aggregations to the new aggregation, by execution of a predetermined function. Support for use of the other aggregations results within the new aggregation eliminates redundant computation of the other aggregations within the new aggregation. The new aggregation may be user defined or built-in.
US07673057B1
A method and apparatus are described for controlling connection admission for a connection request in a network. A first estimator estimates an equivalent cell rate (ECR) based on description of the connection request. The description includes a booking factor. A second estimator estimates a measured utilization factor for admitted connections in the network using measurements of data streams arriving at queues. A controller is coupled to the first and second estimators to generate an admission decision for the connection request based on the estimated ECR and the estimated measured utilization factor.
US07673055B2
A device and a method of responding to a received interrupt event received by a communication device is provided. The method comprises accessing data associated with a calendar application and/or a location application to determine a current state of availability of a user of the device using data; determining whether a response action is to be sent in response to the event when the device is note available; and sending the response action. The device incorporates modules to perform the method.
US07673054B2
A method includes receiving, from an application process, a document specifying a communication protocol and a communication channel, reading the document, and instantiating the communications channel with the application process using the communication protocol. The method also includes sending communications to the application process using the communication protocol through the communication channel, and receiving communications from the application process using the communication protocol through the communication channel.
US07673053B1
A broker of the present invention enables distributed applications to communicate with a server in distributed computing environment. The broker receives from a client a request to execute a transaction. The broker receives input parameters including input data. The broker uses a routing service to locate the server. The broker then establishes a communications connection to the server and forwards the input data. The transaction is executed and the broker receives a response from the server. The broker forwards the response to the client. The broker can segment the input data before forwarding the input data to the server. If the response is in multiple segments, the broker can combine the multiple segments into one string before forwarding the response to the client. Further, the broker may receive requests from multiple clients via multiple communications connections. The broker then consolidates the multiple communications connections and establishes one communications connection to the server.
US07673051B2
The exposure and usage of one or more particular physical and logical resources by methods within an isolation boundary may be annotated so as to preempt resource usage conflicts. Further described are tools, contracts, and collaborative processes for at least identifying potential resource usage conflicts. More particularly, the example tools, contracts, and collaborative processes may be used to annotate at least one of exposure and consumption of one or more particular physical and logical resources by methods within an isolation boundary.
US07673049B2
Methods and systems for preventing unacceptable communication requests from being transmitted to a network-accessible service are disclosed. A domain name server for a local network including a network-accessible service returns an address for a network security system remote from the local network in response to a request for the address of the network-accessible service. The network security system processes communication requests directed to the network-accessible service to determine whether the communication request is a network intrusion attempt. If so, the network security system performs a network intrusion prevention technique, such as discarding the communication request, generating an alert or message or storing at least a portion of the communication request. Otherwise, the network security system forwards the communication request to the network-accessible service. A firewall on the local network may discard requests destined for the network-accessible service unless the source address equals a public address of the network security system.
US07673043B2
A system and method provide comprehensive and highly automated testing of vulnerabilities to intrusion on a target network, including identification of operating system, identification of target network topology and target computers, identification of open target ports, assessment of vulnerabilities on target ports, active assessment of vulnerabilities based on information acquired from target computers, quantitative assessment of target network security and vulnerability, and hierarchical graphical representation of the target network, target computers, and vulnerabilities in a test report. The system and method employ minimally obtrusive techniques to avoid interference with or damage to the target network during or after testing.
US07673041B2
Methods for performing exact search string matches in the data plane of a network processor. The methods employ a two-stage string search mechanism to identify the existence of a search string from a set S in a packet payload. A first pre-processing stage identifies a potential search string match and a second analysis stage determines whether the first stage match corresponds to an exact string match. The first stage is implemented using hash values derived from at least one of search strings in set S or sub-strings of those search strings. In one embodiment, a plurality of Bloom filters are used to perform the first pre-processing stage, while in other embodiments various CAM-based technique are used. Various TCAM-based schemes are disclosed for performing the second analysis stage. The methods enable packet payloads to be searched for search strings at line-rate speeds.
US07673035B2
A network management apparatus and method processes network management data received during the monitoring of a network and generates events for presentation in an event list to a user when certain event conditions are detected. Network management data received in relation to an event condition is processed to determine whether it represents a recurring event condition. A recurring event condition is determined if a predetermined number of equivalent events have been generated, and appear in the event list, in an immediately preceding time period. In the described embodiment, if a recurring event condition occurs, a recurring event is generated, and subsequent occurrences of the event condition are not included in the event list presented to the user.
US07673031B1
If retrieved information from a storage area network resource does not enable simple and direct mapping of the respective unknown type of storage area network resource to a known type of storage area network resource with sufficient certainty (because the collection of data does not match any known unique groupings of data associated with known types of resources), then a mapping function attempts to automatically map the storage area network resource to a respective known type of storage area network resource. For example, the mapping function attempts to identify the specific identity of the storage area network resource in question. After repeating a process of mapping and determining identities of one or more different resources in a storage area network environment, an advisory process applies a set of configuration rules to identify whether an arrangement of resources will work properly.
US07673027B2
A system and method for selecting a preferred design for a multi-tiered architecture of components based on a set of established criteria is provided. The system and method receive a model describing different design constructions and a set of performance and availability requirements and produces a design or set of designs that best meet these requirements. The system and method include a model for representing the infrastructure design space for multi-tier systems and their properties appropriate for judging performance and availability properties of services as well as associated cost. The method and system further include a method for searching the design space in an efficient manner.
US07673019B2
A system and method for determining a quantitative measure of qualitative usability of related Web pages. Web pages are accepted that each include at least one hyperlink referencing and proximal cues relating to distal content included in another Web page. An information goal identifying a target Web page is specified. An activation network is formed. A directed graph including nodes corresponding to the Web pages and arcs corresponding to the hyperlinks is built. A weight is assigned to each arc to represent a probability of traversal of the corresponding hyperlink based on a relatedness of keywords in the information goal to the proximal cues included in the referenced Web page. A traversal through the activation network to the node corresponding to the target Web page is evaluated as a quantitative measure of usability.
US07673010B2
A network infrastructure operable to support the exchange of communications, such as voice communications, between a first client terminal having a first user identifier and a second (destination) client terminal associated with a second user identifier (handle). This second client terminal may be part of a family of client terminals. The network infrastructure includes a packet-switch network, a shared database and a number of client terminals serviced by one or more service providers. These terminals include a network interface and are identified by their service provider by a network address. The shared database associates user identifiers, metadata and network addresses. This allows a user to access the shared database in order to initiate a call request from the first client terminal to the second client terminal(s). The first client terminal receives the network address or vectoring information on the network address of the destination terminal through the shared database. This shared database may also have metadata used to manage the call. The destination terminal may receive or redirect the call within the family of client terminals based on metadata contained within the shared database or stored locally.
US07673009B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for media delivery in data forwarding storage network. A method includes, in a network of interconnected computer system nodes, directing unique data items to a computer memory, and continuously forwarding each of the unique data items, independent of each other, from one computer memory to another computer memory in the network of interconnected computer system nodes without storing on any physical storage device in the network.
US07672990B2
A computational method for implementation in an electronic digital processing system performs integer division upon very large (multi-word) operands. An approximated reciprocal of the divisor is obtained by extracting the two most significant words of the divisor, adding one to the extracted value and dividing from a power of two out to two significant words. Multiplying this reciprocal value by a remainder (initialized as the dividend) obtains a quotient value, which is then decremented by a random value. The randomized quotient is multiplied by the actual divisor, and decremented from the remainder. The quotient value is accumulated to obtain updated quotient values. This process is repeated over a fixed number of rounds related to the relative sizes in words of the dividend and divisor. Each round corrects approximation and randomization errors from a preceding round.
US07672989B2
A signed multiplication method and a corresponding device for multiplying a first multiplicand with a second multiplicand. The device stores the first multiplicand in a first register as a first vector of at least one respective digit and storing the second multiplicand in a second register as a second vector of at least one respective digit, each digit having a pre-determined number of bits. The method further converts the digits of the first vector and the second vector to corresponding digits of one bit less each than the pre-determined number of bits. A processor effects signed multiplication of the multiplicands.
US07672978B2
A method is shown for handling content in a data processing device, the data processing device comprising at least a first application and a data-handling module. The method comprises: synchronizing, in the control of said data-handling module, content of a first external device and at least one file residing in a specific folder of the data processing device, the file being accessible by at least one first application, and the file being generated by means of the first application or the file being directed to the first application, or both.
US07672975B2
Various systems and methods described above permit a user's content experience (e.g. music playing experience) to be monitored and for metadata describing this experience to be collected. This metadata can be dynamically updated as a user experiences media content and then used to impart to the user a personalized experience that is tailored to that specific user. A user's metadata can, in some instances, provided across a wide variety of computing devices on which the user may experience the media content, thus standardizing the user's personalized media experience. In addition, intelligent or “smart” playlists can be provided which, in some instances, can be dynamically and automatically updated to reflect current user experiences, thus providing a highly personalized and enjoyable content experience.
US07672973B2
A patient interface device selection system that includes a database storing a plurality of sets of data. Each set of data in the plurality of sets of data is associated with a unique patient interface device or a component thereof. A patient data collection system, such as a measuring device, acquires a set of patient data that correspond to at least one characteristic of a patient. A processing system compares the acquired patient data with the plurality of sets of data, and determines the patient interface device or the component thereof that is suitable for use by such a patient based on a result of the comparison.
US07672959B2
The present invention provides an update detecting apparatus capable of properly extracting an important update. The update detecting apparatus includes a difference extracting unit, a morphological analyzing unit, and an update determining unit. The difference extracting unit extracts the difference between text data included in a server-side file and text data included in a cache file. The morphological analyzing unit divides the difference extracted by the difference extracting unit into words (morphemes) and generates a word group. The update determining unit determines that an update is performed in the server-side file when a word satisfying a predetermined condition is included in the word group generated by the morphological analyzing unit.
US07672958B2
The present invention provides a method and a system for identifying relevant information in a data set. The method involves the identification of nodes of interest in a tree structure. A node of interest is a node that contains information, which is relevant to a pre-defined context. The method further involves the step of iteratively extracting sub-trees from the tree structure and identifying records in the extracted sub-trees. The sub-tree is a hierarchical structure that shows the relationship of each node of interest with its ancestor nodes in the tree structure. Each record is a group of sub-tree nodes and contains at least one node of interest.
US07672954B2
A method and apparatus for configuring a plurality of server systems. In one implementation, the method includes configuring the plurality of server systems as a first database having a group name and a group port, and configuring a subset of the plurality of server systems as a second database having a subset name and a subset port. The first database is accessible by a client application via the group name and the group port for storage of data in the first database, and the second database is accessible by a client application via the subset name and the subset group for storage of data in the second database.
US07672952B2
Content of interest to a user is identified. A first semantic abstract is generated for the content of interest using a state vector representation of the content of interest. The first semantic abstract is compared to a second semantic abstract representing another prospective content. If the first semantic abstract is within a threshold distance of the second semantic abstract, then the prospective content is recommended to the user.
US07672941B2
A deterministic finite state machine is operated to detect any one of a plurality of digital signatures each corresponding to a succession of characters and each defined by a sequence of states in the state machine. The machine is organized such that for each state after the first in any sequence there are not more than two allowed exit transitions of which one is to a default state. Input characters are examined to determine a transition from a current state of the machine to a next state. When the machine responds to an input character to perform a transition to the default state, the input character is re-examined to determine the next state of the state machine. The reduction in transitions saves considerable space in memory.
US07672924B1
A collection of data is processed and information arising from the processing can be distributed in a variety of ways to support a decision-making process. A query-analyze-distribute approach can be used, and queries, analysis directives, and distribution directives can be associated into a sequence and shared. Access to interim processing is provided, allowing recipients of information to more easily understand and refine the processing. Unbound queries, unbound analysis directives, and unbound distribution directives can be used and shared so that the queries, analysis directives, and distribution directives can be tailored to a particular situation via binding. The query, analysis, and distribution processing can be loosely-coupled to allow easy interchange and combination of sequence elements. A sequence can be scheduled for periodic execution, and distribution of data can be limited to instances when data falls outside of certain expected values. A decision-making process can be automated by creating an executable workflow. The environment in which the workflow is executed can support a rich set of features, including gating, branching, drill down, and execution tracking. A decision-making process based on a sequence can be refined by employing executable metasequences.
US07672923B1
A method for managing a GRID network. The method includes performing trend analysis of a job type repeatedly processed by the GRID network to anticipate a future load on the GRID network associated with the job type. The job type is associated with a service level agreement (SLA). At least one internal performance metric of the GRID network is measured to monitor current GRID network status. The future load that is anticipated is compared with the at least one performance metric to predict future satisfaction of the SLA.
US07672918B2
Artificial neurons and processing elements for artificial neurons are disclosed. One processing element generates a continuous value signal based on the first plurality of inputs and generates a responsiveness based on a second plurality of inputs. An output value determining portion generates an output signal that is equal to a predetermined value when the responsiveness signal corresponds to a non-responsive and equal to the continuous value signal when the responsiveness signal corresponds to a responsive state. Another processing element produces an output signal having a magnitude equal to zero except during a fixed time after an event when the output signal has a magnitude based on an event time.
US07672910B1
An augmented Lagrangian genetic algorithm that may be used to generate solutions for optimization problems subject to linear, bound, and non-linear constraints is discussed. The augmented Lagrangian genetic algorithm uses an adaptive mutation operator to separately handle the linear, and bound constraints, and uses an augmented Lagrangian framework to handle non-linear constraints. The non-linear constraints are handled by creating a sub-problem without the linear and bound constraints and solving the sub-problem using Lagrange parameter estimates and a penalty factor. The exclusion of the linear constraints and boundary constraints from the sub-problem allows the sub-problem to be resolved in a more effective manner than is possible using conventional techniques.
US07672908B2
In various embodiments, a method for processing a request made by a requester is provided. The method may include receiving at least one request from at least one requester, the request being in the form of natural language; analyzing the request with an agent; selecting at least one form based on analyzing the request; permitting a service agent to perform at least one step in association with the request; executing at least one update based on at least one form; and, forwarding information regarding processing of the request to a learning module operatively associated with the agent.
US07672907B2
In a postage meter including a print module for printing on mail items, a feed tray for feeding in mail items to said print module, and a collection tray for receiving the mail items once they have been franked by the print module, said feed tray is inclined in two directions so that the mail items disposed on said tray are brought by gravity against a retractable jogging flap into the same determined position at which said print module affixes a postal imprint.
US07672901B1
A method, program product and system for managing a group of aggregated accounts, each aggregated account held in a different one of a plurality of deposit institutions, each of the aggregated accounts associated with at least one financial entity and holding funds of a plurality of clients of the at least one financial entity, the method comprising: (a) conducting an allocation process to allocate net deposits of funds to and net withdrawals of funds from the aggregated accounts, the allocation process comprising: (1) determining for each request for a net withdrawal of funds from or a net deposit of funds to at least one of the aggregated accounts whether the request occurred after a cut-off time; (2) receiving or calculating for at least one request that occurred before the cutoff time a holdback amount from the net deposit to or net withdrawal from the one aggregated account relating to funds to be heldback that may be used in covering post cut-off time transactions; (3) holding back the holdback amount of funds for the at least one request that occurred before the cutoff time by requesting withdrawal of an amount of funds from or depositing of an amount of funds to the aggregated account based at least in part on the holdback amount; and (b) initiating a post cut-off time procedure that transfers an amount of funds required to satisfy the request for withdrawal from the holdback amount of funds when it is determined that the request for withdrawal or deposit of funds occurred after the cut-off time.
US07672897B2
In accordance with the present invention, a method and system of communal purchasing is disclosed. The preferred embodiments describe a community purchase model where a product can be purchased a particular price only if enough buyers are willing to purchase at that price. The preferred embodiments pool together the collective buys for a product to get a better price than if an individual buyer was to purchase the product by himself/herself. Therefore, a fixed “discount” price is used to collect a number of buys, wherein the number of buys is recorded in a specific product record and the transaction to purchase the product is consummated if the number of buys for the product reaches a minimum number of buys. Moreover, further embodiments obtain a pre-payment or a guarantee for payment for the product while collecting buys for the product. In addition, further embodiments set a cutoff date by when the number of buys must reach the number of minimum number of buys or cancel the product purchase if the cutoff date has been reached and the number of buys for the product associated with the product record does not reach the minimum number of buys.
US07672893B1
A system for trading Certificates of Deposits, Discount Notes, CMOs, Corporate Bonds, High Yield Bonds, Illiquid Agency Securities, Mortgage Pass-Through Securities, Secondary Zero comprises an updatable offering inventory module and a price discovery module. The system allows users to send Request for Quotes (RFQs) to pre-determined dealers and capture dealer responses thereto. Traders who send RFQs have the ability to accept the best dealer response and execute a trade as an agent or to improve the best dealer response and execute the trade as a principal.
US07672891B2
An information technology services providing company manages a portfolio of software applications for a client company. A plurality of the applications are preselected along with a recommendation for each. The recommendations have value drivers with parameters. Values for the parameters are received from the client as responses to questions or through collaboration with the client. A business value is then determined for the value drivers using the parameter values. Total cash flow, return on investment, net present value, internal rate of return, or other financial measures may be calculated. The client decides to proceed with the recommendations and the services providing company delivers services and software according to the recommendations.
US07672879B1
A software suite for enabling viewing and manipulation of multiple categories of aggregated data compiled from a plurality of data sources and accessible through a single interface operated on a data-packet-network is provided. The data sources are available for direct network-access through multiple access points available from within the interface. The software suite comprises, a calendar module having at least one display interface for enabling viewing and manipulation of time and date-sensitive calendar data, a transaction module having at least one display interface for enabling viewing and manipulation of financially oriented account data, a portfolio tracking module having at least one display interface for enabling viewing and manipulation of investment oriented account data, a net-worth reporting module having at least one display interface for displaying a solution-oriented net-worth report compiled from the aggregated data, a bill-payment module having at least one display interface for enabling viewing and initiation of payment action regarding current billing data and an account-alert module having at least one display interface for reporting time and event sensitive account alerts related to changes in account data due to occurring events or pre-configured time parameters.
US07672877B1
A method and apparatus for associating data with product abstractions is provided. Steps are provided for associating a particular product with a product category, based on a first data set, wherein the first data set includes data that corresponds to an offer to sell the particular product by a particular party and matching the first data set with a product abstraction associated with the product category to which the particular product corresponds.
US07672875B2
The server system, communicatively connected to multiple client systems via a network, facilitates at least one web page for download to the client systems, where the web page offers multiple products for purchase. Responsive to the server system detecting a particular product selection from a particular client system, the server system downloads to the particular client system a first package offer of the client selected product and at least one second product from among at least one vendor selected product at a first price at a first discounted rate for purchase of both the client selected particular product and the at least one second product. In addition, the server system includes a selectable option for replacing the first package offer in the download of the first package offer. Responsive to detecting, at the server system a user selection of the selectable option from the particular client system, the server system creates at least one alternative product package offer for purchase of both the client selected product and at least one third product from among a different set of vendor selected products. The server system downloads the alternative product package offer to the client system for selection for purchase by the user, wherein the user is enabled to select a final product package including the client selected product and at least one third product form the different set of vendor selected products at a total price having a final discounted rate.
US07672869B2
A method for delivering advertising information (AI) from a server site (S) to a client (C). The including steps of 1) maintaining an advertising data base (ADB) comprising advertising records, each advertising record being associated with at least one item and/or category; 2) generating an item list (PL) containing at least one item to be acquired by the client (C); 3) retrieving, from the advertising data base (ADB), at least one advertising record which is associated with at least one item contained in the item list (PL) or a category of the item; and 4) using the retrieved advertising record for delivering advertising information (AI) from the server site (S) to the client (C).
US07672866B2
A preferred set of prices for a plurality of products, generally demand coefficients is provided. Cost data including activity-based costs is also received. A preferred set of prices that will provide a local optimum for the preferred set of prices which maximizes profit is then determined. In one embodiment, a sales model and a cost model are created. A plurality of rules is specified. The preferred set of prices is then determined based on the sales model, the cost model, and the plurality of rules.
US07672864B2
Attendees or viewers of a presentation provide input marking specific points corresponding to a high level of interest. Received bookmarks are aggregated to generate overall level-of-interest values for various points in the presentation. A graphical depiction of these level-of-interest values is provided; users can navigate using this graphical depiction to find specific parts of the presentation having the highest level of interest or importance. User interface elements provide access to various filtering, display, and configuration options for the graphical depiction.
US07672854B2
Storage organization of data according to business objectives is provided to manage data storage consumption among data storage consumers. Data is not managed at the file level, but organized, coordinated and enforced at a global level based on business logic. The business objectives typically include customer information, priority information, marketing information, manufacturing information, recorded contract and documentary information or information regarding the revenue generation or potential of data. The logical representation enforces data storage consumers to work according to the definitions in the logical representation. The data storage consumers will have the opportunity to define storage parameters for each of the data defined in the logical representation. The placement and determination of where the data should be stored is accomplished according to these defined storage parameters. Data organization based on business logic provides a higher degree of intelligence to the organization of data storage compared to prior art solutions.
US07672852B2
Localized prompt statements. For each prompt statement to be executed, identifying a resource string that corresponds to a variable associated with the prompt statement permits retrieval of one or more localized media files. For example, the media files may provide for playing spoken prompts in a localized language. Executing the prompt statement includes rendering the retrieved media files. In one aspect, the localized prompt statements contain both text and numeric values wherein a spoken prompt is grammatically correct for the numeric value contained in the prompt.
US07672842B2
A method and system processes a speech signal. A fast Fourier transform is performed on a speech signal to produce a speech signal having a plurality of frequency bands in a frequency domain. For each frequency bands, filter the speech signal in the frequency domain with a spatial broadband filter, compress the broadband filtered speech signal, filter the compressed speech signal with a spatial narrowband filter; and, expand the narrowband filtered signal to an expanded signal
US07672837B2
A pitch search method and device for digitally encoding a wideband signal, in particular but not exclusively a speech signal, in view of transmitting, or storing, and synthesizing this wideband sound signal. The new method and device which achieve efficient modeling of the harmonic structure of the speech spectrum uses several forms of low pass filters applied to a pitch codevector, the one yielding higher prediction gain (i.e. the lowest pitch prediction error) is selected and the associated pitch codebook parameters are forwarded.
US07672816B1
Disclosed is a system and process which is a computer aided application using artificial intelligence modeling. This artificial intelligence model is able to predict the propensity for sheet metal parts to wrinkle when manufactured using a hydro forming process. The model uses geometric and material parameters to predict defects and facilitates defect predictions certainty into the ordinarily arduous redesign process directed at eliminating defects.
US07672812B2
A cable fault detection component (168) receives input data indicative of a fault in an electrical power system. The component (168) analyzes the input data to determine if the fault is indicative of a self-clearing cable fault and generates corresponding output data (276). In one implementation, the cable fault detection component (168) is implemented as a software module which operates on a computer (105) of a substation intelligence system (104).
US07672808B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that determines a center of rotation for a component in a computer system. During operation, the system measures a first acceleration of a first location on the component and a second acceleration of a second location on the component, wherein the first location and the second location are separated by a predetermined distance. Then, the system determines the center of rotation using the first acceleration, the second acceleration, and the predetermined distance.
US07672806B2
In a displacement detection device, an acceleration sensor generates at least a first acceleration signal relating to an axis of detection, and a displacement detection circuit is connected to the acceleration sensor has a comparator stage for comparing the acceleration signal with a programmable acceleration threshold and generates a displacement-detection signal. A high-pass filter is arranged between the acceleration sensor and the comparator stage so as to reduce a DC component of the acceleration signal. The cut-off frequency of the high-pass filter is modified according to the type of displacements that are to be detected.
US07672801B1
Targets are sensed by a first sensor in a first coordinate system and by a second sensor in a second coordinate system. Gridlock or congruence between the coordinate systems is achieved by sensing at least four targets with both sensors. Pseudomeasurements are generated in both local and external coordinate systems by taking the differences between a first target location and each of second, third, and fourth target locations. The pseudomeasurements are filtered in corresponding pairs, to thereby generate an estimated rotation matrix between the local and external coordinate systems. The estimated rotation matrix is applied to the local coordinate system. The target locations in the rotated local and external coordinate systems are filtered in corresponding pairs to generate an estimated translation vector. The rotation and translation are applied to the local coordinate system to bring it into congruence with the external coordinate system.
US07672794B2
A system for monitoring, diagnosing, and/or controlling a flow process uses one or more flow meters based on an array of pressure sensors. A signal processor outputs at least one of a flow signal, a diagnostic signal, and a control signal in response to the pressure signals from the pressure sensors. The flow signal indicates the at least one parameter of the fluid, the diagnostic signal indicates a diagnostic condition of a device in the flow process, and the control signal is effective in adjusting an operating parameter of at least one device in the flow process. The system may be arranged as a distributed control system (DCS) architecture for monitoring a plurality of flow meters based on array-processing installed at various locations throughout a flow process.
US07672793B2
A method for calculating the probable damage size in a structure includes defining a configuration of an array of transducers mounted on the structure. Any pair of the transducers includes an actuator and a sensor, and each pair defines a propagation path in the structure. All propagation paths that are affected by being touched by a damage of the structure, and all adjacent paths that are untouched and thereby unaffected by the damage, are identified. A range of sizes of the damage is determined, and a probability density of the damage versus damage size is calculated on the basis of the transducer array configuration and the affected and unaffected propagation paths identified. On the basis of the probability density, a most probable damage size is determined, and the probability of the damage being greater or less than the most probable damage size is also determined.
US07672789B2
Least Square Deconvolution (LSD) uses quantitative allele peak area derived from a sample containing the DNA of more than one contributor to resolve the best-fit genotype profile of each contributor. The resolution is based on finding the least square fit of the mass ratio coefficients at each locus to come closest to the quantitative allele peak data. Consistent top-ranked mass ratio combinations from each locus can be pooled to form at least one composite DNA profile at a subset of the available loci. The top-ranked DNA profiles can be used to check against the profile of a suspect or be used to search for a matching profile in a DNA database.
US07672768B2
An operation assist apparatus includes a display device installed in an operator's cab of a construction machine, at which at least operating procedures for the construction machine are displayed with text and illustrations; an image processing device that generates images; and a control device that engages the image processing device to generate an image of an operating procedure corresponding to an operation of the construction machine and engages the display device to display the image generated by the image processing device.
US07672766B2
The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises: a means (21) for calculating a set modal stress (F1) for the shock absorber as a function of at least one absolute modal body shell speed (Vmod), a means (34) for calculating a set modal stress (F2) for the shock absorber as a function of a relative modal body shell speed (Vmod2) in relation to the mid-plane of the wheels, a means (22) for detecting a bias on the vehicle, and a means (23) for calculating a weighting coefficient α for calculating a set modal stress (F) for the shock absorber using formula F=(1−α)·F1+α·F2.
US07672761B2
Disclosed is a wind-powered watercraft in which a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element that is provided with a profiled wing and is used as the exclusive, an auxiliary, or an emergency drive unit is connected to the vessel only via one traction rope, said traction rope optionally fanning out into a number of holding ropes. The wind-attacked element can be modified via at least one active drive element that is disposed thereupon and is effectively connected thereto by modifying the aerodynamic effect thereof in order to be guided into a given position relative to the watercraft or to dynamically maneuver.
US07672757B2
An interface system between a user and a vehicle includes a vehicle information terminal in communication with the vehicle; a VXML server that converts information into voice signals, and receives and transmits the voice signals between the vehicle information terminal and a telephone; an SMS server that converts information into a message, and transmits the message to the telephone; and a WIPI server that receives and transmits vehicle remote control information between the telephone and the vehicle information terminal.
US07672754B1
A computer-implemented method for balancing data tape cartridge utilization in an automated tape library system identifies a current number of data tape cartridge mounts per library string and identifies a target number mounts per the library string to identify a difference between the target number and the current number as a delta number of data tape cartridges to move. The number of data tape cartridge mounts per data tape cartridge per library string is identified and a data tape cartridge to move is selected by identifying a unique identifier of the data tape cartridge with the highest number of mounts, and having a lowest number of moves, to form a selected data tape cartridge, and creates a move request for the selected data tape cartridge. The move request is sent to the automated tape library for execution, and a move counter for each data tape cartridge moved is incremented.
US07672752B2
A method is provided for sorting incoming products (e.g., chicken butterflies) to be portioned into two or more types of end products (e.g., sandwich portions, strips, nuggets, etc.) to meet production goals. The method includes generally four steps. First, information on incoming products is received. Second, for each incoming product, a parameter value (e.g., the weight of an end product to be produced from the incoming product) is calculated for each of the two or more types of end products that may be produced from the incoming product. Third, the calculated parameter values for the incoming products for the two or more types of end products, respectively, are normalized so as to meet the production goals while at the same time achieving optimum parameter values. Fourth, for each incoming product, the end product with the best (e.g., largest) normalized parameter value is selected as the end product to be produced from the incoming product.
US07672749B1
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for hierarchical process control. The method includes accessing at least one first metric indicative of processing performed on a wafer by a plurality of tool groups. The method also includes providing at least one tool group parameter to each of the plurality of tool groups based on the at least one first metric and accessing a plurality of second metrics. Each second metric is associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of tool groups and is indicative of processing performed on the wafer by the plurality of tools in the corresponding tool group. The method further includes providing at least one tool parameter to at least one tool in each of the plurality of tool groups based on the second metric associated with the tool group and the at least one tool group parameter provided to the tool group.
US07672738B2
A programmable controller includes at least one user input interface, and an input register, at least one user output interface, programmable logic hardware and program loading means.The user input interface and input register is for connection to process plant and/or machinery to provide sampled and stored input data in digital form. The user output interface is for connection to process plant and/or machinery and receives output data in digital form. The programmable logic hardware includes a plurality of basic logic elements and electrically configurable interconnections. The interconnections are configurable to interconnect the logic elements as a user control program circuit and to connect the user control program circuit to the input and output interfaces. The program loading means enables the user to configure the programmable logic hardware as a circuit implementing a user control program prior to initiating control of the associated process plant and/or machinery.
US07672736B2
A reinforced medical electrical lead for neurological applications has a reinforced construction for resisting the detachment of electrodes and lead connection terminals, thereby improving the robustness of the lead and extending the life of the lead by reducing the likelihood that a further surgical procedure will be required to remove the lead for repair or replacement thereof. The present reinforced lead construction maintains the integrity of the electrical connection between the conductor and the respective electrode and lead connection terminal by incorporating several reinforcing features in the lead construction in contrast to conventional lead constructions where it is possible to pull the electrodes and lead connection terminals away from their contact points with relatively little force.
US07672733B2
According to the present invention at least a pair of neurological stimulation electrodes are disposed in, on, about, adjacent and/or within excitable neural tissue of a subject. Cardiac activity of a patient is detected using one or more electrodes adapted for delivery of a neurological stimulation therapy (NST). Following detection of certain types of cardiac activity one or more of the plurality of stimulation electrodes deliver or withhold NST, if desired in synchrony with the cardiac activity or in response to the detected cardiac activity. The NST delivered includes without limitation subcutaneous stimulation, peripheral, TENS and/or vagal nerve stimulation therapy or the like.
US07672731B2
An implantable device, such as an implantable medical device (IMD) includes at least two radio frequency (RF) antennas and may additionally include an RF communication circuit. The RF antennas are spatially diverse, are disposed adjacent a housing, and are each configured to receive RF signals transmitted to the IMD from a remote RF signal source. The RF communication circuit, if included, is disposed within the housing and is configured to selectively receive the RF signals received by one or more of the spatially diverse RF antennas.
US07672728B2
Various aspects relate to an implantable device. Various device embodiments include at least one sensor for use in detecting sleep disordered breathing, a pulse generator adapted to deliver a first electrical signal through at least one electrode to stimulate a neural target, and a controller adapted to communicate with the at least one sensor and with the pulse generator. The controller is adapted to detect sleep disordered breathing using the at least one sensor and provide a therapy for sleep disordered breathing in response to a detected apneic event. The therapy for sleep disordered breathing is adapted to deliver the first electrical signal through the at least one electrode to induce a cough reflex to terminate the apneic event. Various embodiments stimulate a superior laryngeal nerve, various embodiments stimulate a recurrent laryngeal nerve, and various embodiments stimulate a vagus nerve. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US07672715B2
An implantable medical device system and associated method are provided for measuring an excitation-physiological response delay. The method includes sensing a first signal responsive to electrical activity in a first cardiac chamber, sensing a second signal responsive to a physiologic response to the electrical activity in the first cardiac chamber; and determining an excitation-physiologic response delay in response to the first signal and the second signal.
US07672708B2
A method for the non-invasive imaging of an anatomic tissue structure in isolation from surrounding tissues, including: receiving from an input device magnetic imaging data from a patient of the anatomic tissue structure and surrounding tissues; segmenting the imaging data to isolate the anatomic tissue structure imaging data from the imaging data for the surrounding tissues; separating the anatomic tissue structure imaging data into data populations corresponding to tissue microstructures; constructing an image from the imaging data for at least one of the tissue microstructures; and storing or displaying the image. An apparatus embodying the disclosed method is also described, as well as a method for the quantitative measurement of a nerve tissue suspected of demyelination.
US07672704B2
Methods and compositions useful for detecting an in vivo blood pool, monitoring the distribution of a compound of interest to a desired site in an organism by magnetic resonance imaging, monitoring the accumulation of a compound of interest at a desired site in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging, and monitoring the release of liposomal contents to an external stimulus at a desired site in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging are disclosed. Some compositions comprise envirosensitive or non-sensitive liposomes. Contrast agents, such as manganese-based compounds, are also disclosed.
US07672702B2
A noninvasive in vivo measuring system and a noninvasive in vivo measuring method are provided. In the noninvasive in vivo measuring system, a Raman-fluorescence measuring unit measures blood sugar concentration, which is measured using Raman spectra before and after applying a pressure on a finger, and outputs a final blood sugar level by correcting the blood sugar concentration measurement according to a Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration measured by an Hb measuring unit.
US07672700B2
A portable information terminal includes a first unit, a second unit, an engaging mechanism configured to engage the second unit to be slidable with respect to the first unit, a locking mechanism configured to lock the second unit slid by the engaging mechanism at a intermediate position of a slidable range, a detect unit configured to detect a lock position where the second unit is locked, and a first control unit configured to launch a predetermined function unit in accordance with the lock position.
US07672686B2
Entities of a wireless communication network adjacent to a given sending entity, i.e. entities of the network from which the sending entity is able to receive messages are identified. Among the adjacent entities, a minimum constellation associated with the sending entity is further identified as the smallest set of entities adjacent to the sending entity and included in a circle centered on the sending entity such that at least three of the entities of the set form a convex polygon circumscribing the sending entity. The transmitting power of the sending entity is then adjusted to a value sufficient for the messages sent by the sending entity to reach all the entities of the minimum constellation associated therewith.
US07672682B2
In a radio access network, techniques for determining how often an aces terminal in communication with the network is to monitor a channel of the network based on trigger information received from the access terminal that is specific to one or more of the following: a state of the terminal, a state of a premium application, and a user of the terminal. The trigger information includes information about one or more of the following: a power mode of the access terminal, a user profile identification, an activation of a premium application on the terminal, and a terminal of a premium application on the terminal.
US07672676B2
A method and system for obtaining the position of a mobile station located in a current network of a communications system including a plurality of networks supporting different positioning protocols. The current network is identified at a location center based on the identified current network. A suitable positioning protocol is selected among at least two protocols for communication of location information with the current network.
US07672675B2
A system is described that utilizes the measured characteristics of a cell site or a plurality of cell sites (100, 102, 104) and the cellular identification to selectively provide a wireless device (118) with location aiding from a cellular network server (120). The system may include a basestation (106, 108, 110) located within the cell site, a cellular measurement unit located in the wireless device (118), and a database (214) containing positional assistance information corresponding to the characteristic information. The system may also include a processing unit in signal communication with the basestation and the database (214) and a positional determination unit in the wireless device (118).
US07672674B2
Systems and methods that provide wireless communications are provided. One or more of the systems and methods may include, for example, selecting a lower data rate or a higher data rate based upon at least an evaluation of the operating conditions of a radio network. The evaluation may include, for example, computing a weighted signal strength measurement in which the weighting gives emphasis to the lower signal strength measurements of fading radio frequency signals.
US07672667B2
A broadcast-centric cellular communication system improves broadcast channel performance by exploiting the benefits of macro-diversity in a cellular communication system having a plurality of base stations that transmit signals within a plurality of associated cells. System-specific control information common to all cells is synchronously and simultaneously broadcast from multiple base stations using a broadcast channel that is identical across the entire system. Cell-specific control information is transmitted individually from each base station. Mobile stations use the broadcast information for initial synchronization to the system, and to obtain most relevant system information. After system synchronization, the mobile stations identify the connected cell through a physical layer characteristic, and perform initial access to the system.
US07672655B1
A phase mismatch compensation system includes a first summer that has a first input that communicates with a first phase of a received signal and an output. A second summer has a first input that communicates with a second phase of the received signal and an output, wherein the second phase is offset from the first phase. A first filter selectively filters the output of the first summer. An adaptive control module determines a predicted shift between the first and second phases of the received signal based on an output of the first filter and an actual shift between the first and second phases of the received signal. A correction module communicates with an output of the adaptive control module and the first phase and second phase of the received signal. The correction module outputs a mismatch correction to second inputs of the first and second summers respectively.
US07672654B2
A receiver has an amplifier for amplifying a TV broadcast signal. A mixer mixes the amplified signal with an oscillation signal corresponding to a channel selection signal and generates a low frequency signal. A bandpass filter generates a signal having an amplitude corresponding to the low frequency signal. Electric field intensity filtering circuits filter the low frequency signal. A subtractor calculates a difference between the output from the filtering circuits and the output from the bandpass filter to generate a difference signal which is negatively fed back signal to the amplifier when an amplitude of the difference signal is larger than a predetermined value. The signal from the filtering circuit is the negative feed back signal when the amplitude of the difference signal is not larger than the predetermined value. An AGC signal corresponding to an electric field intensity of the output from the mixer is inputted to the amplifier.
US07672649B2
A controller for an RF amplifier, in particular for a RF amplifier of an MR tomography apparatus, has an IQ control element for adjusting the magnitude and phase an RF signal that is be fed to the RF amplifier. The IQ control element has a signal splitter that splits the RF signal into two partial signals having a 90° phase offset in an I path and a Q path, each having a multiplier for multiplying the partial signal by an I factor in the I path and a Q factor in the Q path. A summing unit recombines the partial signals. A detector determines the actual phase difference and actual amplification between the RF signal fed to the IQ control element and the RF signal amplified by the RF amplifier. An IQ controller determines the I factor and the Q factor from the actual difference and a desired phase difference and the actual amplifier and a desired amplification. The IQ controller has an operating point at which the I factor and the Q factor are the same magnitude if the actual and desired phase differences and the actual and desired amplifications are the same.
US07672644B2
A method and apparatus to reduce the overhead of frequently sent signaling messages is provided. Various methods are presented which facilitate conveying information that is unchanged from information in the earlier part of the message, or in a previous signaling message, without sending the previous information in its entirety.
US07672640B2
A near field microwave scanning system includes a switched array of antenna elements forming an array surface, a scan surface substantially parallel to the array surface and separated by a distance less than about 1 wavelength of the measured frequency, and a processing engine for obtaining and processing near field data, without the use of an absorber.
US07672632B2
A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. The width of the metal belt is made larger than that of the elastic roller. Flanges, each of which regulates a sliding movement of the metal belt by being in contact with an edge of the metal belt, are provided on both sides of a press roller opposite the metal belt.
US07672631B2
A heater element is provided adapted to heat a belt in a fuser assembly. The heater element comprises laterally spaced-apart first and second features. The first feature may have a first inner surface and the second feature may have a second inner surface facing the first inner surface. Preferably, at least a majority portion of at least one of the first and second inner surfaces is positioned at an oblique angle relative to a reference line extending substantially perpendicular to a path a substrate moves along as it passes through the fuser assembly.
US07672630B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming mechanism to form a toner image on a recording medium according to image data and a fixing mechanism to fix the toner image on the recording medium. The fixing mechanism includes a fixing member configured to apply heat to the toner image on the recording medium and a cleaning mechanism to clean a surface of the fixing member. The cleaning mechanism includes a cleaning member and a controller. The cleaning member removes contaminants from the surface of the fixing member. The controller controls the cleaning member to cause friction with the fixing member for a time period when a job starts to remove the contaminants from the surface of the fixing member and controls the cleaning member so as not to cause friction with the fixing member after the time period elapses.
US07672627B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an intermediate transfer body; a plurality of image forming portions; a secondary transfer unit; a recording medium accommodating container; a waste toner accommodating container; a first electrical part; and a second electrical part.
US07672622B2
A support element for supporting a coil spring that rotates to transport toner, and transmitting a rotational force of driving means to the coil spring. The support element includes: an end inserting member with a recess in which an end portion of the coil spring is inserted; a first support member, a second support member with a projection, a third support member, and a fourth support member, which support non-end portions of a first coil spring; and joint members for joining the end inserting member and the support members. This realizes a coil spring support element with which the flow rate of toner from a toner bottle can be increased, and the rotational force of driving means such as a motor can be efficiently transmitted to the coil spring.
US07672620B2
This is a magnetic developer purification structure that is used along with other stations positioned in the path of an electrostatic moving belt or drum in an electrostatic marking system. This purification structure may be a separate station or may be part of the development station provided it supplies purified developer to the development station prior to developer contacting the latent image on the drum or belt. The purification structure will agitate the developer mix to form a homogenous mixture of toner and carrier. This mixture is magnetically treated to separate less magnetically attracted contaminants from the remainder of the mixture. The contaminants are removed from the mix and substantially pure developer is then available for contact with the latent image.
US07672619B2
A wire bar is formed by winding a wire, which comprises a first flat portion formed along an overall longitudinal length, around a peripheral surface of a metal core such that the peripheral surface of the metal core and the first flat portion tightly contact with each other. Since this increases the area size of a contact portion where the wire and the metal core contact each other, it is possible to increase the force of static friction which fixes the wire to the metal core. Fixing of the wound wire to the metal core by the strong force of static friction effectively prevents the wound wire from getting deviated.
US07672614B2
A driving apparatus includes a driving gear connected to a driving motor, a driven gear engaged with the driving gear, and a driving force coupling part coupling the driving gear and the driven gear to not move with respect to each other. The driving force coupling part includes an axle distance maintaining member to maintain a substantially constant distance between axes of the driving gear and the driven gear. The driving apparatus couples the driving gear and the driven gear to not move with respect to each other when a driving force is transmitted from the driving gear to the driven gear, thereby maintaining a substantially uniform distance between axes of the driving gear and the driven gear. Accordingly, a driven gear shaft is substantially prevented from changing position and deformation of a process cartridge is substantially prevented due to a driving torque of the driving gear and a load torque of the driven gear. Thus, a change in a gap between a developing roller and a photoconductive medium is minimized.
US07672606B2
A method for transfer voltage adjustment for use in an image forming apparatus includes forming first and second halftone reference patterns, transferring the halftone reference patterns to a transfer element at respective first and second saturated transfer voltages, calculating first and second amounts of adhering toner on the transfer element, and setting up a saturated transfer voltage based on the first and second transfer voltages, the amounts of adhering toner, and a saturated amount of adhering toner obtained from stored data.
US07672604B2
An image forming apparatus having a developing apparatus using a development system in which toner is moved by means of a traveling wave electric field. The image forming apparatus comprises a plurality of developing apparatuses having toner conveyance members which convey toner by means of a phase-shift electric field created by voltages of n phases applied to a plurality of electrodes, to a region opposing an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed; and a voltage application device which applies a voltage having an average potential value between the potential of the image portions of the latent image on the image carrier and the non-image portions of same, to the electrodes of the toner conveyance members of the respective developing apparatuses.
US07672599B2
An arrangement is described for compensating intra-channel nonlinearities in an optical communications system which combines optical dispersion compensation with electronic pre-distortion (EPD). EPD with moderate lookup table size can effectively suppress intra-channel nonlinearities over optical transmission links incorporating optical dispersion compensation. The arrangement can be implemented for a variety of optical communications systems, including 10 Gb/s, 40 Gb/s and higher bit rate systems as well as single-channel and wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) systems.
US07672592B2
An optical transmitter system supplies a plurality of different wavelength optical radiation components to a transmission element which, in operation, is connected to the transmitter system for conveying the different wavelength radiation components to a respective receiver. The supply of the wavelength components is interrupted, preferably in response to a loss of the wavelength components at the respective receiver. A timer provides respective restart times which differ one to another for the wavelength radiation components. The supply of the wavelength components is restarted, following an interruption, at the respective restart times provided by the timer.
US07672588B2
A ring optical transmission network access node (ANi) comprises: two identical band splitters (BSa, BSb), each provided with homologous first, second and third ports (Ba, BWa, BPa; Bb, BWb, BPb), a first coupler (CW) coupling the second port (BWb) of the second splitter (BSb), on the one hand, to the second port (BWa) of the first splitter (BSa) via a first channel and, on the other hand, to an access point (A2) via a second channel, a second coupler (CP) coupling the third port (BPa) of the first splitter (BSa), on the one hand, to the third port (BPb) of the second band splitter (BSb) via a first channel and, on the other hand, to another access point (A1) via a second channel. Such nodes enable the implementation of a passive ring network comprising only one fiber and in which the coupling ratios of the couplers (CW, CP) are optimized for two opposite traffic propagation directions.Application in particular to optical fiber metropolitan access networks, with broken fiber protection device.
US07672581B2
A camera and camera insert having an improved crop area either on a crop guide or otherwise provided on a display. The composition guide can be molded into the insert, such as a camera screen, or alternatively printed or painted thereon. The crop area can be horizontal and/or vertically oriented and/or provide an ability to identify both 8×10 as well as wallet sized images depending upon the embodiment utilized.
US07672578B2
An image capturing apparatus includes a calculation unit which converts shaking detected by a sensor unit into a shaking cancel amount, a correction/driving unit which drives a correction unit using the shaking cancel amount in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis, and corrects blurring of an image formed on an image capturing unit, a zoom position detection unit which detects the current zoom position of a zoom lens, and a center point change unit which changes a center point serving as a movable center of the correction unit in accordance with the zoom position set at either end of the zoom range, or an arbitrary position therebetween. This enables a position of a correction unit to be set which allows optimal image visibility and image blurring correction irrespective of the zoom state.
US07672573B2
A system includes an integrated encoder comprising an optical storage controller for coupling to an optical storage medium, and a data encoder for coding input data coupled to the optical storage controller, a first external memory coupled to a first memory controller in the integrated encoder, and a second external memory coupled to a second memory controller in the integrated encoder. In one aspect, the integrated encoder further comprises a first memory arbiter for selectively directing access to the first external memory by the optical storage controller and the data encoder, and a second memory arbiter for selectively directing access to the second external memory by the optical storage controller and the data encoder.
US07672572B2
An apparatus and method of addressing data losses when power to a digital recorder is unexpectedly interrupted during recording, and the file management information needed to play back digital content is not completely written to a disc. The recovery process for correcting inconsistencies between the AV data and management information left on the disc is time-consuming. By recording the recovery data used for the data recovery process when power is turned on again, the management information can be recompiled based on the recovery data. Thus, inconsistencies between the AV data and management information can be corrected. Additionally, AV data and recovery data in this case can be written alternately to contiguous areas on disc.
US07672570B2
An Interactive Graphics Decoder 13 decodes a graphics stream, and overlays a Page including a plurality of Buttons on a moving picture. The Interactive Graphics Decoder 13 then executes a command corresponding to one of the plurality of Buttons on the Page, to thereby perform (1) a control of switching the Page to another Page and (2) a control of specifying a Button to be set in a selected state on the other Page. A judgment is made as to whether a button number of the specified Button is invalid. If the button number is invalid, an alternative value is written in a status register.
US07672561B1
A telecommunications patching system includes: a rear panel, the rear panel including a plurality of cutout areas; a series of central compartments mounted to the rear panel, the central compartments being disposed in adjacent, vertically stacked relationship in at least one column, the rear ends of the central compartments being aligned with at least one of the cutout areas; and at least one series of lateral compartments mounted to the rear panel, the lateral compartments being disposed in spaced apart, vertically stacked relationship and laterally positioned from the central compartments, the rear ends of the lateral compartments being aligned with at least one of the cutout areas. The system also includes at least one central patching module with a plurality of connectors, the central patching module residing in one of the central compartments, the plurality of connectors being oriented to receive a communications cable from a lateral direction, a rear end of the central patching module extending rearwardly through a respective one of the cutout areas; and at least one lateral patching module with a plurality of connectors, the lateral patching module residing in one of the lateral compartments, the plurality of connectors being oriented to receive a communication cable from a lateral direction, a rear end of the lateral patching module extending rearwardly through a respective one of the cutout areas.
US07672539B2
A method (30) and apparatus (10) for scaling selected areas of a graphics display. The method (30) includes removing distortion-sensitive information from the graphics display, scaling or converting the format of the distortion-nonsensitive information, such as from one aspect ratio to another, and then compositing the removed distortion-sensitive information with the scaled distortion-sensitive information. Alternatively, the removed distortion-sensitive is scaled, distortion-free, before combining it with the scaled distortion-nonsensitive information. The apparatus (10) uses a recognition comparator (16) to identify distortion-sensitive information, a graphics remover (18) to remove the distortion-sensitive information, a first scaler (22) to scale the distortion-nonsensitive information, a second scaler to provide distortion-free scaling of the distortion-sensitive information, and a compositer (26) to combine the distortion-sensitive information with the scaled distortion-nonsensitive information. A graphics display can be converted using a conversion process that introduces distortion, yet distortion-sensitive information, such as logos, are not subject to such distortion.
US07672533B2
In the process of control of an image scanning device that creates image data by scanning an image from a recording medium on which the image is recorded, the image scanning device is controlled to acquire first image data by scanning the image at a first scanning resolution; image type is judged on the basis of this first image data; and in the process of controlling the image scanning device to scan the image at a second scanning resolution, second image data is acquired under image acquisition conditions dependent on the image type indicated by the judgment result in the image judgment step.
US07672531B2
The invention relates to a system and method of identifying an edge of an object in an image. The method comprises: identifying a segment of the image and a central pixel in the segment; identifying a set of mini-vectors as possible edges for the central pixel, utilizing a calculated gradient figure for the center pixel; and producing a reduced set of mini-vectors from the set of mini-vectors by removing mini-vectors that do not generate a continuous edge with an adjacent edge in an adjacent segment in the image.
US07672525B2
An image processing method for executing a quantization process of image data by error diffusion, executes a step of generating first image data by adding a quantization error to input image data, a step of generating second image data by quantizing the first image data by comparing the first image data with a predetermined threshold value, a step of generating third image data by dequantizing the second image data, a calculation step of calculating a quantization error for each pixel on the basis of the difference between the first and third image data, a storage step of storing information indicating a positive/negative sign of the calculated quantization error for a predetermined number of pixels in a storage unit, and a correction value generation step of generating a correction value used to correct at least one of the first image data and the threshold value on the basis of the information which is stored in the storage unit and indicates the positive/negative sign.
US07672517B2
A method for encoding pixels of digital or digitized images, i.e., images consisting of a set of image dots, named pixels in two-dimensional images and voxels in three-dimensional images, each of said pixels or voxels being represented by a set of values which correspond to a visual aspect of the pixel on a display screen or in a printed image. According to the invention, the pixels or voxels of at least one portion of interest of the digital or digitized image or each pixel or voxel of the set of pixels or voxels which form the image is uniquely identified with a vector whose components are given by the date of the pixels or voxels to be encoded and by the data of at least one or at least some or of all of the pixels around the pixels to be encoded and arranged within a predetermined subset of pixels or voxels included in the whole set of pixels or voxels which form the image.
US07672513B2
A method, in an apparatus for position decoding, operates to extract a sequence of positions from a sequence of images of a position-coding pattern, as recorded by a sensor. The method, which may be embodied as a computer program on a computer-readable storage medium, involves the steps of retrieving at least one reference position (P1, P1′); and extracting the sequence of positions solely by matching information obtained from each of the images with a corresponding pattern reference area (MA), which represents a known subset of the position-coding pattern with a given, direct or indirect, spatial relation to the reference position(s).
US07672507B2
Systems and methods according to the present invention provide techniques to reliably detect edges, lines and quadrilaterals, especially those with low local contrast, in color images. Edges can be detected using a color gradient operator is based on color distance with a non-linear weight determined by the consistency of local gradient orientations, thereby significantly improving the signal/noise ratio. In detecting lines, a variant of the Gradient Weighted Hough Transform can be used employing both the edge strength and orientation. Multiple non-overlapping quadrilaterals can be detected using a process which includes quality metrics (for both individual quadrilaterals and for a set of non-overlapping quadrilaterals) and a graph-searching method.
US07672496B2
A decision rule is used that examines the computer-aided detected (CAD) regions of interest in a computed tomography (CT) slice pair taken from volumetric medical CT scan to determine whether the detected regions of interest are part of the same object is disclosed. Segmentation is performed after initially detecting a region of interest but before calculating features in order to refine the boundaries of the detected regions of interest. Segmentation occurs in the two-dimensional slices by segmenting the region of interest on each slice. Adjacent slices are examined to determine if adjacent objects are actually part of the same structure. If they are not, the objects are split apart. In this way, three-dimensional objects are formed from two-dimensional segmentations.
US07672490B2
Motion is one of the most critical sources of artifacts in helical conebeam CT. By comparing opposite rays corresponding to projection data, the amount of motion may be estimated and, in the following suppression of corresponding motion artifacts may be performed according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method of motion artifact compensation may be implemented in both approximate reconstruction algorithms and exact reconstruction algorithms. Advantageously, motion during the data acquisition is detected automatically and related motion artifacts may be suppressed adaptively.
US07672481B2
An image information processing system permits stable display of image information regarding an object on an image display device even if an image area of the object recognized through an infrared camera is unstable. In the image information processing system, a first image area recognition unit recognizes a first image area associated with an object on the basis of a second variable based on the position of the object measured through the infrared camera. Further, a second image area recognition unit estimates the first image area on the basis of a first variable and a second variable based on the running mode of an automobile, and recognizes the estimated image area as a second image area. Then, an image information control unit causes a head-up display to display one or both of the first image information associated with the first image area and the second image information associated with the second image area.
US07672474B2
A digital watermark embedding apparatus of the present invention includes: a block dividing unit for dividing an input image into plural pixel blocks; a digital watermark information spreading unit for obtaining an embedding series having a length corresponding to a number of divided pixel blocks; a block-by-block embedding unit for selecting at least a frequency from predetermined plural frequencies according to a term value of the embedding series corresponding to a position of a pixel block in the image, amplifying amplitude of a waveform pattern corresponding to the selected frequency with an embedding strength value, and superimposing the waveform pattern in which the amplitude is amplified on the pixel block; and an image outputting unit for outputting an image on which a corresponding waveform pattern is superimposed on each pixel block by the block-by-block embedding unit.
US07672471B1
A light bulb loudspeaker and sound system where a wireless or wire receiver, amplifier and power supply can be mounted inside of the boundary defined by a light bulb and base where the glass bulb can be used as a sound radiating diaphragm, or alternatively, the bulb can be made to move as a plunger and this act as a sound diaphragm. A transducer can convert audio from the amplifier into sound and thereby excite the glass bulb or cause it to move. A baffle can optionally be provided in the form of a lamp shade or otherwise. Different channels can provide different audio signals to different light bulb loudspeakers in the same physical area, or an electrical signal could be multiplexed. A small base station unit can transmit radio or wire signals containing audio information from an audio source such as a stereo. The filament can optionally be used as a radio receiving antenna.
US07672467B2
In a digital mixer capable of forming a plurality of externally-input signals into multi-channel surround signals by a mixing bus section, a plurality of output channels are set which correspond to a multi-channel surround channel configuration and are connected to a monitoring speaker system. When the externally-input signals are multi-channel surround signals, the digital mixer permits a selection as to whether the externally-input signals are to be monitored. If the signals are to be monitored, they are patched or converted in such a manner that their surround channel configuration agrees with the surround channel configuration of monitoring output channels, and then the externally-input signals are distributed among the monitoring output channels. Further, the digital mixer permits another selection as to whether the multi-channel surround signals formed by the mixing bus section are to be monitored. If the signals are to be monitored, they are distributed among the monitoring output channels.
US07672465B2
The audio speakers in a PLC-based home entertainment network receive GPS timing information. Audio packets from an audio source are timestamped with satellite timing information, so that the speakers can substantially simultaneously play audio using the timestamps and the timing information available at each speaker, thereby avoiding the echo effect caused by inadequate synchronization between speakers.
US07672460B2
Each participant apparatus (103) encrypts a plaintext by using a secret key of secret key cryptography, encrypts the encryption key by a public key, and sends the plaintext and public key to a substitution/decryption apparatus (112). With this processing, the limitation on the length of a ciphertext to be processed can be eliminated. In this invention, a verifiable proof text using a public key by each substitution/decryption apparatus is verified by a verification apparatus (109) by using the public key. If one of a plurality of organizations to decrypt and shuffle ciphertexts has not correctly executed the operation, a third party can specify it and prove that the specified organization is unauthorized.
US07672453B1
A communication system includes an encryptor and a decryptor. For improved encryption security, the encryptor includes a multitap delay line to produce mutually delayed samples of the signal to be encrypted. Each sample is operated on by a key or function to produce modified signal samples, and the modified signal samples are summed or combined to produce the encrypted signal. According to one aspect of the invention, at least one of the keys or functions includes a nonlinear function. In some embodiments, the functions are time-variant for improved security. Decryption is accomplished in some embodiments by an equalizer. The preferred equalizer is the maximum-likelihood-sequence estimators matched to the encryption functions. A Viterbi algorithm makes it easy to implement the matched equalizer.
US07672451B2
Disclosed is an electronic handheld device. The device has a first panel, a second panel rotatable relative to the first panel about an axis and a hinge. The hinge has first and second hinge members. The first member is engaged with the first panel. The second member is engaged with the second panel and rotatable relative to the first member about the axis. The first panel has a hole generally extending along the axis. The first hinge member is configured to linearly move within the hole. The first hinge member has an outer wall that has a curved surface and a key. The curved surface is a circular arc having a radius from the axis when viewed along the axis. The key is located outside an imaginary circle, a portion of the circumference line of which overlaps the circular arc.
US07672443B2
A method and system for handling identical VPN numbers assigned to multiple companies using a nature of address/number identifier initiated as public. The method includes receiving a query from a switch module to determine routing information for a call initiated by a calling party, the query including dialed digits with a nature of address identifier, and a calling party identifier updating the nature of address identifier associated with dialed digits to a private type code if a VPN coding identifier is determined present, looking up routing information associated with the dialed digits in a look-up table corresponding to the calling party identifier if the nature of address identifier includes the private type code, and transmitting the routing information to the switch module.
US07672429B2
A radiotherapy device control apparatus controls a radiotherapy device. The control apparatus includes a reference image creation section, a transmitted image creation section and an affected area position control section. The radiotherapy device includes a therapeutic radiation irradiation device that radiates therapeutic radiation, an imager that generates an image of a subject by using radiation transmitted through the subject, and a drive device that moves a couch, where the subject is arranged, with respect to the therapeutic radiation irradiation device. The affected area position control section judges whether a relative position of the couch with respect to the therapeutic radiation irradiation device is appropriate and changes the relative position of the couch by using the drive device based on a first position and a second position.
US07672426B2
In one embodiment, a scanning unit for inspecting cargo conveyances uses a partial radiation beam and a detector of reduced length. In another embodiment, a scanning unit for inspecting objects comprises a detector with gaps along its expanse. In both cases, the cost of the scanning system may be reduced. The object, the source, and or the detector may be moved to enable generation of computed tomographic images. Methods are disclosed, as well.
US07672425B2
A x-ray diagnostic apparatus and methods perform Real-Time Digital Radiography with particular application in dental x-ray imaging modalities, such as Orthopantomography, Scannography, Linear Tomography and Cephalography, by using a versatile and robotized mechanical structure, featuring projection movements in the required a real range and automatic adaptation of the same mechanical structure to serve the various x-ray imaging modalities foreseen.
US07672422B2
Systems and methods for the radiation scanning of objects, including large objects such as cargo containers, to identify contraband.
US07672421B2
Disclosed is a method and system for constructing, from a computerized tomography (CT) scan, an image relating to a physical structure. Projection data associated with the image is obtained and divided into a plurality of subsets. Filtered back projection (FBP) is then applied to each subset in the plurality of subsets. The image is constructed based on the application of the FBP to each subset in the plurality of subsets.
US07672419B2
A pre-charge circuit includes a receiving module, an enabling module, and a reset module. The receiving module receives the received driving signal of the pre-charge circuit and outputs the receiving driving signal according to a control signal. The enabling module outputs a pre-charge signal when receiving the driving signal. The reset module is electrically coupled between the receiving module and the enabling module for receiving a reset signal to reset the pre-charge signal.
US07672417B2
A data and clock recovery circuit having a retimer mode and a resync mode. In one embodiment, a receiver circuit includes; a retimer; a clock recovery circuit to provide a clock signal to the retimer; and an adjustable delay to provide a delayed version of an input signal to the retimer. When in a resync mode, the adjustable delay causes a pre-selected delay in the input signal and the clock recovery circuit dynamically selects a clock phase to generate the clock signal. When in a second mode, the adjustable delay dynamically adjusts the delayed version of the input signal and the clock recovery circuit outputs the clock signal having a pre-selected clock phase.
US07672415B1
A system and method for detecting a presence and frequency offset of a spread spectrum radio frequency signal is disclosed. The method comprises receiving the spread spectrum radio signal. The signal can be sampled to form a plurality of signal samples. Each signal sample can be multiplied by a complex conjugate of a proximate signal sample to form a plurality of signal sample pairs. The signal sample pairs can be summed over a predetermined dwell time period to form a data vector having a magnitude and angle offset to enable detection of the signal and to enable a frequency offset between the spread spectrum radio frequency signal and a receiver frequency reference to be determined.
US07672414B2
A data communication system transmits data between a transmitting node and a receiving node. The transmitting node may transmit data from streamed data signals across respective transmission paths of a communication link, transmit timing information for base clock signals across the communication link, and transmit configuration data. The configuration data may associate transmission paths and corresponding base clock signals. The receiving node may receive data from the transmission paths of the communication link and process the timing information for the base clock signals in response to the configuration data to generate a respective sample clock signal corresponding to each respective transmission path. Moreover, the receiving node may associate the sample clock with data from the respective transmission path depending upon the configuration data to recover the streamed data signals.
US07672410B2
This invention provides a diversity receiver, which has N branches for receiving M versions of an input signal. The diversity receiver comprises N channel state information estimators, a demodulator and a combining and demapping device. After receiving the M versions of the input signal, the demodulator performs demodulation and then generates M demodulated signals. N channel state information estimators, one channel state information estimator equipped for each branch, respectively fetches the signals from the demodulator to generate M channel parameters related to the M versions of the input signal. The combining and demapping device receives the M demodulated signals, performs signal combining operations and symbol demapping, and finally generate a pre-correcting signal.
US07672397B2
A method for producing a transmission signal, wherein an input signal (Vd(t)), which is to be amplified, is fed to a power amplifier (PA) which outputs the signal in an amplified form (va(t)). A reproduction thereof is made and allocates a specific pre-distortion input signal (vd(t)) value to a specific input signal (vd(t)) value. A corresponding pre-distortion value is then determined for the input signal (vd(t)) and the corresponding pre-distortion value is applied to the input signal (vd(t)) in order to feed the pre-distorted input signal to the power amplifier (PA). Subsequently, the crest factor (CF) is calculated from the output signal (vd(t)) of the power (PA) and the reproduction or the value thereof if the determined crest factor departs from a predetermined range of values.
US07672394B2
A transmission apparatus capable of preventing both degrading of the error rate characteristic and deterioration of throughput caused by repeated retransmissions. In the apparatus, arrangement determination section 103 determines in an initial transmission to perform general constellation mapping, and determines in a retransmission to vary a constellation mapping position or vary a bit arrangement of each symbol according to the number of retransmissions. Data interchanging section 105 interchanges transmission data for each bit on a symbol basis to be in a bit arrangement determined by arrangement determining section 103. Mapper section 106 configures (maps) the transmission data input from data interchanging section 105 in each symbol to be mapped in the constellation mapping position determined in arrangement determining section 103.
US07672391B2
In a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) system, a receiver is implemented with at least one additional receive path beyond the number of transmit antennas used to transmit the signals (e.g., wireless OFDM signals) received at the receiver. In one embodiment, the additional receive path is used to reduced co-channel interference (CCI) in the recovered OFDM signals. In particular, each receive path applies recursive filtering to generate separate subcarrier signals. A processor converts the separate subcarrier signals from the different receive paths into a first set of subcarrier signals corresponding to each transmitted OFDM signal, where each first set of subcarrier signals has desired signal and possibly CCI. The processor also generates a second set of subcarrier signals corresponding to the CCI. The processor subtracts portions of the second set of subcarrier signals from each first set of subcarrier signals to generate recovered OFDM signals having reduced CCI.
US07672385B2
A modem unit inputs a combination, of control signal and data signal, which is to use a plurality of subcarriers. Among a plurality of combinations inputted, the modem unit performs interleaving with a size defined by the first number of subcarriers on a control signal and performs interleaving with the size defined by the second number of subcarriers on a data signal. The modem unit appends additional signals to control signals contained in the second and the subsequent combinations in a plurality of combinations interleaved. The modem unit appends additional signals whose number of subcarriers is equal to the difference between the first number of subcarriers and the second number of subcarriers.
US07672381B1
A method (20) of orthogonal frequency-division multiplex (OFDM) communication via a plurality of subchannels (30) within a noncontiguous wideband channel (24) is provided. The method (20) determines an SNR for each of the subchannels (30). The method (20) then designates a subchannel (30) as clear (93) when its SNR is greater than a least-SNR threshold (70), as impeded (95) when its SNR is less than the least-SNR threshold and greater than an SNR-evaluation threshold, and as obstructed (111) when its SNR is less than both the least-SNR and the SNR-evaluation thresholds. The method (20) then transmits OFDM data (34) so that each of the clear subchannels receives the OFDM data (34) at a maximum subchannel signal level (40), each of the impeded subchannels receives the OFDM data (34) at an intermediate subchannel signal level (42), and each of the obstructed subchannels receives the OFDM data (34) at zero subchannel signal level (44).
US07672380B2
Described are communication systems that convey differential and common-mode signals over the same differential channel. Noise-tolerant communication schemes use low-amplitude common-mode signals that are easily rejected by differential receivers, thus allowing for very high differential data rates. Some embodiments employ the common-mode signals to transmit backchannel signals for adjusting the characteristics of the differential transmitter. Backchannel control signals are effectively conveyed even if the forward channel transmitter is so maladjusted that the received differential data is unrecognizable. Systems in accordance with the above-described embodiments obtain these advantages without additional pins or communications channels, and are compatible with both AC-coupled and DC-coupled communications channels. Data coding schemes and corresponding data recovery circuits eliminate the need for complex, high-speed CDR circuits.
US07672379B2
Apparatus and methods for processing signals are disclosed. A data structure for processing a signal includes a payload part having at least one of data coding information including pilot coding information per a frame and entropy coding information. The data structure includes a header part having main configuration information for the payload part. In the data structure, the main configuration information includes a first time information part having time information for entire frames and a first frequency information part having frequency information for the entire frames. The main configuration information further includes a first internal grouping information part including information for internal-grouping a group having a plurality of data per the frame.
US07672377B2
A method of removing a motion vector from a group of motion vectors used in an encoding process includes providing a list of motion vectors, selecting an initial motion vector from the list of motion vectors, and providing an intermediate motion vector using a motion vector refinement process. The motion vector refinement process uses, in part, the initial motion vector. The method also includes forming a region defined by one or more parameters associated with the initial motion vector and one or more parameters associated with the intermediate motion vector, selecting an additional motion vector from the list of motion vectors, determining that the additional motion vector points into the region, and modifying a state of the additional motion vector.
US07672370B1
A pipeline architecture for analyzing multiple streams of video is embodied, in part, in a layer of application program interfaces (APIs) to each stage of processing. Buffer queuing is used between some stages, which helps moderate the load on the CPU(s). Through the layer of APIs, innumerable video analysis applications can access and analyze video data flowing through the pipeline, and can annotate portions of the video data (e.g., frames and groups of frames), based on the analyses performed, with information that describes the frame or group. These annotated frames and groups flow through the pipeline to subsequent stages of processing, at which increasingly complex analyses can be performed. At each stage, portions of the video data that are of little or no interest are removed from the video data. Ultimately, “events” are constructed and stored in a database, from which cross-event and historical analyses may be performed and associations with, and among, events may be made.
US07672369B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for acquisition, compression, and characterization of spatiotemporal signals. In one aspect, the invention assesses self-similarity over the entire length of a spatiotemporal signal, as well as on a moving attention window, to provide cost effective measurement and quantification of dynamic processes. The invention also provides methods and apparatus for measuring self-similarity in spatiotemporal signals to characterize, adaptively control acquisition and/or storage, and assign meta-data for further detail processing. In some embodiments, the invention provides for an apparatus adapted for the characterization of biological units, and methods by which attributes of the biological units can be monitored in response to the addition or removal of manipulations, e.g., treatments. The attributes of biological units can be used to characterize the effects of the abovementioned manipulations or treatments as well as to identify genes or proteins responsible for, or contributing to, these effects.
US07672365B2
Apparatus and methods for selecting a transmit power level and subcarrier modulation assignments based on measured channel conditions to achieve a performance level for communications over a symbol-modulated subcarrier communication channel are provided. In some embodiments, the transmit power level may be changed depending on whether a desired packet error rate and/or a desired link data rate can be achieved based on selected subcarrier modulation assignments and a selected transmit power level.
US07672364B2
A method is provided for self-calibrating the mismatch and the direct current (DC) offset occurring in a mobile transceiver. The transmitter of the mobile terminal is used as a signal generator and the receiver thereof is used as a response characteristic measurer. The baseband processor calibrates the mismatch and the DC offset for the receiving and transmitting sides using a test signal received from the transmitter. When multiple input subcarriers are used in a mixer present on a reception stage, self-calibration is performed using multiple received test signals obtained from one transmission test signal.
US07672355B1
A two-wire metal vapor vacuum arc (MeVVA) vacuum head includes an upper housing and a lower vacuum housing. The lower vacuum housing includes a plurality of ports, a vacuum space, and a first grid positioned in the vacuum space. A plurality of electrodes are positioned in the ports with a first end with an electrical contact area extending into the upper housing, and a second end extending into the vacuum space with an exposed electrical discharge area spaced from the first grid. An electrode of opposite polarity is positioned in one of the lower housing ports with a first end extending into the upper housing and a second end attached to the first grid. An extractor grid is positioned adjacent to the first grid, an electrode selector is operatively connected to the plurality of electrodes, and a trigger generator circuit is connected to an input of the electrode selector.
US07672349B2
A laser diode which can be easily assembled at low material cost is provided. A first light emitting device having a laser structure on a substrate, a second light emitting device having laser structures on a substrate, and a support base are provided. The first light emitting device and the second light emitting device are layered in this order on the support base in a manner that the respective laser structures of the first light emitting device and the second light emitting device are opposed to each other. A substrate side of the first light emitting device and a laser structure side of the second light emitting device are electrically connected to the support base.
US07672346B1
Apparatus, methods, systems and devices for temperature independent or minimally temperature dependent narrow spectrum laser having an optimized output. The resonator includes at least one volume Bragg grating mirror that changes reflectance with temperature. The volume Bragg grating mirror in combination with a narrow spectrum laser optimizes the laser performance by being temperature tuned to the optimum reflectance. In an embodiment, the volume Bragg grating mirror has a temperature dependent reflectance that compensates for changes in the stimulated emission cross section of the gain medium and leads to a laser with output energy that is independent of temperature.
US07672344B2
A multi-laser system including a first laser oscillator for emitting a first laser beam, a second laser oscillator for emitting a second laser beam, a first scanner pair for receiving the first laser beam emitted by the first laser oscillator and deflecting the incident first laser beam to a desired location on a substrate to be processed, a second scanner pair for receiving the second laser beam emitted by the second laser oscillator and deflecting the incident second laser beam to a desired location on the substrate to be processed, and a scan lens for receiving laser beams that have been deflected from the first and second scanner pairs, focusing the received laser beams to spots having predetermined diameters so as to radiate the spots on the substrate.
US07672340B2
A bit stream multiplexer includes an input ordering block, a plurality of multiplexers, an output ordering block, and a Pseudo Random Bit Stream (PRBS) function. The input ordering block is operates to receive a first plurality of transmit bit streams at a first bit rate, order the first plurality of transmit bit streams based upon a first order select signal, and produce a first plurality of ordered transmit bit streams at the first bit rate. The input ordering block may also deskew the first plurality of transmit bit streams. The plurality of multiplexers operate to receive the first plurality of ordered transmit bit streams at the first bit rate and produce an interface plurality of transmit bit streams at an interface bit rate. The output ordering block operates to order the interface plurality of transmit bit streams based upon an interface order select signal. The PRBS function produces a PRBS that is coupled to at least one of the interface plurality of transmit bit streams. A bit stream demultiplexer is similarly constructed.
US07672336B2
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for filtering and policing for defending against denial of service attacks on a network. A data packet is filtered by a multi-tiered filtering and transmission system. Data packets matching the first tier filter are discarded. Data packets matching the second tier filter are transmitted to an output module based on a criterion. Data packets in the third tier filter are hashed into bins and data packets matching an entry in the bin are transmitted to the output module based on a criterion for the bin. Data packets in the fourth tier transmission system are transmitted to the output module based on a criterion. Data packets that do not meet the criterion for transmission to the output module are transmitted to an attack identification module which analyzes the data packets to identify attacks.
US07672331B1
Switches within a telecommunications network exchange so-called available bandwidth messages, each of which advertises how much bandwidth remains unassigned on a respective link. The network is of a type in which circuits are provisioned with various predefined numbers of time slots (equivalent to bandwidth). The sending of an available bandwidth message for a given link is triggered by a change in the number of time slots available on that link if that change results in a change in the number of circuit bandwidths that can be accommodated by that link for a newly provisioned circuit.
US07672327B2
The invention relates to a method for providing multicast and/or broadcast services to user terminals (8, 9) via a cellular network (2, 5). In order to increase the efficiency of multicast or broadcast transmissions, it is proposed that each of said user terminals (8, 9) willing to receive content data of at least one multicast and/or broadcast service enters at least once for a pre-determined time a state in which it is capable of receiving content data of said multicast and/or broadcast service. The invention equally relates to a corresponding user terminal, to a corresponding cellular network and to a corresponding mobile radio system.
US07672321B2
The invention relates to a network comprising a plurality of network nodes. At least part of the network nodes are directly coupled to each other via at least one star node. The star node comprises a plurality of star interfaces which are assigned to at least one network node. In dependence on a respective pilot signal, a star interface conveys a message from the assigned network node to the other star interfaces, or from another star interface to at least one of the assigned network nodes. Also, in the event of simultaneous arrival of at least two pilot signals at the respective star interfaces, a decision circuit releases one star interface for the transmission of data.
US07672319B1
An integrated processor-controlled router and switch fabric architecture provides connectivity between local area network (LAN) ports of an Ethernet switch serving a plurality of local area network users and a wide area network (WAN) interface that provides connectivity with the internet. Packets received from user ports of the Ethernet switch contain priority-representative information. Packets delivered by the processor-controlled router to the WAN interface are prioritized in accordance with the priority-representative information.
US07672318B2
An adaptable network bridge such as an Ethernet bridge includes a Rule Engine that processes data frames according to a set of switching rules. Each switching rule identifies a type of frame to which the rule applies, and how the type of frame is to be processed. The bridge also includes means for dynamically adding, subtracting, or modifying the switching rules in response to changes in the bridge's state information, or changes in context information. If the bridge includes a plurality of input/output ports, the Rule Engine may include a plurality of sets of switching rules, with each set of switching rules being applicable to a different port in the bridge. In this way, different network providers can share the same equipment, but have different network behavior.
US07672292B2
A radio base station allocates, when performing a real-time Internet-protocol data communication, up-link radio resources, based on basic information of transmission data, so that the transmission data is transmitted in synchronization with a codec cycle of a mobile communication terminal in a concentrated manner, and notifies a result of allocating the up-link radio resources to the mobile communication terminal as an up-transmission schedule. A mobile communication terminal controls transmission of a radio frame based on the up-transmission schedule.
US07672290B2
A dual-mode mobile terminal that connects to synchronous and asynchronous mobile communication systems and a method for displaying accurate time information in the terminal. The terminal includes a timer and a controller. The timer generates an interrupt signal at a predetermined time. When entering an asynchronous communication mode, the controller starts the timer to generate the interrupt signal at the predetermined time. When receiving the interrupt signal from the timer, the controller connects to the synchronous mobile communication system to obtain accurate time information therefrom and then connects to the asynchronous mobile communication system to switch to the asynchronous communication mode.
US07672288B1
The invention relates to mobility management of an Internet-type protocol traffic in a mobile communications system. At least one mobile exchange (DXT1, DXT2) in the mobile communications system is arranged to operate as a gateway which interfaces (router 1) the mobile communications system with external data networks. All the mobile exchanges (DXT1, DXT2) are arranged to use a user identity and a data equipment identity for identifying each mobile host and to use an identity of the mobile exchange currently serving the mobile host for defining the location of the mobile host. Each mobile host is dynamically or permanently allocated an IP address which is bound to the user identity, the data equipment identity and the location information of the respective mobile host. The use of the user identity and the data terminal identity provide a unique identification for the mobile host without any relation to the IP network. Also the location information is independent of the IP network. As a consequence, the mobile exchanges are able to route IP datagrams having the allocated IP address from a gateway exchange (DXT1) to the serving exchange (DXT2) according to the location information and further to the respective mobile host according to the user identity and the data equipment identity bound to the IP address by using a mobile network specific routing method instead of mobile IP tunnelling.
US07672284B2
In a wireless communication network having a plurality of devices operating at different data rates that contend for access to the network, a method is provided that assigns network access parameters to one or more of the devices so as to control throughput on the network. Examples of network access control parameters are the maximum data packet size and the contention window size. Generally, the network access control parameter for slower data rate users is configured so that they do not occupy the network a disproportionate amount of time compared to faster data rate users.
US07672279B2
The present invention relates to transmission and retransmission of packet data in a communications system, where the communications system uses rate switching or channel switching. It provides an interface for information exchange between radio resource management and one or more transport protocol entities in a cellular mobile radio system, particularly a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS, or WCDMA system.
US07672278B2
A printing device of the present invention has an additional function of switching over connection with two wireless networks. The printing device enters a user's wireless LAN based on first setting information, while establishing connection with a maker's wireless LAN based on second setting information to communicate with a printer, which is one of additional devices newly entering the user's wireless LAN. In response to a requirement from the printer, the printing device temporarily disconnects from the user's wireless LAN and enters the maker's wireless LAN to transmit setting information relating to the user's wireless LAN to the printer. This arrangement desirably relieves the labor of the user for settings in the additional devices to establish connection with the wireless network.
US07672273B2
A heterogeneous network apparatus, method, computer program, and computer readable medium can detect path status parameters of heterogeneous networks. The path status parameters are used to calculate path priorities. The path priorities are used to determine an assignment ratio. The assignment ratio is used to assign network paths to transmit a packet, whereby the problem that the heterogeneous network apparatus of the prior art cannot utilize different network interfaces effectively at the same time is solved.
US07672264B2
Provided is a method for maintaining a connection between a mobile device and a server over a wireless network in a manner that conserves the power supply of the mobile device. The claimed subject matter addresses the transmission of regular “keep-alive” packets to refresh a network address translation (NAT) server and the scanning for and connecting to faster, higher priority network connections. A configurable parameter, or power timeout, specifies an idle time. When a period of time equal to the parameter has passed with no traffic between the mobile device and the server, in either direction, periodic roaming scans and keep-alive messages are halted. As soon as traffic is resumed through the tunnel, the mobile device roams to the highest priority connection and roaming scans and keep-alive messages are resumed.
US07672261B2
A method of transmitting/receiving a data block is disclosed. In receiving at least one data block multiplexed to one physical channel, the present invention includes the steps of receiving control information for a data block transmission, checking whether there is a necessity for configuring a table having combination information of data block sizes internally, and configuring the table having the combination information of the data block sizes for a data block reception according to a result of the checking step. Accordingly, the present invention internally configures the CTFC information without receiving separate CTFC information, thereby facilitating the reception of data blocks.
US07672258B1
Wireless devices, transmitters, systems and methods are provided that have a narrow band signalling channel and a wide band channel, for example an OFDM channel. In order to save power, the wireless device is nominally powered down with the exception of a receiver specific to the narrow band signalling channel. Once instructed to do so over the narrow band signalling channel, the wireless device wakes up the rest of its wide band receive circuitry.
US07672256B2
A wireless communication method and apparatus for generating a scheduling grant based on a relative grant are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives an absolute grant from a serving radio link set (RLS) and receives a relative grant from the serving RLS and at least one non-serving radio link (RL). The WTRU decodes enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) absolute grant channel (E-AGCH) signals to detect an absolute grant, and decodes E-DCH relative grant channel (E-RGCH) signals to detect at least one relative grant. The WTRU then calculates a serving grant based on the detected absolute grant and/or the relative grant(s). The relative grant may be detected by performing a hypothesis test on the E-RGCH signals. A multiple alternative hypothesis test is performed for detecting the E-RGCH signals from the serving RLS and a binary hypothesis test is performed for detecting the E-RGCH signals from the at least one non-serving RL.
US07672247B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for monitoring health of a data processing system. A determination is made whether a response is received within a first time period in response to an I/O device sending a receive descriptor to the data processing system. A determination is made whether a second time period passes before the receive descriptor becomes available for sending to the data processing system in response to an unavailability of the receive descriptor for sending by the I/O device to the data processing system. A health check is performed on the data processing system if the first time period passes without receiving a response. A health check is performed on the data processing system if the second time period passes without a receive descriptor becoming available to send the data processing system.
US07672244B2
A network device that manages the flow rate of a stream of packets traveling within a network is converted from managing based on data rate to managing based on packet rate. In one embodiment, an interface receives from the device an actual length of a packet and provides to the device an effective length for the packet. A multiplexer generates the effective length by selecting the actual length during data rate mode and selecting a virtual length during packet rate mode. Various embodiments work with network devices that use various traffic management techniques. Such techniques include, but are not limited to: virtual time algorithms for determining excess packets; policing techniques that drop excess packets; and shaping techniques that buffer excess packets for possible later transmission.
US07672243B2
The invention provides a system and method for identifying and communicating congested paths throughout a network fabric. Briefly, the present invention augments the congestion management mechanism defined in ASI to allow for the communication of congested paths through the fabric, rather than the simple congested output port notification supported today through the use of DLLPs. Further, it also uses the communication mechanisms already defined in the ASI specification to implement this additional capability. Specifically, the present invention uses Transaction Layer Packets (TLPs) to communicate the information concerning congested flows throughout the network. This packet type allows the inclusion of much more information than DLLPs, allowing a more comprehensive and elegant solution to the issue of congestion management in an Advanced Switching network fabric.
US07672238B2
Traffic flows through an administered network from an off-network source and/or to an off-network destination are simulated and analyzed by selecting an ingress and/or egress node within the administered network, the ingress node capable of collecting traffic from an off-network source, and the egress node capable of routing traffic to an off-network destination. Traffic flow is mapped from the source or ingress node through the administered network to the egress node. The traffic flow may be simulated and analyzed. The ingress and/or egress nodes may be selected in a variety of ways.
US07672232B2
Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for managing and allocating bandwidth in a communication medium.
US07672231B1
A communications system comprising: at least two communications resource sets, wherein each resource set includes at least one communications resource; a communications terminal connected to each of the at least two communications resource sets for transmitting and receiving messages between the resource sets; a communications router operably coupled to each communications terminal; and a control processor configured to search within a periodic time frame comprising multiple time slots for an available time slot on a control channel at frequency fc or, if a time slot is not available on the control channel, to search within a periodic time frame comprising multiple time slots for an available time slot on a slave channel at frequency fc.
US07672226B2
A method, apparatus and program storage device for verifying existence of a redundant Fiber Channel path is disclosed. The present invention verifies that a redundant path exists prior to moving the WWNN and WWPN. Thus, if the path being used for Fiber Channel communication is lost, connectivity can be restored when the source of the original connection can access the physical interface where the WWNN and WWPN have been moved.
