US07705111B2
A polymer of the following formula wherein R is a suitable hydrocarbon or a heteroatom containing group; and n represents the number of repeating units.
US07705110B2
The present invention is directed to a non-gelled, curable composition including at least one compound having a plurality of imide functional groups. The compound in particular contains a reaction product of a) at least one hydroxyalkylamino functional succinimide; b) at least one polyisocyanate; and optionally c) at least one capping agent. The composition is suitable for use in coatings and castings.
US07705102B2
Golf equipment having at least one portion formed from amine-adduct modified polyurea compositions, including epoxy-silicone modified polyurea compositions, epoxy modified polyurea compositions, silicone modified polyurea compositions, and polyurea compositions including polyamine/carbonyl adducts and/or amine-modified adducts having backbones based on polyfunctional acrylates or methacrylates or caprolactone monomers or oligomers.
US07705099B2
Lost circulation of drilling fluid is one of the most serious and expensive problems facing the drilling industry. The present invention relates to an improved drilling fluid for reducing or preventing lost circulation to an underground formation surrounding a well bore in the process of drilling a well. The drilling fluid comprises a base fluid and wax or waxy substance as a primary seepage loss agent. The invention also provides a method of reducing or preventing lost circulation to an underground formation surrounding a well bore in the process of drilling a well using the drilling fluid of the invention, wherein the primary seepage loss agent is added to the drilling fluid, either before or during drilling, and the drilling fluid is pumped down hole during drilling.
US07705097B2
Process for preparing a supported catalyst for the polymerization and/or copolymerization of olefins which has a chromium content of from 0.01 to 5% by weight, based on the element, which comprises (a) preparing a homogeneous solution comprising an organic or inorganic chromium compound and at least one further organic or inorganic compound of elements selected from among Mg, Ca, Sr, B, Al, Si, P, Bi, Sc, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Hf, Ta, W in a protic or aprotic polar solvent, (b) bringing the solution from a) into contact with a finely divided inorganic support to form a catalyst precursor, (c) if appropriate, removing the solvent from the catalyst precursor and (d) calcining the catalyst precursor at temperatures of from 350 to 950° C., preferably 400 to 900° C., under oxidative conditions.
US07705084B2
The present invention provides a film-forming composition comprising a particulate polymer or emulsified liquid pre-polymer, water and a coalescent aid comprising an ester having the formula RCOOX wherein R and X are independently hydrocarbyl or substituted hydrocarbyl, and at least one of R and X contain at least two unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds. The coalescent aid helps lower the minimum film formation temperature of low glass transition temperature coatings and high glass transition temperature coatings and allows optimum film formation at ambient temperatures. The coalescent aid of this coating composition is not volatile like conventional coalescent aids but rather remains part of the film and air oxidizes to cure the film. This coating composition also exhibits properties of adhesion and gloss superior to that of coating compositions containing conventional coalescent aids. Additionally, this coalescent aid can be made from natural or synthetic oils.
US07705074B2
A process comprising polymerizing at least one fluorinated monomer in an aqueous medium containing initiator and polymerization agent to form an aqueous dispersion of particles of fluoropolymer, the polymerization agent comprising: fluoropolyether acid or salt thereof having a number average molecular weight of at least about 800 g/mol; and fluorosurfactant having the formula: [R1—On-L-A−] Y+ wherein: R1 is a linear or branched partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group which may contain ether linkages; n is 0 or 1; L is a linear or branched alkylene group which may be nonfluorinated, partially fluorinated or fully fluorinated and which may contain ether linkages; A− is an anionic group selected from the group consisting of carboxylate, sulfonate, sulfonamide anion, and phosphonate; and Y+ is hydrogen, ammonium or alkali metal cation; with the proviso that the chain length of R1—On-L- is not greater than 6 atoms.
US07705069B2
An ink jet ink composition comprised an anti-curl agent and ink jet printing processing using such ink jet ink composition. The ink jet ink composition includes a hyperbranched polymer. The hyperbranched polymer acts as an anti-curl agent to control curl during a printing process. The anti-curl agent, i.e., the hyperbranched polymer, may be present in the ink amounts less than conventional anti-curl agents and still effectively control curl without detrimentally effecting intercolor bleed control water fastness or drying. Additionally, the ink composition do not exhibit increases in viscosity, and problems associated therewith, that occur in ink composition using conventional anti-curl agents.
US07705063B2
A polyurethane foam and a resin composition that may be used to form the polyurethane foam is provided. The resin composition comprises a first ethylene diamine-based polyol having about 100% ethylene oxide capping present in an amount of from 0.5 to 8 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the resin composition, a second polyol, and a physical blowing agent. The polyurethane foam comprises the reaction product of an isocyanate component and the resin composition. A method of forming the polyurethane foam on a substrate, comprising the steps of combining the isocyanate component, the first ethylene diamine-based polyol having about 100% ethylene oxide capping, the second polyol, and the physical blowing agent to form a polyurethane composition is also provided. The polyurethane composition is applied onto the substrate at an ambient temperature of 0° C. or lower to form the polyurethane foam.
US07705053B2
To provide compounds which have high angiogenesis inhibiting activity, and are useful as agents for effective treatment and prevention of diseases involving pathologic angiogenesis, for example, cancer and cancer metastasis, methods for producing the compounds, intermediate compounds useful for their production, and pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds.The present invention provides compounds of formula (II), or prodrugs thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds or the prodrugs, and pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds: where A1 is C—X1 or N; Q1 is —A2═A3—, or a heteroatom selected from —O—, —S—, and —N(R10)—; Q2 is —A4═A5—, or a heteroatom selected from —O—, —S—, and —N(R10)—; provided that Q1 and Q2 are not heteroatoms at the same time; A2 is C—X2 or N, A3 is C—X3 or N, A4 is C—X4 or N, and A5 is C—X5 or N; Y is C1-6alkyl, C3-9cycloalkyl, C2-7alkenyl, C2-7alkynyl, C1-6alkoxy, C2-7alkenyloxy, C2-7alkynyloxy, or C1-6alkylthio; Z is a hydrogen atom, hydroxy, C1-6alkyl, C3-9cycloalkyl, or —NR1R2; and L is selected from the formula:
US07705049B2
The present invention relates to a method for treating non-melanotic cancers by administration of PABA. The present invention also relates to the potentiation of standard cancer treatment of radiation, radioimmunotherapy, and/or chemotherapy using PABA.
US07705040B2
This invention provides compositions which specifically reacts with peroxynitrite rather than other reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species. This invention also provides related agents for measuring peroxynitrite. This invention also provides related methods for measuring peroxynitrite in a sample, high-throughput screening fluorescent methods for detecting peroxynitrite and high-throughput methods for screening compounds that increase or decrease the production of peroxynitrite comprising using such compositions and agents.
US07705022B2
Novel indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitors, compositions comprising the same, and methods of use thereof are disclosed.
US07705021B2
Isoindolone derivatives, compositions containing the same, and methods of use thereof for the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infection are disclosed.
US07705017B2
The present invention relates to a class of small molecule hydroxamic acid compounds capable of inhibiting histone deacetylases (HDACs). The present invention also relates to methods of preparation of hydroxamic acid HDAC inhibitor compounds of the invention, which are N-substituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydroxamic acid derivatives, and their incorporation into pharmaceutical compositions and methods of administration. The present invention also relates to N-substituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline hydroxamic acid derivatives, which may be prepared as a hydroxamic acid HDAC inhibitor compound library that can be utilized in screening methods known in the art.
US07705013B2
A method of treating trypanosomiasis in a mammal, which entails administering to a mammal in need thereof an effective amount of medicinal producting comprising a plant extract comprising one or more compounds of formula (I).
US07705008B2
Compounds comprising or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a prodrug thereof is disclosed herein. A, X, J, E, and Z are as described herein. These compounds are useful for treating diseases.
US07705005B2
The invention disclosed herein relates to compounds of formula (I) where the various groups are defined herein, and which are useful for treating inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis.
US07705004B2
Compounds, particularly compounds having spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) inhibition activity, having the following structure: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1 is structure (a), (b), (c) or (d): and Ra, Rb, Rc, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 are as defined herein. Methods associated with preparation and use of the same, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, are also disclosed, as well as uses of the same to treat a condition or disorder mediated by a Syk and/or JAK kinase.
US07705003B2
The present invention relates to new dopamine D3 and D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A receptor subtype preferring ligands of formula (I); wherein A represents alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or a group of formula —NR1R2, wherein R1 and R2 represent independently a substituent selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl or cycloalkyl or R1 and R2 form with the adjacent nitrogen atom and optionally with further heteroatom(s) a heterocyclic ring; m is an integer of 0 to 1; n is an integer of 1 to 2, and/or geometric isomers and/or stereoisomers and/or diastereomers and/or salts and/or hydrates and/or solvates thereof, to the processes for producing the same, to pharmacological compositions containing the same and to their use in therapy and/or prevention of a condition which requires modulation of dopamine and/or 5-HT1A receptors.
US07704998B2
This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein n, m, t, R1, R2, R3, R4, L, Q, X, Y, Z and have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US07704996B2
The present invention relates to the use of a 2-cyanopyrimidine compound of the formula wherein R1, R2, R3 and X are as defined in the specification and in the claims, in free form or in salt form, and, where possible, in tautomeric form, as an inhibitor of the activity of cathepsin S.
US07704986B2
Novel vitamin D analogues are useful for making pharmaceutical compositions for the prevention or treatment of bone disorders such as osteoporosis.
US07704983B1
Antiprogestin method for reducing side effects associated with low dosage HRT and oral contraception
Menses regulation and, when desired, contraception is achieved at low doses of estrogen and progestin, which otherwise would create episodes of breakthrough bleeding and/or withdrawal amenorrhea, by periodically inducing menses with an antiprogestin.
US07704979B2
The subject invention provides methods of inducing the loss of adipose tissue by providing a diet high in calcium. In one aspect of the invention, the calcium is provided in the form of dairy products. In yet another aspect of the invention, calcium is provided in the form of a dietary supplement, such as calcium carbonate, of vitamin supplements. Methods of suppressing [Ca2+]i levels in individuals are also provided. The subject invention also provides methods of stimulating lipolysis, inhibiting lipogenesis, and increasing the expression of white adipose tissue uncoupling protein 2 (UPC2). The subject invention also provides methods of increasing the core temperature of an individual.
US07704977B2
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition and oral dosage forms comprising a bisphosphonate in combination with an enhancer to enhance intestinal delivery of the bisphosphonate to the underlying circulation. Preferably, the enhancer is a medium chain fatty acid or a medium chain fatty acid derivative having a carbon chain length of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms, and the solid oral dosage form is a controlled release dosage form such as a delayed release dosage form.
US07704974B2
The present invention relates to a method for the treatment and/or prevention of urinary disorders, comprising administering an effective amount of an osmotic diuretic agent and an effective amount of an appetence-inducing agent to a subject in need thereof.
US07704960B2
Macrolide compounds endowed with antiinflammatory activity are described, and more particularly macrolide derivatives lacking cladinose in position 3, with antiinflammatory activity, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and pharmaceutical compositions containing them as active ingredient.
US07704957B2
The present invention relates to a composition for inhibiting HIV activity comprising the extract of Paecilomyces sp. (Tochu-kaso) J300. More particularly, the present invention relates to a composition for inhibiting HIV activity comprising 3-[5-(methoxy-ethyl)-3,6-dioxo-piperazine-2-yl]propionic acid represented by Formula 1 and 4-methyl-2-[(pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl)-2-amino]pentanoic acid represented by Formula 2 that are extracted from Paecilomyces sp. (Tochu-kaso) J300; and to a medical composition and food composition containing the same.
US07704956B2
A delivery system. The delivery system includes a carrier having a surface, an active compound comprising small molecule compounds or peptides for use as an analgesic encapsulated into the carrier, and a glutathione or a glutathione derivative grafted on the surface of the carrier. The invention also provides a method of analgesia including conducting the active compound to a subject.
US07704954B2
The invention relates to carrier complexes and methods for delivering molecules to cells. The carrier complexes comprises a molecule and an aromatic cationic peptide in accordance with the invention. In one embodiment, the method for delivering a molecule to a cell comprises contacting the cell with a carrier complex. In another embodiment, the method for delivering a molecule to a cell comprises contacting the cell with a molecule and an aromatic cationic peptide.
US07704949B2
Methods are described for preventing or reducing ischemia, e.g., cerebral ischemia, and/or reperfusion injury, e.g., reperfusion injury associated with cerebral ischemia, in a patient.
US07704940B2
A granulate for use in a particulate cleaning product, the granulate consisting of granules which comprise: (a) at least 30% by weight of granulation auxiliary selected from water-soluble non-acid organic crystalline solids; and (b) at least 0.1% by weight of functional cleaning material other than an enzyme or an inorganic compound; and (c) optionally, one or more other ingredients. The granulate may instead comprise: (a) at least 20% by weight of granulation auxiliary selected from non-acid water-soluble organic crystalline solids; and (b) at least 0.1% by weight of temperature sensitive functional cleaning material other than an enzyme or an inorganic compound; and (c) optionally, one or more other ingredients.
US07704937B2
A composition for treating or cleaning fabric articles, especially articles of clothing, linen and drapery, wherein the composition comprises a lipophilic fluid, a polyalkyleneoxide polysiloxane surfactant, and a second surfactant.
US07704936B2
A remover contains an alkaline component, a bivalent zinc ion, a ferric ion, a chelating agent, and a nitrate ion. By using this remover, an anodized film can be selectively removed from an aluminum or aluminum-alloy member.
US07704934B2
This invention relates to cationically derivatized polycalactomannans obtained from cassia tora and cassia obtusifolia and to their use in personal care, household care, and institutional care compositions.
US07704931B2
A lubricant composition is disclosed that comprises lubricating oil and a mixture of at least two antioxidants, the first antioxidant being a secondary diarylamine and the second antioxidant being a substituted para-phenylenediamine. Also disclosed is a method of increasing the oxidation stability of a lubricating oil comprising adding thereto at least two antioxidants, the first antioxidant being a secondary diarylamine and the second antioxidant being a substituted para-phenylenediamine.
US07704930B2
The present invention concerns a detergent additive for lubricating oil compositions comprising at least two of low, medium, and high TBN detergents. Preferably the detergent is a calcium salicylate. The present invention also concerns lubricating oil compositions comprising such detergents, and at least one of Group II base stock, Group III base stock, or wax isomerate base stock.
US07704925B2
The present invention in one aspect relates to a method for synthesizing a bifunctional complex comprising a molecule and an identifier polynucleotide identifying at least some of the chemical entities which have participated in the synthesis of the molecule in accordance with the methods of the present invention. The invention also relates to a library of different bifunctional complexes. The library of the invention can be used e.g. for identifying drug leads. Furthermore, the present invention is based on the principle that chemical entities initially provided on a building block oligonucleotide (i.e. a building block having an oligonucleotide part which is linked to a chemical entity) can be brought into reactive proximity without the use of a template comprising a set of covalently linked codons. Also, the present invention allows reaction of chemical entities when the chemical entities are linked to a single stranded identifier polynucleotide obtained by covalently linking the oligonucleotide parts (oligonucleotide identifiers) of the building blocks. The single stranded identifier polynucleotides differs from template directed synthesis methods employing codon and anti-codon hybridisation between a template and one or more transfer units, i.e. methods wherein e.g. reactive units on transfer units are reacted while the anti-codon of the transfer units are hybridised to template codons.
US07704921B2
A gas mixture preheated to high temperatures using an oxy-fuel, an oxygen-enriched air-fuel or an air-fuel burner is used to devolatilize and partially oxidize carbonaceous feedstock, thereby producing an active residual char that can be used in applications utilizing activated carbon. Use of hot gas and ground carbonaceous feedstock allows the equipment to be minimized, thereby allowing the activated carbon to be produced at or near points of use, for example the production of activated char at or near utility boilers for use in the reduction of mercury emissions from flue gas streams.
US07704920B2
Sorbents for removal of mercury and other pollutants from gas streams, such as a flue gas stream from coal-fired utility plants, and methods for their manufacture and use are disclosed. The methods include mixing sorbent substrate particles with a sulfide salt and a metal salt to form a metal sulfide on the outer surface of the sorbent particles.
US07704913B2
A visible-light-responsive three-dimensional fine cell-structured photocatalytic filter in accordance with the present invention includes a sponge-like porous structure (B) containing an anatase-type titanium oxide coating formed on a surface of a sponge-like porous structural body (A) which has a porosity of 85 vol % or more. The sponge-like porous structural body (A) is composed of one material selected from the group consisting of one metal selected from the group consisting of (a) to (e): (a) carbon and either or both of silicon and a silicon alloy; (b) silicon carbide and at least one material selected from the group consisting of silicon, a silicon alloy, and carbon; (c) silicon nitride and at least one material selected from the group consisting of silicon, a silicon alloy, carbon, and silicon carbide; (d) carbon; and (e) carbon and one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, platinum, and gold.
US07704911B2
The present invention provides a catalytic composition for use in an oxidation-reduction process for effecting the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in gas strains comprising a water soluble iron compound, a mixture of two chelating agents, comprising Na2EDTA and Na4EDTA, and at least one stabilizer. Further the present invention provides a process for preparing the catalytic composition according to the invention, said composition being advantageous in effecting the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in gas strains, comprising the steps of preparing a mixture of a water soluble iron compound and a stabilizing agent in an aqueous system, while the pH of the system is pH ≦2, adding a mixture of two chelating agents I and II, whereas both of the chelating agents are amine chelating agents to the mixture of the water soluble iron compound and a stabilizing agent, adding sufficient aqueous amine chelating agent II to this combined mixture to adjust a pH of 7 to 10, and heating this mixture of to get the desired concentration of chelated iron in the mixture. Therefore, the procedure of the present invention provides an alkaline aqueous chelated iron solution useful in oxidation-reduction processes for effecting the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in gas strains and provides, as mentioned before, (1) no foaming and no sludge, (2) a minimum decomposition of the chelant during the reaction, (3) a homogeneous and very concentrated catalytic iron chelate reagent with a possible iron concentration of >40 wt % and (4) a minimum rate of absorption of CO2 into the solution and maximum rate of stripping of CO2 by air bubbling.
US07704906B2
A semiconductor porcelain composition [(BiNa)x(Ba1-yRy)1-x]TiO3 with 0
US07704905B2
A composition is disclosed comprising a fine zircon component having a median particle size of less than 5 μm, a medium zircon component having a median particle size of from 5 μm to 15 μm, and a sintering aid, wherein the composition, after firing, has a strain rate of less than about 1×10−6/hr. A method for making a green body comprising contacting a fine zircon component having a median particle size of less than 5 μm, a medium zircon component having a median particle size of from 5 μm to 15 μm, and a sintering aid, and then forming the mixture into a desired shape is disclosed.
US07704904B2
An optical glass contains as glass ingredients, by weight: 0-8% SiO2; 34.5-46% B2O3; 2.6-6% Li2O; 21-38% ZnO; 0-40% La2O3; 0-35% Gd2O3; and 0-15% Y2O3, with the total content of La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3 accounting for 10-40%. The optical glass also has a predetermined index of refraction and a predetermined dispersion.
US07704889B2
By controlling the flow rate of one or more gaseous components of an etch ambient during the formation of metal lines and vias on the basis of feedback measurement data from critical dimensions, process variations may be reduced, thereby enhancing performance and reliability of the respective metallization structure.
US07704888B2
Methods for removing photoresist from semiconductor structures are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for removing photoresist from a semiconductor structure having a high-k dielectric material layer overlying a substrate comprises depositing a photoresist overlying the high-k dielectric material layer and patterning the photoresist. The temperature of the substrate is adjusted to a temperature of no less than about 400° C. and hydrogen gas is excited to form a hydrogen plasma of excited H and H2 species. The photoresist is subjected to the excited H and H2 species from the hydrogen plasma.
US07704884B2
Some embodiments include methods in which insulative material is simultaneously deposited across both a front side of a semiconductor substrate, and across a back side of the substrate. Subsequently, openings may be etched through the insulative material across the front side, and the substrate may then be dipped within a plating bath to grow conductive contact regions within the openings. The insulative material across the back side may protect the back side from being plated during the growth of the conductive contact regions over the front side. In some embodiments, plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition may be utilized to for the deposition, and may be conducted at a temperature suitable to anneal passivation materials so that such annealing occurs simultaneously with the plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition.
US07704881B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing a substrate with at least one covered via that electrically and preferably also thermally connects a first substrate side with an opposite second substrate side. The processing involves forming a trench on a the first substrate side remains and covering the trench with a permanent layer on top of a temporary, sacrificial cap-layer, which is decomposed in a thermal process step. The method of the invention provides alternative ways to remove decomposition products of the sacrificial cap-layer material without remaining traces or contamination even in the presence of the permanent layer. This is, according to a first aspect of the invention, achieved by providing the substrate trench with an overcoat layer that has holes. The holes in the overcoat layer leave room for the removal of the decomposition products of the cap-layer material. According to the second aspect of the invention, opening the covered trench from the second substrate side and allowing the cap-layer material to be removed through that opening provides a solution. Both methods of the present invention are based on the common idea of using a temporary cap-layer even in a situation where the substrate opening is permanently covered before the removal of the temporary cap-layer.
US07704879B2
A method is provided for forming low-resistivity recessed features containing a ruthenium (Ru) film integrated with bulk copper (Cu) metal. The method includes providing a patterned substrate containing a recessed feature, depositing a barrier film in the recessed feature in a barrier film deposition chamber, transferring the patterned substrate from the barrier film deposition chamber to a Ru metal deposition chamber, heat-treating the barrier film in the presence of a H2-containing gas in the Ru metal deposition chamber, and depositing a Ru metal film on the heat-treated barrier film. The method further includes, depositing a Cu seed layer on the Ru metal film and filling the recessed feature with bulk Cu metal. In other embodiments, the method further includes heat-treating the Ru metal film and the Cu seed layer prior to the bulk Cu metal filling.
US07704875B1
Methods for patterning high-density contact holes and contacts are described herein. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method comprising depositing a first dummy layer over a substrate to form a first pattern; depositing a second dummy layer over the substrate to form a second pattern, the second pattern overlapping the first pattern at a plurality of locations; etching the first and second dummy layers to form a plurality of posts at the plurality of locations; forming a dielectric layer over the substrate; and etching the posts to form a plurality of contact holes in the dielectric layer. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07704871B2
An integrated circuit structure including multiple thin film resistors having different sheet resistances and TCRs includes a first oxide layer (2) formed on a semiconductor substrate (1), a first thin film resistor (3) disposed on the first oxide layer (2), and a second oxide layer (14) disposed over the first oxide layer (2) and first thin film resistor (3). A second thin film resistor (15) is formed on the second oxide layer (14) and a third oxide layer (16) is formed over the second thin film resistor (15) and the second oxide layer (14). Interconnect metallization elements (12A,B & 22A,B) disposed on at least one of the second (14) and third (16) oxide layers electrically contact the circuit element (4), terminals of the first thin film resistor (3), and terminals of the second thin film resistor (15), respectively, through corresponding contact openings through at least one of the second (14) and third (16) oxide layers.
US07704859B2
Provided is an electro-optical apparatus including a first thin-film transistor having a first gate electrode, a first gate insulating layer and a first active layer, which are respectively formed of a conductive film, an insulating film and a semiconductor film, in a pixel region of a device substrate, the apparatus including: a second thin-film transistor having a first gate electrode formed of the conductive film, a second gate insulating layer formed by removing a portion of the insulating film in a thickness direction and a second active layer formed of the semiconductor film, in a region other than the pixel region of the device substrate.
US07704856B2
A substrate support (201) having a flat supporting surface (201a) is prepared, and a semiconductor substrate (1) is fixed to the substrate supporting surface (201) by attaching a wiring forming surface (1a) to the supporting surface (201a) by suction, for example, by vacuum suction. On this occasion, the wiring forming surface (1a) is forcibly flattened by being attached to the supporting surface (201a) by suction, and therefore the wiring forming surface (1a) becomes a reference plane for planarization of a back surface (1b). In this state, planarization processing is performed by mechanically grinding the back surface (1b) to grind away projecting portions (12) of the back surface (1b). Hence, variations in the thickness of the substrate (especially, semiconductor substrate) are made uniform, and high-speed planarization is realized easily and inexpensively without disadvantages such as dishing and without any limitation on a wiring design.
US07704844B2
A semiconductor structure which exhibits high device performance and improved short channel effects is provided. In particular, the present invention provides a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOFET) that includes a low dopant concentration within an inversion layer of the structure; the inversion layer is an epitaxial semiconductor layer that is formed atop a portion of the semiconductor substrate. The inventive structure also includes a well region of a first conductivity type beneath the inversion layer, wherein the well region has a central portion and two horizontally abutting end portions. The central portion has a higher concentration of a first conductivity type dopant than the two horizontally abutting end portions. Such a well region may be referred to as a non-uniform super-steep retrograde well.
US07704840B2
A stress enhanced MOS transistor and methods for its fabrication are provided. A semiconductor-on-insulator structure is provided which includes a semiconductor layer having a first surface. A strain-inducing epitaxial layer is blanket deposited over the first surface, and can then be used to create a source region and a drain region which overlie the first surface.
US07704834B2
Disclosed is a method for forming a non-volatile memory device, comprising the steps of: successively depositing a gate oxide and a floating gate material on a semiconductor substrate; depositing and selectively etching a first dielectric on the floating gate material to form a first dielectric pattern; forming a first floating gate oxide on the floating gate material; selectively etching the floating gate material with using the first dielectric pattern as a mask to form a floating gate pattern; forming an insulating layer on the floating gate pattern; etching a portion of the semiconductor substrate between neighboring floating gate patterns to form a trench in the substrate; depositing a control gate oxide on surfaces of the trench; depositing a control gate material to fill the trench and to cover the substrate surface; depositing a second dielectric on the control gate material; selectively etching the second dielectric and the control gate material to form a control gate pattern and a second dielectric layer; selectively removing the control gate pattern to form a source line pattern which extends from the substrate surface exposed in the trench to top surface of the second dielectric layer on the control gate pattern; forming an insulating layer on surface of the source line pattern; and forming source region in portion of the substrate, which is exposed by the source line pattern.
US07704821B2
A semiconductor fabrication process for forming a gate dielectric includes depositing a high-k dielectric stack including incorporating nitrogen into the high-k dielectric stack in-situ. A top high-k dielectric is formed overlying the dielectric stack and the dielectric stack and the top dielectric are annealed. Depositing the dielectric stack includes depositing a plurality of high-k dielectric layers where each layer is formed in a distinct processing step or set of steps. Depositing one of the dielectric layers includes performing a plurality of atomic layer deposition processes to form a plurality of high-k sublayers, wherein each sublayer is a monolayer film. Depositing the plurality of sublayers includes depositing a nitrogen free sublayer and depositing a nitrogen bearing sublayer. Depositing the nitrogen free sublayer includes pulsing an ALD chamber with HfCl4, purging the chamber with an inert, pulsing the chamber with an H2O or D2O, and purging the chamber with an inert.
US07704820B2
A method of fabricating a metal line using a dual damascene process which enhances reliability of the semiconductor device. The method includes forming a lower metal line in a first inter metal dielectric layer; and then sequentially forming a first anti-etch layer, a second inter metal dielectric layer and a second anti-etch layer over the first inter metal dielectric layer and the lower metal line, wherein the second inter metal dielectric includes a first trench formed therein; and then forming an oxide film on the second anti-etch layer and in the first trench; and then forming a first via hole by performing a first etching process on the oxide film, the second anti-etch layer and the second inter metal dielectric layer; and then forming a second trench and a second via hole by performing a second etching process using the second anti-etch layer as a mask; and then removing a portion of the first anti-etch layer exposed in the second via hole and the second anti-etch layer; and then forming an upper metal line in the second via hole and the second trench.
US07704818B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including etching exposed areas of a substrate using patterned nitride and insulating layers as an etch mask to form a trench in the substrate; forming a buffer layer in the trench; forming a stress-inducing layer by implanting ions into a region of the substrate around the trench using the patterned nitride and insulating layers as an ion implant mask; forming a device isolation region by filling the trench with an trench insulating layer; and removing the patterned nitride and insulating layers.
US07704811B2
A low resistance buried back contact for SOI devices. A trench is etched in an insulating layer at minimum lithographic dimension, and sidewalls are deposited in the trench to decrease its width to sublithographic dimension. Conducting material is deposited in the trench, which serves as a low-resistance contact to the back side of the device. In another embodiment, the trench-fill material is separated from the device by an insulating layer, and serves as a back gate structure.
US07704799B2
A wiring substrate (1) comprises an insulating base (10) with connection holes (11), buried conductors (12) provided in the connection holes (11) without reaching a rear surface of the insulating base (10), and wiring layers 14 connected to the buried conductors (12). The buried conductors (12) thicken the wiring layers (14), and can form aligning parts (110) on the rear surface of the connection holes (11) to be used for three-dimensional mounting structure. Each wiring layer (14) includes thin terminals (14A), wirings (14B) and thick electrodes (14C). Not only the terminals (14A) and wirings (14B) but also the buried conductors (12) are raised by the same manufacturing process. A semiconductor element (2) is attached to the electrodes (14C) of the wiring substrate (1).
US07704798B2
A composite of two or more thermal interface materials (“TIMs”) is placed between a die and a heat spreader to improve cooling of the die in an integrated circuit package. The two or more TIMs vary in heat-dissipation capability depending upon the locations of die hot spots. In an embodiment, a more thermally conductive material may be positioned over one or more die hot spots, and a less thermally conductive material may be positioned abutting and/or surrounding the more thermally conductive material. The two or more TIMs may comprise a solder and a polymer. The composite TIM may be preformed as one unit or as a plurality of units. Methods of fabrication, as well as application of the package to an electronic assembly and to an electronic system, are also described.
US07704797B2
A method of manufacturing a module, formed of a semiconductor element flip-chip bonded to a substrate and chip component soldered to the substrate, is disclosed. The method includes a step of mounting the chip component and the semiconductor element to the substrate, a first injection step for injecting first resin from a center of a lateral face of the semiconductor element into a gap between the semiconductor element and the substrate, a second injection step for applying second resin having a greater viscosity than the first resin to corners of the semiconductor element before the first resin reaches the corners, and a curing step for heating the module. This method allows mounting the chip component closer to the semiconductor element, so that the component can be mounted at a higher density on the module.
US07704790B2
Plural inlets 1 are formed by a separation into individual pieces, and these plural inlets are arranged to a tape-like carrier such that the long side of each of the plural inlets is along the longitudinal direction of the tape-like carrier, whereby cost can be reduced by rearranging the inlets to the cheap tape-like carrier. Further, the plural inlets formed by separating into individual pieces are rearranged onto the tape-like carrier, whereby the change of the arrangement pitch of the inlets so as to correspond to the size of a final product at a customer side can be facilitated, and days taken for the development for newly supplying the inlets can be shortened.
US07704787B2
Phase-changeable memory devices and method of fabricating phase-changeable memory devices are provided that include a phase-changeable material pattern of a phase-changeable material that includes nitrogen atoms. First and second electrodes are electrically connected to the phase-changeable material pattern and provide an electrical signal thereto. The phase-changeable material pattern may have a polycrystalline structure.
US07704786B2
A method of forming an organic inverter includes providing a first metal layer having a first portion for coupling a source of a first OFET to a first power supply voltage, a second portion for coupling a drain of the first OFET to an output terminal and to a source of a second OFET, and a third portion for coupling a drain of the second OFET to a second power supply voltage, providing a semiconductor layer for overlapping a portion of the first and second first metal layer portions to form a first OFET active area, and for overlapping a portion of the second and third metal layer portions to form a second OFET active area, providing a dielectric layer for overlapping the active area and isolates the first metal layer and semiconductor layer from the second metal layer, and providing a second metal layer for overlapping the active area of the first OFET to form a gate of the first OFET and an input terminal, and for overlapping the active area of the second OFET to form a floating gate for the second OFET.
US07704785B2
Solutions comprising: (i) at least one organic semiconductor, (ii) at least one organic solvent A having a boiling point, and (iii) at least one organic solvent B having a boiling point; wherein the at least one organic semiconductor comprises at least one high molecular weight component, wherein the at least one organic solvent A is a good solvent for the at least one organic semiconductor, wherein the at least one organic solvent B is a poor solvent for the at least one organic semiconductor; and wherein the boiling point of the at least one solvent A is greater than the boiling point of the at least one solvent B; and the use of such solutions in processes for forming organic semiconductor layers on substrates and devices formed by such processes.
US07704781B2
The present invention, in the various exemplary embodiments, provides a RGB color filter array. The red, green and blue pixel cells are arranged in a honeycomb pattern. The honeycomb layout provides the space to vary the size of pixel cells of an individual color so that, for example, the photosensor of blue pixels can be made larger than that of the red or green pixels. In another aspect of the invention, depicted in the exemplary embodiments, the honeycomb structure can also be implemented with each pixel rowing having a same color of pixel cells which can simplify can conversion in the readout circuits. In another aspect of the invention, the RGB honeycomb pixel array may be implemented using a shared pixel cell architecture.
US07704771B2
A light emitting device including: at least one light emitting stack including first and second conductivity type semiconductor layers and an active layer disposed there between, the light emitting stack having first and second surfaces and side surfaces interposed between the first and second surfaces; first and second contacts formed on the first and second surface of the light emitting stack, respectively; a first insulating layer formed on the second surface and the side surfaces of the light emitting stack; a conductive layer connected to the second contact and extended along one of the side surfaces of the light emitting stack to have an extension portion adjacent to the first surface; and a substrate structure formed to surround the side surfaces and the second surface of the light emitting stack.
US07704766B2
An array substrate for a transflective liquid crystal display device includes: a substrate; a gate line and a data line on the substrate, the gate line and the data line crossing each other to define a pixel region including a transmissive area and a reflective area surrounding the transmissive area; a thin film transistor having a gate insulating layer, the thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; a first passivation layer on the thin film transistor, the first passivation layer having a drain contact hole exposing a drain electrode of the thin film transistor and a through hole exposing the substrate in the transmissive area; a reflective plate on the first passivation layer; a second passivation layer on the reflective plate; and a pixel electrode on the second passivation layer, the pixel electrode contacting the substrate in the transmissive area through the through hole and contacting the drain electrode through the drain contact hole.
US07704761B2
Disclosed is a manufacturing method of a light emitting diode. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of preparing a substrate and mounting light emitting chips on the substrate. An intermediate plate is positioned on the substrate. The intermediate plate has through-holes for receiving the light emitting chips and grooves for connecting the through-holes to one another on its upper surface. A transfer molding process is performed with a transparent molding material by using the grooves as runners to form first molding portions filling the through-holes. Thereafter, the intermediate plate is removed, and the substrate is separated into individual light emitting diodes. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a light emitting diode in which the first molding portion formed through a transfer molding process is positioned within a region encompassed by cut surfaces of the substrate. Since the first molding portion is positioned within the region encompassed by the cut surfaces of the substrate, second molding portions can be symmetrically formed on the side surfaces of the first molding portions in various manners.
US07704758B2
A method for manufacturing an optical device, the method includes the steps of: forming a multilayer film, including forming a first mirror above a substrate, forming an active layer above the first mirror, forming a second mirror above the active layer, forming a semiconductor layer on the second mirror, and forming a sacrificial layer on the semiconductor layer; conducting a reflection coefficient examination on the multilayer film; patterning the multilayer film to form a surface-emitting laser section having the first mirror, the active layer and the second mirror, and a diode section having the semiconductor layer; and removing at least a portion of the sacrificial layer to expose at least a portion of an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, wherein an optical film thickness of the semiconductor layer is formed to be an odd multiple or an even multiple of λ/4, where λ is a design wavelength of light emitted by the surface-emitting laser section, andan optical film thickness of the sacrificial layer is formed not to be an odd multiple or an even multiple of λ/4.
US07704757B2
A method is provided for manufacturing an integrated electronic component arranged on a substrate wafer. According to the method, at least one metallization step is performed, and a value of an electrical parameter of the integrated electronic component is determined after the at least one metallization step. A subsequent metallization step is performed after determining the value of the electrical parameter. The subsequent metallization step is performed using an adjustment mask chosen from n predefined masks based on a desired value of the electrical parameter, so as to obtain the desired value of the electrical parameter of the integrated electronic component after manufacturing. In one preferred embodiment, a series of electrical tests is performed on the wafer using test equipment, and the value of the electrical parameter is determined using the same test equipment as is used to perform the series of electrical tests.
US07704756B2
Fluorogenic or chromogenic dyes are useful as reporter molecules for detecting cell entry by a specific molecule.
US07704747B2
Disclosed herein is a dual blood glucose meter. The dual blood glucose meter includes a meter body, a measurement strip, a variety of electronic parts and upper and lower strip receiving ports. The meter body is provided with a liquid crystal display panel on the front thereof to display measured numerical values and various pieces of pictorial information. The measurement strip is brought into contact with blood at a blood collection spot so as to measure blood glucose of the blood. The electronic parts are used to measure the blood glucose of the blood. The upper and lower strip receiving ports are formed at upper and lower ends of the meter body to receive the measurement strip, and are each electrically connected to the electric parts.
US07704746B1
The invention provides methods for the measurement of carbon dioxide leakage from sequestration reservoirs. Tracer moieties are injected along with carbon dioxide into geological formations. Leakage is monitored by gas chromatographic analyses of absorbents. The invention also provides a process for the early leak detection of possible carbon dioxide leakage from sequestration reservoirs by measuring methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), and/or radon (Rn) leakage rates from the reservoirs. The invention further provides a method for branding sequestered carbon dioxide using perfluorcarbon tracers (PFTs) to show ownership.
US07704740B2
A nanofibrillar structure for cell culture and tissue engineering is disclosed. The nanofibrillar structure can be used in a variety of applications including methods for proliferating and/or differentiating cells and manufacturing a tissue. Also disclosed is an improved nanofiber comprising a lipid, lipophilic molecule, or chemically modified surface. The nanofibers can be used in a variety of applications including the formation of nanofibrillar structures for cell culture and tissue engineering.
US07704726B2
A system for performing molecular biological diagnosis, analysis and multistep and multiplex reactions utilizes a selfaddressable, selfassembling microelectronic system for actively carrying out controlled reactions in microscopic formats. The device includes a power supply and waveform generator adapted to supply a DC bias and superimposed AC signal to the system through an interface to the array of microlocations.
US07704724B1
Compositions and methods for catalytic buffering of enzymatic decontamination reactions are provided. Enzymatic decontamination of organophosphorus or organohalogen compounds generates acidic reaction products that precipitously reduce the pH of the medium, thus impairing activity of the decontaminating enzymes. Catalytic buffering, that is, the use of an enzyme to produce ions from a substrate to modulate pH, can provide effective pH control. The compositions provided here include urease enzymes with mutations in the alpha subunit of the urease holoenzyme. These mutant ureases maintain urease activity in the presence of fluoride ions, which are organophosphorus and organohalogen hydrolysis products that otherwise inhibit urease activity. The fluoride-resistant ureases act as effective catalytic buffers during organofluorophosphorus hydrolysis reactions. Methods for using the fluoride-resistant ureases in enzymatic decontamination are also provided. Catalytic buffering afforded by fluoride-resistant ureases facilitates the application of safe and effective enzymatic methods for decontamination of personnel, equipment and the environment.
US07704721B2
Compositions and methods are provided for preparation of concentrated stock solutions of AAV virions without aggregation. Formulations for AAV preparation and storage are high ionic strength solutions (e.g. μ˜500 mM) that are nonetheless isotonic with the intended target tissue. This combination of high ionic strength and modest osmolarity is achieved using salts of high valency, such as sodium citrate. AAV stock solutions up to 6.4×1013 vg/mL are possible using the formulations of the invention, with no aggregation being observed even after ten freeze-thaw cycles. The surfactant Pluronic® F68 may be added at 0.001% to prevent losses of virions to surfaces during handling. Virion preparations can also be treated with nucleases to eliminate small nucleic acid strands on virions surfaces that exacerbate aggregation.
US07704712B2
The present invention discloses methods of using DNA polymerase fusions at high pH in PCR, DNA sequencing and mutagenesis protocols.
US07704702B2
A test strip configured for the detection of an analyte in a fluid sample and methods for manufacturing and for using the same. The test strip comprises a first flow matrix and a second flow matrix sequentially arranged to form an interface therebetween. The first flow matrix comprises a detection composition movably bound thereto, wherein the detection composition when exposed to the analyte produces at least one detectable product and wherein the first and second solid matrices are selected so as to accumulate the at least one detectable product at the interface between the two matrices, when the fluid sample travels from the first flow matrix to the second flow matrix.
US07704695B2
BGT1 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 BGT1 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.
US07704694B2
A method for detecting species in a target plant genus comprises the steps of conducting PCR using at least one member selected from the group consisting of primers (A) and (B), which can hybridize under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid molecule having a common nucleotide sequence for all species in the target plant genus in 45S rRNA precursor gene sequence thereof, wherein 3′ end of primer (A) can complementarily bind to a base in ITS-1 sequence of the target plant genus when the primer hybridizes to the nucleic acid molecule while 3′ end of primer (B) can complementarily bind to a base in ITS-2 sequence of the target plant genus when the primer hybridizes to the nucleic acid molecule, and identifying the presence of the resulting amplification product from PCR containing at least a part of ITS-1 or ITS-2 sequence of the target plant genusThe method for detecting species in a target plant genus, particularly an allergenic plant genus such as the genus Fagopyrum, can make it possible to detect with high sensitivity, for example, about 1 ppm of the plant(s) in cases where the plant(s) is contained in a food ingredient or food product.
US07704691B2
Methods of identifying polymorphisms associated with ataxia-ocular apraxia 2 (AOA2), are described. The polymorphisms associated with AOA2 include specific mutations in the senataxin (SETX) gene. Also described are methods of diagnosis of AOA2, as well as methods of assessing an individual for carrier status for AOA2.
US07704675B2
The invention provides a planographic printing plate precursor that is writable by laser exposure and is composed of a support, a photosensitive recording layer formed on the support, and a backcoat layer containing an epoxy resin, the backcoat layer being formed on the side of the support opposite to the photosensitive recording layer side; and a stack of the planographic printing plate precursors. According to the invention, scratches on the photosensitive recording side of the planographic printing plate precursor can be prevented when brought into contact with another planographic printing plate precursor in the stack without interleaving slip sheets, and productivity in a plate making process can be improved.
US07704668B1
The invention provides positive-acting chemically-amplified photoresist compositions that can provide excellent lithographic performance as well as significantly enhanced storage stability. In one aspect, photoresist compositions are provided that comprise a solvent that is free of hydroxy groups (i.e. non-hydroxylic solvent), a resin binder and a photoactive compound that exhibits enhanced and long-term solubility in the solvent. In a further aspect, resists are provided that are formulated in a hydroxyl-containing solvent such as ethyl lactate and that contains a sulfonium salt photoactive compound that includes a sulfonate counter anion that can provide enhanced storage stability for the resist.
US07704660B2
To provide a process for producing a glass plate having an electric conductor pattern excellent in adhesion to the surface of the glass plate, whereby it is not required to have a screen ready for every model and adjustment to desired electric heating performance and antenna performance is easy, and a developer therefor. A developer for electronic printing, characterized in that the ratio of Ftc/Ftp is at least 2.5, where Ftc is the adhesive force acting between one toner particle containing conductive fine particles and one carrier, and Ftp is the adhesive force acting between one toner particle containing conductive fine particles and a photoconductor. A process for producing a glass plate is having an electric conductor pattern, which comprises a step of using such a developer for electronic printing and forming a pattern of a toner on a surface of a glass plate by an electronic printing system, and a step of heating the glass plate having the pattern of the toner formed on its surface, at a predetermined temperature to convert the pattern of the toner to a pattern of an electric conductor.
US07704657B2
An electrophotographic photosensitive member having excellent electrophotographic properties while being prevented from the generation of blade turn-up, a method of manufacturing the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus each having the electrophotographic photosensitive member are provided. The surface layer of the electrophotographic photosensitive member contains a polymer having a specific repeating structural unit.
US07704652B2
An exposure operation evaluation method for an exposure apparatus for arranging a predetermined number of at least one evaluation pattern in an overlapping area and printing the at least one evaluation pattern on a substrate when performing a plurality of exposures and printing on the substrate while sequentially step-moving an exposure area in quadrangle, the exposure area having evaluation patterns arranged on an outer peripheral side of a circuit pattern, the overlapping area overlapping respective exposure areas adjacent to four sides of the exposure area, the method including: measuring a printing misalignment between each evaluation pattern of adjacent exposure areas printed on the substrate; and calculating a plurality of linear components in an exposure operation of the exposure apparatus based on the result of the measurement of the printing misalignment and suppressing and controlling the printing misalignment based on the plurality of linear components.
US07704647B2
A mask and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A transparent substrate having three regions is provided first. A non-transmitting layer is formed in a first region of the transparent substrate. Then, a first photoresist layer is formed on the transparent substrate, and the first photoresist layer exposes a second region of the transparent substrate. Next, a first transmitting layer is formed on the transparent substrate and the first photoresist layer. Finally, the first photoresist layer is removed. The first transmitting layer on the first photoresist layer is removed at the same time and the first transmitting layer in the second region of the transparent substrate is remained and a third region of the transparent substrate is exposed. A lift-off process is used in the mask manufacturing method of the present invention to form the transmitting layer.
US07704638B2
A power-generating element containing a stacked electrode assembly (10) and an electrolyte solution is disposed in an accommodating space of a plastic battery case (13). The entirety of the battery case (13) is enclosed air-tightly and liquid-tightly in an outer cover made of an aluminum laminate. An opening (13A) of the battery case (13) is sealed by sealing members (16a, 16b) disposed and melt-bonded so as to cover an opening (13A) of the battery case 13 and to sandwich current collectors (14, 15) of the power-generating element from both sides. The outer cover is sealed at at least a location corresponding to the opening (13A) of the battery case (13).
US07704633B2
In a polymer electrolyte battery including a battery element having a cathode and an anode coiled through a polymer electrolyte, a section of the battery element perpendicular to the coiling axis has a curved form. As compared with a polymer electrolyte battery having a flat plate type battery element curved, the former battery has an extremely low possibility of short-circuit at the end of an electrode and excellent battery characteristics.
US07704632B2
An electrochemical cell with a vent assembly that reliably prevents resealing of a vented seal member is provided. The vent assembly seals the end of a container that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator located between the first and second electrodes and an electrolyte in contact with the electrodes and separator. The seal member includes a diaphragm with a hinge along one edge and a vent along another edge. The hinge and vent are located so that, relative to the longitudinal axis of the vent assembly, the hinge is closer to the vent than to the cell's terminal cover.
US07704629B2
A cathode for use in a direct oxidation fuel cell (DOFC) comprises a gas diffusion medium (GDM) including a backing layer and a microporous layer comprising a fluoropolymer and an electrically conductive material, wherein loading of the fluoropolymer in the microporous layer is in the range from about 10 to about 60 wt. %. In use, a concentrated solution of a liquid fuel is supplied to an anode and an oxidant to the cathode of the fuel cell, and the fuel cell may be operated at a low oxidant stoichiometry ξc not greater than about 2.5.
US07704627B2
Electrolysis cell comprises, in one embodiment, a proton exchange membrane (PEM), an anode positioned along one face of the PEM, and a cathode positioned along the other face of the PEM. An electrically-conductive, compressible, spring-like, porous pad for defining a fluid cavity is placed in contact with the outer face of the cathode. The porous pad comprises a mat of carbon fibers bound together with one or more, preferably thermoplastic, resins, the mat having a density of about 0.2-1.5 g/cm3. Cell frames are placed in peripheral contact with the metal screen and the compression pad for peripherally containing fluids present therewithin. Electrically-conductive separators are placed in contact with the metal screen and the compression pad for axially containing fluids present therewithin. A plurality of the cells may be arranged in series in a bipolar configuration without requiring a separate compression pad between cells (for gas pressure differentials up to about 400 psi or greater). The invention is also directed to a fuel cell wherein the pad replaces the carbon fiber paper or carbon fiber cloth in contact with the cathode or anode.
US07704626B2
The present invention isolates the fluid streams flowing into and out of a fuel cell stack from the terminal plates so that the fluid streams and terminal plates do not come into contact with one another. The prevention of the fluid streams from contacting the terminal plate eliminates corrosion concerns associated with the terminal plate. The present invention accomplishes this isolation through the use of headers having fluid passageways therein that route the fluid streams in and/or out of the fuel cell stack while preventing contact between the fluid streams and the terminal plate.
US07704619B2
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell having a stack composed of stacked cells that generate electrical power from anode gas and cathode gas; a cell voltage measuring device connected to the cells to measure the voltages of the cells, the cell voltage measuring device outputting a first predetermined value as a measurement value when the voltage of the cell being measured is at or below a detection limit; a stack voltage measuring device connected to the stack that measures the voltage of the stack; and a control unit that restricts the current flowing though the fuel cell when the difference between the sum of the individual voltages of the cells measured by the cell voltage measuring device and the voltage of the stack measured by the stack voltage measuring device exceeds a second predetermined value.
US07704618B2
A high temperature fuel cell stack system, such as a solid oxide fuel cell system, with an improved balance of plant efficiency includes a thermally integrated reformer, combustor and the fuel cell stack.
US07704602B2
An iodine/iodide-containing hot melt coatable adhesive is provided. This adhesive is prepared by mixing iodine and an iodide salt, individually or in combination, with solubilizing liquids. The iodine and iodide salt are combined with a pre-adhesive composition in a hot melt mixer, with an iodine/iodide complexing agent being present in the mixture. The mixture is mixed at a temperature from about 130° C. to about 200° C. and sufficiently to form an iodine/iodide-containing hot melt coatable adhesive. Alternatively, the iodide may be generated in situ. The adhesive so prepared may be packaged for coating on a substrate at a later time, or may be immediately coated to form an adhesive composite. Adhesive composites, particularly surgical incise drapes, are provided incorporating this hot melt coatable adhesive.
US07704600B2
The invention relates to grout powder for admixture with water to produce grout. The grout powder comprises cement powder and is characterized in that the grout powder has been mixed with a fluorochemical compound. The present invention further relates to a method of preparing grout powder for admixture with water to produce grout, comprising mixing grout powder comprising cement powder with a fluorochemical compound. Still further, the invention relates to an alternative method for making the grout powder, which method comprises treating at least one of the components of the grout powder with a fluorochemical compound.
US07704598B2
A protective covering is described comprising at least one microporous film attached to a functional layer, the protective covering capable of inhibiting the passage of toxic substances therethrough. Preferably the functional layer is an adsorptive layer contained between two oleophobic, microporous films. Additional shell and backer layers may be added to the construction forming a protective covering having good durability, flexibility and high moisture vapor transmission.
US07704595B2
Disclosed are structural materials including polymeric reinforcement fibers that can provide added strength and fracture toughness to the matrix. The polymeric reinforcement fibers are polypropylene-based monofilament fibers or tape fibers exhibiting extremely favorable mechanical characteristics for structural reinforcement including modulus greater than 12 MPa and elongation less than about 10%. The disclosed reinforced composite materials can exhibit desired average residual strength values with less total fiber loading necessary to attain the ARS values as compared to previously known polymer reinforced materials. Very high strength and fracture toughness can be attained in the disclosed composite materials.
US07704591B2
A cover tape comprising at least a substrate layer and a heat sealing layer, wherein (1) an antistatic layer containing an antistatic agent and an anticorrosive agent, is formed on the heat sealing layer, or (2) the heat sealing layer side has an average surface roughness (Ra) of from 0.3 to 1.0 μm, and has an antistatic agent applied thereon to form an antistatic layer.
US07704590B2
Imageable printing forms are irradiated by radiant energy corresponding to the image information, the energy being absorbed in the printing form. The energy coupled in this manner is available for patterning the printing form surface. A printing form having a plurality of substantially planar functional zones, which have at least one informational zone that is modifiable in accordance with image information and an absorption zone for absorbing energy from a radiation is distinguished in that a buffer zone is provided which differs at least partially from the absorption zone, receives energy from the absorption zone, and releases energy to the informational zone.
US07704589B2
An absorbent article having a built-in size indicator is disclosed. The size indicator, for instance, comprises a stretchable panel that changes color when stretched. The panel may change color to indicate that the article is the correct size for the wearer or may change color to indicate that the article is too small. Still another embodiment, the stretchable panel may change from a first color indicating that the article is too large, to a second color that indicates the article is the correct size, and to a third color that indicates the article is too small. The stretchable panel may be made from any suitable color changing materials. For example, in one embodiment, the panel may include a gathered layer that is printed with a particular color only at the peaks of the gathered layer. As the gathered material is stretched, the material changes color due to the newly exposed regions. In other embodiments, the stretchable panel comprises a film that changes color when stretched. For example, the film may comprise a polyethylene that crystallizes when stretched or may comprise a polarized film that increases in polarization when stretched.
US07704584B2
The present disclosure encompasses provides thermal stabilizer compositions comprising a phase change material admixed with a support material such as a diatomaceous earth, and a nucleator. The present disclosure further encompasses a heat insulation blanket for reducing heat transfer between adjacent spaces, comprising at least two plies of thermoplastic sheet material in superposed relationship and a seal, wherein the seal connects the plies of sheet material to form a cell containing a volume of a thermal stabilizer comprising a phase change material, a support material such as a diatomaceous earth, and a nucleator.
US07704582B2
The optical recording medium according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate, a reflective layer located on the upper side of the substrate and reflecting an incident laser beam, and an information recording layer located on the reflective layer. The information recording layer includes a first recording layer containing a compound in the form of AXB1-X (0.8≦X≦0.9), wherein A is Ag and B is Sb and Te, and a second recording layer containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, Sn, Sb and Ge. The laser beam is irradiated on the first recording layer prior to the second recording layer. Therefore, the optical recording medium of the present invention may provide high recording density and transmittance velocity suitable for BLU-RAY DISC system.
US07704577B2
A bag having excellent water and perspiration resistance, showing no deterioration of the skin after extended use, and having excellent light resistance, thereby experiencing no discoloration or yellowing under the sun or fluorescent lighting.
US07704575B2
Anti-bronzing agents are added to ink-jet inks to prevent bronzing of the inks when printed on various types of media. The additive can be an amine anti-bronzing agent that is protonated when the ink-jet ink is printed on the print medium.
US07704570B2
A polarizing plate includes two transparent supports A and B; and a polarizer sandwiched between the two transparent supports A and B; wherein (i) the transparent support A is a stretched cellulose ester film (a) which contains a non-phosphoric acid ester plasticizer and substantially does not contain a phosphoric acid ester plasticizer, and wherein (ii) the transparent support B is a stretched cellulose ester film (b) which has a retardation value R0 of from 0 nm to 10 nm and a retardation value Rt of from −30 nm to 20 nm, and the retardation value R0 and the retardation value Rt are defined by the following formulas (I) and (II): Ro=(nx−ny)×d Formula (I): Rt={(nx+ny)/2−nz}×d. Formula (II):
US07704568B2
The present invention relates to photo-tunable dopant compositions comprising a photo-reactive chiral compound capable of undergoing a photochemical reaction resulting in the loss of chirality, and a triplet sensitizer. The present invention also relates to a display comprising a substrate, a liquid crystalline layer thereon, wherein the liquid crystalline layer comprises a nematic host, at least one chiral dopant, a photo-reacted compound, and a triplet sensitizer, and at least one transparent conductive layer. The present invention also relates to a method of tuning a cholesteric liquid crystal material comprising providing at least one mesogenic compound, at least one triplet sensitizer, and at least one photo-reactive chiral compound; combining the at least one mesogenic compound, at least one triplet sensitizer, and at least one photo-reactive chiral compound to form a mixture; and irradiating the mixture for a period of time.
US07704563B2
Organofunctional silanes are applied to metal surfaces using an oil bath. Metal is immersed in an oil bath containing approximately 2% silane. In a preferred embodiment, the metal is a tire cord. The silane can either be hydrolyzed or unhydrolyzed. The hydrolyzed silanes can be in combination with a water dispersible resin. When the tire cord is coated with silane using the present method, it allows a tire to be formulated with lower sulfur levels and without cobalt.
US07704555B2
A method of preparing an electrochromic device involves forming multiple layers of selected materials on a substrate in a vacuum processing chamber. A first of these layers is an electrode layer deposited directly on the substrate and used for making contact to a subsequently deposited precursor film, preferably tungsten oxide, from which an electrochromic layer is formed by lithium loading in the presence of ionized nitrogen. This not only forms the electrochromic layer by diffusion of the lithium into the tungsten oxide, but also forms a thin lithium nitride ion transfer layer on the then exposed surface. Subsequently, a lithium fluoro-nitride electrolyte layer is formed on the ion transfer layer by evaporation from a lithium fluoride source in the presence of ionized nitrogen. An ion storage layer, which may be a vanadium oxide and a transparent second electrode layer are subsequently vacuum deposited.
US07704553B2
A process for depositing nanometer-sized metal particles onto a substrate in the absence of aqueous solvents, organic solvents, and reducing agents, and without any required pre-treatment of the substrate, includes preparing an admixture of a metal compound and a substrate by dry mixing a chosen amount of the metal compound with a chosen amount of the substrate; and supplying energy to the admixture in an amount sufficient to deposit zero valance metal particles onto the substrate. This process gives rise to a number of deposited metallic particle sizes which may be controlled. The compositions prepared by this process are used to produce polymer composites by combining them with readily available commodity and engineering plastics. The polymer composites are used as coatings, or they are used to fabricate articles, such as free-standing films, fibers, fabrics, foams, molded and laminated articles, tubes, adhesives, and fiber reinforced articles. These articles are well-suited for many applications requiring thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, antibacterial activity, catalytic activity, and combinations thereof.
US07704552B2
Described is an improved process for producing chemically treated fillers by using a certain combination of functionalizing and hydrophobizing agents in an aqueous suspension of inorganic oxide having a pH of 2.5 or less and increasing the pH of the suspension after chemically treating the filler.
US07704548B2
A method for manufacturing a wiring board which can simplify a manufacturing step. In a preparation step, a core board and an electronic component are prepared. In an insulating layer formation and fixing step, after accommodating the electronic component in an accommodation hole, a lowermost resin insulating layer is formed, and a gap between the electronic component and the core board is filled with a part of the lowermost resin insulating layer so as to fix the electronic component to the core board. In an opening portion formation step, a portion of the lowermost resin insulating layer located directly above the gap between the electronic component and the core board is removed so as to form an opening portion exposing a part of a core board main surface side conductor and a component main surface side electrode. In a main surface side connecting conductor formation step, a main surface side connecting conductor is formed in the opening portion so as to connect the core board main surface side conductor to the component main surface side electrode.
US07704545B2
The present invention provides a method and system for loading drug onto a stent. The method comprises positioning at least one polymer coated stent on a mandrel, positioning a drug infused sheath onto the stent and diffusing drug from the sheath into the polymer coating of the stent. The system includes a drug coated mandrel and sheath positioned adjacent to and in contact with a polymer coated stent.
US07704543B2
This invention provides a new method of obtaining a high density, reproducible and uniform coverage of a solid surface, compounds suitable for such a method and methods of preparing such compounds. This invention further relates to methods of the chemical modification (carboxylation) of solid surfaces and their subsequent use for the attachment of amine-containing molecules including DNA, proteins and other polymers.
US07704541B1
A steam crushed whole grain for reducing the wetting time necessary prior to use of a whole grain baking ingredient in a baking application. A whole grain kernel is formed into a whole grain flake with a plurality of exterior fractures. As the flake is formed, the flake is exposed to steam such that an interior starch portion of the flake is heated by penetration of the steam through the fractures. As the interior starch portion is heated, the flake is partially gelatinized within a range of about 15% to about 35%. The partially gelatinized grain is then milled and crushed for use as a baking ingredient. Prior to use, the partially gelatinized whole grain baking ingredient is wetted for a time less than 4 hours as is typically recommended for traditionally processed whole grains.
US07704535B2
A frozen dough comprising flour, a high yeast level comprising one or more yeast with activity covering temperature range of 33-140° F., emulsifiers, dough conditioners, stabilizers, sugar, lipid source and optionally supplemental gluten such that the frozen dough does not require a conventional proofing (proofer) step prior to freezing or prior to baking. When the frozen dough is thawed in a retarder at 33-42° F. for at least 12 hours, or at an elevated temperature of between 43-85° F. for at least 1 hour, and then baked, the baked products have good appearance, taste and texture, and a specific volume of at least 4 cc/gram.
US07704530B2
The present invention is an antimicrobially-treated material which has a coloring preventing function and is in contact with water or moisture or contains water, comprising (A) a silver-based antimicrobial agent which dissociates silver ions in the water system and (B) a silver ion trapping agent for trapping silver ions comprising one or more kinds of compounds selected from the group consisting of purine bases, pyrimidine bases, thiabendazole, and potassium iodide, wherein a ratio of (A)/(B) is 1/1 to 100/1 by weight.
US07704527B2
A milnacipran formulation that provides delayed and extended release of milnacipran has been developed. The formulation comprises milnacipran or a salt thereof; an extended release excipient, and a delayed release excipient. The formulation provides, upon administration to a human subject, a Tmax of 4-10 hours.
US07704526B2
A sustained-release composition for oral administration of a drug, comprising the drug, a mixture of sodium alginate and xanthan gum as a carrier for sustained release and a mixture of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and propylene glycol alginate as a gel hydration accelerator, which is capable of maintaining a constant drug level in blood for 24 hours or more. Due to rapid gel hydration without forming a non-gelated core, the drug release rate follows zero order kinetics and does not significantly vary with the degree of gastrointestinal motility.
US07704520B1
Resorbable polylactide polymer healing membranes and methods of their applications are disclosed. In a broad embodiment, the invention features methods for inducing proper tissue healing after an open heart surgery. In one embodiment, the methods includes a step of forming a patch with a healing membrane over the open pericardium to induce proper tissue healing and placement in other open heart surgery procedures to facilitate re-entry by the surgeon.
US07704517B2
The present invention relates to a topical cosmetic composition that has improved non-oily feel comprising: (a) a hybrid silicone composite powder having a spherical shape with particle diameter ranging from 2 to 10 μm, of which each particle has a composite structures consisting of two interpenetrating polymer networks of polydimethylsiloxane (PMS) and polymethylsilsesquioxane (PMSQ). These two interpenetrating polymer networks are joined together by physical entanglements instead of chemical bonds; (b) a volatile cosmetic fluid; (c) a silicone fluid with viscosity ranging from 2 to 350 cSt; (d) an oil base consisting of an oil, wax, oil gelling agent or the mixture thereof; (e) a surface active agent; (f) a cosmetic pigment; and (g) an optional aqueous gel containing glycerin, glycols and an aqueous thickening agent. The cosmetic composition provides an improved skin sensory feel and a superior matte finish, and is useful for skin treatment, makeup and personal hygiene products.
US07704515B2
A method to increase the hot carcass weight of a meat-producing animal. The method orally administers Vitamin C to a meat-producing animal between about 2 and about 48 hours prior to harvest. The animal is then harvested and a hot carcass is prepared from that harvested animal.
US07704513B2
The invention concerns nucleic acids coding for polypeptides specific of the Neisseria genus pathogenic strains, the corresponding polypeptides, and their diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
US07704505B2
This invention relates to a human antibody which contains the one CDR from each variable heavy and variable light chain of at least one murine monoclonal antibody, against respiratory syncytial virus which is MAb1129 and the use thereof for the prevention and/or treatment of RSV infection.
US07704491B2
Recombinant HMPV (rHMPV) and related immunogenic compositions and methods are provided. The rHMPVs, including chimeric and chimeric HMPV vectors viruses, provided according to the current disclosure are infectious and attenuated in permissive mammalian subjects, including humans. The rHMPVs are useful in immunogenic compositions for eliciting an immune response against HPIV, against one or more non-HMPV pathogens, or against a HMPV and a non-HMPV pathogen. Also provided are isolated polynucleotide molecules and vectors incorporating a recombinant HMPV genome or antigenome.
US07704489B1
A nanotagged chemical structure comprising a chemical structure with an associated photocatalyst and a tagging nanoparticle (a nanotag) grown in proximity to the photocatalyst, and a method for making the nanotagged chemical structure. The nanoparticle is grown in proximity to the photocatalyst by using a photocatalytic reduction reaction.
US07704484B2
A method for producing hydrogen by using different metals includes: providing a metal of lower reduction potential as an anode metal and a metal of higher reduction potential as a cathode metal, then immerse the anode metal and the cathode metal in an electrolyte, while the anode metal and the cathode metal can be combined with appropriate steps before or after being immersed in the electrolyte, whereby hydrogen and side-products generated from a reaction of electrochemistry caused by reduction potential difference between the different metals, that is, the method for producing hydrogen is through spontaneous chemical reaction without extra energy consumption.
US07704480B2
A carbon nanotube yarn includes a number of carbon nanotube yarn strings bound together, and each of the carbon nanotube yarn strings includes a number of carbon nanotube bundles that are joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force, and each of the carbon nanotube bundles includes a number of carbon nanotubes substantially parallel to each other. A method for making the carbon nanotube yarn includes soaking the at least one carbon nanotube yarn string drawn out from a carbon nanotube array in an organic solvent to shrink it and then collecting it.
US07704476B2
The present invention relates to a process and a plant for producing sulfuric acid, in which a starting gas containing sulfur dioxide at least partly reacts with molecular oxygen in at least one contact with at least one contact stage to form sulfur trioxide, and in which the sulfur-trioxide-containing gas produced is introduced into an absorber and converted there to sulfuric acid. To achieve that only small gas volumes must be supplied to the first contact stage, based on the amount of sulfur dioxide used, with at least the same capacity of the plant and by using conventional catalysts, it is proposed in accordance with the invention to supply to the first contact stage a contact gas with a sulfur dioxide content of more than 16 vol-% and with a volumetric ratio of sulfur dioxide to oxygen of more than 2.67:1.
US07704467B2
A composition for the treatment of a liquid, particularly a body of water, such as a swimming pool, spa, or the like. The composition includes calcium hypochlorite, a water soluble zinc salt for controlling algae, and sodium aluminate as an agglomerating agent that may safely be combined with said calcium hypochlorite and said zinc salt. A floating chemical dispenser for containing and dispensing chemicals to treat a body of water. The dispenser includes an upper end float, a container adapted to contain chemicals, the container removably joined with the upper end float, and a free end float joined with the container. The free end float is configured so that a central axis of the container and upper end float is not substantially orthogonal to a surface of the water.
US07704466B2
A self-propagating combustion cyclone reactor includes a reaction chamber delimited by a circumferential wall in which at least one reductant inlet and a plurality of oxidizer inlets are formed in a tangential manner. Reductant and oxidizer are fed, together with inert gas, through the inlets into the chamber in a cyclonic manner to induce self-propagating combustion reaction to generate a product of high purity metal, such as titanium, zirconium, hafnium, or silicon, semiconductor substance. The reactor serves as a continuous reactor for generation of metal or semiconductor substances of high purity.
US07704460B2
A gas separation apparatus includes an irradiation chamber for receiving a gas. An irradiation device irradiates the gas within the irradiation chamber for causing molecules of the gas to break apart into larger and smaller constituent components. A separation arrangement separates the larger and smaller constituent components from each other within the irradiation chamber by forcing the larger and smaller constituent components toward different regions of the irradiation chamber. An outlet removes the smaller constituent components from the irradiation chamber.
US07704457B2
An automated apparatus and method for analyzing liquid samples by forming discrete sample aliquots (boluses) in an elongated conduit which contains a hydrophobic carrier liquid. Aliquots may be analyzed by adding at least one reagent to the sample aliquot that reacts selectively with an analyte contained therein. The reaction product, which is selective for the analyte of interest and proportional to its concentration, is measured with an appropriate detector. Intrinsic sample properties of the sample may also be measured without the need for adding chemical reagents. The invention enables simple and accurate testing of samples using time honored wet-chemical analysis methods in microliter volume regimes while producing remarkably small volumes of waste.
US07704445B2
A method and apparatus for accessing a furnace melt are provided. Preferably, the method and apparatus provide for the safe and efficient access to the molten metal melt in a furnace. According to one aspect of the invention used in a steel making process in an electric arc furnace, a furnace aperture plug is reciprocated through a furnace aperture, the furnace aperture plug is retracted from the furnace aperture, access is provided to the molten metal melt in the furnace, and the furnace aperture plug is reinserted into the furnace aperture when the access is concluded.
US07704441B2
A method for forming air-laid fibrous articles. The steps of the method can include providing a stream of loose air-entrained first fibers, providing a core pocket operatively related to the stream of loose air-entrained first fibers, the core pocket including a central foraminous forming surface and an edge foraminous forming surface, applying a negative pressure to one of the foraminous forming surfaces, applying a positive pressure to the other foraminous forming surface, depositing the first fibers on one of the foraminous forming surfaces, providing a stream of loose air-entrained second fibers, operatively relating the core pocket to the stream of loose air-entrained second fibers, applying a negative pressure to one of the foraminous forming surface, and depositing the second fibers on that foraminous forming surface.
US07704439B2
A method for forming air-laid fibrous articles. The method includes the steps of providing a stream of loose air-entrained fibers, providing a core pocket assembly comprising a central foraminous forming surface and an edge foraminous forming surface, applying a first pressure to the central foraminous forming surface, applying a second pressure to the edge foraminous forming surface wherein the second pressure applied to the edge foraminous forming surface differs from the first pressure applied to the central foraminous forming surface, depositing a portion of the stream of loose air-entrained fibers on the central foraminous forming surface, and depositing a portion of the stream of loose air-entrained fibers on the edge foraminous forming surface.
US07704437B2
A compounded rubber, which is made up of an NBR polymer, an organic peroxide and a blowing agent, to which 1 to 100 parts by weight of a synthetic silicic acid serving as a reinforcing filler and 10 to 200 parts by weight of precipitated calcium carbonate having a prismatic particle shape and serving as a filler are added to 100 parts by weight of the NBR polymer, is extrusion molded by a continuous extruder, and heated by HA heating and UHF heating in combination throughout the rubber to cause vulcanization and expansion, thereby providing a thick sponge having a homogenous cell structure. The sponge is passed through press rolls, and the resulting sheet stock is cut or punched with a cutting or punching machine into pieces of a desired form to obtain an applicator for cosmetics.
US07704430B2
A method for making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method can include a number of steps where various molds are used to attach or mold a tread element onto a substrate or matrix lining. The tread element can be formed by compressing a rubber block between various molding members to cause the resulting rubber material to flow through at least one injection cavity, which penetrates through holes in the matrix lining, into at least one lug cavity disposed on the side of the matrix lining opposite to the injection cavity. The rubber material eventually enters the lug cavity and becomes attached to the matrix lining.
US07704419B2
Process for the preparation of urea granules in a fluid bed granulator comprising at least one inlet for fluidization air, a distribution plate above which the fluid bed is present and sprayers that are mounted in the distribution plate, from which the urea melt is sprayed on or over the urea particles present in the fluid bed, which particles are kept in motion by the fluidization air, characterized in that the fluidization air contains very finely atomized water and in that the urea concentration of the urea melt is higher than 97 wt. %.
US07704417B2
A method for varying a radius of an optical quality surface of a casting mold formed in a tooling cavity, the tooling cavity at least partially defined by an optical tool having an optical quality surface of a given radius, includes imparting a compressive stress within the optical quality surface of the casting mold to predictably decrease the radius of the optical quality surface of the casting mold.
US07704415B2
The present invention discloses a composite material with electron-donating and electron-accepting property is disclosed, wherein the composite material comprises a plurality of nanoparticles with electron-accepting property, a plurality of diblock copolymers, and a bi-continuous structure. Each diblock copolymer comprises a first polymer chain with electron-donating property and a second polymer chain connected with the mentioned nanoparticles. Additionally, the bi-continuous structure containing a first domain and a second domain, wherein the bi-continuous structure is self-assembled from the diblock copolymers, wherein the first polymer chain is in the first domain, and the second polymer chain and the plurality of nanoparticles are in the second domain. Furthermore, this invention also discloses methods for forming the composite material and their applications.
US07704408B2
The present invention provides a resin-molded component for signal reader, which is light in weight and is able to improve the vibration damping property and to increase the resonance frequency, and which is excellent in heat dissipation. Specifically, it provides a resin-molded component for signal reader structured by 55 to 75% by weight of liquid crystalline polymer (A) composed of structural units expressed by general formulae (I) through (IV): —O—Ar1—CO— (I) —CO—Ar2—CO— (II) —O—Ar3—O— (III) —O—Ar4—CO— (IV) (where, Ar1 is 2,6-naphthalene group, Ar2 is selected from 1,2-phenylene group, 1,3-phenylene group, and, 1,4-phenylene group, Ar3 is selected from 1,3-phenylene group, 1,4-phenylene group, and p,p′-polyphenylene group, and Ar4 is 1,4-phenylene group); 20 to 10% by weight of inorganic hollow sphere (B1); and 25 to 15% by weight of fibrous inorganic filler (B2), and has 1.4 or smaller specific gravity d, 0.5 W/m·K or larger thermal conductivity λ, and 10 GPa or larger flexural modulus.
US07704407B2
The present invention provides an oxygen-absorbing resin composition, which is superior in oxygen absorbability, absorbs oxygen remaining in the container after sealing, keeps the contents in the container in good preservation, and improves moldability, dispersibility of the oxygen absorbent, stability of the oxygen absorbing performance, performance of preventing peeling and separation of the oxygen absorbent from the base resin, rigidity of the sealing part, and the like, which become problems in the case of including an oxygen absorbent having high oxygen absorbability and low compatibility with the base resin, as well as provides an oxygen-absorbing container cap and an oxygen-absorbing container plug using the same.The present invention provides an oxygen-absorbing resin composition characterized by being obtained by dispersing and blending an oxygen absorbent containing 20% or more of particles having a particle diameter of 1000 μm or less at a ratio of 20% or less to a base resin.
US07704395B2
The invention provides a method and apparatus for separating blood into components, may be expanded to include other types of cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One of the exemplary methods includes providing a first flow having a plurality of blood components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second blood cellular component of the plurality of blood components in the first flow. The second flow having the first blood cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second blood cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.
US07704393B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hollow fiber membrane module which maximizes the efficiency of removing scale-like contaminants generated at the water treatment using hollow fiber membranes, and a method of manufacturing the same. The hollow fiber membrane module includes hollow fiber membranes for making water treatment due to the pressure difference, and a collector fixing the hollow fiber membranes in bundle. A treated-water tube is extended to the inside of the collector, and communicated with the inner passage of the hollow fiber membranes to deliver the water treated through the hollow fiber membranes. A diffuser is installed at the collector to diffuse bubbles to the hollow fiber membranes. An air tube is extended to the collector, and connected to the diffuser to feed air. Dividers are installed over the collector to partition the hollow fiber membranes into a plurality of bundles.
US07704390B2
A wastewater treatment system for removing contaminants from wastewater on a vessel using electricity. The wastewater treatment system may inject wastewater with one or more disinfectants or ionized gases, or both, to remove at least a portion of contaminants from the wastewater. The water treatment system may produce disinfectants from saltwater using one or more disinfectant generators and return the byproducts to a water body. The wastewater treatment system may also pass wastewater through an electrical coagulation unit in which an electrical current may be emitted into the wastewater, whereby flocculants are formed and cause suspended solids and other materials to settle out of the wastewater. The wastewater treatment system may include a secondary treatment system for further reducing concentrations of contaminants. In addition, the wastewater treatment system may include a solid waste treatment system for incinerating solids produced by the wastewater treatment system.
US07704384B2
A self dislodging filter element, primarily for automotive applications, has a filter screen attached to an annular magnet. The filter element is installed in a port or conduit through which fluid flows and is held in place with magnetic attraction. If the filter screen becomes too clogged, pressure from the fluid impinging on the clogged screen overcomes the magnetic attraction and the filter slides down the conduit to be deposited in a repository and out of the fluid flow path.
US07704374B2
An electrochemical gas sensor is provided with a carbon-based measuring electrode (3) that it can be used for a large number of electrochemical detection reactions and can be manufactured at a low cost. The measuring electrode (3) contains carbon nanotubes.
US07704372B2
A sacrificial anode assembly for cathodically protecting and/or passivating a metal section, comprising: (a) a cell, which has an anode and a cathode arranged so as to not be in electronic contact with each other but so as to be in ionic contact with each other such that current can flow between the anode and the cathode; (b) a connector attached to the anode of the cell for electrically connecting the anode to the metal section to be cathodically protected; and (c) a sacrificial anode electrically connected in series with the cathode of the cell; wherein the cell is otherwise isolated from the environment such that current can only flow into and out of the cell via the sacrificial anode and the connector. The invention also provides a method of cathodically protecting metal in which such a sacrificial anode assembly is cathodically attached to the metal via the connector of the assembly, and a reinforced concrete structure wherein some or all of the reinforcement is cathodically protected by such a method.
US07704371B2
The present invention is directed to a system for identifying and managing corrosion and methods related thereto. In particular, the invention provides a system for identifying and managing the structural corrosion potential for an assembly by measuring a “Relative Corrosion Index” (“RCI”).
US07704359B2
The present application relates to a pressurized reference electrode and to a process for its production, said reference electrode comprising a chamber (11) which has a flowable reference electrolyte, and a portion of the wall of said chamber being formed from porous material (10) for contacting said reference electrode with a measuring medium, and said chamber being under overpressure, which is characterized in that the overpressure is generated in said reference electrode by introducing a gas or/and a liquid through said porous material of the wall in said chamber, or introducing said reference electrolyte into said chamber and closing said chamber under pressure.
US07704348B2
A bonded-substrate fabricating apparatus capable of reducing defective bonded substrates fabricated. A transfer robot sucks the outer edge area of the bottom surface of a substrate and spouts gas toward the bottom surface of the substrate to carry the substrate into a vacuum process chamber of a press machine while keeping the substrate horizontally. A press plate holds the substrate, which is held by the transfer robot, by suction.
US07704347B2
A reinforced plastic foam cup including a body which defines an open top end and a closed bottom end, wherein the top end has a greater diameter than the bottom end. The body includes a reinforced tapered side wall that extends from the bottom end to the top end. A substantial portion of the reinforced tapered side wall includes a plastic foam layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer and a rigid material layer. Such reinforced plastic foam cup provides an improved tactile feel and enhanced insulation and rigidity properties.
US07704346B2
A method of fabricating a tag includes the steps of applying a first patterned adhesive to the surface of the substrate and applying a first electrically conductive foil to the first patterned adhesive. A portion of the first electrically conductive foil not adhered to the first patterned adhesive is removed and a second patterned adhesive is applied to a portion of a surface area of the tag. A preformed second electrically conductive foil is applied to the second patterned adhesive to adhere the second electrically conductive foil to the surface of the substrate and portions of the first and second electrically conductive foils are electrically coupled to each other to form a tag circuit. A second patterned adhesive can be disposed between the first and second electrically conductive foils.
US07704343B2
A method of manufacturing a pneumatic tire having an innerliner formed of thermoplastic elastomer. The method comprises the steps of: heating a surface of a tire building drum in advance; placing the innerliner on the heated surface of the tire building drum, the innerliner being cylindrically shaped and having a radially outer surface to which an adhesive has been applied; disposing uncured tire components radially outwardly of the innerliner to form a green tire; and curing the green tire.
US07704337B2
A sliding surface 4A of a shoe 4 undergoes laser radiation in a shape of a large number of parallel lines to form a large number of swollen portions 6 and concave portions 7 in adjacent positions thereof. The swollen portions 6 and the inner side thereof become direct-hardened portions 11 with a high hardness and the concave portions 7 and the inner side thereof become double-hardened portions 12, which are lower in hardness than the swollen portions 6. After the laser hardening, the sliding surface 4A undergoes lapping up to a position of an imaginary line 15 to delete the relief and form a flat and smooth plane. Thereafter the sliding surface 4A undergoes buffing so that portions with a low hardness are chipped off more than portions with a high hardness to form a large number of minute irregularities on the sliding surface 4A.
US07704331B2
A method for growing planar, semi-polar nitride film on a miscut spinel substrate, in which a large area of the planar, semi-polar nitride film is parallel to the substrate's surface. The planar films and substrates are: (1) {10 11} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {100} spinel substrate miscut in specific directions, (2) {10 13} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {110} spinel substrate, (3) {11 22} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {1 100} sapphire substrate, and (4) {10 13} gallium nitride (GaN) grown on a {1 100} sapphire substrate.
US07704329B2
A semiconductor substrate cleaning method includes a first cleaning step of cleaning the surface of a semiconductor substrate with the use of a first brush and a second cleaning step of cleaning the surface of the semiconductor substrate with the use of a second brush after the first cleaning step. The second cleaning step is performed under a condition that suppresses recontamination of the surface of the semiconductor substrate in comparison with the first cleaning step.
US07704319B2
The present invention relates to a crystal of ACE protein. The present invention further relates to methods, processes, ACE modulators, pharmaceutical compositions and uses of ACE crystal and the structure coordinates thereof.
US07704316B2
A method of making and improving a coating formulation which includes a hydraulic binder. To the formulation is added a quantity of dewatering agent. The resultant slurry produced from said formulation may be applied to the product to be coated and dewatered through said product. Dewatering can be accomplished with or without vacuum assistance.
US07704307B2
An electroless palladium plating liquid, with excellent bath stability, that can provide a film with excellent corrosion resistance, solder bondability, and wire bondability is provided. The invention is an electroless palladium plating liquid, containing: a water soluble palladium compound; at least one of ammonia, an amine compound, an aminocarboxylic acid compound, and carboxylic acid as a complexing agent; and bismuth or a bismuth compound as a stabilizer. Preferably the electroless palladium plating liquid further contains at least one of hypophosphorous acid, phosphorous acid, formic acid, acetic acid, hydrazine, a boron hydride compound, an amine borane compound, and salts thereof as a reducing agent.
US07704306B2
A method of preparing an aqueous electroless deposition composition for electrolessly depositing Co or a Co alloy onto a substrate in manufacture of microelectronic devices by treating water or an aqueous electroless deposition composition with a deoxygenating treatment to reduce the oxygen concentration.
US07704302B2
An electrostatic precipitator including: a collecting electrode in a gas passage; a discharge electrode in the gas passage and separated by a gap from the collecting electrode; a power supply applying a voltage to the discharge electrode, wherein the voltage establishes an electric field between the discharge electrode and the collecting electrode to ionize gas flow in the gap, and a resistor in series with the discharge electrode and having an effective resistance in series with the discharge electrode of at least 50 Ohms.
US07704298B2
Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ lixiviants that include at most only small amounts of copper and/or ammonia and operate at a relatively low pH, reduction of polythionates, inert atmospheres to control polythionate production, and electrolytic solutions which provide relatively high rates of precious metal recovery.
US07704292B2
The present invention discloses a fluid filter for screening carbon-microparticles exhausted from diesel engines, such filter has two types of structure, i.e. the plate type and the preferable tube type, which includes plurality of multilayer corrugated filtering rings and flat filtering rings, a central tube, and an outer casing; the innermost layer of the flat filtering rings is welded onto the central tube, and the outermost layer of the flat rings is welded onto the outer casing; the multi-layer corrugated filter rings are coaxially alternated within the flat filtering rings and formed with a zigzag manner, wherein side edges of each of the corrugated filtering rings are respectively welded onto neighboring flat filtering rings so as to form a continuous filter core with ‘Z’ shaped side endings, wherein two sides of the Z shaped side endings of said filter core are alternatively applied as fluid inlet and fluid outlet.
US07704291B2
Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) exhaust gases from coal pre-mine gob wells, land fills and oil refinery (Installations) vent stacks are used, after adequate compression, for energizing a high-speed gas turbine. The convoluting gas discharge causes a first separation stage by stratifying of heavier non-combustible and lighter combustible gas components that exit from the turbine in opposite directions, the heavier components having a second stratifying separation in a vortex tube to separate non-combustible, heaviest pollutants from non-combustible medium-heavy components. The noncombustible, medium components exit a vortex tube open end to atmosphere. The lighter combustible, pollutants (high purity Methane) effected in the first separation are piped to the Installation's engine air intake for re-combustion, thereby reducing the Installation's Methane pollution and improving its fuel economy. The non-combustible, heaviest pollutants from the second separation stage are piped to air filter assemblies. This gas stream convoluting at a high-speed through the top stator-vanes of the air filters, centrifugally separates the coalescent water, coal/carbon or silico-ethanes or sulfur particles, (PM) respectively, which collect at the bottom of the bowl, wherein it is periodically released to the site. Whereas, the heaviest gases: traces of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide & micron size carbon, silico-ethanes or sulfur particles, respectively are released to the atmosphere.
US07704290B2
A cyclone dust collecting apparatus for a vacuum cleaner according to the present disclosure includes a cover having a suction port forcing entering air to form a whirling air current; a cyclone body connected to the cover, the cyclone body having a discharging pipe discharging the entered air; a grill disposed at the discharging pipe; and a grill cleaning unit movably disposed at the discharging pipe so as to remove dust attached to the grill.
US07704274B2
The present invention relates to an implantable endoluminal graft comprised of a microporous thin-film covering having a plurality of openings and a structural support element underlying and physically attached to the microporous thin-film covering, the microporous thin-film covering having shape memory properties.
US07704268B2
A device for closing a defect, such as a patent foramen ovale (PFO) or an atrial septal defect (ASD), has first and second sides on either side of the defect, a center joint that passes through the defect, and end pieces at the outer ends of the sides. One or both sides of the device have a plurality of petals. At least one petal on each side extends away from the center joint, and at least one petal on each side extends away from an end piece. Adjacent petals are coupled together with hinges.
US07704255B2
Anatomically contoured anterior cervical plates with bone ingrowth surfaces, providing for intersegmental compressive preloading, and a rigid and locked interface to all of the bone screws, with those engaging the vertebrae deployed in highly convergent pairs. The bone screws have a tapered self-tapping leading end, an increasing root diameter with a generally constant outer diameter with a thread that is narrow and sharp throughout and an enlarged head portion capable of an interference fit to the receiving holes of the plate. Instrumentation consists of plate holders, a compression apparatus and a pilot hole forming device that interlocks with the plate. Methods for spinal compression and bone hole preparation are provided.
US07704254B2
A surgical sagittal saw with an indexing head. The saw actuates a blade assembly that includes a bar from which a blade head extends. An oscillating head extends upwardly from the saw head. The oscillating head, in addition is mounted to the saw head to be able to rotate around its longitudinal axis and so that it can move along the saw head. A biasing spring normally holds the oscillating head in a fixed position. When the oscillating head is in the fixed position, the oscillating head holds the blade assembly against a restraining bracket integral with the saw head. Manual force is used to overcome the biasing spring to allow replacement and removal of the blade assembly.
US07704237B2
Medication dispensing apparatus configured for rotate to prime and pull/push to inject functionality
A medication dispensing apparatus having a manually operable plunger axially shiftable relative to the apparatus housing. The plunger is pullable relative to the housing in a proximal direction to cock the apparatus, and when the plunger is then manually pushed back toward the housing, a piston within a medicine container of the apparatus is shifted to force medication from a needle assembly at the distal end of the apparatus. The medication dispensing apparatus also includes a priming mechanism which is operated by rotating an externally accessible driver portion to prime the apparatus for use, which priming can be performed whether or not the apparatus is in a cocked state.
US07704215B2
A device and method can monitor or trend a patient's respiration rate measurements according to the time of day. The device, which may be implantable or external, collects and classifies respiration rate measurements over time. The trended information about particular classes of respiration rate measurements is then communicated to a remote external device, which in turn provides an indication of heart failure decompensation. Examples of classes of respiration rate measurements include a daily maximum respiration rate value, a daily minimum respiration rate value, a daily maximum respiration rate variability value, a daily minimum respiration rate variability value, and a daily central respiration rate value. These respiration rate measurements can be further classified into daytime or nighttime respiration rate measurements.
US07704207B2
A wound retractor for retracting a surgical incision includes an inner ring, an outer ring and a distensible sleeve coupled to the inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes at least a pair of circular tubes coupled to each other. At least one of the circular tubes includes a lumen and a split that forms open ends. A noncompliant tubular hoop having a split therein is positioned in the lumen. The tubular hoop is oriented with its open ends positioned away from the split of the circular tubes. A core is positioned in the lumen of the tubular hoop. The core has a first end and a second end and is oriented with the ends positioned away from the split in the tubular hoop. The circular tubes may be parallel or may form a helical pattern similar to a Mobius strip.
US07704204B2
In transmitting images picked up by an intrabody introduced device to outside a test body, synchronizing signals of the image signal are set to signal patterns in the same high-frequency band as for the image signal and not used for the image signal. This enables a receiver to stably binarize the synchronizing signal and thus to acquire favorable image signal. For example, in a clipping circuit provided in a signal processing circuit in a capsule type endoscope (an example of an intrabody introduced device), image information of a high-intensity portion is clipped out of image information acquired by an imaging section and a pattern generation circuit allocates signal patterns within the clipped intensity range as horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals.
US07704201B2
A device useful in the formation of handcrafted envelopes comprises a board (10) with a planar surface (11) wherein the planar surface is provided with at least one guide means (12), and at least one abutting surface (13) that allows an envelope material such as paper or card to be positioned on the planar surface at a defined angle with respect to the guide means such that the paper or card can be folded to the guide means to form an envelope.
US07704200B2
The invention concerns an exercise apparatus, especially for exercising the back musculature of a user (10) with a support surface (110) to accommodate the user (10) along the longitudinal axis (30). The reclining area (112) of the support surface (110) is largely formed by a number of transverse elements (120, 120a) arranged in succession on the longitudinal axis (30), which accommodates the user (10) preferably in the prone position, the transverse elements (120, 120a) being mounted to pivot around the longitudinal axis (30) to execute a see-saw movement.
US07704196B2
An improved weight plate includes a planar body having a central opening for receiving a barbell or dumbbell bar therethrough. The weight plate includes oppositely facing flange members extending partially about the perimeter of the weight plate. The opposed ends of the flange members are spaced from each other and define a gap therebetween. The flange members extend perpendicularly from both sides of the weight plate planar body about the perimeter thereof. The weight plate includes at least one opening formed adjacent the perimeter of the weight plate. The opening is adapted to receive one or more fingers of an average human hand for securely grasping and lifting the weight plate. Adjacent weight plates mounted on a barbell bar are adapted for interlocking engagement.
US07704194B1
A boxing equipment of the present invention includes a base, a disc member, a plastic pole, a boxing member and a sheath. The disc member is disposed on the base for housing a first end of a resilient member, and the pole is fastened to a second end of the resilient member. One end of the pole is mounted with the boxing member, while the sheath can fasten the boxing member with the pole.
US07704185B2
A method of regulating a torque output of each of an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric machine (EM) in a hybrid powertrain system includes determining a desired axle torque of the hybrid powertrain system and arbitrating the desired axle torque and a first plurality of torque requests in an engine control module (ECM) of the hybrid powertrain system to provide an arbitrated axle torque request. The method further includes arbitrating a torque request, which is based on the arbitrated axle torque request, and a second plurality of torque requests in a hybrid control module (HCM) to provide a final torque request, and generating ICE control signals and EM control signals based on the final torque request.
US07704183B2
An outboard motor includes a drive shaft including a pinion gear arranged at one end of the drive shaft, a first driven gear engaged with the pinion gear, a second driven gear engaged with the pinion gear, a first propeller shaft connected to a second propeller, a second propeller shaft connected to a first propeller, and a shift change mechanism arranged to selectively engage the first driven gear with the second propeller shaft, and to selectively engage the second driven gear with the first propeller shaft and with the second propeller shaft.
US07704182B2
On an input shaft are provided in order from a side of an engine a torque converter with a lock-up clutch, a first planetary gear set as a multiplying mechanism, a counter drive gear outputting a rotational drive force to a countershaft, a second planetary gear set as a speed-change element, a third planetary gear set as a speed-change element. Accordingly, there can be provided an automatic transmission for six forward speeds with plural planetary gear sets, clutches and brakes that can properly reduce a clutch capacity and restrain gear noises with its compact and light-weighted structure.
US07704181B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and at least one brake.
US07704175B2
A method of manufacturing a link plate for a roller chain, and the resulting link plate in which (1) the link plate has a shape comprising a pair of right and left pin holes, a pair of right and left half arcs, which are spaced outwardly from the pin holes respectively, and a pair of upper and lower straight line portions connecting both ends of the pair of right and left half arcs. There are shaved lengths along the pair of upper and lower straight line portions extending into the half arcs, the shaved length extending between the outermost positions of both ends of said pin holes.
US07704174B2
A vertical internal combustion engine includes a crankshaft enclosed in a crank chamber, a belt-drive transmission mechanism held in a belt chamber and including a rubber belt for transmitting power of the crankshaft to a camshaft included in a valve train, and a transmission case defining the belt chamber. The transmission case has a lower case between the crank chamber and the belt chamber. The belt has a part extending over the crank chamber, and the lower case is disposed to screen the part of the belt from the crank chamber. The belt is lubricated by oil in oil-containing gas from the crank chamber. Thus the oil containing gas is prevented from excessively contacting the rubber belt, so that the life of the belt is extended.
US07704169B1
A baseball practice system for training one in pitching, throwing, fielding, catching, and batting. The practice system is portable and collapsible having a removable pitching component on one side and a batting and netting on the other side. The pitching component has a strike-zone opening and one or more pockets in a catch sack in back of the strike-zone opening. The netting is of an elastic material suited to rebound a ball thrown on the netting for the purpose of practicing throwing, catching, and fielding. A ball component, attached to elastic cords, is suspended outward and downward from a forward extending member adjacent to the top of the baseball practice system. An adjustment and locking member adjacent to the rear of the forward extending member adjustably secures in place an upper cord which is attached to a ball.
US07704167B1
An accurate putter device comprises a frame having a pair of blinds slidable within an aperture in the frame. A thumb dial mounted on each side of the frame controls a particular blind to narrow the golfer's line of sign through the aperture so that the golfer may line-up the putt and read the grade or angle of the green towards the hole. The thumb dials are coupled to the threads running through the blinds to move the blinds to and fro along tracks in the frame to line-up the ball with respect to the hole.
US07704166B2
A golf tee comprising a shaft, a stopper portion disposed at an upper end of the shaft and a pivotable support portion mounted atop the upper end of the shaft is described. The shaft is adapted for insertion into a surface of ground. The support portion has a plurality of prong members mounted upon an upper horizontal surface thereof. The position of the support portion can be adjusted so that the upper surface of the support portion is arranged in parallel horizontal alignment with the ground surface. The prong members are adapted to support a golf ball placed thereupon.
US07704164B2
A method for forming a golf club head comprises placing an uncured composite material between a core and a mold that comprises a first piece and a second piece. The second piece is moved towards the first piece such that the uncured composite material is compressed between the core and at least a portion of the mold. The uncured composite material is heated. A first portion of the golf club head is removed from the mold. A second portion of the golf club head is provided. The first portion is attached to the second portion. In certain arrangements, the second portion is formed from a metallic material.
US07704163B2
A golf club head is disclosed that includes a weight integral to a bridge member extending across a cavity back golf club head. The weight modifies a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight is independently movable in multiple directions to further vary the center of gravity of a golf club head.
US07704162B2
A hitting face of a golf club head having a location of longest characteristic time shifted away from the geometric center of the hitting face. In one embodiment, the hitting face is made from multiple materials. In another embodiment, the hitting face as a central zone that is thicker than the surrounding material. In another embodiment, a dense insert is attached directly or indirectly to a plate-like face insert at or near the geometric center of the insert. In another embodiment, the central zone of the hitting face is reinforced with ribs. In another embodiment, the central zone is elliptical with varying thickness. In this embodiment, the central zone minor axis is thinner than the major axis. The central zone is positioned within the hitting face such that the minor axis is oriented from the low heel region to the high toe region.
US07704149B2
A fixed type constant velocity joint includes an outer ring (1), an inner ring (2), torque transmitting balls (3), a cage (4), and a pre loading mechanism in which either a pressing section for axially applying an elastic pressing force or a receiving section for receiving the pressing force from the pressing section is disposed in the cage (4), the other being disposed in the inner ring (2). The axial clearance between the inner ring (2) and the cage (4) is greater than the axial clearance which is due to the radial clearance of the track, and the axial clearance which is produced by the radial clearance of the track is 2.5-6.5 times as large as the radial clearance of the track. Further, the center of the outer spherical surface (2b) of the inner ring (2) is shifted to the spread side of the ball tracks (1a, 2a) over the center of the inner spherical surface (4b) of the cage, thereby improving the cross operation.
US07704142B2
A system and method for allowing gaming device participants to effect trades of player assets for improved odds of attaining gaming bonus events. A player engages in play of a gaming activity, such as a slot game, which includes a standard mode of play and a bonus mode of play. Player assets are traded for an increased probability of attaining a bonus event associated with the bonus mode. A trade amount is surrendered by the player as part of the trade, and the probability of the player attaining the bonus event increased, thereby allowing the player to engage in bonus activity sooner, more frequently, or when otherwise less available to the player.
US07704140B2
A method for playing a game of chance and system for facilitating the play of the game are disclosed, in which an initial ticket containing initial game play information is received, a second ticket containing additional game play information is received, and the combination of the initial game play information and the additional game play information determines if the second ticket is a winning ticket.
US07704138B2
A system for multi-level wagering has one or more multi-level wagering accounts in which accumulated play value is stored. A computer may be used to track play value in the multi-level wagering accounts. Play value is distributed from a portion of the sales price of other multi-level wagering accounts, e.g., until a predetermined play value is achieved. One or more multi-level gaming machines may be operated by play value from the multi-level wagering accounts.
US07704127B2
A plating layer 18 of Ni or the like is formed around the outer peripheral face 14 of a wire tool 10, and super abrasive grains 16 are electrodeposited so as to be embedded in the plating layer 18. A coating layer 20 is formed on the surface of the super abrasive grains 16 to increase efficiency during electrodeposition. The thickness of the coating layer 20 formed on the super abrasive grains 16 is less than 0.1 μm, and preferably not more than 0.05 μm. The coating layer 20 is thin enough that its mass is less than 10% of the mass of the super abrasive grain 16. Accordingly, the super abrasive grains 16 are electrodeposited in a single layer around the outer peripheral face 14 of the core wire 12. As a result, the super abrasive grains 16 do not readily come off the core wire 12, which means that the wire tool will have a longer life. Also, since there is no need to remove any excess super abrasive grains after their electrodeposition, manufacturing costs can be cut and less work is entailed.
US07704124B2
An improved roller shaft for a food peeling machine that allows for an improved method of changing abrasive sections that are on the shaft, the improved shaft having a first and second end with removable retaining elements and the method involving the use of a hydrostatic cylinder to place a new abrasive section on the roller shaft thus causing the most worn section to slide off the shaft.
US07704116B2
Methods for fabricating field emission display devices. A first substrate is provided. A cathode structure is formed on the first substrate. A surface treatment procedure is performed on the first substrate with cathode structure thereon. A second substrate opposing the first substrate is provided and assembled in vacuum with a wall rib therebetween. The surface treatment procedure includes free radical oxidization and a supercritical CO2 fluid cleaning.
US07704109B2
A mounting structure for cables for a boat propulsion unit that enables easy insertion of cables into a pass-through hole, as well as highly reliable water-sealing is provided in a bottom cowling of the boat propulsion unit. The cables are inserted in through-holes in a rubber grommet by opening up a slit in the rubber grommet, and then inserting the rubber grommet in a pass-through hole in the port section. The rubber grommet is fit into the pass-through hole in the pressurized condition to water-seal the pass-through hole. The pass-through hole is molded integrally with the bottom cowling. A retaining plate is wrapped around the rubber grommet to prevent the slit from opening up, and the grommet is accommodated in the pass-through hole together with the retainer plate. Then, the retainer plate is fastened to the port section by mounting bolts. Thus, the rubber grommet is fixed within the pass-through hole, and provides water-sealing by filling the gap around the cables within the pass-through hole.
US07704108B2
An outboard motor is provided that can include an exhaust guide, a shift shaft, a shift shaft rotating mechanism, and a shifting mechanism. The exhaust guide, on which an engine can be mounted, can be utilized to fix the relative positions of an axis of the shift shaft and a body of the shift shaft rotating mechanism for facilitating highly accurate and well-executed shifting of a propeller to or from one of forward and reverse rotating directions. The shift shaft can be rotatably supported by the exhaust guide, and the shift shaft rotating mechanism can be fixed to the exhaust guide. Further, the shift shaft rotating mechanism can be configured to selectively rotate the shift shaft.
US07704105B2
An installation switch having a housing and a connecting arrangement for a conductor having a terminal shoe. The connecting arrangement includes a socket having an interior, an insertion opening, and an access opening, and a screw having a screw head and a screw shank disposed in the interior of the socket. The screw is actuatable longitudinally between an open and a clamped state. The arrangement further includes a connection plate having a screw hole with threads for threadably engaging the screw when in the clamped state, and a retaining device preventing the screw from being removed when in the open state. The arrangement is configured so that the open state allows the shoe to be inserted into the insertion opening, the clamped state provides the screw being engaged with the shoe, and access to the screw is provided via the access opening of the socket to actuate the screw.
US07704096B2
A coaxial cable connector including an insulating housing, a terminal and a conductive shell is provided. The insulating housing has an insulating arm disposed thereon. The terminal is disposed in the insulating housing. A portion of the terminal is bent towards the insulating arm to form a tongue portion and an opening thereon. The conductive shell includes a body and a bending portion. The body holds the insulating housing. The bending portion and the tongue portion are located on a side and a reverse side of the insulating arm respectively. The bending portion is capable of pressing the tongue portion by the insulating arm to press the tongue portion toward the opening and to connect the tongue portion to an internal conductor of a coaxial cable so as to press the internal conductor into the opening.
US07704094B2
The present invention has an object of providing a connection structure capable of easily connecting an LED component to a flat cable. An LED unit 1 includes an upper case 7, a pierce terminal 6, a lower case 9 and an intermediate terminal 5. An LED chip 3 is pressed to the pierce terminal 6 by a convexed spring 51 to electrically connect the LED chip 3 to the flat cable 100. Conductors 101 included in the flat cable 100 are formed of phosphor bronze formed of tin (Sn), phosphorus (P), copper (Cu) and unavoidable impurities and having a tensile strength of 480 to 550 MPa, whereas a pierce plate 63 of the pierce terminal 6 piercing through the conductor 101 is formed of a copper alloy, which is a high strength conductive member having a higher strength than that of the conductor 101 and having conductivity.
US07704092B2
An electronic module is provided with a module body for being removably inserted into a cage; a latch member provided in the module body for engaging an engagement hole formed in the cage during insertion into the cage; a rotatable nail for engaging/disengaging the engagement hole of the cage and being rotatably provided in the module body so as to appear above and sink below a module body surface; and a control member provided in the module body for rotating the rotatable nail.
US07704086B2
A plug connection comprises a first plug having a seal and a second plug configured for fitting in an opening in a partition wall. The second plug is mateable with the first plug such that the seal substantially surrounds the opening in the partition wall. A clamping device is provided on the first plug and is configured for drawing the first plug into engagement with the second plug. The clamping device engages with the second plug at a connection region. The connection region is provided with a sealing member configured to seal the connection region between the clamping device and the second plug.
US07704085B1
A cover module of an electronic device and a control method thereof are provided. The cover module includes a body, a flexible connecting element, and a flip cover. The body has an opening exposing the connector. A sidewall of the opening has a first fixing structure. The flip cover is in the opening, and a sidewall of the flip cover has a second fixing structure locked with the first fixing structure. The flexible connecting element is connected between the body and the flip cover. When a force is applied to the flip cover, the flexible connecting element is deformed, the flip cover moves with the deformation of the flexible connecting element, and the locking between the first and the second fixing structures is released to cause the flip cover swinging open away from the body with a part of the flexible connecting element as an axis.
US07704081B2
An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a tongue including an upper surface, a lower surface, and opposite side surfaces. A plurality of signal contacts are held by the housing and are exposed along the upper surface. At least one power contact is held by the housing and is exposed along one of the opposite side surfaces. Optionally, the tongue and signal contacts define an eSATA mating interface configured for mating with a plug of a serial cable defining an eSATA plug interface.
US07704068B2
Disclosed is a drive unit, in particular for a closing unit, an injection unit, or an ejector of an injection molding machine. The drive unit comprises a double-acting force transmitting element provided with a small and a large piston unit which are disposed in a cylinder. The large piston unit is adapted to be pressurized by a great force both in input and in output directions. According to the invention, both the large piston unit with respect to the cylinder and the cylinder with respect to a movable element of the drive of the small piston unit are spring-prestressed.
US07704064B2
An extrusion head for at least one extruder including a first head part having a first joint and a second head having a second joint wherein the first head part and the second head part are pivotable with respect to each other using the respective first joint and second joint. When the extrusion head is in an operative position, the first head part rests against a first sealing face and the second head part rests against a second sealing face. A drive element is connected to the first head part and the second head part using a connecting element. The first head part and the second head part are movable using the drive element from a fixed operative position into an open rest position.
US07704061B2
An oil pump includes pump chambers each having a volume varied by engine drive and for pressurizing oil inhaled through an inlet port and discharge it through an outlet port, and a branch passage connected between upstream and downstream sides of the outlet port at branch and confluent points, wherein the branch passage in the vicinity of the confluent point is shifted in pulse-pressure phase with respect to the outlet port.
US07704060B2
A muffler cover of a compression element has discharge outlets or hole portions that discharge a compressed refrigerant gas into a closed vessel from a compression element. A suction pipe provides refrigerant gas, which can be sucked into the compression element in the closed vessel. The suction pipe is attached to the closed vessel. A first direction and a second direction, which correspond to natural vibration modes of the suction pipe, do not coincide with a direction that connects two hole portions. Therefore, even if the refrigerant gas discharged from the compression element resonates in the closed vessel, vibrations of the suction pipe can be reduced.
US07704058B2
A piston pump including a pump housing, a piston provided at the inner bore of the pump housing and assembled with an annular sealing member to form a pump chamber. The piston is configured to slide at an inner wall of the inner bore. The annular sealing member is assembled with the piston so as to slide at the inner wall of the inner bore in the axial direction together with the piston. And a first sliding range of the piston relative to the inner wall of the inner bore and a second sliding range of the annular sealing member relative to the inner wall of the inner bore do not overlap each other in the axial direction.
US07704051B2
A method and apparatus for a pump control system. One or more embodiments of the invention include a pump controller that can perform a self-calibrating procedure, can provide precise motor speed control, can provide a limp mode before shutting down the motor when system parameters are exceeded and/or fault conditions occur, can detect fault conditions, and can store fault conditions for later retrieval.
US07704048B2
A gas turbine airfoil (10) includes a serpentine cooling path (32) with a plurality of channels (34,42,44) fluidly interconnected by a plurality of turns (38,40) for cooling the airfoil wall material. A splitter component (50) is positioned within at least one of the channels to bifurcate the channel into a pressure-side channel (46) passing in between the outer wall (28) and the inner wall (30) of the pressure side (24) and a suction-side channel (48) passing in between the outer wall (28) and the inner wall (30) of the suction side (26) longitudinally downstream of an intermediate height (52). The cross-sectional area of the pressure-side channel (46) and suction-side channel (48) are thereby controlled in spite of an increasing cross-sectional area of the airfoil along its longitudinal length, ensuring a sufficiently high mach number to provide a desired degree of cooling throughout the entire length of the airfoil.
US07704044B1
A rotor disc and rotor blade assembly in which the rotor blades include curved shear pins to secure the blade to the rotor disc. The blade includes an airfoil portion with an airfoil outline shape at the junction of the airfoil with the platform, and the root extends below the platform and has the general shape of the airfoil at the junction. An opening in the rotor disc also has the shape of the airfoil outline such that the root will fit snuggly within the opening in the rotor disc. Curved slots in both the opening and the root wall are formed on both sides of the opening and the blade root. Shear pins having a rectangular cross sectional shape fit within the slots to secure the blade to the disc. Because the root curvature follows the airfoil shape, the shear pins are located below the airfoil walls and absorb the shear stress caused by bending forces acting on the airfoil from the fluid reaction.
US07704043B2
Method for torque and pitch control/adjustment for a wind power plant according to the rotational speed according to a characteristic curve, in which at partial load operation in a first section the torque is adjusted up to a first predetermined rotational speed, at partial load operation in a second section the torque is adjusted from the first rotational speed up to a second rotational speed, at full load operation in a third section at least one pitch of a rotor blade is adjusted for rotational speeds greater than the second rotational speed, at full load operation, in a fourth section, the pitch is adjusted for rotational speeds lower than the second rotational speed and greater than the third rotational speed, if a control has been previously carried out according to the third section, and at partial load operation in a fifth section the torque is adjusted for rotational speeds lower than the third rotational speed, if a control has been previously carried out according to the fourth section.
US07704032B2
A self-contained mobile storage container includes a truck having a platform with a track, a storage container removably placed on the track on the platform, wherein the storage container includes a front end, a rear end and parallel sides. In addition, there are devices to secure the storage container to the platform, as well as a lift to elevate the storage container and remove it from the platform. Other devices are included to maneuver the storage container to a different geographical location for storage.
US07704028B2
A bore serration for locking externally serrated inserts (3) against rotation, with the external serration (4) comprising several teeth (5), and particularly for use with components made of hard, brittle materials, includes an arcuate serration (10) featuring arcuate recesses (7) produced by plunge or circumferential surface milling. Each of the recesses positively accommodates at least two teeth (5) of the outer serration (4) of the threaded insert (3). The arcuate serration can be produced with high dimensional accuracy without damaging the workpiece and with reduced wear of the tool, and ensures a long service-life of the threaded insert.
US07704027B2
It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to install an anchor bolt while securing the pull-out strength of the anchor bolt even when the anchor bolt installation position encounters a reinforcement in concrete. An anchor bolt according to the present invention includes a first anchor bolt 2 having an embedded portion shorter than a reinforcement covering margin, a second anchor bolt 7 having an axis at a position deflected from an axis of the first anchor bolt 2, and a coupling member 5 integrally fixing the first anchor bolt 2 and the second anchor bolt 7. Further, in an installing method of an anchor bolt according to the present invention, when a first anchor hole bored at the anchor bolt installation position encounters a reinforcement, a second anchor hole is bored at a position in a direction other than the arrangement direction of the encountered reinforcement, to thereby install the anchor bolt according to the present invention.
US07704025B2
A retractable stanchion for supporting a semi-trailer during transport on a deck of a railcar is provided. The stanchion includes a rear guide support assembly, a diagonal support strut coupled to said rear guide support assembly, and a vertical support strut operatively connected to said diagonal support strut. The vertical support strut an outer frame, an inner frame, and a moveable pull-up assembly. The outer frame includes an outer frame first end and an outer frame second end. The outer frame first end is pivotally mounted to the deck of the railcar. The inner frame is coupled to and disposed within the outer frame. The moveable pull-up assembly includes a pull-up assembly first end and a pull-up assembly second end, wherein the pull-up assembly first end is pivotally coupled to and substantially disposed within the inner frame, and wherein the pull-up assembly is configured to be engaged by a tractor hook and moved from an engagement position to a pull position. The pull position facilitates rotating the vertical support strut from a first horizontal retracted position to a second vertical erected position.
US07704024B2
A mounting system includes a plurality of adjacent railcars including a first railcar that includes spaced first and second wheel assemblies each including at least one wheel pair. The mounting system also includes a first and second frames coupled to the first railcar. The first frame includes a space defined between at least two portions of the first frame and at least one cushion selectively positionable within the first frame space. The second frame includes a space defined between at least two portions of the second frame and at least one cushion selectively positionable within said second frame space. The first and second frames are spaced to facilitate at least one of partially containing and partially supporting the load. The first frame is substantially centered over at least one first wheel assembly wheel pair, and the second frame is substantially centered over at least one second wheel assembly wheel pair.
US07704022B2
A motorized precision spindle apparatus (10) including an outer cartridge spindle (12) supported on a motor cartridge spindle (14) and a motor-driven outer cartridge spindle shaft (16) supported for rotation on bearings (22) disposed between the shaft (16) and an outer spindle shaft housing (20). A tool holder (26) releasably holds a tool in position for rotation with the shaft (16). A draw-bar (30) is supported through the shaft (16) and the motor cartridge spindle (14) for reciprocal axial motion, is connected to the tool holder (26), and is biased in an axial direction that causes the tool holder (26) to grip a tool (28). An actuator (32) is connected to the draw-bar (30) and moves the draw-bar (30) in a direction opposite the bias, thereby releasing any tool the holder may be holding. An isolation tube (36) is supported within the motor cartridge spindle (14), is connected to the shaft (16), and supports the shaft (16) against transmitting axial forces to the bearings (22).
US07704019B2
A levitation transportation device capable of adjustment when an object being transported is displaced from the center of a transportation path, A levitation transportation device having a transportation path forming a transportation router for an object to be transported, a plurality of jetting nozzles for transporting the object in a levitated manner along the transportation path, one or more detection sections for detecting the direction of the transportation of the object being transported in the transportation path and a control section for independently controlling the plurality of jetting nozzles based on a detection result by the detection sections.
US07703993B1
Optoelectronic packages and wafer level techniques for forming optoelectronic packages are described. In accordance with one apparatus aspect of the invention, a pair of substrates are bonded together to form an optical coupler. A first one of the substrates has a recess that faces the second substrate to at least in part define a channel suitable for receiving an optical transmission medium. A photonic device is mounted on a mounting surface of the second substrate that is opposite its bonded surface. The photonic device faces the reflective surface and an optical path is formed between the channel and the photonic element that both reflects off of the reflective surface and passes through the second substrate. In some embodiments an integrated circuit device and/or solder bumps are also attached to the mounting surface and the second substrate has conductive traces thereon that electrically couple the various electrical components as appropriate (e.g., the photonic device, the integrated circuit device, the solder bumps and/or other components). The substrates may be formed from a wide variety of materials including, glass, plastic and silicon. In some embodiments, at least the second substrate is formed from an optically transparent material and the optical path passes directly though the optically transparent material. In a method aspect of the invention, a variety of wafer level methods for forming such devices are described.
US07703987B2
The invention relates to an adapter of the type where a coupling for glass fiber plug-in connectors is inserted from the front into a front plate and is locked by a spring. The inventive adapter comprises a one-piece or two-piece housing which comprises at least on one side a flange projecting from the cross-section of the housing against which the front plate rests, at least one plug-in connector recess which is disposed on the front end and/or rear end with respect to the front plate, and at least one form-fit detachable locking device for the plug-in connector. Every plug-in connector recess comprises an opening for alternately receiving at least two of three different plug-in connector types LX.5, LC and MU of and one respective locking device suitable for the respective type. The adapter can be configured as a simplex plug-in coupling for alternately receiving all three types, or as a duplex plug-in connector for alternately receiving the plug types LX.5 and LC. The inventive adapter further comprises a pin for actuating an opening flap of the plug type LX.5 on a displaceable element on a side wall of the adapter. The adapter can further be closed by a pivoted cap that is detachably mounted on the housing, and a catch spring, actuated from the front and disposed on the housing, that engages behind the front plate and releases the catch spring from the front plate.
US07703985B2
The invention relates to a bearing for a wind turbine comprising bearing rings with raceways, and at least one row of bearing balls or rollers positioned between said raceways. At least one of said raceways comprises one or more indentation areas in relation to a standard shape of the raceways. The invention also relates to a wind turbine and methods for manufacturing a bearing.
US07703981B2
A connector for a linear guideway is integrally formed by injection molding. The mold assembly of making the connector includes an upper mold, a lower mold and a pin. The variable cross section design of the pin enables the connector to have a plurality of ring-shaped portions with more than two different radial thicknesses, so that the distances between the respective rolling elements are different, and the frequencies of the respective rolling elements are also different, and as a result, the resonance sound pressure caused by the linear guideway and the machine are reduced. In addition, the variable cross section design of the pin reduces the manufacturing difficulty of making a relatively long connector.
US07703979B2
Disclosed is a radiation device for the human body inspection. The device includes a X-ray generator for radiating radiation; a detector for receiving the radiation radiated from the X-ray generator; a first flexible member connected with the X-ray generator for hoisting the X-ray generator; a second flexible member connected with the detector for hosing the detector; and a driving device for synchronically driving the X-ray generator and the detector through the first and second flexible members, and at the same time, the X-ray generator and the detector are spaced from each other a predetermined distance in a horizontal direction. The radiation device for the human body inspection according to the present invention can ensure that the radiation source and the detector can be operated synchronically during the whole inspection process; thereby the quality of radiation imaging is increased. Furthermore, the radiation device for the human body inspection according to the present invention is allowed to save cost and reduce noise.
US07703963B2
A light guiding strip and a double-sided planar light apparatus are provided. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the double-sided planar light apparatus includes a plurality of light guiding strips, wherein the plurality of light guiding strips are positioned in a planar arrangement, each of the plurality of light guiding strips including a first plurality of light emitting surfaces disposed toward a first direction and a second plurality of light emitting surfaces disposed toward a second direction, each of the plurality of light guiding strips further including a first end and a second end configured to receive light, wherein the plurality of light guiding strips emit light from the first and second plurality of light emitting surfaces. Reflectors and light diffusion patterns on the light guiding strips provide control and independence over the two sides of the planar light apparatus.
US07703958B2
A quick release illuminating and display apparatus and system for vehicles and structures to provide lighting and illumination effects and to display data or other information on a display screen. The apparatus and system includes a removable housing assembly with illumination sources, a power source and an optional display screen to provide lighting to accent a vehicle or structure and to display data, pictures or other information. The apparatus and system includes a quick release mechanism with a biasing cam operably connected to a number of biased lock shafts. The controlled movement of the biasing cam operates so as to quickly lock or unlock the housing assembly onto or off of the support structure. The apparatus and system has enhanced lighting and display effects by the use of optional ball bearings, a cap to exhibit team or manufacturer logos, the use of LED lights secured to directional nipples, a display screen, a USB port, computer memory, a control switch, remote control operation and solar power.
US07703942B2
A light emitting apparatus having a light source for emitting short wavelength radiation and an optic device configured to receive the radiation emitted from the light source. A device directs at least some of the short wavelength radiation emitted from the light source into the optic device and a down conversion material receives at least some of the short wavelength radiation directed into the optic device in one spectral region and emits the radiation in another spectral region.
US07703940B2
A lighting device (30) having a housing (12) which includes a lamp means, a battery housing to receive at least one battery and a switch means to open and close a circuit between said lamp means and terminals of said at least one battery when located in said housing. Said lighting device includes a lanyard (110, 112) attached to said housing (12) characterised by said lanyard having a proximal end attached to said housing (12) and a distal end, whereby said distal end or a portion of said lanyard (110, 112) is adapted to be releasably attached to said housing (12).
US07703939B2
In an embodiment of a light fixture support assembly for securing a light fixture to a fixed surface, the assembly includes a fixture-support member and a surface-attachment member. The fixture-support member has proximal and distal ends and also includes walls defining a compartment and further defining a first opening at the proximal end of the fixture-support member for communication with the surface-attachment member. The walls further define a second opening for communication with the light fixture. The fixture-support assembly also has a neck portion extending from the proximal end and the neck portion has a flange portion extending from it. The surface-attachment member includes a proximal end attached to the fixed surface and a distal end configured to engage the neck portion, whereby the fixture-support member is supported by the surface-attachment member when the neck portion is inserted into the fixture-support member.
US07703938B1
A mounting clip is formed for attachment to the side of a bill of a cap to mount a flashlight for hands free operation. The mounting clip is constructed with a clip portion and an integral flashlight mounting portion, both of which are made of memory retentive plastic so that the mounting of either portion takes advantage of the spring bias to exert a firm grip on the surface the portion engages. The upper and lower portions of the flashlight mounting portion are formed in a pair of arcuate segments that when taken together form a generally circular barrel grasping portion in two different diameters corresponding to known configurations of mini-flashlights. The surface of the mounting clip can be coated with a rubber-like material that enhances the grip on the surface engaged thereby. The clip portion can be formed with a different width dimension than the flashlight mounting portion.
US07703934B2
A power outage socket device that may be installed on a variety of lamps or light fixtures. The bottom of the device has a male connector adapted to be inserted into the light socket on the lamp or light fixture, in place of the light bulb. A female socket adapted to receive the light bulb is located on the top of the device. The male connector may be recessed. When power is interrupted, emergency power is provided to one or more emergency light sources on the device to provide light. Emergency power is provided by one or more batteries, which may be rechargeable. The device also may include means for connecting a lamp harp, or for allowing a lamp harp to pass through the device. A photoelectric light sensor may be used to detect ambient light and control whether emergency light is provided when normal power is interrupted.
US07703931B2
In a retroreflective sheeting, and methods of formation thereof, the sheeting comprises a body of material, the body having a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of first full-square-sided corner-cube structures are on the first surface of the body, the first full-square-sided corner-cube structures each having three facets that lie along planes that are orthogonal to each other. A plurality of second full-square-sided corner-cube structures are on the second surface of the body, the second full-square-sided corner-cube structures each having three facets that lie along planes that are orthogonal to each other. The body is constructed and arranged to be transparent to incident electromagnetic energy at a range of wavelengths and to have a thickness so that an incident electromagnetic energy ray that is incident at one of the first and second surfaces enters the body, and is redirected by both the first surface and the second surface so that both the first surface and the second surface contribute to retroreflection of the incident electromagnetic energy ray, and exits from the one of the first and second surfaces at which the incident electromagnetic energy ray was incident to emit a retroreflected electromagnetic energy ray of the incident electromagnetic energy ray.
US07703929B2
An edge blending device which suppresses an increase in a luminance of a projection screen in an overlap area in which projection lights projected from a plurality of projection units onto a screen overlap each other, is characterized by including: a light shielding unit holder which includes light shielding pattern formation portions which can form a light shielding pattern corresponding to the projection lights forming the overlap area; and a light shielding pattern drive controller which controls a drive of the light shielding unit holder in such a way that the light shielding pattern formation portions are positioned corresponding to the projection lights from the projection units.
US07703927B2
A liquid crystal projector apparatus has a liquid crystal unit having a liquid crystal panel for modulating light, an incident side polarizing plate and an exit side polarizing plate disposed in front of and behind the liquid crystal panel along the optical axis, respectively, a first holder member for holding the liquid crystal unit, a first heat exchanger disposed in close proximity to the first holder member for dissipating heat generated by the liquid crystal unit and then conducted to the first holder member using a coolant liquid which passes through a first channel formed inside the first heat exchanger, a pump for circulating the coolant liquid, and a radiator for cooling the coolant liquid.
US07703925B2
A miniature projector module includes: a light source unit capable of emitting source light with first and second polarizations; a polarization beam splitter capable of reflecting the source light with the first polarization, and permitting transmission of the source light with the second polarization therethrough; a first image modulator capable of converting the source light with the first polarization reflected by the beam splitter into image light with the second polarization, and directing the image light with the second polarization toward the beam splitter for further transmission therethrough; a second image modulator capable of converting the source light with the second polarization transmitted through the beam splitter into image light with the first polarization, and directing the image light with the first polarization toward the beam splitter for further reflection thereby; and a projector lens for receiving and projecting the image light from the beam splitter.
US07703923B2
A system and method for imaging retinal tissues in an eye generates an input light beam having ultra-short pulses and an input wavelength (λi) to stimulate the tissue. Depending on the particular type tissue being imaged, the retinal tissue responds to the input beam by generating a return beam of light having first and second components of different wavelengths (λr1 and λr2). An imaging unit then receives the return light and images the tissue according to the return wavelength (λr1 vis-a-vis λr2). Additionally, a sensor unit is used to evaluate light returning from the retina to measure optical and phase aberrations introduced by the eye, and to program a compensator (e.g. an active mirror) that compensates the input beam by removing the aberrations.
US07703916B2
The present invention is directed to the incorporation of melanin in an optical article with polarization properties. Such an article includes a first polymer layer containing a polarizing agent, a second polymer layer containing melanin and wherein the second polymer layer is disposed upon the first polymer layer.
US07703911B2
In an apparatus of forming a thin film, the apparatus has a printing chamber that forms a thin film on a substrate. The apparatus has at least two drying chambers that receive the substrate on which the thin film is formed and dry the thin film on the substrate. The two drying chambers may be independently controlled. Accordingly, the apparatus may reduce process time for forming the thin film without contamination of the substrate.
US07703909B2
An ink set for ink-jet printing includes a medium cyan ink-jet ink, a magenta ink-jet ink, and a gray ink-jet ink. Each of the medium cyan ink-jet ink, the magenta ink-jet ink, and the gray ink-jet ink are configured to have a lightness at a predetermined/given number of drops per unit area of an image-receiving medium such that the lightness of each of the inks are substantially matched.
US07703907B2
An ink composition including a cationically polymerizable compound having a styryl or α-methylstyryl group such as 4-methylstyrene and a photocationic polymerization initiator. The ink composition preferably further includes another cationically polymerizable compound having at least one group selected from oxirane and oxetane groups.
US07703900B2
There is provided an ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator comprises: an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line; an air inlet open to atmosphere; a bubble outlet positioned for bubbling air into ink contained in the chamber; and an air channel connecting the air inlet and the bubble outlet. The bubble outlet is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn into the ink as result of supplying ink to the printhead. Hence, the hydrostatic pressure of the ink is regulated.
US07703899B2
An ink-jet head has a flexible tube, a passage component, a tubular joint protruding from a surface of the passage component and fitted into the tube, and a cap covering a portion of the tube fitted with the joint. A hole is formed on the surface of the passage component. The cap includes a tubular portion having such an inside diameter as to allow the tube to pass therethrough, a protrusion protruding inward from an inner surface of the tubular portion, and an extending portion extending toward the hole from an end of the tubular portion confronting the surface of the passage component. An end of the protrusion is positioned between an inside diameter position and an outside diameter position of the portion of the tube fitted with the joint. A hook engageable with a peripheral edge of the hole is formed at the extending portion.
US07703897B2
A valve device for opening and closing a valve including a movable valve member, the valve device comprising: an operation member movable toward and away from the valve, the operation member moving the valve member with magnetic force when moving toward or away from the valve to open or close the valve, wherein the operation member is formed to move in a predetermined direction including a first component representing magnitude of a vector in a movement direction of the valve member and a second component representing magnitude of a vector in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the valve member, with the first component being greater than the second component.
US07703891B2
A heater to control an ink bubble, and an inkjet printhead having the heater. The heater has different resistances according to portions thereof.
US07703887B2
A head unit includes first to fourth droplet ejection heads. The first and second droplet ejection heads are arranged along a first direction parallel to nozzle arrays so that the nozzles constitute a first consecutive long nozzle array when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Also, the nozzles of the third and fourth droplet ejection heads constitute a second consecutive long nozzle array. In the first to fourth droplet ejection heads the nozzle arrays are arranged side by side in the second direction and the first nozzle array is shifted with a half pitch in the first direction with respect to the second nozzle array when viewed from the second direction. The nozzles of the first and second droplet ejection heads are arranged so as not to overlap with the nozzles of the third and fourth droplet ejection heads when viewed from the second direction.
US07703879B2
An ink jet recording apparatus is structured to perform discharges in the capping status when preliminary discharges are performed in a shot number larger than a predetermined number, and perform discharges in a cap or a preparatory port other than the cap when the preliminary discharges are performed in a shot number less than the predetermined number. With the structure thus arranged, it is made possible to implement the suppression of the mist generation due to the preliminary discharges, and to make the time of recording on a recording medium shorter as well.
US07703874B2
The inkjet head in accordance with the present invention includes a head unit formed by fixing a plurality of head elements to each other, and a nozzle plate fixed on the head unit. The head element has a pair of main surfaces and a front surface positioned between the pair of main surfaces, and the front surface has a plurality of openings respectively communicated with ink chambers. The head elements forming the head unit are fixed with their main surfaces brought into contact with each other. The nozzle plate is provided in contact with the front surface of the head unit across all the head elements forming the head unit.
US07703865B2
A storage compartment for a refrigeration device, including a frame that having at least two elongated arms lying at a distance from one another forming an intermediate space therebetween. A holder for the refrigerated products, configured to rest on the arms and to lock into the intermediate space lying between the arms.
US07703864B2
A rectilinear folded and glued container with tiered shelves has multiple shelf panels cut out of a front panel with which the shelf panels, and main container front, side and back panels are integrally connected. The container has an internally placed shelf-raising panel that is attached to the shelf panels as part of a fold and glue processing technique that produces a knocked down flat container to be erected. The shelf raising panel preferably is an integral panel that is separate from the main container panels so as to be relatively movable, and is affixed to the shelf panels. Displacing or translating the shelf-raising panel during erection of the container from its knocked-down-flat configuration articulates the shelves into position. The shelf raising panel can be captured between top and bottom ends of the erected container, thus fixing the erected container and articulated shelves in a rigid shape.
US07703863B2
Track shoe assembly for a tracked vehicle, comprising a) a track shoe member with a chassis assembly having a pair of tubular housings (80) connected by a spaced web-portion, b) a replaceable rubber pad (9) with a curved sheet metal (13) having rims to hold the rubber pad rigidly and precisely in position, and c) an end connector (26) having a pair of bush holes (267) which accept an end of a track shoe pin (60) extending through a tubular housing, thus connecting adjacent track shoe members at either side in a pivotally flexible track. The chassis (9) also has a guide member (91) which is located on one a sleeve holding a housing and has a shape tapering towards its top end.
US07703861B2
The invention concerns a brake valve arrangement of a vehicle having a trailer coupling and at least one controllable hydraulic consumer, with a brake valve (27). It is endeavored to provide a similar embodiment of a vehicle with such a brake valve arrangement. For this purpose, the brake valve (27) is combined with at least one control valve (11, 12) controlling the hydraulic consumer into forming a valve block (10) having several valve modules.
US07703855B1
A vehicle seat includes a seat frame with at least one attachment point, a foam pad overlying the seat frame with at least one attachment opening and a flexible seat trim cover. The flexible seat trim cover overlies a front surface of the foam pad. The seat trim cover has at least one attachment member extending through the attachment opening. The attachment member is secured to the attachment point of the seat frame to hold the seat trim cover against the front surface of the foam pad.
US07703854B2
According to some embodiments of the invention, the convenience of lounge, pool, and patio furniture is increased by providing adjustable armrests that do not require cumbersome adjustments in order to reposition the armrest. According to some embodiments of the invention, an additional pair of armrests may be attached to existing conventional chair designs that have only one pair of armrests in order to increase the utility of the chair, which may be especially useful for lounge chairs, patio furniture, chaise lounges, and the like.
US07703846B2
The cycle seat with adjustable sides includes a base plate having a forward and optionally a rearward guide plate thereon. Each guide plate includes laterally adjustable left and right arm extensions, with each arm having a generally vertical wing extending upwardly therefrom. The arms of each pair simultaneously adjust inwardly and outwardly opposite one another, permitting a single adjustment to adjust both wings of a set equally. Each wing pair includes a latch mechanism, which is adjustable as the cyclist rides the cycle. The seat may be installed per se upon a bicycle or other cycle, or may be installed in combination with a longitudinal and/or arcuate and vertical adjustment mechanism for the seat. The cycle seat greatly reduces or eliminates the need for a pommel, while assuring that the seat remains in contact with the hips and/or thighs of the cyclist at all times to assure more complete control.
US07703845B2
A saddle-adjusting mechanism of a fitness apparatus having: a) a set of upper and lower parallel slide rails pivotally attached to a front and a rear connecting rod; and b) a saddle support with guide rollers and an engaging gear such that the upper and lower parallel slide rails may be adjusted at a certain angle. Meanwhile, a saddle can be moved forward and backward and maintained at a certain angle so that the operators have a comfortable sitting. Moreover, a back pad support is installed in such a way that a fine adjustment of the backing angle of a back pad is achieved by moving it upward and downward.
US07703843B2
A collapsible highchair with a locking device includes a first frame, a second frame which is pivotally connected to the first frame in “X” shape, a seat portion pivotally connected to upper sections of the frames, a backrest connected to the upper section of the first frame, a locking device secured to top end of upper section of the second frame, and an armrest one end of which is pivotally connected to the first frame and another end is engaged with the locking device. The locking device includes a first case and a second case, both of which cover the second frame. The first case is integrally formed with an elastic actuating portion. When the actuating portion is engaged with an opening on the armrest, the highchair is in a stretched state. When the actuating portion is pressed to disengage from the opening, the highchair is in a collapsible state.
US07703836B2
A window module for a school bus includes a frame, a fixed window panel affixed to a portion of the frame, a perimeter panel secured to another portion of the frame and defining an opening at the other portion of the frame, and a movable window panel. The movable window panel is slidably positioned at the frame and movable along channel members and interiorly of the fixed window panel when opened and interiorly of and generally at the perimeter panel when at least partially closed. The exterior surfaces of the fixed window panel and of the perimeter panel may form a generally flush surface at an exterior of the school bus when the window assembly is installed at the school bus.
US07703833B2
The invention relates to a side lifting/closing tarpaulin system for a flatbed trailer, the trailer having an elongated platform having front and rear ends, sides, a pair of bulkheads of similar construction extending upwardly from the platform at its front and rear ends, and a plurality of tarpaulin supporting beams extending laterally across the platform, and longitudinally along the platform. The system comprises a pair of pivoting arms, each arm supported by a corresponding bulkhead. The arms are pivotable, in corresponding fashion, with respect to a side of the platform, between an upper, open orientation and a lower, closed orientation. Each arm is provided with an elongated slot along a longitudinal axis of the arm. Each arm is mounted relative to the bulkhead such that the pivot sits within the slot in a manner that permits longitudinal movement of the arm relative to the pivot. There is further provided mechanical drive means to rotate the roller to roll or unroll the tarpaulin thus causing movement of the arms between the open and closed positions.
US07703832B2
A breakaway visor for use in a vehicle includes a visor body and a molded tubular member having a first end and a second end wherein the first end is rotatably supported with respect to the roof of a vehicle via a visor mounting bracket. The visor arm also includes an elbow portion arranged a predetermined distance from the first end of the molded tubular member. The visor arm also includes a metal tubular insert member arranged within the molded tubular member. The metal tubular insert member will have a first end within the molded tubular member and arranged a predetermined distance from the first end of the molded tubular member. This first end of the metal tubular insert member will define the break point for the breakaway visor.
US07703823B2
A wafer holding mechanism for holding a wafer of the type used in the manufacture of semiconductor devices is herein described. The mechanism has a first plate having a number of offsets that define at least one lip that extends radially inward of the offsets. A second plate is positioned adjacent the first plate and generally between the first plate and the lip such that one or more fingers coupled to the second plate oppose the lip that depends from the first plate. When the second plate is moved to a closed position, the at least one lip and the one or more fingers cooperatively grasp an edge of a wafer therebetween. The wafer holding mechanism is coupled to a drive that rotates the wafer before an imaging mechanism for capturing images of the wafer as it rotates.
US07703822B1
A combination rake and shovel tool having handles of which are crossed and pivoted to one another. The rake having a straight head and prongs pointing in the direction of the shovel scoop and being a leaf type rake. The shovel is similar to a snow shovel. The rake and shovel close together to pick up leaves and debris. The device may also be singularly used as a shovel or rake or in combination, additionally the present invention can be placed in a standing position when not in use.
US07703811B2
The current invention relates to a security element for security substrates, such as those used for banknotes and the like, having enhanced public recognition, anti-counterfeit and detection properties. A security element comprising an elongate strip of a light transmitting polymeric substrate, said substrate being provided with a magnetic feature and a metallic design, the metallic design being provided by a combination of metal and non-metallic regions and comprising indicia, characters, patterns, designs, or geometrical shapes or a combination of the aforesaid design comprising at least one repeating pattern or which one or more of the frequency, the instantaneous amplitude and/or the maximum amplitude of the pattern varies along the length of the element, said pattern being positioned relative to the magnetic feature such that it does not overlap therewith.
US07703808B2
An expandable business card is described that includes a first foldable page and a second foldable page. The first foldable page has a detachable business card. The second foldable page is connected to a booklet. The first page and second page are interconnected and slidingly engaged. When in a first folded position, the booklet is concealed within the perimeter of the expandable business card. When the expandable business card is opened in the second position, the booklet can expand to a predetermined size to provide an additional area for promotional information. The first page includes a projection that is not visible in the first folded position but then extends for viewing in the second open position.
US07703805B2
A bridge-shaped frame member is disposed on a front side frame in front of a suspension tower so as to extend vertically and stride over a No. 4 mount. Accordingly, there can be provided a vehicle front body structure that can attain a proper energy absorption of the front side frame with its axial compression can be attained at a vehicle crash.
US07703796B2
An air bag module (20) including: an inflator (200) for providing inflation gas; a bracket assembly (100) having an integral spring portion for resiliently biasing the inflator toward a retained position.
US07703792B1
A hitch coupling assembly attaching a trailer to a towing vehicle. The towing vehicle including a hitch plate that has an upper surface and an open end for receiving a king pin. The coupling assembly has an arm with opposite ends. A skid plate is attached to one end of the arm and the skid plate has a perimeter defined by sides. The king pin extends from a surface of the skid plate. A journal pin is attached to the opposite end of the arm and is rotatable relative to the arm. The journal pin is optionally lockable or the arm relative to the hitch is optionally lockable.
US07703791B2
A fifth wheel cover comprises a shell arranged to span over the fifth wheel plate of a tractor trailer chassis. The shell has a continuous, circular, peripheral edge to which a continuous band of elastomeric material is integrally joined about the full periphery for retaining the shell on the fifth wheel plate.
US07703789B1
A load coupling apparatus for a wheeled vehicle includes load linkage members that pivotally suspend the vehicle and load weight below the axles of the vehicle, allowing limited relative displacement of the axles and the load in the direction of vehicle travel. The load is displaced by moving the axles in the desired direction of travel, whereafter the suspended load follows the axles in a swinging motion as the effects of gravity overcome the load inertia. The effort required to initiate movement of the load is significantly reduced due to the relative displacement of the axles and the load, and the mechanical advantage afforded by the load linkage members. Once in motion, the load continues to track the axles in the direction of travel, providing continued reduction in motive effort even when the load reaches a constant forward speed.
US07703776B1
Tall, lightweight folding shopping cart (FIG. 1) provides high-level detachable basket (44U) for easy basket transfers down to checkout counter, car trunk and home counter or table. Basket-support ledges (43U and 43L) on cart enable transfer of basket weight by sliding leverage rather than by lifting. Additional container (44L) increases cart capacity and flexibility in use. With baskets removed, cart serves as an all-purpose vehicle, ready to carry a strapped-on golf bag, luggage (FIG. 6), garden materials, furniture and other household burdens. Its lightweight folding character encourages new uses where carts have rarely gone before. On a family camping trip, for example, it can carry a folded tent to the campsite, and later deliver an ice chest of drinks and a food basket to the beach. Wheels (36L and 36R) are mounted for quick detachment to increase the storage compactness of an unloaded cart.
US07703762B2
When a paper feed cassette is again mounted, a pressing portion of a pressing member is brought into contact from the front side on a second surface of an extending portion of a contacting member, and the contacting member is pressed by the pressing member to be displaced from the retract position to the contact position. At this time, the pressing portion of the contacting member presses a pressed portion of a disc member to rotate a third cam itself in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing. Accordingly, the lift lever locked by the third cam is released, and an end portion of an arm member is allowed to move upward.
US07703756B2
A machine for converting a fabric from a rolled fabric into a superimposingly folded fabric for delivery to a dyeing machine. The machine includes a frame, a cradle, and a carriage. The frame rests on an unyielding surface. The cradle is operatively connected to the frame, holds the rolled fabric, and dispenses the fabric from the rolled fabric. The carriage is movably mounted to the frame, and receives the fabric dispensed from the rolled fabric, and in response thereto, moves back and forth relative to the frame to dispense the fabric into the superimposingly folded fabric for delivery to the dyeing machine.
US07703754B2
A limit stop with an elastomer resilient element, which is to be secured on a door or lid and/or on an opposing stationary vehicle section for damping forces generated when the door or lid strikes stationary chassis parts of a motor vehicle. The limit stop includes an additional damping section disposed adjacent to and cooperating with the elastic resilient element in a spring deflection direction of the resilient element. The damping section comprises at least two chambers filled with a fluid and a nozzle plate arranged between the chambers with at least one channel extending through the nozzle plate and connecting the chambers. The fluid is displaced from one of the chambers into the other chamber during a spring deflection of the elastomer resilient element, thereby producing a pressure force which is caused by the buildup in pressure when the volume of one of the chambers decreases and augments the return force of the resilient element.
US07703752B2
The present invention concerns a method and equipment for dissolving a gas or a gas mixture in a liquid. The liquid is introduced into a chamber (6) via an inlet (2), in connection with which an eddy movement is created in the chamber for mixing the gas and liquid. The gas may be introduced into the liquid before the liquid is introduced into the chamber and/or the gas may be introduced directly into the chamber. The liquid with the dissolved gas is removed via an outlet (4). The gas is dissolved in the liquid by the eddy rotating about a mainly horizontal axis. With the present invention, satisfactory dissolution can be achieved with minimal energy consumption. The present invention is particularly well suited to oxygenating salt water, for example in connection with fish farming.
US07703747B2
A two-position lift bridge is used with a jack-stand power unit including a forward end, a rearward end, a pair of upward side flanges, with the rearward end having a hydraulic cylinder. A rear cover plate extends horizontally from the side flanges and over the cylinder, and has vertical apertures for positioning the lift bridge, and has a threaded vertical aperture for securing the lift bridge. The frame has a pair of parallel lift arms having forward end that are extendable by the cylinder. Each forward end has a leveling pad pivotally attached having an outwardly extended flange, and one having a vertical aperture and a threaded aperture. The lift bridge includes a rectangular plate one side having downward extending corner flanges with horizontal openings for engaging one of the outwardly extended flanges of the leveling pad. The other side of the plate has a pin extending downward for engaging the aperture in the other leveling pad, and includes a vertical aperture that is aligned with the threaded aperture of the leveling pad for receiving a fastener. The lift bridge can be stored on the cover plate and secured with the fastener. The lift bridge can be positioned on the forward ends of the lift arm by placing the corner flanges on the outward flange of one leveling pad, then positioning the downward pin into the aperture in the other leveling pad, and secured with the fastener.
US07703745B2
A wafer-style valve assembly adapted to be coupled between opposing pipeline components having a common centerline secured together by a plurality of longitudinal fasteners includes a substantially cylindrical valve body, a seat retaining plate, and at least one clip. The valve body has a peripheral edge portion and an axial end surface. The seat retaining plate is disposed on the axial end surface. The at least one clip is also disposed on the axial end surface and extends radially outward of the peripheral edge portion. The clip has a radially inward portion and a radially outward portion. The radially inward portion secures the seat retaining plate to the to valve body. The radially outward portion has an edge defining a first recess and a second recess. The first and second recesses are each adapted to accommodate a longitudinal fastener to locate the valve assembly relative to the centerline of the pipeline.
US07703737B2
A pole mounting system includes a pole having at least one channel, and a spike having a finger configured to be received in the channel of the pole. The finger is attached to a neck that is configured to extend out of the channel and connect to a connector. The connector may be configured in a number of different ways depending on the particular type of device to be suspended on the pole. For example, the connector may be configured to connect to different types of arms that may be used to hold a flat panel display, or may be configured to hold other things such as a table. The finger is elongate and configured to engage the interior of the channel when the weight of the flat panel display is placed on the spike. Optionally, a spring-loaded pin may be provided to temporarily hold the spike in place while the spike is screwed into place in the channel through the use of set screws. Wire management may be provided within the channel.
US07703731B1
A clamping apparatus of web camera includes a first clamping element, a second clamping element and at least one elastic element. The first clamping element has a base portion for engaging with a web camera. The base portion has a first clamping surface. A guide portion is extended from the first clamping surface. The second clamping element has a main portion which has a second clamping surface. The second clamping surface defines a recess for relatively slidably engaging with the guide portion and then adjusting the width of a clamping space defined by the first and second clamping surfaces. The elastic element is disposed between the first clamping element and the second clamping element for providing a clamping force between the first and second clamping surfaces.
US07703726B2
A height-adjustable furnishing system includes a base component, a plurality of legs, a height adjustment mechanism, and a platform component. The base has a planar bottom surface and a top surface with a plurality of attachment points for pivotally attaching two, three or four legs. The height-adjustment mechanism is adjustably attached between the base component and at least one of the plurality of legs, or between a forward leg and a rear leg. A platform component is pivotally attached to the plurality of legs to form a parallelogram linkage when viewed from the side. The height-adjustment mechanism may include a gas spring, a cam clamp, a travel block, a release lever, a cable release, a release trigger and may also be hand- or foot-operated. The entire system folds to a generally planar configuration for storage. The legs are erect when they are approximately 10 degrees from vertical.
US07703725B2
An adjustable tripod stand having independently adjustable legs that includes an upright tube member for supporting an object, such as a drum, at its upper end. Independently movable collar members slidably mounted on the upright member and longitudinally adjustable relative to and past one another and to an upright portion for selective positioning thereon. A releasable fastener on the collars secures them to the upright member at selected positions. Three movable leg members are connected at their upper ends, two to one of the collar members and one to the other collar member. Movement of the collar members permits the stand to be erected in limited or confined areas. The stand preferably includes a leg extender member slidably mounted on the exterior one of the leg members, which is movable a selected distance permitting the stand to be positioned on different levels, such as stairs.
US07703724B2
A device for operating a computer mouse has improved multi-axes mounting to the arm of a desk chair. The device comprises a platform with a holding area for the computer mouse. The platform should be sufficiently sized for a computer operator's forearm to rest thereon. The improved mounting for this device includes a rod from which at least two brackets are connected. One bracket rotatably connects to this rod and the other bracket slidably connects to same. Preferably, a braking mechanism prevents the platform from being rotated too far about the chair arm and dumping all holding area contents.
US07703723B1
A bag support device comprising an inner ring, having a locking flap, with a locking button extending therefrom; and one or more leg sockets. The device also includes an outer ring defining a space that is adapted to receive the inner ring, and having a locking hole, corresponding to the locking button; a tapered edge; and one or more convexities, corresponding to the one or more leg sockets. One or more legs are coupled to the inner ring at the leg sockets; and a bag support member is coupled to the outer ring through a support member socket. A handle is coupled to the outer ring.
US07703721B2
A regolith container for use with regolith on an extraterrestrial mass is disclosed. The filled container covers a portion of a spacecraft to provide the spacecraft with a measure of protection against space debris and radiation. The container can be compartmentalized to reduce the loss of regolith should from the container if a single compartment is penetrated.
US07703717B2
A transport vehicle wheel assembly comprising a set of rotating components and a set of static components wherein an applied electrical current applied to conductive material incorporated into at least one components structural matrix of one set of components gives rise to primary magnetic fields which interact with reactive magnetic fields associated with material incorporated into at least one components structural matrix of another set of components and gives rise to rotational forces which act on the rotating components of said transport vehicle wheel assembly to induce controlled forward rotation of a wheel and having regenerative braking and reverse drive ability thus allowing controlled retardation assistance.
US07703713B2
Adjustable blades for wood chippers and cutters include one or more blades of selected length, thickness and width, fitted with one or more bevelled blade seats in the rear blade edge, which blade seats, in a first embodiment, receive corresponding bevelled inserts having threaded openings fitted with an insert mount screw and a pair of adjusting screws. The mount screws serve to seat the inserts firmly in the blade seats and reverse-manipulation of the adjusting screws in the inserts provides adjustment of the fit of the adjustable blades in a cutting or chipping head, to compensate for re-sharpening of the blades. A method for adjusting the fit of wood cutter and chipper blades in a cutting or chipping head, which includes the steps of providing one or more bevelled insert seats in the rear edge of the blades opposite the cutting edge; placing a correspondingly-shaped bevelled insert in the insert seat or seats; threading an insert mount screw and a pair of adjusting screws through the insert; tightening the insert mount screw against the blade in the insert seat or seats and reverse-manipulating the adjusting screws to extend the adjusting screws from the insert to fit the blades in a chipping or cutting head. In a second embodiment heated babitt metal is poured into a mold receiving the adjustable blades and fills the bevelled blade seat or seats. The liquified babitt metal flows rearwardly of the blade in the mold to solidify and define a babitt extension of selected width that compensates for metal lost in the blade-sharpening operation.
US07703710B2
A method for producing cubic boron nitride in which hBN is held in the presence of a catalyst substance under conditions in which cBN remains thermodynamically stable, to thereby cause hBN to undergo a phase transition to form cBN, wherein the catalyst substance contains a lithium source, a magnesium source, and a carbon source. The performance of cBN is improved even though phase transition ratio from hBN to cBN is increased.
US07703708B2
A fuel injection valve includes a nozzle body and a plate. The nozzle body includes an injection orifice, through which fuel is injected, a needle that controls the injection through the injection orifice, and a needle-receiving bore that receives the needle. The plate is adjacently provided to the nozzle body for defining a fuel passage therein, through which fuel is supplied to the needle-receiving bore. The plate has an annular groove, which connects the fuel passage with the needle-receiving bore, at an end surface of the plate toward the nozzle body.
US07703703B2
An apparatus for spraying lawn products adapted for use with a fluid supply source and a reservoir includes a housing defining a mixing chamber therein and a reservoir coupled to the housing. A process for use of the apparatus is also disclosed. The housing includes a substantially cylindrically shaped cap portion having discontinuous internal threads forming flats therein, a lip portion, and an open end portion. The reservoir includes a generally cylindrically shaped neck portion having a partial exterior shoulder, external threads thereon, and an end portion. Internal threads of the neck portion of the reservoir interengage the discontinuous internal threads having flats therein of the cap portion. The partial exterior shoulder of the reservoir interengages the open end portion of the cap portion such that the end portion of the neck of the reservoir does not engage the lip portion of the cap portion aspirating of the reservoir and housing.
US07703681B2
An electronic ticket management system mainly includes a vendor module, a ticket process module, a Web module, a ticket order module, a delivery module and a ticket verification module. After a consumer has purchased a ticket through a communication network, a service center transmits the information of the electronic ticket to a designated mobile communication device equipped with graphic display capability. When in use the consumer displays bar code graphics of the electronic ticket. Through a scanner at a ticket verification end the graphics of the electronic ticket on the mobile communication device can be captured, and identification result is verified online. Thus the total process does not have physical contact. The risk of carrying the currency can be prevented. The costs of manual operation and paper ticket can be saved. Therefore ticket processing efficiency increases.
US07703679B1
A sighting system for visually acquiring a target includes an optic device having a transmissive LCD array affixed thereon. The transmissive LCD array includes two or more LCD elements that are separately addressable to provide an aiming point. In embodiments, the sighting system receives information from an input system, such as ammunition information or environmental information, executes a ballistics program to determine ballistics information using the received information, and determines a range to the target. A controller calculates an aiming point using the ballistics information and the target range. The controller then addresses or energizes one of the LCD elements to provide the aiming point.
US07703676B2
Systems and methods for encrypting the output of a card reader in a card authentication system are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for reading a data card having an intrinsic magnetic characteristic and recorded data on the data card using a read head including a magnetic sensor having a housing, an analog to digital converter located within the housing and a processor located within the housing, the method including generating an analog signal indicative of the intrinsic magnetic characteristic and the recorded data of the data card, converting the analog signal into a digital signal, generating a magnetic fingerprint based on the intrinsic magnetic characteristic from the digital signal, extracting the recorded data from the digital signal, encrypting at least a portion of the recorded data, storing the magnetic fingerprint and the recorded data, and outputting the encrypted at least the portion of the recorded data.
US07703673B2
A method for converting credits to funds can include a step of a Web site receiving user identification information. Non-negotiable credits can be identified that are associated with an entity with which the user has previously interacted. The previous interactions could have earned the non-negotiable credits. Responsive to a user request, a conversion agency can convert a quantity of the non-negotiable credits into a quantity of negotiable funds. The conversion agency can be an agency not directly associated with the entity. The user can be permitted to access the quantity of negotiable funds. The quantity of negotiable funds can be applied to user specified purchases. At least a portion of the purchases can involve at least one vender that does not honor the non-negotiable credits.
US07703672B2
An internet N is connected to an electronic money management server 10 so that communications can be performed with a deposit money terminal device 30 replenishing an electronic money for an user card comprised by recording a card ID and an issuer ID, a member shop terminal device 50 reducing the electronic money utilized from the user card, and the like. The electronic money management server 10 acquires the deposit money amount and the issuer ID from a deposit money terminal device 30 at the replenishment time of the electronic money, and totalizes the deposit money amount for each issuer, and performs the delivery of the cash for the totalized deposit money amount to the issuer. Further, the electronic money management server 10 acquires the utilized amount and a member shop ID and an issuer ID from a member shop terminal device 50 at the utilizing time of the electronic money, and totalizes the utilized amount for each issuer and member shop, and performs the delivery of the cash for the totalized utilized amount between the issuer and the shop.
US07703671B2
The present invention provides for an integrated global biological activity detection, traffic tracking and scheduling, and boundary/border security system. Detection apparatuses of the system are preferably placed in a stream of currency such as in financial institutions and other sites of currency exchange, and are also placed in or about transportation vehicles and linked into a data collection, analysis, and graphical information system to provide early warning for security activities. Detection apparatuses located in and about transportation vehicles are combined with a system for routing vehicles into security corridors and with a system of notification, scheduling, and monitoring to enhance the capacity of authorities to insure security and efficient trade movement particularly as it approaches boundaries and borders.
US07703666B2
A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton has panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The panels comprise a top panel, a bottom panel and a first side panel and a second side panel. The carton has a dispenser for allowing access to the articles in the carton. The dispenser has a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line in the carton and is for being at least partially removed for at least further opening a dispenser opening.
US07703663B2
The present invention relates to a device and method for brazing a heat pipe assembly with copper-silver alloy filler rings to improve heat dissipation efficiency of a heat pipe. The device comprises a brazing furnace and a conveyor. The brazing furnace comprises an open ended passage with a multi-stage brazing heater and cooler. The conveyor comprises an input bracket assembly, an output bracket assembly and a steel mesh belt. The method comprises steps of (A) providing multiple heat pipe components, (B) assembling the heat pipe components to form heat pipe assemblies, (C) injecting mixed gas, (D) turning on the multi-stage brazing heater and cooler, (E) placing the heat pipe assemblies on the conveyor, (F) brazing the heat pipe assemblies to form heat pipes, (G) cooling the heat pipes and (H) removing the heat pipes from the conveyor.
US07703660B2
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method and system of determining the weld bead sequence on a mechanical component is disclosed. In one specific embodiment, the sequence is determined by numerical analysis of a plurality of weld bead sequences to determine the weld bead sequence. Then, after this sequence is determined, a weld overlay is placed onto the mechanical component using the sequence. In particular embodiments, a weld bead sequence is applied to a boiler tube panel wherein the sequence begins at the crown of the tube, progresses down the walls of the tube to the tube and membrane interface, and concludes on the membrane. The new bead sequence reduces residual and distortional stresses as created by applying a weld overlay.
US07703657B2
A mounting method and a mounting device are provided, which can mount an electric component with high reliability by using an adhesive. The mounting method includes thermocompression bonding an IC chip onto a wiring board by using an anisotropic conductive adhesive film. During the thermocompression bonding, a top region of the IC chip is pressed against the wiring board with a predetermined pressure, and a side region of the IC chip is pressed with a pressure smaller than the pressure applied to the top region of the IC chip. An elastomer having rubber hardness of 40 or more and 80 or less is used for a compression bonding portion of a thermocompression bonding head. The anistropic conductive adhesive film contains a binding resin having melting viscosity of 1.0×102 mPa·s or more and 1.0×105 mPa·s or less.
US07703654B2
A counter-rotating spindle includes a shoulder tool, a pin tool inserted in the shoulder tool, a first motor that is connected with the pin tool and rotates the pin tool, and a second motor that is connected with the shoulder tool and rotates the shoulder tool. The direction and the speed of the rotation for the pin tool may be selected independently from the speed and direction of rotation of the shoulder tool enabling optimization of the friction stir welding process. Counter-rotating the pin tool and the shoulder tool may improve the mixing abilities and efficiency of the pin tool and may prevent the galling effect between the pin tool and the shoulder tool. The counter-rotating spindle may be used, for example, for continuous path friction stir welding and spot welding of aluminum and its alloys, including cast alloys, as well as joining similar and dissimilar alloys.
US07703649B2
In one aspect of the invention a collation comprises a plurality of sleeves for supporting and carrying a plurality of fasteners through a magazine, wherein each of the plurality of sleeves have a front and a predetermined length of between about ¼ and about 0.4 inch, each of the plurality of fasteners have a predetermined length of between about ¾ inch and about 1½ inch and a tip located at a predetermined position from about 0.05 inch behind the sleeve front to about ¼ inch beyond the sleeve front, frangible bridges integrally connecting the plurality of sleeves together in a serial array and facilitating the separation of a leading one of the plurality of sleeves from remaining ones of the plurality of serially arranged sleeves when a drive member of the fastener driving tool drives a leading one of the fasteners disposed within the leading one of the sleeves, and a plurality of protrusions from the sleeves for engaging the rails in the magazine. In another aspect, a system of collations comprises a plurality of first collations each having a plurality of sleeves each having a front, the sleeves holding first fasteners having a tip located at a predetermined position relative to the sleeve front, and a plurality of second collations each having a plurality of second sleeves each having a front, the second sleeves holding second fasteners having a different length than the first fasteners and a tip located at the same predetermined position relative to the front of the second sleeves.
US07703643B2
Device for pumping viscous materials, particularly sealant and grease, without dripping and method of the same are characterized by storing a predetermined portion of the driving energy in form of an angular and/or linear displacement of a torsional spring. This very portion of the stored energy will be released at the end of the operation when the operator let go the trigger, whereby the released energy will drive the final transmission and the end part of the final transmission to move backwards for a predetermined amount of displacement. This backwards movement of the end part of the final transmission causes the volume of viscous material to expand suddenly; this expansion of the volume of viscous material compensates the compression of the viscous material from the dispensing process, which will also draw back the viscous material on its way outward for to work and for to drip.
US07703642B2
A sipper type capping assembly engageable with a necked container so as not to pool condensation on the disc seal. It has a unitary molding (1) adapted to define a detachable overcap (4) and at least the container engaging skirt (9). An insert (2) and a disc seal member (17) located within molding (1), and a nozzle component (3) above the seal member is carried through the insert yet moveable relative thereto. In a non-dispensing condition, the nozzle component (3) and the insert (2) provide closure. In the dispensing condition of the nozzle component (3) relative to the insert (2) there is defined a liquid egress passageway. The insert and the nozzle component, when in or notionally considered in the non-dispensing condition, define together with the molding a fully enclosed space about part of the nozzle component. When in or notionally considered in at least the dispensing condition, the molding and the disc seal member fully enclose the nozzle component.
US07703639B2
A system for dispensing a granular product. The system includes a refillable, sealable receptacle, having a neck at its lower end, a rotatable and flexible impeller within the neck, with the shape and size of the impeller conforming generally to the shape and size of the neck, providing sealing for maintaining the freshness of the granular product. Preferably the impeller comprises a hollow central core, and a shaft extends through the hollow core into at least one through-hole formed in the neck. A handle is present for turning the shaft to rotate the impeller. A base is provided with a retaining arm for removably receiving the receptacle. The system is capable of easy disassembly for cleaning, by removal of the receptacle and impeller from within the receptacle. Also provided is a multi-system for dispensing a plurality of products; having several receptacles and associated dispensing mechanisms mounted on a single support.
US07703638B2
A fastener dispenser including a housing having a plurality of rails formed thereon. The rails have terminal ends that are open to facilitate the passage of fasteners into or out of the housing. Fasteners are removably secured between adjacent rails and maintained in a predefined orientation by the adjacent rails. The fastener dispenser also includes fastener release means on the terminal ends of the rails for maintaining fasteners between adjacent rails. The fastener release means also allow a user to selectively dispense a desired number of fasteners from between the rails.
US07703631B2
The present invention is directed toward a novel container system that is designed to hold and store liquids, such as for example, paints, stains, and various other coatings. The container system generally includes a base member, a shelf that is contained within the base member, and a lid. The shelf is provided with the base member and is designed to accept an application device, such as for example a paint roller. A lid is also provided with the container so that a fluid may be provided and stored as part of an all-inclusive delivery system.
US07703626B2
Conventional adhesive and contact welding methods for holding the paperboard and plastic components of a composite closure together present a number disadvantages and do not lend themselves easily to mass production. The present invention describes two novel approaches, firstly the pre-assembly heating of the closure components with directed hot air to partially melt the thermoplastic surfaces and allow the parts to be immediately assembled sealingly and, secondly, a novel construction of plastic and paperboard composite closure in which the plastic rim is of a two-piece snap-fit constructions which firmly grips the top panel of the paperboard lid.
US07703625B2
A lid for a container having a built-in opening feature comprises a flexible laminate comprising an upper layer and a lower layer, a pair of radially spaced concentric lines of weakness being formed in the upper and lower layers, respectively, wherein the upper and lower layers in an annular region between the lines of weakness are readily peeled apart, and wherein the upper and lower layers outside the annular region are laminated together with an adhesive providing a bond with a greater peel strength than that required to separate the layers in the annular region. An integral tab is formed in the upper layer by a U-shaped cut line. A distal end of the tab opposite from the two ends of the cut line is within an adhesive-free region of the laminate. The ends of the cut line are in an adhesively laminated area of the laminate.
US07703615B2
This invention relates to a lattice piece for a large mobile crane, comprising four corner posts and null bars and diagonal bars connecting the same. In accordance with the invention, the lattice piece each is divided in two such that one part of the null and diagonal bars each is foldably hinged at two corner posts connected with each other. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for erecting such lattice piece.
US07703614B2
A product display tray configured for use on a shelf is disclosed. The product display tray includes a base and at least one side wall. The base includes a front end, a back end, a left side, a right side, a lower surface and an upper surface for supporting items. The side wall is selectively positionable a distance from a side of the base and is substantially parallel to the side.
US07703603B1
A software box or package with reduced original dimensions may be configured to be manipulated to form a box with at least one dimension that is longer than the original dimensions. For example, the box may be manipulated to form an expanded box with a longer height, depth, and/or width than the un-expanded box. In some embodiments, one or more sides of the box may be unfolded and/or one or more internal boxes may be unfolded or pulled out of the un-expanded box to form the expanded box. The expanded box may be used to store documents, back-up software copies, instructions, etc. The expanded box may have a height and width approximately the same as a file folder and may be stored in a filing cabinet. Such software boxes may include boxes for tax software, real estate software, résumés, etc.
US07703599B2
A method of reversing direction of an article is disclosed by engaging an article with a first belt to move the article in a first direction; disengaging the article from the first belt; and then engaging the article with a second belt to move the article in a second direction. An apparatus to reverse direction of an article is also disclosed by a first belt rotating in a first direction; a second belt rotating in a second direction; the first belt engaging an article at a first time while the second belt is disengaged with the article, the first belt disengaging the article at a second time, and the second belt engaging the article at a third time while the first belt is disengaged with the article.
US07703597B2
A device for the turning of flat articles, particularly blanks of folded boxes, includes conveying elements which define at least two conveying sections that are permeable to air and on which the articles are conveyed lying substantially flat, the conveying elements being mounted in a frame, a suction device arranged below the conveying element and to extend through the conveying section to increase the friction between the conveying elements and the articles, and a separate drive for each of the conveying elements of the respective conveying sections. The frame is mounted such that it can swivel about a pivot in the exit region of the frame relative to a machine frame.
US07703594B2
An escalator or moving sidewalk exhibits a frame for the formation of a supporting structure between entry and exit that is made at least partially of perforated plate, with the holes in particular being provided over a significant part of the frame height, preferably roughly one half the frame height.
US07703592B2
A bill acceptor includes a main body attached with a bill box at the back side, a transmission mechanism for carrying a bill or license into a passage in the main body for examination by a recognition unit inside the main body and returning the rejected bill or examined license and carrying the examined bill to the bill box, and a face panel, which is fastened to the front side of the main body and has an insertion slot for the insertion of a bill/license into the passage and a finger guide portion disposed at one lateral side of the insertion slot for the insertion of a finger to bias a jammed license out of the insertion slot.
US07703582B2
A device for adjusting a dual-servo brake with internal shoes (9) being supported on a shoe-holder plate (2) so as perform floating selfreinforcing or automatic activation movements against a braking surface of a drum. The device comprises: adjustment elements (30) comprising thrust surfaces (31) cooperating with opposed counter-thrust surfaces (32) of a pyramidal end of an actuation elements (34) provided with a threaded portion (35) housed rotatably in a threaded through-hole (36) of a support element (37), the threaded through-hole being arranged substantially along an axis transverse the axis of the mutual separation or approach movement of the ends of the shoes, the support element further comprising support means (38) for housing the adjustement elements slidably so as to form, with the actuation element, a support ans thrust structure closed onto the opposed adjustment elements, the actuation element further comprising an operating extension which can be housed so as to float freely in a slot provided in the shoe-holder plate so that an activation end (41) projects from the brake.
US07703574B2
An exhaust system (1) is provided for an internal combustion engine (4), especially in a motor vehicle, with two separate exhaust gas lines (2, 3) with a first sound transmission feature (7), which couples the two exhaust gas lines (2, 3) with one another, and with a control (9) for activating and deactivating the first sound transmission connection (7) as a function of at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine (4). To improve the muffling behavior, a second sound transmission connection (8) is provided, which couples the two exhaust gas lines (2, 3) with one another downstream of the first sound transmission connection (7), and makes possible, depending on the particular operating parameter, three switching states (SZ), namely, a first switching state, in which both sound transmission connections (7, 8) are deactivated, a second switching state, in which only one sound transmission connection (7, 8) is activated, and a third switching state, in which both sound transmission connections (7, 8) are activated.
US07703572B2
An earmuff assembly with a double-shell structure is disclosed for use with a sound-attenuating circumaural headset. The earmuff assembly comprises a cup-shaped outer shell mounted on a resilient outer sealing ring and a cup-shaped inner shell mounted on a resilient inner sealing ring. By means of the two sealing rings the outer and the inner shells are brought into abutment with the head surface around an ear of a wearer. Both shells are structurally rigid. The sound attenuation performance is maximized by isolating the inner shell from the outer shell. The two sealing rings are interconnected through a thin skin layer of soft compliant materials, which acts as a vibration isolating/decoupling means between the outer shell and the inner shell.
US07703570B2
A steering wheel (20) that has an axis of turning (64) axis for steering a motor vehicle that has an engine, a drivetrain, a transmission that provides different gear ratios for coupling the engine to the drivetrain, and a transmission controller that in an automatic mode automatically shifts the transmission from one gear ratio to another in response to changing vehicle torque requirements and in a manual mode shifts the transmission from one gear ratio to another in response to manual actuation of a shift command device. A module (36) contains both the shift command device (58, 60) and a mode selection device (62) for selecting between the automatic and manual modes.
US07703568B2
In a coaxial two-wheeled vehicle, an attitude controller (84) calculates motor torque Tgyr for maintaining a base so that it has a target angle from deviation between base angle command θref serving as attitude command and current base angle θ0 calculated by using a gyro sensor (13) and an acceleration sensor (14). On the other hand, at a position proportional controller (86R), a differentiator (88R) and a velocity proportional controller (89R), there is performed PD control with respect to deviation between rotation position command Prefr of a motor rotor (92R) for right wheel and current rotation position θr of a motor rotor (92R). A current control amplifier (91R) generates motor current on the basis of added value of motor torque which is the control result and estimated load torque T1 calculated by using pressure sensors to drive the motor rotor (92R).
US07703567B2
A person carrying vehicle includes a main frame, a seat pivoted on the main frame, a front frame, an articulate supporting member connecting the main frame and the front frame, and a telescopic steering mechanism pivoted on the front frame; by means of pivoting supporting rods of the seat downwards, folding the articulate supporting member as well as shorting and pivoting the steering mechanism, the vehicle can be reduced into a not-in-use configuration, wherein the supporting rods and a seat pad are received in a hollow holding portion of the main frame, a footrest board of the front frame hidden under the main frame, and a tube part of the steering mechanism is received in grooves on the seat; the vehicle has a lift handle at a front, and auxiliary casters at a rear, which are used for the vehicle to be moved in a sloping position on the floor.
US07703562B2
An energy efficient biped robotic system with passive-dynamic locomotion includes a body having a frame. An energy recapture mechanism is suspended within the frame. The energy recapture mechanism includes a load, a mechanical energy storage mechanism that interconnects the load and the frame, and a guide means secured to the load and the frame. A mechanical energy input mechanism interconnects the load with an electric energy generating mechanism. An output means transfers the generated electric energy to an energy storage device. The robot also includes a leg connected to the body portion. The cyclical movement of the leg during passive-dynamic locomotion is transferred to the load through the mechanical energy storage mechanism, and the resulting oscillatory movement of the load is transferred by the mechanical energy input mechanism to the electric energy generating mechanism. The generated electric energy is transferred to the energy storage device for use by the robotic system.
US07703561B2
In order to reduce a steering torque during stoppage of a vehicle, according to the invention, opposite drive torques in normal and reverse directions are applied to a left rear wheel and a right rear wheel when a driver steers a steering wheel in a state where the vehicle stops, whereby a moment to turn the vehicle is generated, and an assist torque for steering the steering wheel is generated.
US07703559B2
A cutting element for a drill bit that includes an outer support element having at least a bottom portion and a side portion; and an inner rotatable cutting element. A portion of the inner rotatable cutting element is disposed in the outer support element, where the inner rotatable cutting element includes a substrate and a diamond cutting face having a thickness of at least 0.050 inches disposed on an upper surface of the substrate; and where a distance from an upper surface of the diamond cutting face to a bearing surface between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element ranges from 0 to about 0.300 inches.
US07703544B2
Method for setting a leather skin (12) having an outer surface designed to be visible, includes a step of applying a rigidity increasing treatment, a step of setting the skin using a mould cooperating with the outer surface of the skin (12), one at least of the two steps being executed only locally at an elongated part (B) spaced apart from the edge of the skin (12) and substantially parallel to the edge, and a step for facilitating the maintenance of the shape by locally applying a shape maintaining material to the inner surface of the skin (12), in particular a thermoplastic resin (24). The invention is useful for making automotive interior trim.
US07703540B2
A method and apparatus are provided for installing control lines and pipe into a well. The pipe-holding spider that is normally mounted on the rig floor is adapted for easy disassembly and reassembly when the pipe slips within the spider are not engaged with the outer surface of the pipe string so that upon disassembly, a control line guide becomes vertically movable. The control line guide is adapted for being controllably elevated to a distance above the rig floor, thereby providing personnel access to a portion of the length of the pipe string below the elevated control line guide and above the rig floor for securing control line to the pipe string using a fastener.
US07703539B2
An expandable downhole tool is disclosed that employs naturally occurring organic matter as the expandable material. The expandable material is located within an enclosure formed in part by an impermeable element, which may form a hydraulic seal, and a permeable membrane that permits fluids present in the wellbore to pass and interact with the organic matter. The heat and fluids present within the wellbore may cause the expandable matter to swell, and thus causing the enclosure to swell and possibly form a hydraulic seal against a wellbore or inner annulus. The expandable tool may be used as packer, plug, or other downhole tool, among others. Methods of manufacturing and using such tools are also disclosed.
US07703531B2
An aqueous, viscoelastic fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) is stabilized with an effective amount of an alkaline earth metal oxide alkaline earth metal hydroxide, alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides transition metal oxides, transition metal hydroxides, post-transition metal oxides, and post-transition metal hydroxides. These fluids are more stable and have a reduced or no tendency to precipitate, particularly at elevated temperatures, and may also help control fluid loss. When the particle size of the magnesium oxide or other particulate agent is a nanometer scale, for instance having a mean particle size of 100 nm or less, that scale may provide particle charges that use chemisorption, “crosslinking” and/or other chemistries to associate and stabilize the VES fluids, and also help trap or fixate formation fines when deposited into a proppant pack in a fracture.
US07703521B2
Methods and apparatus for forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation including crosslinking a polymer along the surface of microspheres in a water-in-water emulsion and introducing the microspheres into the subterranean formation. Methods and apparatus for forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation including crosslinking a polymer along the surface of microspheres in a water in water emulsion, isolating the microspheres from the emulsion, and introducing the microspheres into the subterranean formation. Methods and apparatus for forming a fluid to treat a subterranean formation including introducing a crosslinkable polymer, partitioning agent, and crosslinker into a solvent, crosslinking the crosslinkable polymer, isolating beads of the crosslinkable polymer from the partitioning agent, introducing the beads into a fluid for treating a subterranean formation.
US07703515B2
A system for passing an electromagnetic signal through a casing comprises a tool body that can be positioned inside the casing; means for magnetically saturating the casing in the vicinity of the tool; a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the tool antenna to the outside of the casing for reception at one or more sensors equipped with an antenna and electronic circuits located outside the casing; and a detector for detecting an electromagnetic signal at the tool from the sensor located outside the casing.
US07703513B2
Methods for forming a barrier around at least a portion of a treatment area in a subsurface formation are described herein. A material including wax may be introduced into one or more wellbores. The material introduced into two or more wells may mix in the formation and congeal to form a barrier to fluid flow.
US07703498B2
A window screen assembly for a window, which is disposed in a window frame. This assembly can include a housing coupled to a window frame, at least one screen disposed in the housing window frame, and at least one lock for selectively locking the screen to the window. In this case, the screen can be locked to the window, so that it moves with the window in the window frame. An end attachment element can also be coupled to the screen wherein this attachment element can be designed to either stand up in a window to allow attachment to the lock or catch on the window or to lay flat to allow for inactivity and detachment of the screen from the window.
US07703495B2
A compact fiber placement apparatus includes a fiber placement head, an articulated wrist apparatus, and a wrist mounting adapter for connecting the compact fiber placement apparatus to a fiber placement machine. The components of the compact fiber placement apparatus are operatively connected to one another by a wrist rotation torque motor, a head rotation torque motor, and a wrist pivot torque motor, to provide pivoting and rotating motion. A redirect arrangement includes a pivot redirect element driven by the wrist rotation torque motor at one half of the rotational speed at which a first and second wrist element of the articulated wrist apparatus pivot with respect to one another.
US07703493B2
A tire suitable for extended-mobility travel includes sidewalls reinforced by a sidewall insert, namely an inner insert in the inner sidewall, and an outer insert in the outer sidewall. The inserts are made of rubber composition enabling the sidewalls to bear a load corresponding to part of the weight of the vehicle in a situation in which the inflation pressure is substantially reduced or zero. The inner sidewall, and more particularly the insert of this inner sidewall, has a substantially higher modulus of extension than the outer sidewall (and more particularly than the insert of this outer sidewall). The outer insert is subdivided into at least two zones; the inner insert can comprise one or more zones, but always fewer than the number of zones of the outer insert.
US07703491B2
To provide a pneumatic tire capable of improving resistance to stone drilling while ensuring snow traction performance, protrusions are arranged at intervals in a groove, each of the protrusions being lower than a height of a block and being separated from the block. The protrusion includes a protrusion main portion having a top portion, and a sloped portion having a slope of which angle with a groove bottom is formed in a range from 3 to 60°. The sloped portion is formed at positions in two directions which are mutually opposite to each other at least along the groove. Consequently, a stone trapped within the groove moves up to the top portion along the slope, and is ejected from the groove. Since the protrusions are arranged separately from the block and are arranged at intervals, the capacity of the groove is ensured. Thus, the resistance to stone drilling can be improved while the snow traction performance is ensured.
US07703483B2
The present invention is directed to a syringe filling station that can fill a syringe with a specified volume of fluid. In one embodiment, the syringe filling station comprises a reservoir attachment, a fluid delivery system, a syringe retaining guide, and a pump to move fluid from a reservoir to a syringe. The fluid delivery system may comprise a sterile consumable cartridge that is insertable into the filling station and defines a fluid pathway from a reservoir to a syringe. The syringe filling station may also include a user interface. An operator can input commands into the user interface to specify the amount of fluid to dispense into the syringe. The user interface may be connected to a processor that controls the rate of pumping and thereby can fill a syringe with a desired amount of fluid. The filling station may also include sensors that detect air in the tubing, depletion of the reservoir, among other things.
US07703471B2
A single-action discharge valve for discharging a vessel's contents. The valve has a valve body with a passage therethrough through which the contents are discharged, a frangible seal held within the valve body and sealing the passage while the seal is intact, and a solenoid including an armature moveable from a first to a second position. As the armature moves, pins or teeth impact and break the frangible seal. Magnets hold the armature in the first position until the solenoid is actuated. The armature is substantially exterior of the passage so that discharge is unimpeded. In one embodiment, the pins reciprocate radially when cammed by the armature and impact the sidewall of a frangible dome seal. In other embodiments, teeth on the armature, or pins in the armature's path, reciprocate parallel to the armature's movement and impact a frangible disk.
US07703470B2
A safety switch of a gas stove includes a main member including a cone valve chamber, a first chamber, a second chamber, an input tunnel, a first output tunnel and a second output tunnel connected to the second chamber and outside. A close member, an electromagnetic valve and a first temperature controller are mounted in the valve chamber, the first chamber and the second chamber respectively. A second temperature controller and a knob set are mounted on the main member. The knob set is connected to the close member, the first temperature controller and the electromagnetic valve to turn the close member and activate the first temperature controller and the electromagnetic valve for control of gas flowing into the input tunnel or flowing out of the first and second output tunnels. The present invention provides the functions of sequent ignition, shut the gas when flame is out, and temperature control.
US07703468B2
A tent (10) with extendable windows (14) having a main structure (12) including a plurality of walls (16, 18, 20) which are oriented at a first angle (60) with respect to a vertical reference. The tent (10) also includes at least one window (14) which is extendable to a second angle (62) with respect to a vertical reference, where the second angle (62) is more negative angle than the first angle (60) thus producing windows (14) which are horizontally extendable further than the tent walls (16, 18, 20).
US07703465B2
A locking assembly is disclosed for use with a walker or a rollator having foldable side members. The locking assembly includes a locking pin movable between a first position in which the corresponding side member is held in a locked, unfolded state and a second position in which the side member is in an unlocked, folded state. A lock plate extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the corresponding side member, and includes an aperture adapted to receive a locking end of the locking pin when the pin is in its first position. A lever is coupled to the locking pin such that when the lever is pivoted by upwardly applied pressure, the locking pin is moved from its first position to its second position to permit rotation of the corresponding side member to its folded state.
US07703459B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for mapping out endoluminal gastrointestinal surgery, including endoluminal gastric reduction. Mapping is achieved by locally marking the interior of the gastrointestinal lumen at specified locations. In some variations, mucosectomy and/or mucosal ablation are performed to map out endoluminal GI surgery, to facilitate direct endoluminal engagement of underlying muscularis tissue and/or to initiate a wound healing response. Specialized apparatus may be provided to achieve desired spacing and/or positioning of tissue markings, as well as to actually form the markings. Methods of using apparatus of the present invention are provided.
US07703456B2
A coating composition that is incorporated into a facemask to reduce fogging and glare is provided. For example, in one embodiment, the facemask contains a shield or visor formed from a transparent substrate having at least one surface applied with the coating composition of the present invention. The present inventors have unexpectedly discovered that one or more water-soluble organic polymers, such as ethyl hydroxyethylcellulose, may be utilized as a principal component of the coating composition to reduce fogging and glare in a simple, yet effective manner.
US07703433B2
The rotary internal combustion engine is a rotary internal combustion engine that uses the unique combination of multiple rotors on a vertical axis with piston vanes, which are intersected by horizontally oriented valve rings so that rotating rotors intersect gaps on the rotating valve rings, thus creating the intake compression and power and exhaust cycles on this internal combustion engine. The unique design allows the motor to operation as either a motor or pump. High volume of compressed air virtually eliminates the need for a storage tank. These engines are an elegant solution that fulfills the century long quest for quiet, clean, highly efficient rotary power. When available, the demand for the benefits of rotary piston power in air, surface, and marine applications, will be immediate and rewarding.
US07703429B2
A balancing shaft unit for balancing inertia or torque in an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The balancing shaft unit includes a housing part and at least one balancing shaft having at least one counterweight. The housing part is made in one piece and has at least two integrated bearing sections with a respective bearing opening. A respective cut-out is formed at longitudinal ends of the balancing shaft in which a respective bearing pin is arranged that is rigidly connected to the balancing shaft and which has a cylindrical bearing section that is supported in a respective one of the bearing openings.
US07703424B2
In a variable valve actuation system of an internal combustion engine employing a variable valve actuator capable of variably adjusting at least intake valve closure timing depending on engine operating conditions, a processor of a control unit is programmed to phase-advance the intake valve closure timing to a predetermined timing value after a piston top dead center position and before a piston bottom dead center position on intake stroke during at least one of an engine starting period and an engine stopping period. The variable valve actuator includes a biasing device by which the intake valve closure timing is permanently biased toward the predetermined timing value.
US07703422B2
The proposed internal combustion engine may be characterized by two mobile opposite cylinders rigidly attached to each other. Said cylinders move simultaneously in the same direction. The motions of said cylinders are transferred via a connecting rod and hinges to the rotational movements of the crankshaft. Inside the opposite cylinders are two mobile opposite pistons rigidly attached to each other and rigidly secured to the housing of the engine. There are two working cavities of variable volume between the corresponding opposite pistons and the opposite cylinders. The intake and exhaust valves with intake and exhaust manifolds, injectors with fuel pipes, spark plugs with high voltage wires, are placed on the said pistons. The compressor is rigidly connected to the engine housing and supplies air under high pressure to the working cavities of the engine through the air intake manifold. During the operation of the engine, the intake and exhaust valves participate in providing the compression stroke and power stroke, when both valves are closed. When both valves are open (during the intake and exhaust strokes) the blowing of air under high pressure from the compressor takes place, in order to cool the working cavity of the engine. During the period of time between the closing of the exhaust valve at the end of the intake stroke and the closing of the intake valve at the beginning of the compression stroke, compressor supercharging of the working cavity of the engine takes place.
US07703420B1
A heat exchanger is provided for dissipating heat from a dual turbocharged engine. The heat exchanger has a jacket water cooler, and first and second charge air coolers. The three coolers are arranged in parallel enabling each to operate with a maximum temperature differential, and have fronts that lie in parallel planes. Charge air from a first turbocharger is directly piped to the first charge air cooler, and charge air from the second turbocharger is directly piped to the second charge air cooler. A first baffle is between and upstream of the first charge air cooler and the jacket water cooler. A second baffle is between and upstream of the second charge air cooler and the jacket water cooler. The baffles can direct selected amounts of air to each of the three coolers and prevent radial convective scrubbing. A fuel oil cooler can also be provided.
US07703408B2
A ski structure for use with a boat hull to support the hull above the water when the boat is underway, the ski structure comprising an air tight housing in the form of an inverted U-shaped shell and a floor which forms a main ski surface and which extends between opposite sides of the U-shaped shell. The ski structure also includes a pair of assist skies or glides positioned lower than the main ski surface which extend substantially the length of the shell and which are adapted to plane on the surface of the water.
US07703406B2
A ship and associated methods of operation. In an example embodiment, a method of operating a ship includes providing multiple vessels each having a first deck attached to two spaced-apart hull sections. The deck and hull sections define a cavity when the vessel is afloat. A plurality of like coupling mechanisms are provided, each suitable for joining two of the vessels. First and second vessels are joined along starboard and port sides of the deck of the second vessel with one of the coupling mechanisms. Joining is effected by attaching a first of the hull sections on the first vessel to the deck of the second vessel along the port side of the second vessel, and attaching a second of the hull sections on the first vessel to the deck of the second vessel along the starboard side of the second vessel. When coupled to one another the deck of the second vessel is positioned between the first and second hull sections of the first vessel. Attaching of the first vessel to the second vessel includes positioning of a first pin between the first hull section and the deck of the second vessel and positioning of a second pin between the second hull section and the deck of the second vessel. The first coupling mechanism limits movement of the first and second vessels, with respect to one another, to movement about a single axis of rotation, this permitting the first vessel to undergo changes in pitch relative to the second vessel.
US07703404B2
A seed tank arrangement is provided with improved access to seed tanks of an agricultural planter and the contents thereof, while simplifying the manufacturing of such tanks. The seed tank has a fill opening formed in the upper surface of the tank for loading and accessing seeds in the interior of the tank. Features of the tank are mirror images about a diagonal plane of the tank, which enables the same tank to be used for both the left and right sides of the planter. This is achieved by rotating the left tank 90 degrees with respect to the right tank. The design provides improved access to the interior of the tanks for filling and servicing the seed.
US07703398B2
A table is provided which has variable dimensions, especially a long length, and is mainly used in offices and conferences. The base of the table is supported by feet (6) and carries table leaves (1,1) which are brought together at the longitudinal sides thereof, and an insert (8,81) which can be inserted in-between the leaves, can have different configurations and can be used as a support for various structures. The base of the table includes at least two transversal supports (2) provided with a central sunken channel region (20) from which two extension arms (21) respectively extended in opposite directions, the feet (6) being mounted on the arms, and lateral struts (4) supporting the table leaves (1,1) being arranged on the outside.
US07703393B2
Actuators are used to adjust a contact pressure exerted by a roller on an adjacent rotating body in a roller strip, or for arranging the roller on the rotating body or for separating the roller from the adjacent rotating body. The roller has ends that are mounted in a roller lock which includes several of these actuators. The actuators are supplied with a fluid under pressure, with a pressure level that can be controlled. The actuators, and preferably also the roller lock, have an identification characteristic such that for a selected roller lock, the contact pressure of a control unit, which can be actuated remotely, and which is exerted by the roller on the adjacent rotating body, can be adjusted by the actuators in response to the pressure level supplied to these actuators.
US07703390B2
A roller grill separating device having a clip capable of being attached to a grill roller, a center section, and upper sign clips to hold supplemental signage. The center section stabilizes the device and prevents it from rotating. The center section accommodates a cross bar, a separator bar, a thermometer, and signs. A plurality of devices can be used to form a wall or the device can be used with a separator bar and a crossover bar to create a separate area on the grill so that uncooked products do not touch cooked products. One or more device can be replaced with a flavor identification device. The flavor identification device includes a slide-in signage area for sign clips that are used for identifying and marketing different types of food products such as hot dogs. The device is inexpensive to make, is sanitary and made of a heat resistant material.
US07703387B2
The present invention is a steak weight having a single-piece triangular design comprising a rigid bottom plate portion having two opposite side portions disposed upwardly and inwardly joining above the central portion of said bottom plate portion to form a durable handle portion with each of said side portions having a slot for the user to insert his or her fingers to grip the steak weight, and a removable handle sheath covering the handle portion. Alternate embodiments include a handle configuration having one end disconnected from the side portions and an “L” shaped handle configuration.
US07703383B2
Method for preparing cappuccino wherein at least one coffee pad filled with ground coffee and an instant and/or liquid creamer are utilized, the method further comprising the following method-steps: hot water is forced under pressure through the coffee pad for obtaining coffee extract;—the coffee extract is supplied under pressure to at least one nozzle for obtaining a coffee extract jet, the coffee extract jet is aimed at a first buffer reservoir already filled with the creamer so that in the first buffer reservoir the cappuccino is formed and the cappuccino is discharged from the first buffer reservoir.
US07703381B2
A beverage extraction assembly for application to beverage extraction machines for extracting a beverage from a particulate substance contained in a cartridge, comprising: a support connectable to a water outlet of a beverage extraction machine; a cartridge holder removably mounted on the support for holding a cartridge containing a particulate substance, the cartridge comprising at least a first cartridge port protruding outwardly from its upper surface for receiving water under pressure; the support comprising a water inlet port connectable to the water outlet, for delivering the water to the first cartridge port, the cartridge holder comprising a bottom aperture for providing an escape for the extracted beverage; the water inlet port of the support comprising means for providing a radial fluid-tight seal between the water inlet port and the first cartridge port.
US07703377B2
A piston/cylinder unit is disclosed. The piston/cylinder unit includes a pressure tube having one end; a piston rod axially movable in the pressure tube, the piston rod extending through the one end of the pressure tube so that a portion of the piston rod is disposed outside the pressure tube; a casing tube attached to the portion of the piston rod, the casing tube at least partially enveloping the pressure tube; and a bush attached to the pressure tube, wherein the bush is disposed between the casing tube and the pressure tube so that the casing tube is axially movable relative to the pressure tube via the bush.
US07703374B1
A top cover and safing blade assembly replaces the prior art top cover and safing sector in 7.62 miniguns. The top cover and aft camming portion of a longitudinal helical track are combined in a single unit, thus permitting the forward camming portion of the helical track, incorporated in the safing blade, to be removed separately. Safing the gun by opening the safing blade and rearming it by closing the safing blade can be accomplished in far less time than is required in prior art safing systems. Live cartridges can be quickly cleared from the minigun by electrically rotating the barrels after the safing blade has been locked in its open position.
US07703369B1
A combination bullet seating and factory crimp die includes a collet closing die, a crimping collet, a die cap, a seating lock, a bullet depth adjustment screw and a trigger. The crimping collet is inserted into the collet closing die. The trigger is placed in the collet closing die. The bullet depth adjustment screw is threaded into the seating lock. The seating lock is inserted into the die cap. The seating lock includes a sear groove for receiving a C-ring sear. The collet closing die is threaded into the die cap. A bullet seater is retained in the seating lock. In use, a bullet on a mouth of a cartridge case is pushed into the crimping collet. The bullet seater seats the bullet. The trigger pushes the C-ring sear into the sear groove, which allows the mouth of the cartridge to be crimped without moving the bullet.
US07703363B2
An apparatus for generating and manipulating a high-pressure fluid jet includes an assembly coupled to a motion assembly that imparts motion to the assembly along one or more axes. The motion assembly includes two motors coupled together to form a gimbal wrist, each motor having an axis of rotation. The two axes of rotation of the two motors can be perpendicular to each other, but are not necessarily aligned with the manipulator's axes of motion. The high-pressure fluid assembly incorporates a swivel that can rotate about two axes which may be parallel to the two motors' axes of rotation, allowing the high-pressure tubing contained therein to follow the motion imparted by the gimbal wrist of the motion assembly.
US07703350B2
A bicycle control device is provided with a lever bracket and an electrical unit. The lever bracket is movably supporting the control lever. The electrical unit is coupled to the lever bracket. The lever bracket includes a bracket body and a bracket lid. The bracket body has a rearwardly located bicycle mounting portion, a control lever mounting portion and a forwardly located unit mounting portion containing the electrical unit. The bracket lid is releasably coupled to a forwardly face of the unit mounting portion of the bracket body to at least partially enclose the electrical unit in the unit mounting portion of the bracket body.
US07703344B2
A duct detector includes sampling tubes which slidably engage the detector with a fixed orientation to facilitate fluid flow. The tubes have a connector portion and a conduit portion. The connector portion and the conduit portion engage one another with a predetermined orientation.
US07703343B1
An apparatus for measuring three-dimensional spatial locations of pipes and other features in manholes and similar structures. A laser distance meter or other electronic distance measuring device is supported centrally in the manhole opening by a pivot assembly that permits the device to both rotate in the horizontal plane and pivot in the vertical plane. Electronic angle sensors record the distance and orientation of the laser distance meter at each measurement point, from which the three-dimensional spatial location of the pipe or other feature is then calculated.
US07703341B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a pressure detecting apparatus that is less affected from noises and can be constructed in a large size. The pressure detecting apparatus according to the present invention utilizes electromagnetic coupling. The sensor section comprises first coils 1, second coils 2 provided on the first coils such that they are superimposed to each other, and a first cushion member 3 provided between the first coils and the second coils. A drive circuit for driving either of the first coils and the second coils and a detection circuit for detecting pressure applied against the sensor section on the basis of signals resulting from electromagnetic coupling from the other of the first coils and the second coils are connected to the sensor section. The sensor sections are disposed in a matrix state so that measurements of pressure distribution can be effected.
US07703340B2
A force sensor chip which comprises: a base member, which includes an action portion to which an external force is applied through an attenuator, a support portion supporting the action portion, and a connection portion which connects the action portion and the support portion and deflects according to the applied external force; and a plurality of strain resistance elements which are arranged in the connection portion and detect the applied external force based on a deflection of the connection portion, wherein longitudinal directions of the plurality of the strain resistance elements are oriented in an identical direction.
US07703339B2
A flow sensor has an inlet chamber with a first pressure sensor and an inlet port for receiving fluid, and an outlet chamber with a second pressure sensor and an outlet port. The flow sensor also has an anemometer in fluid communication with at least one of the two chambers.
US07703329B2
There is provided a pressure sensor having: a sensor chip (30) which detects a pressure; a base plate (20 (21, 22)) which supports the sensor chip (30); and a support diaphragm (50) which is bonded to the base plate (20 (21, 22)) and supports the base plate (20 (21, 22)), wherein the pressure sensor (1) has a structure in which the support diaphragm (50) is joined to a package (10), and the sensor chip (30) and the base plate (20 (21, 22)) are supported in the package through the support diaphragm (50) alone, thereby constantly and accurately detecting a pressure without being affected by a heat stress caused due to heat from the outside.
US07703327B2
An apparatus and method for inspecting a structure are provided which include receiving probes and area transducers disposed proximate opposite surfaces of a structure under inspection. An area transducer uniformly emits ultrasonic signals over an area which may be scanned by a receiving probe without corresponding movement of the area transducer. An area transducer may be moved over the surface of the structure or repositioned to provide additional inspection area for the receiving probe to scan, including to provide for continuous inspection. Multiple area transducers may be used in sequence to provide for continuous inspection. Multiple receiving probes may be used, independently or collectively as an array, to increase inspection of a structure, taking advantage of the large area of ultrasonic signals emitted by one or more area transducers.
US07703322B2
A liquid level detecting device for detecting liquid level contained in a tank includes a float and an arm that moves in a prescribed manner when liquid level changes, a permanent magnet for forming a magnetic field, a hall IC for generating an electric signal in response to the motion of the magnetic field, a rotary member linked with the arm and the permanent magnet for moving the magnetic field relative to the hall IC as the float and the arm move, a terminal member for connecting the hall IC to an outside control circuit; and a mold body including a resinous holder for holding the hall IC and the terminal member. The resinous holder includes a sheath for insulating the hall IC from heat and mechanical stress generated when the mold body is formed.
US07703311B2
A key system including a key for use with a barrel lock having a rotating locking mechanism. The key includes a grip portion and a shank portion operatively attached to the grip portion. The shank portion includes at least one cam surface for rotatably engaging the rotating locking mechanism to permit rotation of the mechanism in one of a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, but not the other direction, to lock the barrel lock.
US07703306B2
A washing machine is provided that includes a tub and a perforated basket rotationally mounted within the tub for relative rotation therewith. A recirculation system is coupled between the tub and the basket and is configured to remove wash liquid from the tub and return wash liquid to the basket. A controller is operatively coupled to the washing machine. The controller is configured to begin recirculation of concentrated wash liquid after an initial fill during a basket slow spin and continue the recirculation of concentrated wash liquid for a predetermined time period prior to a complete fill.
US07703302B2
A mounting device for hand-worn jewelry in the shape of two open rings joined together at their ends essentially forming an inverted ‘m.’ The mounting device comprises two semicircular arcs joined together to form the bottom of the inverted ‘m’ shape and three vertical stems connected at their lower end to the semi-circular arcs thus forming the legs of the inverted ‘m’. Caps are affixed to the tip of the stems, to allow anchoring of the mounting device to the webbing of the hand and also to provide on their upper surface a mounting and display area for mounting precious stones or for engraving artistic motifs.
US07703299B2
An ice-making machine having an ice-forming surface upon which ice is formed, a refrigeration system including a microchannel evaporator that cools the ice-forming surface, and a water-supply system. The microchannel evaporator includes a microchannel tube that facilitates a distributed cooling effect in a contact area between the microchannel tube and the ice-forming surface. In some embodiments, the microchannel tube includes a series of recessed portions that define insulated regions and divide the tube into non-insulated regions. The insulated and non-insulated regions can be dimensioned to form individual ice cubes on the ice-forming surface. In other embodiments, spaces between microchannel tubes and/or spaces between the ice-forming surface and microchannel tubes can form insulated regions at least partially defining the size and shape of ice produced by the ice-making machine. The ice-forming surface can be attached to the microchannel tubes by adhesive and/or cohesive bonding material (such as glue, epoxy, or other adhesive).
US07703297B2
A refrigerator having an ice and water dispenser. The dispenser includes an ice chute door actuated by an electric motor for reducing energy consumption over traditional solenoid activated doors.
US07703294B2
An air conditioner indoor unit has a casing main body and a front panel. The casing main body has an outlet for passing air out into a room. The front panel covers the outlet as seen in a front surface view. Furthermore, the front panel opens and closes the outlet. In addition, the front panel has a projection area greater than the outlet as seen in a front view when the outlet is closed.
US07703293B2
A refrigerator comprises a main cabinet formed with a storage compartment, a partition which partitions the storage compartment into a first storage compartment, a second storage compartment, a multipurpose compartment; a first evaporator provided to the main cabinet to generate cool air supplied to the first storage compartment; a second evaporator which is provided to the main cabinet to generate the cool air supplied to the second storage compartment; a first sub cool air duct which guides the cool air generated from the first evaporator to the multipurpose compartment; a second sub cool air duct which guides the cool air generated from the second evaporator to the multipurpose compartment; and at least one sub cool air supplying apparatus provided to the first sub cool air duct and the second sub cool air duct to supply the cool air from the first evaporator and the second evaporator to the multipurpose compartment.
US07703280B2
A hydraulic ride control system for a working vehicle such as a wheel loader is provided with boom cylinders, an actuator control valve for controlling a pressure in bottom pressure chambers of the boom cylinders, an accumulator connected to the bottom pressure chambers of the boom cylinders via a connection line, an opening control valve having a pilot chamber to selectively communicating or cutting off the connection line depending on a pressure in the pilot chamber, and a selector unit for selectively feeding a pressure to or draining a pressure from the pilot chamber. The selector unit comprises a controller for variably controlling an opening of the opening control valve.
US07703272B2
A method and system augments shaft output of gas turbine engines that can be used in multiple modes of operation. The system comprises a washing unit capable of injecting atomized water into the gas turbine engine, thereby obtaining a release of fouling material from the at least one compressor blade; and at least one water injection unit capable of injecting atomized water into the air stream of the gas turbine engine's inlet duct or at the gas turbine, under the control of a computational fluid dynamic model, in order to increase a mass flow of said air flow, wherein the power output from said gas turbine engine can be augmented.
US07703268B2
A rotary mowing implement including a rotary cutter bar disk, at least one hub, a blade element, a pin, and a pin retaining mechanism. The at least one hub is connected to the rotary cutter bar disk. The blade element has a hole therein. The pin couples the blade element to the hub. The pin is insertable through the hole and is removably coupled to the hub. The pin retaining mechanism couples the pin to the hub.
US07703265B2
A web packaging system provides easy access and changing of forming plug tooling.
US07703264B2
To orient groups of products to be packaged in a plastic film the groups (G) are wrapped in lengths of film and fed between two series of opposite conveyor belts (211, 212). Each series of belts comprises several parallel belts controlled at proportionally variable speeds to cause the group (G) to rotate through approximately 90° about an axis orthogonal to the direction of feed.
US07703255B1
A wall and door hole repair kit used for repairing a hole accidentally punched or intentionally cut during repair or remodeling of a wall or door. The repair kit includes a thin sheet first brace and a thin sheet second brace. A width of one or both braces is dimensioned for receipt inside the hole. Each of the two braces includes a round tube opening with a tube compression slit. The compression slits are disposed next to the tube openings. A small rubber or plastic tube is received through the tube openings in the first and second braces. An adhesive is applied to an inside surface of the first brace. The adhesive is used for securing the first brace to the inside of the wall or door and next to the hole. A portion of the tube is then inserted in the compression slits to hold the braces firmly against an inside and outside of the wall or door and next to the hole. When the adhesive dries, the second brace is removed and the hole is filed with wood putty, spackle and the like and using the first brace as a working surface inside the hole.
US07703251B2
A 3-dimensional decorative panel is disclosed to easily embody a wanted 3-dimensional shape by using Styrofoam having good heat insulation and workability. The panel includes a drain groove (22) formed on a side of the Styrofoam (20) for draining a rainwater, and a metal plate (10) coupled to a rear surface of the Styrofoam (20), the metal plate having a plurality of bent portions (11), and a reinforcing core (12) being attached to the metal plate 10. A polygarde (30), silicon (31), a polygarde (30), a primer (32), and a colored layer (33) are sequentially layered on a surface of the Styrofoam (20) in order to enhance a durability of the Styrofoam (20).
US07703250B2
What is described is an extruded ceramic facade panel (20) for a ventilated curtain-type facade structure, comprising at least one preferably rear head rebate (25) and one preferably rear foot rebate (26) and also at least one core running in the direction of extrusion, in which panel the wall between the core hole (24) and the rear of the facade panel has at least one elevation (22e) and the thickness of the wall between the highest point of the elevation (22e) and the rear of the facade panel is identical to the thickness of the head rebate (25) and/or to the thickness of the foot rebate (26). A method of producing such a facade panel is also described.
US07703245B2
A seal system is utilized with flat, rough, and/or ribbed wall surfaces and includes a top dock pad and two substantially parallel side dock pads, which substantially frame a doorway at a loading dock. The dock pads are secured to the wall by a plurality of mounting brackets. The dock pads include a first foam layer coupled to a rear portion of a backing structure. The first foam layer operates to accommodate, or substantially “fill-in”, any surface irregularities of the building wall surface, such as a rough wall texture and rib surfaces, to provide an airtight or substantially airtight seal between the building and the seal structure. The dock pads also include a second foam layer coupled to a front portion of the backing structure. The second foam layer is employed to create an effective seal between the building and a rear portion of a vehicle.
US07703218B2
A traction device for a boot has a felt platform with a toe section and a heel section, and a heel extension attached to the heel section. Cording passes through two pairs of passages in each of the toe section and the heel extension. On each side, the cording passing from a toe section passage to a heel extension passage forms a side stringer, and the cord extending beyond the heel extension forms a cord extension segment. Loops are provided on each side stringer, and the cord extension segments are each passed through one of the loops before being cinched to tighten the cording against the boot. Preferably, a single length of cord is employed and the loops are tied into the side stringers. It is also preferred for the toe section passages to be positioned on ear extensions that protrude from a body of the felt platform.
US07703217B2
A drying and storing apparatus for powdered or granular material and a feeding system for powdered or granular material. The apparatus comprises a heating and drying chamber having a discharge port at its lower end and a thermal conductive heating means therein and a hopper chamber connected to the upper end of the heating and drying chamber, in which the heating and drying chamber and the hopper chamber constitute a integrally combined material storage processing tank for powdered or granular material.
US07703214B2
Rulers and templates that are used to create several connected picots (or prairie points) made from a single piece of material, as well as methods for making and using such rulers, are described in this application. The rulers described in this application have a plurality of evenly spaced, alternating slots formed or cut in opposite, parallel edges of a substrate, resulting in evenly spaced, alternating tabs located on the opposite, parallel edges of the substrate. The ruler may be used to cut or mark material into connected squares that may be folded to make picots. The resulting picots are of uniform size and spacing, and are connected as a unitary piece of material.
US07703212B2
A machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system optical target assembly incorporating an adaptor for attachment of an optical target to a vehicle wheel assembly. The adaptor includes at least three contact points for abutment against surfaces of a vehicle wheel assembly, and an attachment mechanism configured to grip surfaces of a tire mounted to the wheel rim to hold the optical target assembly in contact with the wheel assembly surface. The optical target is secured to the adaptor, and maintained in a fixed relationship to the wheel assembly thereby during a vehicle wheel alignment measurement procedure.
US07703206B1
A wheel pylon includes a tubular mounting shaft that slidably receives a tubular support shaft. A helical spring is disposed within the shafts and a stop, formed from a resilient material, is mounted upon an end of the support shaft. The wheel pylon extends axially to accommodate wheel discs having different axial recess depths.
US07703199B2
Solder balls, such as, low melt C4 solder balls undergo volume expansion during reflow. Where the solder balls are encapsulated, expansion pressure can cause damage to device integrity. A volume expansion region in the semiconductor chip substrate beneath each of the solder balls accommodates volume expansion. Air-cushioned diaphgrams, deformable materials and non-wettable surfaces may be used to permit return of the solder during cooling to its original site. A porous medium with voids sufficient to accommodate expansion may also be used.
US07703197B2
Apparatus and methods for removing components from a circuit board. A conveyor transports circuit boards having components attached with solder through a heating section. When the solder has been melted by application of electromagnetic radiation, the circuit board is subjected to mechanical forces that dislodge the components to be removed from the circuit board. In one embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation is supplied by heaters operating at color temperatures in the vicinity of 973 Kelvin. The components are recovered in a form that allows their reuse.
US07703186B1
A casket and burial system for human remains includes a casket fabricated from plastics and polymer composites, such as glass-fiber reinforced plastic. The casket includes a base member, a cover member fitting atop the base, and top and bottom closure panels having one or more ports for use in replacing the ambient atmosphere within the sealed casket with a selected gas or fluid such as nitrogen, or to inject a plastic foam into the free space remaining in the casket. The casket is preferably interred in a vertical attitude as that arrangement allows up to four caskets to fit within a standard grave plot.
US07703183B2
A coil zipper structure for elongating the life time of the conventional zipper that includes a first coil and a second coil, wherein the first coil and the second coil are respectively formed by linking plural engaging rings, and each engaging ring has a teeth portion for mutual engagement; and a sliding element, mounted between the first coil and the second coil for separating or engaging the engaging rings, wherein the engaging ring has an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion, in which the lower edge portion is fixed on a base cloth and the upper edge portion has a strengthened flat surface. Since the upper edge portion of the engaging ring is the strengthened flat surface, the collision or pulling and dragging between the sliding element and the upper edge portion can be reduced, so as to elongating the life time of the zipper.
US07703177B2
A mobile apparatus includes a main body, a display part, and a hinge device. The hinge device opens and closes the display part from the main body and allows the display part to rotate. The hinge device includes a sliding unit that slides with respect to the main body, and a rotary unit rotatably formed with the sliding unit to engage the display part. The hinge device requires less installation space so that the mobile apparatus may be more compact. Furthermore, there is no visible installation line of the hinge device so that the mobile apparatus may have a more refined design.
US07703175B2
A curl spring mount has a separate cover that can snap fit into the mount to cover and protect the curl springs. A portion of the cover disposed over the vertical space occupied by the curl springs is arranged outside a jamb channel so that the curl springs can occupy the full width of the channel. A shield portion of the cover extends transversely of the jamb channel above the curl springs to protect them from dirt.
US07703161B1
A vehicle extrication preparatory tool includes an elongated body portion with an ergonomic bend in the middle. A handle is provided forward of the bend extending in an upward direction perpendicularly to the rear section of the body. Incorporated into the upward end of the handle is a window punch. A pry bar is attached to the rearward end of the body portion. Incorporated into the forward end of the tool is a swivel segment. The swivel segment incorporates both a windshield spike and a windshield saw blade. In the open position, the saw blade extends from the swivel segment, running parallel with the front section of the body and the spike extends upward from the swivel segment perpendicular to the rear section of the body. When closed, the saw blade fits inside a slot in the body portion extending from the swivel segment inline with the front section of the body and the spike extends downward perpendicular to the rear section of the body from the swivel segment.
US07703160B2
An inflatable mattress has a body and a coverlet. The body is hollow, is inflatable and has a top, a sidewall and at least one first engaging member attached to the sidewall of the body. The coverlet is mounted detachably on and covers the body and has at least one second engaging member attached to the coverlet and corresponding respectively to and detachably engaged respectively with the at least one first engaging member on the body. The coverlet is mounted tightly on the body and would not be shifted by persons' movement on the inflatable mattress.
US07703159B2
A ridged base with a ridge above/adjacent to a platform zone providing surface(s) for a baby. The system preferably includes ridged base positioned over support base. Support base provides layer of flexibly firm material of depth. The ridged base may approximate any of multiple shapes. Wearer of system may chose shape optimized for them and/or best supports baby's positioning needs. The width of the baby feeding system preferably fits most nursing chairs. A separable cover attaching to a belt. Using the belt includes the belt adjustably fastened, after going around a person wearing the system. The worn version of the baby feeding system is a product of using the belt. The belt releases without tending to wake baby allowing wearer to create released baby feeding system, as a product of this process. A process choosing invention's components with commitment to pay revenue. Chosen component(s), system and revenue are process products.
US07703155B1
A corner connector for a mattress foundation assembly and a mattress foundation assembly, wherein the corner connector includes a main body portion extending from a bottom surface to a top surface; a first corner abutment surface extending from a terminating edge to the top surface; a second corner abutment surface extending from a terminating edge of the top surface; a first side surface of the main body portion; a second side surface of the main body portion, wherein the first side surface and the second side surface are formed at substantially 90° relative to one another; a first abutment surface extending from a terminating edge of the first side surface; a second abutment surface extending from a terminating edge of the second side surface; and a radiused surface extending from a terminating edge of the first abutment surface to a terminating edge of the second abutment surface.
US07703150B2
An inexpensive, multi-purpose, durable garment in the nature of a child's vest for general wear which easily accepts the shoulder strap of a vehicle seat belt system regardless of the child's seated position in the vehicle, is light in weight, easy to put on and take off, comfortable to wear, encourages the habit of seat belt use and is appealing and attractive to children.
US07707641B2
A system for secure delivery of on-demand content over broadband access networks utilizes a pair of servers of security mechanisms to prevent client processes from accessing and executing content without authorization. A plurality of encrypted titles are stored on a content server coupled to the network. An access server also coupled to the network contains the network addresses of the titles and various keying and authorization data necessary to decrypt and execute title. A client application executing on a user's local computer system is required to retrieve the address, keying and authorization data from the access server before retrieving a title from the content server and enabling execution of the title on a user's local computer system.
US07707640B2
A method for copy protection includes receiving data in a recording module representing content to be recorded on a recording medium, the data including an indication that the content is to be protected from unauthorized copying. Responsive to the indication, the recording module signals a protection module to initiate a protection protocol in synchronization with the recording module. The protection module generates control information, so as to prevent the unauthorized copying of the content that is to be protected, and conveys the control information to the recording module, in accordance with the protocol. The recording module combines the control information with the data representing the content in the recording module, for recording on the recording medium.
US07707633B2
A method of progressive response for invoking and suspending blocking measures that defend against network anomalies such as malicious network traffic so that false positives and false negatives are minimized. When an anomaly is detected, the detector notifies protective equipment such as a firewall or a router to invoke a blocking measure. The blocking measure is maintained for an initial duration, after which it is suspended while another test for the anomaly is made. If the anomaly is no longer evident, the method returns to the state of readiness. Otherwise, a loop is executed to re-apply the blocking measure for a specified duration, then suspend the blocking measure and test again for the anomaly. If the anomaly is detected, the blocking measure is re-applied, and its duration is adapted. If the anomaly is no longer detected, the method returns to the state of readiness.
US07707628B2
A network system has a firewall that connects an external network and an internal network. A terminal device is provided on the external network. An application server is provided on the internal network and provides data to the terminal device based on a request from the terminal device. An external server is provided on a DMZ of the firewall or on the external network, and relays communication between the terminal device and the application server based on the request from the terminal device through an internal server. The internal server is provided on the internal network, and relays communication between the external server and the application server. The internal server has an encrypting unit that encrypts the packet in such a manner that an encrypted packet is able to be decrypted only by the terminal device.
US07707618B1
A system and method for limiting access using file-level protocol rule sets. A rule set, comprising of an ordered set of rules, is associated with a virtual file system (VFS). When a data access request is received, the network address of the client originating the data access request is utilized to select a matching rule from the rule set for use in determining access to the VFS. The selected rule is then processed to determine if the data access request is permitted.
US07707613B1
A multimedia system has multiple media sources switchable under user control to a common set of output presentation devices. A table stores parameter values for each media source separately, so that selection of a source changes the parameters of the displayed media to values appropriate for that source. A user input device has selection keys, and also has keys for modifying the values of the parameters. The modified parameter values are stored in the table, so that they persist when the same media device is selected at a later time.
US07707603B2
A collection of digital media is stored at a source device and transferred to a target device. A subset of the collection may be transferred based on a priority related to a points assigned by a user's rating of particular digital media and on rules based on particular user actions.
US07707590B2
An embodiment of the invention is directed to providing robust file system information for non-native devices. In operation, a file system includes both a file storage area for providing access to the contents of files, and a metadata store. The metadata store stores metadata associated with each file or device. When a device is connected to the file system, metadata for that device, and its items, is generated and stored in the metadata store. The metadata persists within the metadata store when the device is disconnected from, or no longer available to, the file system.
US07707589B2
A method and system for directing data transfers between applications and devices residing on different computers or devices using an adaptive flow control protocol has been described. When an application or device requests to transfer data with another application or device, adaptive flow control protocol adapts the way data is transferred by observing when an application that is receiving data posts a receive buffer and detects the receive buffer's size. Based upon the application's or device's behavior, the adaptive flow control protocol transfers the data in a mode that is best suited for the application.
US07707578B1
A thread scheduling mechanism is provided that flexibly enforces performance isolation of multiple threads to alleviate the effect of anti-cooperative execution behavior with respect to a shared resource, for example, hoarding a cache or pipeline, using the hardware capabilities of simultaneous multi-threaded (SMT) or multi-core processors. Given a plurality of threads running on at least two processors in at least one functional processor group, the occurrence of a rescheduling condition indicating anti-cooperative execution behavior is sensed, and, if present, at least one of the threads is rescheduled such that the first and second threads no longer execute in the same functional processor group at the same time.
US07707576B2
A task management method includes determining, when a task other than an operating system task operated cooperatively with a process executed under a control of an operating system requests a cooperative operation to the operating system task and is set in a wait state, whether a priority of the task is higher than a priority of other task set in a wait state by requesting a cooperative operation to the operating system task, and making, when the priority of the task is determined to be higher than the priority of the other task, the operating system task and a process under control of the operating system operated cooperatively with the task succeed the priority of the task.
US07707572B2
There are provided mechanisms and methods for enabling the deployment of applications into new execution environments by adding extensions to base deployment capability for each of the new containers. These mechanisms and methods can enable embodiments to instantiate modules that augment deployment and/or execution environments for applications being deployed. The ability of embodiments to provide augmented deployment and/or execution environments can enable server embodiments to become more flexible environments from the point of view of developers seeking to implement applications on the server.
US07707567B2
An information-processing method usable by an information-processing apparatus is provided. The information-processing-apparatus is used for editing state-transition information usable to construct a state-transition diagram including information on the operation in each of states, information on events each possibly occurring in each specific one of the states to result in a transition, and information on transition directions each indicating the direction of a transition caused by each of the events possibly occurring in the states. The method includes searching for a hardware event not assigned yet as any one of the events, assigning a hardware are event found in a search process carried out at the searching step as a shortcut event if the events include the software event, generating the state-transition diagram on the basis of the state-transition information, and displaying the state-transition diagram.
US07707566B2
A software development architecture is provided for constructing a wide range of software development tools. A software development tool can be created by integrating a specification specifying functionality specific to a set of software development scenarios into a software development scenario-independent framework. The integrated specification can then be compiled to create the software development tool. Alternatively, integration can be achieved at runtime without access to source code. The architecture can use any combination of the following: a software scenario independent intermediate representation format, one or more exception handling models capable of supporting a plurality of programming language specific exception handling models, a type system capable of representing the type representations of a plurality of source languages, and a code generator capable of generating code targeted for a plurality of execution architectures.
US07707565B2
A computer system and computer program product executing a method for consistent and efficient management of program configuration and customizing data for a business application program. According to one method, an existing or newly created version of a global switch configuration is provided in a cache shared by one or more other programs. The cached switch configuration provides a configuration for a switch framework that governs access to one or more program functions of a business application. The cached switch configuration is then attached to the business application to provide an attached version of the switch configuration. Compatibility between the attached version of the switch configuration and the business application is determined. If compatibility exists, the business application program is executed in accordance with the attached version of the switch configuration.
US07707559B2
Where code execution results in an error attributable to multiple data elements, the code is revised so the error results from one element. Where execution improperly functions without error, and the elements contain required but missing properties, the code is improperly functioning in its required-property handling. Errors are organized into classes and error-causing elements are organized into independent sets corresponding to the classes. Elements that are not within any set are determined. Symptom, error, no-error, refined-symptom, and function databases can be employed during code execution analysis. Symptom database entries correspond to elements and indicate errors, or that no errors, are attributable to the elements. Error database entries correspond to elements resulting in errors upon execution. No-error database entries correspond to elements resulting in no errors upon execution. Refined-symptom database entries correspond to root cause elements of errors. Function database entries correspond to root cause elements of no errors.
US07707534B2
A design tool for printed circuit boards displays a graphical representation of a printed circuit board layout through a graphical user interface (GUI). Comments for particular components of the printed circuit board layout can be entered through the graphical user interface. The comments are stored in a data file associated with the printed circuit board layout. Comments can be entered and viewed by multiple users in real time. Comments can be displayed through the graphical user interface in proximity to the component associated with the comment, thereby improving the efficiency with which designers can review and implement suggested changes to the PCB layout.
US07707528B1
Methods and systems for integrating both models and rules into a verification flow to address both of these issues. Models are employed to perform simulations to provide more accurate verification results. In addition, the lithography simulation results can be used to fine-tune the rules themselves to provide a more realistic check upon circuit designs.
US07707520B2
Method and apparatus for providing flash based online identities is disclosed. For example, the present invention applies a multimedia animation component such as a Flash component in the present avatars architecture. In one embodiment, each avatar is represented using a plurality of layers, where each layer employs at least two objects. Using two objects for each layer allows the present invention to minimize flicking when the avatar is animated.
US07707516B2
A navigation interface is embedded in imagery and includes various controls for manipulating the imagery. The controls provide various navigation operations, including but not limited to: rotation, tilt, zoom and 360 degree. In some implementations, one or more controls can be operated to restore the imagery to a predetermined state. Some implementations include a control for providing 360 degree movement of imagery. One or more controls can provide incremental and continuous motion of imagery. The navigation interface can fade out or otherwise be obfuscated when the user is not interacting with the navigation controls. A compass or other graphic can replace the navigation interface when it is no longer displayed.
US07707512B2
Systems and methods for context switching within enterprise resource planning systems are contemplated, including a first and second user context. A user performing tasks in the first user context actuates an actuator in communication with a context switcher. The context switcher changes the user's user context from the first user context to the second user context in response to an event. The user is then able to perform tasks in the second user context.
US07707510B1
A user desiring to import digital images from a specified location may select that location. In response, a graphical element such as an arrow will be displayed with the beginning point of the element visually associated with the location. The user may then select a destination for the digital images. In response, the graphical element will be displayed with the ending point visually associated with the destination. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by having an arrow point as the graphical element. In one embodiment, graphical controls are located on the arrow. In response to a user clicking these controls, the digital images may be imported from the origin to the destination, or the process may be cancelled.
US07707504B2
A system and method are provided for a configuration tool to administer a secure store file. In an embodiment, a front-end layer of the configuration tool displays a visual representation of one or more properties stored in a secure store file. The configuration tool may receive input identifying one of the displayed properties. In an embodiment, the configuration tool uses a logical task to set a value for the selected property in a data layer of the configuration tool.
US07707501B2
A method for notifying a user that a link is enabled for activation through voice input. The method can display a visual marker for a hyperlink to indicate that the hyperlink is activatable thorough voice input. The visual marker is not displayed for the hyperlink when the hyperlink is not activatable through voice input even if the hyperlink is activatable through other forms of user input. Visual markers can include such indicators as double underlining the hyperlink, surrounding the hyperlink with a box, and altering the background color of the hyperlink.
US07707499B2
Exemplary embodiments of the invention include methods, systems, and storage mediums for optimizing a device. The method includes detecting a suboptimal condition associated with the device and analyzing the suboptimal condition in light of selected operator preferences and device-related data. In response to the analysis, the method includes modifying a configuration of the device, the current state of said device, a current state of a networked device associated with said device, or a configuration of a networked device associated with said device. Alternatively, in response to the analyzing, the method includes notifying the operator of the suboptimal condition. The selected operator preferences include at least one of personality settings, expert level settings, communications means settings, intrusion level settings, and reactive/predictive settings.
US07707494B2
A reference size when data of a data field is laid out in a page is decided on the basis of the data display sizes of data fields having the same data field name in a plurality of types of records. A data field having a data display size corresponding to the decided reference size is chosen from the data fields having the same data field name in the plurality of types of records. Data of the data field is laid out in the page on the basis of the data display size of the chosen data field.
US07707481B2
A system and method for efficient uncorrectable error detection in flash memory is described. A microcontroller including a non-volatile flash memory utilizes an Error Correction Code (ECC) having a certain error detection and correction bit strength. The user data is first processed by a hash function and hash data is stored with the user data. Then, the user data and hash data are processed by the ECC system. In detection, the hash ensures that a relatively low bit-strength ECC system did not incorrectly manipulate the user data. Such a hash integrity check provides an efficient, robust detection of incorrectly corrected user data resulting from errors beyond the correction but strength of the ECC system utilized.
US07707457B2
Apparatus and method to improve the speed, scalability, robustness and dynamism of multicast data transfers to remote computers. Many Grid Computing applications, such as Genomics, Proteomics, Seismic, Risk Management, etc., require a priori transfer of sets of files or other data to remote computers prior to processing taking place. Existing multicast and data transfer protocols are static and can not guarantee that all nodes will contain a copy of the replicated data or files. The fully distributed data transfer and data replication protocol of the invention permits transfers which minimize processing requirements on master transfer nodes by spreading work across the network. The result is higher scalability than current centralized protocols, more dynamism and allows fault-tolerance by distribution of functionality. The ability to distribute the protocol is simplified through our innovative symmetric-connectionless data transfer protocol.
US07707456B2
Proposed is a storage apparatus capable of alleviating the burden of maintenance work when a failure occurs in a part configuring the storage apparatus. This storage apparatus includes multiple disk drives and spare disk drives, and multiple controllers. When a failure occurs, this storage apparatus determines the operability status of the storage apparatus based on failure information. When operation can be continued, the storage apparatus continues to operate without performing any maintenance such as part replacement, and if operation cannot be continued, data is migrated to another storage apparatus.
US07707455B2
Self-service recovery of application data. A list of recoverable objects for the application is generated in response to the receipt of a request for an application recovery from a user. The list of recoverable objects for the application is sent to the user. A selected recoverable object from the user is received. In response, the execution of a recovery job on the backup and restore application is initiated for the selected recoverable object.
US07707437B2
A power state broadcast mechanism. A master device may broadcast a message through the use of a protocol to each of one or more slave devices to inform the slave devices of the power state of a computer system. The broadcast message may include a protocol header indicating the start of the broadcast transaction, a function type parameter indicating the type of broadcast transaction, and power state data indicating the power state of the computer system. Each of the slave devices may read the protocol header to detect the start of a broadcast transaction, and the function type parameter to determine the type of broadcast transaction. If the function type parameter indicates a power state broadcast transaction, each of the slave devices may read the power state data included in the broadcast message and determine whether to adjust the current power state of the slave device.
US07707435B2
Certain embodiments of a method and system for safe and efficient power down and drawing minimal current when a device is not enabled may comprise receiving within a network adapter chip (NAC) a signal that indicates a reduced power mode. Based on this signal, the NAC may control an off-chip voltage source that provides reduced voltage to circuitry within the NAC. The off-chip voltage source, which may comprise a first PNP transistor and a second PNP transistor, may reduce a voltage to a first voltage and a second voltage. The NAC may also reduce current through the off-chip voltage source to approximately zero amperes and an output voltage of the off-chip voltage source to approximately zero volts. The first voltage and/or the second voltage may be fed back to control the output voltage and current of the off-chip voltage source.
US07707432B2
Communicating between multiple application programs includes providing an adapter to a first computer application for use in accessing a second computer application that provides a function to the first computer application. The inputs and outputs of the function are defined by the first computer application. The adapter is made available to the first computer application for use in accessing the second computer application. The adapter is configured to accept from the first computer application the inputs to the function and provide to the second computer application the inputs in a form that the second computer application is able to use. The adapter is configured to receive from the second computer application outputs from the function and provide to the first computer application the outputs in a form that the first computer application is able to use.
US07707425B2
Described herein is a technology for facilitating the recognition of the content of digital signals. This abstract itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appending claims.
US07707416B2
A computer receives a request for authentication from a client. The computer forwards the authentication request to an authentication source. Once the authentication source has validated the authentication request, the computer requests authentication and cache control information from the authentication source. The computer uses the authentication and cache control information to populate a user object stored in a container hierarchy and enable the computer to authenticate an authentication request without forwarding the authentication request to the authentication source.
US07707411B2
A method is presented for implementing a trusted computing environment within a data processing system. A hypervisor is initialized within the data processing system, and the hypervisor supervises a plurality of logical, partitionable, runtime environments within the data processing system. The hypervisor reserves a logical partition for a hypervisor-based trusted platform module (TPM) and presents the hypervisor-based trusted platform module to other logical partitions as a virtual device via a device interface. Each time that the hypervisor creates a logical partition within the data processing system, the hypervisor also instantiates a logical TPM within the reserved partition such that the logical TPM is anchored to the hypervisor-based TPM. The hypervisor manages multiple logical TPM's within the reserved partition such that each logical TPM is uniquely associated with a logical partition.
US07707410B2
An enabling key block (EKB) used in an encrypted key distributing tree structure is generated by forming a simplified 2-branch or multi-branch type tree with a terminal node or leaf which is capable of decrypting on the basis of a key corresponding to a node or a leaf of the simplified tree. Further, the EKB includes a tag for indicating a position of an encrypted key in the tree. The tag not only discriminates position but also stores data for judging the presence of encrypted key data within the EKB. As such, a considerable reduction in data quantity is realized, and the decrypting process in a device is also simplified.
US07707407B2
Separate IP data streams, including both voice (VoIP) and data sources, are routed over a single network data stream, encrypted by a single KIV encryption unit, and transmitted as a single packet data stream including both computer and voice data. Integration of the use of a VoIP data stream, together with data sources, and encrypted through a single serial encryption unit such as a KIV-7 enables the encryption of both voice and data using a single KIV encryption unit. After encryption by the Type 1 encryption unit (e.g., KIV-7) in a remotely deployed, secure communication system, the single encrypted data stream is encapsulated into IP packets. The IP packets are addressed to a distant IP device that removes the encapsulated, encrypted data and passes it to a similar Type 1 KIV device for decryption, and distributed to voice devices and computer devices via another voice-enabled router.
US07707405B1
A system 100 for providing credentials to a computational component in a distributed processing network is provided. The system 100 includes: (a) a plurality of crypto-tokens 150a-n, each crypto-token 150a-n comprising a unique identifier, optionally a digital certificate comprising a unique public key and the unique identifier, and a private key corresponding to the public key; (b) a provisioning system 100 comprising a certificate authority 104 operable to generate the plurality of crypto-tokens 150a-n; and (c) a computational component 128 comprising a drive operable to receive and communicate with a selected crypto-token 150. The computational component 128 uses the digital certificate and private key in any of the crypto-tokens 150a-n to establish a secured communication session with the provisioning system 100. Before the establishing operation, any of the plurality of crypto-tokens 150a-n can be engaged with the computational component 128 to establish the secure communication session.
US07707397B2
A branch prediction apparatus having two two-way set associative cache memories each indexed by a lower portion of an instruction cache fetch address is disclosed. The index selects a group of four entries, one from each way of each cache. Each entry stores a single target address of a different previously executed branch instruction. For some groups, the four entries cache target addresses for one branch instruction in each of four different cache lines, to obtain four-way group associativity; for other groups, the four entries cache target addresses for one branch instruction in each of two different cache lines and two branch instructions in a third different cache line, to effectively obtain three-way group associativity, depending on the distribution of the branch instructions in the program. The apparatus trades off associativity for number of predictable branches per cache line on an index-by-index basis to efficiently use storage space.
US07707392B2
An information processing system includes a first processor that accesses a first memory, a second processor that accesses a second memory, and a data transfer unit for executing data transfer between the first memory and the second memory. The first processor executes functions of translating an instruction out of instructions included in the program except a memory access instruction into an instruction for the second processor and translating the memory access instruction into an instruction sequence containing a call instruction of the program to transfer the access data on the first memory to the second memory via a data transfer unit.
US07707391B2
In a multi-streaming processor, a system for fetching instructions from individual ones of multiple streams to an instruction pipeline is provided, comprising a fetch algorithm for selecting from which stream to fetch an instruction, and one or more predictors for forecasting whether a load instruction will hit or miss the cache or a branch will be taken. The prediction or predictions are used by the fetch algorithm in determining from which stream to fetch. In some cases probabilities are determined and also used in decisions, and predictors may be used at either or both of fetch and dispatch stages.
US07707388B2
In one embodiment, a serial processor is configured to execute software instructions in a software program in serial. A serial memory is configured to store data for use by the serial processor in executing the software instructions in serial. A plurality of parallel processors are configured to execute software instructions in the software program in parallel. A plurality of partitioned memory modules are provided and configured to store data for use by the plurality of parallel processors in executing software instructions in parallel. Accordingly, a processor/memory structure is provided that allows serial programs to use quick local serial memories and parallel programs to use partitioned parallel memories. The system may switch between a serial mode and a parallel mode. The system may incorporate pre-fetching commands of several varieties. For example, towards switching between the serial mode and the parallel mode, the serial processor is configured to send a signal to start pre-fetching of data from the shared memory.
US07707382B2
A self-tuning, low overhead, simple to implements locally adaptive, novel cache management policy that dynamically and adaptively partitions the cache space amongst sequential and random streams so as to reduce read misses.
US07707352B2
The present invention relates to a method for managing storage area in a flash memory of a portable radio communication equipment, whereby the flash memory comprises a raw storage section for storing software code and a file system storage section for storing file information, comprising the steps of receiving size information about the size of additional software code or information to be stored in the raw storage section, and allocating free space from the file system storage section to store the additional software code. The present invention further relates to a computer program product and a portable radio communication equipment for performing the method.
US07707343B2
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an interrupt control circuit that controls a plurality of interrupt requests for interrupt handling executed by a processor, includes: an interrupt control module unit as a detecting unit determining whether or not there is an interrupt request masked with interrupt handling executed by a processor during the interrupt handling; and an interrupt control circuit including a priority mask flag indicating whether or not there is the interrupt request. With such configuration, it is possible to simply determine whether or not there is another masked interrupt request.
US07707338B1
A data storage controller includes a link module that selectively sets an interrupt. A control module is external to the link module that includes N buffers where N is an integer greater than 0. The controller allocates at least one of the N buffers to store world wide name (“WWN”) table data in response to the interrupt. The controller also internally manages the WWN table data.
US07707337B2
An object-based storage device with a low process load and a control method thereof are provided. The object-based storage device includes: a storage unit; a temporary storage unit; a transmission unit; a first control unit; and a second control unit. Particularly, the temporary storage unit and the transmission unit are provided separate from the main storage unit and the system bus, and these separately provided temporary storage unit and transmission unit allow a direct data transmission, which attributes to a reduction in a process load and a burden on the system bus.
US07707331B1
Described is a distributed copying technique that may be used in migrating large amounts of data from one or more source devices to one or more destination devices. The data source is divided into partitions. As Fibre Channel adapters (FAs) become available, each of the FAs may copy a partition of the data. In connection with specifying paths used for the distributed copying technique, a preferred path selection (source port-target port mapping) may be made by executing code in a controlling data storage system to perform discovery processing. The preferred path selection is used for the duration of the distributed copying unless the preferred path is unable to transmit data. A target port of the preferred path may be randomly selected from all accessible target ports, and/or in accordance with a specified portion of the target ports. Preferred paths may also be specified using an API (application programming interface).
US07707328B2
A data transfer request of a data pro cessing device with respect to a synchronous memory is divided by a burst transfer length unit request dividing section into a plurality of data transfer requests in which a data transfer amount is an amount of data to be burst-transferred at a time and the data to be burst-transferred at a time is within a single memory bank. An assembling section assembles the divided data transfer requests into a plurality of new data transfer requests obtained by combining the divided data transfer requests, one for each memory bank. A data processing device can efficiently access continuous data stored in a plurality of memory banks, and is useful as a memory access control circuit of controlling an access operation of a data processing device with respect to a synchronous memory.
US07707321B2
An extended Universal-Serial Bus (EUSB) host has reduced loading by using radio frequency (RF) transceivers or direct wiring traces rather than a pair of legacy USB cables. The reduced loading opens the eye pattern. The EUSB device transfers internal data using chained Direct-Memory Access (DMA). Registers in a DMA controller point to a vector table that has vector entries, each pointing to a destination and a source. The source is a memory table for a memory group. The memory table has entries for several memory segments. Each memory-table entry has a pointer to a memory segment and a byte count for the segment. Once all bytes in the segment are transferred, a flag in the entry indicates when another memory segment follows within the memory group. When an END flag is read, then vector table is advanced to the next vector entry, and another memory group of memory segments processed.
US07707320B2
Method for communication buffer management communicates messages between local and remote hosts. Socket, process buffer and reserve buffers allocated. Process and reserve buffers differentiated for transmit and receive. Global memory pool partitioned into process and reserve buffer pools; reserve buffer pool partitioned into transmit and receive pools. Messages stored in process buffer, but reserve buffer stores messages if low memory (POS). Communication system and mobile device include communication manager storing messages in process buffers; if POS exists, in reserve buffers. Communication buffer manager used for memory management, allocation, reclamation. Both adapt for static and dynamic memory management.
US07707316B2
An information processing apparatus and method adapted to automatically convert contents edited by a user into a description language that is independent of platforms. Personal computers execute authoring software, convert the contents edited by the user into a markup language document, and transmit it to a server via the Internet. The server stores the markup language document supplied from the personal computer into a HDD and executes a markup language processing processor to develop the markup language document into a markup language document tree structure, which is stored in the HDD.
US07707307B2
A method is disclosed for constructing a backup route from a source node around an adjacent component. The source node derives a first set of nodes reachable from it without traversing the adjacent component and a second set of nodes from which a neighbor node of adjacent components is reachable without traversing the adjacent component. The source node then constructs a backup route via an intermediate node in the intersection of the first and second sets.
US07707304B1
A storage switch in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is a highly scalable switch that allows the creation of a SAN that is easy to deploy and that can be centrally managed. Moreover, such a storage switch also allows the deployment of a global infrastructure, allowing the resources of the SAN, such as storage devices, to essentially be positioned anywhere on the globe. Further, such a storage switch allows a multi-protocol SAN, e.g., one that includes both iSCSI or Fibre Channel, and processes data packets at “wire speed.” To further enable wire-speed processing, a switch in accordance with the invention has “intelligence” distributed to each of its linecards, through which it classifies packets into data and control packets, it performs virtualization functions, and it performs protocol translation functions. A switch in accordance with the invention further performs serverless storage services such as mirroring, snapshot, and replication.
US07707300B1
Embodiments of this invention can establish a communications path through a network device in a network for a stream of data served by a server. A host can request to receive the stream of data by sending a request through the network to the server. In response, the server creates a data distribution message and sends it onto the network towards the host. Each network device equipped with the invention receives the data distribution message via unicast communications, acknowledges the data distribution message, and creates a path table for the stream of data, and forwards the data distribution message to the next network device on route to the host. A network device that receives an acknowledgment of the data distribution message establishes at least one path through the network device in the path table for payload distribution messages that carry a stream of data. The stream of data can thus be propagated through a network with only one copy of portions (e.g., packets) of the stream traveling per path in the network, irrespective of the number of recipients served by a network device that receives the stream. Since the portions of data are propagated using standard routing protocols, they may pass or tunnel through network devices not equipped with the invention.
US07707298B2
Secure sharing of bound information is enabled in client applications associated with a backend LOB service. Bound item IDs are assigned to newly created bound items by a client, the items synchronized with the LOB system, a correlation ID received in response to the synchronization, and the two IDs mapped. A reverse sequence of actions is performed when the LOB service creates the bound item. In response to an attempt by a client to exchange bound information, the item is placed in a pending state and allowed to be received by a receiver upon successful completion of data transfer and LOB system permission of the exchange passing the bound item ID and the correlation ID. If the LOB system rejects the exchange, the item is placed in an unbound state and the receiver not allowed to receive the bound information.
US07707293B2
A method for transferring a session request including: acquiring a routing table related to a session during establishing the session; the routing table recording the address information of an AAA proxy server related to the session; transferring a session request of the session according to the address information of the AAA servers recorded in the routing table upon receiving the session request of the session. A system and a plurality of apparatuses for transferring a session request are provided as well. By the solution, all session requests of the session may be ensured to be transferred via the same route.
US07707288B2
A method, system, and program for automatically building a locally managed virtual node grouping to handle a grid job requiring a degree of resource parallelism for execution within a grid environment are provided. The grid environment includes multiple resource nodes which are identified by physical location as physically disparate groups each managed by a grid manager. The grid managers include a grid virtual node grouping subsystem that enables a particular grid manager receiving a grid job that requires a particular degree of resource parallelism for execution to build a virtual node grouping of resources from across the grid environment and locally manage the resources included in the virtual node grouping. In particular, the particular grid manager accesses, from the other grid managers, a current availability and workload of each of the physically disparate resource nodes. The particular grid manager selects a selection of resource nodes to build into a virtual node grouping for executing the grid job. The virtual node grouping is built by the other grid managers enabling the particular grid manager to acquire temporary management control over the selection of resource nodes for a duration of the execution of the grid job within the virtual node grouping.
US07707281B2
The disclosure relates to a device with built-in redundancy for input/output management, notably a data routing system. The device includes first management means and second management means connected to each other via two interfaces, one a network and the other a standby line, said means mutually exchanging polling messages via these two interfaces, said first means being considered to be defective by said second means when they no longer sends messages during a given time interval on at least one of said two interfaces, characterized in that it includes at least one algorithm to reset said first and second means, the defective means being deactivated and the other means activated during the reset after detection of a failure. The device is applicable to the handling of air traffic data and, more generally, to all digital data input/output management systems necessitating a high level of operational reliability without an excessive cost premium.
US07707278B2
A reconfiguration management architecture for a mobile communications system which includes a network and at least one software-definable terminal comprises a configuration management part (10) within the or each terminal and a configuration control part (20). The configuration management part (10) implements a proposed configuration to reconfigure the terminal provided the configuration control part (20) validates the proposed configuration.
US07707276B2
A network device and a method of configuring a network device are provided. The method includes: receiving an e-mail message at the network device; parsing the e-mail message to retrieve configuration instructions; and executing a configuration action according to the configuration instructions contained in the e-mail message. The network device includes: a first upstream network interface; control logic configured to: receive an e-mail message; parse the e-mail message to retrieve configuration instructions; and execute a configuration action according to the configuration instructions contained in the e-mail message.
US07707272B1
A system and method that mirrors data between two geographically separate locations. A preferred embodiment of the software includes three components: an AIM driver, an AIM service coordinator and an AIM manager. The AIM driver intercepts all disk I/Os to the local storage system and encapsulates the write transactions into a series of files. The AIM service coordinator transmits these files over any or all remote networks having remote storage systems connected to the local storage system and to which the data is to be mirrored. In a preferred embodiment, particular destinations for each write transaction may be user specified. These files, as they are received at the remote storage system, are placed into the file system of the remote storage system. The AIM service coordinator on the remote storage system detects the arrival of the files and accesses them. The content of these files (exact copies of the write transactions issued at the local system) are then re-driven within the remote storage system as write transactions to the remote disk drive, in exactly the same way as they would have occurred on the local storage system.
US07707270B2
A system for remotely monitoring an individual. The system includes a server system for generating a script program from a set of queries. The script program is executable by a remote apparatus that displays information and/or a set of queries to the individual through a user interface. Responses to the queries that are entered through the user interface together with individual identification information are sent from the remote apparatus to the server system across a communication network. The server system also includes an automated answering service for providing a series of questions from a stored set of questions for an individual at the remote apparatus to respond to, storing responses to each provided question in the series of questions and providing a service based on the individual's response to the questions.
US07707269B2
In one embodiment, a method for interfacing between a command-line-interface (CLI)-based application program (CLI-AP) residing in a client network device, and remote network devices. The method includes predefining at least one CLI-based program routine (CLI-PR) comprising at least one CLI-based command wherein the CLI-PR is defined externally to the CLI-AP, determining by CLI-AP a set of data to be obtained from the remote network device; selecting by CLI-AP a predefined CLI-PR from the predefined CLI-PRs, the selected predefined CLI-PR corresponding to the remote network device and determined set of data to be obtained; instructing the client network device by CLI-AP to execute the selected predefined CLI-PR, wherein executing selected predefined PR will cause the selected predefined CLI-PR to obtain the determined set of data from remote network device and to configure the obtained data in a predetermined format; and querying configured data by CLI-AP to retrieve the determined set of data.
US07707265B2
An interactive web site summary system builds an overview browsing system for the entire Web. Overview browsing represents an alternative to the search-based view of information work by providing a consistent set of summary views that can be browsed interactively. The views presented by the present system partition and linearize a corpus for ready understanding and exploration. These views show features of a web site such as, for example, the relation of a web site to other web sites, the broad nature of the information contained in the web site, how the web site is structured, how the web site has changed over time. The interactive web site summary system maintains such summary information in a process that is fast enough to be updated daily.
US07707262B1
Access to an electronic conference may be administered by receiving an electronic instruction configured to establish the electronic conference, enabling more than one user to generate content restrictions that limit content rendered during the electronic conference, analyzing one or more participant devices to ensure compliance with the content restrictions, establishing the electronic conference in accordance with the content restrictions, and enabling user access to the electronic conference consistent with the content restrictions.
US07707246B1
A system and method are provided for creating social networks, such as text, video, or audio chat sessions, around recorded media. More specifically, a social network server operates to logically divide the recorded media into a number of time slices, which may be thought of as sliding time windows. When a user within a time slice desires to join a social network during playback of the recorded media, the social network server operates to either add the user to a pre-existing social network associated with the time slice or establish a new social network between the user and additional users within the time slice. As a result, the user may have meaningful social interactions with other users that are at similar points during playback of the recorded media.
US07707228B2
A computer program product includes computer accessible instructions that cause a computer to carry out the steps of (a) retrieving a log file from a log file storage that stores log data output by at least one device as the log file and (b) converting the log data contained in the retrieved log file in accordance with a script that is stored in a script storage to output a registration file to be registered with a database. The script includes a description of conversion information, and the registration file is generated in accordance with a standardized language specification.
US07707223B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product for performing client-side Java content transformation is presented. A first client request is received at a gateway from a web client, and is transmitted from the gateway to a web server, and then the web page is received at the gateway from the web server. At the gateway, the web page is modified to request a content transformation application and is transmitted from the gateway to the web client. A request is received at the gateway for the content transformation application, and the gateway transmits the content transformation application to the client. The content transformation application is run on the client, wherein the content transformation application acquires the applet requested by the client and performs content translation on the applet, resulting in a content transformed applet, which is then run by the client.
US07707221B1
Improved techniques for enhancing, associating, and linking various sources of metadata for music files, to allow integration of commercially generated metadata with user-entered metadata, and to ensure that metadata provided to the user is of the highest quality and accuracy available, even when the metadata comes from disparate sources having different levels of credibility. The invention further provides improved techniques for identifying approximate matches when querying metadata databases, and also provides improved techniques for accepting user submissions of metadata, for categorizing user submissions according to relative credibility, and for integrating user submissions with existing metadata.
US07707219B1
A system and method for managing a database is provided. The system and method includes logic that supports an atomic synchronization operation initiated by execution of a single synchronization statement. This operation utilizes a single call to a database management system to transform a database table from a first unknown state to a known state that contains a specified target record containing one or more specified data values. The first unknown state may be a state that already contains the target record, or may instead be a state that does not contain the record. In the former instance, a record containing one or more of the data values is created, and in the latter instance, the existing record is updated. A one-step locking mechanism is performed in conjunction with the operation to prevent the occurrence of deadlock and to minimize the number of required lock requests.
US07707209B2
Each of information on user characteristic and information on game content characteristic is arranged as position information using two or more parameters on the same coordinate system. The contents are divided into a plurality of content groups. Upon reception of an information search request from a user, a distance between the position corresponding to the user characteristic and the position of the center of gravity of each content group is obtained unless the target content condition is decided. When the target content condition is decided, a distance between the segment connecting the user position with the content position selected as the target and the position of center of gravity of each content group is obtained. Not only the content contained in the group approximating the user characteristic or the target content but also the content contained in a comparatively approximating group is presented to the user as a selection candidate according to the obtained distance.
US07707206B2
A search system and method are disclosed. In one general aspect the method features fingerprinting digitally stored documents and queries based on one or more topic models. Similarities between document and query fingerprints can be detected to search for documents. Topic summaries can also be derived from the documents and queries based on the topic models.
US07707201B2
Multiple concept networks are generated from subsets of received queries. These concept networks can be used in various ways to enhance response to subsequent queries. In one embodiment, concept networks can be merged into a larger concept network that can be used to infer a user's likely intent given a query. In another embodiment, suggestions for related searches obtained using different concept networks can be merged or aggregated. Other users for concept networks in query processing, including assisted search, are also described.
US07707200B2
A system and method for viewing models and model variables within a sophisticated modeling environment is disclosed. The system provides varying levels of insight into a modeling infrastructure to help the user understand model and model variable dependencies, usage, distribution, and/or the like. The method includes storing model and model variable data within a relational database system, receiving a request from a user interfacing with the system via a web interface, extracting search criteria and presentation preferences from the request, formulating and executing one or more queries on the database to retrieve the required data, formatting the data in accordance with the request, and retuning the data to the requesting user in the form of a web page.
US07707191B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronizing undo/redo operations between different document views. A unified undo stack uniformly stores undo operations and information for multiple views of a document. When a change in first view is detected, the first view submits an undo unit for storage in a global undo unit in the unified undo stack. A second view is notified of the detected change in the first view. In response, the second view submits an undo unit for storage in the global undo unit. Accordingly, undo information for both views is stored together at the unified undo stack. When an undo command is receive from either view, appropriate undo units for each view are applied to each view respectively.
US07707190B2
A method for restoring backup data in an electronic system is provided. The method provides a backup data file, and the backup data file includes at least one record of application data. Then, an application program corresponding to the application data is searched within a registry of the electronic system. If it is found, the application data is restored; otherwise, the application data is not restored. The present invention further provides a method for restoring backup data in a mobile system. The method provides a backup data file, and the backup data file includes a self-restore program. Then, the self-restore program is performed in the mobile device to restore data. Therefore, the present invention can restore data to the mobile device without having to install additional restore program.
US07707180B2
Described is a system and method for replicating each of a set of resources to a subject computer in a replica set prior to making use of a resource in the set of resources. The set of resources includes resources that are dependent upon each other for a proper functioning of the group. A manifest file that identifies each resource in a group of interrelated resources is used. The manifest file is generated at one computer in the replica set (typically the computer at which a modification to one of the interrelated resources occurred). When the modification occurs to one of the set of resources, the manifest file is transmitted (e.g., itself replicated) to each computer in the replica set. The manifest file includes an indicator that identifies the manifest file as a special file. When received at another computer in the replica set, a service evaluates the manifest file to identify whether the appropriate versions of the identified resources exist at the receiving computer. If not, the service at that computer awaits the receipt of each resource. The wait period may include delaying the execution of an application associated with (or even included within) the manifest file from launching. Alternatively, the FRS could simply disallow access to one or more resources identified in the manifest file until all have arrived. When all have arrived, the FRS releases control of the identified resources, which may then operate or be accessed in the ordinary manner.
US07707179B2
The present invention discloses a modified computer architecture (50, 71, 72) which enables an applications program (50) to be run simultaneously on a plurality of computers (M1, . . . Mn). Shared memory at each computer is updated with amendments and/or overwrites so that all memory read requests are satisfied locally. During initial program loading (75), or similar, instructions which result in the application program (50) acquiring (or releasing) a lock on a particular asset (50A, 50X-50Y) (synchronization) are identified. Additional instructions are inserted (162, 163) to result in a modified synchronization routine with which all computers are updated.
US07707172B2
To provide a human relationships registering system, a method and a server for registering human relationships, a program for registering human relationships, and a medium storing human relationships registering program and readable by a computer, all of which are used to establish wide and close relationships with members having a variety of occupations or engaged in various technical fields and to obtain expert knowledge or information. The human relationships registering system comprises first data processing units 2 and 3 including sections for receiving personal data of a new member, and a second data processing unit including a section for storing the received personal data. The second data processing unit stores the personal data of the new member in correlation to an existing member when the existing member confirms the new member.
US07707164B2
A business information service provides data cleansing to correct and update both domestic and global addresses. A combination of processes generate cleansed data for input into a matching process. The matching process matches information about a business, including the address, to a unique business identifier in at least one database of business information. The matching process is more successful with more standard and accurate input addresses.
US07707146B2
The invention is directed to a system and method of reordering conventional search results provided by a remote search engine such as Google. The invention may leverage a chronological timeline of user action information to infer relationships between objects in a search result. The search result reordering process may be iterative and does not require direct interaction by the user.
US07707144B2
A method and apparatus for performing a distinct count metric by utilizing aggregate navigation. For a distinct count query of an identifier of a detail table, where the query specifies zero or more restrictions, an aggregate table associated with the detail table is identified. It is then determined whether the aggregate table contains the identifier that is being distinct counted, and if so, whether the identifier is different in every row of the aggregate table. If it is, then the rows of the aggregate table that satisfy the specified restrictions are plain counted to obtain a result for the distinct count query. If the identifier is not different in every row of the aggregate table, a distinct count operation is performed on the rows of the aggregate table that satisfy the specified restrictions to obtain a result for the distinct count query.
US07707135B2
A method of implicitly forming a context in a dialogue with a computer includes forming megacategories linking one or more attributes to one of a plurality of response templates. The method also includes determining a megacategory by comparing attributes having true variables from a previous input to attributes having true variables in the present input and selecting an appropriate response template corresponding to the megacategory.
US07707126B2
A method and apparatus for use with a system including a processor that controls a resource configuration to perform a sequence including a plurality of cells, the method for programming the processor to help a system operator restart the sequence after the sequence is halted, the method comprising the steps of, during a commissioning procedure, the method including the steps of providing a sequence including at least one conditional section including at least one decision cell that determines which of at least two different subsets of conditional cells (cell subsets) to perform during the at least one conditional section, beginning with the first sequence cell, performing each cell, after each cell is performed, identifying resource operating characteristics (ROCs), correlating the identified ROCs with a cell identifier and storing the identified ROCs as required ROCs along with the cell identifier for subsequent use during a restart procedure.
US07707117B1
A method and apparatus are disclosed for communicating state information in an electronic message. First data representing a state of an electronic transaction is encoded, to result in creating an encoded message element that is impractical for a recipient to decode. For example, steganographic invisibility encoding may be used. The encoded message element is sent as part of a first message associated with the transaction. A second message associated with the transaction is received, and the third message includes the encoded message element. The encoded message element is decoded, to result in recovering the state of the transaction, which is used in processing the second message. As a result, large volumes of state information are sent to clients for local, transitory storage, precluding the need for a large state data store on the server side.
US07707101B2
Systems and techniques for operating on data to value an instrument include representing an account include accessing a transition matrix including probabilities for a borrower transitioning from one credit rating to another; determining for each credit rating whether a borrower will stand or exercise a loan option; valuing the loan option; and determining a present value of the instrument.
US07707084B1
In one embodiment, systems and methods are disclosed to select a hedge from a plurality of hedges, select a first test method from a plurality of test methods, calculate a first indicia of hedge effectiveness using the first test method, store the first indicia of hedge effectiveness, repeat the calculating and the storing for each of the plurality of test methods; and determine a final indicia of hedge effectiveness by applying the stored plurality of indicia to a rule set. In another embodiment, systems and methods are disclosed to further perform an initial test to determine if additional, more complex tests are required. Embodiments disclosed herein may also display the state or meaning of a final effectiveness indicator to a user.
US07707079B2
An electronic tax declaration system includes an input unit that receives financial information data to be declared; a data conversion unit that converts the received financial information data according to specifications of declaration data; a declaration data generation unit that adds a digital signature to the converted financial information data for generating declaration data and stores it into a storage; a declaration transmission unit that sends the declaration data to a regulator handling a tax; a declaration result reception unit that receives a declaration result of the declaration data from the regulator and stores it into the storage associated with the declaration data; and a loan application unit that creates loan application data by extracting the declaration data and the associated declaration result from the storage and adding a digital signature to them and sends the created loan application data to an external unit.
