US07972769B2
An improved method for preparing a cell culture is disclosed. The method includes culturing a multicellular tissue explant in the presence of growth medium that is substantially free of enzymes capable of digesting the explant and, subsequently, removing the explant at a predetermined time.
US07972767B2
The purpose is to proliferate a mesenchymal stem cell to a sufficient degree while reducing the amount of blood serum contained in a biological tissue progenitor cell to be grafted, and to efficiently differentiate the mesenchymal stem cell into the biological tissue progenitor cell. There is provided a method for culturing a mesenchymal stem cell, comprising: a first culture step of proliferating a mesenchymal stem cell in a medium containing blood serum; and a second culture step of differentiating the mesenchymal stem cell into a biological tissue progenitor cell in a medium containing blood serum at a lower concentration than that in the medium used in the first culture step.
US07972766B2
A method for forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device comprises: forming anti-reflection coating patterns over an underlying layer of a semiconductor substrate using an anti-reflection coating composition comprising a silicon-containing polymer; forming a photoresist pattern between the anti-reflection coating patterns using a photoresist composition comprising a silicon-containing polymer; and patterning the underlying layer using the photoresist patterns as an etching mask.
US07972764B2
When writing elements of a fine pattern on a substrate applied with a resist by scanning an electron beam on the substrate, the electron beam is scan controlled so as to completely fill the shape of each of the elements by vibrating the electron beam rapidly in a radius direction of the rotation stage and at the same time deflecting in a direction orthogonal to the radius direction of the rotation stage faster than a rotational speed thereof, thereby sequentially writing the elements.
US07972758B2
The invention provides a toner for development of an electrostatic image, which has colored particles containing a crystalline polyester resin having a melting temperature Tm1 (° C.) of approximately 50 to approximately 100° C., a non-crystalline polyester resin, and a coloring agent, the temperature Tm2 (° C.) of an endothermic peak derived from the crystalline polyester resin in a first process of raising temperature and the temperature Tm3 (° C.) of an endothermic peak derived from the crystalline polyester resin in a second process of raising temperature, in differential scanning calorimetry based on JIS K7121:1987, satisfying the following relationships (1) and (2): 0≦(Tm1−Tm2)<2 (1) 4<(Tm1−Tm3)≦15 (2)
US07972757B2
A resin for an electrostatic-image-developing toner includes a graft polymer, wherein the graft polymer has a polyester structure in the main chain thereof; the graft polymer includes monomer units derived from vinyl monomers in the side chains thereof; and at least a part of the monomer units have a residue of surfactant.
US07972756B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the at least one charge transport layer contains at least one of ketal. In embodiments, the charge transport layer may include an α-hydroxyketone, an α-diketone, or mixtures thereof.
US07972752B2
A resist pattern forming method capable of obtaining a smooth resist pattern. An exemplary method may utilize a photomask including a plurality of mask cells arranged in the form of a matrix. The length of one side of each of the mask cells may be smaller than the length corresponding to the resolution limit of the optical system of the exposure device. Each mask cell may have one or both of a light transmission region and a light shielding region, and the intensity of light passing through each mask cell may be determined by the ratio of the area of the light transmission region to the area of the mask cell. The photomask may be positioned at a vertical focus position other than the optimal focus position. The resist film may be exposed with light and may then be developed to produce the resist pattern.
US07972751B2
The invention relates to an extreme ultraviolet photolithography mask, operating in reflection, the mask comprising a substrate, a mirror structure deposited uniformly on the substrate, and an absorbent layer which is absorbent at the operating wavelength of the mask and is deposited on top of the mirror structure and etched in a desired masking pattern. The absorbent layer contains indium among its principal constituents.
US07972731B2
A method of the present invention is used for the high-rate deposition of materials, such as carbon, silicon, metals, metal oxides, and the like, onto a metal substrate defined by a metal current collector. The particles of the material are mixed with fluid and are injected against the metal tape at high pressure and high velocity. The particles of the material form an active layer of the metal current collector. The metal current collector is used as a cathode or anode combined with a separator to form a cell of a secondary battery, metal-ceramic membranes, film composite metal-ceramic materials for electronic devices.
US07972727B2
An electrode composition for a lithium ion battery that includes an amorphous alloy having the formula SixMyAlz where x, y, and z represent atomic percent values and (a) x+y+z=100, (b) x≧55, (c) y<22, (d) z>0, and (e) M is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of manganese, molybdenum, niobium, tungsten, tantalum, iron, copper, titanium, vanadium, chromium, nickel, cobalt, zirconium, yttrium, and combinations thereof.
US07972723B2
A flat alkaline primary battery is provided. The annular end portion of the negative electrode can is engaged with the annular end portion of the positive electrode can so that the positive electrode can and the negative electrode can are connected via a gasket to create an enclosed space inside the cans. The enclosed space accommodates a separator, a positive electrode mixture having a positive electrode active material as a main component, and a negative electrode mixture having a negative electrode active material as a main component. The enclosed space is filled with an alkaline electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is oxy nickel hydroxide. The negative electrode active material is a zinc or zinc alloy powder. The mass of the oxy nickel hydroxide is between 3.9 and 4.4, times, inclusive, of the mass of the zinc or the zinc alloy. Alternatively, the mass of the oxy nickel hydroxide is between 3.3 times, inclusive, the mass of the zinc or the zinc alloy.
US07972721B2
A heat insulation sheet (16) covers a temperature fuse (10) arranged on a sealing plate (23) of a rechargeable battery (2) so as to provide a shield from heat of resin that is filled in a gap between the rechargeable battery (2) and a circuit substrate (3) to form a primary mold (11) and to prevent destruction of the temperature fuse (10) caused by the heat.
US07972720B2
In the production of a secondary electrochemical generator comprising a container with a casing (3) and a cover (4), the stage of electric coupling of a connection to a current output is designed so that the length of the connection does not allow it to come into contact with the current output when the cover is not in its closed position. This stage comprises the following steps: a first end (22) of the connection is electrically connected to an electrode (2), the cover is placed on the casing in order to close the container so that the second end (23) of the connection is in physical contact with the current output which is electrically insulated from the casing, and an electric current is applied between the casing and the current output so as to weld the second end of the connection to the current output.
US07972717B2
A battery with improved safety which can establish a short circuit between electrodes more reliably when the battery is crushed by an external force is provided. A battery includes a battery element including a cathode and an anode, a battery can containing the battery element, and a conductive short circuit member arranged in a gap between the battery element and the battery can, the short circuit member capable of biting into the battery element when the battery can is deformed.
US07972716B2
A magnetic recording medium exhibiting a high recording density performance is disclosed. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium has a soft magnetic underlayer, a first seed layer, a second seed layer, an intermediate layer, a granular magnetic recording layer, a non-granular magnetic recording layer, a protective layer, and a lubricant layer laminated on a nonmagnetic substrate in this order. The first seed layer contains cobalt, nickel, and at least one element selected from a group consisting of Si, Cr, V, Zr, Nb, Ta, Ti, Cu, and Mo, and the second seed layer contains nickel, chromium, and at least one element selected from a group consisting of Si, V, Zr, Nb, Ta, Ti, Cu, and Mo.
US07972704B2
The present invention provides a single-crystal silicon carbide ingot capable of providing a good-quality substrate low in dislocation defects, and a substrate and epitaxial wafer obtained therefrom.It is a single-crystal silicon carbide ingot comprising single-crystal silicon carbide which contains donor-type impurity at a concentration of 2×1018 cm−3 to 6×1020 cm−3 and acceptor-type impurity at a concentration of 1×1018 cm−3 to 5.99×1020 cm−3 and wherein the concentration of the donor-type impurity is greater than the concentration of the acceptor-type impurity and the difference is 1×1018 cm−3 to 5.99×1020 cm−3, and a substrate and epitaxial wafer obtained therefrom.
US07972702B2
On inspecting a glass substrate for a mask blank which substrate has surfaces including one end face, the glass substrate is prepared to have the one end face which has a chamfered surface and a remaining surface serving as a side surface. The chamfered surface of the one end face is smaller in width than a chamfered surface of an opposite end face of the glass substrate. A short-wavelength light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less is introduced into the side surface of the one end face. From either the one end face or a different surface of the surfaces of the glass substrate, a long-wavelength light is received which is longer in wavelength than the short-wavelength light and which is generated by an internal defect of the glass substrate in response to the short-wavelength light. The internal defect is detected with reference to the long-wavelength light.
US07972690B2
A decorative sheet includes a base member made of a resin material; a decoration layer, which is supported by the base member and which includes a pigment; and two resin layers, which are arranged so as to sandwich the decoration layer between them. The two resin layers are made of a resin material that has a lower load deflection temperature than the resin material of the base member.
US07972671B2
This invention includes a card assembly incorporating an electrostatically charged polyolefin film, or electret, removably adhered to a paper stock or card substrate. The electret and card assembly is printable on up to four planar surfaces, with both the electret film and paper stock or card having a front and back side that is printable. When the electret is detached from the card, the charged or “static cling” electret is placeable on and self-adheres to smooth surfaces for graphic information display purposes and the printed card is then utilized for various other purposes. The electret film is removably adhered to the paper stock by a coating or “dots” of adhesive and a release agent may be applied to the back or underside of the electret to prevent premature separation and loss of electrostatic properties while maintaining optimum electret film removability. A method of manufacturing a printable electret and card assembly by integrating an electrically charged or “static cling” electret film and paper stock or card substrate using an adhesive to define a composite structure or assembly having various multiple images that may be disposed in registering relationship with respect to each other.
US07972670B2
A structured paper release liner (10) for use with an article (44) backed with a pressure sensitive adhesive, an adhesive-backed article assembly (42) and methods of making each are disclosed. The liner (10) comprises a piece of paper (14) having a release side free of a structural support layer, a back side, and a structured release surface (48) having a pattern formed into the paper (14) on the release side. A release material is on the structured release surface of the paper. The pattern formed in the paper (14) is designed so as to form fluid egress channels in a bonding surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive (46). The fluid egress channels define a structured bonding surface (48) having exit pathways for fluid to bleed out from behind the article when the structured bonding surface (48) is adhered to or otherwise disposed on a substrate.
US07972666B2
Coating compositions for forming inkjet-receptive coatings on a substrate which are glossy, dry rapidly, provide good color density, exhibit low density loss, and are water-resistant, include (a) a crosslinkable cationic terpolymer, (b) an adhesion promoter, (c) a crosslinker, (d) a binder, and (e) water.
US07972657B2
A thermal barrier coating system for use on a turbine engine component which reduces sand related distress is provided. The coating system comprises at least one first layer of a stabilized material selected from the group consisting of zirconia, hafnia, and titania and at least one second layer containing at least one of oxyapatite and garnet. Where the coating system comprises multiple first layers and multiple second layers, the layers are formed or deposited in an alternating manner.
US07972652B2
An electroless plating system includes a plating solution, and controlling reducing agents in the plating solution for deposition over outlier features smaller than about five hundred nanometers and isolated by about one thousand nanometers.
US07972646B2
An improved aroma-producing composition is provided that is shelf-stable and allows controlled release of a desired aroma from the composition, and also food products treated with the aroma-producing composition. The aroma-producing composition is a homogenous one-phase system which includes an aroma-producing material and a fat-containing composition which includes a medium chain fatty acid triglyceride and fat or lipid having a melting point greater than the medium chain fatty acid triglyceride. The aroma-producing composition can be heated to induce and boost aroma release from the aroma-producing composition at an opportune time, such as when a food product treated with the aroma-producing composition is preheated by microwave heating immediately before it is consumed.
US07972637B2
A dual-filled gum piece is provided having a first cavity filled with a liquid filling and a second cavity filled with a powder filling. The gum pieces are produced by extruding a gum rope having two separate channels respectively filled with liquid and powder, sizing and shaping the gum rope, cooling the gum rope, cutting the rope into discrete gum pieces, and finally cooling the gum pieces. The gum pieces optionally can be coated with a hard coating. In other aspects for single- and dual-filled gums, a process for making the gum pieces employs a rope sizer that reduces the diameter of the gum rope and shapes it to have a non-round cross-section, and a multi-story cooling tunnel having individually motor-driven conveyors.
US07972624B2
In one embodiment a dosage form comprises at least one active ingredient and a molded matrix which comprises 10-100% of a material having a melting point of less than about 100 degrees C. selected from the stamp consisting of thermoplastic polyalkylene oxides, low melting hydrophobic materials, thermoplastic polymers, thermoplastic starches and combinations thereof, and the matrix is capable of providing modified release of the active ingredient upon contacting of the dosage form with a liquid medium. The dosage form may additionally comprise uncoated particles which may contain at least one active ingredient. In another embodiment, a dosage form comprises at least one active ingredient, a plurality of particles and a molded matrix, wherein at least a portion of the particles are coated. The coated particles, the matrix or both may comprise at least one active ingredient, and the coated particles or the matrix or a combination thereof is capable of providing modified release of the active ingredient upon contacting of the dosage form with a liquid medium.
US07972606B2
The present disclosure relates to T24 nucleic acid sequences, amino acid sequences, and antibodies. Methods for detecting and diagnosing Taenia solium infection in a subject using the T24 sequences and specific binding agents are also disclosed. The T24 sequences disclosed herein can be formulated into a pharmaceutical composition for administration to a subject. For example, the disclosed T24 polypeptides can also be administered to a subject to stimulate an immune response in the subject, thereby protecting the subject against T. solium infection.
US07972603B2
The invention relates to a stable immunogenic product for the induction of antibodies against one or more antigenic proteins in a subject. The invention is characterised in that it comprises proteinaceous immunogenic heterocomplexes which are formed by associations between (i) antigenic protein molecules and (ii) proteinaceous carrier molecules and in that less than 40% of the antigenic proteins (i) are linked to the proteinaceous carrier molecules (ii) by a covalent bond.
US07972601B2
Provided are methods and compositions for treating autism spectrum disorders by administering an antioxidant or agent that stabilize or enhance expression of altered neuroligins. An aspect of the disclosure includes site-specific delivery of the antioxidant to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to reverse incorrect disulfide binding of the protein neuroligin. Also disclosed is a method of targeting the antioxidant to neuroligin by using the calcium binding or other recognition site of neuroligin to bind the antioxidant. The antioxidant can be cysteamine linked to a molecule which binds to a binding site.
US07972600B2
The present invention relates to a method of treating prostate cancer with androgen deprivation therapy and an insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) antagonist. Although the response rate of prostate cancer to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is high, surviving cancer cells invariably become androgen independent (AI) and tumor growth follows. The invention inhibits or delays transition of androgen dependent cancer to androgen independent cancer, significantly decreases risk of recurrence, and improves treatment outcome.
US07972587B2
Briefly described, methods of generating (H2) from a biomass and the like, are disclosed.
US07972578B2
A device and method is provided for separating heavier and lighter fractions of a fluid sample. The device includes a plurality of constituents comprising a container and a composite element in the container. The composite element is a separator comprising at least two components and more particularly an elastic portion and a plug member. A fluid sample is delivered to the container and the device is subjected to centrifugation whereby the centrifugal load causes the elastic portion of the separator to deform so that the separator migrates into the fluid sample and stabilizes between the heavier and lighter fractions of the fluid sample. The elastic portion of the separator will resiliently return to its initial configuration upon termination of the centrifugal load such that the elastic portion sealingly engages the container and separates the heavier and lighter fractions of the fluid sample.
US07972575B2
The invention relates to a two-phase electronic pipette, in which the piston can be moved from the basic position to the lower position and in which the distance between basic position and lower position can be changed.
US07972571B2
Provided is an apparatus for synthesizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The apparatus includes: a vertical reaction chamber; a mixer which is disposed within the vertical reaction chamber and mixes a catalyst supplied from above; and a plurality of dispersion plates which vertically partition a space inside the vertical reaction chamber into a plurality of sections and uniformly disperse a source gas, which is supplied from above, into the sections.
US07972566B2
A honeycomb filter includes a pillar-shaped honeycomb fired body having first and second end faces on a gas inlet and outlet sides, respectively. A catalyst supporting layer is formed in a catalyst-supporting-layer area covering about 25% to about 90% of an overall length of the honeycomb fired body and abutting the first end face on the gas inlet side. Substantially no catalyst supporting layer is formed in a non-catalyst-supporting-layer area covering about 10% of the overall length on the gas outlet side. A thermal conductivity of the non-catalyst-supporting-layer area is higher than that of the catalyst-supporting-layer area, and inequalities, (a−b)≦about 5, and about 10≦a≦about 20 are satisfied where “a” is a mode of pore diameters obtained by measuring pore distribution of the non-catalyst-supporting-layer area and “b” is a mode of pore diameters obtained by measuring pore distribution of the catalyst-supporting-layer area.
US07972561B2
The invention relates to a microfluidic device comprising at least one micro-channel connected at one end to an enclosed area, characterized in that it also comprises an inlet circuit and an outlet circuit connected to the enclosed area and between which the fluid can be discharged without any contact with the micro-channel, wherein at least one of said inlet and outlet circuits can be controlled in such a way that the pressure at the end of the micro-channel can be modified independently from the pressure at the other end of the micro-channel.
US07972557B2
A plasmon filter may include an element supportive of plasmon energy and having a plurality of openings through which a material may pass. A system includes a fluid filter supportive of evanescent energy, an evanescent field generator, a sensor, and/or other components. A corresponding method may include generating plasmons on the filter and exposing a material to the plasmon energy.
US07972554B2
Air cartridge devices and methods of using the air cartridge devices are provided. In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides an air cartridge device comprising an elongated cylindrical shaft defining a first elongated end portion and a second elongated end portion. The second elongated end portion can defining one or more apertures. The air cartridge device can be incorporated into a blow molding apparatus for blow molding bottles.
US07972553B2
Method for transferring a pattern from a template (10) having a structured surface (11) to a substrate (12) carrying a surface layer (14) of a material devised to 5 solidify upon exposure to radiation, comprising: arranging said template and substrate mutually parallel in an imprint apparatus, with said structured surface facing said surface layer; heating the template and the substrate to a temperature Tp by means of a heater device (20); and while maintaining said temperature Tp, performing the steps of: pressing the template towards the substrate for imprinting said pattern into said layer; exposing said layer to radiation (19) for solidifying the layer, and—postbaking the layer.
US07972546B1
Useful composites and methods of using such composites are provided. The composites include an outer layer containing a first polymeric material, an intermediate layer circumscribed by the outer layer and containing a second polymeric material, and an inner layer circumscribed by the intermediate layer and containing a third polymeric material. The inner layer, in combination with the intermediate layer, is structured and effective to reinforce the composite relative to a substantially identical composite without the inner layer. The present composites can be produced using co-extrusion processing.
US07972539B2
A process for producing a metallic-nanoparticle inorganic composite 10 includes an oxide film formation step in which an oxide film 14 having micropores is formed on a substrate by a sol-gel method in which a metal alkoxide is partly hydrolyzed by the action of an acid catalyst, a tin deposition step in which the oxide film 14 is brought into contact with an acidic aqueous solution of tin chloride, an excess Sn2+ ion removal step in which Sn2+ ions are removed from the micropores, a metallic-nanoparticle deposition step in which the oxide film 14 is brought into contact with an aqueous solution of a metal chelate to deposit metallic nanoparticles 12 in the micropores, and an excess metal ion removal step in which metal ions are removed from the micropores; and a metallic-nanoparticle inorganic composite 10 is produced by this process.
US07972534B2
Process for preparing specific oxidants which in mixtures with precursors for preparing conductive polymers display a long processing time during the polymerization; oxidants obtainable by this process; mixtures comprising such specific (retarding) oxidants and the use of said oxidants for preparing solid electrolyte capacitors and conductive layers.
US07972532B2
A synergistic composition is provided for controlling odor from waste products. The composition comprises a combination of nitrate salt, sulfide-consuming compound, pH-elevating compound, sulfide-oxidizing, nitrate-reducing bacteria, and sulfide-oxidizing enzyme. The method includes adding a sufficient amount of the composition to a waste stream to provide sufficient sulfide-consuming compound to effect immediate removal of sulfide. The composition incorporates a pH elevating compound, which both decreases the amount of gaseous H2S and puts the aqueous phase into a pH range where naturally occurring bacteria can more easily metabolize the sulfide. The composition also includes one or more nitrate salts which will accomplish longer term prevention of odors. Specific bacteria are incorporated into the formulation to insure that the nitrate has the right type and amount of bacteria present to prevent formation of and/or consume sulfide. Specific enzymes are incorporated into the formulation to promote oxidation of sulfide.
US07972531B2
A composition for deicing or inhibiting formation of ice includes waste material from a fermentation process for producing an amino acid from a carbohydrate source, and at least some second anti-freezing and deicing agent or a carrier. The active agent is waste material from a fermentation process for producing an amino acid from a carbohydrate source. The carrier may be water. A method for deicing an icy surface includes applying to that surface an effective amount of waste material from a fermentation process for producing an amino acid from a carbohydrate source.
US07972525B2
Azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are disclosed. The azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are mixtures of E-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene with methyl formate, n-pentane, 2-methylbutane, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, n-butane or isobutane. Also disclosed is a process of preparing a thermoplastic or thermoset foam by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as blowing agents. Also disclosed is a process of producing refrigeration by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as solvents. Also disclosed is a process of producing an aerosol product by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as heat transfer media. Also disclosed is a process of extinguishing or suppressing a fire by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as dielectrics.
US07972524B2
Azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are disclosed. The azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are mixtures of Z-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene with methyl formate, pentane, 2-methylbutane, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane, dimethoxymethane, or cyclopentane. Also disclosed is a process of preparing a thermoplastic or thermoset foam by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as blowing agents. Also disclosed is a process of producing refrigeration by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as solvents. Also disclosed is a process of producing an aerosol product by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as heat transfer media. Also disclosed is a process of extinguishing or suppressing a fire by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as dielectrics.
US07972514B2
A method and system for performing maintenance on a membrane having semi-permeable properties and is used in a pressure retarded osmosis PRO, the membrane having a high pressure first side and second side of lower pressure. A time controllable first valve or pump (31; 41; 51; 61; 71; 81; 91) is connected between an input (12) to the low pressure side of the membrane (13′) and an input (11) to the high pressure side of the membrane (13′), said first valve or pump operable to selectively deliver a plug (21) of a second type of water (FW) to the first side of the membrane to lower concentration of dissolved substance (s) in water of a first type (SW) thereat, thereby creating a PRO pressure backwash function with the water of the second type (FW) from the first to the second side of the membrane pressurized on said first side by high pressure supply of water of the first type (SW) upstream of said plug (21) of water of the second type (SW).
US07972513B2
A process for treating nitrogenous wastewater contains an autotrophic denitrification reaction, a heterotrophic denitrification reaction and a COD removal reaction simultaneously and mixedly taking place in a single reactor. The nitrification reaction is caused by nitrifying bacteria, in which ammonium is oxidized into nitrite. The autotrophic denitrification reaction is caused by autotrophic denitrifying bacteria, in which ammonium used as electron donor and nitrite used as electron acceptor are converted into nitrogen gas and nitrate. The heterotrophic denitrification reaction is caused by heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria, in which nitrate and COD are consumed. It is not necessary to build two separate reactors for aerobic nitrification and anaerobic denitrification, thereby effectively reducing the fabrication and operation cost.
US07972512B2
A system and process for treating an industrial wastewater stream is provided using a membrane biological reactor in which granular activated carbon material is introduced into an aeration portion and maintained upstream of a membrane operating system. The size of the granules of activated carbon is selected so that they can be screened or otherwise readily separated from the mixed liquor stream before the mixed liquor enters the membrane operating system tank(s) containing the submerged membranes, thereby preventing abrasion of the membrane by the carbon granules. The aeration portion includes a waste discharge port whereby a portion of spent granular activated carbon can be removed when the effluent concentration of chemical oxygen demand compounds approaches limits typically set by governmental agencies, and replaced by addition of fresh or regenerated granular activated carbon having greater adsorbent capacity.
US07972510B2
A filtration apparatus for performing solid-liquid separation by immersing a plurality of hollow fiber membranes in a to-be-treated liquid containing a suspended component includes the hollow fiber membranes folded double, a treated liquid collection means communicated with an open end of each of the hollow fiber membranes, a holding member for holding a bent portion of each of the hollow fiber membranes with a gap formed between the bent portion and the holding member, and a gas-jetting means for jetting a cleaning gas from the bent side of each of the hollow fiber membranes to a side of the open end. A gap for flowing the gas jetted by the gas-jetting means is formed between the hollow fiber membranes and the holding member or/and in at least one part of gaps between the hollow fiber membranes.
US07972508B2
A rotary disc filter device includes a rotary drum and one or more disc-shaped filter members secured about the drum. Each disc-shaped filter member includes a filter disposed on opposite sides thereof and each disc-shaped filter member includes a modular frame made up, in part at least, by a series of interconnected modules. One module of the modular filter frame includes a base that is secured to the rotary drum and a support projecting outwardly from the base. A series of these modules are interconnected to form a modular filter frame.
US07972502B2
An aeration-less water treatment apparatus including an anaerobic reactor which receives sewage to cause the sewage to flow as an upward stream, and an aerobic reactor which receives treated water from the anaerobic reactor to cause the water to flow as a downward stream so that the water contacts aerobic microorganisms and air to aerobically treat the polluted matter in the water, the apparatus further including a suspended sludge section located in a lower part of the anaerobic reactor and in which the anaerobic microorganisms are suspended in the sewage, and a carrier section located in an upper part of the anaerobic reactor and having carriers to which the anaerobic microorganisms are attached, the anaerobic microorganisms having flowed from the suspended sludge section being further attached to the carriers.
US07972498B2
The invention concerns integration of hydroprocessing and steam cracking. A feed comprising crude or resid-containing fraction thereof is treated by hydroprocessing and visbreaking and then passed to a steam cracker to obtain a product comprising olefins.
US07972496B2
The present invention is related to a process oil using as a raw material a deasphalted oil obtained by deasphalting a vacuum residual oil of a crude oil and a manufacturing method of the process oil, the process oil having properties of: (a) a polycyclic aromatics (PCA) content of less than 3 mass %; (b) a viscosity (100° C.) of 40 to 70 mm2/s; (c) an aniline point of 85 to 100° C.; (d) a flash point of 250° C. or higher; (e) an aromatic hydrocarbon content of 40 to 55 mass %; and (f) a polar substance content of 10 to 15 mass %. The present invention is also related to a process oil and a manufacturing method of the process oil, the process oil obtained by mixing: an extract obtained by deasphalting and solvent-extracting a vacuum residual oil of a crude oil; and a lubricant base oil having a polycyclic aromatics (PCA) content of less than 3 mass %, and having properties of: (a) a polycyclic aromatics (PCA) content of less than 3 mass %; (i) a viscosity (100° C.) of 30 to 80 mm2/s; (j) an aniline point of 90° C. or lower; (k) a flash point of 240° C. or higher; (l) a benzo(a)pyrene content of 1 mass ppm or less; (m) a specified aromatic compound content of 10 mass ppm or less; and (n) a polar substance content of 10 to 30 mass %.
US07972488B2
In a sensor diagnosis process, a controller for controlling an NOx gas sensor performs processing of changing the oxygen partial pressure in a second measurement chamber by changing the oxygen partial pressure in a first measurement chamber (S190), processing of detecting a current flowing through a second pump cell before the change of the oxygen partial pressure (S180), and processing of detecting a current flowing through the second pump cell after the change of the oxygen partial pressure (S230). Furthermore, the controller performs processing of judging whether or not the ratio between the current values detected by the respective current detecting unit falls within an allowable range, judging that the second pump cell 113 is in a normal state if the ratio between the current values falls within the allowable range, and judging that the second pump cell 113 is in a deteriorated state if the ratio between the current values is out of the allowable range (S240 and S250).
US07972487B2
The invention concerns an electrochemical cell which, either alone or together which a substrate onto which it is placed, is in the form of a receptacle. The electrochemical cell contains a working electrode and a counter electrode, the working electrode being in a wall of the receptacle. At least one of the electrodes has at least one dimension of less than 50 μm. The electrochemical cell is principally intended for use as a micro-electrode suitable for screening water, blood, urine or other biological or non-biological fluids.
US07972486B2
A machine for coating a transparent substrate for the production of display screens comprises a coating chamber that has a modular design. Each of the modules 1 features a chamber section 2, a first support 3 that is arranged removably in or at the chamber section 2, and a second support 4 that is arranged removably at the first support 3. Whereas the first support 3 bears the cathodes, the second support 4 is formed as a cover at which are arranged the pumps for producing a vacuum in the coating chamber. Carriers 3 and 4 can be removed laterally from the chamber section 2 to such an extent that areas 11a, 11b accessible to persons can be formed between the module components. In this way, the components of the machine are readily accessible, for example for maintenance purposes. Work can be done simultaneously on the cathodes and in the chamber interior.
US07972485B2
Methods and apparatuses for electromechanically and/or electrochemically-mechanically removing conductive material from a microelectronic substrate. An apparatus in accordance with one embodiment includes a support member configured to releasably carry a microelectronic substrate and first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other and from the microelectronic substrate. A polishing medium is positioned between the electrodes and the support member and has a polishing surface positioned to contact the microelectronic substrate. At least a portion of the first and second electrodes can be recessed from the polishing surface. A liquid, such as an electrolytic liquid, can be provided in the recess, for example, through flow passages in the electrodes and/or the polishing medium. A variable electrical signal is passed from at least one of the electrodes, through the electrolyte and to the microelectronic substrate to remove material from the substrate.
US07972474B2
Tissue products are disclosed having desirable strength, stretch and softness properties. In particular, the tissue products exhibit relatively high strength while still having a relatively low stiffness and a significant amount of stretch. The tissue webs generally comprise uncreped through-air dried webs. In accordance with the present disclosure, the webs are formed in a through-air drying process in which the transfer fabric and the through-air drying fabric are both textured fabrics having a substantially uniform high strain distribution in the cross-machine direction. Various improvements in properties in the cross-machine direction are exhibited by deforming or molding a tissue web against one or more of the fabrics during the tissue making process.
US07972469B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to plasma processing apparatus and methods of use thereof. In some embodiments, a plasma control magnet assembly includes a plurality of magnets arranged in a predetermined pattern that generate a magnetic field having a strength greater than 10 Gauss in a region proximate the assembly and less than 10 Gauss in a region remote from the assembly.
US07972466B2
A process for manufacturing stiffened structures (11) in composite materials formed by an outer coating (13) and a plurality of stiffeners (15) the cross-section of which has a closed form delimiting an inner opening (23), comprising the following steps: a) Providing a shaping tool (31); b) Providing auxiliary male tools (37) with an inert material inside them coated with membranes suitable for curing c) Providing stiffeners (15) in fresh or cured condition; d) Arranging the stiffeners (15) in the tool (31) and the auxiliary male tools (37) in their inner openings (23); e) Laminating the outer coating (13); f) Curing the stiffened structure (11) with high temperature and pressure; g) Removing the auxiliary male tools (37) after reducing their volume by withdrawing the inert material thereof; h) Separating the cured stiffened structure (11) from the tool (31). The invention also relates to the auxiliary male tools.
US07972465B2
A reinforced multi-lumen catheter and method of manufacturing the same. An assembly for manufacturing the multi-lumen catheter includes a catheter body substrate including a septum, one or more mandrels, a reinforcing element and one or more sleeves. The septum may have a distal region with a cross-sectional thickness greater than that of a proximal region. The septum can be separately formed. The septum can be split along a length of the distal region. The reinforcing element can be positioned over at least a proximal region of the catheter body substrate.
US07972459B2
In a method for continuously making pull-on disposable wearing, a web is fed in a machine direction. The web is formed with first fastener elements on both sides of a region defining a cut line extending in a cross direction. Second fastener elements on a fastener base sheet are engaged with the respective first fastener elements, and a region between these first fastener elements is cut away from the web. Then, the web is folded in two and a side edge of the web is bonded to the fastener base sheet. Thereafter, the web is successively cut along the cut lines to separate the web into segments each of which is a pull-on wearing article having front and rear waist regions adapted to be detachably connected with each other by the first and second fastener elements.
US07972458B2
A filter material and process for producing a filter material, which may be used as a vacuum cleaner bag or a household air filter, are provided. Embodiments of the filter material comprise a porous substrate comprising a plurality of recycled fibers bound together by an adhesive. Embodiments of the process comprise arranging a plurality of fibers to form a layer; providing an amount of an adhesive to the fibers such that when the adhesive has cured, the layer is porous; and curing the adhesive.
US07972455B2
A method of forming a hem of an elastic material includes laying a first stretch fabric sheet upon a second stretch fabric sheet, cutting an excess edge strip from the first stretch fabric sheet and the second stretch fabric sheet along a fuse line and simultaneously fusing the sheets together along the fuse line, positioning an elastic strip between the first and second sheets along the fuse line, and fusing the elastic strip to one of the sheets to form a hem.
US07972446B2
A washing system for an elevated surface has a) a housing having a liquid application cleaning system therein; b) a support element that supports and elevates the washing system; c) a rigid member extending from a surface of the housing that faces away from a surface to be cleaned so that the cable, when supporting the cleaning system against the surface to be cleaned and connected to the housing at a connection point, exerts a rotational force on the cleaning system in relation to the fixed fulcrum at the roof top; and d) weights provided at a distance and direction from the connection point fulcrum to at least in part counterbalance the rotational force.
US07972442B2
A photoplate for manufacturing a deposition mask that is used to form a matrix of pixel areas used in a display panel. The photoplate comprises a layer of material such as quartz, on which a matrix of pixel etching areas is defined. The pixel etching areas are configured to form pixel areas having a specified separation from each other in a vertical direction. The pixel etching areas on the photoplate include an outer periphery having a generally rectangular shape with elongated corners.
US07972437B2
Described herein are hollow nanocrystals having various shapes that can be produced by a simple chemical process. The hollow nanocrystals described herein may have a shell as thin as 0.5 nm and outside diameters that can be controlled by the process of making.
US07972434B2
Ceramic precursor compositions and chemically bonded ceramic (CBC) materials, especially Ca-based, and a composite biomaterial suitable for orthopaedic applications. The CBC-system includes a binding phase (chemical cement) and additional phases with specified chemistry imparting to the biomaterial the ability of initial strength followed by interaction with the body tissue including body liquid, to form a resorbable or partly resorbable biomaterial. The ceramic precursor composition includes at least one silicate with Ca as the main cation with a resorption rate less or equal to that of the bone in-growth rate. The silicate will form the binding phase of the cured material. Implants and surface coated devices are also disclosed. The cured material exhibits a compressive strength exceeding 100 MPa.
US07972431B2
Surface-modified silicas Surface-modified, highly structured, potassium oxide-doped silicas, characterized by BET surface area, m2/g: 25-400 average primary particle size, nm: 5-50 pH: 3-10 carbon content, % by weight: 0.1-10 potassium oxide content, % by weight: 0.000001-40 are prepared by subjecting a potassium oxide-doped silica to surface modification. It can be used as a filler in silicone rubber compositions.
US07972428B2
A process for preparing a modified pigment having attached at least one organic group is described. This process comprises the step of combining, in any order, a colored pigment, an aromatic amine, a base, and an aqueous medium to form a mixture, and then combining the mixture and a diazotizing agent to form the modified pigment. The aromatic amine comprises at least two carboxylic acid groups, preferably being vicinal. The resulting modified colored pigment can be used in an inkjet ink composition to produce printed images having good overall properties.
US07972424B2
Hydrophobicizing agents which are easily admixed with construction chemical products are prepared by providing a solution of a protective colloid and adding thereto a fatty acid compound sensitive to high pH environments, optionally, a hydrophobicizing organosilicon compound, and drying the resulting aqueous mixture.
US07972422B2
A system comprising a cylindrical housing containing a sorbent cartridge selective of one or more gases in a gaseous mixture. End caps on opposite ends of the housing seal to the ends of the cartridge and direct the flow of gas mixture through a portion of the cartridge. The first end cap has entrance and exit ports for the gas mixture and for a purging gas for cartridge regeneration. The second end cap includes a compartment to receive and return the gas mixture to the first cap exit port. The purging gas follows a similar pathway via the remaining portion of the cartridge. The cartridge is rotatable within the housing; thus, the exhausted portion of the medium may be rotated into position for regeneration while a regenerated portion of the medium is rotated into position for re-use, thus providing continuous adsorption from the gas mixture.
US07972419B2
Disclosed is a method for reducing emissions from exhaust gas generated during the grinding and drying of cement raw meal as part of a cement manufacturing process. The invention comprises circuiting the exhaust gas between a raw mill and a clinker cooler. In the clinker cooler at least a portion of said emissions are delivered to a cement kiln in which said emissions are removed by being combusted and/or absorbed.
US07972418B2
A compressed air supply device for a commercial vehicle is provided. The compressed air supply device includes a valve housing and an essentially axially symmetrical, exchangeable air-drying cartridge which is connected to the valve housing. The valve housing and the air-drying cartridge are connected via an essentially circular seal which lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the air-drying cartridge. The valve housing and the air-drying cartridge can be coupled to each other by being brought together in an axially parallel manner. The valve housing and the air-drying cartridge have features which permit a leak-proof connection between the valve housing and the air-drying cartridge at one or more angular positions of the air-drying cartridge relative to the valve housing.
US07972414B2
A method and system of operating a trans-fill device. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising generating an enriched gas stream from atmospheric air, and operating an intensifier which, when provided the enriched gas stream, produces a cylinder fill gas stream. The operating continues in the absence of the enriched gas stream being provided to the intensifier.
US07972402B2
The present invention provides one or more reinforcing members configured to act together with the adhesive bonding between filter media layers to further resist axial deformation forces such as induced by fluid flowing through the filter and thereby acting to retain the structural form and integrity of the filter element. Also disclosed is a method of reinforcing layers of a multilayer axial filter element against displacement of the layers.
US07972397B2
Superabrasive elements, methods of fabricating such elements, and applications utilizing such elements. In one embodiment, a superabrasive element includes a mass of polycrystalline diamond including ultra-dispersed diamond grain structures present in an amount greater than zero weight percent and less than about 75 weight percent of the mass of polycrystalline diamond. Various structures and apparatuses that utilize the superabrasive elements, such as polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs) and drill bits are disclosed. Methods of manufacture are also disclosed.
US07972391B2
This invention relates to a method of crystallization of salt from brine on top of any soil surface through airborne brine droplet crystallization, controlled moisture depth, capillary action and enhanced renewable energy to grow a layer of salt which can be collected. The brine is pumped from an underground source, sprayed in ambient air over a solid surface and, if water is not completely evaporated, allowed to seep through the surface to saturate the capillary zone. Water is evaporated while the sprayed brine is in the air or on the surface where capillary action brings it up to the surface for the water component to be evaporated by net heat gained from the environment resulting in salt crystallization. The evaporation of sprayed brine is enhanced by smaller droplet size, residence time due the spray height and wind machines to reduce humidity and increase natural thermal input. The salt layer thus formed further grows by capillary action of the soil and the crystalline salt to a depth suitable for conventional mechanical harvesting. Instrumentation is included to optimize the method through the measurement of evaporation and moisture content of the lower boundary of the capillary zone of the soil and or crystalline salt.
US07972389B2
Provided is a second part composition for hair dyeing or bleaching, which is mixed with a first part composition containing an alkali agent before use, the composition containing the following components (A) to (D): (A) an organic amine having at least one hydrophobic chain or a salt thereof; (B) an oily component which is a liquid form at 25° C. under normal pressure (1013.25 hPa); (C) an oxidizing agent; and (D) water, in which the composition has a pH of 1 to 6 at 25° C.
US07972382B2
Systems are provided for reducing the complexity and invasiveness of spinal stabilization procedures and provide an expandable device deliverable to a spinal implantation location. The expandable device can be delivered through a minimally invasive access portal and expanded at the implantation location to manipulate one or more bony structures or maintain a configuration of one or more bony structures.
US07972369B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a prosthesis delivery system comprising a delivery catheter having an expandable member and a prosthesis carried over the expandable member. The prosthesis includes a radially expandable scaffold section and at least two anchors extending axially from an end thereof; and means for capturing at least the anchors to prevent the anchors from divaricating from the expandable member as the catheter is advanced through a patient's vasculature.
US07972362B2
A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, and a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, and providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound.
US07972358B2
Apparatus is provided for sealing a vascular puncture by causing a reduction in the circumference of the puncture tract through delivery of a closure agent into tissue surrounding the puncture tract. A resultant inflammatory response and volumetric increase cause the tissue to swell into the puncture tract, thereby sealing it.
US07972356B2
A self-expanding cage for use in conjunction with an embolic filtering device includes one or more circumferential members adapted to expand from an unexpanded position to a expanded position within the patient's body vessel. At least one proximal strut and at least one distal strut are attached to the circumferential member to form the basket. The circumferential member may include a plurality of bending regions which enhance the ability of the circumferential member to move between the unexpanded and expanded positions. The proximal and distal struts can be attached to one of the bending regions. When two or more circumferential members are utilized, each member may be connected by a connecting strut which may be connected at a bending region. The connecting strut can be a straight segment or may have a non-linear shape to provide additional flexibility. The expandable cage can be mounted to a elongated member, such as a guide wire, and can be either permanently mounted or rotatably mounted thereto.
US07972355B2
A filter basket device includes two shaft wires, a filter basket adapted to capture emboli and thrombi, and an actuation handle. The shaft wires are loosely twisted together so that they remain adjacent to each other, and yet are able to slide relative to each other with little friction and without plastic deformation. One shaft wire is connected to the distal end of the filter basket, and the other shaft wire is connected to the proximal end of the filter basket. The actuation handle moves the shaft wires relative to each other to control opening and closing of the basket. In one embodiment, a guidewire-accepting fitting is attached to a distal portion of the device and permits advancement of the device over a guidewire until a desired location along the guidewire is reached. In another embodiment, the basket is provided with a tip resembling a guidewire.
US07972350B2
A catheter tip may be coupled to a catheter shaft. The catheter tip may include markers, such as radiopaque markers and MRI markers, securement hubs, recessed portions, a radiused tip, and varying axial flexibility. The catheter tip may be a molded tip, and the markers may be insert molded. Recessed portions and raised securement hubs may be formed during the molding process. The raised hubs may be integrally formed and made from the same material as the catheter tip.
US07972349B2
A housing retains a lancet body which encloses a needle whose tip is covered by a cap. The cap has a head provided with flanges. These flanges locate within notches at the end of the housing on only two sides of the housing. The location of the flanges within the notches holds the lancet within the body, before use, so as to compress a spring positioned between a head and a slotted portion of the housing. When the device is to be used, the head of the cap is rotated through 90° so as to detach the cap from the rest of the lancet body and release the flanges from the notches. This allows the lancet body to be actuated by a sprung-loaded trigger-release mechanism, when required, so that the tip of the needle projects momentarily through the opening at the end of the housing and then bounces back.
US07972344B2
An apparatus and method for passing suture(s) in tissue repair and/or other mini-open procedures. The apparatus includes a pair of jaws mounted on a distal end of a shaft, a hand assembly mounted on a proximal end of the shaft, and a needle mounted on the hand assembly and through a cannulation of the shaft. The pair of jaws includes a lower jaw and an upper jaw, the upper jaw being curve-shaped to enable grasping of thick tissue. The hand assembly has a finger lever with a ratchet and a releaser with a hook, the hand assembly being designed to move the needle from a first position to a second position.
US07972342B2
The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil detachably mounts the therapeutic device to a distal portion of a pusher member. In one embodiment, the therapeutic device is detachably mounted to the distal portion of the pusher member by a tubular collar that can be heated by a heater such as an electrical resistance coil to expand the collar and release and deploy the therapeutic device. The apparatus for deployment of a therapeutic device such as a micro-coil may also provide for a pusher member and a connector fiber for securing the therapeutic device to the pusher member. The connector fiber passes through a heater within the distal portion of the pusher member, for heating and breaking the connector fiber to release the therapeutic device when a desired placement of the therapeutic device within the vasculature is achieved.
US07972335B2
Biological tissue is sealed or fused to occlude an opening by compressing apposite sidewall portions of the tissue and applying sufficient energy to cause the fibers of the compressed apposed sidewall portions to intertwine and fuse with one another to form a permanent seal. The energy application is controlled by detecting a precursor fusion condition while applying the energy and before sufficient energy has been applied to achieve a permanent seal. The application of energy is terminated in a time-delayed relationship to the detection of the precursor fusion condition. The precursor fusion condition is detected from derivative values of an envelope established by peak values of cycles of high-frequency current conducted through the tissue.
US07972334B2
Biological tissue is sealed or fused to occlude an opening by compressing apposite sidewall portions of the tissue and applying sufficient energy to cause the fibers of the compressed apposed sidewall portions to intertwine and fuse with one another to form a permanent seal. The energy application is controlled by detecting a precursor fusion condition while applying the energy and before sufficient energy has been applied to achieve a permanent seal. The application of energy is terminated in a time-delayed relationship to the detection of the precursor fusion condition. The precursor fusion condition is detected from derivative values of the total accumulated amount of high-frequency energy conducted through the tissue.
US07972319B2
A wearing article capable of suppressing the occurrence of a loss of materials and an increase of the cost of facilities and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. A wearing article includes a waist portion (3) formed in a ring shape capable of continuously surrounding the waist of the wearer and using one of openings as a waist opening (9), and a crotch portion (4) joined to the waist portion (3) across an opening on the opposite side to the waist opening (9) so that the crotch portion (4) and the waist portion (3) define a pair of leg openings (10) for the wearer to put through his legs individually. Shirring is formed in the crotch portion (4) so as to shorten the distance between the mutually opposing inner surfaces of the waist portion (3) connected to each other by the crotch portion (4).
US07972314B2
A venous access port having a port body, a septum, a chamber and a discharge port with a passageway extending therethrough outwardly from the chamber. The central region of the chamber is elevated with respect to the periphery of the chamber floor adjacent the chamber side wall and may be convex or conical, with the chamber floor periphery defining a vortex flow path.
US07972312B2
A compact syringe comprises a cylindrical barrel, a stopper movable within the barrel and a detachable clip-on plunger. The plunger has a resilient c-shaped shaft for clipping onto the barrel's exterior when the syringe is not in use. When in use, the plunger is removed from the barrel and its c-shaped shaft is compressed slightly and then inserted into the rear end of the barrel to apply movement force to the stopper. The clip-on plunger reduces the amount of storage space required by the compact syringe. Reducing syringe storage space is of particular importance for disposable, single-use syringes.
US07972311B2
A cardioplegia catheter system for delivery of a cardioplegia solution, comprising a cardioplegia catheter comprising an elongate tubular catheter body that defines a continuous central lumen and a flange that is connected to and extends therefrom an exterior surface of the catheter body, the flange defining a plurality of suture openings that extend therethrough the flange from a top surface to a bottom surface thereof. The cardioplegia system further comprising at least one stay suture and at least one suture capture stylet having a distal portion that is adapted to extend through one suture opening of the plurality of suture openings in the flange of the catheter body, wherein the distal portion of the rod has a shape that is adapted for slideably grasping a portion of the at least one stay suture.
US07972308B2
A catheter assembly for intracranial treatment of a patient is disclosed. The assembly comprises outer and inner catheters. The outer catheter has an exterior surface, an inflatable balloon mounted upon the exterior surface, at least one element distal to the balloon, at least one aperture and a lumen. The inner catheter is sized to be received within the lumen and has a passageway extending between a proximal end and at least one port. The lumen is adapted to guide the inner catheter to the desired tissue region in the brain. Each element is adapted to monitor brain activity within the tissue region, to electronically stimulate the tissue region, or to provide information on a precise position of the element when the element is entirely within the brain. The elements are mounted proximal to the distal end of the outer catheter upon the exterior surface of its distal portion. The assembly can facilitate the administration of drugs to the tissue region or the removal of fluid from the brain through the inner catheter.
US07972305B2
A drug supply system for CED (convection-enhanced delivery) catheter infusions is provided, the system including a drug conducting system having a drug depot and a catheter supply line and a conveying device that provides for conveying the drug from the drug depot into the catheter supply line. The drug conducting system is a system that is closed to the outside in a fluidic seal The drug supply system further includes a conveying fluid conveying system arranged between the conveying device and the drug supply system and is connected to the conveying device and to the drug depot, via a drug displacement element, without fluid-drug contact.
US07972304B2
Syringe assemblies having a passive disabling system to prevent reuse are provided. According to one or more embodiments, the syringe assembly comprises a barrel, plunger rod and stopper wherein the plunger rod further comprises a flexible protrusion that locks the plunger rod within the barrel. Certain embodiments further include a frangible portion on the plunger rod that breaks when reuse is attempted. One or more embodiments include a plunger rod and stopper attachment that prevents disassembly of the syringe assembly prior to use. Syringe assemblies of one or more embodiments also include visual indicators or markers indicating whether a syringe assembly is used or the plunger rod is locked within the barrel.
US07972303B2
Syringe assemblies having a passive disabling system to prevent reuse are provided. In one embodiment, the passive disabling system activates after completion of an injection cycle. An exemplary syringe assembly incorporates a stopper and plunger rod attached in a manner to prevent users from disassembling the syringe prior to completion of the injection cycle. The barrel may also include an annular extension or collar that extends from the proximal end of the barrel. In a specific configuration, the annular extension at least partially envelopes a portion of the thumb press to prevent the user from accessing the thumb press and moving the plunger rod in a proximal direction Syringe assemblies of one or more embodiments also include visual indicators or markers indicating whether a syringe assembly is used or the plunger rod is locked within the barrel.
US07972299B2
A balloon catheter including an inflatable balloon affixed to a catheter. The proximal end of the balloon is fixedly connected to the distal end of the catheter, and the distal end of the balloon is supported by stiffening member that extends distally from the distal end of the catheter and through the interior of the balloon. The distal end of the catheter comprises one or more apertures that are in fluid communication with an inflation lumen extending through the catheter. A deflation mechanism is disposed about the stiffening member and is configured to facilitate the flow of an inflation fluid through the interior volume of the balloon and towards the aperture.
US07972290B1
A dynamic foot-arch support device for dynamically supporting the arch and structures of the human foot throughout phases of the biomechanical movement of the foot during weight-bearing activities is provided. A dynamic foot-arch support device for supporting the arch and structures of a foot is provided that includes a support band having an upper end and a lower end, the support band forming a loop at the upper end through which to place a foot and position the loop around or just below an ankle portion of the foot, the lower end configured to wrap from an inside area of the ankle portion of the foot and rotate to an underside of the foot for secure attachment below the underside of the foot, the support band thereby configured to provide a tension to support to an arch area of the foot.
US07972287B2
The present invention is directed to a device that provides thermal energy therapy, compression therapy and negative pressure therapy simultaneously and/or in conjunction with each therapy. The outcome of the present invention is that a patient's bodily fluids can be maintained, controlled, and/or adjusted with decreased medication dependence. Using these three therapies individually does not obtain these desired results of controlling, maintaining or adjusting the patient's bodily fluid. This combination of therapies is beneficial to the patient.
US07972286B2
A method for reversibly, or irreversibly, altering the permeability of cells, tissues or other biological barriers, to molecules to be transported into or through these materials, through the application of acoustic energy, is provided. The acoustic energy is applied indirectly to the cells or tissue whose permeability is to be altered, at a frequency and intensity appropriate to alter the permeability to achieve the desired effect, such as the transport of endogenous or exogenous molecules and/or fluid, for drug delivery, measurement of analyte, removal of fluid, alteration of cell or tissue viability or alteration of structure of materials. In the preferred embodiment, the method includes applying the ultrasound in combination with devices for monitoring and/or implementing feedback controls.
US07972285B2
A motion sensor for measuring motion information of a subject comprises a coil substrate having transmitting or receiving coils piled one on top of another and a holder in which the coil substrate is mounted. Formed on the holder are curved surfaces to which an adhesive sheet is stuck and at which the holder is attached to a nail of a subject via the adhesive sheet. Further, there is provided a casing where first and second containing space are formed to contain measurement instruments including an adhesive member where a plurality of the adhesive sheets are laid one on top of another, the motion sensor, and the like.
US07972271B2
An invention for coherent array image formation and restoration is taught. The invention is applicable for both 2D and 3D imaging using either 1D or 2D arrays, respectively. A transducer array is subdivided into subarrays, each subarray having a number of adjacent array elements. All elements of each subarray transmit and receive in parallel. The signals received from each subarray are delayed and summed to form scan lines, or beams. The low-beam-rate beams formed from each subarray are upsampled and interpolated prior to forming high-beam-rate images. Depending on the subarray geometry, a subarray-dependent restoration filter is also applied to the subarray beams. The restored beams from each subarray are combined to form the final high-beam-rate image. The invention significantly reduces the front-end hardware complexity compared to conventional methods such as full phased array imaging with comparable image quality.
US07972269B2
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including: a tomogram forming means forming a tomogram of a diagnosis portion of an examinee by transmitting/receiving an ultrasound wave to/from the examinee via an ultrasound probe; color Doppler image forming means forming a color Doppler image based on a Doppler signal obtained from the diagnosis portion; image processing means performing image processing on the tomogram and the color Doppler image; and display means displaying images obtained by the image processing means, the tomogram and the color Doppler image being color displayed on the display means, wherein the image processing means causes the color Doppler image to be displayed transparently.
US07972268B2
Methods and systems for acquiring spectral and velocity information with a multi-dimensional array are provided. For example, a dedicated receive aperture is formed at a multi-dimensional array for steered continuous wave imaging. Other elements not within the dedicated receive aperture are used for transmitting continuous waves or transmitting and receiving pulsed waveforms in other modes of imaging. As another example, switches or other structures are provided for selecting between a plurality of possible apertures for a steered continuous wave aperture. The selection is performed in response to a configuration of an ultrasound system, such as selection of a focal location or steer direction. The aperture is then used for either transmit or receive operations of steered continuous wave imaging. As yet another example, at least part of the steered continuous wave beamformer is provided within a transducer assembly. The transducer assembly includes a probe housing and a connector housing electrically connected by a cable. In yet another example, at least one angle of a three-dimensional indication of flow direction is input from a user. Velocity values in either steered continuous wave imaging or pulsed wave imaging are corrected as a function of a three-dimensional indication of flow direction.
US07972258B2
The invention relates to a crumpled paper tube for use as a cushion in packing items, and to a method and apparatus for producing the same.
US07972256B2
A folder includes a first cylinder having at least one first gripper for holding signatures and at least one tucker for tucking the signatures to define a first fold, a second cylinder having at least one first jaw for holding the signatures at the first fold, a first motor driving the at least one first gripper, and a second motor separate from the first motor, the second motor driving the at least one tucker of the first cylinder and the at least one first jaw of the second cylinder.
US07972248B2
A stationary exercise device with a frame including a base, a front portion, and a back portion, a rail joined to the front portion and back portion including a portion of the rail that is spaced apart from and above the base, first and second supporting members linked to the frame to rotate about a first axis, first and second swing member connected to the rail to pivot about a swing axis, first and second control links pivotally connected to the first and second control members, and first and second pedals respectively connected to the first and second control links.
US07972238B2
In a working vehicle, a control unit is configured to control an engine based on an engine power curve indicating a relationship between an engine speed and an engine output torque. The control unit is further configured to calculate an absorption horsepower that is an absorption horsepower of a hydraulic pump and to change the engine power curve used to control the engine based on the absorption horsepower.
US07972217B2
Universal joint having slip bush including a tube, a slip bush inserted into the tube, and a shaft inserted into and slidably engaged with the tube via the slip bush. The universal joint further includes: one or more rows of guide holes formed by perforating a circumferential wall of the slip bush, the rows being arranged in the longitudinal direction of the slip bush; one or more guide balls fitted in the guide holes, respectively; and one or more C-type parts longitudinally formed on the circumferential wall of the slip bush. When axial pressure is applied to the universal joint in a state in which rotational torque is applied to the universal joint, the guide balls fitted in the guide holes come into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the tube, thereby reducing sliding frictional force while producing rolling frictional force so that the universal joint can be smoothly collapsed. In addition, the guide balls serve as supports when torsional fracture torque is applied to the slip bush, thereby improving the torsional fracture strength, which in turn improves a safety factor.
US07972209B2
A gaming system that provides game play in a tournament in exchange for monetary input per game played is disclosed. The gaming system includes a game server, a plurality of game units connected to the game server via a network, and a progressive tournament controller. The progressive tournament controller manages a tournament prize value that is incremented using criteria other than monetary input. The tournament prize is incremented over time at random intervals rather than being incremented by coin input.
US07972207B2
A game of chance is disclosed that looks like a multi-line gaming machine having a matrix of rows and columns of positions for displaying slot symbols or cards to a player. A player wagers to play one or more games but the actual pay lines are dynamically determined by events that occur during the course of game play, not before. Pay lines are dynamically determined during the course of game play dependent on choices made by the player during the course of game play. The player chooses ones or all of a first, randomly dealt set of slot symbols or cards in one row of the matrix to be held and used in the game play. The symbols or cards not held are discarded and a second, final draw of slot symbols or cards is done in the matrix, including the positions in the one row where cards were discarded. Pay lines are then established through the matrix that all pass through the held cards in the one row of the matrix.
US07972204B2
A vehicle door seal venting system is provided for venting air trapped in the seal gap between two or more spaced environmental seals. As the vehicle door transitions to a closed position, the seals engage between the vehicle door and vehicle body door opening, acting to closeout the seal gap. The compression of the seal gap as the door further closes results in pressurization of the trapped air, which then acts to resist closure of the vehicle door, therefore requiring that additional closure force be applied to fully close the door. The vehicle door seal venting system relieves the pressurized air from between the seals without compromising the integrity of the seals or overall noise and sealing performance of the door system.
US07972196B2
A method of changing the crystallographic orientation of a single crystal body is disclosed that includes the steps of characterizing a crystallographic orientation of the single crystal body and calculating a misorientation angle between a select crystallographic direction of the single crystal body and a projection of the crystallographic direction along a plane of a first exterior major surface of the single crystal body. The method further includes removing material from at least a portion of the first exterior major surface to change the misorientation angle.
US07972195B2
In a grinding device, first, an eddy-current-sensor detects a distance from the eddy-current-sensor to an outer peripheral surface of a belt layer while a tire to be retreaded held by a pair of half rims is caused to rotate. Thus, an eccentricity amount and an eccentricity direction of the tire to be retreaded with respect to a device axial center, corresponding to the phase of the tire to be retreaded, can be respectively determined, so position control signals corresponding to the phase, eccentricity amount and eccentricity direction of the tire to be retreaded can be generated. Next, on the basis of the position control signal, a carriage causes a rasp to be moved in a radial direction with respect to the tire to be retreaded along the radial direction whose center is a device axial center, and the rasp grinds a tread surface of the rotating tire to be retreaded.
US07972186B2
An elastic sheet structure includes a plate portion, two wedged portion formed at opposite sides of the plate portion, and a latching portion formed another side of the plate portion. The wedged portion and the latching portion can be formed by bending two extending portions of the plate portion downwardly, the wedged portion is used to resist with a circuit board, the latching portion is for insertion into a hole of the circuit board to latch with the circuit board.
US07972185B2
A battery module includes a plurality of unit batteries each having a terminal electrically connected to a terminal base. The battery module further includes at least one connector including at least one protrusion on a side facing the terminal base of the terminal to electrically couple the terminal of one of the plurality of unit batteries with the terminal of a neighboring one of the plurality of unit batteries. The at least one protrusion may include at least one first protrusion and at least one second protrusion. The at least one first protrusion contacts the terminal base of the one of the plurality of unit batteries and the at least one second protrusion contacts the terminal base of the neighboring one of the plurality of unit batteries.
US07972181B1
A compound female connector is disclosed in the present invention. It has a first housing for fixing a first terminal set, a second housing for fixing a second set and a third terminal set, a terminal fixer for fixing all terminal sets after the first housing and the second housing are assembled together. The housings are connected together and enclosed by a shell. Each terminal set or the combination of terminal sets can support transmission specifications, such as eSATA, USB2.0 and USB3.0. A three-in-one female connector is provided so that the present invention can provide a single slot for different kinds of connectors. It saves cost and space for electronic products.
US07972180B2
An electrical connector includes an insulating body having an accommodating base and at least one tongue plate extending forwardly from the accommodating base. The tongue plate has at least one accommodating space in communication with the accommodating base. Each accommodating space being provided with at least one stopper. At least one first conductive terminal and at least one second conductive terminal are received in the accommodating base. The second conductive terminal has a second connecting portion and a second contacting portion extending towards the accommodating space. The first conductive terminal is partially located below the second connecting portion, and has at least a portion extended under the stopper. The second connecting portion is located at a level higher than that of the stopper. This arrangement can prevent the first conductive terminal from contacting with the second conductive terminal, and a normal connection of the electrical connector is guaranteed.
US07972173B1
A connector system includes first and second mateable connectors (12, 14) with coaxial contacts, wherein the first connector has movable center and outer contacts (20, 22) that are each biased forward by a separate spring (24, 26) to engage stationary contact pads (34, 36) of the mating second connector. A stationary tubular insulator (100) surrounds much of the movable center contact, and a stationary sheet metal shield (102) lies around the tubular insulator and within the outer contact. The front end of the movable outer contact forms an internal flange (80) with a hole (84) that allows the front end of the movable center contact to pass through. The shield front-end has an internal flange (112) that lies between the front end of the tubular insulator and the movable outer contact internal flange, to maintain a constant impedance through out the first connector.
US07972172B2
A cable connector assembly includes a cable (5) and a connector (100) terminated to the cable (5). The connector (100) further includes a connector body (20), a cover means (9) fastening the connector body (20) and connecting means (7) securing said cable (5) to the cover means (9). The connecting means (7) further includes an outer ferrule (73) having a first part (733) crimped onto the cable and a second part (731) crimped onto a shield (53) of the cable 5, and an inner ferrule (71) fastened substantially under the shield (53) to the outer ferrule (73) in the area of the second part (731) for making an axial locking between the outer ferrule (73) and the inner ferrule (71). The inner ferrule (71) forms a number of resilient tabs (719) flexibly abutting the cover means (9) thereby making firmly electrical connection to the cover means (9).
US07972170B2
The present invention provides a card connector that can be loaded on a double-sided printed circuit board and allows intergration of components using common components. A first and a second housing 1, 2 have a pair of cranked hook-shaped projections 17. A first and a second covering plate 5, 6 have a cranked hook-shaped opening 57. The first covering plate 5 can be joined to the second housing 2 by reversing in a left-right direction the first covering plate 5. The second covering plate 6 can be joined to the first housing 1 by reversing in a left-right direction the second covering plate 6. The first and the second housings 1, 2, and the first and the second covering plates 5, 6 can be used as common parts, respectively.
US07972153B1
An electrical connector assembly (100) comprises an insulative housing (3), a plurality of contacts (2) received in the insulative housing (3) and a pick-up cap (1) assembled to the insulative housing (3), the contact (2) comprises a base portion (20), a contacting portion (21) extending upwardly from the base portion (20) and a rear portion (23) extending downwardly from the base portion (20), the pick-up cap (1) comprises a flat body portion (10), the body portion (10) comprises an upper surface (101) and a lower surface (102) opposite to each other, the lower surface (102) is supported by the insulative housing (3), a receiving space (1020) recesses from the lower surface (102), and the contacting portions (21) of said contacts (2) project beyond the lower surface (102) into the receiving space (1020).
US07972151B2
An electrical connector comprises an insulative housing having a base portion, a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion, the tongue portion being thinner than the base portion; a metal shell attached to the base portion to enclose the tongue portion to define a receiving room therebetween; a plurality of contacts including a plurality of first contacts and a plurality of second contacts, the first contacts each defining a first contacting arm and a first soldering leg, the second contacts each defining a second contacting arm and a second soldering leg; and wherein the first soldering legs and the second soldering legs are arranged in one row, the contacts at least include a first pair of differential contacts adjacent to each other, a second pair of differential contacts adjacent to each other, a pair of ground contacts adjacent to each other and positioned between the first pair of differential contacts and the second pair of differential contacts.
US07972150B1
An alien crosstalk preventive electrical socket, electrical plug and network cable, in which the body, upper back cover, lower back cover and IDC housing of the electrical socket, the insulative jacket, rack and plug body of the electrical plug and the cylindrical outer insulation of the network cable are made of an electrically conductive plastic complex material prepared from a compound of a plastic material and an electrically conductive material, said electrically conductive plastic complex material having high dielectric index and low electrical resistivity characteristics to avoid signal in and signal out and to reducing alien crosstalk, thereby effectively preventing EMI (electromagnetic interference) radiation.
US07972149B2
Connection terminals each include: a bonding portion bonded to a pad of a substrate; a contacting portion disposed to face the bonding portion; a spring portion present between the bonding portion and the contacting portion; and an engaging portion engaged with a portion of a slit provided in a plate-like member. These constituent portions of the connection terminal are formed integrally with each other. The plate-like member has recessed portions formed at predetermined positions, and the connection terminals are electrically connected to the pads of the substrate with the bonding portions of the connection terminals being locked to the recessed portions.
US07972148B2
A new printed board assembly equipped with a male connector is provided. The male connector simplifies a connecting structure at a printed board side while maintaining stability in connection between an external electrical cable and an electrical conductive path on a printed board by being attached to an end of the external electrical cable. A housing contains a male terminal connected to an end of an external electrical cable. While the housing is held on a printed board by a lock means, a biasing means applies a biasing force to the male terminal, so that the male terminal is pressed onto and connected to an electrical conductive path on the printed board.
US07972142B2
A remote battery terminal expander for electrically connecting a plurality of appliances to a vehicle battery is disclosed that includes an electrical terminator assembly having a permanent electrical communication with a wire, where the terminator is adapted for electrical connection to the positive terminal of a battery and this terminator assembly is permanently attached to a conductive metal terminal block. The terminal block has a multi-sided block shape, usually with a rectangular shape. The plurality of appliances are in electrical communication with the electrical terminator assembly by use of alternating threaded apertures in each of the sides for receiving threaded fasteners to electrically secure the appliance wires from the plurality of appliances desired to be hooked to the vehicle battery for its power requirements. For safety sake, a fuse assembly is placed in electrical communication between the electrical terminator assembly and the conductive metal terminal block so that the appliance wires can be secured to the terminal block in a non-90° configuration, such that space is saved and a multitude of connections can be made in a small amount of space, without stacking all the connectors onto the positive and negative battery terminals.
US07972138B2
Improvements in the instruments for drawing lines using grooves providing the presentation of lines that may be drawn by placing a sheet of paper over the presentation and engaging the sheet of paper with the point of a writing tool with sufficient force to press the engaged part of the paper into a selected groove and then moving the writing tool point within the line, depositing pencil lead or ink from the end of the writing tool on the paper that is pressed into the selected groove to form a line on the paper. The improvements include the provision of registration marks on a clipboard which has the presentation of grooves for lines to be drawn on the upper side of the clipboard, the registration marks acting as guidelines for the precise placement of the sheet of paper on which lines are to be drawn.
US07972128B2
A mold and a process for non-manually cleaning the undercut along the bottom edge of the division plate which with a pallet under the mold defines a lip-forming subcavity results in a dry cast concrete block with an inside lip radius that is controlled to be within certain tolerances. Non-manually cleaning the undercut during the molding process can include spraying a jet of fluid, such as compressed air, at the undercut.
US07972122B2
A blood pump comprises a pump housing; a plurality of rotors positioned in said housing, each rotor comprising an impeller having a hydrodynamic surface for pumping blood; and a motor including a plurality of magnetic poles carried by each impeller, having motor stators, each including electrically conductive coils located adjacent to or within the housing. At least one of the rotors is adopted to rotate clockwise, and at least one of rotors is adopted to rotate counterclockwise. By this means, stator or stationary blades between the rotors may not be needed.
US07972107B2
A device for cooling a turbine casing in a turbomachine including a turbine is disclosed. The turbine includes several stages, at least one of the stages includes a nozzle assembly formed of an annular row of fixed vanes and an impeller mounted to rotate in a cylindrical shroud formed of ring sectors fixed to the casing, a cooling circuit including ducts carrying cooling air into cavities formed in the vanes of the nozzle assembly, and an air-carrying arrangement which carries air to casing upstream hooks for suspending the ring sectors.
US07972101B2
A fastener includes a push pin, a plug and an elastic member. The push pin includes a head, a shaft extending from the head, and a clipping foot extending radially from the shaft. Two through receiving holes are defined in the head. A snapping hole is defined in the head and communicates with the receiving holes. The shaft and the clipping foot are between the receiving holes. The plug includes a handle, and two insertion portions extending from the handle. A raised point extends from each of the insertion portions. The insertion portions of the plug can extend through the receiving holes respectively until the raised points are snapped in the snapping hole and the insertion portions extend adjacent to the clipping foot. The elastic member can engage with the push pin to supply an elastic force pointing from the clipping foot to the head to the push pin.
US07972089B2
Disclosed is a system of displacing a plurality of parts to be stocked and distributed, each part defining a first end and a second end. The system comprises a conduit, the conduit defining an interior to house an actuation fluid, an axis of displacement in the interior, and an interior surface; and a plurality of devices. Each device includes a periphery configured to contact the interior surface of the conduit and to move along the interior surface, a device first surface approximately perpendicular to the axis of displacement, the device first surface being subject to a pressure of the actuation fluid thereby subjecting the device to displacement in the conduit, a first device-end shaped to receive the first end of a corresponding first part in the plurality of parts, and a second device-end shaped to receive the second end of a corresponding second part in the plurality of parts. The second device-end defines a recess including a bottom surface intersected by the axis of displacement, the recess being configured to center the corresponding second part in the conduit. The device is positioned between the corresponding first part and the corresponding second part in the conduit.
US07972088B2
A conveyor which can be used to route oriented objects, such as caps, covers, lids, etc. from a finishing machine of the type including a belt, a vibrating bowl or other. The conveyor includes a module having a vertical conveyor in the form of a column with an adjustable height and an intermediate conveyor in the form of a casing which is disposed between the finishing machine and the column. In addition, the module includes channel-type devices for guiding the objects and devices for propelling the objects, in the form of jets of air pulsed through eyes. The channel and the eyes form a continuous assembly between the finishing machine and the upper end of the column. The conveyor also includes devices enabling the automatic ejection of objects from grooves provided in the belt of the machine.
US07972086B2
An earthen retaining wall constructed with welded wire grid includes a series of soil reinforcing elements and separate facing panels with distal ends is provided. Soil reinforcing transverse elements capture the distal ends of the facing panel on both the front face side and the back face side. Capturing the distal ends on both the front side and back side horizontally secures the reinforcing elements without the aid of secondary connectors such as hog-rings, tie wires, connection pins, or other supplemental connectors. The soil reinforcing elements are free to move in the vertical direction but not in the horizontal direction.
US07972074B2
A leveling tool having a body which consists of a handle part and a leveling part. The leveling part being generally pointed in shape by way of two converging plows.An apex formed by the convergence of the converging plows. An exit located at the apex.
US07972058B2
An apparatus for mixing a fluid including a storage vessel including a hollow portion for holding the fluid, the hollow portion including at least one access port, the at least one access port adapted to at least one of receive and expel fluid and a diaphragm pump in fluid communication with and removeably coupled to the vessel, the pump adapted to move fluid into and/or out of the hollow portion. Either the vessel or the pump can be disposable. Also, at least one portion of the vessel can be made of a flexible material that takes shape in relation to the contents of the hollow portion. Also, the fluid can be moved between the vessel and the pump by natural or artificial pressure.
US07972046B2
A lighting device of the present invention includes: a first reflecting surface which is an elliptical reflecting surface; a semiconductor-type light source which is disposed at a first focal point of the first reflecting surface; and parabolic reflecting surfaces for controlling reflected light from the first reflecting surface and reflecting the controlled reflected light on a road surface, as predetermined light distribution patterns. The parabolic reflecting surfaces are a plurality of reflecting surfaces which are longitudinally divided into three sections. As a result, longitudinal steps are formed among the three parabolic reflecting surfaces that are longitudinally divided. Thus, if the reflected light from the first reflecting surface is incident to the longitudinal steps, the incident light is reflected in the lateral direction, i.e., in the transverse direction at the steps. In this manner, vertical stray light can be prevented.
US07972045B2
A vehicle headlamp control system includes an imaging sensor and a control. The control processes data from the imaging sensor and generates at least one control output. Selection of a high beam state and a low beam state for a vehicle headlamp is responsive to the control output, and is determined responsive to a detection of an object of interest. The control is responsive to a signal indicative of a vehicle speed of the controlled vehicle, and inhibits adjustment of the vehicle headlamp from a low beam state to a high beam state when the vehicle speed is below a threshold speed level. The control is responsive to data indicative of a vehicle trajectory of the controlled vehicle, and inhibits adjustment of the vehicle headlamp from a low beam state to a high beam state when a radius of curvature of the vehicle trajectory is below a threshold value.
US07972044B2
A light fixture for use as a horticultural and agricultural grow light fixture, which includes a fixture housing, end panels disposed in the open ends of the housing, each of which includes a duct opening and a duct connector disposed in the duct opening. A specular insert is installed in the interior of the fixture housing and includes sides spaced apart from the sides of the fixture housing such that a cooling and insulating airspace is defined between the specular insert and the housing. Both the housing and specular insert are mounted on a base, and the fixture bottom opening is covered by a lens. In the preferred embodiment, an adjustable light socket assembly is positioned in one of the duct connectors. Finally, the assembly includes a adjustable vent hole cover mounted in each of the duct connectors. The vent hole covers can be adjusted between a fully open position and a fully closed position, such that when the duct connectors are connected to an air circulation system, the rate and volume of air flow to and within the interior of the light fixture can finely adjusted.
US07972042B2
A light guide is a quarter of cylinder in shape and includes a cylindrical emitting surface, an incident surface adjacent to and facing away from the cylindrical emitting surface, and a connecting surface connecting the cylindrical emitting surface and incident surface. The light guide defines five a number of grooves in the incident surface. Each groove is bounded by two surfaces. The inclined angle of the two surface is designed to satisfy a set of conditions to improve light uniformity of the cylindrical emitting surface.
US07972035B2
A lighting apparatus having a pivotable light cartridge for positioning and directing the light output of a plurality of light sources, the light cartridge including an elongated base oriented along the longitudinal axis, a pivot at the opposed first and second ends of the light cartridge along the longitudinal axis, a plurality of light sources, and an longitudinal wall extending from the lateral edge of the base, the wall including a plurality of spaced-apart, radially-extending ribs, each having a distal edge. A rotatable worm gear having a helical thread is positioned in mechanical engagement with a portion of the distal edges of the plurality of ribs, so that rotation of the worm gear with a hand tool effects pivoting of the light cartridge along the longitudinal axis.
US07972034B2
A laser light source includes: a laser array in which plural emitters are arranged; and a submount having first and second surfaces facing in opposite directions. The laser array is provided on the first surface. A distance between the first surface and the second surface of the submount varies along an array arrangement direction of the laser array.
US07972032B2
The present invention relates to a light emitting device assembly. Such a LED assembly comprises a plurality of lamp-type light emitting devices, each of said lamp-type light emitting devices having a light output side and side walls. The plurality of lamp-type light emitting devices are directly or indirectly connected to each other via said side walls. The latter allows to obtain a compact LED assembly with high brightness.
US07972016B2
A projector system includes a light source module and an integrator including a light receiving surface for receiving light from the light source module. The light source module includes a number of light sources for emitting parallel light, multiple sets of light-adjusting prisms corresponding to the light sources and a focusing lens arranged near the integrator. Light emitted from each of the light sources is refracted by the corresponding set of light-adjusting prisms, and then focused by the focusing lens to the light receiving surface of the integrator, and forms into a converging light cone with the apex being at the light receiving surface of the integrator. An angle of the light cone is 1/N of a cone formed by the light without being refracted, where N is number of the light sources and is greater than 1.
US07972015B2
A projection type image display apparatus includes: a cabinet; a screen which is provided in the cabinet; a display device which is placed inside the cabinet and forms an image; and an optical system which projects an image formed by the display device to the screen and comprises at least one mirror, a supporter for supporting the mirror, and a frame through which the supporter is fastened to the cabinet, all of the mirror, the supporter and the frame being disposed within a single interior space formed by the cabinet and the screen.
US07972012B2
A projector includes a cooling device for performing cooling of a target object housed inside a housing, a first temperature sensor disposed in an anterior stage of the target object on a cooling path formed by the cooling device inside the housing, and for measuring a first detection temperature in an anterior area of the cooling among peripheral areas of the target object, a second temperature sensor disposed in a posterior stage of the target object on the cooling path, and for measuring a second detection temperature in a posterior area of the cooling among the peripheral areas, and a control device for performing calculation regarding the temperature of the target object from the first detection temperature and the second detection temperature, and controlling the cooling device based on the result of the calculation.
US07972011B2
An image projector according to the present invention includes a light source for emitting a laser beam, of which the intensity has been modulated in accordance with a modulation signal representing an image to be projected, and a beam deflection section for deflecting the laser beam two-dimensionally such that the image is produced by repeatedly scanning a screen with the laser beam in a predetermined pattern. The predetermined pattern has a repetitive frequency that is lower than a frame rate of the image.
US07972005B2
A method includes detecting a person located between a projector and a surface on which a first image is projected by the projector, and automatically blacking out a portion of the first image, so that light from the projector does not fall on the face of the person.
US07972003B2
A visible laser beam projection system determines a target point of position to which a visible laser beam is to be projected, a start point and a trajectory from the start point and the target point based on data of conditions inside and outside of a vehicle. The system starts projecting the visible laser beam from the start point, moves the visible laser beam while it is being projected along the trajectory and stops the projection of the visible laser beam. The start point, target point and the trajectory may be changed depending on contents to be indicated.
US07971997B2
An intraocular lens selection apparatus and an intraocular lens selection method for selecting an intraocular lens to be implanted into an examinee's eye. The apparatus has an input unit which inputs corneal wavefront aberration of the eye, a memory which stores wavefront aberrations of a plurality of intraocular lens models, an unit which sets, as a target value, desired post-operative residual wavefront aberration of the eye after the lens is implanted, an unit which calculates, as an estimated value, post-operative residual wavefront aberration of the eye to be obtained when each lens model is implanted, based on the inputted corneal wavefront aberration and the stored wavefront aberration of each lens model, and specifies one of the lens models which renders the estimated value close to the set target value, a monitor, and a display control unit which controls the monitor to display information of the specified lens model.
US07971991B2
The present invention is directed towards methods and apparatus for handling powder in a 3D printer. The invention includes a means of transporting powder from multiple sources to a powder dispensing apparatus with minimal user intervention, thus reducing contamination of the 3D printer and surrounding area with loose powder, while also providing a means of improving the recycling of powder for re-use.
US07971989B2
In a printer, a first section is sized to accommodate a rolled sheet therein. A printing head is horizontally movable along a moving path extending in a first direction and operable to perform printing on a part of the rolled sheet which is drawn out from the first section. A second section is provided on a first side of the first section relative to the first direction. A third section is provided on a second side of the first section relative to the first direction opposite to the first side. A control board on which a circuit operable to control an operation of the printer is mounted is disposed in the first section so as to extend vertically. An ink supplying member is disposed in the third section that supplies ink to the printing head. The moving path is longer than a dimension of the first section in the first direction.
US07971987B2
A heated drum assembly enables improved thermal control of a hollow drum in the heated drum assembly by integrating thermal sensing devices in the assembly. The heated drum assembly includes a hollow drum having a circumferential wall that defines an outer boundary for an internal cavity, the hollow drum having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis about which the hollow drum rotates, a stationary heater that is located within the internal cavity of the hollow drum to heat the circumferential wall as it passes by the heater, the heater having a reflector with at least one wall and at least one heating element between the reflector and the circumferential wall of the hollow drum, the reflector and a portion of the circumferential wall subtended by the reflector forming a heating zone, an insulating shield mounted to the wall of the reflector, a thermal cutout mounted on the insulating shield, a support arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the support arm being mounted to the insulating shield, and a thermal sensor mounted to the second end of the support arm.
US07971985B2
A pigment dispersion containing a metal pigment, wherein the metal pigment contains plate-like particles, and in the case where the longitudinal diameter on the planar surface of the plate-like particle is X, the lateral diameter is Y, and the thickness is Z, the 50% average particle diameter R50 of a corresponding circle determined from the surface area in the X-Y plane of the plate-like particle is between 0.5 and 3 μm, and the condition R50/Z>5 is satisfied.
US07971983B2
An ink set for ink-jet recording, which provides a vivid and sharp ink-jet recorded material with no bleeding, is composed of a plurality of pigment inks and configured such that the average particle diameter of a pigment contained in any ink precedently landing on a recording medium is less than that of a pigment contained in another ink subsequently landing on the recording medium, and such that at least two pigment inks are different in average particle diameter of the pigment contained therein to each other.
US07971975B2
An inkjet printhead including a substrate and a plurality of nozzle assemblies disposed on the substrate. Each nozzle assembly includes a nozzle chamber for containing ink and an actuator for ejecting an ink droplet from a nozzle aperture when a resistive element of the actuator is heated by an electrical current. The resistive element of the actuator is spaced apart from the substrate and suspended in ink contained in the nozzle chamber.
US07971965B2
An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer is configured to keep the ink pressure in the printhead constant. The cartridge has a sealed ink storage volume, an ink outlet for sealed fluid communication between the printhead and the ink storage volume, an air bag in the ink storage volume for expanding as ink is drawn through the ink outlet to keep a constant head of ink above the outlet valve. The air inlet for the air bag is a frangible that is ruptured as the cartridge is installed and the ink outlet opens.
US07971964B2
A method for manufacturing a liquid discharge head including an energy generating element, which generates energy utilized for discharging a liquid, and a discharge portion provided at a position facing the energy generating element and having a discharge port for discharging the liquid is provided. This method includes the steps of forming a negative photosensitive resin layer used for a member that forms the discharge port on the substrate, and exposing the layer to an i-line to form the discharge portion that is tapered in a direction from the substrate to the discharge port, wherein the layer has an absorbance per 1 μm thickness of about 0.02 to about 0.07 for light used for the exposure.
US07971960B2
A printhead integrated circuit that has a plurality of nozzles formed on a frontside of a monolithic wafer substrate, the nozzles being arranged in rows extending longitudinally along the substrate. Each nozzle has a respective nozzle inlet extending partially through the monolithic wafer substrate. The integrated circuit also has a plurality of ink supply channels defined in a backside surface of the monolithic wafer substrate which extend longitudinally along the backside of the substrate. Each ink supply channel is deep enough to meet the nozzle inlets such that ink fed to the backside surface of the substrate is supplied to the nozzles on the frontside. The nozzles supplied with ink from one of the ink supply channels are different to the nozzles supplied with ink by another of the ink supply channels such that different ink colors are simultaneously printed. Each ink supply channel is separated into channel sections by one or more transverse walls that structurally stiffen the monolithic wafer substrate.
US07971952B2
An image recording apparatus executes a recording process for a recording medium is fed from a feeding unit, or the recording medium for which the recording process has been executed and which is re-fed at least via a path switching unit after the recording process. The image recording apparatus comprises at least a driving control unit for deciding a page gap between preceding and succeeding recording medium on a conveyance path according to at least either of the recording medium is fed from the feeding unit and the recording medium for which the recording process has been executed and which is re-fed via the path switching unit after the recording process, and for issuing a control instruction to the path switching unit.
US07971934B2
An occupant lumbar support system includes a flexible lumbar support member having homogenously connected first and second connection braces. The lumbar support member is deflectable to a plurality of lumbar support positions. A rigid displacement rod is connected at a first rod end to one of the connection braces. A lumbar member actuation mechanism has a rotatable first actuation arm receiving a second displacement rod end. The actuation member translates the displacement rod causing the first and second connection braces to move toward each other, deflecting the lumbar support member to any of the lumbar support positions. A cable is connected at a first end to an actuation mechanism second actuation arm and at a second end to a displaceable lever manually movable to co-rotate the first and second actuation arms and translate the displacement rod.
US07971926B2
A trailer wall construction having reduced weight. A trailer wall construction includes a spherical shaped corner at a juncture of three walls. Each of the walls includes at least one panel having spaced apart inner and outer shells. Another trailer wall construction includes a generally vertically extending front or side wall and a floor. The floor and front or side wall each includes at least one panel comprising spaced apart inner and outer shells. A curved connector connects a lower edge of the front or side wall to an edge of the floor. Yet another trailer wall construction includes a wall with panels attached to one another along opposing edges of the panels, each of the panels including spaced apart inner and outer shells. One connector is attached to each of the panels along a third edge. Another connector is attached to each of the panels along a fourth edge.
US07971922B2
A fuel filler housing and quarter inner panel for a vehicle may include a quarter inner panel portion including an opening hole for filling fuel and at least an inserting hole formed to be spaced outwardly from the opening hole, and a fuel filler housing portion including a filling hole communicating with the opening hole of the quarter inner panel portion and at least a latching port formed to be spaced outwardly from the filling hole to be inserted into the corresponding inserting holes of the quarter inner panel portion, wherein the fuel filler housing portion can be guided and fixed to the quarter inner panel portion by the inserting holes and the latching ports thereof when mounted.
US07971905B2
A folding rollover protection system includes an upper ROPS hinged to a lower ROPS and movable between an upright position and a folded down position. An isolation member may be urged between the upper and lower ROPS to separate them from each other. The isolation member may be a resilient wedge-shaped member positioned between a first wedge and a second wedge. The first wedge is movable toward the second wedge to urge the isolation member against one of the ROPS, isolating the upper ROPS from the lower ROPS.
US07971902B2
A vehicle occupant restraint system including: a seatbelt device including a shoulder belt portion restraining a part of a vehicle occupant from one of shoulders to a chest, and a lap belt portion restraining a waist of the vehicle occupant; an upper airbag provided in the shoulder belt portion, and configured to be deployed forward from the shoulder belt portion; a lower airbag provided in the lap belt portion, and configured to be deployed forward from the lap belt portion, the deployed upper and lower airbags coming into contact with each other in a vertical direction; and a movement restraining portion restraining relative movement of the deployed upper and lower airbags in a front-rear direction, extending downward from a lower side of the deployed upper airbag, and positioned in the rear of the deployed lower airbag.
US07971901B2
An airbag apparatus is provided by which, when an airbag collides with an occupant, the occupant can receive a reaction force from the airbag. An airbag apparatus (10A to 10B) inflates between two seats arranged in a vehicle width direction (20L, 20R, 21L, 21R) to protect an occupant (P). The airbag apparatus (10A to 10B) includes an inflator (12) and a folded airbag (11). When gas is jetted from the inflator (12) at a side collision, the airbag (11) is allowed to inflate and is abutted to a vehicle interior (35) to thereby suppress the move of the airbag (11) when the airbag (11) collides with the body of the occupant (P).
US07971893B1
A wheelchair includes a chair member formed of a seat portion with a backrest portion vertically extending therefrom. On each of two opposing sides of the backrest is an armrest that pivots between a horizontal, deployed position when in use, and a stowed, vertical position when a patient is entering or exiting the seat. The chair is mounted on an electronics housing that includes a pair of reversible DC motors and associated gear boxes that rotate a pair of pneumatic tires. A caregiver can stand on a platform behind the chair member when operating the wheelchair. The chair's speed and direction are controlled with either of a pair of control panels. A caregiver's control panel is mounted on a steering bar attached to the rear surface of the backrest while a patient control panel is mounted on one of the armrests.
US07971881B2
An apparatus and method of automatically shuffling a deck of playing cards is described. The apparatus includes three compartments disposed laterally with respect to each other and at least one compartment movable vertically with respect to another other compartment. Cards placed in one of the compartments are dispensed into the other two compartments so as to cut or strip the deck, and are returned to the original compartment by interleaving cards from the other compartments. The process may be repeated to substantially randomize the deck for use in playing a game of cards. The cards may be removed either through a top aperture through which the cards were introduced into the apparatus or using a removable tray.
US07971857B1
An upper and a lower panel with side panels therebetween define a rectilineal chamber of a housing having an air input and an air output side. A fan includes a plurality of blades and a motor to rotate the blades within the chamber. A filter assembly includes a bracket adjustably secured on each side panel and a filter component positioned in facing contact with the housing whereby all air passing through the housing passes through the filter component.
US07971855B2
A stemless ball valve comprising two flanges and a ball with a channel, two axis pins and two travel pins. One end of each axis and travel pin is fixedly attached to the ball, and the other end of each axis pin is lodged into a notch in the first or second flange such that the axis pin is allowed to rotate in the notch. The guide sleeve comprises two channels, and one end of each travel pin is situated within one of the two channels in the guide sleeve. An outer magnetic cartridge causes the inner magnetic cartridge and guide sleeve to rotate, and when the guide sleeve rotates, the travel pins move up and down within the channels in the guide sleeve. The movement of the travel pins within the channels in the guide sleeve causes the ball to rotate, thereby opening and closing the ball valve.
US07971852B2
Disclosed is a seal structure of a high-pressure tank capable of properly securing seal efficiency. The seal structure of the high-pressure tank includes a plurality of seal members that have mutually different seal properties and that are installed between a ferrule of the high-pressure tank and a valve body attached to the ferrule. One of the plurality of seal members has low temperature resistance, and the other has high temperature resistance. A first seal member is an O-ring formed of butyl rubber or silicone. A second seal member is an O-ring formed of EPDM. Furthermore, the two O-rings are different in gas permeability from each other. This seal structure can be applied between the ferrule and the valve body, in addition, between the ferrule and a liner, between the ferrule and a shell, and between the valve body and the shell.
US07971850B2
The invention describes devices for controlling fluid flow, such as valves. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to change a characteristic of the fluid. Some of the characteristic of the fluid that may be changed include but are not limited to 1) a flow rate, 2) a flow direction, 3) a flow vorticity, 4) a flow momentum, 5) a flow mixing rate, 6) a flow turbulence rate, 7) a flow energy, 8) a flow thermodynamic property. The electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure that is immersed in an external fluid flow, such as the surface of an airplane wing or the electroactive polymer may be a portion of a surface of a structure used in an internal flow, such as a bounding surface of a fluid conduit.
US07971849B2
A recirculating valve according to the present invention comprises a fuel supplying passage in fluid communication with a fuel tank and an engine, a return passage in fluid communication with the engine and the fuel tank, a communication passage in fluid communication with the fuel supplying passage and the return passage. A temperature sensitive displacement portion that is provided in the fuel supplying passage and displaces in accordance with the fuel temperature. An on-off valve closes the communication passage when the fuel temperature in the fuel supplying passage is above a first prescribed temperature, and opens the communication passage when the fuel temperature in the fuel supplying passage is below a second prescribed temperature, in accordance with a displacement of the temperature sensitive displacement portion.
US07971841B2
A motorcycle saddlebag hanger is described which includes a vertically disposed support which is secured to a wall or which may be free standing. The hanger includes two identical structures formed thereon for supporting a pair of motorcycle saddlebags when the saddlebags have been removed from a motorcycle. The saddlebags are secured to the hanger utilizing the hardware which normally secures the motorcycle saddlebags to the motorcycle. The hanger may also be free standing. Further, the hanger may be a two-component hanger so that the saddlebags may be positioned in either a vertically spaced-apart manner or in a horizontally spaced-apart manner.
US07971832B2
A tip device to act as an outboard continuation of an aircraft wing or other aerodynamic lifting surface has a downward cant angle, a leading edge swept back in relation to the leading edge of the inboard lifting surface, and a chord reducing in the outboard direction of the device. A favourable balance between induced drag reduction and increased wing root bending moment can thereby be achieved. Preferably the device also has an upwardly canted portion at its root end so that the downward cant commences from a relatively elevated spanwise location, thereby alleviating any ground clearance problems.
US07971826B2
An aircraft engine assembly including an engine, an engine suspension pylon, and a heat exchanger system including an outlet located between the box and the engine, aft from the aft engine suspension. Furthermore, the outlet of the heat exchanger system is provided on an outlet pipe connected to the exchanger and passing through a structural block fixed on a box, between the box and the engine.
US07971823B2
An aircraft that is housed within a gyroscope providing for improved flight stability that includes an inner hull which remains stationary within a rotating outer hull. A rotating sine-wave ring is used to activate and move a plurality of pistons which will intake air from above the upper surface of the inner hull configuration and create a negative pressure on the aircraft. The craft contains compression chambers which receive the air and which feed the various impeller thrusters which are rotational within three-fourths of a hemisphere.
US07971815B2
A milling station and a method for grinding milling material using at least one coarse grinding circuit and at least one fine grinding circuit. The coarse grinding circuit includes a classifier and a material bed roller mill. The fine grinding circuit includes a tube mill with at least two grinding chambers, a central outlet, and a divider. In some instances, at least some of the milling material from the coarse grinding circuit is subdivided in the divider and delivered to the at least two grinding chambers of the fine grinding circuit while some of the milling material is jointly discharged from the at least two grinding chambers through the central outlet.
US07971812B2
The present invention discloses a shredder which does not waste energy in standby mode. Power is applied to the components of the shredder only when material to be shredded is inserted into the shredder throat or when the unit is switched into reverse to clear a jam in the shredder.
US07971810B2
A food waste disposer has a motor driven with pulse width modulation (“PWM”). A grinding profile is controlled based on PWM values of the PWM controller driving the motor. In an aspect, controlling the grinding profile includes varying the speed of the motor based on the PWM values. In an aspect, the grinding profile is initiated after the food waste disposer is started and a PWM value exceeds a set value indicating the presence of a grinding load in a grinding section of the food waste disposer. In an aspect, it is determined that the grinding load has been sufficiently ground once the PWM value does not exceed a first set value after the grinding profile has been initiated. In an aspect, corrective action is initiated when the PWM value exceeds the set value after a predetermined period of time.
US07971809B2
Methods of making fibrous materials are disclosed that include shearing a fiber source to provide a first fibrous material, and passing the first fibrous material through a first screen. Also, composites are disclosed that includes a fibrous material, a resin and a dye.
US07971806B2
An air-assisted sprayer comprises a platform, a fluid cup, an air reservoir, a spray cap, a pressure line, a fluid reservoir and a poppet valve. The fluid cup is connected to the platform to hold a volume of fluid. The air reservoir extends through the platform and is configured to receive pressurized air. The spray cap is connected to the platform to receive pressurized air from the air reservoir. The pressure line connects the air reservoir with the fluid cup to pressurize the volume of fluid. The fluid reservoir extends from the fluid cup to the platform to provide pressurized fluid to the spray cap. The poppet valve is in fluid communication with the pressure line between the volume of fluid and the air reservoir to prevent fluid from entering the air reservoir.
US07971802B2
A fuel injector comprising a nozzle having a nozzle needle which is moveable with respect to a first needle seat to control fuel delivery through a nozzle outlet. The injector includes a nozzle control valve for controlling fuel flow into a control chamber through a first passage to pressurise the control chamber, and for controlling fuel flow out of said control chamber through said first passage to depressurise the control chamber. Movement of the nozzle needle is controlled by fuel pressure within the control chamber, such that pressurising the control chamber causes the nozzle needle to be urged against the first needle seat to close the nozzle outlet, and depressurising the control chamber causes the nozzle needle to lift from the first needle seat to open the nozzle outlet. The nozzle needle defines, at least in part, a restricted passage through which fuel can flow into the control chamber as the control chamber depressurises. The fuel flow into the control chamber through the restricted passage serves to reduce the rate at which the control chamber depressurises, thereby reducing the rate at which the nozzle needle lifts from the first needle seat to open the nozzle outlet.
US07971801B2
An apparatus and method for use in conducting an eruption reaction are disclosed. The apparatus includes a catalytic solids container with a mouth and fluid egress opening and a trigger device or mechanism that allows for the controlled release of catalytic solid into an eruptible fluid. The catalytic solids container may be adapted to be coupled to container for an eruptible fluid.
US07971794B2
A contactless IC device including a detection circuit configured to detect a carrier wave that has been amplitude shift-keying (ASK) modulated with digital data and a shunt circuit configured to regulate the carrier wave to a predetermined voltage level.
US07971793B2
The present invention provides a memory card equipped with an interface controller connected to external connecting terminals, a memory connected to the interface controller, and a security controller connected to the interface controller. A second external connecting terminal capable of supplying an operating power supply to the security controller is provided aside from a first external connecting terminal which supplies an operating power supply to the interface controller and the memory. An interface unit of the interface controller connected to the security controller receives the operating power supply from the second external connecting terminal and thereby enables a stop of the supply of the operating power supply from the first external connecting terminal. Even if the supply of the operating power supply to the interface controller is cut off, the output of the interface unit is not brought to an indefinite state.
US07971762B2
A belt clamp with a pivotal article carrier attached thereto includes a base and a cover hinged together at the top. The cover includes a passageway at the lower end to accept a barb-like fastener integral with lower end of base to lock clamp closed. A tongue projects inwardly from the cover to contact and inhibit movement of a duty belt inside the clamp. The base includes a pair of intersecting arcuate slots and a reversible insert having one arcuate slot to make the clamp usable by either right- or left-handed users. A movable belt width adjustment bar is mounted inside the clamp to accommodate belts of various widths. Bosses around the lower opening of the cover inhibit twisting of locked clamp to prevent inadvertent opening. A locking plate is provided to inhibit rotation of fasteners used in pivotal mounting of an article carrier to the belt clamp.
US07971758B2
A motorized caulk gun has a housing which receives a plunger. The plunger is disposed adjacent to caulk cartridge which is received in the housing. The plunger is movable in a first direction to discharge caulk from the cartridge. A first and second plate moves the plunger rod in a direction to squeeze caulk from the cartridge. A first and second cam act on the plates via a cam follower such that the plates alternately engage the plunger rod to drive it in a forward direction to squeeze caulk from the cartridge.
US07971744B2
Cryogenic storage and separator vessels made of polyolefin foams are disclosed, as are methods of storing and separating cryogenic fluids and fluid mixtures using these vessels. In one embodiment, the polyolefin foams may be cross-linked, closed-cell polyethylene foams with a density of from about 2 pounds per cubic foot to a density of about 4 pounds per cubic foot.
US07971742B2
A containment device for a liquid handling system is presented. The devise has a vault having a cavity, a closed bottom and an open top. A supporting device having a first half of a quick connect system connected to external plumbing is positioned in a lower portion of the cavity and secured to the vault to provide support for a weight of the liquid handling system. A bracket having a second half of a quick connect system connected to internal plumbing for the liquid handling system is configured to retain the liquid handling system, contact the supporting device when the bracket and liquid handling system is lowered into the cavity and mate the first second halves of the quick connect system allowing liquid to flow from the external plumbing to the internal plumbing. A lid is secured to the top for minimizing the intrusion of environmental elements into the vault.
US07971735B2
A merchandising system includes an elongated mounting member selectively securable to a front portion of an associated shelf. A track is received on the mounting member, wherein the track extends rearwardly over the associated shelf. The track includes an elongated body which is substantially solid in cross section both along a longitudinal axis of the body and in a direction approximately transverse to the longitudinal axis. A first rail extends from the body and, a second rail extends from the body. The second rail is spaced from the first rail.
US07971731B2
A baffle system in a clarifier tank having a tank bottom, a periphery, a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank and an effluent channel includes a plurality of baffles mounted on the clarifier tank. Each baffle has a baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end is coupled to a wall of the clarifier tank and the lower end is disposed at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.
US07971727B2
A feed and sorting device for tablets has a number of vertically extending filling tubes for tablets, and a blocking slide unit for temporarily blocking the guiding channels of the filling tubes. The blocking slide unit includes a base plate with through-openings for the filling tubes and a plurality of blocking fingers designed as integral parts of the base plate and horizontally extending into the through-openings. Each blocking finger is assigned to one of the filling tubes.
US07971716B2
The present invention is related to an adjustable inclined tool box for holding tools. In addition, the user can comfortably lie on the tool box at an incline when working in a supine position. The incline of the tool box can be changed by adjusting the height of at least one height adjustable foot connected to the bottom of the tool box. An optional lip connected to the tool box and extending therefrom can be provided in order to provide a smooth transition from the back rest of the tool box to a cabinet space floor if being used for work under a cabinet.
US07971706B2
A conveyor having conveyor chain 100 adapted to be engaged and driven by drums 180 and 190 having spiral flights. The conveyor chain has a number of interconnected conveying modules 120, 140, 150 and 160. Selected modules 120 are aligned in the direction of travel parallel to the axis of rotation of the drums. Each of the aligned modules has a traveling guide socket 122 on the back surface, which engages with flight portions 180a and 190a of the spiral drums, so that the chain is advanced by the rotation of the drums. The modules are rectangular and are interconnected in columns and rows, preferably in a brick pattern.
US07971704B2
A micropipette sorting and packaging system includes a base, a XY platform, a carrying platform, a vibration tray, an automatic discharge mechanism and a control unit. With the installation of the automatic discharge mechanism, a conventional sorting and packaging design adopting a robotic arm is replaced to reduce occupied space and lower installation costs.
US07971703B2
A conveying apparatus and a conveyed object inspection apparatus which can perform accurate, damage free image inspection. One conveying roller has a conveying surface formed in a spiral manner on an outer periphery surface thereof. The conveying surface is slanted with respect to the central axis narrowing toward other end side so as to convey a conveyed object while holding it between the conveying surface and other conveying roller. The other conveying roller has a tilt surface provided in a spiral manner on an outer periphery surface thereof. The tilt surface is slanted with respect to the central axis narrowing toward one end side. A feeding means can feed the conveyed object inbetween the conveying rollers. An inspection section has an image acquisition means capable of acquiring an image of an entire outer surface of the conveyed object, and an abnormality detecting means capable of detecting abnormality of the conveyed object based on the image A removing means can then remove an abnormal object.
US07971702B2
A hopper support device supports a hopper on an agricultural granular material conveying auger such that the hopper can be readily separated from the auger or the hopper can remain adequately supported on the auger when the auger is displaced. The hopper support device comprises a frame arranged to receive the hopper therein and a mounting member arranged to be mounted on the auger tube to support the frame and the hopper on the auger tube wherein the frame is movable relative to the mounting member between mounted and released positions either by relative sliding in a longitudinal direction of the auger, relative pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis, or both.
US07971700B1
A loader attachment for use with a mobile conveyor system has a base plate, a C-shaped support structure, and a cable. The base plate is dimensioned to be supported upon a conveyor belt of the mobile conveyor system. The C-shaped support structure extends upwardly from the base plate for supporting a roofing supply during transport on the conveyor belt. The cable is adapted to be attached to a top end of the C-shaped support structure and the base plate for securing the roofing supply on the C-shaped support structure.
US07971685B2
The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a pump jack tree stand including a platform and a seat engaging a pump jack. The pump jack cooperates with a pole that is supported by an adjacent tree. The user actuates a foot lever on the pump jack to climb the pole. The pump jack's release is hand actuated as opposed to the commonly used foot-actuated release.
US07971684B2
A panel for acoustic treatment connected to a surface of an aircraft, includes—from the outside to the inside—an acoustically resistive porous layer, at least one alveolar structure, and a reflective or impermeable layer, whereby the acoustically resistive porous layer includes—at the outside surface that can be in contact with the aerodynamic flows—one sheet or piece of sheet metal including open zones (14) that allow sound waves to pass and filled zones (16) that do not allow sound waves to pass, characterized in that the sheet or piece of sheet metal of the acoustically resistive layer includes sets of microperforations (18), whereby each set of microperforations forms an open zone (14), the sets of microperforations being separated from one another by at least one series of bands separated by filled zones (16).
US07971681B2
An exhaust-gas muffler (1) has a housing (2) through which at least one sleeve (11) projects. At one end, the sleeve (11) has an attachment opening (10) and at the opposite-lying end has an access opening (14). To avoid a contamination of the sleeve (11) during operation, a plug (15, 25, 35, 40, 45, 55) of a pressed metal wire is arranged in the access opening (14).
US07971678B2
In a vehicle steering device and control method, a selectively engageable clutch is positioned between a steering wheel and a turning mechanism for turning at least one wheel. The clutch has an engaged position where the steering wheel is mechanically connected to the turning mechanism and a disengaged position where the steering wheel is mechanically separated from the turning mechanism for steer-by-wire control. During steer-by-wire control, a reaction force actuator applies a force to the steering wheel, and a turning actuator applies a torque to the turning mechanism. To prevent erroneous clutch engagement caused by an increase in relative angular acceleration between the steering angle and the turning angle, a controller detects an operating condition corresponding to a risk of erroneous clutch engagement and controls at least one of the turning actuator and the reaction force actuator to reduce the relative angular acceleration.
US07971676B2
An exhaust system protection device is described that can be installed on the exhaust pipe of a vehicle. The device is designed to protect valuable components of the exhaust system from unauthorized removal. The device has a first locking collar that is configured to be removably positioned around the exhaust pipe of the vehicle. The first locking collar is positioned adjacent to the first end of the component that is to be protected. A second locking collar is removably positioned around the exhaust pipe adjacent the second end of the component that is to be protected. A plurality of elongated members extends from the first locking collar to the second locking collar. The plurality of elongated members is positioned around the component in a manner whereby the component cannot be removed from the exhaust system between the plurality of elongated members. A security member can extend from the first locking collar around a chassis or frame member of a vehicle and be secured to the second locking collar to prevent the protection device and component from being separated from the vehicle. The locking collars and security member are all constructed from materials that are difficult to cut or alter and thereby makes it difficult for a thief to remove the protection device from the exhaust system of the vehicle.
US07971669B2
In a method for controlling an output torque of an electric variable transmission having an input coupled to a combustion engine and at least one electric motor that is at least feedable by a battery and able to recuperate energy into the battery, the battery power is limited to a maximum continuous battery power when the transmission is in a stationary operating point with a continuous revolution speed. The battery power is increased and limited to a maximum transient battery power that is greater than the maximum continuous battery power in a non-stationary operating point, upon a request for changing the gear-ratio (ratio between transmission input and output-speed) or upon a request for changing the transmissions output revolution speed.
US07971659B2
A new multi-purpose foaming composition having applications in oil field application, industrial applications, waste management applications, or other applications that can be benefited by a foam, is disclosed, where the composition includes a surfactant, a sulfur scavenger and optionally an additive, where the sulfur scavenger and/or additive improve foam characteristics and/or the foam improves an activity of the sulfur scavenger and/or the additives. Method for using and making the foaming compositions are also disclosed, especially, coiled and capillary coiled tubing downhole applications.
US07971638B2
Well bore servicing equipment is provided. The well bore servicing equipment comprises a first manipulator to grip a well bore work string, to raise the work string, and to lower the work string. The well bore servicing equipment further comprises a controller to receive a work string trajectory input and to automatically control the first manipulator to raise and lower the work string substantially in conformance with the work string trajectory input.
US07971625B2
The invention provides an anchoring device for anchoring an elongate guide element of an architectural covering. The anchoring device includes a body having a rear surface. The body is suitable for attachment to a support structure with the rear surface in close contact with the support structure. The body includes a receiving cavity for receiving the elongate guide element, a first entrance to the receiving cavity and a second entrance to the receiving cavity. The receiving cavity can receive the elongate guide element selectively either through the first entrance, with the rear surface having a first orientation with respect to the elongate guide element, or through the second entrance, with the rear surface having a second orientation with respect to the elongate guide element, and wherein the second orientation is substantially different from the first orientation.
US07971622B2
A modular structure (1) for temporary exhibitions which comprises at least one shaft component (2), at least one sheet (3) with at least one fixed end (3a), which is fastened to the shaft component (2) and at least one free end (3b) opposite the fixed end (3a), and a releasable fastening mechanism (11) capable of fixing the free end (3a) to the shaft component (2) and in which the shaft component (2), comprises a rolling device suitable for rolling the sheet (3).
US07971621B2
A filling bell can be used to fill a tubeless tire arranged on a wheel rim with a pressurized gas. The filling bell includes an annular sealing face which can be pressed onto a side wall of the tire. The filling bell also includes a central opening, into which the wheel rim may penetrate. The sealing face is formed by an annular flange which surrounds the opening and includes a plurality of wedge-shaped segments. The width of the wedge-shaped segments increases away from the opening. The wedge-shaped segments are displaceable relative to one another and substantially radially relative to the opening.
US07971616B2
An apparatus for applying weft yarns in a cross direction to warp yarns having an adhesive scrim thereon includes the warp yarns on a beam which are fed downstream of the apparatus by first laying the warp yarns onto a transfer belt to reduce the tension in the yarns. The warp yarns are fed upstream from a spool along a rotating tube on which they are mounted and pass through a tensioning apparatus to unify the tension in the various yarns running along the tube. The uniformly tensioned weft yarns pass through individual nozzles around the circumference of the rotating tube where the yarns are deposited onto the adhesive scrim. After the weft yarns are deposited on the warp yarns, the transfer belt moves the fabric having warp and weft yarns across a cooling section of a mandrel where the adhesive is set.
US07971614B2
A locking system for a ring for mounting on a hub of a vehicle, the mounting ring being intended to receive a bead of a tire in an assembly for mounting the tire on the hub of a vehicle. The locking system comprises a locking ring and a polymeric insert.
US07971611B1
The combination waste dust extractor and support plate is intended to be used in combination with a conventional woodworking router when the router is used in an inverted position for bench or table use. The apparatus includes a router support plate with the dust extraction feature built into and included with this support plate. The combination support plate and dust extractor is affixed to the router and then both are suspended under the surface of a work table. The dust extraction feature is built into and included with the support plate as follows: within the plate is an internal chamber connecting the router bit opening on the top surface of the plate with an outlet at one corner of the bottom of the plate. A standard shop vacuum is attached to a hose fitting connected to the outlet. The attached shop vacuum creates suction around and beneath the router bit, drawing dust and particles through the chamber and into the attached shop vacuum. The combination waste dust extractor and support plate can be mounted to conventional routers by drilling holes through the plate and attaching the router with flat head machine screws.
US07971598B1
A valving assembly, comprises elongated tubular body, a first annular diaphragm in the body, and a first annular seat in the body engaged by the first diaphragm when pressurized fluid flow passes through the body and through the first diaphragm to deflect the first diaphragm, a second annular diaphragm in the body, and a second annular seat in the body engaged by the second diaphragm when said pressurized flow passes through the body and second diaphragm to deflect the second diaphragm, a third seat in the body engaged by the first diaphragm to block reverse flow through the body, an escape port in the body to allow escape of the reverse flow, and a drain port in the body to allow drainage of such fluid in the body upstream of the first diaphragm during such reverse flow.
US07971589B2
A collapsible reservoir system is disclosed herein. The collapsible reservoir system includes a first tube pneumatically connected to the collapsible reservoir, and a second tube pneumatically connected to the collapsible reservoir. The second tube is configured to generally remain open in the absence of an externally applied compressive force. The second tube is positioned relative to the collapsible reservoir such that a compressive force applied to the collapsible reservoir can also compress and thereby restrict the second tube. A corresponding method for controlling the pressure of a collapsible reservoir system is also provided.
US07971586B2
A solar heating system for mounting under a roof includes a panel formed of a sheet material, the panel having substantially opposed first and second surfaces and adapted for attachment under the roof with the first surface substantially facing the roof. A plurality of tubing fasteners extend outward from the second surface of the panel, and at least one run of tubing is held against the second surface of the panel by the plurality of tubing fasteners. The plurality of tubing fasteners can be partially cut-out and bent portions of the sheet material. The system can also include a sidewall formed by folding a portion of the sheet material toward the second surface along a line of weakness and standoff tabs extending from the first surface formed as partially cut-out and bent portions of the sheet material.
US07971583B2
A fire control device for a toy gun and a method therefor are provided. The device includes a trigger switching module, a firing mode selecting module, a control module, a power module and a motor module. Through a selection via the firing mode selecting module, the control module can control the time that the power module supplies the motor module, so that the lasting time period that the motor module drives a firing module to fire can be controlled, thereby multiple firing modes, single fire, 3-round burst, continuous fire and weapon safety, can be achieved.
US07971579B2
An apparatus for mixing intake air and exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine includes a chamber having an inlet to supply a stream of intake air, and a second inlet that receives an exhaust gas flow. The second inlet includes a section extending into the chamber of the mixer that has an outer surface that is elongated in cross-section along a longitudinal axis of the chamber in the direction of flow of the flowable media. The mixing apparatus mixes the intake air and exhaust gases without high pressure head loss across the apparatus.
US07971577B2
A method to dislodge an adherent residue in an EGR cooler, the EGR cooler installed in an engine. The method comprises switchably flowing the exhaust gas through the exhaust-gas recirculation cooler according to a normal-calibration control mode when a temperature of the coolant is above a threshold temperature, and switchably flowing the exhaust gas through the exhaust-gas recirculation cooler according to an EGR-cooler restoring control mode (with a greater time-averaged flow of the exhaust gas) when the temperature of the coolant is below the threshold temperature.
US07971564B2
An intake passage (10) communicating with a combustion chamber (3) comprises a first branch intake passage (16) having an intake port (4) at one end thereof and also having an intake manifold including a surge tank (13), a second branch intake passage (17) having an intake port (14) at one end thereof and also having an intake manifold including a surge tank (23), and a common intake passage (19) communicating with the ends of the first branch intake passage (16) and the second branch intake passage (17). The common intake passage (19) is provided with a mixer (11) for producing a mixture. The intake passage (10) is provided with a switching valve (18) for bringing the common intake passage (19) into communication with at least one of the first branch intake passage (16) and the second branch intake passage (17).
US07971562B2
A continuous variable valve lift device includes a valve, which opens/closes a channel by means of reciprocation, a control shaft, which is mounted so as to be able to move toward or away from a reciprocation central axis of the valve, a pivotable shoe, which is pivotably coupled to the control shaft, includes a cam insertion part in a recess or through-hole shape and a slide face slidably contacting an end of the valve, and reciprocates the valve when pivoted, and a drive cam, which comes into contact with an inner wall of the cam insertion part, and pivots the pivotable shoe. Thereby, the continuous variable valve lift device can freely adjust a lift amount and a lift time of the valve without changing positions of the drive cam and camshaft, and thus be easily applied to an existing engine.
US07971558B2
A circulating fluidized bed including a reaction chamber connected by an acceleration duct to a centrifugal separator which separates hot gas particles derived from the chamber. The acceleration duct is arranged partly in the upper part of the chamber.
US07971555B1
A method of treating waste from chickens in a chicken house includes applying a layer of short paper fibers over a floor of the chicken house horizontally below the chickens in the chicken house, mixing manure from the chickens with the layer of short paper fibers, and removing the mixed manure and short paper fibers from the chicken house. The manure is turned with the layer of short paper fibers such that the manure and the short paper fibers are intimately mixed together. The removed mixture can be spread over land.
US07971544B2
A quick-release clamping holder for a sewing needle, embroidery needle or the like has a needle receptacle (2) on which a needle clamping part (8) is preferably pivotally supported. A fixing element (14) is provided in order to clamp and fix the needle clamping part (8) in place, whereby said fixing element is pivotally or rotatably supported relative to a longitudinal central axis (13) of the needle and thus can be slid onto and off the needle clamping part (8). Actuation is simple and safe.
US07971543B2
A sewing machine includes a needle bar, a needle bar vertical movement mechanism, a sewing machine motor for driving the needle bar vertical movement mechanism as a drive source, an embroidery frame that holds a work cloth, and an embroidery frame movement mechanism that moves the embroidery frame. The sewing machine further includes a user-operated operation device with an operation member for outputting an output signal corresponding to an operation state of the operation member and a movement determination device that determines a movement direction and a movement distance of the embroidery frame based on the output signal outputted by the operation device. The sewing machine also includes an embroidery frame movement mechanism control device that drives the embroidery frame movement mechanism to move the embroidery frame according to the movement direction and the movement distance of the embroidery frame.
US07971535B1
The present invention provides a high-lethality low collateral damage fragmentation warhead. The case is formed of a material that is pulverized upon detonation of the explosive. As a result, the lethality radius of the pulverized case fragments is no greater than that of the gas blast, thus reducing potential collateral damage. Warhead lethality is improved by placing a pattern shaper between the fragment assembly and the explosive. The explosive and pattern shaper have a conformal non-planar interface that shapes the pressure wavefront as it propagates there through to expel metal fragments from the fragmentation assembly with a desired pattern density over a prescribed solid angle.
US07971532B1
The present disclosure provides a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) igniter which is an ignition safety device (ISD) in a small, low-cost, low-power, and highly reliable design. The MEMS igniter provides both out-of-line safety and an ignition mechanism for a rocket motor. The igniter is initially held in a safe, out-of-line position with respect to a propellant. Upon receiving appropriate arm and fire commands and sensing the correct environment, MEMS mechanisms move an ignition component into alignment and the device can function.
US07971524B2
An automated system for producing a slug having a repeatable shape from a plastic bottle, the automated system comprising: a housing having an elongated shape, an axis in a direction of elongation, and an opening configured to receive the bottle in a generally coaxially orientation with the housing; a compacting subsystem adapted to compact the bottle substantially in a first direction within the housing; and a slug processing subsystem adapted to form a slug having an essentially predefined form from the compacted bottle, the slug processing subsystem adapted to form the slug by application of force in at least a second direction, substantially normal to the first direction; wherein the slug processing subsystem is adapted to form a slug from a single compacted bottle; wherein the slug processing subsystem is configured to form a slug having a flattened geometric shape; wherein the flattened geometric shape is a polygon having a characteristic dimension less than 90 millimeters.
US07971523B2
A food warming apparatus includes a cabinet with one or more heating compartments for holding one or more trays. Each tray has a rim extending outwardly from a tray opening and may contain previously cooked food portions. One or more dividers are removably mounted inside a heating compartment, dividing the heating compartment into a first sub-compartment and second sub-compartment. The one or more dividers include a first support flange that extends into the first sub-compartment and a second support flange that extends into the second sub-compartment. The first support flange supports a rim of a first tray in the first sub-compartment such that the first tray is suspended above a lower compartment surface of the heating compartment. The second support flange supports a rim of a second tray in the second sub-compartment such that the second tray is suspended above the lower compartment surface of the heating compartment.
US07971517B2
A gun comprising: a generally tubular barrel defining a barrel axis and having an external barrel surface about the perimeter of the tubular barrel a cradle having a cradle bore for accommodating a section of the barrel wherein the barrel is slidably mounted in the cradle bore such that the barrel can move relative to the cradle along the barrel axis across a range of barrel positions and wherein an interface defined by the slidable contact between external barrel surface and the cradle bore—i) prevents rotation of the barrel relative to the cradle about the barrel axis; and ii) is maintained at a single section of the cradle over the entire range of barrel positions.
US07971516B2
A portable ballistic shield is disclosed. The portable ballistic shield is contoured to conform to an individual's body and may be integrated with a rucksack and frame to provide protection to the user's back and torso while still allowing the user substantially unobstructed access to all parts of the rucksack. The portable ballistic shield may also provide rigidity for the rucksack, eliminating the need for a rucksack frame. The portable ballistic shield may also comprise a shape allowing for the user to concurrently utilize an assault rifle or other firearm. During times of hostility, the user may deploy the shield from the rucksack in a minimal amount of time in order to protect the user from oncoming gunfire or shrapnel.
US07971511B2
A panel saw machine comprises: a horizontal work table movable in a forward and backward direction; a clamping unit equipped with one or more gripping elements for retaining panels while they are being machined; a cutting unit that divides the panels into sub-panels along an axis transversal to the feed axis; a horizontal tray positioned above the horizontal work table for transporting the panels; means for holding the tray in conjunction with means for driving the tray and enabling the tray to perform a first movement along the feed axis in both directions and a rotational movement on the horizontal work table so as to vary the position of the tray and of the panels with respect to the cutting unit.
US07971487B2
A linear position transducer reliably and wirelessly tracks rapid motion. The transducer includes a scale, a control head, and a wirelessly-powered read head disposed proximate to the scale. The read head is configured to sense movement between the scale and the read head and to wirelessly communicate position data to the control head. The control head can include a wireless data receiver to receive position data from the read head, an output data driver to communicate with an external device, and a microcontroller to coordinate a data transfer between the wireless data receiver and the output data driver. In addition, the read head can include a wireless data transmitter to transmit position data to the control head, a linear position sensor to sense position along the scale, and a microcontroller to calculate a position measurement from the scale. The microcontroller in the read head can also coordinate a data transfer between the wireless data transmitter and the control head. To provide a complete wireless solution, the linear position transducer also includes a power system to wirelessly transfer energy from the control head to the read head.
US07971485B2
A method of testing an elongate wooden element includes injecting an input acoustic signal into the element, detecting a return acoustic signal at a surface of the element, and determining a spectral profile for the return signal. In at least a predetermined range in the spectral profile, each resonance peak is detected whose amplitude exceeds a first predetermined value, and from the resonance peaks so detected the number of higher peaks is determined whose amplitude exceeds 3 dB. For each of said higher peaks a quality factor Q is calculated, a mean quality value Qm is determined, and Qm is then compared with a predetermined value to provide an indication of the presence or absence of external decay of the element. A ratio R of the number of higher peaks to the number of resonance peaks detected, and the statistical spread S of the average Q for the spectral profile, are calculated and compared with a predetermined boundary function Fn(R,S) to determine acceptability or unacceptability of the pole.
US07971480B2
One embodiment of the present invention involves a thermal sensor and a method of using the same. One thermal sensor is adapted to output a signal which is unaffected by external longitudinal and orthogonal thermal gradients. In one embodiment, the mass flow controller thermal sensor comprises a capillary tube having an upstream tube portion, a tube bend portion, and a downstream tube portion, the downstream portion being substantially parallel to the upstream portion. A distance between the upstream tube portion and the downstream tube portion in one embodiment is no greater than half the upstream portion and downstream portion lengths, a first pair of thermal sensing elements are coupled to the upstream tube portion and a second pair of thermal sensing elements are coupled to the downstream tube portion.
US07971475B2
A method for diagnosing an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle having at least one sensor unit, including at least one sound receiver, the sound receiver converting sound waves into an electrical signal. Sound waves of the internal combustion engine are recorded using the sound receiver of the sensor unit and converted into an electrical signal, and the electrical signal is used for the diagnosis of the operating state of the internal combustion engine.
US07971472B2
Provided is a leak tester for a carrier for printhead integrated circuits. The carrier has at least one fluid inlet in fluid communication with a plurality of fluid outlets via discrete fluid paths. The tester includes a support assembly that includes at least one receptacle shaped and configured to receive at least one respective carrier, and a pressurized fluid supply arranged on the support assembly and configured to supply pressurized fluid to the fluid inlets, the pressurized fluid supply incorporating a sealing mechanism configured to engage the fluid inlets in a sealing manner. The tester also includes a pressure measurement arrangement operatively arranged with respect to the pressurized fluid supply to measure pressure applied at the fluid inlets, and a controller operatively connected to the pressure measurement arrangement and pressurized fluid supply, the controller being configured to control the fluid supply to charge the carrier with pressurized fluid until a predetermined pressure is reached, and to monitor the pressure for a predetermined period of time.
US07971470B2
A non-invasive and non-destructive apparatus and testing method for analytes in sealed containers are provided, which are especially useful for identifying bottles of wine that are contaminated with 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) without destroying the value of uncontaminated wine by opening the bottles or marring the containers or labeling. The apparatus and method are applicable to non-destructively testing any “stream-of-commerce” containers such as shampoo bottles, aerosol containers, toothpaste tubes, and soft drink cans, and other such containers for the presence of contaminants, explosives, poisons, drugs, and other dangerous or illegal materials. The method provided is orders of magnitude more sensitive than other methods, and can detect the presence of diffused substances at the nanogram per liter (parts-per-billion) level.
US07971458B2
One embodiment is a bracket assembly having a first bracket connected to an electronic device with a fastener and an opening that receives a lock. A second bracket covers access to the fastener to prevent the first and second brackets from being disassembled while the lock is secured to the first and second brackets.
US07971457B2
The present invention relates to a dispenser for laundry additives comprising a base and a reservoir separated by an insert. The present invention further relates to a method of dispensing a laundry additive in an automatic washing machine comprising mounting a dispenser having a base and a reservoir within the automatic washing machine; adding the laundry additive to the reservoir; positioning an insert to seal the laundry additive within the reservoir; actuating the insert with centrifugal force in order to open the reservoir; releasing the laundry additive from the reservoir onto the base; and dispersing the laundry additive from the base within the automatic washing machine.
US07971454B2
In one embodiment, the present invention is a beaker type dyeing machine. One embodiment of an apparatus for dyeing a material in a beaker includes a cylinder body having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured for coupling to the lid of the beaker, a check valve incorporated into the first end of the cylinder body, and a plug incorporated into the second end of the cylinder body, the plug being operable to control opening and closing of the check valve.
US07971449B2
Heat-activated heat-pump systems and related methods are disclosed that include a power cycle coupled to a vapor-compression refrigeration cycle both utilizing the same working fluid. The power cycle comprises a boiler, an expander receiving superheated vapor and producing work from the superheated vapor, a condenser, and a pump. A regenerator conducts a first stream of working fluid from the pump to the boiler and a second stream of the working fluid from the expander to the condenser while transferring heat from the second stream to the first stream. The refrigeration cycle comprises a compressor that compresses the working fluid from the evaporator and delivers the compressed working fluid to a condenser. The expander and compressor are coupled together such that at least a portion of the work produced by the expander is utilized for running the compressor.
US07971437B2
A thermal energy storage apparatus is disclosed. The thermal energy storage apparatus has a phase change medium. The thermal energy storage apparatus also has an inner manifold area having at least one inner feed port. The thermal energy storage apparatus also has an outer manifold area having at least one outer feed port and fluidically coupled to the inner manifold area. The inner manifold area and the outer manifold area are configured to be substantially immersed in the phase change medium. Methods of constructing and controlling embodiments of related thermal energy storage apparati are also disclosed, as well as embodiments of related heat exchangers.
US07971434B2
A variable capacity pump and two variable capacity motors are connected in a closed circuit. First to fourth drive gears are fitted to motor shafts of the variable capacity motors via clutches. A first driven gear, which meshes with the first and third drive gears, and a second driven gear which meshes with the second and fourth drive gears are fitted to an output shaft. Equivalent capacities of the variable capacity motors are made different. Control is exerted such that the capacities are decreased to zero in order of equivalent capacities. To decrease the capacity of each variable capacity motor, the gear change ratio of the variable capacity motor the capacity of which has decreased to zero is changed to decrease the equivalent capacity and, at the same time, the capacity is increased to maximum. This increases the gear change ratio for the continuously variable transmission and controls acceleration.
US07971428B2
An exhaust gas purification device for an internal combustion engine comprises, an exhaust passage including a catalyst for conveying exhaust gas discharged from the engine to the outside, and a bend formed by bending a portion of the exhaust passage directly upstream of the catalyst, the bend causing exhaust gas discharged from the engine to collide against a corner portion between an inlet end face of the catalyst and such portion of a wall of the exhaust passage that follows the outside of the bend, thereby increasing pressure at the corner portion, compared with the other portion of the inlet end face, and an additive injection valve fitted to the outside of the bend of the exhaust passage to inject an additive in such manner that the injected additive passes just above the corner portion and falls on the inlet end face of the catalytic converter.
US07971422B2
A device for fastening emergency equipment to a vessel includes a hydrostatic release mechanism, a tether, and a float-free link. The tether is attached to the hydrostatic release mechanism and provides an attachment point for lashing the emergency equipment to the vessel. The tether may also be threaded through openings in the curved partially tubular body of the float-free link. A breakable bridge is integrally coupled to the body of the float-free link to form a closed loop. The breakable bridge is designed to be the break point when the emergency equipment needs to be freed from a vessel that has sunk below a predetermined depth. When the vessel sinks below the predetermined depth, the hydrostatic release mechanism severs the tether thus freeing the emergency equipment from one point of attachment to the vessel. The bridge is designed to break when the strain on the fastening line, e.g., the painter line, is between a predetermined minimum force and maximum force.
US07971415B2
A grass mowing machine has a frame with an adjustable width toolbar including a center section and left and right outer sections telescoping into the center section. A pair of cutting units are mounted to lift arms pivotably connected to outboard ends of the outer sections of the adjustable width toolbar. A hydraulic lift cylinder is mounted between an inboard end of each lift arm and the adjustable width toolbar at a selected mounting point in the center section. The mounting point of the center section is aligned with a mounting point in one of the outer sections to provide a specified toolbar width suitable for the cutting units.
US07971413B2
An automatic system for orderly packaging of plastic preforms in carton boxes includes a manipulator unit (6) having a vacuum gripping head (23) and one or more units (10) for handling and inserting separators (12) in the carton box (13) to be filled. The head (23) includes a plurality of compartments (30) conforming to the shape of the preforms (2) whereas the separator (12) has a plurality of partitions (12a) parallel to one of its sides and equally spaced at a distance at least corresponding to the length of the preform (2).
US07971407B2
Wall blocks and methods of constructing walls from the wall blocks which have a side connection system interlocking adjacent blocks whereby a side of the block is provided with a channel or slot that is configured to engage a corresponding projection on the adjacent block. The side connection system may alternatively have a connection receiving cavity formed by channels or slots on the sides of the blocks which are configured to align with a channel or slot from adjacent blocks where a connector may be received to interlock the blocks.
US07971406B2
A shingle layer of shingle is provided having an increased thickness adhesive coating on at least a portion of its rear surface, with granules embedded therein, with the granules being of a size range that is larger than the fine particles normally applied to the rear surface of a shingle layer.
US07971404B2
Systems and methods for installing one or more modular panels onto a wall or other surface. Such systems may include at least one panel retainer mounted to a substantially vertical surface and at least one panel connected to the panel retainer in a removable fashion. In these systems, the interaction of at least one deformable body and at least one groove facilitates connecting the panel to the panel retainer in a removable fashion.
US07971403B2
Plate-shaped cover material comprising an elastomeric layer and a plastically deformable metal mesh or metal plate, the elastomeric layer consisting of a glue or joint sealant cured to an elastomer and having strong adhesion to the metal mesh or the metal plate.
US07971401B2
The invention relates to a construction module for erecting flat structures, particularly walls, comprising two parallel panel-shaped wall parts and a module core arranged between them. According to the invention, each wall part has a number of room-height solid squared timbers that are set on end. These squared timbers are joined to one another in an at least non-positive manner via a mechanical pinning placed transversal to the longitudinal direction of the squared timbers and extending in the plane of the wall parts, and/or these squared timbers are each pinned in an at least non-positive manner with at least two crossbars, which extend essentially transversal to the longitudinal direction of the squared timbers and which are located in the future module core.
US07971391B2
A door driving apparatus includes a rotary actuator, a rotary transmission member integrally fixed to an output shaft extending from the rotary actuator, and a pair of linear transmission members opposed to each other via the rotary transmission member. The linear transmission members are configured to be in mesh with the rotary transmission member and to move approximately parallel to each other in opposite directions.
US07971387B2
A device for supporting a soft-bodied lure or bait includes a brace with a connector and a stop. Optionally, the brace is formed from a loop of wire. In such an optional embodiment, the connector may be formed by the loop. A stop may be sized and weighted to form weights. In an optional embodiment, the device may be received into an open-ended channel in the body of a lure or bait. In one such embodiment, the connector protrudes through one end of the channel and the stop protrudes through another end of the channel. A fishing line may be connected to the connector through a hook or the like received by the connector.
US07971381B1
The handgun safety apparatus provides a pair of loops, each of which wraps around a semiautomatic handgun so that the barrel/receiver, also sometimes referred to as the slide, and the trigger are prevented from operation. Even if a round is in the chamber of the handgun, the trigger cannot be operated. Further, the slide cannot operate to chamber a round, so the apparatus provides twofold safety. The apparatus is provided in a variety of sizes to fit a variety of handguns. Each of the loops has a rigid insert that provides rigidity. The inside of each loop is made of a material that will not mar the handgun in any way. The straps do not infringe upon the grip.
US07971379B2
A firearm including a barrel having a chamber and an integrally formed upper receiver having a passageway, an accessory rail extending the complete length of the upper receiver, and a guidance feature extending along the passageway. The firearm also includes an operating rod having an anti-bounce mechanism, a bolt that is rotated counter-clockwise to lock against the chamber, a bolt carrier having a safety extension disposed below the bolt that prevents a hammer from striking a firing pin until the bolt is locked against the chamber, a lower receiver, a recoil spring assembly, and a fire control group. The bolt includes a polymer spring that biases a sliding extractor against the base of a cartridge. The sliding extractor is disposed at an angle ranging from thirty degrees to fifteen degrees on the bolt face to provide a low ejection angle from the firearm.
US07971375B2
A tooth system for a tool for earth moving machinery that includes a holder located on the tool and a front tooth portion that is detachably arranged on and in relation to the holder, which tooth portion is in the form of a replaceable wear/replacement part with a rear leg and the holder embodies a cavity designed to receive the leg of the tooth portion. This achieves a unified joint for assimilation of occurring loads via a predetermined connection geometry embodying special, opposite, mutually interacting contact surfaces and clearance surfaces arranged along the tooth portion and holder. The joint includes a multi-armed, preferably cruciform, cross section comprising at least four projection arms and at least four grooves each that interact with each projecting arm. Each projection arms includes a vertically arranged, upper arm, lower heel and two, essentially horizontally and laterally arranged, wing portions, with a tensioning device.
US07971372B2
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure incorporates a support element that includes a fluid-filled chamber, a first insert, and a second insert. The chamber defines a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface. The first insert is secured to the first surface and at least partially recessed into the polymer material of the chamber, and the second insert is secured to the second surface. In addition, the chamber may be pressurized to deform the first insert or the second insert.
US07971371B2
A clothes dryer has a degree of dryness control system that is responsive to moisture level of clothing articles tumbling in a drum and a target moisture value to control the drying cycle of the clothes dryer. The clothes dryer has a load size parameter producing module and an air flow detection parameter module. These modules generate one of two parameter conditions used by the processor to modify or select an appropriate moisture target value. The load size producing parameter module generates one of a small load input parameter and a large load input parameter. The air flow detection module produces one of a first and second air flow parameter to be utilized by the degree of dryness processor. As a result, the processor selects one of four target moisture values from these conditions.
US07971365B2
A method and apparatus for measuring a surface using a surface sensing device mounted on a scanning head on a member of a coordinate positioning apparatus. The coordinate positioning apparatus may be operated to produce relative movement between the scanning head and the surface profile and the scanning head includes a drive for producing rotational movement of the surface sensing probe about one or more axis. The coordinate positioning apparatus is driven to provide relative movement between the member and the surface profile in a circular path and the probe head is driven to move the surface sensing device about said one or more axes, such that the surface sensing device maintains a nominally constant lead angle. The motion of the coordinate positioning apparatus and probe head is synchronous.
US07971359B2
An apparatus for clipping a protrusion of material is provided. The protrusion may, for example, be a bolt head, a nut, a rivet, a weld bead, or a temporary assembly alignment tab protruding from a substrate surface of assembled components. The apparatus typically includes a cleaver having a cleaving edge and a cutting blade having a cutting edge. Generally, a mounting structure configured to confine the cleaver and the cutting blade and permit a range of relative movement between the cleaving edge and the cutting edge is provided. Also typically included is a power device coupled to the cutting blade. The power device is configured to move the cutting edge toward the cleaving edge. In some embodiments the power device is activated by a momentary switch. A retraction device is also generally provided, where the retraction device is configured to move the cutting edge away from the cleaving edge.
US07971358B2
A flow path forming member is formed with a recessed portion for forming an ink flow path. A junction surface of the flow path forming member is in a protruded state from a non-junction surface. The flow path forming member is composed of a transparent resin exhibiting transmissivity of laser beam. A tank holder is composed of a non-transmissive resin having no transmissivity of the laser beam. In a state where the flow path forming member is press-connected to the tank holder, the junction surface is welded by irradiating a periphery of the ink flow path with the laser beam from the side of the flow path forming member, thereby forming an ink flow path. Provided is an ink jet recording head in which the tank holder and the flow path forming member that serve to form the ink flow path are surely connected by a small number of steps without producing foreign matters within the ink flow path.
US07971357B2
A device for treatment of exhaust gases includes a housing, a fragile structure resiliently mounted within the housing, and a non-intumescent mounting mat disposed in a gap between the housing and the fragile structure. The mounting mat includes a plurality of inorganic fibers that have undergone a surface treatment to increase the holding force performance of the mounting mat. Also disclosed are methods of making a mounting mat for an exhaust gas treatment device and for making an exhaust gas treatment device incorporating the mounting mat.
US07971354B2
A multilayer printed wiring board manufacturing method including forming conductor posts, which are of substantially uniform thickness and with which the top surfaces are protected by a resist, on a conductor pattern disposed on an upper surface of a build-up layer formed on a core substrate, shaping the conductor posts to have a constriction by adjusting the time of immersion in an etching solution that etches the conductor posts, forming a low elastic modulus layer of substantially the same height as the conductor posts after removing the resist at the top surfaces, and forming mounting electrodes on upper surfaces of the conductor posts.
US07971349B2
In a method of bonding a first bump on a surface of a first member and a second bump on a surface of a second member, a tip portion of the first bump is provided with a projection having a hardness greater than a hardness of each of the first and second bumps. The first and second members are positioned with respect to each other such that the first and second bumps face each other. The tip portion of the first bump is brought into contact with a tip portion of the second bump by sticking the projection into the tip portion of the second bump.
US07971341B2
A surgical navigation system for navigating a region of a patient includes a non-invasive dynamic reference frame and/or fiducial marker, sensor tipped instruments, and isolator circuits. The dynamic reference frame may be repeatably placed on the patient in a precise location for guiding the instruments. The instruments may be precisely guided by positioning sensors near moveable portions of the instruments. Electrical sources may be electrically isolated from the patient.
US07971331B2
A force measuring apparatus and method for testing a spring for a surgical cartridge. The apparatus and method permit an operator to measure the force applied by the spring when it is in the state it will be in when mounted in a cartridge. Therefore, a spring that exerts an insufficient force is rejected, and a spring that exerts a sufficient force is accepted and then mounted in a cartridge. A rejected spring is ejected from a pocket in the apparatus, and an accepted spring is mounted in the cartridge.
US07971330B2
A method of repairing a vessel bottom head penetration of a nuclear reactor is presented, said penetration comprising a tube fastened to the internal wall of the vessel bottom head by an internal weld bead and emerging outside the vessel bottom head, forming a groove. The method consists inter alia in preparing a mock-up representative of the vessel bottom head penetration to be repaired and in depositing this mock-up on site in an irradiation-free zone, in fastening two half-inserts to this mock-up in the groove, each half-insert having a profile corresponding to the half-profile of the groove, in forming, again on this mock-up, automatically and by remote control, a weld bead in the groove, in carrying out a dimensional check and, after validation of this weld bead, in carrying out the steps of fastening the two half-inserts and forming a weld bead automatically, directly in the groove of the vessel bottom head penetration to be repaired.
US07971329B1
A disclosed pin removal tool includes an elongate shank with a lift member extending orthogonally from a shank first end and a cylindrical shaft extending orthogonally from a shank second end, and also orthogonal to the lift member. The lift member has a blunt end fork with a pair of tongs forming a channel therebetween opening at a lift member distal end away from the shank.
US07971323B2
A clip structure for a USB wireless transmission device includes a housing, a flexible clip, a guide ramp, and a positioning wall. The flexible clip is pivotally disposed on the housing and is provided, on a surface thereof, with the guide ramp and the positioning wall. When the flexible clip is pivoted to a clipping position, the positioning protrusion of the housing happens to fall between the guide ramp and the positioning wall, and that the positioning wall restrains the positioning protrusion therein and prevents the flexible clip from pivoting and escaping from the clipping position. Therefore, a flexible object, to be clipped, is clipped in several folds so as to obtain a desirable clipping and securing effect.
US07971317B2
A hinge assembly and a portable electronic device are provided. The portable electronic device includes a lid, a main body, and a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly pivotly connects the lid to the main body. The hinge assembly includes a pivot element, a torsion spring, and a hinge brace. The pivot element is formed on the lid and partially and rotatably received in the main body. The torsion spring is assembled between the lid and the main body. When the lid is in a closed position with respect to the main body, the torsion spring becomes constricted and accumulates potential energy. When the lid is opened from the main body, the potential energy of the torsion spring is released to drive the lid to rotate to an open position with respect to the main body. The hinge brace is attached to the main body for blocking an excessive rotation of the lid with respect to the main body.
US07971315B2
A suction brush for a vacuum cleaner includes an upper casing, a lower casing coupled to the upper casing and provided with a suction port through which contaminants are drawn in from a surface to be cleaned, a lift plate disposed between the upper casing and the lower casing to move up and down with respect to the lower casing, a lift plate driving part to allow the lift plate to move up and down, and a lift control unit to control the lift plate driving part so that when the surface to be cleaned changes from a hard floor to a carpet, the lift plate is raised, and when the surface to be cleaned changes from the carpet to the hard floor, the lift plate is lowered.
US07971309B2
A sink disposal multipurpose tool is described. Disposals can be damaged by non-food items that are inadvertently dropped therein. A sink disposal multipurpose tool is configured so that it rests within and above a disposal in such a way as to block non-food items from entering a disposal while allowing water and food-waste items entrance. The tool is configured with a plurality of attachments, including a scraper and stuffer blade attachment so that a cook can efficiently scrape food waste materials from dishes, pans, etc. into a sink. The tool can be used to gather the food waste materials from the sink and push them into a disposal. Other attachments include a scrub pad, a brush, and a peeler. The sink disposal multipurpose tool can be returned to its storage position in and above the disposal well where it effectively stops utensils, etc. from entering the disposal unit.
US07971308B1
A grip cleaning and rising devices includes a dual tubular body having a closed lower end for holding separately both soapy and rinsing fluid, and an open upper end for receiving the grips or handles to be cleaned longitudinally therein. Cleaning is effected by a single helical brush with multiple turns that is simply threaded into position in the washing body. A splash guard is also provided as an impinging lip that extends into the receiving orifice. A smaller diameter rinsing tube is in fluid isolation from the cleaning solution. A cap may optionally be provided to close the top of the grip washer when not in use or for transportation from one place to another. The simple tubular construction enables the grip washer adapted for use as a mobile unit, with a laterally extending base to allow the user to stabilize the device by placing his or her feet over the base edge. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US07971291B2
A bed siderail has a vertical siderail extension, a horizontal siderail extension, or both. A bed siderail has dual vertical siderail extensions. A bed has gap fillers pivotally mounted to the headboard and/or footboard, either in the manner of a hinge, or by means of a dual axis pivot, to fill gaps between the headboard/footboard and a siderail. A bed siderail has pivotally mounted gap fillers directed toward the headboard, footboard, or an adjacent siderail. A bed has slidably mounted gap fillers. A bed siderail has pivotally mounted gap fillers, to fill a gap between the siderail and a mattress, the gap fillers being either gravity- or cam-activated, or being integrally formed in the siderail support arms. A bed siderail is rotatable from a deployed to a stowed position, and is simultaneously stowed close-into or underneath the bed frame.
US07971288B2
A waste fitting for a basin, or similar item, comprising a first open end, a second open end and an inlet between the first and second ends. The waste fitting comprises a first seat for a plug, the inlet being located between the first seat and the second end, and a second seat for a plug, the second seat being located between the inlet and the second end. The inlet is connected in use to the overflow of the basin or similar item. With the plug in the second seat, the portion of the waste fitting above the plug, and the overflow system, may be filled with and may retain a cleaning or disinfecting product.
US07971279B2
An opening and closure mechanism for a zipper, the mechanism including a resilient elastic band or strap secured to the zipper handle with opposing ends of the resilient elastic strap being secured to at least one side of the waist band closure, and preferably opposing ends of the resilient elastic strap being secured to opposing sides of the waist band closure such that separating the waist band closure causes the resilient elastic strap to open the zipper closure mechanism by retracting the zipper handle downwardly; and closure of the waist band fastener releases tension on the resilient elastic strap allowing the resilient elastic strap to retract the zipper upwardly to a closed position.
US07971276B2
A hand-friendly rubber glove article comprising a dried coating of an emulsified hand-friendly mixture comprising at least one water-soluble humectant moisturizer, at least one water-soluble lubricant, at least one water-soluble surfactant, and at least one water-insoluble occlusive moisturizer, which is finely and substantially uniformly dispersed within the mixture, which is transferred to the skin of a wearer upon activation with skin-generated moisture, and, optionally, a fabric-adherent cuff region and/or a texturized surface and methods of making the emulsified hand-friendly mixture and the glove article.
US07971275B2
A damage tolerant cut resistant chemical handling glove that is flexible and lightweight comprises a cured, liquid-impervious polymeric latex shell, a knitted cut resistant liner comprising a cotton yarn and at least one cut resistant yarn, the liner being infiltrated with a soft nitrile or polyurethane layer such that the liner bonds to the shell. The soft nitrile or polyurethane layer seals interstices of the cut resistant liner and replicates its rough texture on the external surface of the glove, providing enhanced grip properties. A thin nitrile latex layer applied to and cured together with the polyurethane layer to protect the polyurethane layer from oil or chemical degradation. The intimate seal thus created between the shell and the liner prevents accumulation of liquid there between, which prevents formation of a liquid boundary layer and interference with grip properties of the glove.
US07971271B2
A tree climbing suit 10 formed as a one-piece suit has a long-sleeved upper torso portion 12 and a lower torso portion 22. The long-sleeved upper torso portion 12 has two long sleeves 14 for covering the arms and a shirt portion 16 for covering the chest region. The lower torso portion 22 covers the waist region and has a pair of pant legs 24 for covering the leg portion of the wearer 2. The tree climbing suit 10 has a plurality of tree contacting gripping patches 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 sewn or otherwise affixed to the suit in locations for gripping a tree. The tree-gripping patches are located at least on the regions that are in direct contact with the tree when attempting to climb it. The tree-gripping patches 30, 32, 34 are respectively located at least on portions of the long-sleeves 14, in the chest region on the shirt portion 16, and the inseams 25 of the pant legs 24 preferably extending from pant leg 24 to pant leg 24 traversing across the crotch region of the inseam 25.
US07971268B2
A goggle is provided that can include a goggle frame and a bend control component. The goggle frame can define opposing lateral portions and a central portion. The goggle frame can include a bridge disposed at the central portion of the goggle frame. The goggle frame can be generally flexible upon exertion of a bending force on the goggle frame. The bend control component can extend along the bridge of the goggle frame. The bend control component can be configured to enhance flexural strength of the goggle at a bridge thereof for reducing bending of the goggle frame at the bridge. In some embodiments, the bend control component is formed separately from the goggle frame. In other embodiments, the bend control component can be secured to the frame using fasteners and/or one or more protrusions and corresponding recesses.
US07975316B2
A frequency shift Δf obtained by an FM-AFM can be expressed by a simple linear coupling of a ΔfLR derived from a long-range interaction force and a ΔfSR derived from a short-range interaction force. Given this factor, a Δf curve on an atomic defect and a Δf curve on a target atom on the sample surface are each measured for only a relatively short range scale (S1 and S2), and a difference Δf curve of those two curves is obtained (S3). Since the difference Δf curve is derived only from a short-range interaction force, a known conversion operation is applied to this curve obtain an F curve which illustrates the relationship between the force and the distance Z, and then the short-range interaction force on the target atom is obtained from the F curve (S4). Since the range scale in measuring the Δf curve can be narrowed, the measurement time can be shortened, and since the conversion from the Δf curve into F curve is required only once, the computational time can also be shortened. Consequently, in obtaining the short-range interaction force which acts between the atom on the sample surface and the probe, the time required for the Δf curve's measurement and the computational time are shortened, which leads to accuracy improvement and throughput enhancement.
US07975311B2
Invention embodiments are concerned with the problem of controlling access to a media storage device in response to, e.g., employees leaving or changing jobs. More specifically, embodiments provide a method of controlling access to a media storage device storing a plurality of media objects. Thus embodiments of the invention solve the afore-mentioned problem by providing a mechanism for updating the list of recipients based on data received from a user identification system after the media storage device has been dispatched.
US07975296B2
A method of security testing a web application is presented. The method identifies a web application to be tested, determines potential security vulnerabilities of the web application, generates one or more security tests for testing the potential vulnerabilities, and executes the security test on the web application. The results of the security testing are then used to make the web application less vulnerable to security attacks.
US07975295B2
A hash key is generated based on an information object and a lookup operation is performed in a hash table based on the hash key. A determination is made whether an entry in the hash table at an index corresponding to the hash key identifies a labelset for the information object. A labelset, identifying a sensitivity of the information object, is stored in the entry at the index corresponding to the hash key for the information object if a labelset for the information object is not identified in the entry in the hash table. Information flows involving the information object are authorized based on a lookup of the labelset associated with the information object in the hash table. The hash table may be a multidimensional hash table.
US07975288B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for executing a command on a computer system. During operation, the system receives a signed command from a first quorum member at a security manager, wherein one or more quorum members must accept the command before the command is executed. Along with the command is data indicating which additional quorum members will be participating in a session, and which quorum persona they wish to invoke for the session. After verifying the signature, the system sends the command to a second quorum member, wherein the command is verified, or authenticated as originating from the first quorum member. Next, the system receives a signed response from the second quorum member, wherein the response indicates whether the second quorum member accepts or rejects the command. If the second quorum member accepts the command, the system sends the command to a native client which executes the command.
US07975282B2
Systems, devices and methods for supporting live and time-shifted video streaming via distributed caching of portions of video streams shared in peer-to-peer portions of systems.
US07975279B1
In a pay television system, the choice and the confirmation of an impulse purchase are performed by the user on presentation, by means of a screen, of a grid of programmes. The selection by this user of a particular programme of his choice from the grid is subsequently confirmed in the system by an entitlement management message, this message being specific to an impulse purchase. In order to authorize the immediate screening of the selected transmission, the entitlement management message specific to an impulse purchase is contained in the data tied to the presentation of the grid.
US07975277B1
The present invention provides a system for providing alternative services in a television system. In one implementation, a subscriber is provided an alternative service upon attempting to access an unauthorized service, thereby providing a framework for efficient control of conditional access and enhanced services. In addition, in one implementation, user device limitations or variations are handled conveniently through the same multi-purpose system for providing alternative services.
US07975276B2
The invention relates to a content providing system and method, a content providing apparatus and method, a content receiver and method, a recording medium, and a program that make it possible to provide viewers with transaction contents at low cost. Plural broadcasting apparatuses include trigger contents in program contents and broadcast the program contents to digital television receivers. The broadcasting apparatus broadcasts transaction contents that are displayed when the trigger contents of the plural broadcasting apparatus are turned on by the plural digital television receivers. It is possible to apply the invention to a digital television broadcasting system.
US07975264B2
In an embodiment of the present invention, a patch tool receives multiple patches, with each patch designed to fix a corresponding subset of a set of errors in a system. The patch tool determines a subset of patches, which together fix all of the set of errors, and deploys only the subset of patches in the system. The patches may be received over a period of time and the subset of patches are determined and deployed in a batch mode.
US07975263B2
A method for managing a profile includes generating an initial profile of code using an initial sampling frequency. An information entropy value of the profile is computed. A representative profile of the code is determined from additional profiles using a sampling frequency determined from the information entropy value. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US07975254B2
According to some embodiments, a visual design tool associated with a generic modeling framework may be selected, and a set of design-time functions used in the visual design tool may be identified. A set of design-time rules may be created (e.g., by a rule creator), each rule corresponding to an identified design-time function. In addition, parameters may be defined for each rule in terms of entities of a language of the generic modeling framework. A set of basic rule cases may then be defined for each rule to specify rule logic, and an extension mechanism may be provided to enable the defined set of basic rule cases to be extended outside the generic modeling framework. According to some embodiments, the set of rules and associated basic rule cases may be interpreted at run-time by the modeling framework.
US07975245B2
Various computer-implemented methods for determining if actual defects are potentially systematic defects or potentially random defects are provided. One computer-implemented method for determining if actual defects are potentially systematic defects or potentially random defects includes comparing a number of actual defects in a group to a number of randomly generated defects in a group. The actual defects are detected on a wafer. A portion of a design on the wafer proximate a location of each of the actual defects in the group and each of the randomly generated defects in the group is substantially the same. The method also includes determining if the actual defects in the group are potentially systematic defects or potentially random defects based on results of the comparing step.
US07975241B2
A system for modifying a cursor image, as displayed on a video monitor of a remote terminal, to a specific image having a desired shape and appearance. The system stores cursor image data corresponding to the specific image, and a cursor display code. The cursor display code contains information in response to which the cursor image is modified to the specific image. A server computer transmits specified information to the remote terminal. The information includes at least one cursor display instruction. The cursor display instruction is operable to modify, in conjunction with the cursor information and the cursor image data, a cursor image displayed by a display of the remote terminal in the shape and appearance of the specific image.
US07975240B2
The present invention relates to a system and methodology to facilitate automatic display and management of data items associated with a hierarchical tree arrangement of folders and subfolders. A computerized interface for data presentation is provided having a sorting component to determine categories relating to one or more items for display. A cluster component groups the categories according to discretized states in order to control visible output to the display. Such states can include packed and unpacked states, wherein packed states can cluster a plurality of items together and across several nodes, whereas unpacked items are controlled and displayed under a grouped heading in one context and as individual data items or entities in another context.
US07975235B2
A system and method that includes line connection navigation in a block diagram by highlighting connections through navigable blocks in the diagram, edit-time label propagation along connections and through navigable blocks that can propagate labels through their ports, API to define navigability between block ports, and displaying implied connections between blocks.
US07975231B2
A drawing object image and an image processing program are provided in an HTTP server 12. The drawing object image is downloaded by accessing the HTTP server 12 from a terminal unit 10. When the operator initiates a drawing operation on a WEB browser screen of terminal unit 10, an XMLHTTP request with coordinate position information of the cursor and the drawing radius information are transmitted to the HTTP server 12 to execute an image manipulation process. The WEB browser virtually divides the drawing operation object image into cells, identifies the cells in which the image contents are modified in the image manipulation process, and issues HTTP requests for the cell images. The HTTP server 12 cuts out the manipulated image in the requested areas and transmits them to the WEB browser and arranges them.
US07975229B2
Context-aware systems and methods, location-aware systems and methods, context-aware vehicles and methods of operating the same, and location-aware vehicles and methods of operating the same are described. In various embodiments, a context or location service module, implemented in software, determines a vehicle context or a vehicle location based upon information that it receives from various context providers or location providers respectively. Software executing on a vehicle's computer can then cause one or more applications that are associated with a vehicle computer to be modified in a manner that changes their behavior. The behavior modification is based on the current context or location of the vehicle and thus provides a context-specific or location-specific user experience. The context or location can be ascertained through the use of one or more hierarchical tree structures that comprises individual nodes. Each node is associated with a context or location. The nodes are traversable by the vehicle's software to ascertain a more complete context or location.
US07975227B2
A system for selecting, managing, sharing and displaying content data files in a manner that takes into the account the contextual significance of said content data files to a narrative, an author(s) and an audience. A system that is able to place an absolute and relative value upon the significance of a media object is able to assist in stimulating the recollection of the author and audience, thus making every aspect more memorable and enhancing by improving the ease of use and the quality of the final result of the use of the system of this invention.
US07975221B2
A client-side handheld device requests a server to convert server-side documents into a compression format prior to transmission of said documents to the client. The server retrieves and converts the requested documents to a raster image that is then compressed according to attributes based on information received from the client device in the initial document request. Instead of having to manipulate multiple formats which the original documents are in and supported by the server, the client-side device is preferably optimized in hardware and/or software to support and otherwise take advantage of the requested compression format. The compressed document is then delivered to the client device, in whole or in part, selectively or progressively over time per individual requests prior to displaying the received data to the end-user. Depending on the requested delivery mode, server-side documents are preferably compressed using wavelet compression methods, such as the JPEG 2000 standard, known in the arts. Through such a compression format, documents of sizes (in total bytes) exceeding one or more Megabytes can be compressed down to as small as 30 kilobytes or less.
US07975220B2
The structured document management apparatus includes a document data accepting unit that accepts input of structured document data having a hierarchical logic structure; a structure guide data storage unit that stores structure guide data which is a summary of hierarchical structure information of the structured document data; a structure stream converting unit that syntax-analyzes the accepted structured document data, and converts the structure information in the structured document data into structure stream data as one-dimensional sequence data using the structure guide data; and a structure stream data storage unit that stores the converted structure stream data.
US07975214B2
A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided for book marking a combination of frame URLs within a frameset and allowing the sharing on multiple PCs the saved form data that may have been filled in. The system uses an image as a hotspot, containing a complex target destination in the form of an XML structure with multiple URLs for multiple frames as well as captured form data. This system combines file types such as XML and JPG, e.g. as in sample file name ‘MyCapturedFramesAndFormData.XML.JPG’ or ‘MyCapturedFramesAndFormData.XML.GIF’. This combination provides a surprising effect compared to the prior systems, namely, launching the image in an enhanced web browser or in a web browser containing a new plug-in displays the frame just as it was when saved.
US07975205B2
A method is provided for implementing at least one of a number of error correction algorithms operable on a memory. In the method, each of the error correction algorithms is provided. At least one of the error correction algorithms is then selected based on the organization of the memory. At least one error in the memory is corrected using the selected error correction algorithm.
US07975204B2
Normally ordered robust VSB data are reordered in accordance with a first interleave to produce reordered robust VSB data. The reordered robust VSB data and ATSC data are reordered in accordance with a second interleave to produce normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data. The normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data are time multiplexed for transmission to a receiver. The receiver discards the reordered ATSC data or the normally ordered robust VSB data depending upon receiver type or user selection. A robust VSB receiver is able to process the normally ordered robust VSB data upstream of an outer decoder without an interleave thereby avoiding the delay associated with an interleave.
US07975202B2
Variable modulation with LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) coding provides for generation of LDPC coded symbols having different respective code rates and/or modulations. In addition, appropriate LDPC encoding, that generates an LDPC variable code rate signal, may also be performed as well. The encoding can generate an LDPC variable code rate and/or modulation signal whose code rate and/or modulation may vary as frequently as on a symbol by symbol basis. Some embodiments employ a common constellation shape for all of the symbols of the signal sequence, yet individual symbols may be mapped according different mappings of the commonly shaped constellation; such an embodiment may be viewed as generating a LDPC variable mapped signal. In general, any one or more of the code rate, constellation shape, and/or mapping of the individual symbols of a signal sequence may vary as frequently as on a symbol by symbol basis.
US07975200B2
Error correction code (ECC) decoding architecture design using synthesis-time design parameters. An approach is presented herein by which an ECC decoding architecture can be designed using synthesis-time design parameters. The manner presented herein allows for a designer to arrive at an ECC decoding architecture in a more direct, straightforward manner that using prior art means. A number of considerations (e.g., architecture parameters, semi-soft design constraints, parallel implementation, etc.) are initially provided; certain or all of these considerations can be predetermined, determined adaptively, and/or modified during the design process. A designer is provided a means by which a most desirable ECC decoding architecture can be arrived at relatively quickly.
US07975199B2
A method for transmitting data from a source to a destination. The method includes: transmitting the data from the source to both the destination and a relay station within a first transmission; decoding the data in the first transmitting at both the relay station and the destination wherein the destination acknowledges success of the decoding by generating a ACK message or lack of success by generating either a NACK message or by failing to generate the ACK signal; retransmitting from the source information related to the first transmission in response to either the NACK message or the failure of the destination to generate the ACK message; and wherein when the relay station decodes the data sent by the source within the first transmission correctly, the relay station transmits a second transmission; or, on the other hand, if the relay station is unable to decode the data correctly from the first transmission sent by the source, the relay station remains silent. The destination may be another relay station.
US07975194B2
A system comprises a decompressor that receives an input test vector and generates an output vector in response to the input test vector. A decoder couples to the decompressor and comprises a reset pattern detector (RPD), a lookup table, and control logic. RPD scans the output vector to identify a predetermined reset pattern. The control logic couples to the RPD and the lookup table and directs operation of the lookup table in a first or second mode based on whether the output vector comprises the predetermined reset pattern, as identified by the RPD. The lookup table receives the output vector, to operate in the first mode, storing one of a plurality of codeword sets, each codeword set comprising a plurality of pairs of codewords and associated data; and to operate in the second mode, generating test data blocks in response to identified codewords in the output vector.
US07975186B2
An operations management apparatus which acquires performance information for each of a plurality of performance items from a plurality of controlled units and manages operation of the controlled units includes a correlation model generation unit which derives a correlation function between a first series of performance information that indicates time series variation about a first element and a second series of performance information that indicates time series variation about a second element, generates a correlation model between the first element and the second element based on the correlation function, and obtains the correlation model for each element pair of the performance information, and a correlation change analysis unit which analyzes a change in the correlation model based on the performance information acquired newly which has not been used for generation of the correlation model.
US07975177B2
A system can test network performance of an electronic device via transmitting a testing file with a first designated name to a number of computers connected to the electronic device, obtaining comparison files from the number of computers after running the testing file, and replacing the names of the comparison files with standard names. The network performance of the electronic device can be confirmed via contents of the comparison files.
US07975174B2
One aspect of the present invention provides a system for failover comprising at least one client selectively connectable to one of at least two interconnected servers via a network connection. In a normal state, one of the servers is designated a primary server when connected to the client and a remainder of the servers are designated as backup servers when not connected to the client. The at least one client is configured to send messages to the primary server. The servers are configured to process the messages using at least one service that is identical in each of the servers. The services are unaware of whether a server respective to the service is operating as the primary server or the backup server. The servers are further configured to maintain a library, or the like, that indicates whether a server is the primary server or a server is the backup server. The services within each server are to make external calls via its respective library. The library in the primary server is configured to complete the external calls and return results of the external calls to the service in the primary server and to forward results of the external calls to the service in the backup server. The library in the secondary server does not make external calls but simply forwards the results of the external calls, as received from the primary server, to the service in the secondary server when requested to do so by the service in the secondary server.
US07975168B2
If a failure occurs in any of a plurality of data disks, and if a controller receives a read request from a host computer for the RAID group including the failed data disk, the controller performs data recovery using data stored in the other data disks in the RAID group, and transmits the recovered data to the host computer and also writes the recovered data to a spare disk.
US07975167B2
An information system includes a housing with a plurality of units mounted thereon, a communication path built in the housing to take charge of information communication between a plurality of the units mounted on the housing, an information unit mounted on the housing to provide and process the information, a plurality of communication units each mounted on the housing to independently relay the information communication between the information unit and a device external to the housing, and a management unit for accessing the whole or a part of the plurality of the units mounted on the housing and acquiring internal information of the units accessed, wherein in the case where all the plurality of the communication units accessed are incommunicable, the internal information acquired from the plurality of the communication units is reported to the device external to the housing without passing through the plurality of the communication units.
US07975133B1
A system and method are provided for updating a speculative global history prediction record in a microprocessor system using pipelined instruction processing. The method accepts microprocessor instructions with consecutive operations, including a conditional branch operation with an associated first branch address. A speculative global history record (SGHR) of conditional branch resolutions and predictions is accessed and hashed with the first branch address, creating a first hash result. The first hash result is used to index a branch history table (BHT) of previous first branch resolutions. As a result, a first branch prediction is made, and the SGHR is updated with the first branch prediction. A non-speculative global history record (NSGHR) of branch resolutions is updated with the resolution of the first branch operation, and if the first branch prediction is incorrect, the SGHR is corrected using the NSGHR.
US07975132B2
A microprocessor having a plurality of call/return stacks (CRS) correctly resolves a call or return instruction rather than issuing the instruction to execution units of the microprocessor to be resolved. The microprocessor fetches a call or return instruction and determines whether the instruction is the first call or return instruction fetched after fetching a conditional branch instruction that has yet to be resolved. The microprocessor copies the contents of a current CRS to another CRS and designates the other CRS as the current CRS, if the state exists. The microprocessor pushes the address of the next sequential instruction following the call instruction onto the current CRS and fetches an instruction at the call instruction target address if the instruction is a call instruction. The microprocessor pops a second return address from the current CRS and fetches an instruction at the second return address, if the instruction is a return instruction.
US07975131B2
A processor having multiple distinct instruction sets is disclosed where one set, a default set, is always available for execution while a second set is only available once a valid control code is externally supplied to the processor to effectively “unlock” and enable the second set. Once the second set is so unlocked, then the instructions in both sets are available for subsequent execution by the processor to provide enhanced functionality only available through use of the second set, such as accessing on-line services and content information. Multiple unlockable instruction sets can also be similarly provided, each being separately unlocked and enabled through entry of an corresponding externally supplied control code.
US07975128B2
The processor according to the present invention is a processor having a forwarding function and includes an attribute information holding unit (141) that holds attribute information regarding inhibition of writing to a register and a register write inhibition circuit (126) that holds, when forwarding is performed, the writing of the data forwarded according to attribute information. The attribute information holding unit (141) holds the attribute information by relating the attribute information to at least one register. Alternatively, the attribute information holding unit is a part of plural pipeline buffers and passes the attribute information along with the data to be forwarded, to a pipeline buffer in a subsequent stage.
US07975126B2
Described is microprocessor architecture that includes at least one reconfigurable execution path (e.g., implemented via FPGAs or CPLDs). When an instruction is fetched, a mechanism determines whether the reconfigurable execution path (and/or which path) will handle that instruction. A content addressable memory may be used to determine the execution path when fed the instruction's operational code, or an arbiter and multiplexer may resolve conflicts if multiple instruction decode blocks recognize the same instruction. The execution path may be dynamically reconfigured, activated or deactivated as needed, such as to extend an instruction set, to optimize instructions for a particular application program, to implement a peripheral device, to provide parallel computing, and/or based on power consumption and/or processing power needs. Security may be provided by having the reconfigurable execution path loaded from an extension file that is associated with metadata, including security information.
US07975119B2
A storage device having prioritized-erasure capabilities including: a memory for storing data, the memory having at least one flash unit, wherein each flash unit has a plurality of blocks; and a controller configured: to write the data into the plurality of blocks; to assign an erasure-priority to each block, wherein the erasure-priority correlates with an erasure-priority of the data; and to erase the data in each block according to the erasure-priority of each block upon receiving an emergency-erase command. Preferably, the controller is configured to perform the writing of the data into the plurality of blocks in an arbitrary order in a first flash unit, and the writing into subsequent flash units is performed in correlation with the order in the first flash unit. Preferably, the erasing includes aborting erasure, before completing the erasure, for at least some of the plurality of blocks.
US07975118B2
The first storage apparatus includes a transmission unit for sending to a host computer, if data rearrangement in a volume is executed, a data transmission switching request for switching the transmission destination of write data, and a rearrangement unit for rearranging data in the volume. The host computer includes a data transmission switching unit for switching, after receiving the data transmission switching request from the transmission unit, the transmission destination of the write data from a first virtual volume in the first storage apparatus to a second virtual volume in a second storage apparatus. The rearrangement unit rearranges data in the first volume after the data transmission switching unit switches the transmission destination of the write data from the first virtual volume in the first storage apparatus to the second virtual volume in the second storage apparatus.
US07975114B2
Managing memory comprises execute a mutator comprising a plurality of mutator threads, and concurrently execute a garbage collector. Each of the plurality of mutator threads is separately stopped and notified, and is interrupted at a respective safepoint. In some cases executing the garbage collector includes remapping one or more references to one or more objects in an existing from-space, releasing the existing from-space, relocating one or more live objects that currently reside in a new from-space to one or more corresponding new locations, and identifying a set of one or more candidate pages suitable for forming next from-space during next garbage collection iteration.
US07975113B2
The present invention provides a storage control device which enables the time between failures to prolong as much as possible, though it uses HDD's whose mean time between failures is relatively short. The storage control device controls spindle motors in a manner that a spindle motor is rotated regarding the HDD of data which can access from a host computer and a spindle motor is stopped regarding the HDD of data which are clearly judged that a host computer does not access the data. Whether the host computers can access the HDD or not is judged by the fact that whether the memory region (internal logical volume) provided by the HDD is in mapped to the host logical volume or not which is recognized by the host computer and is able to access thereby.
US07975111B2
A memory and a method applied in one program command for the memory are provided. The memory includes a buffer and at least one program unit. The method includes the following steps. First, enter the program command to the memory. Next, enter user data to the buffer. Read the data of the program unit. Determine whether the user data fill the buffer. Fill the part of the buffer unoccupied by the user data with the data of the program unit if the user data do not fill the buffer. Erase the program unit if the program unit is not empty. Finally, program the data of the buffer into the program unit.
US07975108B1
A request tracking data prefetch apparatus for a computer system is described. The apparatus includes a prefetcher coupled to a memory of the computer system. A tracker is coupled to the prefetcher, and is configured to recognize an access to a plurality of cache lines of the memory by a processor of the computer system. A cache memory is coupled to the prefetcher. The prefetcher predictively loads a target cache line of the memory into the cache memory. The target cache line for the predictive load is indicated by the tracker.
US07975107B2
Software assists a processor subsystem in making cache replacement decisions by providing an intermediary with information regarding how instructions and/or data of a working set are expected to be used and accessed by the software. The intermediary uses this information along with its knowledge of system requirements, policy and the cache configuration to determine cache usage and management hints for the working sets. The cache usage and management hints are passed by the intermediary to the processor subsystem.
US07975105B1
A reconfigurable type of flash memory-based storage device is disclosed. According to one aspect, a flash SSD comprises a data bridge and a plurality of flash memory cards. The data bridge includes necessary interfaces, a data buffer and a data management module to facilitate data exchange between a host and these flash memory cards. Each of the flash memory cards, such as an SD flash memory card, functions perfectly by itself. To facilitate the need of upgrading in terms of storage capacity, the SSD provides a plurality of slots to receive these flash memory cards As the storage capacity of the flash memory cards is increased over the time, so does the SSD by replacing only the flash memory cards.
US07975102B1
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a technique that stripes data containers across volumes of a striped volume set (SVS) using one of a plurality of different data placement patterns to thereby reduce the possibility of hotspots arising due to each data container using the same data placement pattern within the SVS. The technique is illustratively implemented by calculating a first index value, an intermediate index value and calculating a hash value of an mode associated with a data container to be accessed within the SVS. A final index value is calculated by multiplying the intermediate index value by the hash value, modulo the number of volumes of the SVS. Further, a Locate( ) function may be used to compute the location of data container content in the SVS to which a data access request is directed to ensure consistency of such content.
US07975099B2
A data storage system includes a non-volatile memory, a disc recording medium, a non-volatile memory buffer, operatively disposed between a host interface and the non-volatile memory, which stores a portion of data stored in the non-volatile memory, and a disc buffer, operatively disposed between the host interface and the disc recording medium, which stores a portion of data stored in the disc recording medium. The data storage system may be configured to receive an access address from a host operatively connected to the host interface, and sequentially determine whether the access address exists in one of the non-volatile memory buffer, the non-volatile memory, the disc buffer, and the disc recording medium, in that order.
US07975098B2
A recording medium, such as a high-density and/or optical recording medium and apparatus and methods for recording to and reproducing from the recording medium, in order to initialize, reinitialize, format, and/or re-format the high-density and/or optical recording medium.
US07975096B2
A non-volatile memory storage system including a transmission interface, a memory module, and a controller is provided. The memory module includes first and second non-volatile memory chips. The first and the second non-volatile memory chips can be simultaneously enabled by receiving a chip enable signal from the controller via a chip enable pin. When the controller performs a multichannel access, the controller provides an access instruction to the first and second non-volatile memory chip, after enabling the first non-volatile memory chip and the second non-volatile memory chip with the chip enable signal. When the controller performs a single channel access, the controller provides the access signal to one of the first and second non-volatile memory chips, and provides a non-access instruction to the other one, after enabling the first non-volatile memory chip and the second non-volatile memory chip with the chip enable signal.
US07975093B2
A cache memory system and method for supporting multiple simultaneous store operations using a plurality of tag memories is provided. The cache data system further provides a plurality of multiple simultaneous cache store functions along with a single cache load function that is simultaneous with the store functions. Embodiments create a cache memory wherein the cache write buffer does not operate as a bottle neck for data store operations into a cache memory system or device.
US07975088B2
An information processing apparatus configured to connect an external device in conformity with a predetermined interface specification, includes: a control LSI configured to control signal output to an external device effectively connected; and a CPU configured to control the operation within the apparatus including the control LSI as a whole; wherein the CPU includes an interface circuit connected to a detecting unit configured to detect the validity of connection to an external device, a control LSI control unit configured to control reset of the control LSI, and release of the reset state of the control LSI according to the detection result of the detecting unit, and the control LSI.
US07975084B1
Technologies are provided herein for configuring aspects of the operation of a server computer using a service processor. The service processor includes a processor, a NAND flash memory organized using a file system, and a hardware data communications interface coupled to the host computer. The file system is utilized to store a monolithic image file containing software components for configuring the operation of the host computer and the service processor. A firmware is also provided that executes on the processor to expose the NAND flash memory to the host processor as a storage device on the hardware interface, to receive storage requests from the host computer, and to generate offsets into the monolithic image file for performing the storage requests. The image file may be utilized to store an operating system, hardware drivers, and a host configuration tool executable by the host computer.
US07975071B2
Described is transparently compressing content for network transmission, including end-to-end compression. An end host or middlebox device sender sends compressed packets to an end host or middlebox device receiver, which decompresses the packets to recover the original packet. The sender constructs compressed packets including references to information maintained at the receiver, which the receiver uses to access the information to recreate actual original packet content. The receiver may include a dictionary corresponding to the sender, e.g., synchronized with the sender's dictionary. Alternatively, in speculative compression, the sender does not maintain a dictionary, and instead sends a fingerprint (hash value) by which the receiver looks up corresponding content in its dictionary; if not found, the receiver requests actual content. Scheduling to maintain fairness and smoothing bursts to coexist with TCP congestion control are also described, as are techniques for routing compressed data over networked end hosts and/or compression-enabled middlebox devices.
US07975069B2
A routing method in consideration of the power and transmission delay in a wireless ad hoc network and a terminal device adopting the same are provided, which can reduce the power consumption and packet delay by considering both the power consumption and packet delay. The terminal device includes a judgment unit that determines whether a first accumulative hop count included in a first route request (RREQ) packet exceeds a predetermined route decision value for limiting a hop count from a source node to a destination node, and a control unit that determines a route to the source node, based on information included in the first RREQ packet, if the judgment unit determines that the first accumulative hop count does not exceed the route decision value.
US07975067B2
A method and apparatus for implementing alerts on a browser running on a portable handheld device is disclosed. The method generates an asynchronous notification action from the server and in response transmits an alert containing a message indicating availability of HTML pages that describe the nature of the alert. The alert is received at a node on a network and translated into the original message. An alert receipt acknowledgment is transmitted to the server. Access to the alert HTML page is provided through a URL containing the appropriate query strings necessary to present the appropriate HTML page. The invention also discloses a wireless local area network (WLAN) adapter associated with a wireless network that receives paging signals from a server on the network and returns an acknowledgment signal back to the server. The invention also discloses a client/server based method of delivering messages initiated by a client. After a connection is established between a client and server, the client requests a message from the server. In response, the server retrieves and returns the message back to the client.
US07975061B1
Systems and methods for performing storage operations over multi-stream data paths are provided. Prior to performing a storage operation, it may be determined whether multi-streaming resources are available to perform a multi-stream storage operation. Availability of multi-streaming resources may be related to network pathways capable of supporting multi-stream storage operations, existing network load related to other storage operations being or to be performed, availability of components capable of supporting multi-stream storage operation, and other factors. If system resources to support multi-stream storage operations are not available, the system may optionally perform a traditional storage operation that does not incorporate multiple data streams.
US07975049B2
A computer terminal connected to a manufacturing apparatus as an object of the maintenance management is connected to a server machine providing a maintenance management service by a network, enabling bi-directional communication. The computer terminal transmits maintenance information including a kind of a maintenance method executed at the customer side to the server machine. The server machine acquires the kind of the maintenance method from the maintenance information received from the computer terminal, retrieves points corresponding to the kind of the maintenance method, and stores the retrieved points in a maintenance point storage unit. More points are set for more time consuming maintenance. This can encourage the customer to perform more time consuming maintenance on the manufacturing apparatus in order to obtain more points.
US07975047B2
A monitoring tool provided according to an aspect of the present invention causes an HTTP request to be resubmitted to another server system if a server system, to which the same HTTP request has been earlier submitted, is detected to have failed without completing processing of the request. In one embodiment, the server system is deemed to have failed upon absence of completion of requests for a pre-specified duration. As an alternative or in addition, the operational status of the server system is checked periodically and the server system is deemed to have failed if it is non-operational.
US07975037B2
A system includes a policy engine in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The policy engine may be configured to store a group of policies associated with the IMS, and forward the group of policies to a group of policy components in the IMS.
US07975033B2
A system and method for sharing network resources; the system comprising: (1) at least one network switch; (2) a plurality of computing devices, where the computing device comprises (i) at least one network connection; (ii) a plurality of processing nodes; and (iii) at least one storage device containing software for (a) initializing and maintaining a plurality of top-layer virtual local area networks (VLANs), (b) initializing and maintaining a plurality of client VLANs; and (c) using an empty VLAN as a virtual wire between the client VLAN and a shared network resource.
US07975028B2
Techniques and mechanisms that allow configuration information, applications and/or data to be transferred between computer systems in an automated, or partially automated, manner, which may allow for more efficient transfer as compared to manual transfer. A source computer system may be coupled with a destination computer system directly via a wired or wireless communications channel. Data including, for example, user identification information, network settings, system settings, permissions and/or other data may be transferred from the source computer system to the destination computer system.
US07975021B2
A client server arrangement for downloading media content filters from a server device to a client device. The media content filters define portions of a separate audio visual presentation containing potentially objectionable subject matter. Depending on user selections, identified portions of the audio/visual presentation may be skipped and/or muted during play. In one particular implementation, the client device, e.g., a DVD player, is configured to initiate a connection with a server device. Upon successful connection, the server device transmits one or more media content filters to the client device. The client device may be configured to determine whether a particular media content filter is available, to facilitate deletion of some existing media content filters in order to secure adequate memory space, and to ensure that the media player has an active account, before initiating a connection with the server device. The server device may be configured to determine whether the media player is associated with an active user account, whether a requested filter is available, and whether adequate memory space is available at the media player, before transmitting media content filters to the client device.
US07975013B2
Disclosed are methods and systems of retaining instant message content related to usage of one or more instant message applications subject to obligations of retention. A user request to access the one or more instant message applications results in requesting a instant message master log on credential from the user and mapping the IM master log on credential of the user with instant message application specific log on credentials of the user associated with at least one of the IM applications to give a centralized and controlled access to the user who may be subject to obligations for retention of IM communications. An IM session of at least one of the one or more instant message applications may also be opened according to IM application settings rules associated with the IM master log on of the user. The IM communication generated during the session is stored based on the instant message retention rule associated with the IM master log on of the user.
US07975010B1
Computer implemented methods, apparati, and computer readable media for determining whether an electronic message (30) is likely to contain spam. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of comparing (11) addresses associated with the electronic message (30) with addresses in an address book (21) of a recipient (20) of the electronic message (30); counting (12) instances for which an address associated with the electronic message (30) matches an address in the address book (21); and determining (13) whether spam is likely present in the electronic message (30) by calculating whether a pre-selected condition (70) is satisfied, said pre-selected condition (70) being based upon a count of said matches and at least one predetermined threshold (80).
US07974997B2
In one embodiment, a receiver including one or more signal-processing blocks and a hardware-based matrix co-processor. The one or more signal-processing blocks are adapted to generate a processed signal from a received signal. The hardware-based matrix co-processor includes two or more different matrix-computation engines, each adapted to perform a different matrix computation, and one or more shared hardware-computation units, each adapted to perform a mathematical operation. At least one signal-processing block is adapted to offload matrix-based signal processing to the hardware-based matrix co-processor. Each of the two or more different matrix-computation engines is adapted to offload the same type of mathematical processing to at least one of the one or more shared hardware-computation units.
US07974995B2
System, apparatus, method, and article for techniques to associate media data with related information. A mobile computing device includes a media manager module. The media manager module processes a media file including metadata. The media manager module retrieves a first content from a metadata field in the metadata. The media manager module retrieves a second content from a field in an application file associated with an application client. The media manager module compares the first and second contents and determines whether the first and second contents are associated. If the first and second contents are associated, the media manager module retrieves the second content and inserts the second content in a second metadata field of the media file.
US07974994B2
Computer-readable media, systems, and methods for sensitive webpage content detection are described. In embodiments, a multi-class classifier is developed and one or more webpages with webpage content are received. In various embodiments, the one or more webpages are analyzed with the multi-class classifier and, in various embodiments, a sensitivity level is predicted that is associated with the webpage content of the one or more webpages. In various other embodiments, the multi-class classifier includes one or more sensitivity categories.
US07974990B2
Techniques for managing program applications include an application being managed having an object-oriented interface with objects having data and methods to change the data. Changing these objects and/or the data of the objects changes the outcome of the application. A hyper-text transfer protocol (HTTP) server, a server-side script engine, and a scheduling mechanism are embedded in the application, i.e., they are made part of, and therefore run on, the same programming process as the application. Tasks to be performed by the application, the HTTP server, and the script engine are scheduled. The HTTP server processes requests of HTTP clients, typically supplied via a Web browser, and forwards them to the script engine. The script engine, which has direct access to the application objects, interacts with the application being controlled. The HTTP server runs the script engine for the requested script and formats the resulting information being returned to the client.
US07974982B2
A system for device profiling using cascaded databases includes a client configured to deliver data to a device, and a plurality of databases accessible by the client, each of the plurality databases containing information relevant to the device, such that the plurality of databases are queried in a prioritized order to obtain information relevant to the device.
US07974979B2
User input from a reduced keypad is disambiguated and compared with a first dynamic lexicon, and predicted matches (e.g. either a single word or phrase) are offered. If a user continues to type beyond a boundary condition, then input is no longer predicted from the first lexicon, but instead is interpreted as a request for matches from a second, quasi-static lexicon allowing words or phrases to be entered. When the entry is accepted, data is transmitted to a remote receiver and may be parsed as an inquiry for subsequent operation. Following acceptance, the apparatus invokes a program suitable for interacting with the response generated to the inquiry.
US07974971B2
A computer-implemented method for processing user entered query data to improve results of a search of pages using a local search database, when searching the internet, is disclosed. The method includes receiving the user entered query data and parsing each word of the query data and segmenting words using a probabilistic dictionary to determine a likelihood that the word is for a particular name. And, associating the particular names with a name tag to create one or more tagged name terms. Then, normalizing each of the tagged name terms and the normalizing including boosting information if found in the local search database and determining proximity between selected ones of the tagged name terms. The method then generates an optimized search query that incorporates normalized terms and operators. The optimized search query being applied to the internet to enable search results to be produced and displayed to the user in response to the entered query data.
US07974970B2
A system for detecting artificial promotion of a resource, including a search engine operative to index a set incoming links (“inlinks”) which reference the resource, a log module coupled with the search engine and configured to store log data associated with the set of inlinks, a partitioning module coupled with log module and operative to partition the set of inlinks into a plurality of groups of inlinks based on at least one partitioning scheme, a statistics module coupled with the partitioning module and operative to compute a statistic associated with the inlinks within each of the plurality of groups of inlinks, and a computation module coupled with the statistics module and operative to process the computed statistic associated with the inlinks of each of the plurality of groups of inlinks and compute a metric associated with set of inlinks where the metric indicates a level of uniformity of a distribution of values of the respective computed statistics among the plurality of groups of inlinks, and where the search engine places a list of search results, generated in response to a search query, in a pattern based on the metric.
US07974967B2
A system may include a routines repository that is configured to store and maintain hardware libraries, software libraries and metadata, a hybrid query engine that may be configured to receive a query, parse the query, compute a query execution plan and output the query execution plan using metadata and operators from the hardware libraries and/or the software libraries, and a routines management module that may be configured to provide the metadata and the operators from the routines repository to the hybrid query engine. The system may include an execution engine module that may be configured to receive the query execution plan, the execution engine module including a reconfigurable hardware execution engine having a reconfigurable fabric, where the reconfigurable hardware execution engine may be configured to process the query execution plan.
US07974965B2
A method of processing a plurality of instances in a federated deployment of SOA applications can include the steps of receiving a transaction request to retrieve data, the request specifying retrieving the data stored according to range of indices of the federated deployment, processing each of the instances in a predetermined order to retrieve the data; and calculating a total number of records in the federated deployment.
US07974959B2
Map updating systems, methods, and programs that extract update requiring sections with respect to an update requesting section that is one of the sections being a target of an update request requesting that the target map data should be updated, obtain the information related to the guaranty versions respectively corresponding to the extracted update requiring sections by referring to the version table, the update requiring sections each being one of the sections that needs to be updated in order to guarantee integrity between the sections that are positioned adjacent to each other after the update requesting section has been updated, and generate, based on the update-purpose map database, one of the update data files regarding the update requesting section as well as other ones of the update data files regarding the update requiring sections and having the update versions indicated as the guaranty versions.
US07974956B2
Techniques are provided through which a user is verified as authorized to modify a website. A web crawler generates a filename and content for the user, who purports to be authorized to modify a particular website. The web crawler sends the filename and content toward the user. The user stores a file with the filename on a server that hosts the website. The user places the content within the file. The web crawler determines whether the file is stored on the server and whether the content is in the file. If so, then the web crawler stores information that indicates that the user is authorized to receive information pertaining to the website, which may be confidential information. If the file is not stored on the server or if the file does not contain the content, then the web crawler does not provide any information to the user pertaining to the website.
US07974955B2
A database system has a contention monitor which determines when the level of contention for accessing or inserting records in the database rises above a threshold, and inhibits non-critical access to the database to reduce the level of contention. In a preferred embodiment, the level of contention is determined by periodically measuring the time for an INSERT operation on the database, and comparing the time to a threshold derived from a baseline time measurement for the operation during a time of normal database activity. Thus the contention level is inferred from the time to do the operation, in this case the INSERT query. In one embodiment, the contention monitor notifies a system administrator to take action to reduce the contention. In another embodiment, the contention monitor informs the system to take action automatically according to predetermined selections by the system administrator.
US07974948B2
Tools and techniques are described for automatically capturing and maintaining versions of documents. These tools may provide methods that include receiving documents from a server, and receiving indications of revisions to the documents at client systems. The methods may also automatically determine whether to capture representations of states of the documents before entry of the revisions, in the absence of explicit user commands to capture these representations.
US07974927B2
The mailing machine and a method of initializing it are based on an unremovable program memory, which contains an initialization program. A removable authorization device is operationally connected to the mailing machine and is designed such that it can be interrogated. The interrogation is performed before and during the initialization of the mailing machine with predetermined INIT data. A security module connected to the program memory serves for checking the authorization and can prevent initialization without authorization. The initialization of the mailing machine takes place at the goods receiving location in the destination country by switching into an initialization mode, authorization of the initialization by means of the authorization device, input of initialization data and ending of the initialization and cancellation of the authorization.
US07974922B1
A computer-implemented system to track, process, and report exceptions arising from processing of electronic representations of checks and other financial documents.
US07974912B2
A method and apparatus (information processing system) for overcoming deficiencies and inefficiencies in the current paid search engine keyword bidding market, by providing keyword bidders with information they need to better optimize their use of paid search engines. The system accumulates bid amounts for a plurality of target keywords at one or more paid Internet search engines, and presents the bid amounts to a user, enabling the user to evaluate and optimize bids on those keywords. The system also presents bid amounts for a keyword at one or more paid Internet search engines, in a manner highlighting one or more selected bid amounts of interest to a potential bidder. This permits a bidder to identify the bidder's own bid, and/or to identify a differential in bid amounts that indicates an opportunity for bid optimization. The system further monitors keyword bids at one or more paid Internet search engines to identify bid changes of interest to a potential bidder.
US07974905B1
Tools are provided for identifying outliers or variations in trade data derived from securities transactions, such as securities lending transactions. Such outliers may provide an indication that a given trade is suspicious or potentially inappropriate from a customer relationship point of view, a regulatory perspective, or a legal standpoint. Trades identified as outliers can be utilized in regression analyses to analyze specific trades, trader-broker relationships, or other trading activity.
US07974904B2
A method of computing a real estate derivative index value includes: selecting asking rent data; selecting lease rent data; and combining the selected asking rent data and the selected lease rent data to form the index value. The method may further include further combining the combined data with a value representative of general market conditions; forming a composite index of data from plural markets; or computing the index at the end of a time period as: Δ FKI or as Δ RP+Δ CPI+Δ FKI. The method may further include trading based on the index by deriving a trade value from the index value, and executing a trade based on the derived trade value. The method may be carried as instructions on a machine-readable medium and may be carried out using a computer for part or all of the method.
US07974903B2
A method and system receives one or more target distribution amounts corresponding to currency totals for one or more foreign entities to distribute to one or more domestic entities in one or more years, the foreign entities being direct or indirect subsidiaries of the one or more domestic entities, then it receives entity data pertaining to tax relevant attributes for the one or more domestic and foreign entities over the one or more years, and receives distribution constraints for each foreign entity, the distribution constraints including a minimum distribution amount and a maximum distribution amount for each entity in each year. The method and system creates one or more distribution scenarios including corresponding tax costs based on the entity data and the distribution constraints and identifies a distribution scenario from the one or more distribution scenarios having the lowest tax and meeting the one or more target distribution amounts.
US07974902B2
According to embodiments of the invention, processes and products permit relationships to be formed between player characters of a video game. In addition, death and reincarnation of player characters can be employed as features of the video game.
US07974890B2
A computer system and method of facilitating a sale which permits inventory information to be used in connection with a technology enabled selling (TES) system to facilitate a sale. The inventory information may be used during configuration of an item to be sold to a customer in a manner which allows the sales representative to more easily sell items from inventory if desired.
US07974888B2
A service is disclosed for enabling web sites and other entities to provide item recommendations and other behavior-based content to end users. The service can be implemented as a web service that is remotely accessible over the Internet. Web sites use the web service's interface to report events descriptive of item-related actions performed by end users (e.g., item views, item purchases, searches for items, etc.). The web service analyzes the reported event data on an aggregated basis to detect various types of associations between particular items, and stores resulting datasets that map items to associated items. The web service's interface also provides various API calls for enabling the web sites to request item recommendations and other behavior-based content, including but not limited to personalized recommendations that are based on the event history of the target user. Advantageously, the web sites need not host the infrastructure for providing such content.
US07974883B2
A system and method for providing kits of absorbent articles to consumers includes a selection tool that collects information about the consumer's cycle characteristics and use preferences and selects for the consumer a cycle kit of absorbent articles. An interactive ordering tool allows online purchase of a kit. An auto-send option provides monthly delivery of a cycle kit timed to coincide with onset of the consumer's menses. An information component provides use instructions and health and lifestyle information in different media, including from a web site. Different kit types include assortments of different types of feminine hygiene articles specific to particular profiles of cycle characteristics and use preferences, arranged in a package in a use sequence keyed to cycle progression. Other distribution channels in the system include both traditional and non-traditional brick-and-mortar retailers and institutional channels, such as dispensing machines. Refills, sample kits, custom kits and compacts are provided.
US07974878B1
A system and method for distributing information (collectively the “system”) is disclosed. The system can, but need not, include category-based and geography-based attributes to better “focus” the information distributed by the system. In the processing of listing-based attributes (e.g. attributes limited to a particular listing), the system can also be influenced by relationship-based attributes (e.g. attributes between the administrator of the system and the advertisers, and even potentially users). If desired, the system can accommodate the ability of advertisers to modify or enhance the display characteristics relating to information records in order to further differential listings and advertisers. The ability to organize listings into tiers can also be incorporated into the system. By organizing listings into tiers, the system may be more effective in maximizing competition at all ends of the listing continuum, and not just the competition for the top position or two.
US07974868B2
A method and apparatus for enhancing a virally marketed facility is described and illustrated. In one embodiment, the invention is a method of operating a virally marketed facility. The method includes measuring virality of the facility based on a conversion rate and a propagation rate. The method also includes determining potential options for increasing virality. The method further includes executing potential options for increasing virality. In an alternate embodiment, the invention is a method of operating a virally marketed facility. The method includes measuring virality of the facility. Also, the method includes determining potential options for increasing virality. Further, the method includes concurrently executing potential options for increasing virality.
US07974865B2
Disclosed are systems and methods of making assignments, particularly of sales leads. The assignments are considered either committed or uncommitted responsive to an effective date associated with one or more assignment rule used to make the assignments. Uncommitted assignments may be used to review the effects of changes in assignment rules. Examples are provided including the use of uncommitted assignments to review the effects of changes in a hierarchical territory structure.
US07974862B2
In order to provide an intelligent building having specific rooms in which relatively less wealthy persons may use, and meeting the demands for specific rooms and privacy for the general public at the same time, by optimizing the space efficiency. The intelligent building comprises: permanent exclusive rooms resided by a resident, which cannot be used except by permission of said resident; time-share exclusive rooms, which is usable by residents residing in a plurality of permanent exclusive rooms but cannot be used by others except by permission of said resident during a period of time used by said resident; at least one of a means for time-share exclusive passage, which connects one permanent exclusive room to one time-share exclusive room according to movement, wherein said means is usable by residents residing in a plurality of permanent exclusive rooms but cannot be used by others except by permission of said resident during a period of time used by said resident; and a server, which communicates with permanent exclusive rooms, time-share exclusive rooms, and means for time-share exclusive passage, and thereby capable of collecting information therefrom, and which controls permanent exclusive rooms, time-share exclusive rooms, and means for time-share exclusive passage according to predetermined rules.
US07974854B1
Systems and methods are provided for providing, based on a model, an indication that an appraisal value for a property is likely to be faulty. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving information representative of at least one of a borrower, a property, or one or more demographics, such that the received information corresponds to a date. The method determines a score based on the received information and the model, such that the score provides the indication of the likelihood that the appraisal value was faulty on the date.
US07974852B2
A system and method for bulk mail oriented transaction printing of variable documents by evaluating particular data such as zip code data in a VI PDL. A queue can be configured with information regarding a particular rendering job, which includes the VI data fields including required postal information, a particular postal information format, and a thickness adjustment with respect to each item of mail associated with a bulk mail. The rendering job can be received for production and a number of records associated with the job automatically parsed into one or more postal bundles, based on predefined information and postal regulations. Such an approach can also be utilized to automatically generate and render the required bundle labels.
US07974849B1
A method is described with which to detect and model a person's temporal activity patterns from a record of the persons computer activity or online presence. The method is both predictive and descriptive of temporal features and is constructed with a minimal amount of beforehand knowledge. Activity related data is accumulated from a mechanism that is involved in the activity of a person. Significant inactivity features are identified within the activity data. These inactivity features are characterized so as to project the temporal activity of the person. Real-time activity of the person is then detected and inactivity periods are checked for likelihood of belonging to a previously characterized significant feature. The resulting information is formatted and made available to individuals having a need for the information.
US07974838B1
A system and method to assist a singer or other user. An audio source is processed to extract the lead vocals from the audio signal. This vocal signal is fed to a pitch detection processor which estimates the pitch at each moment in time. A user singing into a microphone provides a user vocal signal that is also pitch detected. The pitch of the lead vocal signal and the user vocal signal are compared and any difference is provided to a pitch shifting module, which then can correct the pitch of the user vocal signal. The corrected user vocal signal may be combined with a background signal comprising a signal from the audio source without the lead vocal signal, and then provided to headphones or loudspeakers to the user and/or an audience. This system and method may be used for Karaoke performances.
US07974835B2
In a natural language, mixed-initiative system, a method of processing user dialogue can include receiving a user input and determining whether the user input specifies an action to be performed or a token of an action. The user input can be selectively routed to an action interpreter or a token interpreter according to the determining step.
US07974832B2
A web translation server discovers a document address for a document. The document is accessed and parsed for text data in a first language. The parsed text data is translated into text data in a second language and stored in a database. A client accesses the document and sends a request including the document address to the web translation server. The translated text data in the second language is retrieved from the database based on the document address and sent to the client. The client renders the translated text data in the second language.
US07974831B2
A communication supporting apparatus includes a supplemental example storing unit that stores a source language interpretation which is an interpretation of a semantic content of a source language sentence to be translated, and a supplemental example sentence which is an example of a sentence for supporting the semantic content, in association with each other; an input accepting unit that accepts the source language sentence input by a user; an analyzing unit that analyzes the semantic content of the source language sentence and outputs the source language interpretation; a search unit that searches for the supplemental example sentence associated with the source language interpretation from the supplemental example storing unit; and a translation unit that translates the source language sentence and the supplemental example sentence into a target language.
US07974829B2
A system for simulating mobile phone and method thereof is provided. The system has separately designed man-machine-interface (MMI) kernel module, simulator module and plug-in module. If a designer wants to replace the MMI kernel module in a developing project, the present invention allows not only the transplantation and extension of code but also the integration with the existing simulator module. Besides, the plug-in module uses the inter-process communication (IPC) mechanism and the dynamic linking library (DLL) mechanism of the operating system of a host to exchange data with the simulator module and display a mobile phone operation interface so that the simulator module is able to support future plug-in module.
US07974822B2
In a method for determining the life expectancy of machine components (2) during operation, characteristic data are established in order to determine the life expectancy for the relevant machine component (2), loads acting on the machine part (2) during operation are determined by means of a sensor device (10), characteristic values that are characteristic for the loads acting on the machine component (2) are determined, and the life expectancy is determined based on the characteristic values and on the characteristic data for the machine component (2).
US07974817B2
A computer acquires maximum lengths of a structure as measured along X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, and acquires numbers of divisions of line segments which extend along the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions, respectively, and have the maximum lengths, respectively. The computer then calculates a basic shape, which is the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped divided into a three-dimensional grid, on the basis of the maximum lengths and the numbers of divisions. The computer creates a basic frame of the structure from the basic shape by deleting a selected line, and adding a line between two selected grid points. The computer calculates structure data, which are three-dimensional data representing the structure, by arranging frame members, which are represented by three-dimensional frame member data, along lines between the grid points of the basic frame. The computer then outputs a drawing of the structure from the structure data.
US07974815B2
An apparatus providing a means for assessment of the integrity of insulated conduits, harnesses, cables, pipelines and other interconnection systems constructed with integral sensitized media, discrete sensors, and electronics providing a means for transforming sensed data into information and a means for communicating information for the purpose of understanding the location, degree and risk of damage and deterioration, and the probable causes thereof.
US07974791B2
In a method for the optimization of stress distribution on an object to be tested for flaws by ultrasound excitation and evaluation based on resulting surface temperature distribution,—a simulation is performed under test conditions on a CAD model of the object prior to a testing an object,—vibrational spectra and modal vibrational forms are calculated,—local mechanical stresses are determined from the vibrational modes, whereby—modes to be excited for the real test are selected from the entirety of the occurring modes such that,—the mechanical stress lies in a selected region above a predetermined minimum stress to enable a reliable proof of defect,—the mechanical stress in all other regions of the inspection part, in particular on easily damaged component structures, is smaller than a predetermined maximum stress by a predetermined factor, in order not to damage the component at weak points.
US07974779B2
A system and method for financial transactions in a rideshare system is provided. A rideshare environment with multiple rideshare transactions is maintained. Each rideshare transaction includes one or more participants. Bids are received from potential participants for a position in at least one of the rideshare transactions. At least one potential participant is assigned to one of the rideshare transactions based on one of the bids.
US07974767B2
In a method for detecting an operating parameter of a power tool having an internal combustion engine with a cylinder, a piston delimiting a combustion chamber in the cylinder and driving a crankshaft supported rotatably in a crankcase, an intake supplying combustion air to the combustion chamber, an exhaust removing combustion gases from the combustion chamber, and a signal generator driven in rotation by the crankshaft emitting sequential alternating voltage signals, a period duration of the voltage signal is selected to correspond to the n-th portion of a crankshaft revolution with n greater than 2. The n-th portion of the crankshaft revolution provides a crankshaft angle interval. For each crankshaft angle interval at least one information is detected that represents a course plotted against the crankshaft angle. The course is scanned with regard to characteristic features that are correlated with an operating parameter of the power tool.
US07974764B2
In order to achieve at least a short-term reduction of the torque of an internal combustion engine, which comprises a range as widely adjustable as possible, causes a slight as possible thermal stress on the components of the attached exhaust gas system and allows for a reduction of the fuel consumption, it is proposed that in addition to the cut off of the fuel-delivery control phase of a cylinder, an intake valve associated with the cylinder is cut off.
US07974763B2
The invention relates to a method for reducing the energy consumption of a motor vehicle having an internal-combustion engine and having at least one electric onboard power supply to which at least a first electric consuming device is connected. In a first operating condition, the internal-combustion engine is operated with a first injection quantity and a first ignition point. In a second operating condition, the internal-combustion engine is operated with a second injection quantity higher than the first injection quantity and a second ignition point. The second ignition point in time is less favorable than the first ignition point in the case of the second injection quantity with respect to the capacity of the internal-combustion engine. Upon detecting a substantially imminent special driving situation, a driving situation detection device causes the internal-combustion engine to change from the first operating condition into the second operating condition.
US07974758B2
A method and apparatus for setting the torque transmitted by a friction clutch via an actuator chain having an electric motor, a reduction gear and a mechanism for converting the rotary movement of the electric motor. In the method, a desired angle of rotation of the electric motor or a link of the actuator chain is determined from the torque to be transmitted by the friction clutch and is set in a setting procedure based on a given torque/angle dependence. To compensate for wear inside the friction clutch, a calibration process takes place in which a first correction angle is determined for the torque/angle dependence. Variations in a torque/power consumption dependence caused by wear within the actuator chain are also taken into account. Specifically, the number of setting procedures of the electric motor within a predetermined time interval is determined and is used to correct the torque/power consumption dependence.
US07974755B2
A motor vehicle acoustic noise reduction system is provided. The acoustic noise reduction system particularly reduces or eliminates wind throb in a moving vehicle. The system includes a window sensor operable to sense when a first window of the motor vehicle is open. An air inlet is also included which is actuatable to let air into the motor vehicle when the air inlet is in an open position. An actuator associated with and operable to open or close the air inlet is provided and in communication with a controller. The controller is associated with tie sensor and can energize the actuator to place the air inlet in the open position and let air into the motor vehicle when the window sensor senses the first window is in the open position and communicates this information to the controller.
US07974753B2
A direction and speed control device for an electronic wheelchair includes: a base member mounted on the electronic wheelchair; a manually operable pointing unit mounted on the base member and including a control stick pivotable relative to the base member; first and second three-axis g acceleration sensors, each generating a voltage output indicative of tilt of a respective one of the control stick and the base member in three orthogonal axes; and a control unit operable so as to process the voltage outputs of the first and second three-axis g acceleration sensors to generate corresponding control signals for controlling rotation direction and speed of a wheel unit of the electronic wheelchair.
US07974752B2
A steering assist apparatus for a vehicle includes an electric motor for steering assist. Rotation output of the electric motor is reduced in speed by a ball-screw mechanism and converted to rectilinear motion, which is transmitted to a rack bar. An electronic control unit determines a target current value in accordance with a steering torque detected by a steering torque sensor and a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor. While using an actual current value of the electric motor detected by a current sensor as a feedback, the electronic control unit controls the current flowing through the electric motor to be equal to the target current value. The electronic control unit changes the feedback gain of the feedback control in accordance with a steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor, to thereby suppress abnormal noise generated at a steering mechanism, without deteriorating steering feel.
US07974747B2
When a system stop instruction is issued in the middle of the operation of an engine to stop the engine, the engagement of the gears in a gear mechanism is pressed toward one side. After the engine has stopped, a torque command for a motor connected to a drive shaft is gradually reduced. When the torque command decreases below a threshold value, the system is stopped. In this way, it is possible to prevent generation of vibration of the drive shaft when the system is stopped.
US07974740B2
An integrated management system for controlling multi-type air conditioners can use a remote integrated management system to securely and automatically back up setting information for a local controller provided in at least one air conditioner system, which is disposed in a room or office and is being operated, thereby allowing an improvement of stability of the integrated management system.
US07974739B2
In one embodiment, a system is provided with a rotatable arm having a movable joint, an infrared lamp coupled to the rotatable arm, and an electrical cable extending through the rotatable arm and the movable joint. In another embodiment, a system is provided with a base and an arm coupled to the base via a first rotatable joint, wherein the arm has an arcuate shape. The system also may include a head coupled to the arm via a second rotatable joint, an infrared lamp coupled to the head, and a temperature sensor disposed adjacent the infrared lamp. Furthermore, the system may include an air flow passage extending through the first rotatable joint, the arm, and the second rotatable joint. A fan also may be pneumatically coupled to the air flow passage. In addition, an electrical cable may be disposed in the air flow passage, wherein the electrical cable extends to the infrared lamp and the temperature sensor.
US07974738B2
A virtual track or rail system and method is described for execution by a robot. A user, through a user interface, generates a desired path comprised of at least one segment representative of the virtual track for the robot. Start and end points are assigned to the desired path and velocities are also associated with each of the at least one segment of the desired path. A waypoint file is generated including positions along the virtual track representing the desired path with the positions beginning from the start point to the end point including the velocities of each of the at least one segment. The waypoint file is sent to the robot for traversing along the virtual track.
US07974737B2
An apparatus and method of optimizing collision free path planning comprising: initializing a plurality of feasible configuration points, sample points located in a free space, and sample points not located in the free space; determining a goodness rating of the various pluralities of points; generating new candidate points; determining if each new candidate point is a feasible configuration point and adding each to the plurality of feasible configuration points if it is; if not, determining if each new candidate point is located in the free space and adding it to the plurality of sample points located in the free space if it is; if not, adding to the plurality of sample points not located in the free space; determining an updated goodness rating of the various pluralities of points; determining if a termination criteria has been met and reporting a best solution or no solution if it has been met.
US07974728B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for extracting a key process parameter correlative to a selected device parameter are provided. In an embodiment, the key process parameter is determined using a gene map analysis. The gene map analysis includes grouping highly correlative process parameter and determining the correlation of a group to the selected device parameter. In an embodiment, the groups having greatest correlation to the selected device parameter are displayed in a correlation matrix and/or a gene map.
US07974726B2
By providing an under-specified specification for designating a destination carrier in a respective control job or control message, a high degree of flexibility in determining the destination of processed substrates may be obtained, thereby also allowing the removal of a source carrier for enhancing load port availability in complex semiconductor facilities.
US07974724B2
A method, apparatus, and a system for performing a product feedback for process control are provided. Metrology data relating to a first workpiece is received. An end of line parameter relating to the first workpiece is received. The end of line parameter is correlated with the metrology data. A process control associated with a plurality of processes to be performed on a second workpiece is adjusted based upon the correlating.
US07974710B2
Guide catheters for facilitating implantation of cardiac leads for applying electrical stimulation to and/or sensing electrical activity of the heart through one or more electrodes positioned at an implantation site within a heart chamber or cardiac vessel adjacent a heart chamber. Such a cardiac lead has low torqueability and pushability through a pathway to enable attachment of the cardiac lead at the implantation site. The catheter body comprises a delivery lumen to introduce a small diameter cardiac lead and a guide lumen to receive a guide tool to locate the catheter body distal end at the implantation site. The small diameter lumen within a small diameter guide tube extends distally from the delivery exit port of the delivery lumen. The catheter body is shaped to bias the delivery lumen exit port toward the heart.
US07974701B2
A method for limiting patient-initiated electrical signal therapy to a cranial nerve of a patient is provided. An electrical signal therapy limit is selected from the group consisting of; a maximum number of patient-initiated signals, a maximum dose of electrical signals, a maximum duration of electrical signal, a maximum rate of change of the number of patient-initiated signals, a maximum rate of change of the dose of electrical signals, and a maximum rate of change of the duration of the electrical signals all per unit of time. If the electrical signal therapy limit is exceeded a therapy is delivered to the cranial nerve selected from the group consisting of; providing therapy, providing reduced therapy, providing enhanced therapy, inhibiting therapy, providing background therapy, and inhibiting background therapy.
US07974694B2
A phase analysis technique provides for quantification of regional wall motion asynchrony from endocardial border contours generated from two-dimensional echocardiographic ventricular images. The technique produces results including a degree of radial ventricular asynchrony in heart failure patients with ventricular conduction delay to predict a magnitude of contractile function improvement with pacing therapy. Quantification of change in ventricular regional wall motion asynchrony in response to a therapy provides for a means to identify candidates to receive the therapy and quantitatively predict the benefit of the therapy. Quantification of changes in ventricular regional wall motion asynchrony in response to a sequence of therapies provides for a means to determine an approximately optimal therapy for an intended patient response.
US07974691B2
This document discusses, among other things, systems, devices, and methods for measuring cardiac impedances and producing one or more resynchronization index parameters each indicative of a cardiac synchrony or asynchrony using the measured cardiac impedances. In one example, the one or more resynchronization index parameters are used to adjust one or more pacing parameters of a cardiac resynchronization therapy.
US07974690B2
Techniques for performing a lead integrity test during a suspected tachyarrhythmia are described. An implantable medical device (IMD) may perform the test prior to delivering a therapeutic shock to treat the suspected tachyarrhythmia and, in some cases, may withhold the shock based on the test. In some examples, the IMD measures an impedance of a lead a plurality of times during the suspected tachyarrhythmia. In some examples, the IMD measures the impedance a plurality of times between two sensed events of the suspected tachyarrhythmia. The IMD or another device may determine a variability of, or otherwise compare, the measured impedances to evaluate the integrity of the lead. Instead of or in addition to withholding a shock, the IMD or another device may change a sensing or stimulation vector of the IMD, or provide an alert to a user, if the integrity test indicates a possible lead integrity issue.
US07974685B2
Systems, devices, and methods detect or classify tachyarrhythmias or make a therapy decision. A tachyarrhythmia can be classified using a rhythm discrimination parameter having a value. In certain examples, the value of the rhythm discrimination parameter can be adjusted using a relationship between a detected atrial rate and a detected ventricular rate, or the value can be adjusted using information about at least one of the atrial rate or the ventricular rate in addition to using the relationship between the atrial rate and the ventricular rate. These techniques can improve the specificity of arrhythmia detection or classification, allow anti-tachyarrhythmia therapy to be better tailored to the particular tachyarrhythmia, or provide more automatic operation making it easier for a physician to use an implantable device.
US07974683B2
A method and an apparatus for the in vivo, non-invasive, early detection of alterations and mapping of the grade of these alterations, causing in the biochemical and/or in the functional characteristics of the epithelial tissues during the development of tissue atypias, dysplasias, neoplasias and cancers is presented. The method is based, at least in part, on the simultaneous measurement of the spatial, temporal and spectral alterations in the characteristics of the light that is re-emitted from the tissue under examination, as a result of a combined tissue excitation with light and special chemical agents. The topical or systematic administration of these agents result in an evanescent contrast enhancement between normal and abnormal areas of tissue. The apparatus enables the capturing of temporally successive imaging in one or more spectral bands simultaneously.
US07974681B2
A robotic catheter system includes a controller with a master input device, and an instrument driver in communication with the controller, the instrument driver configured for independently controlling each of number of desired motions of a flexible, elongate guide instrument in a body of a patient in response to control signals generated by the controller, the desired motions selected from the group comprising axial advancement, axial retraction, axial rotation, and radial bending. Integrated haptics capability may be provided, in which one or more motors provide tactile feedback to an operator through the master input device.
US07974678B2
A catheter for magnetic navigation in the human body, has a magnet arranged in the catheter tip in order to move a catheter to the desired position in the body by interaction with an external magnetic field, and has a number of separated electromagnets, that can be controlled independently of one another, distributed along the length of the catheter body.
US07974670B2
A method of processing skin surface observation measuring data which is able to address various sicknesses and reduce an error in sickness detection, and a measuring apparatus requiring no filter. The measuring apparatus an irradiator applying a white light to a biological surface as a sample, a detector detecting the spectra of the white light reflected off a plurality of positions on the biological surface, a plotter plotting the absorbances of the above spectra to a light spectrum multi-dimensional space, an analyzer subjecting data in the spectrum multi-dimension space obtained from the plurality of positions to multivariate analysis to determine the eigenvectors of at least first, second and third principal components, and a display projecting data at respective positions in respective eigenvector directions to display their magnitudes on a two-dimension display screen on a gray scale or in colors corresponding to the magnitudes; and a measuring method by the apparatus.
US07974661B1
Aspects provide a computer-readable medium for accessing computer applications and application data on a computer operating in a low-power state utilizing a wireless device and providing the requested information in a usable format over a short-range communications link. According to one aspect, a computer-readable medium causes a computer to receive a request for data over a short-range wireless link. If the computer is in a standby state, a low-power state is initiated, a software component is executed to receive the request, retrieve the data, format the data for display on the wireless device, and send the data to the wireless device. If the computer is in a hibernation mode, a pre-boot application is executed to retrieve, format, and send the stored data to the wireless device or to initiate a low-power or power-on state and forward the request to a software component for retrieving the requested data.
US07974660B2
A housing assembly (100), used, e.g., in a mobile electronic device (300), includes a housing body (10) and a display unit (20). The housing body defines a display opening (110). The display unit contains electronic ink. The display unit is received in the display opening and is configured for providing information and/or graphics. The housing body moldingly receives the display lens therein, via an injection molding process.
US07974651B2
A method and system for dynamically triggering re-connection of a TDMA-capable radio to a TDMA-based talk group via a TDMA site. The dynamic re-connection is triggered by the group call controller when an initial request for connection to the TDMA-based talk group is made through an FDMA site by the TDMA-capable radio.
US07974648B2
A transmitter (1) applies current from a power supply node to a ground node in synchronization with only a rise of an input signal and transmits a transmission signal including an RF pulse signal to a receiver (2). The receiver (2) applies current from a node (231) on which precharge is performed to a ground node only at the reception of the RF pulse signal, decreases the potential of the node (231) from a precharge potential Va to 0 V, and outputs an H-level output signal by detecting the decreased potential 0 V. After receiving the RF pulse signal, the receiver (2) performs precharge to change the potential of the node (231) to the potential Va.
US07974646B2
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate sending a network initiated USSD message via a mixed network to user equipment. An application server component can communicate to user equipment. A location component can aggregate location data associated with the user equipment, wherein the location component can utilize the last known location data to send a network initiated USSD message to the user equipment via a mixed network.
US07974644B2
For use in a wireless network, a base station that reduces the call set-up time for a time-sensitive application. The base station comprises a message controller for receiving an incoming control message that initiates the time-sensitive application in a mobile station. In lieu of a conventional page message, the message controller transmits a short data burst message to the mobile station to initiate the time-sensitive application. The short data burst message is transmitted in a forward control channel. The mobile station completes the set-up by transmitting back an L2 Acknowledgment message in lieu of a conventional page response message.
US07974640B2
Several techniques for locating wireless devices involve the Mobile Stations (MS) making measurements of the signals transmitted by geographically distributed base stations within a wireless network. If some key site information is known about these transmitters, such as the transmitter location, transmit signal power, signal propagation, and transmit signal timing, measurements of these transmit signals by a MS can be used to determine the position of the MS. An automatic method to detect transmitters, identify key transmitter information, and utilize the base station transmit signals to perform location is presented. In addition, this method facilitates the use of cell site transmit signals that are part of multiple wireless networks.
US07974639B2
For a call flow to perform position determination, a network sends to a user equipment (UE) an indication (e.g., a request for permission) to perform a position fix for the UE. The UE responds by sending to the network an acknowledgment (e.g., a grant of permission) to perform the position fix. The UE selectively sends a position estimate for itself to the network, typically along with the acknowledgment. The network may initiate location processing if (1) a location estimate is not received from the UE or (2) a location estimate is received from the UE but the network decides not to use this location estimate. In this case, the network and the UE perform location processing to obtain a position fix for the UE. However, if a location estimate is received from the UE and the network decides to use the location estimate, then the location processing is bypassed or short circuited.
US07974633B2
A system and method for determining a position of a wireless mobile device. The method comprising the steps of providing one base station in communication with the mobile device, providing a sensor spaced apart a known distance from the base station, and determining the range between the mobile device and the base station. The time of arrival of a signal transmitted from the mobile device is measured at the sensor and a set of coordinates is calculated for the mobile device relative to the sensor as a function of the known distance from the sensor to the base station, the range between the mobile device and the base station, an estimate of base station transmission timing relative to a time source, and the time of arrival. One of the set of coordinates may then be chosen to thereby determine a position of the mobile device relative to the sensor.
US07974618B2
A system configured to originate telecommunications services is provided. The system includes a cellular gateway server (GS-C) communicating with a network gateway server (GS-E) located in an enterprise network via a signaling connection. The GS-C is configured to prepare the GS-E for an upcoming communication. The GS-E is configured to receive originator and destination data from the GS-C and is further configured to initiate a route based on the destination data prior to completion of a route from the originator through the GS-C.
US07974614B1
A system and method for merchandizing content to wireless subscribers that have upgraded their mobile station or service is disclosed. The wireless carrier maintains a database of identifying data for content downloaded to subscribers' mobile stations. When a subscriber upgrades his or her mobile station the wireless carrier searches the database for previously downloaded content, identifies the equivalent content that is compatible with the new mobile station and provides the information of available equivalent downloads to the mobile station.
US07974612B2
A method for transmitting a phone number stored in a first mobile communication terminal to a second mobile communication terminal is provided. The method comprises selecting a phone number stored in a database in the first mobile communication terminal, by way of interacting with a user interface of the first mobile communication terminal; creating a short text message to be transmitted to the second mobile communication terminal; inputting the selected phone number in the short text message, as a single entry, by way of interacting with the user interface of the first mobile communication terminal; and transmitting the short text message to the second mobile communication terminal, wherein a user of the second mobile communication terminal upon receipt of the short text message interacts with the second mobile communication terminal to select the phone number in the short text message, as a single entry.
US07974611B2
A method, apparatus and software is disclosed for managing a call in a telecommunications network, in which an instruction from a calling device to establish a call to a destination is received; a first command to connect a first call leg to the calling device is issued; the first call leg to the calling device is connected; a second command to connect a second call leg to the calling device is issued; the second call leg is connected to the destination instead of the calling device; and the first and second call legs are connected to provide the call between the calling device and the destination.
US07974608B2
Wireless networks and methods are disclosed that provide for anonymous call blocking in wireless networks. A wireless network of the invention includes an MSC system and an HLR system. When a calling party initiates a call to a called party, the MSC system receives the call and generates a call setup message for the call. The call is anonymous, so the call setup message does not include caller ID information for the calling party. The MSC system receiving the call transmits the call setup message to the HLR system. The HLR system determines if the call setup message includes caller ID information, and determines if the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking. Responsive to determining that there is no caller ID information in the call setup message and that the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking, the HLR system instructs the MSC system to block the call.
US07974606B2
A system and method for configuring devices for wireless communication are disclosed. A method may include transmitting an activation key from an activation broker to a wireless agent. The method may also include transmitting the activation key from the activation broker to a wireless registrar. At least one of the transmission of the activation key to the wireless agent and the transmission of the activation key to the wireless registrar may include transmitting the activation key via a short-range wireless communication technology. In addition, the activation key may include information for authenticating wireless communication between the wireless agent and a wireless access point.
US07974605B2
Systems and methods for processing personal communications wherein one embodiment comprises a communication processing system which has a data processing system that receives communications from a user. The data processing system authenticates the received communications, selects one of a plurality of actions for processing the communication item, and processes the communication item according to the selected action. The communication includes one or more communication items which may be voice data, text data, or some other form of information. The data processing system may receive communications from devices such as cellular phones and may also transmit generated results to users' phones. The processing performed by the system may, for example, include storing, forwarding or distributing communication items to multiple recipients, converting them to text, using them to generate reminders, and so on. Generated results may be transmitted to the original caller, transmitted to other recipients, stored for later access, etc.
US07974597B2
A power amplifier system includes a first power amplifier, a second harmonic generator, a phase shifter, and first and second adders. The first power amplifier amplifies a primary input signal. The second harmonic generator outputs a second harmonic by using a split part (signal) of the primary input signal as an input. The phase shifter adjusts a phase of the second harmonic. The first adder sums together a split signal of the primary input signal and an output of the phase shifter, thereby to produce an output. The second power amplifier uses the output of the first adder as an input. The second adder sums together an output of the first amplifier and an output of the second power amplifier, thereby to produce an output.
US07974595B2
One embodiment relates to an on-chip power amplifier (PA) test circuit. In one embodiment, a PA test circuit comprises a controllable oscillator (CO) configured to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal, a parallel resonant circuit tuned to the radio frequency, a pre-power amplifier (PPA) coupled to the CO and the parallel resonant circuit, the PPA configured to amplify and drive the RF signal from an output of the PPA into a load. The test circuit may further comprise a first transmission gate configured to couple the RF signal from the CO to an input of the PPA. One testing methodology for a PA test circuit comprises stressing the PPA with an RF signal, measuring a characteristic of the PPA, determining stress degradation from the characteristic measurements, and repeating the stressing and characteristic measurements until a maximum stress degradation is achieved or a maximum stress has been applied.
US07974585B2
A method of performing a frequency correction of a radio module. Multiple samples of frequency data during a quiescent portion of the base station transmission is taken to estimate the amount of frequency correction needed. An embodiment applies the frequency data to a median filter to eliminate invalid data. Next, a new reference frequency is applied to a radio transceiver in the radio module to provide the frequency correction. If the frequency was corrected by greater than a pre-determined amount, the process performs a large shift frequency correction, including verifying that the first frequency correction was satisfactory and verifying that the radio transceiver is able to receive data after the frequency correction has been performed. If the frequency was corrected by smaller than a pre-determined amount, the process performs a small shift frequency correction, including updating a total of all frequency corrections made since a stored reference frequency was updated.
US07974580B2
An apparatus for wireless communications is disclosed including a signal generator adapted to generate a substantially periodic signal including a plurality of cycles, and a modulator adapted to modulate an amplitude, a phase or both the amplitude and the phase of the periodic signal on a per cycle basis. In one aspect, the modulator is adapted to modulate the amplitude, the phase, or both the amplitude and phase of the periodic signal with a defined modulation signal. In another aspect, the defined modulation signal includes a substantially root raised cosine signal. In yet another aspect, the defined modulation signal is configured to achieve a defined frequency spectrum for the modulated periodic signal.
US07974577B2
A communication device for supporting wireless communication between a host system and a target system and methods for manufacturing and using same. In one preferred embodiment, the communication device can include a host adapter and a wireless transceiver. When coupled with a communication port of the host system, the host adapter exchanges data signals over a virtual communication port of the host system and supports conversion between the data signals and serial data signals. The wireless transceiver converts the serial data signals received from the host adapter into outgoing wireless signals for broadcast to the target system and incoming wireless signals received from the target system into the serial data signals for transmission to the host adapter. Thereby, the host adapter, when coupled with the host system, operates as a hardware firewall, rendering the wireless transceiver invisible to the host system's operating system.
US07974574B2
The normal roles of wireless stations and wireless access points in initiating the establishment of wireless connections may be reversed without the need for changes in the network interfaces for either the station or access point device. This capability may be used to allow wireless devices acting as access points, but on which service clients operate, to initiate the establishment of a connection with a station, on which a wireless service provider operates. Discovery of services between wireless devices can be provided prior to establishing a connection between the devices. A service client device providing access point functionality may broadcast an invitation for service advertisements and then receive service advertisements from relevant service providers acting as wireless stations. An information element may be included as part of periodically broadcast administrative messages to wirelessly convey an invitation for service advertisements. In response to a service advertisement, the access point may send to the wireless station an invitation to connect, prompting the wireless station to begin to establish a connection according to a wireless communication protocol.
US07974563B2
A pressure member contacts a heating member to form a nip part where a recording material is heated and pinched-conveyed, and includes a first elastic layer and a second elastic layer 24b having a higher thermal conductivity than that of the first elastic layer. An elastic layer is formed of a combination of the first elastic layer and the second elastic layer so that the thickness of the second elastic layer at the end portion is thicker than the thickness of the second elastic layer at the center portion in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to a recording material conveyance direction. Accordingly, when using the pressure member to contact the heating member to form the nip part, it is possible to reduce the difference between a center nip width and an end-portion nip width of the nip part.
US07974556B2
A development device includes a screw conveyer to convey powder contained in a development casing in a direction along a shaft of the screw conveyer, a bearing in which the screw conveyer is inserted, a cylindrical member provided around the screw conveyer and disposed between the screw conveyer and the bearing, the cylindrical member including a flange portion that projects from the cylindrical member toward an outside diameter of the shaft of the screw conveyer, and a powder pressure disperser to reduce pressure of the powder transported by the screw conveyer provided upstream from the flange portion in a direction in which the screw conveyer conveys the toner, the powder pressure disperser provided around and extending outward in directions perpendicular to the shaft of the screw conveyer and having an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the flange portion.
US07974548B2
A developing device of the present invention has a toner supply opening in a first carrying path and in the upstream of the developer carrying direction of a first carrying screw which is further from a developing roller; and a moquette member having feathers on its surface, and being provided, along the developer carrying direction, on the first carrying path. With this arrangement, it is possible to realize a compact developing device having a simple arrangement in which the supplied toner is speedily mixed with the preexisted developer, and the stable toner which is uniformly dispersed and charged can be speedily supplied for development.
US07974547B2
A simple and cost effective method of simplifying and speeding heat exhaust plenum attachment and detachment from a machine that uses metal for exterior covers and air output grills includes placing magnetic sheeting around that portion of the plenum that mates with the back of the machine and allowing the magnetic force of the sheeting to attach the plenum to the machine. The plenum can easily be detached from the machine by overcoming the magnetic force of the sheeting.
US07974531B2
Systems for, and methods of, generating a visual representation of a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) optical network and nodes thereof. In one embodiment, a system for generating a visual representation of multiple nodes of a WDM optical network includes: (1) a connectivity, pass-through and error identifier configured to identify connectivity and any pass-throughs and termination errors with respect to at least some nodes of the WDM optical network and (2) a connectivity, pass-through and error displayer coupled to the connectivity, pass-through and error identifier and configured to generate the visual representation that indicates the connectivity and the any pass-throughs and termination errors.
US07974526B2
An electric radiant heater has a proximity sensor capable of detecting the presence of an object proximate the top surface of the heater's housing. The heater also has a temperature sensor capable of sensing ambient temperature proximate the top surface of the heater's housing. A microcontroller is coupled to the proximity and temperature sensors. Upon the detection of an object atop the heater's housing, the microcontroller determines if the temperature sensor's output is indicative of the presence of ice or snow. If so, a heating element of the heater is allowed to remain in operation. Otherwise, the detected object is considered to be potentially combustible material, and the heating element is switched off by the microcontroller.
US07974505B2
A method for fabricating selectively coupled optical waveguides on a substrate is disclosed. Initially, a first layer of waveguide material is deposited on a substrate. The first layer of waveguide material is then etched to form multiple level one waveguides and fill shapes. A dielectric layer is deposited on top of the level one waveguides and fill shapes. The surface profile of the dielectric layer deposition tracks the pattern density of the fill shapes. After the surface of the dielectric layer has been polished, a second layer of waveguide material is deposited on the substrate. At least one optically coupled waveguide structure, which is formed by a first level one waveguide and a first level two waveguide, is located adjacent to at least one non-optically coupled waveguide structure, which is formed by a second level one waveguide and a second level two waveguide.
US07974495B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus that are helpful for identifying or protecting video. One claim recites a method including: receiving data representing picture elements of video; transforming the data into a frequency domain; comparing characteristics associated with the transformed data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a first video type, and if the characteristics coincide, determining that the video is of the first video type; and if the characteristics do not coincide, comparing the characteristics of the transformed data to predetermined characteristics that are associated with a second video type, and if the characteristics coincide, determining that the video is of the second video type. Another claim recites a method including: obtaining information associated with a video; selecting a set of information from the obtained information; deriving identifying information from the selected set of information; and providing a security feature in or over data representing picture elements of the video according to the identifying information. Of course, other implementations are provided as well.
US07974487B2
The subject application is directed to a system and method for image enhancement. Image data, encoded as a plurality of pixels in YCbCr space, is first received, with Y representing a luma component, Cb representing a blue chroma component, and Cr representing a red chroma component. A maximum Y value is selected from the received image data. HSV image data is received corresponding to the YCbCr image data, with H representing a hue component, S representing a saturation component, and V representing a brightness component. A pixel is then selected from the HSV image data having a minimum S value. The S (saturation) value and the V (brightness) value of the selected pixel are then tested against a first and a second threshold level. Thereafter, a Max-RGB algorithm is selectively applied to the RGB image data in accordance with the output of the testing.
US07974485B1
Split-frame post-processing techniques are used in a programmable video post processing engine. A frame of video data is divided into a processing region and a control region that contain either different portions of the frame or copies of a portion of the frame. Post-processing operations are performed for the processing region but not for the control region. The processing and control regions are then displayed simultaneously on the same display device (e.g., side by side), facilitating visual comparisons of images with and without post-processing.
US07974483B2
The method for block coding data, such as video data, via a compression operation includes applying to input-data blocks a discrete-cosine-transform (DCT) operation and a quantization operation to produce compressed-data blocks. The compressed-data blocks are subjected to a coding operation to obtain compressed output flows; and an inverse-quantization operation and an inverse-discrete-cosine-transform (IDCT) operation are applied on the compressed-data blocks to obtain reconstructed blocks. The method includes controlling generation of mismatch errors from the input-data blocks by detecting data blocks from the input-data blocks and compressed-data blocks that are liable to cause mismatch errors, and modifying the blocks that are liable to cause mismatch errors prior to the coding operation.
US07974467B2
An image-taking system includes an image-taking device which takes an image of a subject; a flashing device which emits a flash to the subject; an illumination device which has a surface positioned opposite the image-taking device and which illuminates the subject interposed between the image-taking device and the surface with light emitted from the surface. The system further includes a background replacement device which acquires a plurality of images of the subject taken by the image-taking device under a respective plurality of image-taking-light conditions created by the flashing device and the illumination device, discriminates between the subject and a background in a taken image based on the acquired images, and replaces the background with another background.
US07974461B2
A method, computer program product, and apparatus for displaying a calculated geometric entity within at least one 3D range data set obtained using a 3D rangefinder device. At least a first 3D range data set is provided. Each 3D range data set is displayed as at least one displayed image. A calculated geometric entity selected from the group consisting of a vector, a surface, and a volume, is specified. The calculated geometric entity may be displayed merged within at least one displayed image.
US07974459B2
A system for the characterization of webs that permits the identification of anomalous regions on the web to be performed at a first time and place, and permits the localization and marking of actual defects to be performed at a second time and place.
US07974437B2
Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for embedding and/or extracting data from images. In embodiments, an image may be segmented into regions, and characters or other image groups within a segmented region may be determined to be embedding sites. A data vector may be embedded into a set of corresponding ordered embedding sites by representing each data element as different intensity values assigned to the pixels within one portion of an embedding site relative to the pixels in another portion of the embedding site. In embodiments, embedded data may be extracted from an image by extracting and decoding a set of bit values from a set of identified and ordered embedding sites.
US07974431B2
A speaker system of the present invention comprises a cabinet, at least one speaker unit attached to the cabinet, and a plurality of passive radiators attached to the cabinet and each including a diaphragm and a supporting system supporting the diaphragm. The speaker system of the present invention is configured so that distortion components of sound pressures radiated from the supporting systems of the plurality of passive radiators are canceled with each other, and sounds radiated by the plurality of passive radiators are radiated in substantially the same direction from the cabinet.
US07974430B2
In order to automate a microphone assembly process including a dust-proof treatment, an object of the present invention is to provide a dust-proof microphone having a configuration suitable for automated assembly.According to the present invention, a microphone has a plate-like or film-like dust-proof section that is disposed in a conductive housing (capsule) having a sound aperture and covers the sound aperture. The dust-proof section has a plurality of pores at least in a region corresponding to the sound aperture, and the dust-proof section further has a nonporous region. In the case of an electret condenser microphone, from the viewpoint of performance of the microphone, the dust-proof section is conductive. In addition, taking into account a soldering in a reflow furnace, the dust-proof section is heat-resistant. Each pore is desirably designed taking into account the environment for the usage of the microphone. However, if it is supposed that the microphone is used near one's mouth, each pore has an area of 0.01 mm2 or less. In addition, to enhance the dust-proof effect, the pores may be subjected to a water-repellent treatment.
US07974424B2
A speaker array system for outputting, with a simplified construction, sounds audible with a nearly uniform sound volume within an arbitrarily set area. The speaker array system includes a speaker array having speaker units, a delay unit for supplying the speaker units with delayed audio signals generated by adding delays to an input audio signal, an input unit for inputting area information representing a target area to which an acoustic service is provided using an acoustic beam emitted from the speaker array and which has a normal line extending in a direction different from a normal direction of a speaker surface of the speaker array, and a control unit for calculating delays to be applied to the delay unit. Based on the delays, acoustic waves output from adjacent ones of the speaker units toward the target area are made coincident with each other and an envelope is more distorted from a spherical surface so as to face the target area as the envelope propagates closer to the target area.
US07974418B1
Audio loudspeaker and headphone virtualizers and cross-talk cancellers and methods use separate virtual speaker locations for different Bark frequency bands and a single reverberation filter for multi-channel virtualizer inputs.
US07974412B2
A communication system includes a transmission device that transmits an information signal having information defined as a binary state value, the transmission device including a signal generation unit that generates an information decryption signal to transmit the information decryption signal together with the information signal, wherein the state value of the information decryption signal is unchanged when the state value of the information signal is changed, whereas the state value of the information decryption signal is changed when the state value of the information signal is unchanged; and a reception device that receives the information signal and the information decryption signal, the reception device including an information acquisition unit that acquires the state value of the information signal based on a changing timing of the state value of each of the information signal and the information decryption signal received.
US07974394B1
A method of filtering telecommunication service includes receiving a call that includes a call identifier. The method also includes determining a filter status of the call and transmitting a notification message to a remote node. The notification message identifies the call identifier and the filter status of the call.
US07974393B2
A method and apparatus for providing a telecommunication service is disclosed wherein a call associated with a first prepaid services account identifier is received from a user. An offer is provided to the user to initiate a replacement service for the first prepaid services account identifier and, upon receiving an indication of an acceptance of the offer from the user, a replacement codeword associated with the first prepaid services account identifier is established. The call associated with the first prepaid services account may be any type of communication, including a telephone call, a message delivered via the internet, or any other voice or data message. Upon receipt of the codeword from the user, a second prepaid services account identifier is established and, in one implementation, the first prepaid services account identifier is deactivated.
US07974389B2
A method of providing 911 service to a private branch exchange, includes grouping a plurality of private telephone numbers into a set. An outgoing telephone line for a 911 call is assigned to the set. A location information for the outgoing telephone line is input into a location database.
US07974385B2
An apparatus integrates disparate systems. The apparatus includes a platform that supports a control interface. The platform also supports a different user interface for each of the disparate systems. The platform enables the formatting and transfer of data from the apparatus to each of the disparate systems.
US07974384B2
An x-ray tube includes a vacuum enclosure, a shaft having a first end and a second end, a flange attached to the first end of the shaft, the flange having an outer perimeter, and a ferrofluid seal assembly having an inner bore, the inner bore having an outer perimeter smaller than the outer perimeter of the flange. The shaft is inserted through the bore of the ferrofluid seal assembly such that the ferrofluid seal assembly is positioned between the first end of the shaft and the second end of the shaft and such that the first end extends into the vacuum enclosure, and the ferrofluid seal is configured to fluidically seal the vacuum enclosure from an environment into which the second end of the shaft extends.
US07974377B2
A method includes inserting a first x-ray detector between a second x-ray detector and an object.
US07974375B2
A linear phase detector includes an up/down pulse generator operating in response to received data signals and a recovered clock signal. The phase detector generates up and down pulses that have pulse widths proportional to the phase differences between transitions of the received data signals and edges of the recovered clock signal. By generating up and down pulses using a linear phase detector in proportion to a phase error, data signals are effectively recovered, even data signals with significant jitter.
US07974370B2
A system and method is disclosed for providing single antenna interference cancellation processing with minimum latency. Incoming data frames are processed to generate a plurality of parallel data streams which are then further processed using a parallel single antenna interference cancellation algorithm to reject the signals and to generate a data stream containing only the desired symbols. In various embodiments of the invention, the parallel data streams are processed using a parallel arithmetic logic unit that is capable of operating in single-cycle mode in response to a first control stream and a multi-cycle mode in response to a second control stream. Embodiments of the invention comprise a three port memory interface operable to receive the parallel data streams and to generate a virtual three-dimensional data structure therefrom. In some embodiments of the invention, the virtual three-dimensional data representation comprises a plurality of segmented matrices, with the segmented matrices comprising data corresponding to portions of the incoming data frames. Data elements within the individual segments of the virtual three dimensional data structure can be calculated using data elements contained in a predetermined row and predetermined column of a segment.
US07974367B1
The present invention provides for receiving a radio frequency signal which encodes transmitted data, and for outputting data corresponding to the transmitted data. The radio frequency signal is received and converted to inphase and quadrature data. Phase information is extracted from the inphase and quadrature data. A symbol timing for the radio signal is determined based on the extracted phase information. The transmitted data encoded within the radio frequency signal is detected and processed based on the determined symbol timing. Data is output based on the detected and processed transmitted data. Since symbol timing is determined based on phase information, in the phase domain, a radio frequency receiver can be constructed with a lower complexity and a simpler structure.
US07974358B2
An orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system provided for communication includes an OFDM transmitter and an OFDM receiver. The OFDM transmitter may be configured to transmit OFDM signals through a communication channel and may include a channel encoder configured to encode a plurality of information bits and an interleaver configured to interleave the channel-encoded information bits. The OFDM transmitter may also include a mapper configured to map the interleaved channel-encoded information bits into mapped multi-level symbols. The OFDM transmitter may also include a dispersive encoder that is configured to dispersively encode the mapped symbols. The OFDM receiver may be configured to receive the transmitted OFDM signals and to decode the received OFDM signals iteratively based on soft decision methods.
US07974355B2
A method and apparatus for generating a permutation for forward link hopping is provided, comprising initializing permutation constants, determining a value for p such that i is less than 2p wherein i is a first counter, initializing a second counter j to ‘0’, setting x to i+1 wherein x is index of elements of an array A, clocking a Pseudo-noise (PN) register n times to generate a pseudorandom number, setting x to p Least Significant Bits (LSB) of the pseudorandom number, incrementing j by 1, determining if x is greater than i, setting x equal to x−i, if x is greater than i, swapping the ith and xth element in the array A, decrementing counter i by 1, and mapping a set of hop-ports to a set of sub-carriers based upon the generated hop-permutation.
US07974350B2
In estimating propagation path in an OFDM receiver in an OFDM communication system, a CIR estimation unit estimates a group of impulse responses of a propagation path, a valid-impulse discriminator selects impulse responses (CIR), which are greater than a predetermined threshold value, from the impulse-response group, and a propagation path estimation unit generates a matrix expression using a CIR estimation vector that includes the selected CIRs as elements, a matrix S, which is decided based upon number N of points of an IFFT used in OFDM modulation and number Nc of subcarriers used in actual transmission, and a propagation-path response vector, obtains the propagation-path response vector by solving this matrix expression and estimating the propagation path.
US07974346B2
A predictive video coder performs gradient prediction based on previous blocks of image data. For a new block of image data, the prediction determines a horizontal gradient and a vertical gradient from a block diagonally above the new block (vertically above a previous horizontally adjacent block). Based on these gradients, the encoder predicts image information based on image information of either the horizontally adjacent block or a block vertically adjacent to the new block. The encoder determines a residual that is transmitted in an output bitstream. The decoder performs the identical gradient prediction and predicts image information without need for overhead information. The decoder computes the actual information based on the predicted information and the residual from the bitstream.
US07974340B2
The present application is directed to techniques and tools for adapting the quantizer as well as the quantization step size used during video encoding. For example, a video encoder uses a non-uniform quantizer (having a relatively large dead zone ratio) for B-picture types, but uses a uniform quantizer for other types of pictures. In many encoding scenarios, this helps the encoder control bit rate for the B-picture types instead of resorting to higher quantization step sizes, which improves overall quality for the B-picture types.
US07974334B2
Embodiments provide systems and methods for a novel multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) equalization technique that produces a channel matrix that contains partly real coefficients and partly complex coefficients, referred to herein as a hybrid-MIMO equalization. MIMO detectors can exploit the hybrid-MIMO equalization to reduce complexity. Some embodiments provide systems and methods for equalizing a communication channel comprising receiving as an input a channel output vector, dividing the input into two vectors, a first vector that remains a complex number and a second vector that contains only real numbers, separating the second vector into its real and imaginary components, and regrouping the first and second vectors into a hybrid channel output vector that contains both real and complex coefficients.
US07974333B2
A semiconductor apparatus includes a signal source 7 that outputs a signal of predetermined frequency, a frequency divider 15 that receives the output signal of the signal source and is capable of switching the output signal to two or more frequency division ratios, a delta-sigma modulator 16 that controls the frequency division ratio of the frequency divider, and a bandpass filter 17 that receives an output of the frequency divider. The frequency of the input signal of the frequency divider is divided by the frequency division ratio controlled by the delta-sigma modulator, and quantization noise appearing in the output of the frequency divider generated by the delta-sigma modulator is attenuated with the bandpass filter. The semiconductor apparatus easily can convert a signal output by a single signal source to a signal of predetermined frequency and supply a plurality of signals of predetermined frequency using a simple configuration with reduced chip size.
US07974327B2
A surface emitting laser element array comprises a plurality of surface emitting laser elements (15) on a same substrate (1) each comprising a mesa post formed of a laminated structure including an active layer (4) for reducing a crosstalk between the surface emitting laser elements constituting the surface emitting laser element array, and for improving a high speed response, wherein each of the surface emitting laser elements (15) comprises a first electrode (9), a second electrode (10) and a third electrode (11) that have a polarity different from that of the first electrode (9); the first electrode (9) is arranged on the mesa post; the second electrode (10) is arranged on one surface of the substrate (1) same as that of the first electrode (9); the third electrode (11) is arranged on the other surface of the substrate (1) opposite to that of the first electrode and the second electrode (9, 10) and is provided as a common electrode of the surface emitting laser elements (15); and an electric current is applied to the active layer (4) using the first electrode (9) and the second electrode (10).
US07974325B2
Apparatus and methods for generating radiation via difference frequency generation (DFG). In one exemplary implementation, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) has a significant second-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ(2)) integrated in an active region of the QCL. The QCL is configured to generate first radiation at a first frequency ω1, second radiation at a second frequency ω2, and third radiation at a third frequency ω3=ω1−ω2 based on difference frequency generation (DFG) arising from the non-linear susceptibility. In one aspect, the QCL may be configured to generate appreciable THz radiation at room temperature.
US07974322B2
A nitride semiconductor laser device includes: a substrate made of silicon in which a plane orientation of a principal surface is a {100} plane; and a semiconductor laminate that includes a plurality of semiconductor layers formed on the substrate and includes a multiple quantum well active layer, each of the plurality of semiconductor layers being made of group III-V nitride. The semiconductor laminate has a plane parallel to a {011} plane which is a plane orientation of silicon as a cleavage face and the cleavage face constructs a facet mirror.
US07974321B2
The invention is directed to a method and an arrangement for stabilizing the average emitted radiation output of a pulsed radiation source. It is the object of the invention to find a novel possibility for stabilizing the average emitted radiation output of a pulsed radiation source which enables a reliable regulation even when there is no sufficiently reliable manipulated variable for influencing the emitted pulse energy (Ei). According to the invention, this object is met in that the individual pulse energy (Ei) of the current radiation pulse is measured, the deviation of the current individual pulse energy (Ei) from a previously determined target value (E0) is determined, and the pulse interval (Δti+1) preceding the triggering of the next radiation pulse is controlled depending on the magnitude of the deviation between the current individual pulse energy (Ei) and the target value (E0) of the pulse energy.
US07974317B2
A method for controlling the voltage of signals used to control power amplifiers is described. A first multiplexer and a second multiplexer are set to an enabling signal. The first multiplexer is on a first integrated circuit and the second multiplexer is on a second integrated circuit. A command is written to the first multiplexer to set the first multiplexer to one of a plurality of control signals used to control a power amplifier. A command is written to the second multiplexer to select one of the plurality of control signals that maps to the first multiplexer. The second integrated circuit is connected to a power supply.
US07974316B2
In a digital broadcasting signal receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus, a recorded program can be immediately reproduced without performing complicated operations. Only a desired program and information related to the desired program are separated to be extracted from the digital broadcasting signal. Then, the separated/extracted broadcasting signal is supplied to a recording/reproducing apparatus. In the recording/reproducing apparatus, the supplied broadcasting signal is recorded, and the recorded program can be immediately reproduced without complicated manipulating operations during the signal reproducing operation.
US07974315B2
A router is provided including a line card (LC), an active master board (AMB), a standby master board (SMB) and a LC for implementing a simple synchronization of a link state database (LSDB).
US07974312B2
A packet data structure comprising a compressed medium access control (MAC) header structure capable of significantly reducing MAC header overhead for small payload applications, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and interactive gaming and to increase the capacity of such applications. In various implementations, the packet data structure may be used in mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) systems designed to operate in accordance with the Institute for Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) standards such as the 802.16e-2005 standard and/or the evolving IEEE 802.16m standard. Various embodiments are described and claimed.
US07974301B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a network element that is configured to be associated with a network having a number of nodes. The master node is configured to communicate with a number of nodes and allocate bandwith therebetween by sending outgoing signals and receiving incoming signals over a transmission medium. The master node is further configured to adaptively account for hidden nodes with which the master node cannot bi-directionally directly communicate by communicating at least one signal with at least one proxy node. Other methods and network elements are disclosed.
US07974297B2
An embodiment is a technique to perform queue management. A packet is received from an upper layer or a classifier in a multi-hop mesh network. The packet has a packet type classified by the classifier. The received packet is enqueued into one of a plurality of buffers organized according to the packet type.
US07974293B2
A system 10 for distributing content includes a content provider 12 that provides content through various devices including a satellite 26 or a terrestrial-based system 38. The content provider 12 provides content to a content distribution system 70 within a vehicle 60. The method associated with the system includes generating a request for a list of content from a terminal, providing a list of content to a terminal, selecting a selection from the list of content, transcrypting or transcoding the content, streaming the content corresponding to the selection to the terminal and displaying the content on the terminal.
US07974290B2
Provided is a TDMA (time division multiple access) PON (passive optical network) OLT (optical line terminal) system for a broadcast service, including packet processor determining information according to types of frames (unicast, multicast, and broadcast frames) and a switch output port using header information (an IP address of a packet header, MAC (medium access control) addresses of Ethernet frames, and the like) of data received from an external node or the ONT (optical network terminal) and attaching the information to header parts of the frames to generate second data, a switch copying the second data by a predetermined number of times according to a transmission method and transmitting the second data to a corresponding destination output port according to the identification codes, M TDMA PON MAC processors removing the identification codes added to the second data and converting the second data into TDMA PON frames, and M optical transceivers converting the TDMA PON frames into optical signals and transmitting the optical signals to an ONT.
US07974289B2
To satisfy a quality required for each traffic and perform switching for a packet segmented into cells without packet reassembly, there is provided a node apparatus including a header processing section (2) for determining an output destination of an incoming packet and a quality class from the header information of the packet, a route table (3), and a quality description table (4), and storing the packet in an output queue (6) determined by the determined output destination and quality class, an output control section (7) for reading out a packet from the output queue in accordance with the quality set for each output queue (6) and sending out the read packet through a VC determined by the determined output destination and quality class, and a quality description table (4) which has at least a virtual dedicated network number field, a destination address/mask length field, a source address/mask length field, a fourth-layer protocol/destination port number field, and a destination port number field and in which each field is made blank when any value can be set. In the node apparatus, a packet segmented into cells and arriving from each input VC is temporarily stored in a packet queue (26) corresponding to each input VC. When the final cell of the packet arrives, 1-packet cells are moved altogether to an output queue (27) corresponding to the destination IP address contained in the start cell and output to a corresponding output VC by an output section (28).
US07974286B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for screening data packets. A determination is made as to whether a signature of a trusted security element is present in a header of the data packet in response to receiving a data packet. The signature indicates that a previous security action has been performed on the data packet. A security action is performed on the data packet based on the previous security action performed on the data packet in response to the signature of the trusted security element being present.
US07974285B2
A method of identifying an egress point to a network location in a data communications network comprising a plurality of nodes and links there between comprises the step, performed at the identifying node, of receiving a notification through the network advertising an adjacency to a network location. The method further comprises the steps, performed at the identifying node, of deriving from the notification adjacency information and identifying, from the adjacency information, the egress point.
US07974284B2
A method of handling datagrams in a network device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving an incoming datagram at a port of the network device, determining a type for the incoming datagram based on fields in the incoming datagram and a destination address, adding a tag to the datagram to assist in routing the datagram, obtaining a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) label when the datagram is a MPLS datagram, processing the datagram based on the MPLS label and the destination address and discarding or forwarding the datagram based upon the processing step. The tag is stripped from the datagram before it is sent from an egress port of the network switch.
US07974283B2
A method and apparatus of processing a multicast service flow for a headend cable modem is provided.The method of processing the multicast service flow includes: classifying an inputted multicast packet by a session; composing an internal header including multicast service flow information allocated to the classified session; and outputting an internal multicast packet including the internal header.
US07974280B2
A process for secure distribution of digital audiovisual streams according to a standard, normalized or proprietary format, on which streams a separation of the stream into two parts is made prior to transmission to equipment of an addressee to generate a modified main stream having a format of the original stream and complementary information of any format including digital information suitable to permit reconstruction of the original stream, wherein a transmission is made, by separate paths during distribution of the modified main stream from a distribution server and of the complementary information to the equipment of the addressee from a secure central server passing via at least one local server connecting the equipment of the addressee to the local server via at least one access point.
US07974279B2
A multipath data communication network structure in which probing middle-boxes send periodical probe messages through their different interfaces and subsequent routers map the probe messages through their randomly selected interfaces until each probe message arrives at a destination, engages to a loop or meets a time-to-live limit. The probing middle boxes select a random interface for each probe message and furnish their routable identification and a temporary random number correlated to the selected interface to each probe messages. Subsequent multipath routers select a random outgoing interface and random forwarding state descriptor (FSD) and temporarily correlate the selected random outgoing interface with the FSD and add the FSD to the probe message. The probe messages provide different destinations with various hidden paths. Each hidden path enables forwarding of packets from probing middle-boxes to the destination without identifying any routable address en-route to the destination. The destination then provides a data source with the hidden path. Each multipath network element only store their mappings related to the paths for limited term so that each path expires and vanishes after the term. Attackers are not issued a new path and thus denial of service attacks are shortly stopped.
US07974278B1
A communication system includes a packet switch that routes data packets between endpoint devices in the communication system through virtual channels. The packet switch includes output ports each having a link bandwidth for outputting data packets. Each virtual channel is associated with an output port and is allocated a portion of the link bandwidth of the output port. The packet switch receives a data packet identifying a virtual channel at an input port, selects another virtual channel associated with the input port, routes the data packet through the packet switch, and outputs the data packet from the packet switch by using the selected virtual channel. Additionally, the packet switch may select a reliable transmission protocol, a continuous transmission protocol, or a pseudo-continuous transmission protocol for outputting the data packet from the packet switch. In some embodiments, the packet switch modifies the data packet to indicate the selected virtual channel.
US07974277B2
Routing calls includes receiving a call request at a call manager from a first endpoint. The call request includes a uniform resource identifier that associates with a second endpoint. A determination is made whether the call request associates with the call manager that received the call request. To route the call request, the call manager searches a call search space for a match to the call request. The call manager communicates the call request to the routing target.
US07974274B2
A telecommunication system (1) provides bi-directional communication between TDM signals on one side and ATM signals on the other. An ATM aggregate (10) receives and transmits ATM signals, and a TDM interface (2) receives and transmits TDM signals. A format converter has an ATM bus (9) and a TDM bus (4) connected to their respective interfaces. Service-specific adapters (5-8) are connected between the buses.
US07974266B2
A method and methodology are provided for classifying Internet Protocol (IP) data in a packet switch network. Data may be received at a first node and classified based on source routing information of said data. The source routing information may be provided within LSRR/SSRR of IPv4 data or may be provided within a routing header of Ipv6 data.
