US07700594B2
Compounds represented by Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, are inhibitors of mTOR and useful in the treatment of cancer.
US07700589B2
CGRP antagonists of the formula of which the following are exemplary: (1) 4-(2-oxo-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-1,3-benzodiazepin-3-yl)-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid-{(R)-1-(3,4-diethyl-benzyl)-2-[4-(1-methyl-piperidin-4-yl)-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide, (2) 4-(2-oxo-1,2,4,5-tetrahydro-1,3-benzodiazepin-3-yl)-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid-{(R)-1-(3,4-diethyl-benzyl)-2-[4-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-piperidin-1-yl]-2-oxo-ethyl}-amide.
US07700588B2
Compositions of midazolam, a benzodiazapine, in concentrations of 35-100 mg/ml are disclosed for the treatment of anxiety, epilepsy and epileptic seizures, invasive surgical procedures and diagnostic procedures and sedation. These compositions are particularly characterized by a solubilizer such an propylene glycol. Preferably, the compositions are aqueous solutions for intranasal administration.
US07700587B2
Haloperidol analogs that conforms to the structural formulae: wherein: R is H, or —(CH2)n—OH, n is an integer from 0 to 2, and A is a heterocyclic bridging group, consisting essentially of carbon and at least one nitrogen atom, which effectively maintains the distance between the moieties connected thereby such that the compound (1) is incapable of metabolizing to BCPP+ like species, (2) has an affinity for the D2 receptor subtype of 15
US07700585B2
Compounds of formula (I) as defined herein: are useful for treating behavioral disorders associated with dementia, psychoses, in particular schizophrenia (deficient form and productive form) and acute or chronic extrapyramidal symptoms induced by neuroleptics; for the treatment of various forms of anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and compulsive obsessive disorders; for treating various forms of depression, including psychotic depression; for treating disorders caused by alcohol abuse or weaning from alcohol, sexual behavior disorders, eating disorders and for treating migraine. Moreover, the compounds of the invention may be used for treating painful muscle contracture in rheumatology and in acute spinal pathology; for treating spastic contractures of medullary or cerebral origin; for the symptomatic treatment of acute and subacute pain of light to moderate intensity; for treating intense and/or chronic pain, neurogenic pain and intractable pain; for treating Parkinson's disease and Parkinson-like symptoms of neurodegenerative origin or induced by neuroleptics; for treating partial primary and secondary generalized epilepsy of simple or complex symptomology, mixed forms and other epileptic syndromes in addition to another antiepileptic treatment, or in monotherapy, for the treatment of sleep apnea, and for neuroprotection.
US07700573B2
Disclosed are methods for detecting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using differentially expressed genes KIF11, GHSR1b, NTSR1, and FOXM1. Also disclosed are methods of identifying compounds for treating and preventing NSCLC, based on the interaction between KOC1 and KIF11, or NMU and GHSR1b or NTSR1.
US07700569B1
The invention concerns the use of stabilized oligonucleotides comprising at least an octamer motif of the type: 5′-purine-purine-CG-pyrimdine-pyrimidine-X1X2-3′ wherein the pair X1-X2 is AT, AA, CT or TT, for preparing a medicine with antitumour activity.
US07700559B2
A compound comprising a gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogue conjugated to a hormone moiety, or a derivative thereof, which is able to bind to a plasma hormone binding protein. The compounds may be used to treat hormone-dependent disorders such as cancer, or as a contraceptive.
US07700557B2
The present invention is directed to an isolated polypeptide including: (1) the A subunit of Shiga-like bacterial toxin, wherein said subunit has the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:9; and (2) human vascular endothelial growth factor wherein the growth factor has the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:10; wherein the isolated polypeptide possesses ribosome inactivating activity. The present invention is also directed to compositions for inhibiting endothelial cell growth in a patient.
US07700541B2
Polymers comprising a polyethylenimine having a molecular weight less than 600 Daltons, a biodegradable group, and a relatively hydrophobic group that are useful for the delivery of bioactive agents to cells.
US07700539B2
The present invention relates to a solid free-flowing particulate laundry detergent composition comprising a detersive surfactant, carbonate and a cellulosic polymer.
US07700537B2
A joint area formed by intersecting surfaces is provided with a caulk seal using a conventional caulking gun to apply an initial bead of silicone-based caulk to the joint. Thereafter, a spray of cleaning solvent is immediately applied to the caulk bead and the surrounding surfaces of the joint area to provide complete covering. Excess caulk is removed from the joint such as through finger wiping, to provide a smoothed caulk joint corner. A cloth fiber patch is soaked to saturation in cleaning solvent and is smoothly stroked across the smoothed joint surface to further finish the caulk material surface and to remove traces of excess caulk material from the adjoining or intersecting surfaces. In an exemplary embodiment, the cleaning solvent is used to caulk a tub and wall joint area of a typical bathroom facility and includes a formula of soft distilled water, glycol ether DPM, a surfactant and an antifoaming agent.
US07700528B2
A method of stabilizing a multiphase composition is described. The composition comprises a structured surfactant phase, a benefit phase and a perfume comprising perfume raw materials. The method comprises a step of selecting at least 70% of the perfume raw materials that have a ClogP of greater than 1.8.
US07700514B2
A catalyst comprising at least one porous support, at least some platinum, and at least a second group VIII metal which is different from platinum and iridium, said catalyst having been prepared in accordance with a process comprising a) impregnation of the support with at least one solution containing a platinum precursor, b) activation in a neutral or oxidizing atmosphere, at a temperature of between 120 and 800° C., c) activation in a reducing medium, at a temperature of between 0 and 800° C., d1) impregnation with an aqueous solution and d2) treatment with at least one hydrogen donor compound, at a temperature of less than 200° C., e) the impregnation of the support, which has already been impregnated with the platinum, with at least one solution containing a precursor of said second group VIII metal, and f) activation in a neutral, reducing, or oxidizing atmosphere, at a temperature of between 100 and 800° C.
US07700513B2
Disclosed are catalyst systems and methods of making the catalyst systems for the polymerization of an olefin containing a solid titanium catalyst component containing an inorganic titanium compound, a magnesium alcohol adduct made from an inorganic magnesium compound and an alcohol, and a porous support having at least one of a certain specific surface area, a certain pore volume, and a certain median particle size. The catalyst system may further contain an organoaluminum compound and optionally an organosilicon compound. Also disclosed are methods of making polyolefins.
US07700500B2
The present invention relates to a biodegradable substrate having a durable hydrophilic surface prepared from a biodegradable polymeric substrate having a surface, wherein the biodegradable polymeric substrate has been rendered hydrophilic by subjecting the substrate to a corona glow discharge and/or coating the substrate with a hydrophilic polymeric material in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 2.0 percent by weight, based on the dry weight of the substrate. The biodegradable substrate can be used in absorbent personal care product, biomedical devices and food packaging.
US07700499B2
A method for making a semiconductor device is provided which comprises (a) providing a semiconductor structure equipped with a gate (209) and a channel region, said channel region being associated with the gate; (b) depositing a first sub-layer (231) of a first stressor material over the semiconductor structure, said first stressor material containing silicon-nitrogen bonds and imparting tensile stress to the semiconductor structure; (c) curing the first stressor material through exposure to a radiation source; (d) depositing a second sub-layer (233) of a second stressor material over the first sub-layer, said second stressor material containing silicon-nitrogen bonds and imparting tensile stress to the semiconductor structure; and (e) curing the second sub-layer of stressor material through exposure to a radiation source.
US07700492B2
A plasma etching method and apparatus, a control program and a computer-readable storage medium storing the control program are provided. The method is provided for performing a plasma etching on a silicon oxide film through an amorphous carbon mask, wherein the plasma etching is performed by using an etching gas containing a fluorocarbon gas, an oxygen gas, a helium gas and at least one of an argon gas, a krypton gas and a xenon gas.
US07700483B2
A method for fabricating a pixel structure is provided. First, a substrate having an active device formed thereon is provided. The active device has a gate, a gate dielectric layer, and a semiconductor layer having a channel, a source, and a drain region. Then, a dielectric layer is formed to cover the active device, and a photo-resist layer having a first photo-resist block and a second photo-resist block thinner than the first photo-resist block is formed on the dielectric layer. The second photo-resist block has openings above the source and the drain region, respectively. The source and the drain regions are exposed by removing part of the dielectric layer with the photo-resist layer as a mask. A second metal layer is formed after removing the second photo-resist block. A source and a drain are formed after removing the first photo-resist block. A pixel electrode connected to the drain is formed.
US07700476B2
A microelectronic assembly and method for fabricating the same are described. In an example, a microelectronic assembly includes a microelectronic device having a surface with one or more areas to receive one or more solder balls, the one or more areas having a surface finish comprising Ni. A solder material comprising Cu, such as flux or paste, is applied to the Ni surface finish and one or more solder balls are coupled to the microelectronic device by a reflow process that forms a solder joint between the one or more solder balls, the solder material comprising Cu, and the one or more areas having a surface finish comprising Ni.
US07700467B2
Exemplary embodiments provide methods for implementing an ultra-high temperature (UHT) anneal on silicon germanium (SiGe) semiconductor materials by co-implanting carbon into the SiGe material prior to the UHT anneal. Specifically, the carbon implantation can be employed to increase the melting point of the SiGe material such that an ultra high temperature can be used for the subsequent anneal process. Wafer warpage can then be reduced during the UHT anneal process and potential lithographic mis-alignment for subsequent processes can be reduced. Exemplary embodiments further provide an inline control method, wherein the wafer warpage can be measured to determine the litho-mis-alignment and thus to control the fabrication process. In various embodiments, the disclosed methods can be employed for the fabrication of source/drain extension regions and/or source/drain regions of transistor devices, and/or for the fabrication of base regions of bipolar transistors.
US07700460B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device fabrication method capable of reducing the thermal load on the substrate. The present invention also provides a semiconductor device fabrication method capable of improving the characteristics of a semiconductor element. The semiconductor device fabrication method according to the present invention comprises a step of thermally processing a semiconductor layer that is deposited on a substrate by using, as a heat source, the flame of a gas burner that uses a mixed gas of hydrogen and oxygen as fuel. As a result of thermal processing, the semiconductor layer is re-crystallized and an oxide film is formed on the surface of the semiconductor layer. The oxide film can be used as a gate insulation film and a capacitive insulation film.
US07700450B2
A method for forming a MOS transistor includes providing a substrate having at least a gate structure formed thereon, performing a pre-amorphization (PAI) process to form amorphized regions in the substrate, sequentially performing a co-implantation process, a first ion implantation process, and a first rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process to form lightly doped drains (LDDs), forming spacers on sidewalls of the gate structure, and forming a source/drain.
US07700445B2
For fabricating multiple field effect transistors (FETs), a first conductive layer is deposited over first and second active regions of a semiconductor substrate. The first conductive layer is patterned over the second active region to form mold structures. Mask structures are formed between the mold structures. The second active region is patterned using the mask structures or using spacers formed at sidewalls of the mold structures to form multiple fins of a field effect transistor of a fin type. The first conductive layer is patterned over the first active region to form a gate of another field effect transistor of a different type.
US07700437B2
In a non-volatile memory device with a buried control gate, the effective channel length of the control gate is increased to restrain punchthrough, and a region for storing charge is increased for attaining favorably large capacity. A method of fabricating the memory device includes forming the control gate within a trench formed in a semiconductor substrate, and forming charge storing regions in the semiconductor substrate on both sides of the control gate in a self-aligning manner, thereby allowing for multi-level cell operation.
US07700432B2
A process and an architecture related to a vertical MOSFET device and a capacitor for use in integrated circuits. The integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor layer with a major surface and further including a first doped region formed in the surface. A second doped region of a different conductivity type than the first doped region is positioned over the first region. A third doped region of a different conductivity type than the second region is positioned over the second region. The integrated circuit includes a capacitor having a bottom plate, dielectric layer and a top plate. In an associated method of manufacture, a first device region, is formed on a semiconductor layer. A field-effect transistor gate region is formed over the first device region. A capacitor comprising top and bottom layers and a dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor layer.
US07700417B2
A cascode amplifier (CA) (60) is described having a bottom transistor (T1new) with a relatively thin gate dielectric (67) and higher ratio (RB) of channel length (Lch1new) to width (W1new) and a series coupled top transistor (T2new) with a relatively thick gate dielectric (68) and a lower ratio (RT) of channel length (Lch2new) to width (W2new). An improved cascode current mirror (CCM) (74) is formed using a coupled pair of CAs (60, 60′), one (60) forming the reference current (RC) side (601) and the other (60′) forming the mirror current side (602) of the CCM (74). The gates (65, 65′) of the bottom transistors (T1new, T3new) are tied together and to the common node (21) between the series coupled bottom (T1new) and top (T2new) transistors of the RC side (601), and the gates (66′, 66′) of the top transistors (T2new, T4new) are coupled together and to the top drain node (64) of the RC side (601). The area of the CCM (74) can be substantially shrunk without adverse affect on the matching, noise performance and maximum allowable operating voltage.
US07700416B1
The process uses a sacrificial stressor layer to provide tensile strained surface regions for bulk silicon or silicon on insulator (SOI) substrates. The process deposits a sacrificial layer of silicon germanium on the surface of the substrate and then patterns the workpiece to form trenches extending through the silicon germanium stressor layer into the semiconductor substrate. The process fills the trenches with insulating materials and then removes the silicon germanium stressor layer, for example using wet etching, leaving a strained silicon or SOI substrate with a pattern of shallow trench isolation structures. The trench fill material is selected to stress the regions of silicon between the trenches to provide a tensile strained surface region to the semiconductor substrate. Such a strained semiconductor surface region can have improved mobility properties and so is advantageous for forming devices such as MOSFETs.
US07700415B2
An arrangement of nonvolatile memory devices, having at least one memory device level stacked level by level above a semiconductor substrate, each memory level comprising an oxide layer substantially disposed above a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of word lines substantially disposed above the oxide layer; a plurality of bit lines substantially disposed above the oxide layer; a plurality of via plugs substantially in electrical contact with the word lines and, an anti-fuse dielectric material substantially disposed on side walls beside the bit lines and substantially in contact with the plurality of bit lines side wall anti-fuse dielectrics.
US07700414B1
A method for the manufacture of a package to encapsulate at least one integrated circuit device includes the steps of: (1) providing a dielectric substrate having a first plurality of bond pads formed on a first side thereof and at least one aperture; (2) electrically interconnecting the integrated circuit device to the plurality of bond pads forming a substrate/integrated circuit device assembly; (3) gravitationally aligning the substrate/integrated circuit assembly such that the integrated circuit device is lower than said substrate; (4) introducing a volume of a low viscosity dielectric into the at least one aperture, wherein the volume is effective to coat a surface of the integrated circuit device and substantially fill the at least one aperture; and (5) encapsulating the integrated circuit device and the first side of said substrate with a dielectric polymer.
US07700411B2
A semiconductor device package includes a semiconductor device mounted and electrically coupled to a substrate, a package body encapsulating the semiconductor device against a portion of an upper surface of the substrate; and an electromagnetic interference shielding layer formed over the package body and substantially enclosing the semiconductor device. The present invention further provides methods for manufacturing the semiconductor device package.
US07700400B2
The present invention can finely arrange p+-type diffusion layers and n+-type diffusion layers. A p+-type diffusion layer 2 and an n+-type diffusion layer 3 are simultaneously formed on a back surface 1a of a semiconductor substrate 1 in a state that the p+-type diffusion layer 2 and the n+-type diffusion layer 3 are arranged close to each other, and a back surface 1a side of the semiconductor substrate 1 on which outer end portions of the p+-type diffusion layers 2 and the n+-type diffusion layers 3 are brought into contact with each other is removed thus separating the p+-type diffusion layer 2 and the n+-type diffusion layer 3 from each other and hence, the p+-type diffusion layer 2 and the n+-type diffusion layer 3 can be separately arranged in a state that the p+-type diffusion layer 2 and the n+-type diffusion layer 3 are arranged close to each other.
US07700399B2
Techniques for manufacturing a CMOS image sensor are provided. A semiconductor substrate is provided, and at least one isolation region can be formed between a periphery region of the substrate and a photo-sensing region of the substrate. A first well in the periphery region and a second well in the photo-sensing region of the substrate are formed. A third well associated with a photodiode is also formed. A gate oxide layer, polysilicon layer, and first metal layer are respectively deposited. The polysilicon layer and first metal layer are etched to form an least one gate in the photo-sensing region and at least one gate in the periphery region. At least two doped regions in the first well are formed, as well as a doped region in the second well. A silicide block layer is deposited over the photo-sensing region of the substrate. A second metal layer is deposited at least over the periphery region after deposition of the silicide block. The substrate is exposed to a thermal environment to form silicide. The second metal layer is removed by etching.
US07700396B2
Embodiments relate to an image sensor having a gate spacer and a fabricating method by which damage in a photodiode area can be prevented. Embodiments relate to a method of fabricating an image sensor including forming a gate electrode over a substrate having a prescribed photodiode area. A first oxide layer, a nitride layer, and a second oxide layer may be formed over the substrate including the gate electrode. A photoresist pattern may be formed over the substrate to open the photodiode area centering on the gate electrode. A transformed nitride layer may be formed by selectively carrying out nitridation on the second oxide layer formed over the photodiode area centering on the gate electrode using the photoresist pattern as a mask. The photoresist mask pattern may be removed. A spacer may be formed over one side of the gate electrode by carrying out blank etch on the first oxide layer, the nitride layer, the transformed nitride layer, and the second oxide layer.
US07700393B2
A method of manufacturing an enhancement type semiconductor probe and an information storage device having the enhancement type semiconductor probe are provided. The method involves using an anisotropic wet etching and a side-wall in which influence of process parameters upon the performance of a device is reduced to improve reliability of the device in mass-production, and factors of degrading measuring sensitivity is removed to improve the performance of the device.
US07700391B1
The present invention is a method of fabricating an optical device using multiple sacrificial spacer layers. The first step in this process is to fabricate the underlying base structure and deposit an optical structure thereon. A facet is then created at the ends of the optical structure and alternating sacrificial and intermediate layers are fabricated on the device. A mask layer is deposited on the structure, with openings created in the layers to allow use of an etchant. User-defined portions of the spacer layers are subsequently removed with the etchant to create air gaps between the intermediate layers.
US07700390B2
A method for fabricating a three-dimensional photonic crystal comprises the steps of: forming a dielectric thin film; injecting ions selectively into the dielectric thin film by using a focus ion beam to form a mask on the dielectric thin film; forming a pattern by selectively removing an exposed part of the dielectric thin film at which the mask is not formed on the dielectric thin film; forming a sacrificial layer on the dielectric thin film having the pattern formed therein; and flattening the sacrificial layer formed on the dielectric thin film until the pattern comes to the surface.
US07700384B2
An object is to provide a nitride semiconductor light emitting device capable of attaining high light emission output while lowering Vf, as well as to provide a manufacturing method thereof. The invention relates to a nitride semiconductor light emitting device, including at least an n-type nitride semiconductor, a p-type nitride semiconductor and an active layer formed between said n-type nitride semiconductor and said p-type nitride semiconductor, wherein the n-type nitride semiconductor includes a multi-layered nitride semiconductor layer having at least twice repeated stacked structure consisting of a first nitride semiconductor layer and a second nitride semiconductor layer, the multi-layered nitride semiconductor layer is formed in contact with the active layer, the first nitride semiconductor layer is a layer containing an n-type impurity, and the second nitride semiconductor layer is an undoped layer or a layer containing said n-type impurity to a concentration lower than said first nitride semiconductor layer.
US07700382B2
A subject of the present invention is to realize an impurity doping not to bring about a rise of a substrate temperature.Another subject of the present invention is to measure optically physical properties of a lattice defect generated by the impurity doping step to control such that subsequent steps are optimized.An impurity doping method, includes a step of doping an impurity into a surface of a solid state base body, a step of measuring an optical characteristic of an area into which the impurity is doped, a step of selecting annealing conditions based on a measurement result to meet the optical characteristic of the area into which the impurity is doped, and a step of annealing the area into which the impurity is doped, based on the selected annealing conditions.
US07700379B2
Methods of conducting wafer level burn-in (WLBI) of semiconductor devices are presented wherein systems are provided having at least two electrodes (210, 215). Electrical bias (920) and/or thermal power (925) is applied on each side of a wafer (100) having back and front electrical contacts for semiconductor devices borne by the wafer. A pliable conductive layer (910) is described for supplying pins on the device side of a wafer with electrical contact and/or also for providing protection to the wafer from mechanical pressure being applied to its surfaces. Use of a cooling system (950) is also described for enabling the application of a uniform temperature to a wafer undergoing burn-in. Wafer level burn-in is performed by applying electrical and physical contact (915) using an upper contact plate to individual contacts for the semiconductor devices; applying electrical and physical contact using a lower contact plate (910) to a substrate surface of said semiconductor wafer; providing electrical power (920) to said semiconductor devices through said upper and lower second contact plates from a power source coupled to said upper and lower contacts plates; monitoring and controlling electrical power (935) to said semiconductor devices for a period in accordance with a specified burn-in criteria; removing electrical power at completion of said period (955); and removing electrical and physical contact to said semiconductor wafer (965).
US07700372B2
A rapid assay concentration device. In one form, the device includes a substrate and a plurality of elongated membranes on the substrate. At least one capture zone is formed in each membrane. Each capture zone is responsive to the presence of a target chemical in the fluid. Capture zones on different membranes have different threshold levels of response to the chemical. In a method for monitoring temporal changes of analyte levels in a source multiple test devices are provided, with each device including a plurality of regions. Each region is responsive at a different sensitivity level to indicate presence of the analyte. A source sample is brought into contact with a first of the test devices to determine whether the source contains a level of analyte sufficient to induce a response thereto in one or more of the test unit regions. A different sample from the source is brought into contact with a second of the test devices to determine whether the source contains a level of analyte sufficient to induce a response thereto in one or more regions of the second test device.
US07700371B2
The present invention relates to a method for determining an analyte in a sample. According to the method of the present invention, a probe is transferred from a stamp member onto an analyte that is bound to a support member. The present invention is particularly suitable for microarrays.
US07700370B2
A process is disclosed for optimizing process flows in a facility, for example, a refinery, having stores, for example an oil tank, with a minimum and maximum fill level. Different raw materials, such as different types/grades of crude oil, are supplied sequentially in a predetermined quantity of batches at predetermined time periods and transported to the stores. The batches are then processed in at least one processing facility, such as a crude oil distillation plant, into primary products which are stored in additional stores and are optionally available for processing in another production stage or for delivery. The optimal sequence for supplying and processing the batches in the predetermined time period is determined by sequentially optimizing the rank order of each batch so as to minimize or eliminate the sum of infeasibilities, such as overfill and underfill time intervals, for the stores and the additional stores.
US07700368B2
The invention relates to methods of preparing cannabinoids in substantially pure form starting from plant material. Also described are substantially pure preparations of various cannabinoids and cannabinoid acids, and also extracts enriched in cannabinoids and cannabinoid acids.
US07700364B2
A method for detecting amino acids in body fluids is described. The method includes derivatizing the body fluid amino acids (e.g. plasma amino acids), separating the derivatized amino acids by liquid chromatography followed by and subjecting the identification by mass spectrometry. The identity of each amino acid from the body fluid is determined by comparing to a set of structurally similar amino acid standards, which preferably are added to the body fluid sample as internal standards. Use of the method of diagnose an individual with a metabolic disorder is also provided.
US07700356B2
The novel germ-line transformation systems disclosed in this patent application allow the physical deletion of transposon DNA following the transformation process, and the targeting of transgene integrations into predefined target sites. In this way, transposase-mediated mobilization of genes-of-interest is excluded mechanistically and random genomic integrations eliminated. In contrast to conventional germ-line transformation technology, our systems provide enhanced stability to the transgene insertion. Furthermore, DNA sequences required for the transgene modification (e.g. transformation marker genes, transposase or recombinase target sites), are largely removed from the genome after the final transgene insertion, thereby eliminating the possibility for instability generated by these processes. The RMCE technology, which is disclosed in this patent application for invertebrate organisms (exemplified in Drosophila melanogaster) represents an extremely versatile tool with application potential far beyond the goal of transgene immobilization. RMCE makes possible the targeted integration of DNA cassettes into a specific genomic loci that are pre-defined by the integration of the RMCE acceptor plasmid. The loci can be characterized prior to a targeting experiment allowing optimal integration sites to be pre-selected for specific applications, and allowing selection of host strains with optimal fitness. In addition, multiple cassette exchange reactions can be performed in a repetitive way where an acceptor cassette can be repetitively exchanged by multiple donor cassettes. In this way several different transgenes can be placed precisely at the same genomic locus, allowing, for the first time, the ability to eliminate genomic positional effects and to comparatively study the biological effects of different transgenes.
US07700343B2
The present invention is related to an isolated chemolithotrophic bacterium belonging to species Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans named Licanantay, deposited in Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH-DSMZ with number DSM 17318, and its use in pure form or in mixtures that contains it for bioleaching processes of minerals or sulfured metallic species concentrates. This Licanantay strain DSM 17318 has sulfur-oxidizing activity in both primary and secondary sulfured minerals, especially in the case of chalcopyrite, covellite, bornite, chalcocite, enargite and tennantite.
US07700338B2
The invention relates to isolated CGTases and isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding the CGTases. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid sequences as well as methods for producing and using the CGTases, in particular to cleaning and detergent composition comprising such CGTases.
US07700337B2
The present invention is directed to methods and compositions for microbial based production of pravastatin. The compositions of the invention include novel strains of microorganisms that are capable of efficiently hydroxylating compactin (ML-236 B) resulting in production of pravastatin. In particular, the microorganisms of the invention are genetically engineered to express both cytochrome P-450 and the fdxshe or fdxshe-like protein. The invention further relates to the use of such microorganisms in processes designed for production of pravastatin for use in treatment of disease such as hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia.
US07700334B2
Described herein is a method for the attachment of proteins to any solid support with control over the orientation of the attachment. The method is extremely efficient, not requiring the previous purification of the protein to be attached, and can be activated by UV-light. Spatially addressable arrays of multiple protein components can be generated by using standard photolithographic techniques.
US07700332B1
The invention provides methods and materials related to the production of lactic acid. Specifically, the invention provides methods for producing lactic acid using a crabtree-negative yeast, such as of the Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Candida, Trichosporon and Yamadazmya genera, which have been transformed with a lactate dehydrogenase gene.
US07700331B2
Capsinoids of formula (3) may be conveniently prepared in a high yield, in a short time, without using a dehydrating agent by esterification of a fatty acid of formula (1) with a hydroxymethylphenol of formula (2) using an enzyme without a solvent or in a low-polar solvent. Addition of a fatty acid represented by formula (4) is effective for stabilizing the ester compound of formula (3). wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification.
US07700330B2
The invention is to provide a process for effectively removing impurities contained in an amide compound-containing solution by making an amide compound-containing solution, particularly an amide compound-containing solution produced by a hydration reaction of a nitrile compound by using a microorganism fungus body containing nitrile hydratase or a processed product of the microorganism fungus body, in contact with activated carbon under acidic conditions.
US07700321B2
Methods for producing antibody-based therapeutics with enhanced ADCC activity are disclosed. The enhanced ADCC activity is attributed to oligomannose-type N-glycans on the antibodies and Fc fusion proteins of the invention. Also disclosed are methods of using such antibody-based therapeutics for targeted killing of cells in a mammal, including therapeutic methods of treating cancers, autoimmune diseases and other diseases.
US07700310B2
Methods and kits for detecting transferase activity in a sample by measuring ATP using a composition comprising an ATP-dependent bioluminescence-generating enzyme, a luminogenic molecule and one or more transferase quenching agents.
US07700303B2
The invention relates to biosensors, methods for obtaining them and their use for detecting, assaying or locating, in direct immunofluorescence, a ligand such as an antigen or hapten, in a heterogeneous population. The biosensor includes (i) at least one fragment of a receptor which is protein in nature, capable of binding to a ligand via an active site, where at least one amino acid residues of the fragment located in the proximity of the active site is naturally present in the form of a cystein (Cys) residue, or is substituted with a Cys residue, and (ii) a fluorophore coupled to the Cys residue.
US07700301B2
Disclosed are screening assays for identifying compounds which modulate the activity of, or signaling via, B7-4, or PD-1, especially which modulate the binding of B7-4 or PD-1 to a target molecule.
US07700300B2
GAT2 is consistently expressed at high levels in brain microvessel endothelial cells. Disclosed herein are assays for determining whether a test material/molecule is a substrate for, and/or is actively transported by, the GAT2 transporter, and therefore a candidate substrate for crossing the blood brain barrier. The assays are useful in screening for therapeutic, cytotoxic or imaging compounds used in the treatment or diagnosis of neurological diseases.
US07700295B2
Methods for the detection and measurement of tagged (labeled) biologically active materials in a sample are described. The tagged biologically active materials are detected using an atomic mass or optical spectrometer having a source of atoms or atomic ions. Element-labeled biologically active materials, comprising antibodies, antibody Fab′ fragments, antigens, aptamers, protein complexes, growth factors, hormones, receptors and other biologically active materials attached to a stable elemental tag, can be used in specific binding assays and measured by elemental spectroscopic detection. Also described are methods for the determination of metals in samples of interest using specific antibodies to isolate the target metals and elemental spectroscopy for detection and quantitation. Kits are provided comprising reagents to detect and measure labeled biologically active materials or labeled competition analytes.
US07700289B2
Novel methods for labeling RNA in a sample are described, as well as methods of performing an array analysis of a labeled RNA sample.
US07700285B1
An improved method for recovering the protein expressed by open reading frame 2 from porcine circovirus type 2 is provided. The method generally involves the steps of transfecting recombinant virus containing open reading frame 2 coding sequences into cells contained in growth media, causing the virus to express open reading frame 2, and recovering the expressed protein in the supernate. This recovery should take place beginning approximately 5 days after infection of the cells in order to permit sufficient quantities of recombinant protein to be expressed and secreted from the cell into the growth media. Such methods avoid costly and time consuming extraction procedures required to separate and recover the recombinant protein from within the cells.
US07700283B2
Methods and compositions are provided for repairing a polynucleotide so that it can be synthesized efficiently with improved fidelity and yield in, for example, an amplification reaction. This involves the use of a reaction mixture that includes a ligase and a cofactor selected from NAD+ or ATP and incubating the polynucleotide with the reaction mixture in the absence of Endonuclease VI.The reaction mixture may further contain an AP endonuclease and a polymerase. These enzymes are optionally selected according to their ability to withstand high temperatures so they can be included in an amplification mixture. The reaction mixture may be used prior to a polynucleotide synthesis reaction in which case enzymes that are not thermophilic may be used. The repair reaction is not time sensitive with respect to seconds, minutes or hours of incubation in the enzyme mixture.
US07700264B2
A photosensitive resin composition containing an alkali soluble resin, an ethylenically unsaturated compound, a near infrared absorbing dye, a compound containing a halomethyl group and a compound containing an organoboron anion, wherein the alkali soluble resin is an acryl resin having one or more pendant groups in which both terminals of a diol compound have been blocked with isophorone diisocyanates and then (meth)acryloyl has been added. Also provided is an image forming material having a substrate, and a photosensitive layer formed by the photosensitive resin composition on the substrate, as well as an image forming method.
US07700262B2
A top coat material for applying on top of a photoresist material is disclosed. The top coat material includes a polymer, which includes at least one fluorosulfonamide monomer unit having one of the following two structures: wherein: M is a polymerizable backbone moiety; Z is a linking moiety selected from the group consisting of —C(O)O—, —C(O)—, —OC(O)—, and —O—C(O)—C(O)—O—; R1 is selected from the group consisting of an alkylene, an arylene, a semi- or perfluorinated alkylene, and a semi- or perfluorinated arylene; p and q are 0 or 1; R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, an alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbons, and a semi- or perfluorinated alkyl group of 1 to 6 carbons; n is an integer from 1 to 6; and R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl, an aryl, a semi- or perfluorinated alkyl, and a semi- or perfluorinated aryl. The top coat material may be used in lithography processes, wherein the top coat material is applied on a photoresist layer. The top coat material is preferably soluble in aqueous alkaline developer. The top coat material is also preferably insoluble in water, and is therefore particularly useful in immersion lithography techniques using water as the imaging medium.
US07700261B2
A positive photosensitive composition comprises: (A) a compound that generates an acid upon irradiation with actinic ray or radiation; and (B) a resin that increases its solubility in an alkali developer by action of an acid, wherein the resin (B) has a repeating unit that has an acid-decomposable group and is represented by formula (I): wherein Xa1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a cyano group, or a halogen atom; Ry1 and Ry2 each independently represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group; Rx represents an alkyl group having 2 or more carbon atoms, or a cycloalkyl group; and Z represents an alkylene group.
US07700259B2
A polymer compound that, within a chemically amplified positive resist system, exhibits a significant change in alkali solubility from a state prior to exposure to that following exposure, as well as a photoresist composition that includes such a polymer compound and a method for forming a resist pattern, which are capable of forming fine patterns with a high level of resolution. The polymer compound includes, as an alkali-soluble group (i), a substituent group in which a group selected from amongst alcoholic hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, and phenolic hydroxyl groups is protected with an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group (ii) represented by a general formula (1) shown below: (wherein, A represents an organic group of 1 to 20 carbon atoms with a valency of at least n+1, and n represents an integer from 1 to 4).
US07700258B2
Compositions and methods for production of color images which are developable with improved marking sensitivity and image contrast are disclosed and described. Specifically, a color forming composition can comprise a polymeric activator phase including a polymer matrix and an activator dissolved therein, a color former phase including a color former, and a radiation absorber in thermal contact with the color former phase. Particularly, the color former phase can be finely dispersed within the polymeric activator phase at an average particle size of less than 2 μm.
US07700246B2
A conductive photolithographic film and method of forming a device using the conductive photolithographic film. The method includes depositing a conductive photolithographic film on a top surface of a substrate; and patterning the conductive photolithographic film to create a desired circuit pattern using a lithographic process. The conductive photolithographic film comprising about 50% to about 60% of a mixture of epoxy acrylate, a thermal curing agent, and a conductive polymer; about 20% to about 30% of a lithographic reactive component; about 10% to about 15% of a photo-active material; and about 3% to about 5% of additives that enhance conductivity of the conductive photolithographic polymer.
US07700244B2
A mask blank manufacturing department manufactures a mask blank by forming a thin film to be a mask pattern on a mask blank transparent substrate. When providing the mask blank to a mask manufacturing department, the mask blank manufacturing department provides optical characteristic information (transmittance variation) of the mask blank transparent substrate and optical characteristic information (transmittance variation and/or phase difference variation) of the mask blank to the mask manufacturing department. The optical characteristic information of the mask blank transparent substrate is provided to the mask blank manufacturing department from a materials processing department that manufactures mask blank transparent substrates.
US07700243B2
An electrolytic solution for use in nonaqueous electrolytic lithium secondary cells which contains a room temperature molten salt, i.e., an aliphatic quaternary ammonium salt of the formula (1), an organic solvent and a lithium salt of the formula (2), the electrolytic solution being characterized in that the organic solvent contains vinylene carbonate in an amount of 1 to 5 wt. % based on the electrolytic solution, and a lithium secondary cell using the electrolytic solution wherein R1 to R3 are each a chain hydrocarbon having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R4 is methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, propoxymethyl or isopropoxymethyl, and X1 and X2 are each a fluorine-containing anion.
US07700237B2
The composition of hydrogen storage alloy particles used in a negative plate of an alkaline secondary battery is expressed by a general formula: (Laa Prb Ndc Zd)1-w Mgw Niz-x-y Alx Ty. In the formula, Z is an element selected from the group consisting of Ce and others, and T is an element selected from the group consisting of V and others. Subscripts a, b, c and d fall in ranges of 0≦a≦0.25, 0
US07700235B2
A battery capable of improving cycle characteristics is provided. An anode active material layer is formed by a vapor phase method, and includes Si as an element. In the anode active material layer, a plurality of primary particles formed by growth in a thickness direction are included, and the plurality of primary particles are agglomerated to form a plurality of secondary particles. Each secondary particle is separated by a groove formed by charge and discharge, and some of primary particles are split particles split by the groove. The average number of the split particles per secondary particle in 5 or more adjacent secondary particles is 10 or more. Moreover, the primary particles and the secondary particles are inclined to the same side.
US07700232B2
Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolytic solution useful for producing a lithium secondary battery having excellent cycle characteristics. Specifically disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolytic solution for lithium secondary batteries obtained by dissolving an electrolyte salt in a nonaqueous solvent which is characterized by containing 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a tert-alkylbenzene compound and also containing 0.001-0.5 wt. % of a benzene compound, wherein a hydrocarbon group having 1-4 carbon atoms is bonded to a benzene ring via the tertiary carbon atom, relative to the tert-alkylbenzene compound.
US07700231B2
A battery, suitable for forming a battery pack, includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, and a separator wound or laminated together, core materials of the negative and positive electrode plates being bared respectively at either end. A bottomed cylindrical outer case having a bottom is connected to either end face of the electrode assembly to serve as a battery terminal. Electrolyte is impregnated in the electrode assembly and a lid connected to the other end face of the electrode assembly and fixedly attached to the outer case with a sealer and an insulator interposed therebetween. A connecting part is a part of the lid so that the connecting part engages with and connects to a bottom part of the outer case of another battery.
US07700217B2
The present invention relates to a new strategy against the electrolyte migration through the gasket in externally manifolded MCFC stacks. This is obtained by endowing a stack of molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs) of an electrolyte management tool separated from the cells by an electronically conductive material which is impervious to gas, characterized by the combination of the following elements:—a positive reservoir component external to the cathode of the first cell on the positive side of the battery, wherein said reservoir consists of one ore more porous layers of electronically conductive material and comprises at least one gas distributor, and—a negative reservoir component external to the anode of the last cell on the negative side of the battery, wherein said reservoir consists of one ore more porous layers of electronically conductive material.
US07700212B2
An enhanced stability and inexpensive bipolar plate for a fuel cell is disclosed. The enhanced stability bipolar plate includes a bipolar plate substrate and a corrosion-resistant coating thermally sprayed on the bipolar plate substrate. A method for enhancing corrosion resistance of a bipolar plate is also disclosed.
US07700206B2
A fuel cell system comprises: a DBFC for generating a power by receiving a fuel; a PEMFC for generating a power by receiving hydrogen, a byproduct generated at an anode of the DBFC after a reaction, as a fuel; a supplementary power partially charged by a power generated at the DBFC and the PEMFC and discharging the charged power; a load sensing unit for sensing a load connected to the DBFC, the PEMFC, and the supplementary power; and a control unit for controlling a power of the DBFC, the PEMFC, and the supplementary power according to a load sensed by the load sensing unit and thereby selectively supplying to the load. According to this, hydrogen generated at the DBFC is recycled, and a load amount is sensed thus to stably correspond to a load variation, thereby maximizing a fuel usage efficiency and stably driving the system.
US07700204B2
A magnetic recording medium comprising a nonmagnetic support and a magnetic layer formed on the support and containing a magnetic powder and a binder, wherein said magnetic powder comprises substantially spherical or ellipsoidal particles and at least one element selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements, silicon and aluminum, and has a Fe16N2 phase, an average particle size of 5 to 30 nm and an axis ratio (a ratio of a major axis to a minor axis) of 1 to 2. This magnetic recording medium achieves a high output and has excellent short wavelength recording properties, since it uses a magnetic powder having a very small particle size and has a very high coercive force and a saturation magnetization suitable for high density recording.
US07700202B2
A precursor formulation of a silicon carbide material that includes a ceramic material and a boron-11 compound. The ceramic material may include silicon and carbon and, optionally, oxygen, nitrogen, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, or mixtures thereof. The boron-11 compound may be a boron-11 isotope of boron oxide, boron hydride, boron hydroxide, boron carbide, boron nitride, boron trichloride, boron trifluoride, boron metal, or mixtures thereof. A material for use in a nuclear reactor component is also disclosed, as are such components, as well as a method of producing the material.
US07700198B2
Disclosed are: a dissimilar material weld joint being formed by joining an iron type material and an aluminum type material and having not only a high strength but also an excellent ductility; and a weld joining method allowing such a joint to be stably produced. A dissimilar material weld joint 1 formed by joining an iron type material 2 and an aluminum type material 3, wherein: voids 4a are formed beforehand on the side of said iron type material 2 at a predetermined interval along a weld line 6; both said iron type and aluminum type materials are weld joined so that said voids 4a are filled with molten aluminum 7; and the minimum value of the ratio (L-Al)/(L-Fe) of the length (L-Al) of an aluminum type welding material 10 with which said voids 4a are filled to the length (L-Fe) of said iron type material 2 adjacent to said voids 4a filled with said aluminum type welding material 10 along said weld line 6 on the section containing said weld line 6 is in the range from 0.5 to 7, both the lengths (L-Al) and (L-Fe) being the lengths per 100 mm in length of the weld line 6 formed after welding.
US07700192B2
A method for the production of fluorinated carbon nanostructures such as carbon black is disclosed, wherein a plasma is generated in a plasma chamber and a fluorocarbon, or a fluorocarbon containing mixture, is supplied to the plasma to convert at least some of the fluorocarbon into a fluorinated carbon material. Direct pyrolysis of a fluorocarbon, or a mixture containing this, provides a one-step method for producing fluorinated carbon nanostructures with a formula CFx, where 0.06
US07700191B2
This invention relates to a flame-resistant spun staple yarns and fabrics and garments comprising these yarns and methods of making the same. The yarns have 50 to 95 parts by weight of a polymeric staple fiber containing a structure derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of 4,4′diaminodiphenyl sulfone, 3,3′diaminodiphenyl sulfone, and mixtures thereof; and 5 to 50 parts by weight of a high modulus staple fiber having a tensile modulus of 200 grams per denier (180 grams per dtex) or greater or greater, based on 100 parts by weight of the polymeric fiber and the high modulus fiber in the yarn.
US07700188B2
This invention relates to an in-mold label comprising a core layer with a first and second surface and a heat seal layer on the first surface of the core layer, wherein the heat seal layer comprises a polyolefin, having a peak melt temperature of less than about 110° C. and where less than about 25% of the polyolefin melts at a temperature of less than 50° C. as measured by differential scanning calorimetry. The label may also contain a skin layer on the second surface of the core layer. The invention also relates to plastic substrates bonded to the label. In another aspect, the present invention also relates to a process for in-mold labeling and a process for preparing an in-mold label.The labels and processes provide reduced amounts of one or more of the following: blisters, both before and after bonding, shrinkage, bagginess and gage bands.
US07700187B2
The invention relates to a biaxially oriented polyester film, preferably PET film, which has a hydrophilic coating on at least one surface. The coating composition used to form the hydrophilic coating includes water, a sulfopolyester, a surfactant, and optionally an adhesion-promoting polymer. The inventive films have a hydrophilic surface which inhibit condensation of water droplets on the films.
US07700184B2
Novel catalytic membranes and methods of synthesizing the membranes are disclosed herein. The technology involves the synthesis of a new type of permselective membrane that combines a hollow porous support with strategically positioned catalytic and selective transport functions to overcome thermodynamic, kinetic, and thermal obstacles, such as in the production of hydrogen. Sub-micron, dense metallic catalysts and films may be deposited within porous hollow substrates to create the membranes using the techniques of sol slip casting, film coating and electroless plating.
US07700169B2
A recording sheet for ink jet printing is described, which consists of a paper support having coated on the front side of the support at least one ink-receiving layer consisting of fumed silicon dioxide with a positively charged surface and at least one binder, wherein at least one polyolefin layer is coated at the back side of said support and where there is no polyolefin layer between said paper support and the ink-receiving layer. Preferred is a recording sheet, wherein the surface of the fumed silicon dioxide has been modified by a treatment with the reaction products of a compound of trivalent aluminum with at least one aminoorganosilane.
US07700158B2
A method of printing on a metal surface includes steps of forming a plurality of macropores on at least a portion of a metal surface. A plurality of micropores are formed within and adjacent to the macropores. The metal surface is cleaned, and a first ink having a first color is applied to the macropores and micropores to form at least one image on the metal surface. Preferably, the ink is applied using an inkjet printer. The ink is dried. A second ink having a second color may also be applied to the metal surface and then dried. Additional inks may also be applied. A lacquer top coat may be applied to the metal surface on top of the first ink (and additional inks, if provided). Preferably, the metal surface is part of a coin.
US07700156B2
In a method of forming a silicon oxide film, a target substrate that has a silicon layer on a surface is loaded into a process area within a reaction container, while setting the process area to have a loading temperature of 400° C. or less. Then, the process area that accommodates the target substrate is heated, from the loading temperature to a process temperature of 650° C. or more. Water vapor is supplied into the reaction container during said heating the process area, while setting the water vapor to have a first concentration in an atmosphere of the process area, and setting the process area to have a first reduced pressure. After said heating the process area to the process temperature, an oxidation gas is supplied into the reaction container, thereby oxidizing the silicon layer to form a silicon oxide film.
US07700150B2
A low cost and simple method for preparation of diffusion sheets comprising the steps of swelling, wetting and dispersing nano-scale clay, toluene, and a dispersant to form a paint. The paint is then coated on a surface of a polymer substrate by a wet coating process to form a diffusion layer which includes the nano-scale clay as diffusion particles.
US07700147B2
Biomimetic artificial prostheses which are made from polyester, such as polyethylene terephthalate, and a method for the biomimetic functionalization of such prostheses. The method includes a step involving the grafting of biologically-active polymers or copolymers to the polyester surface of the prostheses, the grafting step consisting of the peroxidation of the surface by ozonation followed by a step including the radical polymerization of a solution of at least one monomer. The method also includes an optional step consisting in impregnating the prostheses with type I and/or II collagen and/or fibronectins. The prostheses thus obtained enable a normal and uniform regrowth of the fibroblasts, thereby significantly improving the biological integration of such polyester prostheses.
US07700132B2
An endogenous mammalian material has been found which has the biological effect of causing a reduction in the mass of mammalian organs including the heart and prostate. The material has physico-chemical properties such that it appears as a compound of molecular weight between 10 and 20 kD when subjected to a purification process using membrane filtration followed by gel filtration. This material has therapeutic uses including the treatment of organ or tissue hypertrophy and hyperplasia.
US07700110B2
Disclosed is a composition comprising a combination of: Polygonum fagopyrum seed extract, Chlorella vulgaris extract, palmitoyl wheat protein hydrolysate, algae extract, and tripeptide. The composition may further comprise one or more of the following: Citrus unshiu peel extract, Sphacelaria scoparia extract, Bambusa vulgaris extract, Pisum sativum (pea) extract, Evodia rutaecarpa fruit extract, and dipalmitoylhydroxy proline. Such compositions are useful in methods for aiding in improving skin firmness, lifting the skin, preventing or decreasing skin sagging, and preventing or decreasing visible signs of aging resulting from internal and external causes such as environmental stresses.
US07700109B2
This invention relates to a novel Biomolecule Transduction Motif (BTM), Mph-1 peptide (Mph-1-BTM), which has the potential to transduce many biological response modifiers effectively into the cytoplasm, intracellular organelles or nucleus of prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells in vivo and in vitro, and the related technological methods using Mph-1-BTM. This Mph-1-BTM can be used in the development of new recombinant protein vaccines or DNA/RNA vaccines, gene and protein therapy, production of pharmacologically or medicinally useful proteins, or pharmaco-medicinal drug therapy.
US07700106B2
Disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions of treatment for a patient with ulcerative colitis comprising a drug which can selectively kill Fusobacterium varium cells, or a drug which can neutralize the toxin produced by Fusobacterium varium cells, a method for screening such a drug, a method for treating a patient with the disease, a vaccine for the disease, a diagnostic drug, a diagnostic method, an experimental model for the disease and an experimental animal for the disease.
US07700100B2
The present invention relates to molecules, preferably soluble (i.e., not membrane bound) polypeptides, most preferably soluble fusion polypeptides comprising the extracellular soluble regions of FcγRIIB, derivatives and analogs thereof, and nucleic acids encoding same. Molecules of the invention are particularly useful for the treatment, management, or prevention of, or amelioration of one or more symptoms of, an autoimmune disease, especially for ameliorating serum platelet deficiency associated with immune thrombocytopenic purpura. The invention provides methods and compositions for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of standard, current or experimental therapies for an autoimmune disease by administering a molecule of the invention.
US07700097B2
The instant invention describes methods of separating or preferentially synthesizing dimers which are linked via at least one interchain disulfide linkage from dimers which are not linked via at least one interchain disulfide linkage from a mixture comprising the two types of polypeptide dimers. These forms can be separated from each other using hydrophobic interaction chromatography. In addition, the invention pertains to connecting peptides that result in the preferential biosynthesis of dimers that are linked via at least one interchain disulfide linkage or that are not linked via at least one interchain disulfide linkage. The invention also pertains to compositions in which a majority of the dimers are linked via at least one interchain disulfide linkage or are not linked via at least one interchain disulfide linkage. The invention still further pertains to novel binding molecules, e.g., comprising connecting peptides of the invention.
US07700095B2
The present invention provides for the identification, isolation and uses of mammalian Monoamine Oxidase C (MAO-C), also known as renalase.
US07700094B1
Acetyl esterase producing bacterial strains or functional mutants thereof and methods of using acetyl esterase producing bacterial strains as forage additives are disclosed.
US07700088B2
A C to T DNA variation at position 3365 in exon 5 of the human Asthma Associated Factor 1 (AAF1) produces the predicted amino acid substitution of a methionine for a threonine at codon 117 of AAF1. When this substitution occurs in both alleles in one individual, it is associated with less evidence of atopic allergy including asthma, fewer abnormal skin test responses, and a lower serum total IgE. Thus, applicant has identified the existence of a non-asthmatic, non-atopic phenotype characterized by methionine at codon 117 when it occurs in both AAF1 gene products in one individual.
US07700083B2
Skin care composition for accelerated production of collagen proteins and method of fabricating same
A liquid solution for topical application to the skin of an animal consists of solutes and a solvent, where the solutes include ascorbate, tropocollagen factors, copper, and zinc gluconate. The tropocollagen factors include L-proline, glycine and L-lysine.
US07700077B2
The invention concerns the use for treating and cleaning the eye and its appendages of aqueous ionic solutions obtained from sea water whereof the ionic composition is qualitatively that of sea water and quantitatively such that their pH ranges between 4 and 9, preferably between 7 and 8 and their osmolality ranges between 150 and 700, preferably between 250 and 350 mOsm/kg.
US07700076B2
The invention relates to an alcohol-free cosmetic or pharmaceutical foam composition comprising water, a hydrophobic solvent, a surface-active agent, a gelling agent, an active component selected from the group of urea, hydroxy acid and a therapeutic enhancer and a propellant. The foam further comprises active agents and excipients with therapeutic properties having enhanced skin penetration.
US07700073B2
The use of NF-κB inhibitors to enhance the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy in the treatment of neoplastic conditions is described.
US07700069B2
Some metal hydrides permit reversible storage and release of hydrogen for a hydrogen using power-generator. But the surfaces of some metal hydrides or metal hydride precursors may be oxidized or have other coatings that inhibit hydrogen absorption or release. Such materials may be suspended in a suitable liquid of supercritical carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen and subjected to cavitation processing to break up such hydrogen impermeable surfaces or to fracture the particles so as to provide fresh hydrogen penetratable surfaces.
US07700068B2
The alpha form of nickel (II) hydroxide is formed by dissolving a compound of nickel (II), such as nickel acetate, in a water miscible dihydric alcohol (diol), such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and suitable oligomers, and adding a suitable base such as sodium carbonate. The α-Ni(OH)2 precipitate is separated from the diol-based mother liquor and dried. This stable α-Ni(OH)2 can be calcined at temperatures in the range of about 573K to about 1073K to form nanometer-size particles of NiO having, for example, fibrous shapes. And the small particles of NiO can be reduced with hydrogen to form small, fibrous nickel particles. Both the NiO particles and Ni particles have utility as catalysts and offer utility in applications requiring electronic and/or magnetic properties.
US07700066B1
The invention provides a process for preparing α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate which comprises the following steps: adding aqueous solutions containing sulfate ions and calcium ions to calcium chloride solution with a range of concentration; reacting the mixture of a) at a range of temperature for an appropriate time; filtering and washing the reaction products of b) with a rising solvent to isolate the solid and liquid phases; and d) collecting and drying the solid phase to obtain α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate with high purity; wherein the relationship between the range of the concentration of calcium chloride (y) and the range of the reaction temperature (x) is shown as the following formula: −0.4x5+7.33x4−52.83x3+187.17x2−328.27x+316
US07700065B2
A carbon nano-fibrous rod including a predetermined number of hexagonal carbon layers extending in one direction, and a fibrous nanoncarbon which includes a plurality of the carbon nano-fibrous rods three-dimensionally gathered are disclosed.
US07700058B2
A denitration process for removing nitrogen oxides contained in low-temperature exhaust gas at a high denitration rate; namely, a denitration process for reductively removing nitrogen oxides contained in an exhaust gas (x) containing nitrogen monoxide and sulfur dioxide. The process comprises a preliminary step 2 of partially oxidizing nitrogen monoxide in the exhaust gas to form nitrogen dioxide, a radical formation step 3 of adding a nitrogen compound and a hydrocarbon compound to a high-temperature zone 22 to form amine radicals (r), and a denitration step 4 of mixing the amine radicals (r) with the pretreated gas (p) containing nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide that was discharged from the preliminary step 2. As a result, nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas (x) are reductively decomposed.
US07700057B2
The invention provides a method for the Industrial purification of a titanium feed stream of purity P1, by the formation of a titanium-double-salt precipitate of purity P2 and a titanium solution with purity P3, wherein P2>P1>P3, the method comprising the steps of: i. forming, from the feed, a medium comprising water, titanium ion, a cation selected from the group consisting of ammonium, cations of alkali metals, protons and a combination thereof, and an anion selected from the group consisting of OH, SO4, HSO4, halides and a combination thereof, which formed medium is further characterized by the presence of (a) a double-salt precipitate comprising titanium ion, at least one of the cations and at least one of the anions; and (b) a titanium solution; and wherein the concentration of the anion in the titanium solution is higher than 15% and the ratio between the concentrations of the cation and the anion in the titanium solution is higher than 0.2 and lower than 1.6; and ii. separating at least a portion of the precipitate from the solution.
US07700054B2
An object of the present invention is to improve substrate processing efficiency. A substrate processing apparatus has a reaction tube that processes a substrate inside, and a heating apparatus disposed so as to surround an external periphery of the reaction tube, so that at least a gas inlet tube is disposed on a side surface in an area in which the substrate is processed inside the reaction tube, and the heating apparatus has a heat insulator that surrounds the reaction tube, an inlet opening formed in the shape of a groove in the heat insulator from the lower end of the heating apparatus so as to avoid the gas inlet tube, and a heating element disposed between the heat insulator and the reaction tube.
US07700048B2
An apparatus for making an array of carbon nanotubes includes a reaction chamber and a quartz-boat region. The reaction chamber having a first gas inlet configured for introducing a carbon source gas and a carrier gas thereinto, a second gas inlet configured for introducing a hydrogen gas thereinto, a guiding tube in communication with the second gas inlet, and a gas outlet. The quartz-boat region configured for accommodating a quartz boat for supporting a substrate; wherein the guiding tube extends inwardly a distance sufficient to enable the majority of the introduced hydrogen gas that reaches the substrate not to react with the carbon source gas.
US07700047B2
Systems and methods for treating hazardous materials are disclosed. One exemplary implementation provides a system for rendering chemical weapons materiel less hazardous. This system includes a detonation chamber, an expansion chamber, and an emission treater adapted to treat gas from detonation of the chemical weapons materiel. The emission treater yields a substantially dry residual waste stream and a treated gas suitable for venting to atmosphere. The emission treater may treat the gas with an alkaline powder that interacts with the gas, producing the residual waste stream.
US07700038B2
A formed article for making alloying additions to metal melts includes particles of at least one master alloy and a binder material binding the particles of the master alloy in the formed article. The binder material changes form and frees the master alloy particles when the formed article is heated to a predetermined temperature, preferably a temperature greater than 500° F. A method for making an alloy also is provided. The method includes preparing a melt comprising a predetermined quantity of a master alloy wherein the master alloy is added to the melt or the melt starting materials in the form of particles of the master alloy bound into at least one formed article by a binder material that decomposes at a predetermined temperature, preferably a temperature greater than 500° F., and releases the particles of master alloy.
US07700032B1
A laser ablation process is applied to a semiconductor substrate causing the semiconductor material surface and subsurface to be superheated to the point where material is ablated from the material substrate. Optional subsequent laser pulse(s) liquefy the particles, preferably while suspended in air, and the material surface tension causes the liquefied droplet of semiconductor material to form a sphere. The droplet preferably solidifies in air before reaching the substrate of its origin or another substrate for collection.
US07700030B2
A method and apparatus for producing a product using a substantially flat mold shell is provided. A substantially flat mold shell converted from a 3-dimensional mold. The substantially flat mold shell has open ends. When the open ends are brought proximate to each other, the substantially flat mold shell has the shape of the 3-dimensional mold. A product having the shape of the 3-dimensional mold is formed from the substantially flat mold.
US07700028B2
A method of making a roofing product such as a shingle is provided. One such method includes creating a mixture having at least a polymer and a filler, forming a sheet from the mixture, cooling the sheet, embossing the sheet, forming multiple roofing products from the sheet and bundling at least some of the roofing products together. This method is performed using an automated procedure. Another method of the present invention involves creating a composite roofing product using mold cavities, using a robot to transfer some of the roofing products from some of the mold cavities to a conveying system, and stacking together at least two of the roofing products that have different colors of different surface configurations.
US07700016B2
An apparatus and method for fabricating a three dimensional model from a composite model formed or a plurality of successive layers of model material and sacrificial mold material. Each successive layer is constructed by depositing, drop-by-drop, at least one line of sacrifical mold material delineating at least one boundary of the model material within the layer and thereafter depositing the model material onto all delineated regions of the layer by spray deposition. Each successive layer is completed by a planing process which removes the undesired thickness of both the sacrificial and the model materials. Following completion of the composite model, the sacrificial mold material is removable from the composite model, by a process effecting only the sacrificial mold material, to produce the three dimensional model. A device, for depositing the model material at the rate faster than the rate that the mold material is deposited, is also described.
US07699996B2
A method for simultaneously forming multiple line-widths, one of which is less than that achievable employing conventional lithographic techniques. The method includes providing a structure which includes a memory layer and a sidewall image transfer (SIT) layer on top of the memory layer. Then, the SIT layer is patterned resulting in a SIT region. Then, the SIT region is used as a blocking mask during directional etching of the memory layer resulting in a first memory region. Then, a side wall of the SIT region is retreated a retreating distance D in a reference direction resulting in a SIT portion. Said patterning comprises a lithographic process. The retreating distance D is less than a critical dimension CD associated with the lithographic process. The SIT region includes a first dimension W2 and a second dimension W3 in the reference direction, wherein CD
US07699994B2
Disclosed is a process for reclamation of waste fluids. A conditioning container is employed for receipt of waste material on a continuous flow for treatment within the container by immersible transducers producing ultrasonic acoustic waves in combination with a high level of injected ozone. The treated material exhibits superior separation properties for delivery into a centrifuge for enhanced solid waste removal. The invention discloses a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process and apparatus for cleaning and recycling of flowback, or frac water, which has been used to stimulate gas production from shale formations. The apparatus is mobile and containerized and suitable for installation at the well site.
US07699991B2
A conditioning process and equipment are provided for removing hardness from water circulated in a system. A sidestream from such system is routed to a reaction chamber and back to the system. A conditioner is added to the sidestream water and in some embodiments is routed through a sidestream inlet from the top of the reaction chamber to its lower portion in a swirling motion. A buffer is added to the sidestream exiting the reaction chamber, and in some embodiments is added upstream of a pH sensor. In some embodiments a polymer is added. A fluid bed develops in the reaction chamber consisting of conditioner, buffer, precipitated solids and sidestream water. An upper outlet on the reaction chamber regulates the height of the fluid bed, and a drain provides for periodic discharge of the lower fluid bed. In some embodiments, a corrosion inhibitor blend is pre-mixed with the buffer.
US07699990B2
A separation analyzer for transferring solutions, while changing mixing ratios of the solutions, wherein a flow passage from a first pump, a flow passage from a second pump, and a passage for sample introduction section, the flow passages being connected, which further comprises a flow switching means for temporarily storing the solutions, whereby the flow switching means alternatively makes a first state for pushing out the solutions in a second sampling loop to the sample introduction section by the second pump, while transferring the solutions to the first sampling loop; and a second state for pushing out the solutions in the first sampling loop by the second pump, while transferring the solutions from the first pump to the second sampling loop.
US07699985B2
A membrane supported biofilm reactor uses modules having fine, hollow fibers, for example, made from melt spun thermoplastic polymers treated after spinning to increase their permeability to oxygen, used, for example, in tows or formed into a fabric. In one module, one or more sheets of the fabric are potted into a module to enable oxygen containing gas to be supplied to the lumens of the hollow fibers. Various reactors and processes, for example to treat wastewater, using such modules are described. In one process, oxygen travels through fibers, optionally through an attached biofilm, to oxygenate surrounding water. Mechanical, chemical and biological methods, for example endogenous respiration, are used to control the thickness of the biofilm.
US07699984B2
A hydrodynamic treatment device comprises a vessel (2) within which is disposed an inner partition (24). The inner partition (24) divides the interior of the vessel (2) into outer and inner regions (22, 28). Flow enters the vessel (2) through a tangentially oriented inlet (14) and establishes a complex circulating flow within the vessel (2). Settleable solids migrate to the bottom of the vessel (2) and are deposited in a sump (20) through a solids outlet opening (18). Flow enters the inner region (28) through apertures (34) in the inner partition (24), and is discharged through an outlet duct (8). The inner region (28) is closed at its lower end by a frusto-conical, downwardly diverging lower wall (30) which projects outwardly from a central cylindrical wall (26).
US07699973B2
The present the invention provides methods, devices and systems for rapidly measuring analytes within a biological sample.
US07699972B2
A method and apparatus for evaluating a conditioned electrochemical mechanical polishing pad are provided. A polishing pad is conditioned using a first set of process conditions. A sheet wafer and a residue wafer are polished on the polishing pad. The removal rates of one or more materials from the sheet wafer and the residue wafer are measured. A normalized removal rate is calculated. The polishing pad is further conditioned if the normalized removal rate is not within a minimum value and a maximum value. In one embodiment, the normalized removal rate comprises a ratio of the removal rate of the residue wafer to the removal rate of the sheet wafer.
US07699966B2
Methods and devices for point of care determination of heparin concentration in blood are described. Cartridges including protamine ion sensitive electrodes (ISEs) and reference electrodes and systems for automatically determining heparin concentration in the cartridges are provided. Some systems add blood to a protamine bolus sufficient to bind all heparin, leaving excess protamine. The excess protamine concentration can be determined by measuring the initial slope of the electrode potential rate of change, and comparing the slope to known protamine concentration slope values In some cartridges, an oscillating pressure source moves the blood-protamine mixture back and forth across the protamine ISE. Some systems also use a second blood sample having the heparin removed or degraded to create a blank reference sample. Protamine ISEs can include polyurethane polymer, DNNS ionophore, and NPOE plasticizer. The polyurethane may include hard segments and soft segments, where both hard and soft segments may include cyclic and straight chain aliphatic moieties having essentially no ester or ether groups. Some hard segments may include methylene diphenyl groups. Some reference electrodes have the same polymer, plasticizer, and ionophore as the measurement electrode, but with a different concentration of ionophore.
US07699951B2
A method for creating a building material that makes use of a wheeled, moveable apparatus that moves through a field after the straw or other agricultural waste has been processed into tightly bound cables. Said cables are formed into woven mats, and said mats are bonded together to form flat or curved wall sections or panels.
US07699950B2
A roughened rubber bonding surface having a predetermined roughness of a rubber member and a roughened resin bonding surface having a predetermined roughness of a resin member made of a thermoplastic resin are connected to constitute a bonding interface, and ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the bonding interface from the rubber member side. Only the resin member is fused by friction heat generated in the bonding interface so as to force fused resin into the rubber member, and the fused resin that has been so forced into the rubber member is solidified therein, whereby both the rubber member and the resin member are mechanically bonded by virtue of an anchoring effect produced by the two members which are entangled together.
US07699948B2
A manufacturing method of a Ta sputtering target in which a Ta ingot or billet formed by melting and casting is subject to forging, annealing, rolling processing and the like to prepare a sputtering target, wherein the ingot or billet is forged and thereafter subject to recrystallization annealing at a temperature of 1373K to 1673K. As a result of improving and devising the forging process and heat treatment process, the crystal grain diameter can be made fine and uniform, and a method of stably manufacturing a Ta sputtering target superior in characteristics can be obtained thereby.
US07699946B2
A method for preparing a nanostructured aluminum alloy involves heating an aluminum alloy workpiece at temperature sufficient to produce a single phase coarse grained aluminum alloy, then refining the grain size of the workpiece at a temperature at or below room temperature, and then aging the workpiece to precipitate second phase particles in the nanosized grains of the workpiece that increase the ductility without decreasing the strength of the workpiece.
US07699944B2
Intermetallic braze alloys and methods of repairing an engine component are provided. In an embodiment, by way of example only, an intermetallic braze material includes between about 10% to about 15% chromium, by weight, between about 1% to about 3% aluminum, by weight, between about 0.1% to about 0.5% zirconium, by weight, between about 18% to about 25% hafnium, by weight, and a balance of nickel. In another embodiment, by way of example only, an intermetallic braze material includes between about 10% to about 15% chromium, by weight, between about 1% to about 3% aluminum, by weight, between about 10% to about 13% zirconium, by weight, between about 0.3% to about 0.7% hafnium, by weight, and a balance of nickel.
US07699943B2
The present invention intends to provide a method for manufacturing a high-strength spring, which is capable of generating a higher level of compressive residual stress than that given by conventional methods. This object is achieved as follows: After the final heating process, such as the tempering (in the case of a heat-treated spring) or removing-strain annealing (in the case of a cold-formed spring), a shot peening process is performed on the spring while the surface temperature of the spring is within the range from 265 to 340° C. (preferably from 300 to 340° C.). Subsequently, the spring is rapidly cooled. Preferably, a prestressing process is performed before the shot peening process, or after the shot peening process and before the rapid cooling process. The rapid cooling process may be either a water-cooling process or an oil-cooling process. A forced-air cooling process may be used if the wire diameter of the spring is small.
US07699933B2
The invention relates to a method and a device which are used for the plasma treatment of work pieces. Said work piece is inserted into an at least partially evacuatable chamber of a treatment station (3) and the work piece is positioned inside the treatment station of retaining elements. At least one operating agent is at least partially impinged upon by a transporting device (44) which is displaced together with the treatment station on a closed and rotating transport path.
US07699922B2
Disclosed is an organic phase change carrier and a method for forming same, and a phase change ink including same. The organic phase change carrier comprises a colloidal dispersion of nanoparticles exhibiting a substantially uniform distribution of said nanoparticles discretely distributed therewithin, at least one curable monomer; a phase change inducing component, and an initiator. The organic phase change carrier exhibits a substantially uniform distribution of the nanoparticles so that they are discretely distributed therewithin, and are substantially resistant to the aggregation of the nanoparticles distributed therewithin.
US07699921B2
An aqueous ink composition comprising at least water, a pigment dispersed by polymer, a sulfonyl group-containing (co)polymer, and an ultra-penetrating agent. Also disclosed are a recording process using the ink composition, an ink cartridge containing the ink composition, and a recorded article having an image recorded by the recorded method.
US07699918B2
A reactive ink set including three mixtures of radically polymerizable monomers. A first mixture includes a peroxide, a second mixture includes a peroxide decomposition agent, and an optional third mixture that does not include a peroxide or a peroxide decomposition agent. The first mixture and the second mixture polymerize to form a solid ink on the substrate following jetting in the liquid state.
US07699914B1
A method of using a triple-effect absorption system to recover methane from landfill gas contaminated with CO2 and trace contaminates such as chlorinated hydrocarbons and aromatics involves processing the landfill gas with three absorbers and a flash system. One absorber uses a solvent to absorb the trace contaminants from the landfill gas, the second absorber in conjunction with the flash system extracts CO2 from the gas, and just a first portion of that CO2 is used for stripping the trace contaminates from the solvent in the third absorber. The rest of the extracted CO2 is vented to atmosphere to prevent dampening the combustion of the trace contaminants absorbed by the first portion of CO2.
US07699905B1
A method of making dispersion-strengthened alloy particles involves melting an alloy having a corrosion and/or oxidation resistance-imparting alloying element, a dispersoid-forming element, and a matrix metal wherein the dispersoid-forming element exhibits a greater tendency to react with a reactive species acquired from an atomizing gas than does the alloying element. The melted alloy is atomized with the atomizing gas including the reactive species to form atomized particles so that the reactive species is (a) dissolved in solid solution to a depth below the surface of atomized particles and/or (b) reacted with the dispersoid-forming element to form dispersoids in the atomized particles to a depth below the surface of said atomized particles. The atomized alloy particles are solidified as solidified alloy particles or as a solidified deposit of alloy particles. Bodies made from the dispersion strengthened alloy particles, deposit thereof, exhibit enhanced fatigue and creep resistance and reduced wear as well as enhanced corrosion and/or oxidation resistance at high temperatures by virtue of the presence of the corrosion and/or oxidation resistance imparting alloying element in solid solution in the particle alloy matrix.
US07699901B2
An alumina-film-polishing composition is for use in chemical mechanical polishing of an object to be polished that includes an alumina film with an irregular surface, so as to planarize the irregular surface. The polishing composition contains an alumina abrasive grain, and a protection-film-forming agent for forming a protection film on the surface of each of the alumina film and the alumina abrasive grain. The protection-film-forming agent is a water-soluble polymer that has a weight average molecular weight within a range of 100 to 1,000,000 and that is obtained by polymerizing a monomer having at least one OH group or COOH group in its molecule.
US07699898B2
Dye mixtures comprising one or more, such as two or three, preferably 1 or 2, dyes of the formula (1) and at least 2 dyes of the formula (2) in which Me, M, n, and V1 to V11 are as defined in claim 1, their preparation, and their use for dyeing and printing hydroxyl- and carboxamido-containing material.
US07699891B2
A system and process for correction of regurgitation of heart valves. With mitral valves in particular, the anterior leaflet is advanced through use of a D-plasty patch and a narrow annuloplasty ring which compresses the lateral dimension of the valve. The sizes of the patch and ring are selected to provide a sufficient advancement of the leaflet to restore the surface of coaptation.
US07699885B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for deploying an endoluminal prosthesis for engrafting a blood vessel. The apparatus includes a bifurcated graft that is able to conform to the interior surface of the blood vessel and can be deployed through a single entry site.
US07699874B2
A spinal rod system includes a first rod and a second rod engaged to a connector with the first and second rods extending axially therefrom in opposite direction and in laterally offset relation. The connector includes first and second side-by-side receptacles for receiving respective ones of the rods. The connector includes a clamping arrangement to releasably secure the rods in the respective receptacles. The receptacles allow the relative axial position between the rods to be adjusted to accommodate anatomical conditions.
US07699872B2
A posterior fixation system includes a saddle member, an anchoring member, an occipital plate, an occipital rod, and a cross-link connector. The anchoring member anchors the saddle member to bone. The saddle member includes a pair of upright portions that define a channel. The channel is adapted to receive an orthopedic rod, and the saddle member can include a hole to receive the anchoring member. The saddle member and the anchoring member can be coupled so as to allow multi-axial movement of the members. The anchoring member in one embodiment is a screw coupled to the hole of the saddle, and in another embodiment, the anchoring member is a hook. The offset member may be coupled to the saddle member to allow for offset connection of rods. Connection of individual rods can be accomplished by connecting the rods with the cross-link connector. The cross-link connector has an integrally formed cylindrical member that couples a pair of coupling portions together. The cylindrical member can be bent along multiple axes. The occipital plate secures the rods to the occipital bone of the skull. The occipital plate has a cross-shaped plate with a plurality of apertures defined in the plate and at least one saddle member coupled to the plate. Alternatively, the occipital rod can be secured to the occipital bone.
US07699867B2
The present invention provides a removable vena cava filter for capturing thrombi in a blood vessel. The filter comprises a plurality of primary struts having first ends attached together along a longitudinal axis. Each primary strut has an arcuate segment extending from the first end to an anchoring hook. The primary struts are configured to move between an expanded state for engaging the anchoring hooks with the blood vessel and a collapsed state for filter retrieval or delivery. Each primary strut are configured to cross another primary strut along the longitudinal axis in the collapsed state such that the arcuate segments occupy a first diameter greater than a second diameter occupied by the anchoring hooks in the collapsed state for filter retrieval or delivery.
US07699865B2
Disclosed is a constraining mechanism that enhances the strength of a medical device, while also preventing over expansion of the device, during a procedure. The medical device includes a plurality of biased struts to which a constraining mechanism is coupled. The constraining mechanism includes a spine, which couples to one of the plurality of struts, and one or more branches extending from the spine. The branches have a curvature enabling the branches to substantially surround the plurality of struts while at the same time avoiding contact with the wall of the blood vessel of the patient when the medical device is deployed.
US07699858B2
A surgical fastener having a first and a second end for securing at least two surfaces together. The surgical fastener has a first configuration where the fastener is coupled to a restraining device that holds the fastener and a second configuration wherein the fastener is released from said restraining device. The second configuration has a substantially spiral shape and is spring biased along an axis perpendicular to the surfaces that it is securing. The surgical fastener also includes a rib that extends along the longitudinal axis of the fastener.
US07699853B2
The present invention relates to a set of tools and accessories used for properly positioning a stemmed humeral component, and/or a humeral stem provisional, within a canal in the humerus. The set of tools and accessories includes one or more fin clamps that are configured to be temporarily attached to a fin on the humeral component or the provisional; a ruler that is configured to be attached to the arm of the fin clamp, a fixation pin and pin driver configured to be used with the other tools for marking a position on the humerus; and one or more sleeves that are configured to slide over the stem of the humeral stem provisional to maintain it in the desired position.
US07699850B2
An apparatus and method for penetrating bone marrow is provided. The apparatus may include a housing such as a handheld body, a penetrator assembly, a connector that releasably attaches the penetrator assembly to a drill shaft, a gear mechanism, a motor and a power supply and associated circuitry operable to power the motor. The penetrator assembly may include a removable inner trocar and an outer penetrator or needle. It may also include a grooved trocar that allows bone chips to be expelled as the apparatus is inserted into bone marrow. Various connectors are provided to attach the penetrator assembly to the drill shaft.
US07699845B2
A tissue ablation device includes an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an array of ablation elements located at the distal end, and a connector configured to releasably engage the tissue ablation device with at least one medical device. The body is preferably flexible, and may form a wand-type device. The connector may be a magnetic element that magnetically engages the tissue ablation device with the medical device or a hook, for example a plastic hook, that extends outwardly from the array of ablation elements to hook the tissue ablation device to the medical device. The connector may be removably coupled to the ablation elements. The medical device may also be a tissue ablation device, and the connector may engage the two devices such that their respective ablation elements are substantially aligned to form a substantially continuous lesion.
US07699844B2
A sphincter tissue region is treated using a support structure sized for advancement into the anal canal. At least one electrode is carried by the structure. A mechanism is coupled to the electrode to move the electrode between a first position retracted in the support structure and a second position extended from the support structure through surface tissue to penetrate a subsurface tissue region at or near a sphincter in the anal canal. A cable is coupled to the electrode to conduct energy for application by the electrode to form a lesion in the subsurface tissue region.
US07699841B2
Apparatus for controlled tissue ablation includes an elongated relatively flexible antenna with a first, strip-like, conductor having opposite faces and proximal and distal ends, a dielectric spacer covering one face of the first conductor, and a second, serpentine, conductor composed of a series of similar segments positioned flush against the spacer and being coextensive lengthwise with the first conductor. The second conductor has a distal end connected to the distal end of the first conductor and a proximal end. An electrically insulating enclosure surrounds the conductors. The proximal ends of the first and second conductors may be connected via a coaxial cable to a remote microwave transmitter/receiver unit.
US07699838B2
A system and methods for modeling the death of tissue cells that are thermally treated using thermal treatment devices is disclosed. A cell-death model accurately predicts, in real-time, which voxels of cells are dead or are about to die as the thermal treatment is applied to these cells. The effects of thermal treatment are monitored by a thermal measurement device which feeds thermal information to the cell-death model. The cell-death model accounts for the temperature of each voxel of tissue cells with respect to a temperature threshold value and the duration over which the thermal treatment is applied. When the thermal measurement device is an imaging device, the results of the thermal treatment may be displayed to the user in real-time. As a result, a user of the thermal treatment device can determine, in real-time, which target voxels of cells he has killed and which still need to be killed. The user can also more easily avoid inadvertently killing healthy tissue that he does not intend to kill. The cell-death model may be implemented in software on the thermal measurement device, on the thermal treatment device, or on a separate processing device which interfaces to and communicates with at least one of the thermal measurement device and the thermal treatment device.
US07699834B2
Embodiments of a system including a remotely controlled osmotic pump device and associated controller are described. Methods of use and control of the device are also disclosed. According to some embodiments, an osmotic pump device is placed in an environment in order to pump a material into the environment or into an additional fluid handling structure within the osmotic pump device. Exemplary environments include a body of an organism, a body of water, or an enclosed volume of a fluid. In selected embodiments, a magnetic field, an electric field, or electromagnetic control signal may be used.
US07699833B2
A delivery device includes a durable housing portion and a separable disposable portion that selectively engage and disengage from each other. The disposable housing portion contains a reservoir and secures to the patient and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. A disposable pump assembly selectively connects to the reservoir. The disposable pump assembly includes a pump rotor, a septum and a needle for conveying infusion media from the reservoir to the patient.
US07699830B2
An apparatus for cleansing and applying therapy or prophylaxis to wounds, in which irrigant fluid containing a physiologically active material from a reservoir connected to a conformable wound dressing and wound exudate from the dressing are recirculated by a device for moving fluid through a flow path which passes through the dressing and a means for fluid cleansing and back to the dressing. A biodegradable scaffold underlies the dressing on the wound bed to promote tissue growth. The cleansing means (which may be a single-phase, e.g. micro-filtration, system or a two-phase, e.g. dialytic system) removes materials deleterious to wound healing, and the cleansed fluid, still containing materials that are beneficial in promoting wound healing, is returned to the wound bed. The dressing, an assembly comprising the dressing and scaffold, and a method of treatment using the apparatus.
US07699828B2
A holder for receiving a sampling tube of a blood sampling system is disclosed. The holder has an interior pocket which can be conformed from a closed position to an open position for receiving the sampling tube.
US07699822B2
The invention teaches devices and methods for chemically tanning human skin. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US07699820B1
A device for irrigating cerumen from one's ear canal, which includes a universal adaptor affixed to the spout of a lavatory faucet (one which allows the cold and hot to be mixed); a flow line extending from the adaptor; a valve on the adaptor, which when opened allows for adjusting the temperature and force of flow by feeling the flow at a nozzle on the second end of the flow line; a cup for placement over the ear to contain the water flow; a double loop within the cup to mount a first loop to a tragus portion of the outer ears for directing fluid flow from the nozzle into the ear canals, a second loop engaged around a probe to limit the depth the nozzle is able to enter the ear canal; and a return line for returning water and debris collected from the ear canal into the lavatory.
US07699815B2
A drive mechanism for an injection device is disclosed in which piston means are selectively driven to expel medicament from within a medicament cartridge. The drive mechanism comprises a drive means associated with a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member associated with the piston means, a housing, the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member being disposed within the housing. The second ratchet member being biased by biasing means toward the first ratchet member. The drive means is actuable reciprocally to drive the first ratchet member in a first angular direction such that the first ratchet member drives the second ratchet member along its longitudinal axis against the biasing means along at least a part of its movement and subsequently drives the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member together in a second angular direction thereby to drive the piston means.
US07699810B2
Method of holding in place a transcutaneous implant by applying an adhesive in liquid form to the implant and the area of the patient's skin about the needle and allowing the adhesive to set. The implant is constituted by an infusion needle, a catheter or any transcutaneous implant. Whenever the adhesive is in liquid form, it has such a surface tension that it will flow along the implant and the skin to reach a terminal point, which is the point at which the implant is inserted. The adhesive is applied in liquid form and flows along the implant and the skin to reach the point at which the implant is inserted, and then allowed to set to hold the implant in place.
US07699803B2
Devices and methods for injecting or otherwise delivering multiple-component therapies to human or animal subjects. Devices having injectors (e.g., syringes) attached to biaxial or coaxial injection cannula(s) are used to deliver multiple components of a particular therapy such that those components become combined shortly before or upon exiting the injection cannula(s). In some embodiments, the injector devices of the present invention may include a first set of finger grips at a first location and a second set of finger grips at a second location. Also, in some embodiments, the injector devices of the present invention may include depth slops for controlling the depth within tissue at which the therapeutic substance is delivered. Also, in some embodiments, the injector devices of the present invention may include refill manifolds with attached syringes or other reservoirs containing the component substances to facilitate refilling of the injectors.
US07699798B2
An articulating joint for an orthopedic brace wherein a moveable plate is rotatably connected with respect to a fixed plate. The moveable plate includes a plurality of adjustment apertures positioned around a first axis of rotation wherein one or more coarse limit screws are positioned within the adjustment apertures to limit the range of motion between the moveable plate and the fixed plate within a predetermined arc of rotation. Fine adjustment means are preferably positioned with respect to the fixed plate and obstruct a range of motion of the coarse limit screws. In addition, a brake is positioned to fix motion of moveable plate relative to fixed plate.
US07699789B2
A method for measuring lung collapse and for providing information regarding recruitment and successfulness of actions taken to recruit the lung is provided. Alveolar- and proximal pressures are determined at different lung pressures or volumes. Patient airway resistance is calculated combining these measurements with flow measurement. Plotting the resistance against the lung pressure or volume gives a within-breath distribution of the resistance. Increase of this resistance at end-expiration volume or pressure indicates lung collapse.
US07699784B2
A system and method for determining and monitoring various characteristics of a patient positioned on a patient support apparatus, such as a bed, stretcher, or cot, is disclosed. The system and method involve monitoring the forces exerted by the patient on one or more force sensors, which may be load cells on the support apparatus. These force sensors will detect vibrations that correspond to various conditions of the patient, including the patient's heart rate, breathing rate, and/or the seizure status of a patient. These vibrations may be analyzed, such as by Fast Fourier Transforms, in order to determine the various conditions of the patient.
US07699780B2
A method of treating tissue within a body includes directing an ultrasound transducer having a plurality of transducer elements towards target body tissue, and delivering ultrasound energy towards the target tissue from the transducer elements such that an energy intensity at the target tissue is at or above a prescribed treatment level, while an energy intensity at tissue to be protected in the ultrasound energy path of the transducer elements is at or below a prescribed safety level.
US07699777B2
There are provided transducers, transmission pulse generators for transmitting pulses to the transducers, a transmission power source for supplying power to the transmission pulse generators, and an output side capacitor 7 for stabilizing a voltage of the transmission power source. The transmission power source includes a plurality of mode-specific power sources 1A and 1B for outputting a constant voltage, and a mode changeover switch 6 provided between the mode-specific power sources and the output side capacitor. The transmission power source further includes a power supplying power source 2 connected to the mode-specific power sources for supplying power, and a power regeneration capacitor 4 with a larger capacity than that of the output side capacitor, one electrode terminal of which is connected to a connection point between the power supplying power source and the mode-specific power sources and the mode changeover switch, and the other electrode terminal of which is connected to ground. The mode changeover switch is capable of connecting the power regeneration capacitor, instead of each of the mode-specific power sources, to the output side capacitor. There is provided an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that reuses power stored in the output side capacitor to reduce power consumption.
US07699765B2
A system and method for making bags in a continuous in-line process includes a central processing unit and a camera oriented to take an image of a bag based on a triggering signal. The camera provides an image to the central processing unit. The central processing unit is programmed to process the image and calculate a timing signal based on the image. A cylindrical rotatable drum having at least one seal bar provides a triggering signal to the central processing unit, to trigger when the camera should take the image. A perforation knife is controlled by a servo drive. The perforation knife is downstream of the drum. The servo drive receives the timing signal for activating the perforation knife from the central processing unit. The CPU uses the image and based on the distance between the seal region and the perforated line, counts pixels to result in an actual pixel count. The CPU then calculates a pixel count error by subtracting the actual pixel count from a predetermined pixel count setpoint. This information is then used by the CPU to either advance or retard the perforated knife in its perforation step. This results in a bag having a shorter skirt length, which reduces waste and cost. In another embodiment, the image taken is of the seal region only, and based on the image, the CPU either advances or retards the perforation knife in the perforation step, downstream of the point in which the image was taken.
US07699762B2
An exercise system for use in a vehicle includes a frame that has a pair of spaced apart base members. Support legs extend from each base member and a crossbeam is connected to and extends between each support leg. Mounting fixtures are positioned on each support leg and on each base member. Additionally, one or more exercise devices may be removably secured to each mounting fixture. In operation a user may attach an exercise device to the frame and undertake resistance exercises for the arms, legs and torso. Various sized individuals at various strength levels can be accommodated via altering the resistance of the exercise device.
US07699748B2
An ECU executes a program that includes the steps of setting a line pressure to a line pressure (1) that is appropriate for improving fuel efficiency, if an automatic transmission is not shifting, and a deceleration slip control for a lock-up clutch is not being executed; setting the line pressure to a line pressure (2) that is equal to or lower than a line pressure (3) that is appropriate when the automatic transmission is shifting, if it is determined that the automatic transmission is not shifting, and the deceleration slip control is being executed; and setting the line pressure to the line pressure (3), if it is determined that the automatic transmission is shifting. The line pressure (1) is lower than the line pressure (2). The line pressure (2) is equal to or lower than the line pressure (3).
US07699747B2
A toroidal-type continuously variable transmission, has a first continuously variable transmission mechanism and a second continuously variable transmission mechanism: wherein the first and second continuously variable transmission mechanisms are disposed coaxially with each other; the first and second input disks are connected together so as to be rotated in synchronization with each other; the first and second output disks are formed as a unified type output disk including traction surfaces on the two side surfaces thereof; on the side portion at the outer-most outside diameter of the unified type output disk, there is formed a datum plane serving as a machining datum when the traction surfaces are processed; and, an operation for finishing the datum plane is carried out after the unified type output disk is heat treated.
US07699741B2
A transmission is disclosed having an input member, an output member, a plurality of planetary gear sets, a plurality of interconnecting members and a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms. The plurality of planetary gear sets has first, second and third members. The input member is continuously interconnected with a member of the planetary gear sets. The output member is continuously interconnected with another member of the planetary gear sets. At least eight forward speeds and one reverse speed are produced by the selective engagement of the five torque-transmitting mechanisms.
US07699736B2
A multi-speed automatic planetary transmission for a motor vehicle having an input shaft (AN), an output shaft (AB), four planetary gearsets (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4), at least eight rotatable shafts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), and five shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E), the selective engagement of which produces different transmission ratios between the input shaft (AN) and the output shaft (AB), such that eight forward gears and at least one reverse gear are possible. Further, it is possible to connect an electric machine (12) as generator and/or drive, to the fifth shaft (5) by means a drive connection.
US07699732B2
The invention concerns a device for tensioning belts or chains that may include a fixed support; a moving element that may move relative to the fixed support and designed to be in contact with the belt or the chain; and an actuator designed to exert a permanent tensioning force between the mobile equipment and the fixed support. The device may also include a sensor unit to monitor parameters of angular displacement of the moving element relative to the fixed support.
US07699731B2
A transmission mechanism between two or more shafts of devices that interact or could possibly interact with people. The transmission mechanism has a particular application to the sector of machines for muscular training and/or rehabilitation, devices for entertainment such as carousels and amusement-park rides, service machines and robots that physically interact with human beings, and industrial robots that operate in close proximity to the operator.
US07699730B2
To provide an adequate biasing load to an endless transmission belt by biasing forces of a plurality of springs with different biasing forces and oil pressure biasing force to permit an easy adjustment. In a structure which includes an almost cylindrical plunger, a tensioner body into which the plunger is fitted, high pressure oil chambers are formed by the tensioner body and the plunger and supplied with oil pressure. Two tensioner springs, a rigid spring and a soft spring are supported by the tensioner body and are arranged in series for biasing the plunger. The plunger in its fully stretched state is supported by the serially arranged rigid and soft tensioner springs. In a condition when the plunger is pushed back from this fully stretched state by a prescribed amount or further, the plunger is supported by the rigid tensioner spring.
US07699729B2
This invention is a speed ratio change control device for a belt type continuously variable transmission that a minimum generated pressure of the primary pressure is estimated on the basis of a displacement speed of the movable sheave of the primary pulley and an opening area of a drain side passage of the speed ratio change control valve (S4), an upper limit value of a shift speed is calculated on the basis of the minimum generated pressure (S6), and the target speed ratio is set on the basis of the upper limit value of the shift speed (S10).
US07699720B2
A golf ball including a core having a compression of about 50 or less and a COR of 0.800 or greater, a thermoset polyurea cover having a hardness of 64 Shore D or less and a thickness of 0.02 inches to 0.1 inches, and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a thickness of 0.110 inches or greater and comprising a partially- or fully-neutralized ionomer. A combination of the core and the intermediate layer has a compression of 60 or greater and the golf ball has a COR of 0.805 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s and greater than 0.75 when measured at an incoming velocity of 160 ft/s.
US07699715B2
A portable golf practice device is disclosed that is easily transported by the golfer and simulates the response of natural turf when impacted by the club head during a golf swing. The device includes a simulated turf surface fitted in a carriage tray. The carriage tray is supported on a retraction assembly on which it can slide forward and back, and which has springs that will retract it after it has moved forward. The retraction assembly is supported on a base member. In use, when the turf surface is hit by a golf club it moves forward simulating the feel of actual turf, and then returns to its ready to use position.
US07699714B1
A multi-functional golf swing training apparatus includes first and second arm braces that are adapted to be removably attached to user forearms respectively. A first mechanism is provided for pivotally mating the first arm brace to the second arm brace such that the first and second arm braces simultaneously pivot about a first axis. Such a first mechanism can be selectively toggled between unlocked and locked positions such that a desired angle is adjustably and fixedly defined between the first and second arm braces during the golf swing motion respectively. Further, a second mechanism may be provided for resiliently articulating the first and second arm braces about a second axis registered orthogonal to the first axis such that the first and second swivel mounts independently reciprocate along mutually exclusive arcuate paths adjoining the first and second arm braces respectively.
US07699706B2
In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes (e.g., for a blackjack game, for a video poker game) for one or more players. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM) or otherwise provided to one or more players (e.g., a player may access the video presentation online). This allows one or more players to purchase a video presentation of (e.g., predetermined) outcomes in a jurisdiction in which gambling is legal yet view the presentation at the player's convenience (e.g., from any jurisdiction and at any time). At least one player who is associated with such a video presentation may subsequently redeem it for a redemption value associated therewith.
US07699703B2
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, implementing techniques for securing a gaming machine for a player of the gaming machine using a mobile device such as a cell phone associated with the player. A player input requests securing of the gaming machine. Responsive to the player input, an access code and a security code are retrieved. The access code defines an access point of a communication system. The security code is specific to a game play session for the player at the gaming machine. The retrieved access code and security code are provided for the player. When the mobile device accesses the communications system and submits the security code, a secure signal is sent to the gaming machine, instructing the gaming machine to enter a remote game play state. The gaming machine can be released from the remote game play state responsive to a releasing event. In one implementation, a wireless interface enables communication between the mobile device and gaming machine according to a wireless protocol such as Bluetooth.
US07699700B2
A motor drive device is disclosed having an input-side gear through which rotation of a stepping motor is transferred to a reel with a predetermined speed reduction ratio, the reel driven by the stepping motor via the input-side gear and is formed in one-piece construction with the input-side gear, and a rotary shaft support section that rotatably supports the reel. The rotary shaft support section has one end formed with a wall portion in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the rotary shaft support section and the other end provided with a press section by which the rotatably supported reel is pressed toward the wall portion.
US07699699B2
An apparatus and method for displaying multiple gaming device interfaces for the same wagering game is provided. The game can be slot although other wagering games are also within the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the exact same game is played using one of a plurality of different display interfaces, wherein the gaming device enables the player to select which interface to play. The player can play the game for a while using one interface and then switch interfaces to provide a fresh display or to change the player's luck. The player can then switch back to the original interface or select a brand new interface depending upon how many interfaces overall are provided.
US07699697B2
A simulated auction bonusing game and method usable with games of chance, where one player terminal triggers a bonus round and is deemed a “seller” in the simulated auction, and all other active player terminals in a bank also participate as simulated “buyers.” The “seller” makes choices of items to sell which are communicated to the “buyers.” The “seller” watches are simulated bids are placed on their items, and “buyers” participate in simulated bidding of items shown on their screens. All the machines are synchronized so that the simulated auction bonus rounds play simultaneously. The seller and all buyers are awarded some winnings, enabling all player's terminals that run the simultaneous simulated auction bonus round to win each time the simulated auction bonus game is invoked.
US07699695B2
A system and method provides an electronic poker game to a plurality of players on an electronic poker table. A game computer administers the electronic poker game by dealing one or more hands using electronic cards and electronic chips. Each hand includes one or more betting rounds. The game computer allows the players to make wagers into a pot with the electronic chips during the one or more betting rounds. The game computer dynamically determines a rake amount of a pot and retains the rake amount from the pot.
US07699694B2
A system and method including card game dispensing shoe includes a scanner that discerns the value and suit of each card dispensed, and includes a CPU and a memory storing data such as rules for dealing cards, data representing player strategy criteria and card inventory data. The CPU, with the scanner data and wagering data can determine player proficiency in regards to player strategies, can determine whether the card inventory is in favor of the player, determine player first card advantage and can, on a floating basis, determine permitted deck penetration. The system and method can be incorporated into games to be broadcast over a communications network such as the Internet.
US07699692B2
A fan assembly (20) for dissipating heat from an electronic device includes a bracket (30) and a fan module (40). The bracket has a retaining wall (31). The retaining wall defines an opening (311) and two vertical slots (313) at opposite sides of the opening. The fan module includes a fan (50) and a pair of clamp members (60). The fan has a fan opening corresponding to the opening of the bracket. The clamp members are respectively attached to opposite sides of the fan. An engaging portion (62) is formed on one end of each clamp member for engaging with the corresponding slot of the bracket. Each engaging portion has a wide portion (624) configured for abutting against an outer surface of one retaining walls and a narrow portion (622) for entering to the corresponding slot.
US07699690B2
An HVAC unit having a multiple air valve unit comprising two air valve devices sharing at least one common rotation axis is described.Concentric air valve device shafts interface with a common actuation device in such way to allow for rotational motion between the actuation device and the air valve device unit, and to allow to air valve devices to control or distribute air into three or more air outlets of the HVAC unit.
US07699683B2
A remote control paintball gun system is disclosed which may include a hopper for containing paintballs of different densities, a paint ball gun barrel associated for receiving paintballs, a motorized, wheeled chassis, a cartridge mounted along a side of the gun barrel for powering the gun barrel and a remote control for controlling motion, transfer of the paint balls from the hopper to the gun barrel, and firing of a paintball. The remote control may include a control for selectively transferring a paintball in accordance with the paintball's density, from the first or second plurality of paintballs, to the gun barrel and may control elevation of the gun barrel. A method of playing paintball may include players who carry and fire hand held paintball guns to hit other players and one or more self propelled paintball gun for remote control operation.
US07699679B2
An inflatable life-saving swimming garment for a swimmer that comprises an inflatable part for floating the swimmer while being in distress and for creating, when inflated, volume difference between upper body part and lower body part of the swimmer. The garment includes an inflating system that consists of a gas tank with compressed gas for inflating, whenever required, the inflatable part; a controllable valve connecting between the air tank and the inflatable part, for allowing, whenever required, the compressed gas to inflate the inflatable part; a controller for analyzing the swimmer's status underwater and opening the valve after the swimmer has been in an actual or impending distress for a predetermined time; and a battery for supplying power for the operation of the controller and the valve.
US07699678B2
A water sport binding is disclosed having a rigid base plate that is adapted to be mounted to a board such as a wake board. A heel loop is pivotably mounted to the base plate and a flexible upper assembly is provided that includes a forward portion that attaches to the base plate and a rearward portion that attaches to the pivotable heel loop. A lever mechanism, including a lever mounted on the heel loop and a cable that attaches to either side of the base plate and extends through a channel in the lever provides a mechanism for locking the heel loop in an upright position during use. The user pivots the lever to permit the heel loop to pivot rearwardly, permitting ready entry or egress from the binding. The flexible upper assembly may include front and back panels, an instep support, an ankle support, and attachment means.
US07699676B2
A buoy system having a buoyant flotation reel 10 for retaining a length of anchor line 95 and for supporting a display pole is disclosed. The anchor line 95 includes an anchor weight 98 thereon and a reel insert 15 for placement within the interior of the buoyant flotation reel 10. The display pole 5 includes a pivot ball 20 thereon for mounting within a socket component 27 mounted on the reel insert 15 to enable the display pole 5 to move within the socket component 27 relative to the reel insert 15. A kit for the buoy system also is disclosed.
US07699672B2
A pedestal connector that incorporates one or more grouped element channel link transmission lines is seen to have a dielectric body and two opposing contact ends that are intended to contact opposing contacts or traces. The dielectric body has an S-shaped configuration such that the transmission lines supported thereon make at least one change in direction, thereby permitting the use of such connector to interconnect elements lying in two different planes. The transmission lines include slots that extend within the frame and which define opposing, conductive surfaces formed on the dielectric body which are separated by an intervening air gap.
US07699658B2
A connection adapter is configured and shaped to be connected between the connection side of a sensor or of an actuator and the input side of a plug connector in order to adapt different plug faces of the sensor or actuator and of the plug connector to each other. The connection adapter has a plug base facing toward the plug connector and with contact chambers and comprises a fastening area facing toward the sensor or actuator.
US07699647B2
A universal serial bus (USB) connector includes a first sidewall defining at least one external USB socket for connecting to an external USB device of a host computer. A second sidewall defining at least one internal USB socket for connecting to an internal USB device of the host computer. A plurality of signal pins are connected to a motherboard of the host computer, and capable of connecting the at least one external USB device and the at least one internal USB device with the motherboard.
US07699644B2
A connector for connecting a card edge module to a circuit board includes a housing that extends along a longitudinal axis between opposite first and second end portions. The housing including a card slot configured to receive a mating edge of the card edge module and a channel proximate one of the first and second end portions. A protective member is received in the channel and positioned to inhibit contact between a side edge of the card edge module and the one of the first and second end portions of the housing when the card edge module is loaded into the connector.
US07699636B2
An electrical connector (1) comprises an insulative housing (2), a plurality terminals received in the housing (2), a stiffener (3) engaged with the housing (2), a clip (5) and a lever (4) pivotably mounted on two opposite sides of the stiffener (3). The lever (4) comprises a pair of locating portions (424) pivotably received in the stiffener (3), an offset actuating portion (422) between the locating portions (424), and an operating portion (43) extending upward and frontward from an end of the locating portions (424) and bent far away from the housing (2).
US07699630B2
A storage device has a memory module and a cover pivotally coupled to a housing of the memory module. In one such storage device, the memory module and cover can pivot with respect to each other to configure the storage device in a first configuration or in each of one or more second configurations. In the first configuration, the cover substantially encloses a connector of the memory module that extends from the housing. In one or more second configurations, the connector is entirely exposed. For one embodiment, opposing light-transmission elements may pass through the cover and extend into an interior of the housing.
US07699627B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a front mating face, a base portion, a mating portion protruding forwardly from the base portion and a number of passageways recessed rearward from the front mating face, the housing defining a number of blocks on a rear side thereof, the blocks each having an abutting face on a lower end thereof; a number of first contacts received in the passageways respectively and each including a contacting portion exposed in the passageway to mate with a corresponding mating connector, a level retaining arm fixed in the passageway and defining a front end connecting with the contacting portion and a rear end opposite to the front end, and a vertical mounting portion extending downwardly from a rear end of the retaining arm, the vertical mounting portion including a soldering portion to be soldered onto a printed circuit board and a protrusion tab extending laterally to have a larger width than that of the soldering portion, the protrusion tab abutting against the abutting face to prevent the vertical mounting portion from moving upwardly.
US07699618B2
The specification discloses an optical transceiver that provides a FPC board to electrically connect the OSA with the circuit board. The FPC board provides pads to be connected with corresponding pads formed on the circuit board and at least one opening in adjacent to the pads. In the present invention, the shape and the position of the opening fit with the outer shape and the position of a corresponding electrical component mounted on the circuit board. By mating the opening in the FPC board with the component on the circuit board, the pads on the FPC board may be aligned with pads on the circuit board.
US07699608B2
An interproximal squirt brush includes a solution container having a compressible solution chamber for containing a washing solution and a nozzle head having an opening, and a brush head including a brush arm and a brush member. The brush arm has a brush portion and a retention portion slidably inserted into the opening of the solution container, wherein a dispensing channel is formed between the retention portion of the brush arm and the inner wall of the nozzle head for allowing the solution to pass therethrough. The brush member is provided at the brush portion of the brush arm. Therefore, when a compression force is applied on the solution container, the solution is released to the brush member through the dispensing channel of the nozzle head.
US07699604B2
A manufacturing apparatus for a semiconductor includes a reaction chamber into which a wafer is introduced, gas supply unit for supplying a gas to the reaction chamber, gas exhaust unit for exhausting the gas from the reaction chamber, a holder for holding the wafer at an outer circumferential part of the wafer, a first heater for heating the wafer from below, a reflector provided above the holder, and a drive mechanism for driving the reflector.
US07699601B2
A hand-held torch includes a housing. A fuel flow path is defined within the housing. A plunger is movable within the housing to control fuel flow through the fuel flow path. An engagement portion is coupled to the plunger. A latching mechanism having at least one claw is movable to engage the engagement portion when the plunger is positioned to allow fuel flow through the fuel flow path. An actuator is coupled to the latching mechanism and exposed for manipulation by a user to move the latching mechanism into engagement with the engagement portion.
US07699598B2
The present invention includes a conforming template for patterning liquids disposed on substrates. The template includes a body having opposed first and second surfaces. The first surface includes a plurality of recessed regions with a patterning region being disposed between adjacent recessed regions. Specifically, the recessed regions define flexure regions about which each patterning region may move independent of the remaining patterning regions of the template. In one embodiment the template is mounted to a fluid chamber having an inlet and a throughway. The template is connected to the throughway and the inlet is connected to a fluid source to facilitate deformation of the template to conform to a profile of a surface adjacent thereto.
US07699589B2
In a scroll-type fluid machine (4), a refrigerant in a discharge chamber (80) is adjusted at prescribed discharge pressure by using a discharge valve (84), discharged from a scroll unit (52), and supplied to a refrigeration circuit (2), and the machine has a circulation path (7) for introducing the refrigerant in the discharge chamber from the refrigeration circuit toward a drive casing (22) while maintaining the refrigerant pressure, and an inlet path (93) formed in a compression casing (24) and leads the refrigerant in the circulation path to the rear side of a movable scroll (54) to make the led refrigerant counteract the refrigerant discharge pressure acting on the front side of the movable scroll.
US07699586B2
A blood pump comprises a pump housing; a rotor positioned in the housing and comprising an impeller having a hydrodynamic surface for pumping blood; and a motor including a plurality of magnets carried by the impeller, plus a rotor stator, including an electrically conductive coil located adjacent to or within the housing. The impeller comprises radially outwardly extending, bladelike projections that define generally longitudinally extending spaces between the projections. The shape of the projections and the spaces therebetween tend to drive blood in the spaces in an axial direction as the impeller is rotated. The spaces collectively have a total width along most of their lengths at the radial periphery of the rotor, that is substantially equal to or less than the collective width of the projections along most of their lengths at the radial periphery. Thus, the bladelike projections are thicker, achieving significant advantages.
US07699572B2
A bookbinding apparatus includes a coating device for moving relatively to a sheet bundle in the longitudinal direction thereof and for coating an adhesive on the spine of the sheet bundle, a driving device for the relative movement of the coating device, and a control device for controlling the driving device, and according to the thickness of a booklet, changes the number of times of coating of the coating device for one booklet, thereby controls the amount of coating of adhesive.
US07699570B2
A grommet connector includes a first end portion and a second end portion with a barrier therebetween. The first end portion is adapted for insertion into a grommet, and the second end portion is adapted for connecting to another part, such as a nut or washer to form a subassembly of the grommet and the other part.
US07699566B2
A tool chuck may include a chuck body defining a longitudinal axis. A sleeve may be mounted on the chuck body and axially fixed relative to the chuck body. A clutch part may be provided on the sleeve. The clutch part may interact with a cooperating clutch part mounted on the power driver housing. The cooperating clutch part may be mounted on the power driver housing for movement between a first axial position in which the chuck body is rotatable together with the sleeve, and a second axial position in which the chuck body is rotatable relative to the sleeve to actuate the tool chuck. The chuck body may be rotatable in a first direction to actuate the tool chuck up to a first torque threshold, and rotatable in a second direction to actuate the tool chuck up to a second, different torque threshold.
US07699564B2
A method of attaching a branch outlet fitting to a metal pipe buried beneath the earth's surface while causing reduced disturbance to the earth above the pipe, comprising digging a vertical excavation from the earth's surface to expose a short length of the pipe; positioning a first fitting portion on a lower surface of the pipe; positioning a second fitting portion on an upper surface of the pipe in alignment with the first fitting portion, the first and second fitting portions having welding material thereon adjacent the pipe surfaces and each other; and from the earth's surface, activating the welding material to physically and sealably secure the fitting portions to the pipe and to each other.
US07699559B2
A device for modifying the layout of a vehicle racing course in a wide track section thereof including an arrangement consisting of individual elements for defining the edge of the track located in the region of the track section, which can be displaced, either individually or in groups, from an initial configuration of the track section into a new configuration for reshaping a bend in the racing course or/and for dividing the racing course.
US07699556B2
A Bolted Flanged Connection (BFC) includes “negative creep” bolts with cores manufactured from Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) and “negative creep” gasket manufactured from the same SMA. The gasket is shape-memorized to the “swelling”, and bolt cores are shape-memorized to the compression. Temperature interval of reverse martensitic phase transformation of SMA is close to operational temperature interval of the assembly. The constrained shape recovery of the gasket and bolt cores is combined with inverse flexion flange design that constitutes original type of BFC with feature to inhibit flange rotation and creep of bolts and gasket under conditions of a variety of operational temperatures and internal pressures. Presented type of BFC allows increasing significantly internal pressure and leak tightness providing safe and extended service life of pressure vessels and plant/piping systems used in aerospace, submarine shipbuilding, petroleum refining, petrochemicals, fossil fuel and nuclear power generation, and other industries.
US07699555B2
A mounting assembly for releasably mounting a rear light member to a body member of a vehicle. The mounting assembly comprises a locking member. The locking member includes a sleeve-like mounting portion adapted to be fixed to the support member, and a first locking portion integrally joined to the mounting portion. The first locking portion is adapted to snappingly engage a matingly shaped second locking portion of the structural member for retaining it. The mounting assembly further comprises a release pin axially slidably in the mounting portion of the locking member. The release pin has a shaft portion axially project from the sleeve-shaped mounting portion and is adapted to be axially displaced for releasing the two locking portions from being snappingly engaged.
US07699553B1
A binder hold down page of multifunction construction. The hold down page is equipped with at least one article holder. The hold down page has a hold down surface opposite an outer surface, at least one of which is configured with an article holder of integral construction. A plurality of article holders can be provided, each for holding a different type of article. In one preferred embodiment, both surfaces are configured with at least one article holder. In another preferred embodiment, both surfaces are configured with a plurality of article holders. A hold down page constructed in accordance with the invention is retained along one side in a binder. The hold down page preferably also is releasably latched to the binder along a side of the page that is spaced from the side captured by the binder. Rings can be used to retain the hold down page in the binder.
US07699552B2
A pump (10) for a personal care appliance which includes a flexible fluid cartridge member (12) having an exit opening (17) for the fluid at a forward end thereof (16), a base member (24) having a cutout portion (26) into which a fluid-filled portion (14) of the cartridge (24) can nest, and a pressing member (32) having a configuration which nests with the cutout portion over a substantial portion of its length, such that as the pressing member moves forwardly along its path, fluid in the fluid-filled portion is pressed out the exit opening and into a line connected to a workpiece element, such as a toothbrush brushhead.
US07699545B2
A shutter device includes a blade member and a detecting unit. The blade member includes a first blade, a second blade, a detection portion, and a limiting portion. The blade member controls a time of exposure, performed on a recording medium, on the basis of a magnitude of a width of a slit. The slit includes slit portions and is provided when the first and second blades travel. The slit portions are provided at the detection portion and limiting portion, respectively. The detecting unit detects a state of the slit width. A cut-away portion is provided at the blade member so that a width of the slit portion at the detection portion is greater than a width of the slit portion at the limiting portion. The detection portion is detected by the detecting unit. The limiting portion limits the exposure time.
US07699542B2
A transparent plate is fixed to the body of a mobile phone with a camera in order to cover an aperture for photography. A solid-state image sensor (4) is placed on the image plane of a photographing optical system. Between a base plate having an aperture for regulating the optical path of photographing light and a cover plate having an aperture, a blade chamber for housing a shutter blade is provided, and an actuator for driving the shutter blade is fixed to the outer surface of the blade chamber. The base plate and the cover plate are arranged in the body so that the aperture is located between the transparent plate and the photographing optical system.
US07699541B2
The present invention is provided for fusion splicing optical fibers with low splice loss even when a shape of a discharge beam for the splicing is distorted. In the present invention, a preliminary discharge is performed with the optical fibers outside a discharge area and an image of the discharge beam thereof is picked up. Based on this image, brightness distributions of the discharge beam are estimated on a plurality of lines in a Z direction that are set in different positions in an X direction, and a discharge center of the beam is found from the plurality of brightness distributions. Then, the abutment portion of the optical fibers is positioned at the discharge center, and a main discharge is performed so as to fusion splice the distal ends of the optical fibers.
US07699537B2
An optical port apparatus includes a housing having oppositely disposed first and second housing surfaces and a housing body extending therebetween. A housing aperture extends about a central axis of the housing body. A groove surrounds the housing aperture. The groove extends partially through the housing body and has a bottom groove surface spaced from the second housing surface by a groove side wall. A shelf is located between the groove and the housing aperture. A gasket is located in the groove adjacent the bottom groove surface. The gasket surrounds the housing aperture. A window is located across the housing aperture in contact with the shelf. An elastomeric adhesive is located in the groove between the groove side wall and at least one of the window and the gasket. A bezel is fastened to the second housing surface adjacent the groove.
US07699522B2
Quality assurance device for calibrating and testing the accuracy of movement-correlated computed tomography (“4D CT”) target-locating systems has a test unit sub-assembly adapted to be combined with a dynamic phantom system. The test unit sub-assembly has an axially and rotationally moveable test rod slideably disposed inside of a substantially hollow fixed housing. A matrix of markers, or “fiducials”, are located in the wall of the housing. A single fiducial is located near the distal end of the moveable test rod. The distal end portion of the moveable test rod is adapted to be connected to a motion actuator, which is programmed to oscillate the test rod in a predetermined pattern. When the test unit sub-assembly is inserted into a tissue equivalent phantom member, the combined sub-assembly and phantom member can then be subjected to four-dimensional imaging to generate a visual image. A visual comparison actual relative positions of the fiducials to the know positions of the fiducials in time indicates the accuracy of the 4D CT system.
US07699517B2
An LED surface lighting device (100) comprises a plurality of LED light source modules (120) assembled together side-by-side. Each of the LED light source modules comprises a light guiding plate (122) and at least one LED (124). The light guiding plate comprises a light emitting surface (1222) and a plurality of lateral sides (1225, 1227) adjacent to the light emitting surface. At least one of the lateral sides defines a groove (123) for receiving the at least one LED. The groove keeps a predetermined distance (D) from the light emitting surface.
US07699516B1
A back light module where one of the top and bottom surfaces of the light guide contain a micro Fresnel lens array which is off-axis so that a portion of the light won't initially escape from the back light module. The light is reflected down the length of the light guide, spreading the light across the back light module. In one embodiment, the Fresnel lens array is designed to have its efficiency vary across the back light. A smaller percentage of the light is directed out of the module near the light source, with most of the light being directed down the light guide. In an LED embodiment, the LED is mounted on the top or bottom edge of the light guide with a diffraction structure on the opposite side to diffract the light down the light guide.
US07699514B2
An LED vehicular lamp with reflector can include a plurality of LED modules each having respective appropriate light distributions. The modules can be attached to a housing to form a light distribution characteristic though combination of the light emitted from the LED modules. At least part of the LED modules can include an illumination axis that is substantially at a right angle to the optical axis of the lamp such that light reflected at a reflector provided in the housing travels in the illumination direction of the LED light source vehicular lamp. The LED modules can also include a rear end that protrudes from an outer surface of the housing to improve the heat radiation efficiency, which enables the use of LED chips that can use higher permissible current values.
US07699507B2
An optical signaling apparatus for use in highways or roadways (2), particularly in low visibility conditions, wherein a roadway (2) comprises at least one traffic bearing surface (S) with at least one edgeline (3). The apparatus comprises light-emitting means (4) for emitting at least one laser beam (5) and support means (6) designed to be arranged along the roadway (2) for supporting the light-emitting means (4). The apparatus also includes optical means (7) arranged along the roadway (2) for interacting with the beam (5) in such a manner as to selectively conform and project it either in a first direction (D1) which is incident on at least one edgeline (3) to interact therewith, or in a second direction (D2) substantially parallel to the traffic bearing surface (S) to define a substantially continuous optical path that can be viewed by the users, or even in both such directions (D1, D2).
US07699500B2
In accordance with the present invention, a light-emitting element mounting board is provided including an enamel layer which covers the surface of a core metal, wherein reflective cup portions for mounting light-emitting elements are provided on one face of the board, and wherein a heat radiating part is formed by at least partially removing the enamel layer on the other face of the board, and exposing the core metal. Further, a light-emitting element module including light-emitting elements mounted thereon, a lighting device including the light-emitting element, a display device, and traffic signal equipment are provided.
US07699497B2
A backlight module for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a bottom plate, a plurality light sources, a light-premixing unit, and a light-mixing unit. The light sources are mounted on the bottom frame. The light-premixing unit is located above the bottom frame. The light-premixing unit includes a first diffuser. The light-mixing unit is located at a distance above the light-premixing unit. The light-mixing unit includes a second diffuser. The backlight module can effectively reduce the thickness of and meet the slim-line requirement of the LCD.
US07699484B2
An exemplary direct-type backlight module includes light sources, a frame, and a fixing member. Each light source includes a supporting strip and at least one light-emitting member provided with the supporting strip. The frame includes a bottom plate. The bottom plate includes elastic members. The fixing member is engaged with the elastic members thereby fixing the supporting strips of the light sources to the bottom plate of the frame. A liquid crystal display using the backlight module is also provided.
US07699483B2
A device for the illumination of a display, in particular of a transmission display of a motor vehicle, comprises an areal lighting means for an at least substantially uniform illumination of the total display in combination with at least one light emitting diode for an illumination of a respective individual display, in particular of a transmission position display offset in comparison with the uniform illustration of the total display, in particular a more intensive illustration of a respective individual display, in particular of a transmission position display.
US07699479B2
A vehicle mirror assembly having a housing and dome-type mirror lens. The lens has a first base footprint portion with a constant radius of curvature and a diameter, and a second base footprint portion comprised of an elliptical portion with a base major axis and a base minor axis. The mirror lens includes a first surface portion having a first surface radius and conforming to the first base footprint portion. The lens additionally includes a second surface portion conforming to the second base footprint portion. The second surface portion is comprised of a second surface major radius of curvature corresponding to a major surface axis and a second surface minor radius of curvature corresponding to a minor surface axis.
US07699467B2
This invention relates to a method and a device for the complete correction of sight defects in the human eye. Combinations of measuring, and processing methods are described which when applied as disclosed in the invention, make it possible to fully correct sight defects in the human eye. Measuring methods are used which can precisely scan the surface of the cornea and also register other imaging defects in the light path up to the retina. Computer-aided of said measuring results determined when combined with calculation of ideally corrected ocular lenses (for example after cataract operations) or ideally corrected surfaces of the cornea opens up the possibility of manufacturing a patient-specific lens and/or achieving ideal correction of the cornea using preferably a topography-supported spot-scanning-excimer laser system.
US07699465B2
A scleral lens has an optical zone, a peripheral zone and a sagittal depth control zone between the optical zone and the peripheral zone. The sagittal depth control zone may be configured to raise the optical zone above the level of a person's eye when the scleral lens is in use and create a tear layer between the optical zone and the person's eye. Tear flow control features are provided in the sagittal depth control zone.
US07699453B2
To provide a liquid storage container that can prevent false detection of a liquid remaining-amount sensor by preventing air bubbles from reaching a detection position of the liquid remaining-amount sensor as long as a usable amount of liquid remains in liquid storage chambers even when the air bubbles enter liquid guide paths from the liquid storage chambers. The liquid storage container has a cartridge main body 10 that includes an upper ink storage chamber 370, a lower ink storage chamber 390, and a buffer chamber 430. The upper ink storage chamber 370 and the lower ink storage chamber 390 are connected to each other with an ink guide path 380 which provides a descending connection so that ink I descends downward therethrough. The lower ink storage chamber 390 and the buffer chamber 430 are connected to each other with an ink guide path 420 which provides an ascending connection so that the ink I ascends upward therethrough. Thus, the descending connection and the ascending connection are alternately provided so as to connect the ink storage chambers in series.
US07699449B2
A liquid ejection apparatus comprises a liquid cartridge for storing a liquid, a liquid ejection head for ejecting the liquid toward a target, a liquid supply path for guiding the liquid to the liquid ejection head from the liquid cartridge, and a capping device for drawing the liquid from the liquid ejection head. The liquid supply path comprises a plurality of wall surfaces, and a part of the wall surface is formed of a flexible member that is flexed by the inside-and-outside pressure difference of the liquid supply path. A pressure pump for adjusting the pressure of a fluid within the liquid supply path in the upstream side of the flexible member is provided.
US07699448B2
An ink refill unit for a print cartridge is provided. The unit includes a housing which defines a fluid path in fluid communication with an outlet. The unit also includes an ink reservoir having an ejection port arranged in fluid communication with the fluid path inside the housing, and an ejector assembly configured to incrementally eject ink from the reservoir when the assembly is actuated by the print cartridge. The ejector assembly includes a plunger having a toothed thread which engages with a screw thread provided in an internal wall of the housing. The ejector has a drive gear so that actuation of the drive gear imparts rotation to the toothed thread so as to rotate the plunger within the screw thread of the housing to eject ink from a bellows-like reservoir.
US07699443B2
The present invention is a piezoelectric actuator unit 29 having piezoelectric vibrators 33 vibrating in the lamination direction of electrode layers and piezoelectric material layers which are alternately laminated. The piezoelectric vibrators are arranged in one row in the direction of vibrator arrangement perpendicular to the lamination direction. Each of the piezoelectric vibrators includes the area on one side and the area on the other side in the direction of the vibrator width perpendicular to the lamination and vibrator arrangement directions, and either of the area on one side and the area on the other side forms active parts capable of performing piezoelectric deformation, and the other area forms inactive parts incapable of performing piezoelectric deformation, and in the adjacent piezoelectric vibrators, the arrangement of the active part and inactive part is opposite. According to the present invention, the number of nozzles of the liquid ejecting apparatus can be increased without any inconveniences.
US07699438B2
A plurality of land sections, each enclosed by two slits, are formed in a ground wire provided on a side of a flexible wiring board to which a piezoelectric element is connected. Since the ground wire and the land sections are connected by only a thin connection section, the solder deposited on the land sections does not flow to the ground wire.
US07699437B2
An array inkjet head and an inkjet image forming apparatus having the array inkjet head. The array inkjet head is formed by sequentially combining a first member, a second member, a third member on an upper surface of which a plurality of base modules are mounted, and a cover member that covers the third member, and the cover member comprises a plurality of opening holes formed along the lengthwise direction of the cover member to expose the head chips and a plurality of concave units formed on both sides of each of the opening holes and to have a predetermined gaps between edge units of the base modules to be coated with an adhesive.
US07699419B2
A spacing-sensing apparatus for use in a printing module of printer is disclosed. The spacing-sensing apparatus includes an oscillating device pivotally disposed on the frame of printing module, wherein the oscillating device has a swing body designed to be rotatably disposed on the lateral plate of the frame, and one end of the swing body is capable of making contact with the surface of a print media when the printing module descends to a predetermined distance from the printing module to the print media, allowing rotation of the other end thereof to trigger switch means for stopping the descending of printing module.
US07699402B2
A restraint system is disclosed for securing a passenger to a seat in a motor vehicle. The restraint system is composed of a restraint belt removably attached to a vehicle seat having a plurality of vertical straps and an attachment mechanism for connecting said straps across the passenger's chest. Each of the vertical straps has a first end removably attached to a lap belt and a second end removably attached to a latch located behind the vehicle seat.
US07699396B2
This invention relates to an improved cover for a seat assembly that includes a closure structure for selectively providing access to an internal mounting bracket and that has an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The seat assembly includes a seat portion and a back portion that cooperate to provide a seat. At least one of the seat portion and the back portion includes a frame having a mounting bracket provided thereon and a cover having an opening. A closure structure is provided on the cover for selectively providing access though the opening formed through the cover to the mounting bracket. The closure structure may be embodied as any releasable closure structure, including a zipper, hook and loop material, snap fasteners, buttons, and the like.
US07699390B2
In a seating system for passenger service vehicles, and for aircraft in particular, having a seat structure (19), a seat element, a backrest (5), an arm rest (7), and table element (1), the table element (1) is movable between a storage position and a use position. In the use position, the table element (1) faring a table surface (3). The table element (1) is pivotally connected to the seat structure (19, 27) by lever mechanism (23, 33), and a power drive (21) is provided, which is coupled to the lever mechanism (23, 33) to form an over-center mechanism. The power drive (21) pivots the table element (1) from the storage position into an intermediate position, which is defined by the over-center mechanism, and from the intermediate position into the use position after over-centering of the intermediate position has been overcome by application of a force to the table element (1).
US07699379B2
A locking device for a movable motor vehicle part (2), especially a movable roof part of a vehicle roof which can be opened, has a locking element (3) for fixing the vehicle part (2) in the end position of motion, a pivoting support (5) which can be pivoted between a rest position and an operating position. The locking element (3) is movably supported on the pivoting support (5), and is covered on the visible side by the pivoting support (5) when it is in a rest position. When the vehicle part (2) has moved into the end position of its motion, it is supported by the pivoting support which has pivoted into the operating position (5), and in this position, is fixed by the locking element. The locking element is covered on the visible side by the pivoting support when it is in the rest position.
US07699374B2
A connective system for connecting a first body to a second body having an aperture, is provided. The system includes a pin connected with the first body. The pin has a detent surface. A retainer ring having a snap fit engagement with the pin detent surface is provided. The retainer ring also has a locking arm for entry into the aperture of the second body with snap fit engagement with a surface of the second body thereby retaining the second body with said first body.
US07699371B2
A movable rear parcel shelf having a storage plate for use in a vehicle, which is able to be retained by means of a detent connection, and the detent connection itself are specified, whereby the detent connection is releasable by means of an actuating element which is associated with the storage plate, and whereby the detent connection occurs between a detent spring, which is connected to a part being secured to the vehicle, and a detent element, which is connected to the storage surface.
US07699362B2
An actuator has an actuator housing fixed to an open side of a concave accommodating portion of a latch housing in a latch body, and also has a drive source, which is accommodated in the actuator housing, and an open lever for releasing a meshing part from a striker by being release-operated by the drive source. The open lever is accommodated in the actuator housing. A block member blocks a gap between the accommodating portion of the latch housing and the actuator housing.
US07699356B2
A quick connector coupling has either a linear or an angled female coupling member, a male coupling member which is attached to a radiator, a bushing, a sealing means, and a locking ring, which maintains the connection of the male coupling member and the female coupling member. The male member has at least one chamfered surface, which is complementary to a chamfered surface on the bushing element. The locking ring is disposed around the female coupling member and has a plurality of indentations which pass through apertures positioned around the collar end of the female member. These indentations interconnect with an annular groove around the male member when coupled to the female member, securing the connection.
US07699354B2
A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.
US07699353B2
A method including providing a first umbilical, coupling an end of the first umbilical to a first end of a compliant splice system, providing a second umbilical, and coupling an end to the second umbilical to a second end of the compliant splice system.
US07699351B2
A security object has a substrate (1) carrying a first motif (6) and mutually aligned thereto a second motif (7). The first motif (6) is formed by a volume hologram (8) and visible under a given viewing condition only. The second motif (7) can e.g. be a dye, a surface hologram, a perforation or any other non-variable or optically variable device. The first and the second motif (6, 7) combine to form a third motif, e.g. a legible text. The combination of the first motif (6) formed by a volume hologram (8) with the second motif provides an increased level of security.
US07699349B2
A label including a first layer having a first surface adapted to being printed on and a second layer proximate to a second surface of the first layer. The second layer includes two or more sections having a gap therebetween. Each gap in the second layer defines a fold-line section in the first layer. The second layer covers substantially all of the bottom surface of the first layer except for the fold-line section. Another aspect provides a label having a first layer and a second layer attached to the first layer and having at least two sections separated by a gap, the gap being discernible through the first layer.
US07699342B2
A curtain air bag formed so that an auxiliary inflatable chamber adapted to reduce to as great an extent as possible a substantial decrease in a protective region of an air bag body 1 can be formed. The air bag body 1 is deployed into the interior of an automobile 8 by introducing a high-pressure gas, which is ejected from an inflator at the time of the occurrence of collision of the automobile 8 with something, into the interior of the air bag body. An auxiliary inflatable chamber 5 defined with respect to a main inflatable chamber 3 is obtained by sewing the air bag body by a substantially one sewing line using a multi-thread chain stitch method or the like. The auxiliary and main inflatable chambers 5, 3 are communicated with each other via a narrow orifice type gas flow restriction passage 6.
US07699339B2
There is provided a bracket for securing a side airbag for an automotive vehicle. The bracket includes a support plate, an installation plate positioned at upper part of the support plate and including an installation aperture, and fixing plates formed by being forwardly bent from the right and left edges, with respect to the installation plate, of the support plate.
US07699326B2
An in-wheel suspension including a vehicle body-side member (90). The vehicle body-side member (90) is coupled with a vehicle body at least two coupling portions (92a, 92b, 92c), one of which is positioned above a wheel center and the other of which is positioned below the wheel center, via respective elastic members (96a, 96b, 96c). The elastic member (96b) arranged at the upper coupling portion (92b) has portions with high rigidity, and portions with low rigidity formed in an oblique direction that extends upward and toward an inside of a vehicle from a position outside of the vehicle. The elastic member (96a, 96c) arranged at the lower coupling portion (92a, 92c) has portions with high rigidity, and portions with low rigidity formed in an oblique direction that extends downward and toward the inside of the vehicle from a position outside of the vehicle.
US07699321B2
A chuck for accommodating a collet chuck, comprising a housing and a chucking tool seat that is assigned to the housing. The chucking tool seat is embedded in the housing as a separate part via an intermediate filling that is made of polymer concrete for connecting the chucking tool seat and the housing. This design has improved properties regarding damping and the total weight while flat sub-areas that are composed of individual guiding plates can additionally be used as clamping areas of the chucking tool seat. Thus a pyramid-type joint is obtained, which could previously be created with the required precision only by using a lot of effort when producing the same from solid material.
US07699315B2
To provide a gaming machine which achieves a reduction in a player's fatigue.A gaming machine 1 according to the invention includes a cabinet 3, having a display portion 4 which displays information relating to a game and operation buttons 11 for a player to carry out an operation of the game, a power lamp light emitting portion 300 which emits light, and a lens barrel 310 which intercepts at least some of light heading toward a player, from among light emerging from LED's 302 provided on the power lamp light emitting portion 300. In this kind of gaming machine 1, at least some of the light heading toward the player, from among the light emerging from the LED's 302 of the power lamp light emitting portion 300, is intercepted by the lens barrel 310. For this reason, light from the power lamp light emitting portion 300 entering the player's field of vision being reduced by the lens barrel 310, fatigue of a player continuing the game is reduced.
US07699311B2
A sheet discriminating apparatus includes a pair of conveying rotary members for conveying a sheet while rotating with the sheet sandwiched between the pair of conveying rotary members, a vibration detecting sensor for detecting vibrations of the pair of conveying rotary members. The sheet discriminating portion further includes a discriminating portion for making a discrimination in a type of the sheet based on the vibrations detected by the vibration detecting sensor.
US07699305B2
A method and device disclosed herein controls the movement of media sheets within an image forming device using a pick mechanism that contacts and moves a media sheet from an input area into a media path. One embodiment controls the rotational speed of the pick mechanism based on a filtered combination of a pick mechanism signal and an encoder signal. An encoder roller positioned to contact the media sheets in the input area senses the movement of the media sheet to generate the encoder signal.
US07699300B2
In a sheet post-processing apparatus that folds a sheet bundle, a folding roller drive motor that drives folding rollers is PWM driven such that its speed is varied in each control during the period until a blade contacts the sheet bundle, during the period when the sheet bundle is conveyed to a discharge port, during discharge operation, and during return of the motor to its home position.
US07699298B2
A jig for holding a core which comprises a movable platform, a base positioned on the movable platform which has a receiving hole, and an inserter positioned inside the receiving hole of the base, shaped corresponding to the shape of the receiving hole, to fasten the core to the inserter. The inserter comprises a core receiving hole, a plurality of positioning recesses disposed symmetrically in the periphery of the core receiving hole, a plurality of positioning blocks received in the positioning recesses, and a plurality of resilient elements received in a space between the positioning recesses and the positioning blocks to hold the core firmly.
US07699295B2
Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus for generating a precursor gas used in a vapor deposition process system. The apparatus contains a canister or an ampoule for containing a chemical precursor and a splash guard contained within the ampoule. The splash guard is positioned to obstruct the chemical precursor in a liquid state from being bumped or splashed into a gas outlet during the introduction of a carrier gas into the ampoule. The carrier gas is usually directed into the ampoule through a gas inlet and combines with the vaporized chemical precursor to form a precursor gas. The splash guard is also positioned to permit the passage of the precursor gas from the gas outlet. In one example, the gas outlet contains a stem with a tapered tip and the splash guard is positioned at an angle parallel to the plane of the tapered tip.
US07699284B2
A three axes or three dimensional adjustment foundation target mount for use in industrial applications to provide for precise settings for machining and related operations, includes a body, the body has internal threads therein, an expandable vertical adjustment disc is provided therein, a lateral adjustment target cone is applied on top of the adjustment disc, and a top retainer disc is located and threadily engaged within the body, and holds a series of adjustment screws which can be adjusted to provide for the lateral and fore and aft adjustments to the target cone, to furnish, along with the adjustment disc, three dimensional adjustments for the survey target when applied to the mount. A cap is also provided to furnish coverage for the receptacle, following its precise setting and usage.
US07699281B2
A mounting apparatus includes a chassis (10), a bracket (20) for securing a power supply (50) therein, and a pair of first and second members (32, 34). The chassis has a plate (12). Two parallel securing pieces (126) are formed on the plate. The bracket includes two parallel side walls (24). One end portion of each of the first and second members being respectively rotatably secured on the securing pieces, the other end portion thereof being respectively rotatably secured on the side walls of the bracket.
US07699277B2
Provided is, among other things, an attachment apparatus that includes an attachment base, a magnet attached to a first side of the attachment base and a clip structure extending from a second side of the attachment base, the second side being opposite the first side. The clip structure, in turn, includes first and second arms which can be resiliently spread apart in order to receive an item and then released in order to close around the item.
US07699269B2
Circuits and methods for use on a mobile platform including a flight control system, a structure, an aerodynamic surface, and an actuator operatively coupled to the surface to control the surface. The circuit includes a first and a second input, a summing element, and an output. The first input accepts commands from the flight control system while the second input accepts a vibration signal from the structure. The summing element communicates with the inputs and sums the signal and the command. In turn, the summing element controls the actuator with the summed signal and command.
US07699266B2
A sealing system for a gap (2) existing between the fuselage (3) and the elevator (4) of a orientable horizontal stabilizer (5) of an aircraft, comprises a main body (1) formed by an upper surface (18) and a lower surface (19) and at least one longitudinal vertical element (22) arranged between the two surfaces (18,19) which grants rigidity to the main body (1), and a plurality of first elastic sealing profiles (9) between the first surface (11) of the main body (1) and the outer surface of the fuselage (3) and making contact with them, and a plurality of second elastic sealing profiles (13) between the second surface (12) of the main body (1) and the first end of the elevator (15) and making contact with them, in such a way that the sealing of the gap (2) takes place and an aerodynamic continuity is produced between the fuselage (3) and the elevator (4) when the elevator (4) is at rest in the plane of the orientable horizontal stabilizer (5) for any of the orientation positions of the orientable horizontal stabilizer (5).
US07699264B2
A rest unit that can be laid out inside a fuselage of an aircraft, especially for the benefit of the crew, is made up of a plurality of cells of an elongated shape, each cell having longitudinal and transverse dimensions corresponding to a location of a berth, the cells being juxtaposed on at least two levels to form a module of a parallelepipedal outer shape. This module can be incorporated in a rear cone of the fuselage of the aircraft.
US07699260B2
A vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, using for vertical lift and lateral thrust a redundant plurality of essentially similar electrically-powered and electronically-controlled thrust units mounted in a mechanically static or fixed fashion relative to one another in a substantially horizontal plane. The thrust units are situated in this planar array in aerodynamically approximate pairs, such that a complete failure of a single thrust unit would not substantially compromise the ability of the aircraft to maintain flight.
US07699255B2
A disc mill assembly for a pulverizing system includes: a flywheel, a water jacket, two disc blades, and two ring clamps. In alternate embodiments, the disc mill assembly also includes: an air inlet to provide input air from an external air supply and an improved blade height adjustment mechanism. A disc blade is also provided. The disc blade is a single member with a central aperture that is the only through hole in the blade. Users may cost-effectively adopt a disposal versus sharpening policy for replacement of the disc blade. A method for controlling a temperature of material in a disc mill assembly having first and second disc blades is provided. The method includes: directing an adjustable input air stream, directing material to be ground, monitoring the temperature of the material, and controlling the air stream directing and/or the material directing in response to the temperature monitoring.
US07699245B1
A nozzle spray assembly for insecticide made in two halves that are connected together and define an internal reservoir. The lower half has an arcuate shaped exterior surface and includes an inlet tube in communication with the reservoir. The lower half also has nozzle openings adjacent the arcuate surface so that when air is directed over the arcuate surface past the nozzle openings fluid is sucked into the inlet tube and reservoir and out the nozzle openings to spray insecticide onto the surrounding area.
US07699244B2
A cleaning device for cleaning the front cover lens of a vehicular lamp, including a bracket 8 that is attached to the cylinder of a spray nozzle 5 and positions the cylinder in the opening formed in a vehicle body, a fixing member 9 that covers the bracket, and an elastic member (a clip spring) 101 disposed between the bracket and the fixing member. Engagement pieces 83b and 84a of a pair of arm elements 83 and 84 of the bracket engage the front (outer) side of the opening, a plurality of contact portions 92a, 93a, 94a and 95a of the fixing member are in contact with the rear (inner) side of the opening, and the elastic member interposed between the bracket and the fixing member urges the fixing member toward the opening, thus securing the bracket to the opening.
US07699239B2
A retro-reflective system for increasing the safety of a railroad crossing includes at least one railroad crossing panel. A sealer is applied to a prepared surface of the railroad crossing panel. An adhesive applied over the sealer after the sealer is partially cured adheres a retro-reflective material thereto. The retro-reflective material increases visibility of the railroad crossing. Anti-skid elements may also be applied over the adhesive, to provide enhanced traction for vehicles or pedestrians traversing the railroad crossing.
US07699238B2
The present invention relates to a steam trap for draining off condensate from a collecting chamber in which condensate resulting in a pressure gas system is collected, the collecting chamber being pressurized by a gas pressure which, depending upon the operating state of the pressure gas system, may be a negative pressure below the atmospheric pressure, an overpressure above the atmospheric pressure or an atmospheric pressure itself. The steam trap may be separated via an interface into an integral first assembly unit and an integral maintenance assembly unit which comprises the essential wear and tear parts.
US07699230B2
A secure tag comprising: a carrier doped with one or more rare earth ions, and a barrier material associated with the carrier and substantially blocking low-wavelength radiation to shield the rare earth ions from low-wavelength radiation. This enables a secure tag to be fabricated that does not photoluminescence strongly in response to a low-wavelength excitation radiation source.
US07699225B2
A magnetic head of a credit card identification terminal for reading card data which can prevent card data from being illegally acquired. The magnetic head includes a generally box-shaped sealed case having an open side; a bobbin with an electric wire wound thereon provided in the sealed case; a core member extending from the bobbin and having an end protruding to the outside of the sealed case through a through-hole formed through a side of the sealed case opposite the opening; a terminal pin connected to the wire wound on the bobbin; and resin filled in the hollow space in the sealed case, the terminal pin is embedded in the resin filled in the sealed case, one end of a flexible wiring substrate is connected to the terminal pin, and the other end of the flexible wiring substrate extends to the outside of the sealed case from the opening.
US07699221B2
Systems and methods for performing a simplified risk assessment are provided. A historical transaction value for past transactions associated with related promissory payments is maintained. A request is received from a merchant to determine authorization of a financial transaction associated with a proffered promissory payment. The historical transaction value associated with the related promissory payments is accessed and determination, based on the historical transaction value, of whether to authorize the financial transaction based on a risk score or whether to authorize the financial transaction based on data stored in a negative database is made.
US07699220B2
An automated retail terminal in which a plurality of goods and/or services are provided in an integrated system. The integrated system generally avoids duplicating hardware or functions in the course of delivering the goods or services offered, so for example in a combination ATM and Internet kiosk the same credit card or smart card reader is used for both the ATM and the Internet kiosk functions, the same control screen activates the ATM functions and the Internet functions, and etc.
US07699210B2
In some example embodiments, a method includes engaging a first contact on a motherboard with a second contact on an electronic package. A portion of one of the first and second contacts is covered with an interlayer that has a lower melting temperature than both of the first and second contacts. The method further includes bonding the first contact to the second contact by melting the interlayer to diffuse the interlayer into the first and second contacts. The bonded first and second contacts have a higher melting temperature than the interlayer before melting. In other example embodiments, an electronic assembly includes a motherboard having a first contact that is bonded to a second contact on an electronic package. An interlayer is diffused within the first and second contacts such that they have a higher melting temperature than the interlayer before the interlayer is diffused into the first and second contacts.
US07699209B2
A bonding method involving detection of non-bonding of a bonding wire to a first bonding point, the method including an electrical non-bonding detection step and an optical non-bonding detection step, wherein data on whether the respective first bonding points are predetermined bonding points where an electrical non-bonding detection is not applicable are acquired from a memory unit; and when it is determined that a first bonding point is the predetermined bonding point, a non-bonding verification on the first bonding point is executed in the optical non-bonding detection step, and when the first bonding point is not the predetermined bonding point, then non-bonding detection on the first bonding point is executed in the electrical non-bonding detection step.
US07699208B2
A soldering system for melting a solder to form a joint between a first workpiece and a second workpiece is described. The system may comprise an energy generating system, a soldering tip, and a dispenser adapted to dispense controlled amounts of the solder. The soldering tip includes a non-wetting solder contact layer in operative communication with the energy generating system. The energy generating system may include induction, electrical, or heat generating systems in communication with the soldering tip. The non-wetting solder contact layer comprises a material that is not wettable by the molten solder. The system permits control of an amount of the solder in the joint.
US07699200B2
A separation apparatus comprising a first and a second scribing devices for scribing front and rear surfaces of a first mother substrate made of a brittle material along first predetermined scribing lines previously provided on the front and rear surfaces of the first mother substrate, the first and second scribing devices being opposed to each other on an upper side and a lower side, and a holding and transferring device for holding and transferring the first mother substrate so that the first predetermined scribing lines of the first mother substrate are located between the first and second scribing devices.
US07699198B2
An attachment mechanism for use with a portable electronic device (101) includes a case (110) having a first surface (211) and a second surface (111), where the first surface and the second surface define therebetween a space (105) capable of receiving the portable electronic device. The attachment mechanism further includes a clip (120) attached to the second surface of the case. The clip includes a body (221) adjacent to the second surface, a first extension (222) spaced apart from and extending toward the second surface, and a second extension (223) also spaced apart from and extending toward the second surface. The second piece creates a first pocket (231) between the case and the clip, and the second piece creates a second pocket (232) between the case and the clip.
US07699197B2
A belt utility system for carrying up to a large number of objects includes an elongated flexible strap for removably supporting a large number of plurality of receptacles or holders for objects, at least one holder or receptacle for an object, as well as a way of removably attaching the receptacle(s) or holder(s) to the strap. This means of attachment includes a finger-gripping portion for facilitating both the simultaneous gripping of holder(s) or receptacle(s) for objects and the detachment, by the user, by generally lifting with the fingers, of these holder(s) or receptacle(s), in a generally upward direction. The utility system can also include a snap-lock connector connected to the strap and to the receptacle or holder, and a releasing tab or button near or on the gripping portion for releasing the connector portions from each other when pressed by the user's finger substantially at the same time as the user lifts the finger-gripping portion.
US07699195B2
An assist device for donning and/or doffing a compression garment includes a sleeve having an interior surface bounding a passage extending between a top end and an opposing bottom end, the top end including a top opening communicating with the passage, the bottom end including a bottom opening communicating with the passage, the sleeve being comprised of a sheet of flexible material. A resiliently stretchable material is secured to the bottom end of the sleeve so as to resiliently, radially constrict the sleeve thereat. A band is secured to the top end of the sleeve, the band outwardly expanding the top end of the sleeve.
US07699194B2
Textile articles to be treated are fed on to shapes fitted to supporting members. Gliding independently each other on a platform of the boarding or semi-boarding machine, and positioned in mutual contact at respective sides along a polygonal pathway defined by a guiding device. The supporting members are transported in step along the polygonal pathway, by the engagement with a towing device acting independently at each linear stretch of the polygonal pathway, so that in each step at least one position at the concurrence of two linear stretches of the polygonal pathway is maintained unoccupied. At least one of the supporting members, on which the textile articles to be treated are fed, is arranged in a halt position upstream from a semi-boarding station and then is moved to take the shapes into the semi-boarding station. After the semi-boarding treatment, this supporting member is transferred to a station where the textile articles, treated, are extracted from the shapes.
US07699192B2
A discharge device with a metered dose valve is proposed. The metered dose valve comprises an inlet valve, a metering chamber and an outlet valve. In order to allow discharge of fluid from the metering chamber in multiple steps, a user can depress and release an actuation member multiple times in a selected discharge state wherein refill of the metering chamber with new liquid is prevented.
US07699191B2
A multiple use adhesive dispenser facilitates precise, extended dispensing for a surgical procedure by sequentially positioning an ampoule containing a flowable material, such as a polymerizable monomer compound such as a cyanoacrylate adhesive. In one version particularly suited to an open surgical procedure, the ampoules are affixed to a tape substrate that is unreeled from an internal storage reel and transported proximate to an ampoule gripping mechanism with an underlying tape substrate peeled away and internally stored as each ampoule is positioned for dispensing. Actuating an ampoule advancement handle positions the next ampoule and squeezing a movable handle toward a fixed handle effects dispensing. Another version has an elongate shaft that internally augers each ampoule in succession into a pair of spaced jaws that are pinched together by actuating rods to dispense adhesive.
US07699184B2
A bottle carrier includes a plurality of walls. At least one of the walls includes a recess on an exterior surface for retaining a bottle thereon, when the carrier is in a horizontal orientation and the bottle is in a horizontal orientation partially disposed in the recess. The carrier may be stackable and connectable to similar carriers to form display or storage racks. At least one of the walls includes a plurality of feet extending therefrom. The feet are interlockable with feet on a similar carrier. When similar carriers are stacked, the feet interlock to improve the stability of the stacked carriers. Adjacent carriers may be connected via corks or other connectors inserted into adjacent walls of the carriers.
US07699173B2
The invention provides a substantially child resistant package. A gate panel (110) and a tab panel (130) are secured to an aperture panel (130). At least one aperture (123) is formed on the aperture panel. At least one gate (114) is formed on the gate panel and is aligned with the aperture when the gate panel is in contact with the aperture panel. At least one partially detachable tab (136) is formed on the tab panel and is aligned with the gate when the tab panel is in contact with the gate panel. In an exemplary package, a blister is aligned with and secured to the aperture panel. The gate panel is folded and secured to the aperture panel and blister package. The tab panel is folded and covers at least some portion of the gate panel.
US07699168B2
This invention relates to a system and apparatus for retaining a prosthetic valve in a valve pocket suspended in a sealed container to protect from damage and contamination during shipment, handling and storage. The apparatus is an easy to open container having remote fill ports for adding a sterile liquid after enclosing the valve inside. A tamper evident seal is provided having a novel configuration to detect prior opening of the container. The apparatus includes an assembly having a shelf that is provided in a variety of configurations. The shelf has a mitral valve configuration and an aortic valve configuration. The shelf is selected based on the valve configurations and size. The system is easily assembled having a single variable component to adapt to a particular prosthetic valve to be stored. The present invention provides an apparatus for eliminating the need for direct attachment of the valve serial tag to the valve.
US07699166B2
A package for carrying and dispensing wipes is described. The package has a wallet-like configuration and includes a first compartment separated from a second compartment along a foldable seam. The package can be configured to carry any suitable wipes including facial tissue, bath tissue, and any suitable pre-moistened wipes.
US07699157B2
A safety arrangement for use with a piece of equipment. The safety arrangement includes a signal generating unit for generating an optical signal, an elongate element, and a signal detecting unit. The elongate element is disposed along, about, around or through the piece of equipment and is capable of transmitting an optical signal. The signal detecting unit detects an optical signal. The signal generating unit is connected to the signal detecting unit by the elongate element such that the signal detecting unit is in optical communication with the signal detecting unit. The signal detecting unit is arranged to detect a change in the optical signal transmitted by the elongate element as a consequence of movement of the elongate element and, upon detection of the change in the signal, the detecting unit is configured to effect a change in the operation of the piece of equipment.
US07699156B2
The disclosure relates to an apparatus (10) comprising a turning mechanism which is adapted to change the orientation of a number of packaging containers (12) in motion in a filling machine, from a first orientation (20) to a second orientation (22), comprising a conveyor (26) provided with at least one carrier (28) to which at least one carrier unit is connected. According to the invention, the carrier unit is rotary in relation to the carrier (28) about a geometric axis of rotation and is adapted to carry the packaging container (12) in such a manner that the point of gravity of the packaging container during the change in orientation is substantially located on the geometric axis of rotation, and the point of gravity of the packaging container thereby maintains substantially the same direction and speed from the first to the second orientation (20, 22).
US07699146B1
A modern suspension damper, for example, a shock absorber or a suspension fork, including an inertia valve and a pressure-relief feature is disclosed. The pressure-relief feature includes a rotatable adjustment knob that allows the pressure-relief threshold to be externally adjusted by the rider “on-the-fly” and without the use of tools.
US07699135B2
A hydraulic system including a control valve and a steering control assembly. The steering control assembly includes a steering control unit and a priority flow divider contained in a single unitary casing. The steering control assembly is attached adjacently with and directly to the control valve by means of an interface that fluidly connects the control valve with the steering control assembly.
US07699130B2
An improved wheeled vehicle includes a platform adapted and constructed to support an operator of the vehicle. A plurality of wheels support the vehicle for movement on a surface, the plurality of wheels including at least one front wheel adapted and constructed to steer the vehicle, and at least one rear wheel adapted to be driven to impart motion to the vehicle. A handlebar assembly is connected to at least one of the wheels of the vehicle. The handlebar assembly provides directional control of the vehicle, and extends toward the rear of the platform. A motorized drive mechanism is connected to at least one of the wheels, whereby actuation of the drive mechanism causes the vehicle to move along a surface. A control mechanism actuated by the foot of a user includes at least one pedal, and is used to accelerate and decelerate the vehicle.
US07699128B1
Electric vehicles provide shoppers with a motorized shopping cart that can be moved and steered via a hand controller. A base has four castor type wheels, a rechargeable battery, a control box housing a CPU, a right angle motor, and a large turning gear attached to its underside. A small turning gear connects the right angle motor to the large turning gear. A drive motor, drive belt, drive shaft, and drive wheels are mounted on the large turning gear. Front rails and clips are attached to the front of the base. A rear support with an oxygen tank holder is attached to the rear of the top of the base. Telescoping side rails connect the front rails to rear rails with latches attached to the rear support. A joystick-type controller is suspended between the front rails. A pressure sensor is attached to the base's top.
US07699125B2
A drilling or service rig includes a worm drive disposed within and rotatably supported within a mast having one open side. The worm drive defines a helical groove, and a collar is disposed on the worm drive and engages the helical groove. Rotation of the worm drive causes movement of the collar upwards or downwards along the worm drive. The collar may support a block and top drive assembly.
US07699124B2
A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer layer that expands to create a seal with a surrounding wellbore wall. The drain is located in the outer layer between its axial ends for collecting formation fluid which is routed from the drain to an axial end of the outer layer via a fluid flow passage. Mechanical fittings are mounted at the axial ends of the outer layer, and at least one of the mechanical fittings comprises one or more flow members coupled to the flow passage to direct the collected fluid from the packer. The one or more flow members are designed to move in a manner that freely allows radial expansion and contraction of the outer layer.
US07699114B2
An oil and gas well assembly is provided that includes a wireline cable having at least one optical fiber; a downhole tool having at least one optical fiber; and a cablehead having a first end connected to the wireline cable, a second end connected to the downhole tool. The cablehead further includes at least one optical fiber which transmits data between the at least one downhole tool optical fiber and the at least one wireline cable optical fiber.
US07699113B2
An apparatus for running a liner into a wellbore may include an inner string, a device coupled to the inner string that is operable to engage the interior of the liner and facilitates running of the liner into the wellbore, and a control mechanism operable to control fluid communication between the interior of the liner and the wellbore. A method of running a liner into a wellbore may include the steps of positioning an inner string into the liner, wherein the inner string includes a device operable to engage the interior of the liner, engaging the interior of the liner, and supplying a fluid pressure to move the liner relative to the inner string to advance the liner into the wellbore.
US07699109B2
A riser assembly includes a rotating control housing connected between an upper portion and a lower portion of a riser assembly, and a packing element rotatable with respect to the rotating control housing, wherein the packing element is configured to isolate an annulus of the lower portion from the upper portion when a drillstring is engaged through the packing element, and wherein the packing element is configured to be retrieved and replaced through the upper portion.
US07699101B2
A well system having a galvanic time release plug. A well system includes a flow passage and a flow blocking device which selectively obstructs flow through the passage, the device including an electrode in a galvanic cell. A flow blocking device for use in conjunction with a subterranean well includes a portion which delays an electrochemical reaction in a galvanic cell. A method of controlling fluid flow in a well system includes the steps of: obstructing flow through a passage using a flow blocking device which includes an electrode of a galvanic cell; and increasing flow through the passage by operation of the galvanic cell.
US07699095B2
A core unit for a heat exchanger comprises a pair of headers spaced from one another each defining a fluid space for receiving a fluid therein and each defining a plurality of apertures. A first region comprising a plurality of first tubes extends between the headers and a first fin is disposed between adjacent pairs of the first tubes. A second region comprising a plurality of second tubes extends between the headers and a second fin is disposed between adjacent pairs of the second tubes. A crushable center different than the first and second regions is disposed parallelly between the first and second regions for controllably crushing when the headers are bent.
US07699094B2
A vapor chamber heat sink attached to a heat-generating electronic component includes a base (10) defining an opening therein. A plurality of fins (20) is mounted on the base. A heat pipe (30) thermally connects the electronic component and the fins. The heat pipe comprises a plate-type lower portion (32) contacting a bottom surface of the base and a bottom surface (22) of the fins and overlaying a top surface of the electronic component, a plate-type upper portion (34) parallel to the lower portion contacting a top surface (24) of the fins, and a connecting portion (36) interconnecting opposite two ends of the lower and upper portions. The heat pipe is configured in such a manner so as to enhance contact area and thermal conductivity between the heat pipe and the electronic component and between the heat pipe and the fins.
US07699088B2
The invention relates to a set of doors for closing off a bay (6) in a wall (4), comprising a first flexible door (1) and a second door (2) having at least a rigid bottom edge (17), it being possible to impart an upward movement and a downward movement to each of these doors (1, 2) respectively into an open position and a closed position, the second door (2) being disposed so as to create a slit (31) between the wall (4) and the rigid bottom edge (17) of this second door (2) as it is moved upwards into the open position. The flexible door (1) is disposed at least partially between said second door (2) and said wall (4) and can be displaced through said slit (31) between its closed position and its open position when the second door (2) is in the open position.
US07699071B2
A method of controlling one or more operating pressures within a subterranean borehole that includes a choke assembly is disclosed. The choke assembly may include a housing having an inlet passage, an axial bore, and a chamber, wherein a portion of the axial bore forms an outlet passage, and a choke member adapted for movement in the housing to control the flow of a fluid from the inlet passage to the outlet passage. The method may include applying a closing force to move the choke member toward a closed position, and applying a bias force to the choke member when in the closed position to reduce an overpressure required to initiate movement of the choke member from the closed position.
US07699062B2
To prevent damage of a solid cosmetic material in a container, a solid cosmetic material holding body (1) provided with a tubular installed portion (1a) installed in a container main body (2), a tubular elastic body (1c) connected to a lower side of the installed portion (1a) and is constituted by a resin spring expanding and contracting vertically by slits if and a holding portion (1b) arranged inside the installed portion (1a), provided with plural legs (1j) extending vertically and arranged apart from each other in a peripheral direction, is installed within the container main body (2) , wherein upper portions (1k, 1m) of the legs (1j) hold a solid cosmetic material (G) having a dome-shaped convex portion (G2) in such a manner that the convex portion (G2) protrudes upward and lower portions of the legs (1j) are coupled to a lower portion of the resin spring (1c).
US07699059B2
The progress of a endovascular aneurysm repair can be monitored by inserting a pressure transducer sensor using a catheter into the sac during endovascular aneurysm repair and then using a small, hand-held read out device to measure pressure easily, safely, inexpensively and accurately. In one aspect a sensor is introduced into the body by the steps of folding or rolling the sensor into a cylinder, loading it into a catheter, and deploying into the aneurysm sac by allowing it to unroll or unfold, either by itself or facilitated by the incorporation of a super-elastic alloy component.
US07699056B2
Devices, such as medical devices for inhibiting conception, and methods of using and/or making these devices. In one aspect of the disclosure, a medical device has a delivery system and a first insert, which is removably coupled to the delivery system and which is designed to be deployed within a portion of a first fallopian tube, and a second insert, which is removably coupled to the delivery system and which is designed to be deployed within a portion of a second fallopian tube. Other aspects of the disclosure include, among other things, inserts made from one or more polymers; inserts which are designed to pierce and remain in place; and inserts which are implanted through a fluid delivery system.
US07699052B2
The present invention relates to a propellant-gas-free apparatus for the dispensing of liquids, a container cartridge suitable for this for storing the liquid and the ensemble comprising both. The invention comprises a device for the exertion of pressure and for accommodating a container cartridge and a container cartridge in which the dispensing facility is integrated.
US07699043B2
A nitrous-oxide system for an engine includes a nozzle coupled to a nitrous-oxide bottle by a nitrous-oxide line. A nitrous-oxide valve is coupled to the nitrous-oxide line between the nitrous-oxide bottle and the nozzle. A control switch, operatively coupled to the nitrous-oxide valve. A pressure regulator, coupled to the nitrous-oxide line between the nitrous-oxide bottle and the nozzle, and is capable of regulating pressure of the nitrous-oxide to lower than 500 psi. The nozzle can be positioned adjacent a carburetor inlet to force nitrous-oxide into a carburetor throat.
US07699040B2
A control method of a direct injection system of the common-rail type; the control method contemplates: feeding the pressurized fuel to a common rail by means of a high-pressure pump which receives the fuel through a shut-off valve; cyclically controlling the opening and closing of the shut-off valve for choking the flow rate of fuel taken in by the high-pressure pump; driving the shut-off valve synchronously with respect to the mechanical actuation of the high-pressure pump by means of a driving frequency of the shut-off valve having a constant integer synchronization ratio, predetermined according to the pumping frequency of the high-pressure pump; estimating a perturbation intensity of the fuel pressure inside the common rail; and varying the phase of the commands of the shut-off valve with respect to the phase of the mechanical actuation of the high-pressure pump if the perturbation intensity of the fuel pressure inside the common rail is higher than a predetermined threshold value.
US07699030B2
An internal combustion engine includes a variable valve system wherein each cam opens and closes an intake valve and an exhaust valve via each rocker arm. A variable valve system of an internal combustion engine E includes rocker arms rocked by the action of valve driving force of cams with each lift quantity variable mechanism varying a maximum lift quantity of an intake valve and an exhaust valve. The lift quantity variable mechanism includes a lifter that is driven by the cam, and makes the valve driving force act on the rocker arm and a lifter holder that supports the lifter, and is driven by an electric motor and is rocked. The lifter is movably supported by the lifter holder. Maximum lift quantity is varied by varying a position in which the lifter abuts on the rocker arm according to a position in which the lifter holder is turned.
US07699029B2
A crankcase ventilation system for an internal combustion engine has a jet pump suctioning scavenged separated oil from the oil outlet of an air/oil separator and pumping same to the crankcase. The jet pump supplies pumping pressure greater than the pressure differential between the higher pressure crankcase and the lower pressure oil outlet, to overcome such pressure differential and the back flow tendency otherwise caused thereby, and instead cause suctioning of scavenged separated oil from the oil outlet and pumping same to the crankcase.
US07699018B2
Apparatus and methods for repelling geese include a solar-powered, photocell controlled flasher for disposition on a body of water or on land where geese inhabit. The method includes the steps of intermittently flashing a light into an area where geese sleep, and disturbing the geese from rest.
US07699015B1
Sub-ordinate and host maritime vessels are connected to each other by a tow loop trailed by the host vessel through a capture frame which engages the sub-ordinate vessel. The capture frame acts to engage the sub-ordinate vessel in the transitional coordinate space shared jointly between the sub-ordinate and host vessels, which vessels can be either or both surface-going, submersible, and/or non-surface vessels. The capture frame possess features which allow it to disengage from the host vessel while remaining semi-related and recoverable by a linkage of one or more tensioned lines to the host vessel during the time that its tow loop is connected to the sub-ordinate vessel.
US07699001B2
A plurality of longitudinal channels for supplying pressure medium are arranged within a carrier having a closed profile. A plurality of operating cylinders have pressure spaces which are flow-connected to the channels for moving the pressure rollers inward and outward in order to press coverings onto a printing unit cylinder.
US07698998B2
A portable cable marking mechanism includes a gun-like housing with a pivotally mounted trigger assembly for moving a stamping unit along a predetermined inking path to engage in sequence an inking pad of a replaceable ink cartridge for inking the stamping unit and then a cable sleeve for providing the cable sleeve with customized indicia markings.
US07698996B1
A smoking apparatus is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the smoking apparatus includes a base having a base interior, at least one heating element provided in the base interior, a trough carried by the at least one heating element and a lid provided on the base.
US07698989B2
A reciprocating piston machine, in particular a compressor, such as for the air conditioning system of an automotive vehicle. The machine includes a casing and at least one casing cover. A working unit including pistons and is arranged or formed in the casing. The intake and exhaust zone or a front shaft bearing are arranged or formed in the casing cover (covers). The casing cover is screwed on the casing. The screw assembling is carried out with the aid of ring nuts or saw tooth screw threads between the casing and the casing cover, wherein the casing and cover are made of materials with different strengths and different thermal expansion coefficients.
US07698986B2
This invention, as a unit, is a training adjustable combination sight, primarily intended to be mounted on a vehicle of smaller vessel for close-in defense of these against air and ground attacks. In its entirety, aside from the required sight sensors (16-18) situated in an intentionally elevatable sensor housing (4), the combination sight entails a weapon (8) that is controlled by the sensors. The sight sensors (16-18) included in the combination sight can also be utilized for fire control of exterior weapons located elsewhere as well as for gathering purely surveillance data.
US07698983B1
A portable, self-contained fire control system includes one or more of: 1) the means to provide geodetic positioning and navigational data for the host weapon platform in relation to established coordinate reference systems; 2) the means to digitally communicate with an off-platform command and control network; 3) the means to compute host platform ballistics data; 4) the means to indicate the current weapon orientation and additionally to indicate the horizontal and vertical weapon movements required to aim the weapon; 5) the means to inductively set fuzes for firing; 6) the means for digitally receiving and processing pre-computed mission data through to the fuze/projectile; 7) the means for locally computing mission data; and 8) the means for manually entering pre-computed data into the system.
US07698982B2
A pipe severing tool is arranged to align a plurality of high explosive pellets along a unitizing support structure whereby all explosive pellets are inserted within or extracted from a tubular housing as a singular unit. Electrically initiated exploding wire detonators (EBW) are positioned at opposite ends of the tubular housing for simultaneous detonation by a capacitive firing device. The housing assembly includes a detachable bottom nose that permits the tool to be armed and disarmed without disconnecting the detonation circuitry. Because the tool is not sensitive to stray electrical fields, it may be transported, loaded and unloaded with the EBW detonators in place and connected.
US07698981B2
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) defense system is described that forces premature detonation of IEDs by radiated sound energy signals. Embodiments of the invention provide for radiating sound energy signals from a stationary or mobile platform to a stationary or mobile area defining an “IED detonation zone.” IEDs within the IED detonation zone that are triggered by sound energy sources will receive the radiated sound energy signals, thereby forcing premature detonation of IEDs in the detonation zone.
US07698971B1
A foot peg engaging tool includes an elongated member that has a first end and a second end. A saddle has a first side, a second side, a first end edge and a second end edge. The saddle has a semicircular shape and the first side is convexly arcuate from the first end edge to the second end edge. The first end of the elongated member is attached to the second side of the saddle. A rod is attached to the first side of the saddle. The rod is extendable into a foot peg to releasably couple the elongated member to the foot peg.
US07698970B1
A carabiner multi-tool includes a first generally C-shaped portion, a central extended portion, and a second generally C-shaped portion with the central extended portion joining the first and second C-shaped portions into a continuous body. Second ends of the first and the second C-shaped portions form first and second body ends positioned in spaced apart substantially opposed relationship. A shaft has one end pivotally attached to the first body end and a free end pivotally movable into a closed orientation with the second body end and an open orientation with the second body end. An engagement member is mounted on either the free end of the shaft or the second body end for engaging the free end of the shaft and the second body end in a closed orientation. Multiple tools are formed in the first and the second generally C-shaped portions.
US07698967B2
A handlebar for a bicycle has first and second laterally extending portions disposed outboard of a central attachment portion. Each of the first and second laterally extending portions is preferably winged-like in configuration to provide reduced air resistance. The first laterally extending portion includes an aerobar clamping mechanism, and the second laterally extending portion includes a second aerobar clamping mechanism. Each aerobar clamping mechanism includes a tapered receiving sleeve having an axis that is generally parallel to a travel axis of the handlebar. A collect having a major axis that extends in a plane generally parallel to the direction of travel of the bicycle is receivable within the receiving sleeve. The collet includes a plurality of axially extending slots that permits the diameter of the collet to be varied. The collet includes an aerobar receiving slot having a major axis that is generally co-linear with the axis of the collect, and is provided for receiving an aerobar. An axial mover member can be coupled to the collect, for axially moving the collect within the aerobar receiving sleeve. Axial movement of the collect within the aerobar receiving sleeve serves to tighten and increase the grip of the collect upon the aerobar.
US07698961B2
The ability of a person to grasp an object and at the same time to feel, as well as to determine mechanical and geometric parameters of the comprehended object, makes him or her irreplaceable for many tasks, i.e. in production or in surgery. The translation of this ability into a technological system has often failed up to now due to lack of special adjusted sensors. The object of this invention is a sensory device, which fulfills the requirements for a tactile sensor system and at the same time affords a cost-effective and simple manufacturing alternative to other sensor principles. The layer structure of the sensor element is so constructed that by effect of an external force of the current by a resistive layer a path is disposed to narrowing or enlargement. The voltage drop over this resistive layer is dependent upon the acting external force and serves as signal sensor.
US07698960B2
An assembly for measuring force at a friction coupling, more particularly in the driveline of a motor vehicle. The assembly includes an outer plate carrier (6) at which outer plates (7) are held so as to be rotationally secured and in a way so as to be axially displaceable, wherein at least one of the outer plates (7) comprises an outer cam (12); an inner plate carrier (8) at which inner plates (9) are held in a rotationally fast way and in a way so as to be axially displaceable; wherein the outer plates (7) and the inner plates (9) are arranged so as to alternate in the axial direction, while jointly forming a plate package (10); a force measuring device arranged in such a way that, upon actuation of the friction coupling (3), it is loaded by the cam (12) in an operating direction extending at a distance from, and transversely to, the longitudinal axis (A).
US07698953B2
A measuring device comprising: a sensor (1) with at least one electromechanical transducer (10); at least one electrical generator connected to said transducer; and means for measuring the electrical input impedance of the transducer. Said sensor (1) has an empty space (12) passing therethrough within which a substance (14) can flow, and said transducer (10) is situated at the periphery of said empty space (12) in such a manner as to be subjected to a mechanical load characteristic of the substance (14) flowing in said space (12), the measured electrical impedance being a function of said load. The device is suitable for use in a measuring apparatus seeking to determine the density of the substance (14) flowing inside said tubular space (12).
US07698951B2
A sensing apparatus for determining the pressure of a fluid includes first and second support members. The first and second support members are configured to define at least one sealed chamber. A flexible diaphragm is disposed between the first and second support members. The diaphragm includes first and second opposing surfaces. The first opposing surface is in fluid communication with a first fluid-flow circuit, and the second opposing surface is in fluid communication with a second fluid-flow circuit. A first electronic circuit is disposed within the at least one chamber and coupled to the diaphragm for sensing a first differential pressure associated with the first and second flow circuits. The first electronic circuit is configured to produce at least one electrical signal proportional to a magnitude of the first differential pressure.
US07698950B2
An absolute pressure transducer for outputting a signal indicative of an absolute pressure of a process to be measured is provided. The pressure transducer consists of a pressure-tight pressure port, which is connectable to the process, a housing accommodating pressure sensors and a common circuit board, a first pressure sensor, which analogically detects a difference between the process pressure and an ambient pressure inside the housing, a second pressure sensor, which detects the ambient pressure inside the housing as an absolute pressure, and the common circuit board, which is connected to both the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor and furthermore has a data processing unit. Here, the second pressure sensor is adapted to issue an electronic signal indicative of the ambient pressure. The circuit board converts the analogically detected pressure difference into a digital signal, determines the absolute pressure of the process based on the signals from the first and second pressure sensors and outputs a signal indicative of the absolute pressure of the process.
US07698945B2
A method of detecting an internal flaw in a particulate filter includes a step of coupling ultrasonic transducer with the particulate filter. The method also includes a step of moving at least one of the ultrasonic transducer and the particulate filter relative to the other. Consistent coupling of the ultrasonic transducer with the particulate filter is maintained during the moving step. Ultrasonic energy is transmitted from the ultrasonic transducer through a majority of a volume of the particulate filter. The method also includes a step of determining if the particulate filter includes an internal flaw using the ultrasonic energy.
US07698937B2
A sensor system for detecting defects in a tubular string while positioned in the well includes a sensor tool (10) comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced sensors (40) arranged in two or more axially spaced rows. A plurality of sensors are positioned in each row, with each sensor positioned on one of a plurality of sensor support pads. Sensors within a row may include sensors with axes inclined at different angles, and each of the plurality of sensor pads may move from a radially retracted run-in position to a radially extended sensing position. A flexible line (50) may be used for lowering a sensor tool in the well and retrieving the sensor tool from the well.
US07698933B2
A method and device for estimating temperature of gases arising from internal combustion of an engine at the entrance to a system for post-treatment of the gases. The post-treatment system is downstream from a system for treatment of the gases, which may include a nitrogen oxide NOx trap, an oxidation catalyst, or a 4-way catalyst. The systems connect to each other by a line, wherein the treatment system is considered as the whole of a whole finite number n of fictive elementary reactors Ri that are perfectly agitated and serially connected, wherein the total number n of fictive elementary reactors Ri is determined, in particular as a function of volume of the treatment system, and the fictive elementary reactors Ri are numbered from 1 to n in the gas flow direction along the treatment system. Fictive elementary reactor Rn is the last to be cross-flown by the gases before leaving the treatment system, and the temperature at the post-treatment system entrance downstream from the system for the treatment of the gases is calculated from the temperature inside the last fictive elementary reactor Rn.
US07698926B2
An energy harvesting system and method. An array of cantilevers with PZT films is electrically connected to an energy harvesting device that converts vibration energy to electrical energy. An AC output signal provided by the cantilevers can be rectified to a DC output, thereby avoiding impairment in total electrical output. The DC output terminals can be connected in parallel and/or in series in order to achieve a higher voltage and/or a higher current that prevents the output from different cantilevers from counteracting one another. The connection circuitry includes one or more rectifying components integrated with one or more micro-cantilevers into a single integrated circuit chip. An oscillograph can be utilized to monitor the DC output voltage signal from an associated testing circuit.
US07698925B2
A crimper tool for closing a pipe support assembly having first and second locking members. The crimper tool includes a first member having a first handle and a first jaw with a first engagement surface for engaging the second locking member. The crimper tool also includes a second member pivotally coupled to the first member and having a second handle and second jaw with a second engagement surface for engaging the first locking member, an upper support surface for engaging an outside surface of the support assembly, a guide surface for engaging a second end of the support assembly, and a lower support surface for engaging an inside surface of the support assembly. Squeezing the first and second handles together pivots the first and second members thereby moving the first and second jaws toward one another and urging the first and second locking members together to lockingly engage.
US07698918B2
One embodiment of an electric door lock according to the present invention is interchangeable between fail safe and fail secure modes and comprises a housing for receiving the internal components of the door lock. A latch bolt is mounted within the housing and is movable from partially extending from and retracted into the housing. A doorknob is mounted to the housing and is rotatable to retract the latch bolt. A solenoid assembly is also mounted within the housing and can be interchangeably arranged to cause the lock to operate a fail secure mode wherein the doorknob is prevented from retracting the latch bolt when the solenoid is not energized, or a fail safe mode wherein the doorknob is allowed to retract the latch bolt when the solenoid is not energized. The solenoid is nested in place within the housing in both modes.
US07698894B2
A compressor assembly (304) includes a compressor housing (312) having a main air inlet (324) and an annular wall (328) defining an inducer bore (325). A secondary inlet passage (322) is disposed around the inducer bore (325). The secondary inlet passage (322) has an inlet slot (320) operatively intersecting the inducer bore (325) to permit the entry of a fluid thereinto through an inlet port (327). The inlet slot (320) advantageously defines an augmented inducer diameter region (331). Preferably the secondary inlet passage (322) may be selectively partially or completely isolated from the main air inlet (324). A compressor wheel (318) is located in the compressor housing (312) and has a stepped portion (330) formed by at least one plurality of vanes (238) operatively associated with the augmented inducer diameter region (331) adjacent to the inlet slot (320) of the housing (312) to receive fluid therefrom.
US07698893B2
For many applications pressure-medium cylinders have to achieve high adjusting forces which often impairs the dynamics of such cylinders due to the large piston cross sections and cylinder volumes, and/or pressure medium has to be supplied at very high pressure. The present invention shows a pressure-medium cylinder which has short reaction times, high adjusting forces and small overall sizes, which is achieved in that two cylinders 5, 8 are arranged in the pressure-medium cylinder 1, which cylinders can be activated independently of one another.
US07698892B2
An external combustion engine comprises a container (11) with a working liquid (12) sealed therein in a state adapted to flow, a heater (13) for heating and vaporizing the working liquid (12) in the container (11), and a cooler (14) for cooling and liquefying the vapor of the working liquid (12) heated and vaporized by the heater (13). The displacement of the working liquid (12) caused by the vapor volume change is output as mechanical energy by being converted into the mechanical energy. A pressure regulating liquid (18) is sealed in a pressure regulating container (16) communicating with the container (11). A pressure regulating unit (19) regulates the internal pressure (Pt) of the pressure regulating container (16). A control unit (21) controls the pressure regulating unit (19) in such a manner that the internal pressure (Pt) is decreased in the case where it is higher than the saturation vapor pressure (Ps1) of the working liquid (12) at the temperature (T1) of a heated portion (11a) of the container for vaporizing the working liquid (12), while the internal pressure (Pt) is increased in the case where it is lower than the saturation vapor pressure (Ps1).
US07698891B2
The present invention includes: a hydraulic pump 10 that is driven by a driving motor; a travel motion motor 12 that is driven with pressure oil supplied from the hydraulic pump 10; a travel motion control valve 11 that controls a flow rate of the pressure oil supplied from the hydraulic pump 10 to the travel motion motor 12; a means for operation 22a with which the travel motion control valve 11 is operated; a means for rotation rate detection 95 that detects a rotation rate N of the travel motion motor 12; and a means for motor over rotation prevention 14, 17, 32 that reduces the rotation rate of the travel motion motor 12 if the means for rotation rate detection 95 detects a rotation rate equal to or higher than a predetermined rotation rate upper limit Nmax.
US07698884B2
A power transmission arrangement comprises a first power transmission member connectable to a first main shaft of an engine. The arrangement also includes a second power transmission member connectable to a second main shaft of the engine and to a third power transmission member. A coupling assembly is provided which has a selectable coupling condition to couple the first power transmission member to the second power transmission member to allow power to be transmitted from the third power transmission member to the first main shaft of the engine via the first power transmission member. The coupling assembly has a decoupling condition to decouple the first power transmission member from the second power transmission member to allow power to be transmitted from the main shaft of the engine to the third power transmission member via the second power transmission member.
US07698878B2
An aerosol dispenser is formed from a metal drawn container with an open bottom and a mounting cup structure integrally formed in its top. A bottom piece is attached to the open bottom with a double seam and a dispensing device held in the mounting cup structure. In one embodiment the dispensing device is an anti-clog valve designed to clear all dispensing passages after each operation.
US07698874B2
Apparatus for making gas-filled filling bodies includes a supply reel for storing a pre-fabricated half-tubular plastic film having an at least partially open border side and being divided into individual pockets by weld seams which extend transversally with respect to a transport direction of the plastic film. Positioned downstream of the reel and receiving the plastic film from the reel is a gas filling device for blowing air into the pockets. Positioned downstream of the gas filling device and receiving the plastic film from the gas filling device is a welding tool for welding the open border side of the plastic film for formation of closed filling bodies. The transport of the film through the apparatus is realized by a drive unit which applies a force upon the plastic film essentially downstream of the gas filling device, as viewed in the transport direction.
US07698866B2
Methods for fabricating sidings and methods for securing those sidings to structures are disclosed. Additionally, this disclosure teaches embodiments of sidings that can be secured to structures. For some embodiments, the siding comprises an insulation and a panel. The insulation and the panel are coupled to each other prior to installation of the siding. This coupling is achieved by non-adhesive coupling mechanisms.
US07698859B2
A removable surface covering comprises a combination of lower supports with plastic support legs and upper ceramic parts which are joined to the supports by contact faces and with the aid of an adhesive material, such as to form covering modules which are interconnected using tongue-and-groove anchoring elements. The plastic supports and the ceramic parts are joined using a thick layer of adhesive which covers almost all of the contact surfaces thereof. In addition, the ceramic parts are equipped with channels and a peripheral notch which house respectively ribs and a frame belonging to the plastic support. The thickness of the adhesive extends over at least part of the thickness of the ribs and the frame of the plastic support. In another embodiment of the invention, the parts are joined at strategic points with a chemical-mechanical connection.
US07698854B2
A crop production apparatus including a flexible sheet of non-degradable or biodegradable material and a seed impregnated or carrying lower layer formed from a water-absorbent biodegradable material bonded or otherwise attached to the upper layer and removable therefrom.
US07698853B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for controlling insect population or activity by using electromagnetic field source of certain frequency and intensity coupled with insect food sources/attractants. The present invention can be used to protect a natural or man-made structure from termite infestation. The present invention can also be used for controlling activity of other social insects such as ants, bees and wasps.
US07698849B2
A projectile (28) for a barrel assembly (10) containing multiple projectiles (28) including a propellant charge (22), a primer (23, 26) that ignites the propellant charge (22), a payload (28) that is propelled from the barrel (10) on ignition of the charge (22), and ignition system (20, 24, 25) having both an electrical (20, 24) and a mechanical (25, 26) sub-system either or both of which may be triggered to ignite the primer (23). The electrical system may involve induction white the mechanical system may involve a solenoid or fully mechanical arrangement, the mechanical system acts as a backup for the electrical system if required.
US07698848B1
A folding stock assembly for firearms such as rifles and shotguns. The stock is made of metal rod that has been bent to form laterally spaced left and right elongated arm members that have rear ends connected to the top end of a U-shaped shoulder rest portion. The front end of the respective elongated arm members are pivotally connected to the rear end of a neck portion extending rearwardly from the upper end of the handgrip. There is structure in the interior of the end cap for locking the elongated arm members in either its static storage position or its rearward functional deployed position.
US07698832B2
A tape measure is invented that fits in an auxiliary pocket such as a credit card pocket of a wallet. The tape measure consists of a case that fits in the auxiliary pocket, a rectangular card that fits in the case, and a tape measure ribbon with a width at most half the width of the card. When the tape measure is in the retracted mode, the ribbon is wrapped nicely around the card and the wrapped ribbon is inserted in the case. To extend the tape measure, the wrapped card is removed from the case and the ribbon is unwrapped from the card so it functions as an ordinary tape measure ribbon. In an example given in one embodiment, a tape measure is sized to fit in a credit card pocket, has a thickness of less than the thickness of three credit cards, yet extends to 40 inches.
US07698830B2
A system for measuring a living subject having a spine comprises a flexible strip, a first sensor, a processor, and a data storage device. The flexible strip, the first sensor, the processor, and the data storage device are located along the spine of the living subject. The first sensor, the processor and the data storage device are connected for collecting data related to bending of the flexible strip for determining a curvature of the spine of the living subject. The data from the first sensor is processed in the processor and stored in the storage device. One embodiment includes a transmitter for transmitting the data. Other embodiments include feedback and provide information about time duration in a posture.
US07698815B2
A heat sink for integrated circuits is limited substantially to heat transfer fins on one or more heat pipe tubes, the tube(s) functioning as a base for the heat sink. The heat pipe tube has a flattened oval cross-section and can snap-fit in openings through the fins. The tube is exposed on one side of the heat sink for contact with the heat generating circuit. The fins can be flat or irregular and can have a collar engaging the heat pipe tube. In one example, the heat pipe runs perpendicular to vertical fins along the bottom of a standing fin stack. In another embodiment two U-shaped heat pipe tubes carry a layered stack, the bottom of the U-shapes being presented under the lowermost in the stack. A clamp urges the heat sink against the heat source.
US07698812B2
A method for forming a ceramic laminate ceramic laminate from first and second sheets of ceramic material, the sheets having a first and a second surface, wherein the first ceramic material has a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the second ceramic material and the outer layers comprises ceramic materials having substantially the same thermal properties, comprising (a) heating the first and the second sheets of ceramic material; (b) stacking the first and the second sheets of ceramic material wherein the second surfaces are opposed to one another to provide stacked sheets; and (c) pressing the stacked sheets and forming the ceramic laminate.
US07698807B2
Formation of the magnetic sensor layers of a magnetic sensor are separated into at least two depositions to reduce the dimension of the sensor. The free layer portion of the sensor is deposited at a different process step than the pinned layer portion. The top of the free layer stack can be a tunnel barrier, the free layer, or part of the free layer. The free layer stack also may contain an in-stack bias layer. The longitudinal bias layer may be patterned in a separate processing step, which allows the stack containing the free layer to be effectively thinner and allow smaller track width dimensions.
US07698805B2
A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit device having antenna conductors is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a wafer with a plurality of integrated circuit components; forming a first antenna conductor on the surface of each integrated circuit component; forming a plurality of metal bumps above the first antenna conductor; coating an insulating layer to encapsulate the plurality of integrated circuit components and to cover the plurality of metal bumps; removing a portion of the insulating layer to expose a top portion of each metal bump; and forming a second antenna conductor on the insulating layer by screen printing.
US07698793B2
A method of producing an electret condenser microphone capable of reflow mounting includes a first step of providing a backplate substrate having a backplate; a second step of providing an adhesive-backed fluorine-containing resin film formed by stacking an adhesive on a film-shaped fluorine-containing resin material having a surface treated by wet or dry chemical etching; a third step of stacking the adhesive-backed fluorine-containing resin sheet on the backplate of the backplate substrate with the adhesive interposed therebetween; a fourth step of setting the adhesive to firmly secure the fluorine-containing resin material to the backplate of the backplate substrate; and a fifth step of implanting electric charges into the fluorine-containing resin film firmly secured onto the backplate.
US07698774B1
Disclosed in this specification is an assembly for bending the blade of a drywall knife. In one aspect of the invention, a first and second blade bender are each attached to a drywall knife and a force is applied. This force bends the blade in such a manner that an arcuate blade is produced. The magnitude of the bend is highly adjustable.
US07698768B2
A drum type washing machine with a laundry drying function and a method for controlling the same are disclosed, in which a ventilating function is carried out during a dehydrating stroke. The drum type washing machine with a laundry drying function, provided with a ventilating fan, includes a key input unit inputting user's request command, a memory storing a pattern for driving the ventilating fan, during a dehydrating stroke period, a controller controlling the washing machine to carry out a corresponding stroke per course selected through the key input unit and to drive the ventilating fan at a pattern previously stored in the memory when a dehydrating stroke starts, and a fan driver controlling driving of the ventilating fan in accordance with a control signal of the controller.
US07698766B2
A method and apparatus for facilitating spinal alignment is disclosed. The contoured sleep system facilitates alignment of a person's spine along the Sagittal plane when laying in a sleep-on-side position. An exemplary contoured sleep system has a trunk rest having a trunk rest surface and a trunk rest face.
US07698764B2
A seat that includes a support base including a substantially flat bottom surface, a concave portion formed in the support base opposite the flat bottom surface, the concave portion including a head rest area and a leg rest area at opposite ends of the concave portion, and a recessed area therebetween. The head rest area and the leg rest area having a height greater than the recessed area, and the substantially flat bottom surface of the support base extends from the head rest area to the leg rest area. First and second side walls extend between the head rest area and the leg rest area that border the concave portion.
US07698759B1
A bed sheet securing assembly includes a clamp that is removably attachable to a bed sheet. The clamp includes a first plate and a second plate. Each of the first and second plates has a first side, a second side, a back edge and a front edge. A biasing member is attached to each of the back edges of the plates and biases the first side of the first plate against the second side of the second plate. A tether is attached to the clamp. The tether is removably couplable to a bed on which the sheet is positioned. An opening apparatus is removably engaged with the clamp and is actuated to open the clamp.
US07698755B2
A faucet assembly including a mounting base, an upper faucet assembly, and a cam fastener. The mounting base is configured to be coupled to a mounting deck and includes first and second inlet water conduits. The cam fastener is rotatably coupled to the mounting base and the upper faucet assembly to releasably couple the upper faucet assembly to the mounting base.
US07698751B2
Swimming goggles include a left frame, a right frame, hard holding frames and strap elements. A connecting portion connects the left frame and the right frame. The left frame and right frame are both formed of soft material. Each of the left frame and the right frame includes an inner surface, and an outer surface, and an intermediate surface between the inner surface and the outer surface. Lenses are received between the inner surfaces and the outer surfaces of the left frame and right frame. Hard holding frames respectively clamp the left frame and right frame. Strap elements are formed on outward lateral sides of the hard holding frames for receiving a head strap. Pads are provided on the left frame and the right frame for comfortably contacting users. The connecting portion is flexible so that fitting to various users with different face profiles without hazard of water leakage.
US07703144B2
A mechanism is provided to declaratively identify objects that are sensitive and requiring encryption on logging. A user interface allows an administrator to identify the objects that are deemed to be sensitive log objects and the logging class that provides the logging functionality. The user interface may also allow the administrator to identify the public key to be used for encryption. The mechanism of the present invention dynamically generates logic for encryption of sensitive objects to be logged with declarative identification of sensitive objects.
US07703138B2
Provided are techniques for monitoring communication packets. A communication packet is received. A communication packet signature of the communication packet is determined. The communication packet signature is compared to one or more site-specific application signatures. In response to determining that the communication packet signature matches at least of the one or more site-specific application signatures, it is determined that the communication packet is to be trusted.
US07703135B2
A multi-identity security environment is created for use in controlling access to resources. The multi-identity security environment enables one process that is spawned by another process to access resources security accessible to the one process, as well as resources security accessible to the another process. The multi-identity security environment includes an identity of the one process and an identity of the another process.
US07703125B2
An approach is provided for deleting electronic documents using a document retention policy that specifies one or more deletion criteria for documents belonging to each of a plurality of document classifications. The document retention policy is defined by document retention policy data that is managed by a document retention policy manager. The document retention policy manager disseminates the document retention policy data to network elements over a communications network. The document retention policy manager determines whether a retention policy audit should be performed and if so, signals the network elements to conduct a retention policy audit. The network elements are configured to conduct the retention policy audit by deleting electronic documents in accordance with the document retention policy. Automatic or manual loading or auto-destruction code may be used to handle deleting electronic documents from removable media.
US07703123B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing security for an organization is provided. The method includes receiving a plurality of requests from a plurality of parties. Each request is a request for permission to implement a deviation from a security rule. Each request includes a statement describing a benefit associated with the deviation. The method also includes determining a risk associated with the deviation. The method also includes deciding whether to approve each request based on the determined risk and the statement. The method also includes storing the requests and a status of each request. The status indicates whether the request is approved. The stored requests includes at least one approved request. The method also includes deciding, after a predetermined time period, whether to continue an approval of the approved request.
US07703121B2
A method of distributing multimedia data from a central distribution station to local equipment including: linking one image characteristic (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) with at least one set of multimedia data stored by the central distribution station respectively; making available to at least one user of a support (10) having at least one selection image (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22) in response to the capture of at least one image of the support by the local equipment, and calculating a characteristic of the captured image; searching for a multimedia data set of the central station linked to the image characteristic closest to the characteristic calculated; transferring of the corresponding multimedia data to the local equipment.
US07703119B2
Method and system for enabling users to perform self-service operations in interactive TV environments. In one embodiment, the method enables users to select and activate programming packages via a set-top box, thereby eliminating the need for the users to have to call a call center to activate the unit. Using a set of interactive screens, the user is enabled to view various programming package information, including comparative information. In one embodiment, the method assists users who are moving to activate/reactive broadcast services. For example, options are provided to enable the user to schedule service work, disconnect and activate services, and other activities connected with the move. In another embodiment, the method enables a user to select a programming package based on packages that are recommended by the system. Historic usage patterns, including viewing habits and attempts to access unavailable content are analyzed to determine which programming packages should be recommended for the user.
US07703116B1
A user interface allows for blending of television program choices from which a viewer may select, the blending representing options for linear and non-linear programming presented together within a single hierarchy of a designated category. The blending may further include managed content relevant to the designated category, where desired. Such designated categories may include television programming categories and/or content categories. The options for linear and non-linear programming may be presented together within a single screen of the user interface.
US07703115B2
An electronic program guide (EPG) having a variable indicator to focus a user's attention upon a corresponding field of a selectable program instance The EPG includes a user interface screen for providing a plurality of television program instances by time and channel in a grid menu. Each television program becomes selectable from the EPG based upon user interaction. The indicator is depicted in association with each television program when it becomes selectable as a result of user interaction. The indicator is configured based upon attributes of the currently selectable program instance.
US07703114B2
Television system targeted advertising is described. In an embodiment, a content provider monitors a real-time state of television-based systems for a power on/off state and a tuning configuration. The content provider delivers advertising content to one or more of the television-based systems when they are powered-on and configured to receive the advertising content. The one or more television-based systems then receive the advertising content to display a targeted advertisement for viewing. The content provider records how many of the television-based systems receive the advertising content, and records how many of the television-based systems that receive the advertising content then display the targeted advertisement for viewing.
US07703103B2
A method for facilitating network communications from one or more independent execution threads by a dedicated worker thread. Because an operating system is not designed for use with a large number of threads, such a system requires the use of multiple computers for simulating a large number of virtual users. This increases complexity, as well as cost. The present invention reduces the number of threads needed, which reduces resource needs, and in turn increases the number of virtual users that can be simulated. According to the present invention, a worker thread uses non-blocking function calls to efficiently handle requests for network operations.
US07703099B2
Transforming one or more of a collection of electronic data interchange (EDI) transactions. A type of EDI transactions is identified to be transformed from a source format to a destination format. The collection of the EDI transactions is received according to the source format. A particular one or more of the collection of the EDI transactions is identified corresponding to the identified type of EDI transactions. A transformation map is defined to transform the identified particular one or more of the transactions from the source format to the destination format. The identified particular one or more transactions is transformed according to the defined transformation map.
US07703094B2
A method and apparatus for adaptive and dynamic filtering of threaded programs. An embodiment of a method comprises analyzing the operation of a computer program, the computer program comprising a plurality of program threads; tracking overhead for the computer program; observing program events for the computer program; rationing overhead between program threads in inter-thread program events; and filtering program events based on a dynamic threshold.
US07703090B2
Uninstalling a patch applied to a software product installed on a computer. A current state of a software product is identified. A desired state of the software product is determined. The desired state of the software product represents a state of the software product when a patch applied to the software product is removed from the software product. The patch is removed from the software product to transition the software product from the identified current state to the determined desired state.
US07703089B2
A method and system for performing version-based class loading. In one embodiment, a first version is sought to continue running an application, where a first class is associated with the first version being sought. A first class loader capable of loading the first class is created. The first class is then loaded using the first class loader.
US07703082B2
A computer program implemented method controls interruption of execution of tasks running in a multi-processing computer system to permit user intervention. The system includes a repository of data identifying preselected tasks for interruption and identifying the user defined circumstances for such interruption. It also has a plurality of task caches for storing subsets of the repository data for respective tasks. According to the method, the repository is scanned during an initiation phase of any task for data relevant to the task. Any such relevant data is stored in the respective task cache. The task is then executed and if a defined circumstance for the task arises by reference to the task cache, the task is interrupted to enable user intervention. This can include updating the repository to redefine the circumstances for interruption. Execution is then resumed and the respective task cache refreshed with any relevant repository updates.
US07703081B1
A new system service table is dynamically generated to allow dynamic insertion of code between the caller of a native operating system function, in user or kernel mode, and the operating system's implementation of the native operating system function. The dynamically inserted code has full access to the function parameters, such as arguments. The new system service table has encoded values that are relative to the base address of the new system service table and which include the function addresses of the native operating system functions corresponding to original system service table entries in the original system service table.
US07703080B2
The invention relates to a computer program interpreter and a method for the same, using statistics to group (SR89, SR17 . . . SR6; SR4, SR34 . . . SR16) frequently used service routines (SR) in the same program function and to control encoding of instructions. Frequently used service routines are assigned shorter codes thus enhancing the performance of a simulator or emulator.
US07703071B2
A method for modeling business transformation includes steps of: constructing a first analysis model based on at least one legacy-business-process-model; and analyzing the first analysis model in conjunction with at least one business-process-reference-model. The method further includes deriving a second analysis model in response to analyzing the first analysis model in conjunction with the at least one business-process-reference-model and refining the second analysis model to obtain a design model.
US07703066B2
A method of manufacturing an exposure mask includes generating or preparing flatness variation data relating to a mask blanks substrate to be processed into an exposure mask, the flatness variation data being data relating to change of flatness of the mask blank substrate caused when the mask blank substrate is chucked by a chuck unit of an exposure apparatus, generating position correction data of a pattern to be drawn on the mask blanks substrate based on the flatness variation data such that a mask pattern of the exposure mask comes to a predetermined position in a state that the exposure mask is chucked by the chuck unit, and drawing a pattern on the mask blanks substrate, the drawing the pattern including drawing the pattern with correcting a drawing position of the pattern and inputting drawing data corresponding to the pattern and the position correction data into a drawing apparatus.
US07703065B2
An Application-Specific Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device or fabric is described for use in applications requiring fast reconfigurability of devices in the field, enabling multiple personalities for re-using silicon resources (like arrays of large multipliers in DSP applications) from moment-to-moment for implementing different hardware algorithms. In a general purpose FPGA device or fabric, this fast reconfigurability is normally implemented by special reconfiguration support circuitry and/or additional configuration memory. Unfortunately, this flexibility requires a large amount of programmable routing resource and silicon area—limiting the viability in volume production applications. This invention describes how multi-program FPGA functionalities may be migrated to smaller die by constructing implementations with a hybrid FPGA/ASIC interconnect structure. These implementations retain multi-program capability while requiring a much smaller silicon area than a conventional FPGA when customized for a particular set of user applications.
US07703059B2
A method and apparatus for floor-plan region creation and placement is provided. Design information may be received. Module area may be estimated for each module in an integrated circuit. Individual module may be selected for regioning, and region size and dimensions for module may be determined. Region parameters may be adjusted prior to final placement and placement may be verified.
US07703058B2
The invention relates to a method and system for the design and implementation of state machine engines. A first constraints checking step checks a state transition function created by a designer against constraints imposed by the implementation technology in order to detect all portions of the state transition function that are in conflict with the constraints. A subsequent conflict resolution step tries to determine one or more suggested ways to meet the conflicting constraints, by investigating how the original state transition function can be modified such that all constraints are met. A final presentation and selection step provides the designer textual and/or graphically results of the constraints check and suggested modifications. The modifications can be accepted interactively, or the state transition function can be changed manually. In the latter case, the modified state transition function will be processed starting again with the constraints checking step.
US07703057B2
Some aspects provide determination of mutual capacitances among a plurality of floating nets and a plurality of non-floating nets, determination of a self-capacitance of each of the plurality of non-floating nets based on the mutual capacitances, and, for each of the plurality of non-floating nets, association of a ground capacitance with a non-floating net that is substantially equal to a determined self-capacitance of the non-floating net. Aspects may further provide performance of a timing study of a capacitor network including the plurality of non-floating nets using the ground capacitance determined for each of the plurality of non-floating nets.
US07703055B2
A method of enhancing yield of semiconductor integrated circuit includes determining multiple experimental values, each experimental value corresponding to a distance from a side of a hole to an opposing side of a shape surrounding the hole, forming test patterns representing each of the experimental values on a wafer and calculating experimental value-based systematic fault rates from the test patterns; converting the experimental value-based systematic fault rates of the hole into the experimental value-based systematic fault rates, calculating a length of a side of the hole for which a distance between the side of the hole and the opposing side of the shape corresponds to each of experimental values, and calculating a systematic fault rate of the hole using the experimental value-based systematic fault rates per unit hole length and the length of the sides of the hole calculated for the respective experimental values in the desired layout.
US07703044B2
Techniques for generating a static representation of time-based media information. A static representation is generated that comprises a timeline representing the duration of the time-based media information. Occurrences of one or more events that occur in the time-based representation are indicated along the timeline in the static representation. The static representation may be printed on a paper medium.
US07703040B2
A search engine user interface that reduces the need for explicit search rules; dynamically responds as user input is entered to give immediate feedback to a user; is not limited to searching data residing in a single store; and may be used with a plurality of search engines, is provided. The search engine user interface provides search functions for a plurality of types of file metadata and types of file content. The search engine user interface provides an active query box, query editing, word-wheeling, and query narrowing and broadening. The user interface provides accordion behavior for visual elements of the user interface, integrated custom tagging, multiple independent search parameters, and filtering and integrated custom tagging in a common file dialog box.
US07703036B2
An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being edited. Upon selection of a particular object for editing, functionality available for editing the object is presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above the software application workspace to allow the user ready and efficient access to functionality needed for editing the selected object. The display of relevant functionality controls is persisted until the user dismisses the display, selects another top-level functionality control or selects another object for editing.
US07703032B2
A system and method for binding a GUI element to a data source of live measurement data are described. A data source component may be included in a program and may be configured with a binding to a data source of live measurement data in response to user input. A GUI element may also be included in the program, and the binding configured for the data source component may be associated with the GUI element in response to user input. Associating the binding with the GUI element may effectively bind the GUI element to the data source of live measurement data and may enable the GUI element to automatically display the live measurement data from the data source during execution of the program. A system and method for binding a GUI element in a program to a data target for live measurement data are also described. A GUI element may be included in a program, and the GUI element may be configured to display live measurement data during execution of the program. A data target component may also be included in the program and may be configured with a binding to a data target in response to user input. The binding configured for the data target component may then be associated with the GUI element in response to user input. Associating the binding with the GUI element may enable the program to automatically send the live measurement data displayed by the GUI element to the data target during execution of the program.
US07703017B2
A template file defines a video material data, a first still picture material data, a second still picture material data and text data, and a display area for each of the material data. A presentation file defines the template file and a correlation between each of the display areas and each material data. Based on the template file and the presentation file, an information display device combines and displays as a program the video material data, the first still picture material data, the second still picture material data, and the text data in their respective display areas.
US07703013B1
To create a thumbnail version of an image associated with respective content (e.g., a web page), a computer process herein receives an identification of content formatted according to a first format. Based on the identification of the content to be converted into a thumbnail, the computer invokes a first service to utilize the content formatted according to the first format (e.g., HTML) and produce a rendition of the content according to a second format (e.g., a PDF format). The computer then invokes a second service to produce a rendition of the content according to a third format based on the rendition of the content according to the second format. The format of the thumbnail has a lower resolution compared to a respective imaging resolution associated with the PDF format to reduce network resources required to transfer the thumbnail rendition of the content to other users in a collaborative whiteboard session.
US07703012B2
An adaptable method for facilitating user interaction with digital media objects. Representations of substantially-reduced data size of each of the digital media objects are transferred before the transfer of copies of the original data size of each of the digital media objects so as to enable earlier user interaction. The user interaction includes, for example, requesting modifications to the object. The method provides feedback of any requested action from the user interaction with the substantially-reduced data size representations and in response thereto, determines as a function of the requested action whether to reprioritize transfer of untransferred original data size copies of the corresponding digital media object. The method provides for modification of copies that are to be transferred according to modifications requested by the user with respect to the transferred substantially-reduced data size representations. The method can be used for audio, video, image, and other digital media objects.
US07703005B2
An XML document can use tags such that scripts can be generated from the documents. The scripts can be start up scripts for different operating systems. For example, the same XML document can be used to produce a UNIX shell script as well as a Windows command file.
US07703002B2
A document sharing system includes producing an updatable collection of multimedia documents. A collection overview sheet provides a facile medium for handling and distributing large collections of documents. The system includes techniques for subsequent access to the collection, including printing all or portions of the collection.
US07703001B2
A storage medium readable by a computer stores a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a function. The function comprises comparing input image data with reference image data, extracting an annotation contained in the input image data based on a result of comparing, discriminating a geometry of the annotation, and classifying the annotation according to the geometry of the annotation.
US07702992B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of flip-flop sets, and a logic circuit configured to consolidate error-detection signals output from the flip-flop sets into one output signal, wherein each of the flip-flop sets includes one or more flip-flops configured to latch input data in synchronization with a common clock signal, and an error detection-&-correction circuit configured to detect and correct an error in data stored in the flip-flops, and to produce one of the error-detection signals indicative of the detection of the error upon the detection of the error.
US07702987B2
A method for decoding data stored in a disk is achieved by demodulating a physical cluster read out from the disk and outputting LDC (long distance code) data and BIS (burst indicator subcode) data included in the physical cluster, temporarily storing part of the LDC data and BIS data of the data included in the physical cluster in a first memory portion, reading out the LDC data and BIS data stored in the first memory portion and storing the read out data in a second memory portion, reading out LDC data and BIS data requiring error correction from the second memory portion and temporarily storing the read out data in the first memory portion, and storing LDC data and BIS data for which data processing operation including the error correction operation is completed in the second memory portion.
US07702980B2
A scan-load-based (SLB) dynamic scan configuration reconfigures scan structures via scan-load operation, thereby eliminating interconnect network distributing configuration signals, and employs common scan circuitry identical for designs at mask level and is suitable for ASIC implementations. The architecture includes reconfigurable scan cells, apparatus for distributing configuration data to the reconfigurable scan cells and for determining desired reconfiguration data for each of the reconfigurable scan cells, and a configuration-set (CS) signal. Each of the reconfigurable scan cells has a pass-through (PT) mode in which data input, either a scan-in (SI) or a system-data (SD) of the scan cell, is transparently passed to a scan-out (SO) terminal of the scan cell without requiring a pulse on a shift clock (SC). The configuration-set (CS) signal communicates with each of the reconfigurable scan cells. A pulse on the configuration-set (CS) signal triggers PT Hold latches to capture configuration data from corresponding slave latches, which in turn set configurations of each of the reconfigurable scan cells.
US07702976B2
A method, an integrated circuit structure, and an associated design structure for the integrated circuit structure have a plurality of logic blocks, at least one of which is a redundant logic block. In addition, the structure includes a logic built-in self test device (LBIST) operatively connected to the logic blocks that determines the functionality of each of the logic blocks. An array of memory elements is included within the structure and is operatively connected to the logic blocks. At least one of the memory elements comprises a redundant memory element. The structure also includes an array built-in self test device (ABIST) operatively connected to the array of memory elements that determines the functionality of each of the memory elements. One feature is the use of a single controller operatively connected to the register, the logic blocks, and the memory elements. The single controller repairs both the logic blocks elements that have failing functionality and the memory elements that have failing functionality.
US07702974B2
An integrated circuit comprising (i) a plurality of portions, each portion including test control circuitry; and (ii) at least one test input arranged to receive test signals, the circuit having a test mode in which one or more of the plurality of portions are testable, wherein the circuit has a reset mode which has priority over the test mode.
US07702957B2
The present invention supports container-provided EJB timer service that allows EJB instances dealing with timed events to create and register for a timer, which is scheduled to send notifications either at a specific time and/or after a specific elapsed duration, or at specific recurring intervals. When the timer expires, certain business logic inside the EJB instance will be invoked to handle the timeout event. When the cancel method of a timer is called, the timer may cease to exist. The timer is capable of retrying failed timeout under certain conditions when the current invocation of timeout logic fails. In addition, the timer is capable of monitoring the access from multiple registered EJB instances enrolled in transactions under multi-threaded environment, and restricting the access to the timer from EJB instances in certain threads until the current transaction accessing the timer commits to prevent a potential conflicting situation. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
US07702951B2
Provided is an environment that storage device configuration management can be efficiently done in a data center having a virtualization device. A SAN manager acquires configuration information from a device constituting a SAN and prepares a correspondence relationship between a host computer and a virtual volume in the SAN, and a corresponding relationship between the host computer and a real volume, depending upon the acquired information. Based on the corresponding relationship, the SAN manager outputs a correspondence relationship of between virtual and real volumes. Meanwhile, by interpreting a failure-notification message received from the devices of the SAN, detected and outputted is an influence upon an access to a real or virtual volume as to the failure. Furthermore, when a plurality of failure notifications are received from the devices connected to the SAN, a plurality of failure notifications are associatively outputted depending upon a correspondence relationship of between real and virtual volumes.
US07702942B2
A variable timing system for a magnetoresistive random access memory circuit (MRAM IC) is embedded in an MRAM IC and includes a number of timing control circuits, where each timing control circuit generates a timing control signal. A number of variable timing circuits are each coupled to receive at least two of the timing control signals, and each of the number of timing circuits outputs a variable timing in response to the timing control signals. At least one MRAM timing driver is connected to receive the variable timing.
US07702938B2
A method of implementing a hybrid mode of a multi-core processor includes setting a hybrid mode as a power management mode of the multi-core processor. The hybrid mode includes operating more than one core of the processor and alternately operating only a single core of the processor. The hybrid mode includes operating a first core of the processor and alternately operating a second core of the processor. The hybrid mode of a method, apparatus or computer readable medium includes alternate operation between two or more processor cores of a multi-core processor according to a preset or adjustable operating ratio.
US07702936B2
A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing a set of processors. A call from an operating system is received. The call indicates that a selected processor in the set of processors is unneeded for a period of time. In response to receiving this call, the operation of the selected processor is altered to reduce power usage during the period of time.
US07702929B2
A processing system comprises a first processing module and a second processing module that communicates with the first processing module. The first and second processing modules are connected in series between first and second reference potentials. An operating system communicates with the first and second processing modules and performs at least one of load balancing and/or throttling of the first and second processing modules to reduce a difference in current consumption between the first and second processing modules.
US07702923B2
The invention concerns a method of providing a client (21, 22, 23, 24) transparent access to storage space administrated by a storage service, as well as a client (21, 22, 23, 24) and a storage system for performing this method. Data are exchanged between the client (21, 22, 23, 24) and the storage system (5) providing the storage service via a communication network (1). A client (24) invokes the storage service for providing the storage space. The storage space associated with the client (24) is located within the storage system (5). A secure connection is established between the client (24) and a storage device (51) of the storage system (5) dedicated to store data assigned to said storage space. Data assigned to the storage space is stored in encrypted form in said storage device (51).
US07702922B2
A physical encryption key system binds an encryption key to a physical key and denies decryption of secured information if the physical key is not present to a particular computing device. In one implementation, the physical key comprises a convenient removable pen drive on which a .NET isolated storage space is created to store the encryption key. The .NET isolated storage space can only be accessed by concurrence of the same user, domain, computing device, application, and physical key that participated in creating the isolated storage space. The user enjoys the security of knowing that protected information cannot be decrypted without the physical key; cannot be decrypted without the user's credentials even if the physical key is stolen; and cannot be decrypted if the protected information is pirated to a different computing device.
US07702916B2
A system and method configured to provide secure Personal Identification Number (PIN) based authentication is disclosed. A passcode or PIN associated with a customer value card can be securely authenticated by an issuer prior to authorizing payment. An Access Control Server (ACS) can receive the PIN or passcode from a customer via a secure connection over a public network. The ACS can generate an encrypted PIN and can communicate the encrypted PIN to a remote issuer for authentication. The ACS can use one or more hardware security modules to generate the encrypted PIN. The hardware security modules can be emulated in software or implemented in hardware. The system can be configured such that the PIN is not exposed in an unencrypted form in a communication link or in hardware other than the originating customer terminal.
US07702915B2
To gain visiting access to a wireless local area network (W-LAN), the operator of which administers a visitor authentication, authorization and accounting (VAAA) server, a user requesting such access must have a valid cellular mobile account, a portable computing device with a browser and a valid W-LAN card from another operation that administers a home authentication, authorization and accounting (HAAA) server. The user, inputs, via the VAAA server, identity information that enables the HAAA to issue a personal identification number (PIN) which is encoded and forwarded to the user's mobile telephone. This encoded PIN is transferred to the browser to authenticate the requested visiting access, and the costs of such access are billed to the user's cellular mobile account. The requested access is achieved via the user's browser. The user may employ the browser to convey the identity information, to the VAAA via the W-LAN, or via the mobile telephone.
US07702909B2
Improved techniques for validating timestamps used in a client-server environment are disclosed. A client can associate client-provided timestamps with events that occur at the client. The client can then send event information as well as the timestamps to a server. Preferably, the event information and timestamps are sent in a batch pertaining to a plurality of events that have occurred at the client. The server, which has greater time accuracy, can then validate the client-provided timestamps. The server can also modify the client-provided timestamps so as to improve accuracy of the timestamps. Once modified, the timestamps can pertain to a range (e.g., window) of time during which the associated events can be known to have reliably occurred. In one embodiment, the client-server environment is a distributed file security system in which the events and event information pertain to audit files. The distributed file security system provides efficient and reliable techniques to ensure accuracy of client-provided timestamps.
US07702879B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture for assigning alias addresses to base addresses. An assignment is provided of base addresses to the devices. The base addresses are used to access the devices assigned to the base addresses. An assignment is provided of a plurality of alias addresses to an alias address pool. The alias addresses in the alias address pool are capable of being dynamically assigned to the devices to service I/O requests to the devices. An Input/Output (I/O) request to access one target device comprising one of the devices is processed. A determination is made as to whether the base address assigned to the target device is available. One alias address is assigned to the target device in response to determining that the base address is not available. The I/O request is issued to the assigned alias address to transmit the request to the target device.
US07702874B2
A memory device may determine its device ID in response to the order of a received training pattern. The training pattern may be transmitted over swizzled signal lines to multiple memory devices arranged in a logical stack. Each memory device may be packaged on a substrate having the swizzled signal lines. The memory devices may be physically stacked or planar. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07702868B1
Restoring data, without suspending access to the data for the entire time that the data is being restored. Access is suspended only while a portion of the data is restored, before access to all of the data is permitted. A driver virtualizes any remaining unrestored data. To accomplish this, the driver maintains a list of data yet to be restored. If a request to read a portion of the data is then received, and the requested portion is on the list, the driver restores the requested portion before permitting the read request to be fulfilled. The restored portion is then removed from the list of unrestored data. If a request to write a portion of the data is received, the write is permitted, and the location just written to is removed from the list without restoring.
US07702865B2
A storage system and a data migration method that enable most suitable data migration with the correlation between data managed by particular applications being taken into account. The above storage system and data migration method are configured to collect operational information for each volume; respectively calculate a required volume performance level that is a level of performance required of the volume storing data that is a migration target, and an actual volume performance level that is a level of performance for each volume established in a storage apparatus, based on the collected information; and, in accordance with the calculated required volume performance level and each of the actual volume performance levels, when necessary, migrate the data that is a migration target to another volume having an actual volume performance level corresponding to the required volume performance level of the volume storing that data.
US07702863B1
Data from a first mirror of a data volume is returned to the computer system in response to receiving the first read request. Additionally, data from second mirror of the data volume is read in response to receiving the first read request. The data read from the second mirror may be stored in a cache memory. The computer system may check the returned data to determine whether it is corrupted. If corrupted, the computer system sends a second read request for the same data. Rather than returning the same corrupted data stored in the first mirror, a copy of the requested data is returned from the cache memory.
US07702862B2
A processing system includes a processing circuit having one or more buses, a memory interface unit to control access by the processing circuit to a memory, and a metrics module. The metrics module includes one or more metrics registers and a metrics controller to monitor one or more operations selected from memory interface unit operations and bus operations, and to store metrics information corresponding to the monitored operations in the metrics registers. The monitored operations can include memory access operations, arbitration operations, bus operations, and the like. The metrics information can be analyzed to provide a basis for improving performance of a program that is executed on the processing system.
US07702861B2
A drive device and method of reading from or writing to a record carrier are provided, where data is input or output via an interface using a first format according to a first file system. In the drive device, the first format is mapped to a second format according to a second file system used on the record carrier. This allows using different storage technology with the same interface, such as using a hard-disc based Microdrive with a Compact Flash interface.
US07702853B2
Disclosed are a redundant data storage system (e.g., a RAID system) and a method of operating such a redundant data storage system that provides significant power savings with minimal reduction in reliability. The system and method allow up to half of the memory devices in any of the memory arrays in the system to be placed in standby without significantly impacting the read accesses. The system and method further designate reserved areas in the active memory devices as write-journals, which have at least the same level of protection as the main arrays. The write-journals allow data to be written without powering up a standby memory device. Thus, power consumption is minimized without impacting reliability.
US07702848B2
Various types of data storage systems employ low power disk drives to cache data to/from high power disk drives to reduce power consumption and access times. Some of the disk drives may communicate with a host device via a non-volatile semiconductor memory interface such as a flash memory interface.
US07702834B2
In a serial bus system data in the form of telegrams, representing process images of control tasks of the active station, are transmitted to the connected passive stations, and the process data are allocated to the process images in the passive station.
US07702795B2
A device hosting framework provides hosting for software-implemented logical devices (including peripheral devices bridges) on a computer to expose their services as controlled devices per a peer networking protocol. The device hosting framework encapsulates discovery, description and control protocol operations of the peer networking protocol, which frees the developers of the hosted devices from having to individually implement the peer networking protocol in the hosted devices' software and need implement only the core functionality of the hosted device. The device hosting framework operates as a host supporting device interoperability via the peer networking protocol for multiple hosted devices.
US07702794B1
A system and method is provided for a distributed computing system where a user can login to a client computer and access a number of different applications installed on web servers. These applications are then provided access to data in mainframe systems without a user having to enter mainframe user id or password information for gaining access to the mainframe system. The system and method can utilize a sign on object which is installed onto the client computer. The sign on object operates to obtain and transmit a security token which authorizes access to the mainframe system, and the security token does not require the use of the cookie data. This system and method can pass the security token through the web server and the web application in an encrypted form which limits security risks.
US07702790B2
There is provided a network system and its associated devices and techniques which allow a terminal device to utilize functions of another terminal device without the need to provide any dedicated interface or system switch. A server 12 receives a service request from a first terminal device 13 or a second terminal device 16 while the first and second terminal devices 13 and 16 are in voice communication with each other. Upon receipt of the service request, the server 12 searches position information on the second terminal device 16 from an identifier contained in the service request to specify a processor 18 located in the neighborhood of the second terminal device 16 on the basis of the position information. Then the server 12 establishes a new connection (communication lines 2B and 2C) for image communication. Thus the image data is transferred from the first terminal device 13 to a reception device 17 through the communication lines 2B and 2C, and displayed on a large screen of the processor 18.
US07702788B2
One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for performance and policy analysis in distributed computing systems includes representing a distributed computing system as a state transition model. A queuing network is then superimposed upon the state transition model, and the effects of one or more policies on the distributed computing system performance are identified in accordance with a solution to the queuing network.
US07702782B1
Methods and systems for using watermarks to indicate alerts in a storage area network management console are disclosed. An alert provides notification of the occurrence of an event in a storage area network. An event associated with a component of the storage area network is detected. An alert level corresponding to the detected event is determined. A watermark is placed on the graphical user interface to indicate an alert. An initial characteristic of the watermark depends on the determined alert level, and the watermark is oriented to be visible at a distance from the graphical user interface. Multiple alerts may be indicated through changes in a characteristic of the watermark or by changing a watermark initially placed on the graphical user interface upon initiation of the graphical user interface.
US07702777B2
A method and system are disclosed in which a management module (MM) designates an idle blade in a client blade farm to be an “administrative blade” that has administrator access to the virtual images of all users. The MM identifies when a particular user image is, or is not, in use and conveys this information to the administrative blade. The administrative blade performs virus scans, backups, defrags, patch installs, software upgrades, and other such maintenance functions on user images when they are inactive, thereby eliminating the performance impact to active users.
US07702767B2
A system is disclosed according to the present invention that manages the process of providing a client access to a secured service. In the exemplary embodiment, the secured service is a computer system that allows the client to trade financial instruments. Management of this process includes managing execution of tasks that can be automatically executed and delegating tasks that require manual execution; communicating with entities outside of the process management system; and handling “demands,” or unexpected problems that arise in the middle of the client connectivity process.
US07702766B2
The invention concerns a testing framework, comprising a first computer system, adapted for communication with nodes in a distributed node environment, first code, capable of creating a task manager, second code adapted for defining tasks, including test tasks, third code, capable of creating a task agent, test related data, a test launcher capable of interacting with said first code for starting a task manager in said first computer system, of delivering test related data to said task manager, and, upon the sending of the third code to remote nodes, capable of requesting the starting of one or more task agents on said remote nodes, the task manager responding to the test related data for providing said one or more task agents with said test related data, said one or more task agents responding to said test related data for retrieving respective tasks available in the second code, said task manager being capable of thereafter monitoring the execution of such tasks.
US07702756B2
In a domain containing one of many computing devices, the computing device transmits a query and receives back a response from one or more neighbor-casting groups in the domain each including one or more of the computing devices. Predetermined criteria are applied by the computing device to select one of the groups to which it is joined as a group member. The predetermined criteria can be the number of computing devices in the selected group, a length of time between the query and the response from the selected group, or a combination of thereof. When the selected group has few computing devices, the computing device can send a query and receive back a response from one or more groups. By applying criteria similar to the predetermined criteria, the computing device can select one other group, remove itself from its current group, and join the other selected group.
US07702753B2
A subscriber profile access management system for a telecommunications service provider or telecommunications operator provides technical solutions to providing a single point of access to telecommunications subscriber profile information. As the products and services offered by the service provider grow, and given the many different access mechanisms through which a subscriber connects to services, the single point of access eliminates the inefficient proliferation of custom interfaces between the many support systems and applications which need access to subscriber profile information. The single point of access provides a universal and personalized access to telecommunications services. Access may be made to the subscriber profile regardless of the particular type of access mechanism (e.g., WiFi, or DSL access), while the personalized access allows services to be customized based upon static and dynamically maintained information in the subscriber profile.
US07702751B1
A system for accessing a plurality of portals is provided. The system includes a user interface, a back office system maintaining information, and a first portal coupled to access at least a portion of the back office system. The first portal having a first portal user interface to enable a user to access at least portions of the information of the back office system. The system includes a second portal having a second portal user interface, and a metaportal in communication with the first and second portals and the user interface, the metaportal is operable to collect at least a portion of the first and second portal user interfaces for display via the user interface to enable the user to access at least a portion of the information maintained by the back office system. A method for migrating from disparate portals to the metaportal is also provided.
US07702747B1
A method for identity synchronization across multiple domains includes obtaining identity data from a source channel, wherein the identity data is associated with a source channel protocol, decoupling the identity data from the source channel protocol to obtain decoupled identity data, creating a normalized event object using the decoupled identity data, placing the normalized event object into an event bus, coupling the normalized event object with a target channel protocol to create a target-specific change object for a target channel, and forwarding the target-specific change object to the target channel.
US07702737B2
The present invention relates to workflow systems and methods. In one embodiment, the invention relates to integration of a calendar system with a workflow system where a calendar event can initiate a workflow by sending a message to a form route manager. The completion of a workflow or step in the workflow can result in sending a message to a calendar system to generate an event. In another embodiment, the invention relates to the integration of workflow with a project management system that includes project segments, which are processes that can be defined and controlled by workflow routes. The project management system sends a message to the workflow system to initiate workflow and the workflow system sends a message to the project management system, for example, at the completion of the workflow route. The relationship between the workflow routes can maintain the relationship between the project segments. If the relationships between project segments change, the relationship between the workflow routes changes without added effort.
US07702723B2
Methods and systems are provided for efficiently providing content to a client in a massively multiplayer game.
US07702713B2
A novel technique for providing high speed FFT architecture for OFDM processors that reduces silicon area while maintaining the high speed requirement. In one example embodiment, this is accomplished by pipelined and/or sequential implementation of two or more FFT stages so that each stage performs a small portion of the FFT.
US07702712B2
A Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) hardware implementation and method provides efficient FFT processing while minimizing the die area needed in an Integrated Circuit (IC). The FFT hardware can implement an N point FFT, where N=rn is a function of a radix (r). The hardware implementation includes a sample memory having N/r rows, each storing r samples. A twiddle factor memory can store k twiddle factors per row, where 0
US07702701B2
A random bit generator and a method thereof are provided. The random bit generator includes an amplifier, a comparing circuit, an oscillator, a sampler, and a storage circuit. The amplifier amplifies a difference between input signals generated based on thermal noise. The comparing circuit compares an alternating current (AC) signal output from the amplifier with a direct current (DC) signal obtained by low-pass filtering the AC signal and outputs a signal according to the comparison result. The oscillator may be implemented with a resistor-capacitor (R-C) oscillator. The oscillator consumes lower current and occupies a smaller layout area than a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and outputs an oscillation signal. The sampler samples the oscillation signal output from the oscillator in response to the output signal of the comparing circuit. The storage circuit stores an output signal of the sampler in response to a clock signal.
US07702697B2
Described is a method comprising initializing a first set of bits corresponding to a first plurality of predicate indices to a first value, and initializing a second set of bits corresponding to a second plurality of predicate indices to a second value. A subscription is processed. The subscription includes a plurality of subscription predicates, each of the subscription predicates associated with corresponding predicate indices in one of the first and second pluralities. An event is processed. The event includes an event predicate. When the event predicate matches a first predicate index in the first plurality, a first bit associated with the first predicate index is toggled to the second value. When the event predicate matches a second predicate index in the second plurality, a second bit associated with the second predicate index is toggled to the first value. When each bit associated with the corresponding predicate indices is the second value, the event is outputted to a source of the subscription.
US07702692B2
A system is provided to prevent unauthorized access to computer system resources. The system operates by receiving a section of programming language code to execute on a computer system. This programming language code includes a pragma that defines a set of resources that the programming language code has permission to access. The system analyzes the pragma to determine the set of resources. After analyzing the pragma, the system processes the programming language code in accordance with the pragma. The system can further process the program in accordance with the pragma involves creating a sandbox that includes the set of resources defined by the pragma. The system then executes the programming language code within the boundaries of the sandbox.
US07702687B2
A system and method for typing resources in a distributed system is provided which enables flexible searching mechanisms for finding distributed resources. The distributed system includes at least three types of resources: service, vocabulary and contract resources. The service resource includes the implementation logic for the service. A contract resource contains interface data used for accessing resources. The vocabulary resource contains an attribute schema defining attributes used to describe resources. Each resource—including service, vocabulary and contract resources—is typed by associating one or more vocabulary resources and one or more contract resources with the resource. The vocabulary resources explain the meaning of attribute lists describing the resource and enable the resource to be discovered. The contract resources provide data for accessing the resource. Because vocabulary and contract resources are themselves resources, they are also typed by vocabulary and contract resources and are, accordingly, discoverable and accessible. Typing resources with vocabularies and contracts that are themselves discoverable resources, provides a structural mechanism for supporting robust resource discovery processes suitable for large, loosely-coupled distributed systems.
US07702683B1
A method for estimating similarity between two collections of information is described herein. The method includes comparing a first Bloom filter representing a first collection of information and a second Bloom filter representing a second collection of information, and determining a measure of similarity between the first collection of information and the second collection of information based on the comparing.
US07702680B2
Document summarization is performed by scoring individual words in sentences in a document or document cluster. Sentences from the document or document cluster are selected to form a summary based on the scores of the words contained in those sentences.
US07702679B2
A mind mapping system uploads mind map data to an external system and tracks changes to such data in the external system through the mind map. The invention enables a user to create data objects in an external system through the mind map by classifying topics in a mind map, where the mind map is generated through a mind mapping system. The mind mapping system presents the user with classification categories that correspond to data types in the external system. By classifying a topic in accordance with such classification categories, a user is essentially mapping the topic to a data type in the external system. The mind mapping system interfaces with the external system to upload data in classified topics to the external system. At a later point, the user can then track any changes made to the data in the external system through the mind map.
US07702677B2
A method of accessing information from a collection of data includes receiving a query, generating an inverse index of the collection of data and generating results to the query in conjunction with the inverse index.
US07702675B1
A method and system for creating a database of categorized web feeds for facilitating web feed organization is disclosed. One exemplary method includes ascertaining a web feed identifier and searching a categorized collection of websites to determine a hierarchical folder path for the web feed identifier. For example, the Open Directory Project may be searched to determine an appropriate hierarchical folder path for the web feed identifier. The web feed identifier is placed in a corresponding hierarchical folder path within the database of categorized web feeds. The database of categorized web feeds can then be used as a tool for organizing web feeds on a client computer.
US07702671B2
A search mechanism is evaluated or a relevance model checked using session level and result level diagnostics based on user behavior during a search session with respect to queries entered and user responses to result lists. Tracking occurs of when content desired by a user exists, but is not returned in a search result list when a query is made by the user with intent to find the desired content, when content desired by the user does not exist, when content desired by a user exists, but is not recognized by the user in a result list or is too low in a result list. A user's intent and search context is also taken into consideration when performing search mechanism diagnostics.
US07702666B2
When a number of document data registered in one of full-text index-for-registration/deletion storage parts reaches a predetermined number, or when a capacity of the full-text index-for-registration/deletion storage part reaches a predetermined capacity, a merge processing is performed for merging data from the full-text index-for-registration/deletion storage part to a full-text index-for-search storage part. While this merge processing is performed, a registration/deletion processing is performed by using another full-text index-for-registration/deletion storage part.
US07702658B2
A method for optimistic locking. An integer column is added to a database table. A Structured Query Language statement is constructed and prepared to form a prepared Structured Query Language statement, wherein a result set of the prepared Structured Query Language statement includes the integer column. Any required parameter information is set in the prepared Structured Query Language statement. The prepared Structured Query Language statement is executed in a database transaction. A unique key associated with an element of the result set of the prepared Structured Query Language statement is determined. The row of the database table that the unique key is associated with is determined. A value in the integer column of the determined row is determined. The value in the integer column of the determined row is stored to form a stored value associated with the unique key, wherein the stored value ceases to exist when the database transaction ends.
US07702653B1
Systems and methods for triggering actions are set forth. According to one embodiment, a method comprising determining at least one triggering condition associated with an article, correlating the triggering condition with information associated with a user, and providing the user with a notification relating to the triggering condition is described.
US07702652B2
A method for doing business, wherein a web server maintains a commercial subscriber database including a plurality of records each containing data relating to commercial subscribers including at least name, address and category, and imposes a periodic subscription fee on at least some of the commercial subscribers. On receiving from a client machine connected thereto a request to download data relating to at least one specified category of commercial subscriber, it extracts from the commercial subscriber database respective records and sends to the client machine for display thereby, allows receipt of an update from one or more commercial subscribers in respect of substitute or supplementary data to that contained in the respective database record of the commercial subscribers, and updates the commercial subscriber database as required.
US07702627B2
During query optimization, when a particular type of transformation is considered, the effect of performing one or more subsequent kinds of transformations is also considered in conjunction with the first. When applying a transformation, which forecloses applying another, both are considered independently.
US07702626B2
In one embodiment, the invention is a method. The method includes receiving a validity statement including a range and an identifier from a user interface. The method further includes determining the identifier indicates a validity range statement. The method also includes looking up the range of the validity statement in a validity range table. Additionally, the method includes translating the range of the validity statement into a validity from parameter and a validity to parameter. Moreover, the method includes submitting a database select statement including the validity from parameter and the validity to parameter to a database interface. Furthermore, the method includes receiving a set of records from the database interface responsive to the database select statement. Also, the method includes transmitting the set of records to the user interface.
US07702623B2
Techniques for sharing cursors are provided. When a new query is issued, a database server determines whether the new query is semantically equivalent to a previous query. If so, then database server computes statistics associated with the new query. Based on the statistics, the database server determines whether compiling the new query would produce an execution plan that satisfies certain criteria. If so, then the cursor is used to execute the new query. In another approach, one cursor sharing technique (CST) is used to determine which cursor to use to execute a first set of semantically-equivalent queries. Statistics are gathered during execution of the first set of queries. The database server determines, based on the statistics, when to switch from using the first CST to a different CST. The different CST is used to determine which cursor to use to execute a second set of queries that are semantically-equivalent to the first set.
US07702614B1
An information retrieval system uses phrases to index, retrieve, organize and describe documents. Phrases are extracted from the document collection. Documents are the indexed according to their included phrases, using phrase posting lists. The phrase posting lists are stored in an cluster of index servers. The phrase posting lists can be tiered into groups, and sharded into partitions. Phrases in a query are identified based on possible phrasifications. A query schedule based on the phrases is created from the phrases, and then optimized to reduce query processing and communication costs. The execution of the query schedule is managed to further reduce or eliminate query processing operations at various ones of the index servers.
US07702606B1
Preferred embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for facilitating user thinking about an arbitrary problem, as well as providing capabilities to output to and interface with external or additional computer systems, resources, or devices, or any combination thereof. The system includes logic to facilitate user specification of a user model structure for the arbitrary problem, and may utilize an archetype structure or an archetype process or both. Some embodiments of the system and method include a presentation or other output creation engine in conjunction with the system and method for facilitating development of thinking about the arbitrary problem. The system includes output and interface logic to accomplish interfacing with and/or incorporation of a plurality of external or additional computer systems, information sources, resources, or devices.
US07702605B2
Inferring a probability of a first inference absent from a database. Each datum of the database is conformed to the dimensions of the database. Each datum of the plurality of data has associated metadata and an associated key. The associated metadata includes data regarding cohorts associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding hierarchies associated with the corresponding datum, data regarding a corresponding source of the datum, and data regarding probabilities associated with integrity, reliability, and importance of each associated datum. The query is used as a frame of reference for the search. The database returns a probability of the correctness of the first inference based on the query and on the data. Security filtering is performed based on at least one of a significance level of the probability of the first inference, the probability itself exceeding a pre-selected value, and a security level possessed by a user.
US07702602B1
A method for moving an agent with a canonical rule set from a first execution environment to a second execution environment, comprising encoding the agent including the canonical rule set into transferable form in the first execution environment, sending the encoded agent to the second execution environment, and decoding the agent including the canonical rule set at the second execution environment.
US07702597B2
Crop yield may be assessed and predicted using a piecewise linear regression method with break point and various weather and agricultural parameters, such as NDVI, surface parameters (soil moisture and surface temperature) and rainfall data. These parameters may help aid in estimating and predicting crop conditions. The overall crop production environment can include inherent sources of heterogeneity and their nonlinear behavior. A non-linear multivariate optimization method may be used to derive an empirical crop yield prediction equation. Quasi-Newton method may be used in optimization for minimizing inconsistencies and errors in yield prediction. Minimization of least square loss function through iterative convergence of pre-defined empirical equation can be based on piecewise linear regression method with break point. This non-linear method can achieve acceptable lower residual values with predicted values very close to the observed values. The present invention can be modified and tailored for different crops worldwide.
US07702590B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for sharing media files. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The system includes a file sharing application configured to initiate a communication session with a file server, where the file server manages download requests for media files listed on a dynamic list. Use of the media files is subject to a trial period that corresponds to a period that the media files remain on the dynamic list. The system further includes trial period checking logic configured to retrieve a new dynamic list and check whether a trial period for a media file has expired by determining whether the media file is listed on the new dynamic list and offer presentation logic configured to offer a user a license for continued use of a media file that has an expired trial period. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US07702588B2
The present invention provides a digitally originated check (DOC) through an electronic payment system (EPS) which captures payor metadata instructions regarding the intended payment to a payee. The metadata is stored in a database or the like for further processing instead of printing a paper check. The DOC can be cleared either electronically or through a paper substitute check through Check 21 clearing methods. The present invention further provides a true check card operable to provide DOCs at point-of-sale terminals.
US07702584B2
A method and a system facilitate micropayments between a plurality of parties. A first plurality of micropayment commitments made by a first party are registered, the first plurality of payment commitments contributing towards a total commitment payable value for the first party. A second plurality of payment commitment made to a second party is registered, the second plurality of payment commitments contributing towards a total commitment receivable value for the second party. The total commitment receivable value for the second party is calculated utilizing a risk indication. The total commitment receivable value for the second party is identified as being satisfiable by the total commitment payable value for the first party. Responsive to this determination, a payment process, for payment of the total commitment receivable value by the first party to the second party, is initiated.
US07702582B2
Payment system and method, server apparatus, payment processing method, and computer program product
A payment system having a server apparatus (50) capable of transmitting and receiving information via a communication network (1), a first terminal apparatus (10) for a purchase application, a second terminal apparatus (20) for an installment payment organization and a third terminal apparatus (30) for a settlement service organization. The first terminal apparatus includes an inputting device (104) for prompting to input desirable one of a plurality of payment plan informations each indicating a combination of (i) a part of an installment payment for a purchase price of a product, and (ii) a part of a settlement service for a price of a service, as well as for prompting to input personal information and the credit card number. The server apparatus includes a processing device (502) for extracting (i) information relating to items for an installment payment application and (ii) information relating to items for a settlement service application, separately from among the information inputted via the inputting device.
US07702580B1
Systems and methods for optimizing servicing fees for a set of loans are disclosed. A system for optimizing servicing fees for a set of loans may include a processing unit and a storage device coupled to the processing unit having stored therein information for configuring the processing unit to obtain a minimum servicing fee and a maximum servicing fee, identify net benefits of increasing servicing fees for the loans in the set of loans, and iteratively adjust the servicing fee until the optimal servicing fee is attained.
US07702577B1
The invention comprises a system and method for converting initial financial transactions into final financial transactions entailing lower transaction fees or which are otherwise more advantageous. According to one embodiment of the invention, a card not present (CNP) transaction is conducted for a remote consumer buying goods/services. When the consumer later arrives at a point of authentication (POA), the consumer is presented with an opportunity to have the CNP transaction effectively converted to a card present (CP) transaction using the same card instrument or a different card instrument. The merchant benefits because the transaction fees are much reduced for the CP transaction compared to the CNP transaction. The consumer may benefit from rewards/rebates or other inducements to authorizing the subsequent transaction. One preferred embodiment implements the invention in the airlines environment, wherein tickets ordered over the phone or on-line using a first CNP transaction are converted to a CP transaction when the consumer swipes his/her card at an airport kiosk card reader device.
US07702576B2
A computer-implemented simulator models the entire analytic value chain so that data generation, model fitting and strategy optimization are an integral part of the simulation. Data collection efforts, data mining algorithms, predictive modeling technologies and strategy development methodologies define the analytic value chain of a business operation: data→models→strategies→profit. Inputs to the simulator include consumer data and potential actions to be taken regarding a consumer or account. The invention maps what is known about a consumer or an account and the potential actions that the business can take on that consumer or account to potential future financial performance. After iteratively performing simulations using varying inputs, modeling the effect of the innovation on a profit model, the simulator outputs a prediction of the commercial value of an analytic innovation.
US07702571B2
Financial instruments may be electronically traded according to any of three modes, including single instrument mode, correlated mode, and aggregated mode. One of more market depth representations showing current market price levels, Bids and Asks of the financial instrument(s) to be traded are displayed on a GUI window. The user mouses parallel to the market depth representation to a price level at which the user wishes to initiate a trade, and the moused-over price level is selected and highlighted for all correlated market depth representations displayed on the GUI. All trade order parameters are pre-constructed either prior to selecting or upon selecting of a price level. The user then clicks a mouse button or initiates some other action of a user input device to place an order.
US07702570B2
A system for providing an operator interface having a radar display comprises a memory and a processor. The memory stores trader designated requirements. The processor generates a radar display comprising a trader requirements block that corresponds to the trader designated requirements. The processor receives market data and performs the following for each trader designated requirement: determines a probability of the market data satisfying a trader designated requirement, and displays a market data circle on the radar display, where a distance between the market data circle and the trader requirements block indicates the probability.
US07702548B2
A preferred embodiment comprises a method for obtaining predictive information (e.g., volatility) for inhomogeneous financial time series. Major steps of the method comprise the following: (1) financial market transaction data is electronically received by a computer over an electronic network; (2) the received financial market transaction data is electronically stored in a computer-readable medium accessible to the computer; (3) a time series z is constructed that models the received financial market transaction data; (4) an exponential moving average operator is constructed; (5) an iterated exponential moving average operator is constructed that is based on the exponential moving average operator; (6) a linear, time-translation-invariant, causal operator Ω[z] is constructed that is based on the iterated exponential moving average operator; (7) values of one or more predictive factors relating to the time series z and defined in terms of the operator Ω[z] are calculated by the computer; and (8) the values calculated by the computer are stored in a computer readable medium.
US07702546B2
An article storage apparatus which enables categories to be subsequently assigned to storage sections or categories given to storage sections to be changed according to the progress of the user's storing operation or the user's desire. A plurality of storage shelves are provided to store articles. A RFID reader reads out a category assigned to an article to be stored in each of the storage shelves. A controller sets a category to be assigned to each storage shelf according to the category assigned to the article stored in the storage shelf.
US07702537B2
A system and method for enabling information providers using a computer network to influence a position for a search listing within a search result list generated by an Internet search engine. A database stores accounts for the network information providers. Each account contains at least one search listing having a description, a search term of keywords, and a bid amount. The network information provider may add, delete, or modify a search listing after authenticated login. A bidding process occurs when the network information provider enters a new bid amount for a search listing. The system and method compares the bid amount with all other bid amounts for the same search term, and generates a rank value for all search listings having that search term. The rank value determines where the listing will appear on the search results list page generated in response to a query of the search term.
US07702536B1
A method is provided for using referral data to track software product sell-through and compensate software product distributors. A referral identifier (ID), that identifies a product distributor, is associated with a product. The referral ID may be placed on or within the product container, or in the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) case, directly written to the registry or other storage of a new computer. During product activation, the referral ID is sent, along with other referral data, to a server computer where it is stored. Once the server computer determines that a purchase related to the product has occurred, the server retrieves the referral data to identify the referring product distributor, the product involved, the date the product was activated, the date the related purchase was activated, and other related parameters. The referral data may then be audited and used to determine compensation for the identified product distributor.
US07702529B2
Computer-implemented methods and systems for estimating liability for a vehicle accident are provided. In an embodiment, claim data may be accessed for one or more claims relating to a vehicle accident from a first database on a computer system. In some embodiments, the claim data may be accessed if the claim data is not stored on a second database. In other embodiments, the accessed claim data may be stored on a second database on the computer system. The second database may be associated with a method and system for estimating liability in the vehicle accident. In further embodiments, the stored claim data for one or more of the claims may be accessed on the second database for use by the method and system for estimating liability in the vehicle accident.
US07702526B2
An episode classification system including a multitude of diagnosis records. Each of the diagnosis records includes diagnoses information, time of diagnoses information, and patient information. A patient grouper generates at least one patient group by grouping patient records having similar patient information. A diagnosis grouper generates at least one diagnosis group from a patient group by grouping patient records from a patient group that have similar diagnosis information. An episode analyzer includes a probability analyzer, an episode grouper, and a severity analyzer. The probability analyzer performs probability calculations capable of generating a probability value using at least two of the diagnosis records as input entries. The probability value represents the probability that the input entries belong to a single episode. The episode grouper groups diagnosis records determined to belong to a single episode. The severity analyzer performs episode severity calculations capable of generating an episode severity value.
US07702522B1
Methods and apparatus for tracking and evaluating the relative value, such as the net present value, of medical services provided to patients associated with third party payors (“TPPs”). Under various embodiments of the present invention, the relative value of medical services is considered in evaluating whether to enter into an agreement with a TPP, whether to accept a new patient, when and for how long to schedule a patient appointment, and how long a physician should meet with the patient. Methods and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a medical office are also disclosed whereby a physician may more effectively supply a patient with relevant information and provide prescriptions, record billing information, order supplies, and collect payment for services provided. Methods and apparatus for improving security within a medical office and reducing employee fraud are also disclosed.
US07702517B2
A risk management system may include a memory system that may contain a plurality of risk software objects, each of which represents a risk associated with an enterprise and which is configured to contain attributes and methods. The memory system may include a plurality of non-risk software objects, each of which represent something associated with the enterprise other than a risk, as well as a relationship between one of the risk software objects and one of the non-risk software objects. A computer processing system may be configured to manage the software objects and the relationship. Relationships may also be with workflow processes. Numerous variations, as well as related processes and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US07702512B2
A user interface, and associated techniques, that permit a fast and efficient way of correcting speech recognition errors, or of diminishing their impact. The user may correct mistakes in a natural way, essentially by repeating the information that was incorrectly recognized previously. Such a mechanism closely approximates what human-to-human dialogue would be in similar circumstances. Such a system fully takes advantage of all the information provided by the user, and on its own estimates the quality of the recognition in order to determine the correct sequence of words in the fewest number of steps.
US07702495B2
A method for performing a simulation of an electrosurgical procedure is provided. The method includes the step of generating a three-dimensional model of a medium comprising one or more material regions representing a physical object or a region of the tissue. The method also includes the step of calculating one of an electrical energy solution and a thermal transport solution based on one of a mathematical model and finite element method. The method further includes the step of updating one or more property values of the material region in response to temperature changes based on an empirically derived value, wherein one of the electrical energy solution and the thermal transport solution is updated as a function of the updated property value.
US07702493B2
A method for quality assurance of screw joint tightening results when tightening a screw joint to a needed pretension condition (FN) by means of a torque delivering power tool, wherein one or more simulation procedures of a screw joint tightening process via a specific algorithm aiming at the needed pretension condition (FN) by using programmed data relating to the screw joint geometry, expected frictional conditions, power tool characteristics, a tightening strategy and suitable tightening parameter values, thereby arriving at a simulated pretension condition (FS) which is compared to the resultant pretension condition (FP) of a practically performed tightening process performed via the same specific algorithm, and evaluating the outcome of the comparison for quality acceptance or refusal.
US07702489B2
The present invention provides a method of constructing recognition models. Under the method, a set of probabilities is estimated for values of a hidden variable. A Fourier transform is determined for the set of probabilities and is used to determine a Fourier transform of an estimated prototype pattern. The inverse Fourier transform is then determined for the Fourier transform of the estimated prototype pattern to form an estimated prototype pattern.
US07702486B2
A liquid crystal substrate managing apparatus comprises a data management section with a database for recording a defect information acquired from a liquid crystal testing device, and an image information and a repair information acquired from a liquid crystal repair device. The data management section performs the reidentification of a defect and/or the redetermination of a panel and/or a substrate based on the defect information, the image information and the repair information recorded in the database.
US07702485B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for predicting a remaining useful life (RUL) for a computer system. The system starts by collecting values for at least one telemetry metric from the computer system while the computer system is operating. The system then uses the collected values to generate a RUL prediction for the computer system or a component within the computer system.
US07702479B2
A method and system for testing a computer is presented. The temperature of the computer is controlled by one or more on-board fans inside the computer's enclosure. Voltages are controlled at the Voltage Regulator Module (VRM) level. A test program is then run under varying temperature and VRM voltages, and the results of the test program are logged. The present invention can be used either at the manufacturer's location or the customer's site, either under local or remote control.
US07702478B2
A process coupling for coupling a diagnostic device to process fluid of an industrial process includes a process interface configured to physically couple to the process fluid. A fluid pathway extending from the process interface configured to couple a process interface element of the process device to the process fluid. The fluid pathway is configured to optimize transmission of process noise from the process fluid to the process device for use by the diagnostic device.
US07702471B2
Provided is a method of determining one or more profile parameters of a photomask covered with a pellicle, the method comprising developing an optical metrology model of a pellicle covering a photomask, developing an optical metrology model of the photomask, the photomask separated from the pellicle by a medium and having a structure, the structure having profile parameters, the optical metrology model of the photomask taking into account the optical effects on the illumination beam transmitted through the pellicle and diffracted by the photomask structure. The optical metrology model of the pellicle and the optical metrology model of the photomask structure are integrated and optimized. At least one profile parameters of the photomask structure is determined using the optimized integrated optical metrology model.
US07702465B2
The present invention relates to a method for structure-based prediction of properties of peptides and peptide analogs in complex with major histocompatibility (MHC) class I and class II molecules. The properties mainly relate to the three-dimensional structure of an MHC/peptide complex and the binding affinity of a peptide for an MHC receptor. The invention further relates to a computer program and a device therefor. The invention further relates to data produced by a method of the invention. The invention further relates to peptides and peptide analogs predicted to bind to target-MHC molecules. The present invention thus relates to the field of immunology, with possible applications in manufacture of vaccinates, de-immunization of proteins, and manufacture of therapeutic agents, especially immunotherapeutic agents.
US07702459B2
A method of GPS accuracy adjustment for an integrated INS/GPS navigation system which utilizes microelectro mechanical systems (MEMS) based inertial sensors to mitigate multipath problems arising when a vehicle is in an area with many high-rise buildings is disclosed. Even when GPS measurement output values are deviated from that expected, the INS/GPS navigation system uses as many measurement outliers as possible without discarding, unless they are obvious error values, thereby maintaining a practical level of accuracy. The measurement outliers typically occur when the integrated INS/GPS navigation system receives GPS signals which have transmitted through multipaths such as reflection by buildings, since the signal path lengths vary.
US07702457B2
A pedestrian navigation system, an information delivery server, and a program for naturally guiding (such as speech-guiding) the user of a portable terminal at an intersection are disclosed. An information delivery server includes a map database containing data such as nodes including paths constituting intersections, links, and costs of the links, a path seeking section, an intersection path judging section for detecting a path passing through an intersection from guidance paths which the path seeking section has sought, a guidance point determining section which determines a guidance point for path guidance, a guidance data creating section which determines a guidance pattern of path guidance according to the guidance point, and a data delivering section for delivering map data, guidance path data, and guidance data to a portable terminal. The guidance point determining section selects a specific node out of all the nodes constituting intersections as a guidance point.
US07702456B2
A method for presenting a route includes receiving a starting point and a destination point and computing a route that includes a route segment between the two points. The method further includes determining, based on a user's travel history, whether the route segment is an unfamiliar segment, and identifying, based on the user's travel history, a road that is familiar to the user and that is within a scaled range of the unfamiliar segment. The computed route and the familiar road are then presented in a format that distinguishes the familiar road from the computed route, and the familiar road is represented relative to the unfamiliar segment.
US07702452B2
The present invention provides a system and method for determining the necessary departure time to allow for an on-time or desired arrival time at a particular location over a particular route based on the evaluation of historic, present, and predicted road conditions.
US07702441B2
A safety logic for vehicle rollover detection systems comprising a main rollover detection logic and at least one protection device for the occupant or occupants of the vehicle, including a vehicle lateral acceleration sensor (11), which generates an output signal indicating a near rollover event, when a lateral acceleration of a vehicle exceeds the first predefined threshold value (15) or, when a lateral acceleration of vehicle exceeds the second predefined threshold value (16) that is lower than the first predefined threshold value (15) and simultaneously at least one additional safety logic activation signal is present (1, 1′, 1″, 1′″).
US07702437B2
A method of displaying a vehicle's information, includes measuring a set values of the vehicle, comparing the set of measured values with a set of related normal values of a vehicle of the same type as the vehicle being measured, and operating within a preset normal range, and displaying on a video image a graphical depiction of the measured set of values in comparison to the normal set of values of the same type of vehicle.
US07702429B2
The invention relates to an electric flight control system for aircraft elevators. According to the invention, the flight control system can be controlled in terms of load factor or rate of pitch. The inventive system comprises built-in protections in relation to load factor, incidence and pitch attitude.
