US07989394B2
The present invention relates to 1-(azolin-2-yl)-amino-2-aryl-1-hetaryl-ethane compounds (I) and 1-(aminothiocarbonylamino)-2-aryl-1-hetaryl-ethane compounds (II) and their salts which are useful for combating animal pest, in particular insects, arachnids and nematodes. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for combating animal pests selected from insects, arachnids and nematodes, and to agricultural compositions for combating animal pests. Furthermore, the present invention relates to veterinary compositions for combating animal pests.
US07989386B2
The invention relates to a multi-layer catalyst made from niobium for the catalytic conversion of hydrocarbons, comprising a) a support component made from a doped or undoped oxide or hydroxide of an element of the V sub-group of the periodic table, or mixtures thereof, b) a layer of a promoter compound, selected from oxygen, sulphur or phosphorus compounds of an element of the VI, VII and VIII sub-group or a phosphoxy compound and mixtures thereof and c) a layer comprising a compound of platinum metal. The invention further relates to a method for production of the catalyst and the use thereof.
US07989385B2
Improved processes for activating a catalyst system used for the reduction of nitrogen oxides are provided. In one embodiment, the catalyst system is activated by passing an activation gas stream having an amount of each of oxygen, water vapor, nitrogen oxides, and hydrogen over the catalyst system and increasing a temperature of the catalyst system to a temperature of at least 180° C. at a heating rate of from 1-20°/min. Use of activation processes described herein leads to a catalyst system with superior NOx reduction capabilities.
US07989376B2
New and improved compositions of doped fluorophosphate glasses for lasers have a high refractive index (nD) of approximately 1.6 to 1.7, high transmission in the near infrared part of the spectrum and a wide glass forming domain. These glass systems, Ba(PO3)2—Al(PO3)3—BaF2-Dopants, utilize dopants from the group of: oxides or fluorides of the rare earth elements: Sm, Eu, Nd, Er, Yb, Tm, Tb, Ho and Pr: as well as MnO; and mixtures thereof. The composition of glass includes chemical durability, efficiency of laser use in the infrared spectrum and improved duration of luminescence. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US07989373B2
Sealing materials for use with membrane supports, and in particular to sealing materials that can be used to form a glassy coating on the exterior surface of a membrane support to prevent gases from entering or exiting the support via the support's exterior walls.
US07989372B2
A molded respirator and method of making are disclosed, wherein the molded respirator is made from a porous nonwoven web containing meltblown fibers and staple fibers. The meltblown fibers may be present as a bimodal mixture of microfibers and mesofibers, and comprise an intermingled mixture with staple fibers further intermingled therein. The molded respirator may also contain at least one secondary filtration layer.
US07989369B2
The present invention is directed to articles comprising nanofibers. The nanofibers, having a diameter of less than 1 micron, may comprise a significant number of the fibers in one layer of the web contained by the article. Preferably, the nanofibers are produced in a melt film fibrillation process. The articles include diapers, training pants, adult incontinence pads, catamenials products such as feminine care pads and pantiliners, tampons, personal cleansing articles, personal care articles, and personal care wipes including baby wipes, facial wipes, and feminine wipes.
US07989368B2
A mixture contains polymer particles along with solids or fibers that can be utilized in press felts (or fabrics) for the press section of a papermaking machine and a method of making the mixtures are described.
US07989362B2
Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a hafnium lanthanide oxynitride film on a substrate for use in a variety of electronic systems. The hafnium lanthanide oxynitride film may be structured as one or more monolayers. Metal electrodes may be disposed on a dielectric containing a hafnium lanthanide oxynitride film.
US07989359B2
A semiconductor substrate having on its surface an electrode of a semiconductor device and a pattern unit is prepared. A copper plate is formed provided with a first principle surface having a bump and a second principle surface, opposite to the first principle surface, having a trench. By adjusting the position of the copper plate so that a pattern unit and the corresponding trench have a predetermined positional relation, the bump and the electrode are aligned, the first principle surface of the copper plate and a semiconductor substrate are pressure-bonded via an insulating layer, and the bump and the electrode become connected electrically while the bump penetrating the insulating layer. A predetermined rewiring pattern is formed on the side of the second principle surface.
US07989358B2
A method of preventing the formation of cracks on the backside of a silicon (Si) semiconductor chip or wafer during the processing thereof. Also provided is a method for inhibiting the propagation of cracks, which have already formed in the backside of a silicon chip during the processing thereof and prior to the joining thereto of a substrate during the fabrication of an electronic package. The methods entail either treating the backside with a wet etch, or alternatively, applying a protective film layer thereon prior to forming an electronic package incorporating the chip or wafer.
US07989353B2
Method for operating a processing system and refurbishing a ceramic substrate holder within a process chamber of the processing system are described. The method includes plasma processing one or more substrates on the ceramic substrate holder, where the processing causes erosion of a nitride material of the ceramic substrate holder. The method further includes refurbishing the ceramic substrate holder in-situ without a substrate residing on the ceramic substrate holder, where the refurbishing includes exposing the ceramic substrate holder to a plasma-excited nitrogen-containing gas in the process chamber to at least partially reverse the erosion of the nitride material.
US07989350B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a structure including a sacrificial layer and a hard mask over a substrate, performing a plasma treatment over the structure including the hard mask to form a protective layer over the hard mask, etching the sacrificial layer using the protective layer as an etch barrier, and etching the substrate using the protective layer and the patterned sacrificial layer as an etch barrier to form a recess pattern.
US07989346B2
A method of forming a resist pattern on a silicon semiconductor substrate having an anti-reflective layer thereon is described. The method includes the steps of a) modifying surface energy of the anti-reflective surface with a chemical treatment composition, b) applying a UV etch resist to the treated anti-reflective surface, and c) exposing the anti-reflective surface to a wet chemical etchant composition to remove exposed areas of the anti-reflective surface. Thereafter, the substrate can be metallized to provide a conductor pattern. The method may be used to produce silicon solar cells.
US07989336B2
A method of forming a pair of conductive lines in the fabrication of integrated circuitry includes forming a trench into a damascene material received over a substrate. Conductive material is deposited over the damascene material and to within the trench to overfill the trench. The conductive material is removed back at least to the damascene material to leave at least some of the conductive material remaining in the trench. Etching is conducted longitudinally through the conductive material within the trench to form first and second conductive lines within the trench which are mirror images of one another in lateral cross section along at least a majority of length of the first and second conductive lines. Other implementations are contemplated.
US07989330B2
After etching a polysilicon film, when a protective film made of a carbon polymer is formed on a sidewall of the polysilicon film using plasma containing carbons, a metallic material as a lower film is etched using plasma containing a halogen gas under an etching condition in which volatility is improved due to the rise in a wafer temperature or the low pressure of a processing pressure, thereby preventing a side etching and unevenness of a sidewall of the polysilicon film. Further, by using the protective film made of a carbon polymer, metallic substances scattered at the time of etching the metallic material are not directly attached to the polysilicon film, but can be simply removed along with the protective film made of a carbon polymer in an asking step.
US07989327B2
A method of manufacturing a semi-conductor on insulator substrate from an SOI substrate, wherein a Si1-xGex layer is formed on a superficial layer of silicon having a buried electrical insulating layer. A silicon oxide layer is formed on the Si1-xGex layer. The resulting stack of silicon, Si1-xGex and silicon oxide layers is etched up to the buried insulating layer leaving an island of the stack, or up to the superficial layer leaving a zone of silicon and an island of the stack. A mask is formed to protect against oxidation on the etched structure, wherein the protective mask only leaves visible the silicon oxide layer of the island. The germanium of the Si1-xGex layer is condensed on the island to obtain an island comprising a layer that is enriched in germanium, or even a layer of germanium, on the insulating layer, with a silicon oxide layer on top of it.
US07989321B2
A method is provided that allows for maintaining a desired equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) by reducing the thickness of an interfacial layer in a gate structure. An interfacial layer is formed on a substrate, a gate dielectric layer such as, a high-k gate dielectric, is formed on the interfacial layer. A gettering layer is formed on the substrate overlying the interfacial layer. The gettering layer may function to getter oxygen from the interfacial layer such that the interfacial layer thickness is decreased and/or restricted from growth.
US07989319B2
In one embodiment, semiconductor die are singulated from a semiconductor wafer by etching openings completely through the semiconductor wafer.
US07989314B2
Provided are a method of separating a metal layer and an organic light emitting diode. A method of manufacturing a flexible device and a method of manufacturing a flexible display include forming a releasing layer on a substrate, forming a metal layer on the releasing layer, forming an insulating layer on the metal layer, forming a releasable layer on the insulating layer, bonding a plastic to the releasable layer, and separating the substrate and the releasing layer at an interface therebetween to manufacture a flexible device. Since the conventional process equipment using the glass substrate can be compatibly used, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since the glass substrate has less limitation in the process temperature compared with the plastic substrate, an electric device having a superior performance can be manufactured. Furthermore, the glass substrate has good thermal/chemical stability and is less deformed compared with the plastic substrate, whereby process control such as substrate alignment becomes easy.
US07989311B2
One aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for forming a wafer with a strained semiconductor. In various embodiments of the method, a predetermined contour is formed in one of a semiconductor membrane and a substrate wafer. The semiconductor membrane is bonded to the substrate wafer and the predetermined contour is straightened to induce a predetermined strain in the semiconductor membrane. In various embodiments, a substrate wafer is flexed into a flexed position, a portion of the substrate wafer is bonded to a semiconductor layer when the substrate wafer is in the flexed position, and the substrate wafer is relaxed to induce a predetermined strain in the semiconductor layer. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.
US07989309B2
A method of forming a graded trench for a shallow trench isolation region is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate with a substrate region. The method further includes forming a pad oxide layer overlying the substrate region. Additionally, the method includes forming an etch stop layer overlying the pad oxide layer. The method further includes patterning the etch stop layer and the pad oxide layer to expose a portion of the substrate region. In addition, the method includes forming a trench within an exposed portion of the substrate region, the trench having sidewalls and a bottom and a first depth. The method additionally includes forming a dielectric layer overlying the trench sidewalls, the trench bottom, and mesa regions adjacent to the trench. The method further includes etching the substrate region to increase the depth of at least a portion of the trench to a second depth.
US07989298B1
A semiconductor device and a method of making the device are provided. The method can include forming a gate conductor overlying a major surface of a monocrystalline semiconductor region and forming first spacers on exposed walls of the gate conductor. Using the gate conductor and the first spacers as a mask, at least extension regions are implanted in the semiconductor region and dummy spacers are formed extending outward from the first spacers. Using the dummy spacers as a mask, the semiconductor region is etched to form recesses having at least substantially straight walls extending downward from the major surface to a bottom surface, such that a substantial angle is defined between the bottom surface and the walls. Subsequently, the process is continued by epitaxially growing regions of stressed monocrystalline semiconductor material within the recesses. Then the dummy spacers are removed and the transistor can be completed by forming source/drain regions of the transistor that are at least partially disposed in the stressed semiconductor material regions.
US07989285B2
Method of forming a film containing dysprosium oxide and hafnium oxide using atomic layer deposition
The use of atomic layer deposition (ALD) to form a dielectric layer of hafnium oxide (HfO2) doped with dysprosium (Dy) and a method of fabricating such a combination gate and dielectric layer produces a reliable structure for use in a variety of electronic devices. Forming the dielectric structure includes depositing hafnium oxide using atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing dysprosium oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form the thin laminate structure. A dielectric layer of dysprosium doped hafnium oxide may be used as the gate insulator of a MOSFET, as a capacitor dielectric in a DRAM, as a tunnel gate insulator in flash memories, or as a dielectric in NROM devices, because the high dielectric constant (high-k) of the film provides the functionality of a thinner silicon dioxide film, and because the reduced leakage current of the dielectric layer when the percentage of dysprosium doping is optimized improves memory function.
US07989268B2
A shape-molding structure of a memory card comprises a circuit substrate, at least one chip, and an encapsulant covering. The upper and lower surfaces of the circuit substrate have a circuit layer and a plurality of electric contacts, respectively. The chip is located on the upper surface of the circuit substrate and electrically connected with the circuit layer. The encapsulant covering is formed by using a mold to press encapsulant entering at least one encapsulant inlet provided on at least one side surface of the circuit substrate. The encapsulant covering encapsulates all the above components with only the electric contacts exposed. A trace mark of the encapsulant inlet remaining on the encapsulant covering is then cut to obtain a shape-molding structure of memory card with an smooth and intact outer appearance.
US07989267B2
Improvement in the reliability of a semiconductor device is aimed at. By heating a lead frame, after preparing a lead frame with a tape, until a resin molding is performed, at the temperature 160 to 300° C. (preferably 180 to 300° C.) for a total of more than 2 minutes in the atmosphere which has oxygen, crosslinkage density becoming high in resin of adhesives, a low molecular compound volatilizes and jumps out outside, therefore as a result, since a low molecular compound does not remain in resin of adhesives, the generation of copper migration can be prevented.
US07989266B2
A wafer of integrated circuits may be bonded to a carrier wafer using a layer of bonding material. The thickness of the wafer of integrated circuits may then be reduced using a series of grinding operations. After grinding, backside processing operations may be performed to form scribe channels that separate the die from each other and to form through-wafer vias. The scribe channels may be formed by dry etching and may have rectangular shapes, circular shapes, or other shapes. A pick and place tool may have a heated head. The bonding layer material may be based on a thermoplastic or other material that can be released by application of heat by the heated head of the pick and place tool. The pick and place tool may individually debond each of the integrated circuits from the carrier wafer and may mount the debonded circuits in packages.
US07989255B2
A method of forming an optical device comprising the steps of: providing a substrate comprising a first electrode capable of injecting or accepting charge carriers of a first type; forming over the first electrode a first layer that is at least partially insoluble in a solvent by depositing a first semiconducting material that is free of cross-linkable vinyl or ethynyl groups and is, at the time of deposition, soluble in the solvent; forming a second layer in contact with the first layer and comprising a second semiconducting material by depositing a second semiconducting material from a solution in the solvent; and forming over the second layer a second electrode capable of injecting or accepting charge carriers of a second type wherein the first layer is rendered at least partially insoluble by one or more of heat, vacuum and ambient drying treatment following deposition of the first semiconducting material.
US07989247B2
According to the present invention, an in-plane sensor comprises: a fixed structure including a fixed finger and a fixed column connected to each other, the fixed finger having a supported end supported by the fixed column and a suspended end which is unsupported; and a movable structure including at least one mass body and an extending finger connected to each other; wherein the supported end of the fixed finger is closer to the mass body than the suspended end is.
US07989243B2
A pixel structure fabricating method is provided. A gate is formed on a substrate. A gate insulation layer covering the gate is formed on the substrate. A channel layer, a source, and a drain are simultaneously formed on the gate insulation layer above the gate. The gate, channel layer, source, and drain form a thin film transistor (TFT). A passivation layer is formed on the TFT and the gate insulation layer. A black matrix is formed on the passivation layer. The black matrix has a contact opening above the drain and a color filter containing opening. A color filer layer is formed within the color filter containing opening through inkjet printing. A dielectric layer is formed on the black matrix and the color filter layer. The dielectric layer and the passivation layer are patterned to expose the drain. A pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain is formed.
US07989241B2
A method for making a liquid crystal display screen includes the following steps. Firstly, providing a base including a surface. Secondly, forming carbon nanotube structure on the surface of the base to obtain a first electrode plate preform, the carbon nanotubes of each carbon nanotube structure being oriented along the extending direction thereof. Thirdly, forming a fixing layer to cover the carbon nanotube structure, thereby obtaining a first electrode plate. Fourthly, repeating the above-described steps, thereby obtaining a second electrode plate. Lastly, forming a liquid crystal layer between the fixing layers of the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, the carbon nanotubes of the first electrode plate being perpendicular to that of the second electrode plate, thereby forming the liquid crystal display screen.
US07989239B2
A light emitting diode having high light extraction efficiency and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The LED includes a semiconductor multiple layer including an active layer; a transparent electrode layer formed on the semiconductor multiple layer; and refraction field unit embedded in the transparent electrode layer and formed of a material having a different refractive index than the transparent electrode layer. The method of manufacturing the LED includes: crystallizing and growing a semiconductor multiple layer having an active layer on a substrate; evaporating a first transparent electrode layer onto the semiconductor multiple layer; forming a plurality of grooves in the first transparent electrode layer by patterning and etching the first transparent electrode layer; and evaporating a second transparent electrode layer onto the first transparent electrode layer at an angle to the grooves to form cavities filled with air between the first transparent electrode layer and the second transparent electrode layer.
US07989228B2
A method for using a calibration standard. The method includes providing a calibration standard. In a specific embodiment, the calibration standard has a substrate, a thickness of material having an edge region; and a conformal material of uniform thickness disposed on the edge region. The standard also has an upper surface pattern having the uniform thickness provided on the edge region. The method also includes using the upper surface pattern for a calibration process on a scanning electron microscope process.
US07989224B2
A magnetic tunnel junction device comprises a substrate including a patterned wiring layer. A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack is formed over the wiring layer. A low-conductivity layer is formed over the MTJ stack and a conductive hard mask is formed thereon. A spacer material is then deposited that includes a different electrical conductivity than the low conductivity layer. The spacer material is etched from horizontal surfaces so that the spacer material remains only on sidewalls of the hard mask and a stud. A further etch process leaves behind the sidewall-spacer material as a conductive link between a free magnetic layer and the conductive hard mask, around the low-conductivity layer. A difference in electrical conductivity between the stud and the spacer material enhances current flow along the edges of the free layer within the MTJ stack and through the spacer material formed on the sidewalls.
US07989220B2
A method and kit for determining the quantity of an analyte include providing a functionalized substrate and a reagent. The functionalized substrate includes metallic nanoparticles and a plurality of substantively identical bioactive target molecules affixed to a substrate. The bioactive target molecule binds to a particular analyte. The reagent includes identical detection molecules. Each detection molecule includes a fluorophore, and binds to a particular analyte or competes with a particular analyte for binding to the target molecule. The functionalized substrate is contacted to a test sample and the reagent. The functionalized substrate and a covering solution are exposed to polarized electromagnetic waves that excite the fluorophore. A quantity of the particular analyte in the test sample is determined based on measuring polarization anisotropy of fluorescent emissions from the substrate and the covering solution.
US07989211B1
This invention relates to the development of a new Raman enhancing reagent and a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method for rapid and ultra-sensitive detection and identification of perchlorate (ClO4−) and other anions such as technetium (TcO4−), uranium and nitrate in environmental samples. The method involves the synthesis of controlled gold nanoparticles which are modified with amine functional groups such as 2-(dimethylamino)ethanethiol and N,N,N-trimethylaminethiol. These functionalized Au nanoparticles were found to be reactive with perchlorate and other anions and can be used to detect these anions by Raman spectroscopy at ultra low concentrations in complex environmental matrices. This invention overcomes the limitations of currently-available analytical techniques by offering an inexpensive, rapid, ultra-sensitive, and real-time identification and detection of perchlorate and other anions. The technique is not only sensitive but also highly specific because of the unique Raman vibrational bands of perchlorate and other anions.
US07989210B2
Methods for evaluating the likelihood that a subject will benefit from treatment with an agent for reducing the risk of a cardiovascular condition, by evaluating levels of Interleukin 1 Receptor-Like 1 (IL1RL-1) polypeptides in a sample comprising serum from the subject.
US07989209B2
Methods for chromogen separation-based image analysis are provided, with such methods being directed to quantitative video-microscopy techniques in cellular biology and pathology applications.
US07989206B2
Identified are mutants of the promoter of the Z. mobilis glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene, which direct improved expression levels of operably linked heterologous nucleic acids. These are high expression promoters useful for expression of chimeric genes in Zymomonas, Zymobacter, and other related bacteria.
US07989201B2
A promoter comprising nucleotides from positions 2489-3038 of FIG. 3.
US07989198B2
A biofunctionalized nanoelectromechanical device (BioNEMS) for sensing single-molecules in solution by measuring the variation in the mechanical displacement of the BioNEMS device during a binding event is provided. The biofunctionalized nanoelectromechanical device according to the invention generally comprises a nanomechanical mechanical resonator, a detector integral with the mechanical resonator for measuring the mechanical displacement of the resonator, and electronics connected to the detector for communicating the results to a user. A system of biofunctionalized nanoelectromechanical devices and a method for utilizing the biofunctionalized nanoelectromechanical device of the present invention are also provided.
US07989195B2
A multiphase culturing process for high density heterotrophic microalgal growth uses crude glycerol as the primary carbon source and produces ω-3 fatty acids. The process uses multiphase growth conditions that decouple the phases of increasing cell density and increasing cell size and fatty acid production. The entire process is integrated with biodiesel production.
US07989184B2
A polypeptide having a novel endoribonuclease activity; a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide; recombinant DNA having the nucleic acid therein; a transformant transformed with the recombinant DNA; a process for producing the polypeptide comprising the steps of cultivating the transformant and collecting the polypeptide from the culture; a process for producing a digest of single-stranded RNA comprising the step of reacting the polypeptide with the single-stranded RNA; and a method for the digestion of single-stranded RNA.
US07989178B2
A system combining a clonogenic differentiation assay with an instrument-based ATP bioluminescence proliferation assay to produce a standardized colony-forming stem and progenitor cell potency assay is provided.
US07989176B2
Provided is a method for screening for effective agents for the treatment of cancer which method comprises selecting a putative agent that is likely to disrupt a function mediated by a critical normal gene product, which function is required for the successful division and continued cell survival of cancer cells, and which function is not required for the successful division and continued cell survival of control cells, treating a cancer cell sample and a control cell sample with a purative agent and determining the cytotoxic effect of, and/or the growth inhibitory effect of the putative agent on these samples, and identifying an effective agent as an agent which is more cytotoxic to, and/or more inhibiting to the growth of the cancer cell sample than the control cell sample. This invention further provides an effective agent identified by this screening method and a method of treating a cancer patient with such an agent.
US07989174B2
The invention relates to the following methods [1] to [3] and to a kit for carrying out the methods: [1] a method for detecting heart disease, characterized in that the method comprises determining a free immunoglobulin kappa light chain level and/or a free immunoglobulin lambda light chain level of a specimen and comparing at least one value of the kappa chain level, the lambda chain level, and a kappa/lambda ratio with that of a healthy subject; [2] a method for detecting a complication of viral infection in a patient with heart disease, characterized in that the method comprises determining a free immunoglobulin kappa light chain level and/or a free immunoglobulin lambda light chain level of a specimen and comparing at least one value of the kappa chain level, the lambda chain level, and a kappa/lambda ratio with that of a healthy subject; [3] A method for detecting severity of heart disease, characterized in that the method comprises determining a free immunoglobulin kappa light chain level and/or a free immunoglobulin lambda light chain level of a specimen and comparing at least one value of the kappa chain level, the lambda chain level, and a kappa/lambda ratio with that of a healthy subject or a patient suffering slight heart disease.
US07989170B2
The present invention relates to a method for the detection and identification of bacterial species belonging to the genera Anaplasma/Ehrlichia and Bartonella, and also provides triggers and probes required for its application, as well as associated kits.
US07989169B2
The invention is related to a method for amplifying a methylated target nucleic acid in a sample while avoiding amplification of a non-methylated target nucleic acid by inactivating it. This is accomplished by a restriction enzyme digest after bisulfite treatment of the target nucleic acid. The invention is further related to the use of a restriction enzyme to avoid amplification of a non-methylated target nucleic acid while amplifying a methylated target nucleic acid in a sample and kits for performing the methods according to the invention.
US07989166B2
The present invention provides oligonucleotides and methods for efficient detection of target nucleic acids using rolling circle replication. In one aspect, the oligonucleotides of the invention are characteristic in that they can be circularised without an external ligation template. In another aspect, the oligonucleotides of the invention are characteristic in that they can generate a free 3′end of the target nucleic acid necessary for rolling circle replication. The oligonucleotides and detection methods of the invention are useful e.g. as research tool and for diagnosis.
US07989165B2
The present invention provides non-invasive methods for detecting, monitoring, and diagnosing skin disease and pathological skin states such as irritated skin and psoriasis. The methods include using tape stripping to analyze expression in epidermal samples, of one or more skin markers. In illustrative examples, the tape stripping is performed using pliable tape that has a rubber adhesive. Furthermore, the present invention provides methods for predicting and monitoring response to therapy for a skin disease, such as psoriasis or dermatitis. Finally, the methods can include the use of a microarray.
US07989159B2
Disclosed is a platelet additive solution (PAS) comprising a viscosity increasing agent. The use of a PAS comprising such a viscosity increasing agent, especially at concentrations effective to achieve a viscosity similar to that of blood plasma, promotes platelet recovery during extraction from pooled buffy coats and provides for easier platelet production by maintaining the red cell/platelet-rich-supernatant interface.
US07989157B2
A method for processing biological tissue used in biological prostheses includes providing a tissue procurement solution formed from a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution and a chelating agent. The tissue is transferred from the tissue procurement solution and undergoes chemical fixation. The fixed tissue is then immersed in a series of fresh bioburden reduction process (BRP) solutions to extract phospholipids. The tissue procurement solution reduces the bioburden on the stored tissue and preserves tissue architecture by minimizing tissue swelling. The tissue procurement solution further reduces calcium from the incoming water and/or tissue, and inhibits enzymes that digest the collagen matrix. The serial immersion of the tissue in the fresh bioburden solutions ensures optimal extraction of phospholipids thereby mitigating subsequent calcification of the tissue.
US07989152B2
A method for a magneto-optical photoresist. The method includes applying a magneto-optical photoresist to a surface, and patterning the magneto-optical photoresist by using a magnetic alignment. The magneto-optical photoresist is also patterned by using a photo exposure, wherein the magnetic alignment provides a photo exposure alignment for the photo exposure.
US07989135B2
A process for making a resin emulsion suitable for use in forming toner particles includes melt mixing a resin possessing acid groups at a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the resin, optionally adding a surfactant before, prior to, during, or after melt mixing the resin, and adding a basic neutralization agent and water to the resin to form an emulsion. In embodiments, the resin emulsion thus produced may be utilized to form a toner.
US07989133B2
The present invention provides a fixing liquid for fixing microparticles containing a resin to a medium, a fixing device using this fixing liquid, and an image forming apparatus comprising this fixing device. The fixing liquid of the present invention is a fixing liquid for fixing resin microparticles to a medium, and is a water-in-oil type fixing liquid comprising a continuous oil phase at least one portion of which comprises a softener for softening the resin microparticles by dissolving or swelling at least one portion of the resin microparticles, and an aqueous phase, as a separate phase, dispersed in the oil phase. As a result, the fixing liquid combines preservability during storage and drying property on a medium after application of the fixing liquid, is free of residual oily feel during application, and affords better fixing responsiveness than conventional fixing liquids.
US07989122B2
A photomask blank is for manufacturing a phase shift mask having a light-transmitting substrate provided with a phase shift portion adapted to give a predetermined phase difference to transmitted exposure light. The phase shift portion is a dug-down part that is dug down from a surface of the light-transmitting substrate to a digging depth adapted to produce the predetermined phase difference with respect to exposure light transmitted through the light-transmitting substrate at a portion where the phase shift portion is not provided. The photomask blank includes, on the digging-side surface of the light-transmitting substrate, an etching mask film that is made of a material being dry-etchable with a chlorine-based gas, but not dry-etchable with a fluorine-based gas, and serves as an etching mask at least until, when forming the dug-down part by dry etching, the dry etching reaches the digging depth. The photomask blank further includes, on a surface of the etching mask film, a light-shielding film that is made of a material mainly containing tantalum and has a thickness so as to be removable during the dry etching for forming the dug-down part of the light-transmitting substrate.
US07989115B2
A solid polymer electrolyte membrane having (a) an ion exchange material and (b) dispersed in said ion exchange material, a hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst bound to a carbon particle support, wherein the hydrogen peroxide decomposition catalyst comprises (i) polyvinylphosphonic acid and (ii) cerium.
US07989113B2
There is provided a solid oxide fuel cell module comprising a substrate with an internal fuel flow part provided therein, at least a face thereof, in contact with cells, and interconnectors, being an insulator, a plurality of the cells each made of an anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode, stacked in sequence, formed on a surface of the substrate, and the interconnectors each electrically connecting in series the cells adjacent to each other, wherein the respective cells are varied in area along the direction of fuel flow, and solid oxide fuel cell bundled modules using the same. With the solid oxide fuel cell module of a multi-segment type, according to the invention, it is possible to aim at higher voltage and to attain an improvement in power generation efficiency and current collecting efficiency.
US07989092B2
Coated cemented carbide inserts, particularly useful in fine turning of super alloys, are disclosed. The inserts are characterized by a composition of a cemented carbide of WC, about 4.0 wt-% Co to about 7.0 wt-% Co, about 0.25 wt-% Cr to 0.50 wt-% Cr, and a coercivity (Hc) of about 28 kA/m to about 38 kA/m. The coating comprises a single (Ti1-xSix)N-layer, where x is between about 0.1 and about 0.25, with a crystal structure of NaCl type and a total thickness between about 0.5 μm and about 2.0 μm with a strong (200)-texture.
US07989090B2
Certain iridium compounds which may comprise an iridium(III)-ligand complex having the general formula: (C^N)2—Ir—(N^N). (C^N) and (N^N) may each represent a ligand coordinated to an iridium atom. The iridium compounds may have a primary phosphorescent photoluminescence peak wavelength in the near-infrared (IR) range. Also, organic devices that use certain iridium compounds. The organic device may comprise an organic layer and the organic layer may comprise any of the iridium compounds disclosed herein. Also, organic devices that use certain metalloporphyrin compounds. The metalloporphyrin compounds may comprise a core porphyrin structure with four pyrrole rings. The metalloporphyrin compounds may have a primary phosphorescent photoluminescence peak wavelength in the near-IR range.
US07989084B2
A powdered metal assembly includes a mechanical part, a powdered metal part and a fastener configured to join the mechanical part and the powdered metal part. In another aspect of the disclosure, a method for manufacturing a powdered metal assembly may include the steps of positioning the mechanical part in a forming apparatus, providing a powdered metal into the forming apparatus, compressing the powdered metal to form and bond a powdered metal part to the mechanical part to form the powdered metal assembly, and removing the powdered metal assembly from the forming apparatus.
US07989083B2
To provide an acid-modified polypropylene resin which can be used for an adhesive capable of bonding a polyolefin type resin and a polar resin with sufficient force, its production process and a resin composition using it.An acid-modified polypropylene resin, which is obtained by grafting an organic acid component to a polypropylene resin, wherein the polypropylene resin is an isotactic polypropylene resin, the grafted amount X (wt %) of the organic acid component in the acid-modified polypropylene resin is within a range of from 1.0 wt % to 20.0 wt %, and the melt flow rate Y (g/10 min) of the acid-modified polypropylene resin satisfies the expression: Y≦18.5 exp(0.82X), a process for producing such an acid-modified polypropylene resin, a resin composition using it and a laminate.
US07989079B2
An exemplary insert-molded cover (10) for electronic devices includes a metallic body (11), a plastic antenna lid (12) integrally formed with the metallic body and an oxide film (12) formed on a surface (111) of the metallic body for attaching the plastic antenna lid. The present invention also relates a method for manufacturing the insert-molded cover for electronic devices.
US07989075B2
Provided is a chromium-free, low-temperature curable, metal-surface treatment composition comprising 5 to 30 parts by weight of a silane compound having an epoxy group and a silane compound having an amino group or a hydrolytic condensate thereof; 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of a vanadium compound; 0.1 to 5 parts by weight of a magnesium compound; 1 to 10 parts by weight of organic/inorganic acids; 0.05 to 2 parts by weight of a crosslinking accelerating and coupling agent; 0.01 to 1 part by weight of an antifoaming agent; 1 to 2 parts by weight of a wetting agent; and the balance of water and ethanol, based on 100 parts by weight of the total solution. In addition, a steel sheet coated with the above-described metal-surface treatment composition is low-temperature curable and provides anticorrosiveness while containing no chromium components.
US07989074B2
A polymeric material may be prepared by reacting a mixture comprising an amino functional polyorganosiloxane, polyisocyanate, and polyol. The polyol may comprise a hydroxy-functional poly(meth)acrylate. The polymeric material may be used as a coating for a substrate and may inhibit fouling on a surface exposed to aquatic conditions.
US07989064B2
The coating the tungsten powder particles with a ceramic barrier suppresses the leachability of tungsten in aqueous media. Preferably, the ceramic coating substantially encapsulates each particle of tungsten and has a thickness of at least about 30 nm and, more preferable, from about 200 nm to about 500 nm. Examples of ceramic coatings that may be used include, but are not limited to, aluminum oxide (alumina), aluminum oxyhydroxide (AlOOH), zirconium oxide (zirconia), cerium oxide (ceria), hafnium oxide (hafnia), and magnesium oxide (magnesia).
US07989062B2
A biodegradable nonwoven web comprising substantially continuous multicomponent filaments is provided. The filaments comprise a first component and a second component. The first component contains at least one high-melting point aliphatic polyester having a melting point of from about 160° C. to about 250° C. and the second component contains at least one low-melting point aliphatic polyester. The melting point of the low-melting point aliphatic polyester is at least about 30° C. less than the melting point of the high-melting point aliphatic polyester. The low-melting point aliphatic polyester has a number average molecular weight of from about 30,000 to about 120,000 Daltons, a glass transition temperature of less than about 25° C., and an apparent viscosity of from about 50 to about 215 Pascal-seconds, as determined at a temperature of 160° C. and a shear rate of 1000 sec−1.
US07989057B2
A composite material comprises a layer of fibres conjoined to a matrix, where one of the matrix and fibres comprises a first component which exhibits auxetic behaviour for loading along a first direction, and the other of the matrix and fibres comprises a second component which exhibits non-auxetic behaviour for loading along the first direction.
US07989056B2
A hydrophobic surface coating, preferably obtained by chemical vapor deposition, comprises at least an upper thin layer formed by a compound selected from the group consisting of SiCxOy:H with x comprised between 1.4 and 2 and y comprised between 0.8 and 1.4 and SiCx′Ny′:H with x′ comprised between 1.2 and 1.4 and y′ comprised between 0.6 and 0.8, so as to obtain a free surface with a low wetting hysteresis. Such a hydrophobic surface coating can be arranged on the free surface of a microcomponent comprising at least one substrate provided with, an electrode array and particularly suitable for moving drops of liquid by electrowetting on dielectric.
US07989053B2
An electroconductive diffuse reflective film is made of an electroconductive metal, wherein the electroconductive diffuse reflective film has a porous structure in which crystal grains having an average grain diameter of 50 nm or more and 1,000 nm or less are separately arranged at intervals of 10 nm or more and 800 nm or less on average.
US07989045B2
An elastic sheet structure including a fixing section, a body section perpendicularly connected to the fixing section, an elastic section, and two support sections is provided. The elastic section perpendicularly connects to the body section so that a portion of the elastic section is substantially parallel to the fixing section. Two support sections perpendicularly connect to two opposite sides of the body section. The support sections are supported by the fixing section, and are higher than the body section concurrently with respect to the fixing section. The elastic section is located between and movable with respect to the two support sections, and a top of the elastic section is higher than a top of each support section concurrently with respect to the fixing section. Further, an array type elastic sheet device using the elastic sheet structure is also provided.
US07989040B2
An insulating glass unit having a decorative pattern visible to the unaided eye. The glass unit comprises a pair of glass sheets disposed in a parallel, but spaced apart arrangement, thereby defining a gap between their respective inner surfaces. The glass unit further comprises a frame attached around the periphery of both sheets to form a sealed cavity. A first plurality of dots are disposed within the sealed cavity. Each dot of the first plurality is attached to the inner surface of one of the sheets, and has a height substantially equal to the width of the gap. A second plurality of dots are disposed within the sealed cavity. Each dot of the second plurality is attached to the inner surface of one of the sheets and has a height less than the width of the gap. The dots of the second plurality are arranged so as to form a pattern on the sheet that is visible to the unaided eye.
US07989035B2
The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds having negative dielectric anisotropy (Δ∈), which is distinguished by the fact that it has a value for the ratio γ1/Δn2 in the range 6-45 with a clearing point of >60° C. and a Δ∈ of ≦−2.3. Media of this type are particularly suitable for electro-optical displays having active-matrix addressing based on the ECB, PA LCD, FFS or IPS effect.
US07989034B2
A method for continuous atmospheric plasma treatment of an electrically insulating workpiece. The workpiece is arranged at a distance beneath at least one high-voltage electrode which extends across a direction of movement. The electrode and the workpiece are set in motion relative to one another. The high voltage being applied to the high-voltage electrode, preferably is in the form of an AC voltage. A first space situated between the high-voltage electrode and the workpiece is filled with a first atmosphere and a second space on the side of the workpiece facing away from the high-voltage electrode is filled with a second atmosphere that is different from the first atmosphere. The second space is adjacent to a back side of the workpiece. The choice of high voltage and of the first and second atmospheres is made in such a way that a plasma discharge is ignited in the second atmosphere.
US07989033B2
A method for depositing a low dielectric constant film on a substrate is provided. The low dielectric constant film is deposited by a process comprising reacting one or more organosilicon compounds and a porogen and then post-treating the film to create pores in the film. The one or more organosilicon compounds include compounds that have the general structure Si—CX—Si or —Si—O—(CH2)n—O—Si—. Low dielectric constant films provided herein include films that include Si—CX—Si bonds both before and after the post-treatment of the films. The low dielectric constant films have good mechanical and adhesion properties, and a desirable dielectric constant.
US07989025B2
A film forming method for forming a film including arranging a liquid composition on a substrate and drying the liquid composition, the liquid composition being obtained by dissolving a functional material in a solvent with a plurality of species of liquid mixed therein, is provided. The method includes: a) firstly reducing a pressure surrounding the liquid composition arranged on the substrate at a first depressurizing speed; b) increasing the pressure surrounding the liquid composition to a predetermined pressures after the step a); and c) secondly reducing the pressure surrounding the liquid composition at a second depressurizing speed, after the step b).
US07989020B2
According to a method for forming a coating system on a turbine engine component substrate that comprises a nickel-based superalloy substrate having at least one refractory metal included therein, a nickel-based layer is formed on the substrate, the nickel-based layer comprising at least one active material selected from the group consisting of elemental silicon and a silicon compound. The at least one active material is then diffused into the substrate. An yttrium-modified platinum aluminide bond coating, or a MCrAlX bond coating, may be then formed over the active material-modified nickel-based layer.
US07989019B2
A method for administering passivator to a conductor in a power transformer, comprising providing a reservoir of the passivator, wherein the reservoir is provided by adding the passivator to solid insulation prior to impregnating the solid insulation with oil, and wherein the passivator is added to the solid insulation as the solid insulation is applied to a conductor.
US07989018B2
A method for modifying a polymeric coating on an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed. The method includes application of a fluid to a wet or dry polymeric coating with and without drugs.
US07989005B2
A soft gelatin capsule and method to deliver an efficable dose of Lagerstroemia speciosa L. (marketed by Soft Gel Technologies under the trademark Glucosol™) for the assistance and maintenance of moderate weight loss through blood sugar maintenance. The product relies on the effects of corosolic acid on blood sugar levels to derive a healthy weight loss effect for Type II diabetics (non-insulin dependent) and healthy non-diabetics and the improved absorption of an oil based delivery system. The product provides safe and sustainable weight loss when combined with a restricted calorie diet and regular exercise. Its benefits include improvement of cardiovascular health, normalized blood sugar levels, and improved physical appearance with the positive psychological effects associated with successful and safe weight loss/maintenance.
US07988994B2
A capsule formulation of pirfenidone is provided that includes pharmaceutically acceptable excipients. In one embodiment, this capsule formulation is capable of sustaining desirable pharmacokinetic responses in a patient. Further provided are methods of treating fibrotic conditions and other cytokine-mediated disorders by administering pirfenidone capsules of such formulation to a patient in need.
US07988988B2
A biomedical device, such as a contact lens, has a surface linked to a polymer comprising boronic acid moieties. The boronic acid monomeric units may be derived from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a boronic acid moiety, such as a vinylphenyl boronic acid or a (meth)acrylamido phenyl boronic acid. The boronic acid moieties may be complexed with mucin, especially epithelial mucin.
US07988986B2
Compositions of cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) are disclosed that are generally in the form of an elastic, hydrophilic, water-insoluble viscous cohesive mass of material that has many important medical uses including uses as a filler for implants. The present invention also involves a process for producing such compositions.
US07988985B2
The invention is directed to a topical insect repellent with extended duration of protection and that was obtained by combining natural and organic plant essential oil compounds. The new natural repellent exhibits the longevity and repellency that is comparable to or better than N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET), a synthetic compound employed in almost all commercial formulations, while at the same time is more acceptable than DEET, which has an unpleasant odor, imparts a greasy feel to the skin, and carries certain health concerns when used on children. The inventive insect repellent, formulated in a suitable carrier repels and incapacitates flying insects and other pests, such as mosquitoes and other biting flies or insects, thus demonstrating the utility of the novel insect repellent for protecting pets and livestock as well as humans. The invention provides an effective means to repel insects, without having deleterious effects on people, pets or the environment compared with prior insect repellant formulations. The repellant formulation disclosed herein may employ natural or organic active ingredient, e.g., plant essential oil compounds.
US07988977B2
Safe and effective live vaccines against Aeromonas hydrophila of fish were created through the induction of rifampicin resistance in native Aeromonas hydrophila isolates; these including rifampicin-resistant mutants NRRL-B-50040 and NRRL-B-50041. Single immersion exposure of fish stimulated acquired immunity against virulent Aeromonas hydrophila infection.
US07988974B2
The present invention relates to fusion peptides which exhibit potent anti-retroviral activity. The fusion peptides of the invention comprise a macromolecular carrier group fused to a gp41-derived DP178 (SEQ ID NO:1) peptide corresponding to amino acids 638 to 673 of the HIV-1LA1 gp41 protein, or fragments, analogs or homologs of DP178. The invention further relates to the uses of such fusion peptides as inhibitory of human and non-human retroviral, especially HIV, transmission to uninfected cells.
US07988967B2
A human antibody or antigen-binding fragment of an antibody which specifically binds human nerve growth factor (NGF) with KD of 5 pM or less, as measured by surface plasmon resonance, wherein the antibody or fragment thereof binds human NGF with an affinity of about 2-10-fold higher than the antibody or fragment binds rat and mouse NGF. The antibodies are useful in treating pain, including inflammatory pain, post-operative incision pain, neuropathic pain, fracture pain, osteoporotic fracture pain, post-herpetic neuralgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer pain, pain resulting from burns, gout joint pain, as well as diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma, breast cancer, and liver cirrhosis.
US07988966B2
According to the invention there is provided use of an anti-TrkA antibody capable of inhibiting the binding between NGF and TrkA combined with at least one opioid analgesic for the preparation of a medicament for treating and/or preventing pain.
US07988964B2
The present invention provides immunoglobulins, particularly antibodies that bind to NOGO and neutralise the activity thereof, polynucleotides encoding such antibodies, pharmaceutical formulations containing said antibodies and to the use of such antibodies in the treatment and/or prophylaxis of neurological diseases.
US07988963B1
Novel antigen-presenting cells, including but not limited to dendritic cells, that are loaded with antigens from dead or dying cells including allogenic cell lines, and the methods for making such antigen-presenting cells are described. These loaded antigen-presenting cells induce therapeutic immune responses in humans. Such loaded antigen-presenting cells are useful in the management of cancer. Antigen-loaded dendritic cells prepared as described here can prime naïve T cells to differentiate into effector cells able to recognize multiple and/or shared tumor antigens that are expressed either on the tumor cells that are used to load the dendritic cells and/or on other tumor cells. The cytotoxic T cells generated by exposure to antigen-loaded dendritic cells prepared as described here can be used in adoptive therapy. This induction of responses against multiple antigens shared between different cells, for instance tumor cells, as described here is important as it leads to broad immune responses.
US07988957B2
A gene transfer efficiency enhancer of the present invention which contains a histone deacetylase inhibitor (especially compound (A)) as an active ingredient is capable of enhancing gene transfer efficiency in a gene transfer mediated by an adeno-associated virus vector while retaining the advantages of the adeno-associated virus vector.
US07988954B2
An aqueous hair treatment composition comprising: a) from 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition of beeswax; and b) from 0.01% to 10% by weight of the total composition of a sugar lactone.
US07988952B2
The present invention relates to the delivery of drug esters through an inhalation route. Specifically, it relates to aerosols containing drug esters that are used in inhalation therapy. In a method aspect of the present invention, a drug ester is delivered to a patient through an inhalation route. The method comprises: a) heating a composition, wherein the composition comprises a drug ester, to form a vapor; and, b) allowing the vapor to cool, thereby forming a condensation aerosol comprising particles with less than 5% drug ester degradation product. In a kit aspect of the present invention, a kit for delivering a drug ester through an inhalation route is provided which comprises: a) a thin coating of a drug ester composition and b) a device for dispensing said thin coating as a condensation aerosol.
US07988942B2
A method for recovering diluted waste sulfuric acid by extractive rectification with concentrated sulfuric acid which is re-concentrated for reutilization. Waste sulfuric acid from the nitration process is fed into a first column, optionally together with another waste sulfuric acid in a DNT washing acid, and divided into an overhead product containing nitric acid and nitro-organic compounds and a prepurified sulfuric acid in the bottom product. The prepurified sulfuric acid withdrawn from the bottom of the first column is fed to the top of a second column, into the bottom zone of which another waste sulfuric acid is fed in the form of a diluted sulfuric acid recovered from the nitric acid concentration system so the prepurified sulfuric acid from the first column is further purified in the second column and is preconcentrated along with the diluted sulfuric acid recovered from the extractive rectification of nitric acid.
US07988941B2
An economical method of preparing a large-sized graphene sheet having a desired thickness includes forming a film, the film comprising a graphitizing catalyst; heat-treating a gaseous carbon source in the presence of the graphitizing catalyst to form graphene; and cooling the graphene to form a graphene sheet. A graphene sheet prepared according to the disclosed method is also described.
US07988940B2
A process and system (18) for reducing NOx in a gas using hydrogen as a reducing agent is provided. The process comprises contacting the gas stream (29) with a catalyst system (38) comprising sulfated zirconia washcoat particles (41), palladium, a pre-sulfated zirconia binder (44), and a promoter (45) comprising at least one of titanium, zinc, or a mixture thereof. The presence of zinc or titanium increases the resistance of the catalyst system to a sulfur and water-containing gas stream.
US07988937B1
The present invention relates to a method for the volumetric decontamination of radioactive metals. The method includes the step of precipitating out radioactive gamma and beta emitting nucleotides and then recovering non-radioactive metal compounds.
US07988934B2
Relates to a carrier (1) for positioning objects (5), which are oriented in the Z direction of a coordinate system, in relation to laboratory articles. Z rods (12) comprise a Z guide (43), on a cage (10) carrying the individual drive wheel (17), on which the Z rod (12) is guided in the Z direction. Each drive wheel (17) comprises a section (41), which is tailored to the cross-section of the profiled rod (18) of the Z drive of the carrier (1), individually driven by a motor, on which the drive wheel (17) is seated so it is not rotatable and is displaceable by sliding in the Y direction. The carrier (1) is characterized in that the attack faces (40) of the profiled rods (18) for driving a drive wheel are larger than the attack faces of a profiled rod having a square cross-section but having equally large radius.
US07988932B2
The present invention provides a micro mechanical system for performing assays for determining the presence of one or more selected analytes in a sample. The device comprises of a base and a disposable strip with at least one reaction well and at least one moveable member capable of moving fluids and parts through the fluids in a defined reaction well. Reagents in the reaction chambers and or the moveable members, react with the sample to yield a physically detectable change. The moveable parts are capable of executing motions that either mix, move reaction components, exchange or systematically deliver reagents to targets in the cartridge. Sensors in the base are configured to detect and or quantify the presence of a sample in the reaction well and of analytes in the sample. The signal is converted to an output on a visual display window on the external part of the base.
US07988928B2
The present invention relates to a treatment or hydrotreatment reactor comprising at least one granular bed (12), an essentially liquid phase (L) and an essentially gaseous phase (G) present in the bottom of the reactor and separated by an interface (38), and a distribution plate (20) with at least one main chimney (32) allowing circulation of liquid phase (L) towards the bed and at least one passage (30) for feeding gas phase (G) into said bed. According to the invention, plate (20) also comprises at least one mixed chimney (34) for circulation of the liquid phase towards the bed or for feeding the gas phase into said bed.
US07988924B2
The present invention relates to a device and respective process for distribution of mixed charges comprising a flat tray in the form of a disc drained by a series of drainage tubes located above the surface of fixed beds of catalysts, capable of promoting the homogenisation and distribution of charges by means of said device.Such drainage tubes mounted in said manner have the objective of restricting and reorienting the flow of mixed charges, multiplying the points whereon they fall, principally of the liquid phase, onto said beds of catalysts. For the purpose of doing so said drainage ducts, being segments of tubes, distributed on the entire surface of said tray possess caps affixed at the upper extremity thereof impeding the direct flow of charge onto the bed of catalyst, creating a reservoir of liquid on the tray, subsequently being drained down such device in a more controlled manner.
US07988922B2
A honeycomb filter includes a honeycomb fired body having cells longitudinally disposed either end of each cell being sealed. The honeycomb filter includes an outlet-side catalyst supporting area, an inlet-side catalyst supporting area, and a catalyst unsupporting area formed between the catalyst supporting areas. A thermal conductivity of the catalyst unsupporting area is larger than those of the catalyst supporting areas. Y (%), Z (%), and X (%) satisfy the following inequalities, about 1≦Y≦about 19, (880−70Y)/9≦Z≦(825−15Y)/9 (about 1≦Y≦about 10), (330−15Y)/9≦Z≦(1375−70Y)/9 (about 10≦Y≦about 19), and X=100−Y−Z in which Y, Z, X indicate a ratio of a length of the outlet-side catalyst supporting area, the inlet-side catalyst supporting area, the catalyst unsupporting area, respectively, to an entire length of the honeycomb filter.
US07988921B2
A hexagonal-cell honeycomb catalyzer is for purifying an exhaust gas. The catalyzer comprising a support that has a plurality of cells and a purification layer that has an HC absorption layer and a three-way catalyst layer. The HC absorption layer is formed on the honeycomb-formed surface of each wall of the support. The three-way catalyst layer is formed on the surface of the HC absorption layer. Provided that the HC absorption layer has a thickness a1 and the three-way catalyst layer has a thickness b1 at a thin portion of the purification layer of which thickness is minimum and the HC absorption layer has a thickness a2 and the three-way catalyst layer has a thickness b2 at a thick portion of the purification layer of which thickness is maximum, a ratio of a1/b1 and a ratio of a2/b2 are both within a range of 1/20 to 5/1.
US07988919B2
A process for hydrogenating a sample in a pressure range below supercritical pressure values includes supplying at least a solvent of the sample to be hydrogenated by a feed pump with a constant volume rate into a flow path to create a base solution; adding the sample being dissolved into the flow path; feeding hydrogen into the flow path through a valve configured to transmit hydrogen only into a single direction; leading the dissolved sample in the presence of a catalyst through a hydrogenation reactor, where the reactor is inserted into a section of the flow path located after the hydrogen feeding position; maintaining the pressure of the reaction in a given pressure range by element of a pressure-adjusting unit, and collecting a hydrogenate formed within the hydrogenation reactor in a product receptacle connected to the end of the flow path.
US07988918B2
Substrates are provided for use in the detection, identification and analysis of biologic or chemical samples that are labeled with a fluorescent label, in which the plane of maximum fluorescence is displaced from a reflective substrate surface so that the intensity maximum of the standing wave interference pattern of incident and reflected probe radiation is enhanced. The format of the substrates includes substantially planar surfaces as well as substrates with introduced variations to the substrate surface, e.g., depressions, wells, pedestals and the like, disposed in arrays or other similar structures such that one or more fluorophore-comprising objects can be attached thereto.
US07988911B2
A method and apparatus for aerating a region exposed to a gaseous/vaporous sterilant. A catalytic destroyer and a reactive chemical unit are used to reduce the concentration of the gaseous/vaporous sterilant within the region. The reactive chemical unit includes a chemistry that is chemically reactive with the gaseous/vaporous sterilant. In one embodiment, the gaseous/vaporous sterilant is vaporized hydrogen peroxide and the chemistry of the reactive chemical unit includes thiosulfate and iodide.
US07988910B2
A method of disinfecting and wetting the inside of a building and articles therein at or about one atmospheric pressure which involves the steps of sealing the interior of the building, then conditioning the air inside of the building to a specific temperature and humidity, then heating said air and introducing any of a number of anti-bacterial agents in aqueous solution into said air until a higher specific temperature and humidity are achieved causing the air to be disinfected then optionally condensing the humid air and antibacterial agent until all of the interior surfaces are wetted and disinfected and condensing water vapor onto the interior surfaces then evaporating the liquid wetting said surfaces then condensing said vapor into a disposal tank or sewer and then condensing water again onto the interior surfaces and evaporating it then disposing of the vaporized water.
US07988907B2
A resin composition formed by blending 10 to 25 weight parts of the epoxy modified polystyrene resin (B) to 100 weight parts of the liquid crystal polyester and/or the liquid crystal polyester amide (A) and by melt-kneading the two materials, wherein the resin composition having a melt viscosity of 60 to 4000 Pa·s at a shear rate of 1000/second at a temperature which is 20° C. higher than the melting point and having a melt tension of 20 mN or more at a take-over speed of 15 m/minute, is melt within a temperature range of a melting point to the melting point +40° C., a parison P is formed by extruding it with an extrusion speed equal to or higher than 0.3 kg/minute and lower than 5 kg/minute, a pair of moldings placed so as to sandwich the parison P are closed at a predetermined mold closing pressure, and air is blown into the parison P.
US07988905B2
The invention provides a method for manufacturing a molded woody article, which includes compression molding a base material containing wood fibers, polylactic acid fibers and an inorganic filler at a temperature not less than a melting point of the polylactic acid fibers, and maintaining the molded base material at a temperature close to a crystallization temperature of the polylactic acid fibers for a desired period of time, thereby crystallizing the polylactic acid fibers. In the molding step, the base material is entirely deformed and molded into a desired shape while the polylactic acid fibers are melted, and in the crystallizing step, the polylactic acid fibers are solidified, thereby producing the molded article. In the crystallizing step, polylactic acid crystallizes rapidly and reliably utilizing the inorganic filler as a crystal nucleating agent.
US07988901B2
A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product with a cover comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane material and a dendritic polymer in a solution containing an isocyanate functionality reactive material. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent to prepare the precursor product for finishing.
US07988899B2
An exemplary method for making a soft mold is provided. A transparent substrate is provided. A to-be-solidified film is formed on the transparent substrate. A stamper and a guiding plate are further provided. The guiding plate is positioned between the stamper and the to-be-solidified film. The stamper inserts one of the through holes of the guiding plate. The first alignment mark is aligned with one of the second alignment marks. The stamper is pressed into the to-be-solidified film. The pressed portion of the to-be-solidified film is solidified to obtain a second molding surface on the to-be-solidified film. The previous steps are repeated for the stamper and the rest of the through holes of the guiding plate to obtain a soft mold having a plurality of the second molding surfaces.
US07988897B2
A manufacturing method of a synthetic resin hollow body in which a molten resin is injected for an over-molding outside a hollow molding body made of a resin provided with a hollow body and at least an opening portion to form a resin sheathing body in an integrating manner with the hollow molding body. The method includes the step of injecting the molten resin for an over-molding under the state in which the hollow molding body is partially or wholly filled with a fluid substance. The manufacturing method of a synthetic resin hollow body is capable of suppressing resin cost and operation cost and can improve decorating property.
US07988894B2
The present invention relates to methods of manufacturing multi-layered polyolefin films that provide excellent adhesion to cold seal cohesive formulations. A surface of the film is discharge-treated. It has been found that when the discharge-treated surface has at least 0.3% nitrogen functional groups, it provides an excellent cold seal receptive surface. A biaxially oriented polypropylene film made according the invention may also have a second skin layer, opposite the first layer, which may be used for metallizing, laminating, or printing.
US07988893B2
A method for fabricating a carbon nanotube yarn includes providing a plurality of carbon nanotube arrays; pulling out, by using a tool, a first carbon nanotube structure from one of the carbon nanotube arrays; pulling out a subsequent carbon nanotube structure from another one of the carbon nanotube arrays; joining a leading end of the subsequent carbon nanotube structure to a trailing portion of the carbon nanotube structure already formed by contacting the leading end of the subsequent carbon nanotube structure with the trailing portion of the already-formed carbon nanotube structure, with the contact occurring along a common lengthwise direction of the two carbon nanotube structures, thereby forming a lengthened carbon nanotube structure; repeating the pulling and the joining until the lengthened carbon nanotube structure has a desired length; and treating the lengthened carbon nanotube structure with an organic solvent.
US07988877B2
A method of making a fluorinated ether includes combining, in a polar aprotic solvent: a fluorinated alcohol represented by the formula X—Rf1CH2OH, and a fluorinated sulfonate ester represented by the formula Rf2CH2OS(═O)2Rf3, and base; and obtaining a fluorinated ether represented by the formula Y—Rf1CH2OCH2Rf2—Y. Rf1 is selected from perfluorinated C1-C10 alkylene groups having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and partially fluorinated C1-C10 alkylene groups, and derivatives thereof having catenated heteroatom(s). X represents H, F, or an HOCH2— group. Rf2 is selected from perfluorinated C1-C10 alkyl groups and partially fluorinated C1-C10 alkyl groups, and derivatives thereof having catenated heteroatom(s). Rf3 is a C1-C4 alkyl group. Y represents H, F, or an Rf2CH2OCH2— group. A variant method, useful for preparing symmetric fluorinated ethers, is also disclosed. The present disclosure also provides fluorinated ethers preparable according to the methods. Use of fluorinated ethers in various applications is also disclosed.
US07988876B2
To reduce and homogenize the thickness of a semiconductor layer which lies on the surface of an electrically insulating material, the surface of the semiconductor layer is exposed to the action of an etchant whose redox potential is adjusted as a function of the material and the desired final thickness of the semiconductor layer, so that the material erosion per unit time on the surface of the semiconductor layer due to the etchant becomes less as the thickness of the semiconductor layer decreases, and is only from 0 to 10% of the thickness per second when the desired thickness is reached. The method is carried out without the action of light or the application of an external electrical voltage.
US07988874B2
Provided are a method of fabricating a semiconductor device and synchronous pulse plasma etching equipment for the same. The method includes outputting a first radio frequency (RF) power and a control signal and outputting a second RF power. The first RF power is pulse-width modulated to have a first frequency and a first duty ratio, and is applied to a first electrode in a plasma etching chamber. The control signal includes information on a phase of the first RF power. The second RF power is pulse-width modulated to have the first frequency and a second duty ratio smaller than the first duty ratio, is applied to a corresponding second electrode among second electrodes in the plasma etching chamber, and is supplied for a time section in which the first RF power is supplied.
US07988873B2
A method of forming a mask pattern for fabricating a semiconductor device. A first region and a second region, having an intersecting third region, are defined in the semiconductor substrate. An inorganic mask layer is etched in the first region to a predetermined thickness, and etched in the second region to another predetermined thickness. While the inorganic mask layer is etched in the first and second region, an organic mask layer is exposed in the third region. The organic mask layer exposed in the third region is removed to form a mask pattern. Consequently, double exposure is performed using the organic mask layer and the inorganic mask layer, so that a fine feature size that closely follows a desired layout can be formed, damage to the organic mask layer by ashing is prevented, and adhesiveness between the organic mask layer and the inorganic mask layer can be improved.
US07988872B2
In a plasma reactor having an electrostatic chuck with an electrostatic chuck top surface for supporting a workpiece, thermal transfer medium flow channels in the interior of the electrostatic chuck, a method for controlling temperature of the workpiece during plasma processing includes circulating thermal transfer medium through the thermal transfer medium flow passages and supplying a thermally conductive gas between the workpiece and the electrostatic chuck top surface, and changing thermal transfer medium thermal conditions of thermal transfer medium flowing in the thermal transfer medium flow channels so as to change the temperature of the electrostatic chuck at a first rate limited by the thermal mass of the electrostatic chuck. The method further includes changing the backside gas pressure of the thermally conductive gas so as to change the temperature of the workpiece at a second rate faster than the first rate.
US07988868B2
A method is provided for both dewatering and drying solid-liquid mixtures and a device is provided designed as a filter press drier for the application of the method. The filter press drier is equipped with a defined number of metal heating chamber filter plates (1) and/or membrane heating chamber filter plates (2) arranged next and/or in parallel to one another. The method includes feeding of the suspension, draining off the filtrate while retaining the solid components as a filter cake at the same time, heating of the filter cake, pressing of the filter cake formed during the dewatering, drying of the filter cake by evacuating the vapor space (4) and the interconnected pore volume in the filter cake, filling of the vapor space (4) and the interconnected pore volume in the filter cake with air or an inert gas to an excess pressure of up to 1 bar, where a resting phase is initiated in drying, and the filter cake is again heated, repeating the drying and filling steps until the intended degree of drying is reached, switching off the heating circuit and terminating the membrane pressing an removing the dried filter cake. A surprising increase in the rate of drying is achieved.
US07988866B2
In a process for treatment of powdery fumed silica, fumed silica to be discarded is collected by dispersing the fumed silica in water. Disclosed is a method for treatment of a fumed silica-containing wastewater collected in the process. The method comprises the steps of: adding an inorganic coagulant containing a metal to a fumed silica-containing wastewater in an amount of 15 to 300 mg/l. in terms of the metal, wherein the wastewater is either a wastewater containing fumed silica at a concentration of 0.05 to 3.0% by mass or a wastewater whose fumed silica content is adjusted to 0.05 to 3.0% by mass; and adding an organic polymeric coagulant to the mixture.
US07988862B2
A treatment device is for magnetically treating liquid in a liquid container including a plurality of figurines configured to define a container holder to receive the liquid container. At least one permanent magnet is associated with the plurality of figurines to generate a magnetic field within the liquid in the liquid container.
US07988861B2
A method of preparing a solid material based on tangled nanotubes and/or nanofibers, includes a step of growing carbon nanofibers and/or nanotubes with restraint in a contained reactor; and the materials thus obtained. The different uses of the materials are also disclosed.
US07988856B2
The present invention relates to wastewater treatment in general and to methods of controlling odors and degrading compounds contained in wastewater in particular.
US07988854B2
A dialysate regeneration chamber is provided. In one embodiment, the dialysate regeneration chamber may include a toxin trap configured to selectively trap toxins and repel select cations.
US07988853B2
A water treatment apparatus includes a frame and a plurality of connecting accessories, manifolds and filter cartridges. Each of the connecting accessories includes a seat ring fixed on the frame and a communicating pipe coaxially received in the seat ring. The seat rings together with the communicating pipes are spaced at a distance from one another. Each of the manifolds is suspended between adjacent two of the connecting accessories and has inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends. The inlet and outlet ports of each of the manifolds are rotatably and coaxially received in adjacent the seat rings respectively with their exterior walls in contact with inner walls of adjacent the seat rings and their interior walls in contact with outer walls of adjacent the communicating pipes. Additionally, the filter cartridges are detachably joined to the manifolds respectively.
US07988852B2
A water treatment assembly includes a housing having a plurality of water treatment component interfaces. The water treatment assembly also includes a plurality of water treatment components selected from a group of a particulate filter component, a taste and odor filter component, a lead and mercury filter component, a water softener component, and a water disinfection component, wherein each of the water treatment components are coupled to a respective one of the water treatment component interfaces. Plumbing lines provide flow communication between the components, and the plumbing lines include a system water inlet and a system water outlet.
US07988845B2
An integrated lancing and measurement device is provided comprising a sensor designed to determine the amount and/or concentration of analyte in a biological fluid having a volume of less than about 1 μl. A piercing member is adapted to pierce and retract from a site on the patient to cause the fluid to flow therefrom, and the sensor is positioned adjacent to the site on the patient so as to receive the fluid flowing from the site to generate an electrical signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in the fluid. The sensor is comprised of a working electrode comprising an analyte-responsive enzyme and a redox mediator, and a counter electrode. An analyte monitor is operatively connected to the sensor and adapted to measure the signal generated by the sensor. Also provided are analyte measuring methods that optionally employ the integrated lancing and measurement device.
US07988842B2
A continuous copper electroplating method wherein copper is continuously plated on a workpiece to be placed in a plating vessel accommodating a copper sulfate plating bath containing organic additives by use of a soluble or insoluble anode and a workpiece as a cathode, the method including overflowing the plating bath from the plating vessel in an overflow vessel under which the plating bath in the overflow vessel is returned to the plating vessel, providing an oxidative decomposition vessel, and returning a plating bath from the oxidative decomposition vessel through the overflow vessel to the plating vessel to circulate the plating bath between the plating vessel and oxidative decomposition vessel, and metallic copper is immersed in the plating bath in the oxidative decomposition vessel and exposed to air bubbling, so that decomposed/degenerated organic products formed by decomposition or degeneration produced during the copper electroplating can be oxidatively decomposed.
US07988840B2
The present invention relates to methods and devices for separating particles according to size. More specifically, the present invention relates to a microfluidic method and device for the separation of particles according to size using an array comprising a network of gaps, wherein the field flux from each gap divides unequally into subsequent gaps. In one embodiment, the array comprises an ordered array of obstacles in a microfluidic channel, in which the obstacle array is asymmetric with respect to the direction of an applied field.
US07988834B2
Conductive catalytic particles which are composed of a conductive powder and a catalytic material adhering to the surface thereof are provided. The catalytic material is an alloy of a noble metal material with an additive material which is thermally solid-insoluble in the noble metal material, or an alloy of MI and MII, where MI denotes at least one species selected from noble metal elements, and MII denotes at least one specifies selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Al, Cu, Hf, Zr, Ti, V, Nb, Ta, W, Ga, Sn, Ge, Si, Re, Os, Pb, Bi, Sb, Mo, Mn, O, N, C, Zn, In, and rare earth elements. The conductive catalytic particles are produced by causing the noble metal material and the additive material or MI and MII to adhere at the same time to the surface of a conductive powder by physical vapor deposition. The conductive catalytic particles are not susceptible to sintering and are used for a gas-diffusing catalytic electrode and an electrochemical device provided therewith.
US07988833B2
A system and method for detecting the potential of non-cathode arcing in a plasma generation apparatus, such as a physical vapor deposition chamber. The system and method involve computing a statistical parameter of cathode-arcing event data in the chamber and performing a pattern recognition technique to a moving average of the statistical parameter.
US07988825B2
A web-forming section of a paper or board machine has a first web-forming unit with a first fiber layer (W1) formed on a first wire (10); a second web-forming unit with a second fiber layer (W2) formed on a second wire (30); and a couch shoe (39) over a curved deck (40) of which the fiber layers (W1, W2) are guided for joining them together. The second fiber layer (W2) is brought to the couch shoe (39) at an angle (α) of less than 20°, advantageously less than 15° in relation to the approach direction of the first fiber layer (W1). The couch shoe (39) is provided with underpressure and the radius of curvature of its deck (40) is usually larger than the radius of curvature of a guide roll (38) preceding it. By the couch shoe, the fiber layers can be joined together wetter than usual.
US07988823B2
Textured non-woven webs, papermaking fabrics and tissue sheets made using the textured papermaking fabrics can contain design elements set in highlight areas which make the design elements more visible.
US07988821B2
The invention relates to a process for the treatment of a fibre material comprising the step of contacting the fibre material in an aqueous medium with a chelating agent and a polymer having following general formula wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R2 is —COOM or —CH2COOM, M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, an ammonium ion or a mixture thereof, n, m and k are molar ratios of corresponding monomers, wherein n is 0 to 0.95, m is 0.05 to 0.9, and k is 0 to 0.8, and (n+m+k) equals 1, and the weight average molecular weight is between 500 and 20,000,000 g/mol. The invention also relates to a composition comprising a chelating agent and the above polymer.
US07988818B2
A device for liquid treatment of a defined area of a wafer-shaped article, especially of a wafer, in which a mask is kept at a defined short distance to the wafer-shaped article such that liquid can be retained between the mask and the defined area of the wafer-shaped article by capillary force.
US07988815B2
RF ground return current flow is diverted away from asymmetrical features of the reactor chamber by providing bypass current flow paths. One bypass current flow path avoids the pumping port in the chamber floor, and comprises a conductive symmetrical grill extending from the side wall to the grounded pedestal base. Another bypass current flow path avoids the wafer slit valve, and comprises an array of conductive straps bridging the section of the sidewall occupied by the slit valve.
US07988811B2
To provide a method for temporarily fixing an optical member suitable for processing of optical members, and an adhesive composition useful for such a method.An adhesive composition comprising (A) a polyfunctional (meth)acrylate, (B) a monofunctional (meth)acrylate and (C) a photopolymerization initiator, wherein the glass transition temperature of a cured resin obtained from the adhesive composition is from −50° C. to 40° C. A method for temporary fixing a member, which comprises bonding and temporarily fixing the member by means of the above adhesive composition, processing the temporarily fixed member, and immersing the processed is member in warm water of at most 90° C., thereby to remove a cured resin of the adhesive composition from the member.
US07988809B2
Aircraft floor and interior panels where core-skin bonding is improved between honeycomb and composite face sheets (skins) by applying a polyamide and/or rubber-containing adhesive to the edge of the honeycomb prior to bonding. Edge coating of the honeycomb allows one to reduce panel weight without reducing the performance parameters that are required for different types of aircraft floor and interior panels.
US07988801B2
Perchlorate-free green flare compositions are disclosed which, when burned, produce green smoke and flames. Methods of producing the compositions are also disclosed.
US07988794B2
A semiconductor device having a topology adjustment and a method for adjusting the topology of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor wafer having first and second opposing sides with an active area formed on a first portion of the first side having a topology extending a first distance above the first side. A support member is attached to a second portion of the first side and extending a second distance above the first side, wherein the first distance is about the same as the second distance. In some exemplary embodiments, the support member is formed by applying adhesive to the second portion. The wafer is then spun to adjust the second distance.
US07988790B2
A water softener particularly for use in a dishwasher. The water softener is located in the dishwasher water supply (238) between the primary supply valve and the wash chamber. The softener includes a resin container (207) with an ion exchange resin (290). Water supplied to the wash chamber optionally passes through the resin container (207). Regenerating brine is developed in a brine container (203). The brine container (203) is supplied manually with solid salt (270) and water diverted into the container from the main supply at an air break (201). In the regenerating cycle brine is delivered from the brine container (203) to the resin container (207) by a pump (206). The duty cycle of the pump (206) determines the degree of regeneration of the resin (290).
US07988786B2
The present invention provides a carbon film coated member comprising: a base material; and a coated film formed on at least part of a surface of the base material, the coated film comprising: a matrix composed of amorphous carbon; and at least one of metal and metal carbide contained in the matrix, wherein an atomic ratio (M/C) of the metal (M) to carbon (C) constituting the coated film is 0.01 to 0.7. According to the above structure, there can be provided a carbon film coated member excellent in low-friction property, wear resistance and durability, and capable of suppressing a dust generation, peeling-off and deterioration of the coated film even if the carbon film coated member is used as semiconductor equipment members such as wafer cassette, dummy wafer, probe pin or the like under severe operating conditions, so that the carbon film coated member would not exert a bad influence onto the resultant semiconductor products.
US07988785B2
The present invention provides a printing head for nano patterning including a manifold for accommodating a liquid printing material, a cartridge with an injection chamber communicating with the manifold, and a sample holder for patterning installed outside the injection chamber of the cartridge. The printing head comprises a shadow mask which is installed outside the injection chamber to be finely moved in an X-Y direction and has a single injection hole with a relatively very small size; an actuator for finely moving the shadow mask; an injection-inducing unit including a high voltage generator, a power supply electrode that is installed within the injection chamber and receives power from the high voltage generator to generate positive charges, and an opposite electrode for generating negative charges on the sample holder in a state where the shadow mask is interposed between the power supply electrode and the opposite electrode, thereby generating induced discharge from the injection chamber toward the sample holder; and a control unit for controlling the driving of the actuator so that the injection hole of the shadow mask can be moved to patterning positions corresponding to patterning data input in advance. According to the present invention, patterning accuracy can be improved, ultra-fine patterning and patterning of arbitrary shapes can be achieved, and a configuration for injecting the printing material can be simplified.
US07988784B2
It is used a substrate main body 1 having a side face 1b and a pair of main faces 1a and an underlying film 2 of a single crystal of a nitride of a metal belonging to the group III formed at least on one main face of the substrate main body 1. A single crystal 3 of a nitride of a metal belonging to the group III is grown on the main face 1a of the substrate main body 1 by a liquid phase process. The underlying film 2 has a shape of a convex figure in a plan view. A surface 4 without the underlying film thereon surrounds the entire circumference of the underlying film 2. The single crystal 3 of a nitride of a metal belonging to the group III grown on the underlying film 2 is not brought into contact with a single crystal of a nitride of a metal belonging to group III formed on another underlying film.
US07988782B2
Synthetic fibers, such as polypropylene fibers, are mixed in a shrinkage compensating concrete to provide restraint in lieu of conventional steel reinforcement used in a shrinkage compensating concrete. While the synthetic fibers have a low elastic modulus and low strength, they act to restrain expansion of the concrete in the same way that conventional steel rebar does. In addition, only a small amount of the synthetic fibers are needed to restrain the expansion. As a result, shrinkage compensating concrete can be used in more varied applications, and can be provided more quickly, easily and inexpensively. Construction time requirements and expenses of concrete structures are correspondingly reduced.
US07988775B2
The present invention provides an aluminum white rust inhibiting composition containing alkali metal metasilicate and alkali metal hydroxide as essential components. The composition described by the present invention can provide an anti-corrosion function to vehicle aluminum parts without a separate surface process, thus reducing the manufacturing cost by reducing the number of processes and improving the durability of the vehicle aluminum parts.
US07988772B2
An air/oil separator includes a housing having an inlet for aerated oil or hydraulic fluid and outlets for the separated air and oil or fluid. The housing is generally cylindrical and defines an upper, inlet portion, a center, separator portion and a lower collector portion. The upper, inlet portion of the housing includes a first, tangential inlet passageway which merges with a second, spiral or circular passageway. The spiral or circular passageway communicates with the cyclonic separator portion which may be either cylindrical or frusto-conical. A coaxial outlet in the upper, inlet portion allows separated air to return to the engine or transmission housing while an outlet in the lower, collector portion returns oil or hydraulic fluid to the device.
US07988771B2
An apparatus for controlling odor within a refrigeration appliance is provided. The apparatus includes a frame removably positioned within an airflow path configured to supply cooled air to a food storage compartment of the refrigeration appliance. The frame defines a chamber. A filter medium is positioned within the chamber. The filter medium is configured to filter air channeled therethrough and remove odorous molecules.
US07988761B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing metal nanoparticles containing rod-shaped nanoparticles, the method including: producing metal oxide nanoparticle intermediates having at least rod-shaped metal oxide nanoparticles by heating a mixture of a nonpolar solvent, a metal precursor and an amine including secondary amine at 60-300° C.; producing metal nanoparticles by adding a capping molecule and a reducing agent to the mixture and heating the result mixture at 90-150° C.; and recovering the metal nanoparticles. According to the present invention, the shape of metal nanoparticle can be controlled by mixing primary amines or secondary amines as proper ratio without using apparatus additionally, as well as, the size of metal nanoparticle can be controlled to several nm.
US07988750B2
The present invention relates to a method for recovering methane gas by adding a gas mixture containing N2 and CO2 gases to natural gas hydrate and reacting them. The method for recovering methane gas from natural gas hydrate of the present invention comprises the step of replacing CH4 gas in natural gas hydrate with a gas mixture containing N2 and CO2 gases by adding the gas mixture to the natural gas hydrate. The method for recovering methane gas of the invention assures a recovery rate of CH4 gas much higher than prior art method without dissociating natural gas hydrate layer and utilization of flue gas as a gas mixture containing N2 and CO2 gases, which makes possible its practical application for the production of natural gas in terms of economy and environmental protection.
US07988749B2
Polyisobutenylphenol-containing Mannich adducts are prepared by a) alkylation of a phenol with highly reactive polyisobutene at below about 50° C. in the presence of an alkylation catalyst; b) reaction of the reaction product from a) with formaldehyde, an oligomer or a polymer of formaldehyde and at least one amine which has at least one secondary amino function and no primary amino function, or c) reaction of the reaction product from a) with at least one adduct of at least one amine which has at least one secondary or primary amino function and formaldehyde, an oligomer of formaldehyde, a polymer of formaldehyde or a formaldehyde equivalent, and are used as detergent additives in fuel and lubricant compositions, and additive concentrates, fuel compositions and lubricant compositions contain these Mannich adducts.
US07988747B2
A method for producing a low sulphur containing fuel from a hydrocarbon feed having from 10 to 80 ppm of sulphur is disclosed. The method comprises contacting a hydrocarbon stream comprising at least one olefin having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one paraffin having from 4 to 6 carbon atoms with an ionic liquid catalyst and a halide containing additive in an alkylation reaction zone under alkylating conditions to produce a fuel having sulphur content up to 10 ppm.
US07988746B2
An energy storage device includes a first electrode comprising a first material and a second electrode comprising a second material, at least a portion of the first and second materials forming an interpenetrating network when dispersed in an electrolyte, the electrolyte, the first material and the second material are selected so that the first and second materials exert a repelling force on each other when combined. An electrochemical device, includes a first electrode in electrical communication with a first current collector; a second electrode in electrical communication with a second current collector; and an ionically conductive medium in ionic contact with said first and second electrodes, wherein at least a portion of the first and second electrodes form an interpenetrating network and wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises an electrode structure providing two or more pathways to its current collector.
US07988745B2
A method for manufacturing highly reliable batteries includes the steps of placing in a battery container an electrode assembly; arranging an upper current collecting plate to be electrically connected to one of the electrodes of the electrode assembly; bringing a lead previously welded to the inner surface of a lid in contact with the upper current collecting plate; and welding the points of contact between the lead and the upper current collecting plate. Also batteries are produced by the method, and a method for inspecting battery including the steps of detecting defective welds by measuring alternating-current resistance of a battery.
US07988737B2
Provided is a ready-to-use composition for the oxidation dyeing of keratin fibers, and for example of human keratin fibers such as the hair, comprising: A) at least one fatty substance present in an amount of greater than or equal to 25% by weight relative to the total weight of the ready-to-use composition, at least one of the at least one fatty substance being chosen from fatty amides and fatty acid esters, B) at least one dye precursor, C) at least one oxidizing agent and optionally D) at least one alkaline agent. Also provided is a method of dyeing of keratin fibres, comprising applying a ready-to-use composition to the keratin fibres for a sufficient time to develop the desired coloration.
US07988735B2
The present invention relates to a device and method to perform 1) disk fusing, 2) an artificial replacement of the nucleus, 3) artificial replacement of the annulus, or 4), an artificial replacement of both the nucleus and annulus. The device is designed to be placed into the inter-vertebral space following discectomy. The invention includes a delivery catheter and an expandable continuous mesh that has a torus configuration with a lumen within the mesh and a center hole. The mesh can be diametrically expanded in diameter into the disc space whereby various materials can be injected into the lumen and/or the center hole.
US07988731B2
A reduced weight implantable prosthesis, including, an outer surface shell for encapsulating the prosthesis, a gel mixture comprising a mixture of a cohesive gel and micro-spheres for filling the shell, one or more inner volumes internal to the shell which do not contain the gel mixture; and wherein the gel mixture contains less than 60% by volume of micro-spheres mixed into the cohesive gel.
US07988724B2
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for endovascularly delivering and releasing a prosthesis, e.g., an aortic prosthesis, within and/or across a patient's native heart valve, referred to hereinafter as replacing the patient's heart valve. In some embodiments the delivery system comprises a plurality of first actuatable element adapted to engage a plurality of second elements in a first configuration to capture the implant within the delivery system, and wherein the plurality of first actuatable element are adapted to engage the plurality of second elements in a second configuration and to release the implant from the delivery system.
US07988723B2
The stent of the present invention combines a helical strut band interconnected by coil elements. This structure provides a combination of attributes that are desirable in a stent, such as, for example, substantial flexibility, stability in supporting a vessel lumen, cell size and radial strength. The structure of the stent of the present invention provides a predetermined geometric relationship between the helical strut band and interconnected coil elements in order to maintain connectivity at any diameter size state of the stent.
US07988721B2
Expandable medical implants for maintaining support of a body lumen are disclosed. These implants comprise an axially-radially nested, diametrically expandable, moveable vascular device for enlarging an occluded portion of a vessel. The device can be configured to allow for motion such as translating and/or slide and lock. One advantage of the axially-radially nested stent is that it maintains the expanded size, without significant recoil.
US07988716B2
A surgical stent made of biocompatible material for implantation in human tissue to enable blood and nutrients to flow from an area of vascular tissue to an area of tissue with little or no vasculature.
US07988712B2
Methods for treating spinal pathologies, and more specifically methods for treating articulating surfaces of facet joints. The methods involve providing artificial articulating surfaces for facet joint articular facets. In addition, various types of rasps may be used to prepare the articulating surfaces prior to placement of the artificial articulating surfaces.
US07988703B2
The device comprises a body (2) and placed therein a needle assembly (1) and a push button (3) located in the upper portion of the body (2), whereas the needle assembly (1) has in its lower portion a sheathed piercing needle (5), and the push button (3) has in its upper portion a press surface, and between the body (2) and the needle assembly (1) a return spring (27) is placed. The push button (3) is coupled with the needle assembly (1) by means of abutting surface elements (15, 44), whereas during the movement of the push button (3) and after resting the needle assembly (1) on the element (20) of the body (2) and after performing the full-depth piercing, one of the abutting surface elements (15, 44) bends, releasing the needle assembly (1) from the thrust of the push button (3), whereupon the needle assembly (1) retracts to the inside of the body by means of the return spring (27).
US07988700B2
A surgical instrument extendable through a cannula for moving a first bone portion relative to a second bone portion includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis engageable with a first member connected with to the first bone portion. A second portion is engageable with a second member connected with the second bone portion. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion from a first position toward a second position to move the first and second bone portions away from each other. An actuator connected with the second portion moves the second portion relative to the first portion in a direction extending transverse to the longitudinal axis.
US07988697B2
A system for securing a graft within a bone includes a tubular cross pin having an interior surface bounding a passageway extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the distal end terminating at a distal end face. A guide pin has an exterior surface extending between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the exterior surface including an outwardly projecting shoulder. The guide pin is removably received within the passageway of the cross pin such that the distal end face of the cross pin biases against the shoulder and a proximal portion of the guide pin freely projects beyond the proximal end of the cross pin.
US07988685B2
The invention provides hydrogel compositions, components, and hydrogel-actuated or mediated devices, and methods for the incorporation of hydrogel microscale components in microscale devices and systems. The methods and devices result in active microvalves that are useful in microfluidic applications, including analyte sensing, in process chemical and fermentation stream monitoring, and drug delivery. In particular, the devices are useful for controlled drug delivery either in response to a pre-determined stimulus or for pulsatile delivery.
US07988683B2
A method and apparatus for a connection interface between a reservoir or syringe, infusion set tubing, and an infusion pump is provided. The elements of the apparatus are organized so that it is capable of being inserted and secured in an infusion pump housing.
US07988679B2
A pressure responsive slit valve assembly is designed to be used in a variety of configurations of medical devices to manage contemporaneous and pressure responsive fluid communications between such devices and a plurality of fluid sources. The pressure responsive slit valve assembly of the present invention includes a valve housing adapted to receive fluids from at least two sources and a pressure responsive slit valve means corresponding to each fluid sources.
US07988667B2
A piercing tool (1) can safely and reliably pierce a piercing needle (411) into a skin layer. The piercing tool (1) comprises a belt-like flexible fixing member (2) having an opening (3) formed for raising skin, and a piercing needle moving means (4) mounted on the belt-like fixing member (2) for movably holding the piercing needle (411). By moving the piercing needle moving means (4), the piercing needle (411) is moved so as to be pierced into the skin raised from the opening (3).
US07988666B2
A system for heating a medical fluid includes a container including a fluid path including an inlet side and an outlet side. A broadband infrared radiation source including a power supply is coupled to a broadband emitter for emitting infrared radiation. The broadband emitter provides a focal location within the fluid path to heat the medical fluid to generate a heated medical fluid. A flow turbulence enhancing structure mixes the heated medical fluid to reduce temperature gradients therein. A fluid detector senses a presence of the medical fluid in the fluid path and generates a fluid sensing signal. A controller is coupled to receive the fluid sensing signal and has an output coupled to the power supply for controlling a power output of the power supply based on the fluid sensing signal indicating a presence of the medical fluid in the container.
US07988661B2
Inner and outer shield parts of a breastshield are joined to form an enclosure defining a pressurizable chamber. The inner shield part has at least a portion thereof movable relative to the outer shield part when the chamber is subject to a negative or a positive pressure. A first pressure port is in communication respectively with the chamber for connection with a fluid pressure source of a first pressure. A second pressure port is in communication with the interior for connection with a pressure source of a second pressure. The breastshield is thus capable of being subjected to two different pressures, such as a positive pressure to move (expand) the chamber into the interior, so as to compress or massage the nipple/breast, and a negative pressure in the interior to draw the nipple/breast further therein for the expression of milk. The pressures can be independently controlled.
US07988651B2
A device for use in applying impulse therapy to a limb of a human body and including an inflatable bladder or pad that has opposing hermetically sealed first and second side walls. The device also includes an inlet tube connected to the inflatable bladder or pad for feeding intermittent pulses of fluid to the inflatable bladder or pad. The inflatable bladder or pad includes a fluid dispersal and noise reducing internal media interposed between the first and second side walls and over an outlet of the inlet tube, the fluid dispersal and noise reducing internal media configured to dissipate the intermittent pulses of fluid with an accompanying reduction in a fluid flow rate and noise generated during pressurization of the inflatable bladder or pad.
US07988648B2
The method of stimulating a tissue of a subsurface organ is disclosed. The method has the steps of activating an acoustic shock wave generator or source to emit acoustic shock waves; and subjecting the tissue to the acoustic shock waves stimulating said tissue wherein the tissue is positioned within a path of the emitted shock waves and away from a geometric focal volume or point of the emitted shock waves. In one embodiment the emitted shock waves are divergent or near planar. In another embodiment the emitted shock waves are convergent having a geometric focal volume of point at a distance of at least X from the source, the method further comprising positioning the tissue at a distance less than the distance X from the source. The subsurface organ is a tissue having cells. The tissue is a part of the incretin system. The subsurface organ is preferably the pancreas of a diabetic or at risk diabetic patient. The treatment stimulates the pancreatic tissue by an analgesic effect on the nerves and a stimulation of the insulin producing islets.
US07988646B2
A catheter apparatus may have a flexible shaft, guidewire lumens passing through the shaft, and a positioning device for positioning the guidewires relative to an external lumen. The positioning device may be an expansible scaffold covered with a retractable sheath. The positioning device may also be one or more balloons that are inflated through an inflation port in the shaft. The catheter apparatus may be operated by inserting a guide catheter into a vasculature with a chronic total occlusion, inserting the catheter apparatus into the guide catheter, and advancing the guidewires through the guidewire lumens and into contact with a chronic total occlusion. The positioning device may be activated before and/or between attempts to pass the guidewires through the chronic total occlusion to interrogate various parts of the chronic total occlusion.
US07988638B2
The invention concerns a conditioning circuit (10) for an external signal (IN) representative of a physiological quantity, arranged between an optical sensor (11) and a processing unit (12), the received external signal (IN) being broken down into a useful component and an ambient component, characterized in that the conditioning circuit includes a first stage (13) including a transimpedance amplifier with an incorporated high pass filter (15) using a feedback loop to subtract the ambient signal component from the received external signal, and to deliver at output an amplified useful signal (IN1), a second stage (16) including a blocker sampler circuit (17) for demodulating the amplified useful signal and delivering at output a demodulated useful signal (IN2), and a third stage (18) including a bandpass filter (19) for filtering the demodulated useful signal in the frequency band of the physiological quantity to be detected and for transmitting a conditioned signal (OUT) to the processing unit.
US07988637B2
A time domain rule-based processor provides recognition of individual pulses in a pulse oximeter-derived waveform.
US07988634B1
A cardiac-related signal such as a cardiogenic impedance signal is derived to obtain cardiac information such as stroke volume information that may be used to evaluate cardiac performance and/or other medical conditions. In some aspects detection of the cardiogenic impedance signal involves adaptively cancelling an unwanted component of a sensed signal. For example, in some embodiments a sensed respiratory signal may be subtracted from a thoracic impedance signal to reduce a respiratory component of the thoracic impedance signal. In this way, a more accurate cardiogenic impedance signal may be derived from the resulting signal.
US07988631B2
The invention relates to a shock wave therapy device with a shock wave source for the emission of a shock wave and an ultrasound unit for obtaining image information by means of the emission and reception of ultrasound, whereby the ultrasound unit is provided for the reception of reflected or scattered components of the shock wave for obtaining image information. In addition, the invention relates to a method for obtaining image information for shock wave therapy with the steps: a) emitting ultrasound using an ultrasound unit, b) receiving the reflections of the emitted ultrasound using the ultrasound unit for obtaining image information, c) emitting a shock wave using a shock wave source and d) receiving reflected or scattered components of the shock wave using the ultrasound unit for obtaining image information.
US07988629B2
There is provided a cerebrum evaluation device for evaluating the state of the cerebrum of a subject by analyzing a speech signal of the subject by using chaotic signal processing utilizing the periodicity of the signal. The cerebrum evaluation device evaluates the state of the cerebrum according to the speech signal uttered by the subject. The cerebrum evaluation device includes: a statistic information database containing chaotic index values of speech signals of a plurality of subjects; a speech signal acquisition unit for acquiring a speech signal; a chaotic index value calculation unit for calculating a chaotic index value of the speech signal by the chaotic signal processing utilizing the periodicity of the speech signal acquired; an evaluation unit for evaluating the state of the cerebrum of the subject according to the calculated chaotic index value by referencing the statistic information database; and an output unit for outputting the result evaluated by the evaluation unit.
US07988628B2
Embodiments of the invention pertain to networked kiosks capable of providing enhanced health and/or entertainment and/or advertising information. In an embodiment of the invention, biometric measurement devices coupled with a communications infrastructure implement a system of secure information exchange and enhanced user security. In an embodiment of the invention, a user's cell phone wirelessly connected via the machine to a call center or other responder to allow for consultation when appropriate. In an embodiment of the invention, a security/verification system is built into the kiosk, so as to be able to verify a user's identity. For example, one or more cameras associated with the kiosk provide various types of visual data usable for security purposes e.g., retinal scan data, face recognition parameter data, and so on. In further embodiments of the invention, other security features are provided additionally or alternatively.
US07988627B2
A biometric measurement device and communications infrastructure implements a system of information exchange and usage. In an embodiment of the invention, a kiosk user's cell phone is used to wirelessly connect via the machine to a call center, doctor, or emergency center. In addition, the kiosk may automatically and wirelessly connect the user's cell phone through the kiosk to a call center representative or emergency service. The kiosk is able to collect and transmit user data, such as for promotional or advertising purposes in a further example.
US07988624B2
Methods and devices for performing percutaneous surgery in a patient are provided. A retractor includes a working channel formed by a first portion coupled to a second portion. The first and second portions are movable relative to one another from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration to increase the size of the working channel along the length of the working channel while minimizing trauma to skin and tissue.
US07988611B2
In one embodiment an after-loader for providing an implant to a hollow needle, the after-loader comprising a body having a distal end including a bevel for receiving a hub of a seed lock needle, and a bore therethrough for receiving a hub of a MICK® needle; a proximal end having a funnel shaped opening; a shield adapted to be provided over the body; and wherein the distal end further includes a taper along a portion of a distance from the distal end to the proximal end for providing a friction fit to a shield. This abstract is not intended to be a complete description of the invention.
US07988600B2
An exercise apparatus comprises: a frame; a crank system comprising first and second crank system coupling locations, the crank system being supported by the frame; a right foot support member; a left foot support member; a first flexible support system comprising a first flexible element, the first flexible element coupled to the right foot support member and the first crank coupling location; and a second flexible support system comprising a second flexible element, the second flexible element coupled to the left foot support member and coupled to the second crank coupling location, and an adjustment assembly, wherein the user of the exercise apparatus may undertake a stepping motion or an instantaneously variable striding motion, and wherein the structural geometry of the exercise apparatus can be changed with operation of the adjustment assembly.
US07988594B2
A powertrain system includes an engine mechanically coupled to an electromechanical transmission selectively operative in one of a plurality of transmission operating range states and one of a plurality of engine states. A method for controlling the powertrain system includes determining a current transmission operating range state and engine state, determining at least one potential transmission operating range state and engine state, determining preferability factors associated with the current and potential transmission operating range state and the engine state wherein the preferability factors associated with potential transmission operating range states include load-stabilizing preferability factors, preferentially weighting the preferability factors for the current transmission operating range state and engine state, and selectively commanding changing the present transmission operating range state and engine state based upon the preferability factors.
US07988592B2
A method for controlling an idle stop mode in a hybrid electric vehicle is disclosed. The control method accords an oil pressure drain time that a continuously variable transmission clutch oil pressure is fully drained, a final off time of an engine, and a final control time of a motor when a hybrid electric vehicle enters an idle stop mode, thereby preventing a shock or shaking of the vehicle.
US07988590B2
A pawl for controlling the rotation of a gear in a planetary gear mechanism. The pawl includes a nose and first and second pivot axes. The nose is engageable with the gear. The pawl is rotatable about the first pivot axis between a first mode permitting rotation of the gear in a first direction and a second direction and a second mode preventing rotation of the gear in the first direction. The pawl is rotatable about the second pivot axis to permit rotation of the gear in the second direction while the pawl is the second mode.
US07988588B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes.
US07988579B2
A vehicular drive system accommodated in a housing and including a first input shaft that receives a vehicle drive force generated by a vehicle drive power source, and a differential mechanism operable to distribute the vehicle drive force received from the first input shaft to a first electric motor and a second input shaft. The first and second input shafts are disposed coaxially with a first axis such that the second input shaft is disposed downstream of the first input shaft. The first input shaft is rotatably supported by a first support portion provided on the housing and an axial end portion of the second input shaft, and the second input shaft is rotatably supported by a third support portion and a fourth support portion that are provided on the housing.
US07988576B2
The disengageable pulley device includes a pulley mounted on an internal transmission element, and a free wheel provided with a plurality of wedges and with a cage for the wedges, said free wheel being designed to provide one-way engagement between the pulley and the internal transmission element. The device includes an elastic connecting member provided with a first fixing part for fixing it to the internal transmission element, with a second fixing part for fixing it to the cage, and with a working part between said fixing parts, said working part being radially moveable relative to the internal transmission element and being adapted to exert a circumferential return force on the cage.
US07988567B2
Provided is a soft golf club head that forms a striking surface with a plurality of strings fixed to a body of the head and a tension adjusting screw to enable adjusting of string tension, so that shock transferred to a golfer is reduced, flight distance of the golf ball can be adjusted, and a broader demography can enjoy golfing with less restrictions.
US07988564B2
Embodiments of a golf club set with progressive tapered face thickness coordinated with club loft are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US07988561B1
A revised universal base structure which is adapted for use in manufacturing various different versions of an electromechanical game using the same base structure. The base structure provides a network or grid of recessed areas above which a ground plate may extend. The recessed areas are formed as small squares and various small playing pieces are receivable in the recesses so that they can be retrieved by players during the course of game play. However, the base structure can be used with various uniquely different ground plates and unique upper boards to form various different embodiments of the differing games.
US07988559B2
The present invention in various embodiments provides a computerized wagering game method and apparatus that features an operating system kernel, a system handler application that loads and executes gaming program shared objects and features nonvolatile storage that facilitates sharing of information between gaming program objects. The system handler of some embodiments further provides an API library of functions callable from the gaming program objects, and facilitates the use of callback functions on change of data stored in nonvolatile storage. The nonvolatile storage also provides a nonvolatile record of the state of the computerized wagering game, providing protection against loss of the game state due to power loss. The system handler application in various embodiments includes a plurality of device handlers, providing an interface to selected hardware and the ability to monitor hardware-related events.
US07988558B2
A game apparatus including an obtaining logic unit, a gravity direction calculating logic unit, a first movement direction calculating logic unit, and a game processing logic unit. The obtaining logic unit successively obtains acceleration data. The gravity direction calculating logic unit calculates a gravity direction based on values of a plurality of pieces of acceleration data obtained during a predetermined period, where an orientation of an input device is used as a reference. The first movement direction calculating logic unit calculates a first movement direction which is a movement direction of the input device, based on the values of the plurality of pieces of acceleration data obtained during the predetermined period, where the orientation of the input device is used as a reference. The game processing logic unit executes a game process based on the first movement direction and the gravity direction.
US07988553B2
An apparatus and method for selecting an account for a gaming player is presented. In one embodiment, a preexisting card is electronically read. Information coded into the magnetic stripe or bar code on the preexisting card is decoded. The decoded information is used to identify matching player accounts. The identified player accounts are presented to the user, who can then select one of the accounts. The selected account is then accessed.
US07988541B1
A meat pulling apparatus having a hopper and a rotating drum with a plurality of pins or rippers capable of pulling or shredding a food material. The hopper having one or more meat stops which assist in the pulling or shredding and prohibit the food material in an upper portion of the hopper from entering a lower portion of the hopper until the food material is pulled or shredded. The apparatus is capable of resting on or positioning over a receptacle which collects the pulled or shredded food product. One or more comb strips separate or clean the pulled or shredded food product from the drum and the pins or rippers. The drum is preferably rotated via the coupling of an electric motor therewith yet may utilize manual or other rotary type drives. A feed cover having a magnetic safety portion assists in food product feeding and promotes user safety.
US07988540B2
A brush module (6) for a rotating grinding brush, said brush module comprising: an elongate body part (7); at least one abrasive cloth (9) protruding from the body part (7); a plurality of bristles (8) extending from the body part (7) essentially in the same direction as the abrasive cloth (9). The body part (7) is provided with an undercut, longitudinally extending guide (13), and at an edge the abrasive cloth (9) is provided with a protruding head (15) that is complementary with the undercut groove (13) to the effect that the undercut guide (13) and the protruding bead (15) constitute complementary mechanical interconnecting means for releasable mounting of the abrasive cloth (9) on the body part (7). The protruding bead (15) is provided on a holder (14) comprising two flaps (16, 17), between which an edge of the abrasive cloth (9) is securely clamped. Besides, use of such abrasive cloth (9) in a rotating grinding brush with or without brush module.
US07988539B2
A cleaning element (36) for a cement floor surface mounted to a housing (32). Each cleaning element has a flat flexible abrasive surface (39) that is transversely positioned to the direction of motion to provide flex during cleaning of a cement floor surface.
US07988531B2
Grinding machine with a machine bed, with a tool carriage that is linearly movable on the machine bed in a Y-axis, with a tool spindle, which is mounted in the tool carriage so as to rotate around an X-axis that is perpendicular to the Y-axis, and which can be rotationally driven, with an X-carriage that is linearly movable on the machine bed in the X-axis, with a Z-carriage that is linearly movable on the X-carriage with a Z-axis that is perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis, and with a work piece jig, which is arranged on the Z-carriage so as to pivot around a B-axis, which is parallel to the Y-axis, and which is capable of rotating around its A-axis, which is perpendicular to the B-axis.
US07988524B2
A children's ride-on vehicle is disclosed. In some embodiments, the vehicle may include a body including at least one seat sized for a child; a plurality of wheels including at least one driven wheel; a battery-powered drive assembly configured to selectively drive the rotation of the at least one driven wheel; a mechanical assembly including a first mechanical member movably connected to the body and configured to move among a plurality of positions including a first position in which one or more portions of the first mechanical member are not visible, and a second position in which the one or more portions of the first mechanical member are visible; and at least one user input device positioned to receive inputs from a child sitting on the at least one seat, and configured to selectively move the first mechanical member between the first and second positions.
US07988521B2
A simulated eye is capable of being rotatable along a circular track. The simulated eye includes an eyeball, a motor having a motor shaft, and a transmission assembly. The transmission assembly is fixed to the motor shaft and is driven to rotate around the motor shaft by the motor. The eyeball is fixed to the transmission assembly at a position departing from the axis of the motor shaft, and is driven to rotate around the motor shaft.
US07988519B2
An apparatus, method, and computer program product for an interactive toy vehicle that provides new structures and combinations of features for enhancing education and amusement, particularly for an improved small-scale vehicle toy that produces feedback (e.g., sounds or lights and a motorized output event) directly related to the amount of a child's input. The apparatus, method, and computer program product for a toy vehicle includes: a chassis; a motive element, coupled to the chassis, for moving the chassis; an impulse detector for generating an impulse signal responsive to one or more impulses applied to the chassis; and a controller, coupled to the chassis and responsive to the impulse signal, for: counting a number N of impulse signals received during a setup period; determining an operational mode responsive to the number N; setting a duty mode for the motive element responsive to the operational mode.
US07988517B2
This invention generally relates to a set of parallelepipedal bodies (cubes) capable of matingly compatible engagement for interconnection with substantially similar cubes or matingly conformed rails, so as to allow up to three degrees of freedom in the sliding movement of an individual cube or grouping of cubes about a grouping of other interconnected cells from the set. Each cube is constructed from six plates with an interior physical configuration adapted for connection and that lends itself to monolithic injection molding. The exterior physical configuration of all plates are substantially similar. When a number of cubes are assembled into a cubic array, there can be slab movement, row movement or solo cube movement.
US07988516B2
This invention generally relates to a set of parallelepipedal bodies (cubes) capable of matingly compatible engagement for interconnection with substantially similar cubes or matingly conformed rails, so as to allow up to three degrees of freedom in the sliding movement of an individual cube or grouping of cubes about a grouping of other interconnected cells from the set. Each cube is constructed from six plates or from three plate pairs. The interior physical configuration of tabs and slots lends itself to injection molding of plates or plate pairs. The exterior physical configuration of all plates and at least one of the exterior surfaces of the rails are substantially similar. When a number of cubes are assembled into a cubic array, there can be slab movement, row movement or solo cube movement.
US07988514B2
A method of varying a transmittance of a transparent conductive film includes forming the transparent conductive film on a substrate and injecting a high energy source into the transparent conductive film to vary the transmittance of the transparent conductive film.
US07988513B2
An electron-emitting device having little dispersion of its electron emission characteristic and a suppressed “fluctuation” of its electron emission quantity is provided. The electron-emitting device includes a substrate equipped with a first portion containing silicon oxide and a second portion arranged abreast of the first portion and having a higher heat conductance, and an electroconductive film including a gap therein, the electroconductive film arranged on the substrate, wherein the first and the second portions having a resistance higher than that of the electroconductive film, and the gap is arranged on the first portion.
US07988508B2
A swimming propulsion device. The swimming propulsion device includes a fuselage having a forward section and an aft section, at least one propulsor pivotally connected to the forward section of the fuselage, and in some embodiments, at least one stabilizer affixed to the aft section of the fuselage. The device also includes a swimmer connection mechanism removably attached to the fuselage by a locking mechanism whereby the swimmer connection mechanism connects a swimmer to the device, and a control mechanism attached to the fuselage and the propulsor. A method for efficient swimming is also disclosed.
US07988500B2
A socket apparatus comprises a base portion defining an array of contact cavities. A plurality of contacts are inserted into the array of contact cavities defined in the base portion. The base portion includes a top side and a bottom side and a plurality of ribs extending from the bottom side. Each rib defines at least one sidewall that engages with an anchor of a contact to securely mount the contact. Each contact includes a mounting portion having a first anchor and a second anchor extending from the mounting portion and operable to engage a mounting surface of the base portion to securely mount the contact. The first anchor provides a first anchor force for the contact to the base portion that is substantially greater than a second anchor force provided by the second anchor to the base portion.
US07988497B2
An implantable medical device connector assembly and method of manufacture include a molded, insulative shell having an inner surface forming a connector bore, a circuit member including a one or more traces extending through the shell; one or more conductive members positioned along the connector bore and electrically coupled to the traces; and sealing members positioned between the conductive members.
US07988496B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining upper and lower rows of passageways arranged in a longitude direction and each of passageway extends along a front-to-back direction perpendicular to said front-to-back direction; upper and lower rows of contacts are assembled into the corresponding upper and lower rows of passageways, respectively; wherein each of said contact has a mating portion folded in half, the mating portion defines a pair of inner faces facing to each other and a pair of outer faces facing away from each other, at least one protruding portion protrudes from one of the inner faces to the other inner face.
US07988490B2
An exemplary retaining clip is used for holding a connector to a printed circuit board. The retaining clip includes a cover plate and a clamping plate. The cover plate includes two bent portions respectively extending from opposite sides of the cover plate. The clamping plate includes a main portion and two arms connected to the main portion. Each arm is fixed to a corresponding bent portion. The cover plate and the arms are for surrounding the connector, and the main portion is for clamping a peripheral edge of the printed circuit board.
US07988484B1
An electrical cord coupling device includes an elongated generally cylindrical hollow body having an interior surface, a first end, and a second end. A first end cap is removably secured to the first end of the body. A hollow generally cylindrical adapter member is telescopingly received within the second end of the elongated body and a second end cap is removably secured the adapter member. The elongated body is adapted to house a plug of a first electrical cord and a socket of a second electrical cord coupled together. The first and second end caps prevent the cords from detaching when the end caps are secured to their respective ends of the elongated body and the adapter member. Each of the end caps is separable into two parts so as to be able to be positioned around the cords.
US07988477B1
An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector has a first mating face and a number of first contacts retained therein. Each first contact comprises a first mating board and a second mating board vertically protruding from the first mating face. The second connector is mated with the first connector and comprises a second housing with a second mating face confronting with the first mating face and second contacts. The second housing defines corresponding mating slots to receive the first contacts. Each of the second contacts comprises two pairs of holding arms which are arranged non-parallel to each other and each pair of the holding arm elastically perpendicularly projects in the mating slot thereby clipping one of the first mating board and the second mating board of the first contacts.
US07988471B2
A card connector has a housing with a base and a side rail extending from the base to define a card-insertion cavity. A plurality of conductive terminals are supported by the housing and extend at least partially into the card-insertion cavity for contacting a card inserted into the card-insertion cavity. A push-push style card locking and ejection mechanism retains the card in the card-insertion cavity upon a first push and which ejects an inserted card upon a second push. The mechanism includes a slide member positioned for slidable movement on the side rail and a biasing member contacting the slide member for selectively exerting an ejection force on the slide member. The slide member includes a slide surface that slides along a guide surface of the side rail. A damping material is interposed between the slide member slide surface and the guide rail guide surface for retarding movement of the slide member on the side rail in response to an ejection force from the biasing member.
US07988470B2
The present invention generally relates to thin film transistors (TFTs) and methods of making TFTs. The active channel of the TFT may comprise one or more metals selected from the group consisting of zinc, gallium, tin, indium, and cadmium. The active channel may also comprise nitrogen and oxygen. To protect the active channel during source-drain electrode patterning, an etch stop layer may be deposited over the active layer. The etch stop layer prevents the active channel from being exposed to the plasma used to define the source and drain electrodes. The etch stop layer and the source and drain electrodes may be used as a mask when wet etching the active material layer that is used for the active channel.
US07988463B2
An electrical connector secured to a PCB having a plurality of welding areas on an upward face and a plurality of through holes running through the PCB includes an elongate insulative housing and a plurality of contacts assembled to the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines a mating face and a mounting face opposite to the mating face, a plurality of blocks protruding from the mounting face. Each contact defines a contacting portion connecting with a mating connector, a retaining portion retained in the insulative housing and a soldering portion welding to the welding areas of the PCB. A plurality of board-lock pieces made of metal material are under the corresponding blocks to clip the PCB between the blocks and the board-lock pieces. A projection from one of the board-lock piece and the block is inserted into the through hole.
US07988462B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (1) with a rear portion (11) and a front portion (12) along a first direction (A), a spacer (4) assembled on the rear portion (11) which has a plurality of first wedged positioning sections (42, 43) in an inner side thereof and arranged along a second direction (B) and a plurality of contacts (2) received in the insulative housing and comprising a soldering portion (203) extending out of the insulative housing. The spacer (4) includes a plurality of positioning grooves (45) in an external side thereof for receiving and positioning the soldering portions (203c) of one part contacts (23) located at an upper side of the front portion (12). The soldering portions (203a, 203b) of the other contacts (21a, 21b) are sandwiched between the spacer (4) and the rear portion (11) thereby forms a waved configuration.
US07988457B1
An electrical connector assembly includes a circuit board having vias extending at least partially through the circuit hoard along parallel via axes. The circuit board includes electrical conductors exposed within corresponding vias that extend between a top and a bottom. The electrical connector assembly also includes an electrical connector mounted on the circuit board that includes a housing having a mounting face configured to be mounted along the circuit board, and a plurality of variable depth signal terminals held by the housing. The signal terminals each include mounting contacts extending outward from the mounting face of the housing that are received in respective vias of the circuit board. The mounting contacts extend different depths into respective vias of the circuit board to engage the corresponding electrical conductors. The mounting contacts have a mounting end arranged at substantially the same depth within the via as the bottom of the electrical conductor.
US07988452B2
A test head (10) for breathing mask testing includes a hard head part (12) formed of a hard material and includes a face side (18) and a soft face front (14) of a defined thickness applied to the face side (18) of the hard head part (12). The soft face front (14) has a simulated human face surface defining a mask seal contact surface (22). A breathing mask testing system is also provided including the testing head (10) including a human face surface defining a mask seal contact surface (18) and a mouth opening connected to a respiration tube (50). A testing device (32) is provided with a test head adapter (30) protruding from the testing device (32). The hard head part (12) has a support portion (29) with an adapter interface for the adapter (30). The adapter interface includes a rotational position fixing mechanism for fixing the hard head part (10) to the adapter (30) in one of a plurality of rotational positions.
US07988446B2
A mold assembly includes an upper mold cavity, a base plate, and a flow element. The upper mold cavity defines a primary runner and a plurality of sub-runners on a top surface in communication with the upper mold cavity. A gate is defined in the primary runner for injecting liquefied plastic into the upper mold cavity. The base plate defines an outlet thereon corresponding to the gate for outputting the liquefied plastic. The upper mold cavity and the base plate corporately form a closed cavity therebetween. The flow element is received in the closed cavity and movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the flow element is engaged with the primary runner and plurality of sub-runners. In the second position, the flow element is separated with the primary runner and plurality of sub-runners.
US07988439B2
Disclosed is a nozzle block for electrospinning which is able to simultaneously electrically spin two or more different types of polymer spinning dopes, wherein a single-layer distribution plate for dividing a planar space within the nozzle block into two or more segments is installed within the nozzle block. The apparatus is simple because a single-layer distribution plate is installed instead of a conventional multi layer distribution plate. A hybrid nano fiber laminate can be prepared without any additional laminating procedure because two or more different polymer spinning dopes can be simultaneously electrically spun through different nozzles arranged within the same nozzle block. It is possible to prepare a hybrid nano fiber nonwoven fabric or filaments or the like composed of two or more types of nano fibers different in thermal properties or physical properties because their fiber diameter or polymer type are different from each other.
US07988434B2
A compressor may include a housing and first and second scroll members supported within the housing, each having an end plate with a spiral wrap extending therefrom and meshingly engaged with the other to form a series of compression pockets operating at an intermediate fluid pressure between a suction pressure and a discharge pressure. A first passage in communication with one of the compression pockets extends from a first side of the first end plate to a second side of the first end plate generally opposite the first side. A modulation plate overlies the second side of the first scroll member for radial displacement between first and second positions. The modulation plate isolates the first passage from communication with a suction pressure region of the compressor when in the first position and provides communication between the first passage and the suction pressure region when in the second position.
US07988425B1
A pump and alarm control promotes water safety and prevents entrapment in swimming pools, spas, and water features, such as fountains and waterfalls. The pump and alarm control monitors the vacuum on the influent side of a pump for the pool, spa and/or water feature and a two speed pump for a spa and automatically detects blockages in the pool, spa and/or water feature drains. The pump and alarm control is capable of detecting entrapment and blockages in different and distinct normal pressure operating conditions. Upon detecting a blockage the pump and alarm control shuts down pump operations and activates audible and visual alarms.
US07988414B2
A method of operating a wind turbine generator having at least one wind turbine blade includes increasing a pitch angle of the at least one wind turbine blade as the at least one wind turbine blade rotates through a first range of blade azimuth values. Such increasing of the pitch angle reduces acoustic emissions generated by the wind turbine generator. The method also includes decreasing the pitch angle of the at least one wind turbine blade as the at least one wind turbine blade rotates through a second range of blade azimuth values. Such decreasing of the pitch angle increases electric power generated by the wind turbine generator.
US07988413B2
A vertical axis wind turbine includes an upstanding support structure, a plurality of generators disposed on the support structure, a central shaft in rotatable communication with the generators and positioned along a central axis of the vertical-axis wind turbine, a plurality of struts extending from the central shaft, and a plurality of blades, each blade positioned at an end of a corresponding strut and oriented substantially vertically. The vertical axis wind turbine optionally includes strut ailerons, blade extension elements, or blade ailerons to increase the efficiency and duty cycle of the wind turbine.
US07988406B2
The invention relates to a method for operating an order-picking systems (100; 100′), wherein the order-picking system comprises a high-bay warehouse (10), at least one tray warehouse (16), at least one packing station (20; 32), and at least one shipping station (22), comprising the following steps: a) depalletizing (S20) in a layerwise manner packing units (42), which form a, particularly complete, pallet layer (40), from a pallet (44), particularly a EuroPallet, which respectively carries a plurality of packing units (42), which are to be picked, of a type of article, onto a correspondingly dimensioned tray (46); b) bringing (S30) the tray (46) loaded with the pallet layer (40) into the tray warehouse (16), preferably by means of a conveyor technique (14), a storage machine and/or a lift; c) recalling (S40) the tray (46) loaded with the pallet layer (40) in accordance with an order-picking order or several order-picking orders to the packing station (20; 32); removing in accordance with the order-picking order or one of the order-picking orders a predetermined number of packing units (42), which are to be picked, and packing the retrieved packing units onto a shipping support, in order to ship the shipping support to the customer, if the order-picking order is completed.
US07988403B2
The bulk materials cart has a dual unload system including at least two inclined belt conveyors bounding an enclosed cavity. A first belt conveyor is operable for conveying bulk materials from the cavity to an unloading conveyor extendable from that side of the cart. A second belt conveyor is operable for conveying bulk materials upwardly and over another side of the cart. The dual unload system is automatically operable in a first mode operating the first belt conveyor and the unloading conveyor for conveying the bulk materials away from the cart, and in a second mode operating the second belt conveyor for conveying the bulk materials over the side of the cart.
US07988396B2
A fastener for composite material having a dense composition employs a head which has a socket and a recessed underside and a lower rim. The shank has an upper portion with an enlarged diameter and a left hand thread while the lower portion has a tri-lobed configuration and is traversed by a right hand thread. The right hand thread may have a plurality of notches which, in one embodiment, are arranged in a spiral array.
US07988381B1
A vehicle disabling apparatus may include at least one plunger assembly having a plunger and a toggle operable to pivot inside the vehicle tire. The apparatus may include energetic material disposed adjacent the plunger and configured to force the plunger into a vehicle tire. A method of disabling a vehicle having a tire may include using the vehicle's tire to move the plunger and thereby activate the energetic material; and moving the plunger into the tire using gas produced by the energetic material.
US07988377B2
A dispensing device includes inner and outer compartments for housing two different cosmetic liquid materials therein, the outer compartment secured to a cap by threading; a spring biased valve for blocking both openings of the inner and outer compartments when the device is in an inoperative position; and an outlet assembly partially fastened in the valve. An individual may unfasten and remove the cap from the device to unblock the valve, and squeeze both the outer and the inner compartments to push the cosmetic liquid materials to mix in the outlet assembly prior to dispensing out of the device.
US07988368B2
An optical connector that is capable of ensuring excellent waterproofing using a simple structure is provided. The optical connector comprises a connector plug and socket. Each of the plug and socket have a housing, which has a cable-guiding part and a cable-retaining part; a ferrule disposed within the housing and to hold a leading-end part of an optical fiber exposed from a sheath of an optical cable; and a seal member disposed between the cable-guiding part and the cable-retaining part to seal the cable-guiding part.
US07988363B2
To downsize a bearing assembly with a rotation detection device, a magnetic generating element (2) having a directionality about a rotation axis O is provided on an inner race (21) side of the bearing assembly (20). A rotation sensor (3) capable of detecting a magnetism of the magnetic generating element (2) and outputting information descriptive of rotation or angle is fitted to an outer race (22) side in alignment with a bearing axis. The magnetic generating element (2) is fixed to a fixing member, for example, a rotary shaft (10) that is fixed to an inner diametric side of the inner race (21) of the bearing assembly (20).
US07988359B1
The bag has a back panel, a front panel, an upper panel having an upper panel body and a flap and a floor panel. The back panel has a handle opening near the top of the panel. The front panel is shorter than the back panel and is connected to the back panel at the sides of the panel. The upper panel body is sealed to the back panel below the back panel handle, below the upper panel handle and above the flap fold line to form a bag top. The heat sealing desirably forms a seal strip that extends across the width of the bag below the handles and above the flap fold line to connect the upper panel body to the back panel. The top of the bag folds back away from the bag central opening so the handles are not soiled during loading.
US07988355B2
An electronic thermometer is configured for ease and accuracy in construction. A probe of the thermometer includes a flex circuit containing electronic components used to measure temperature and transmit signals to a calculating unit of the thermometer. A resilient locator can function to pre-position the flex circuit prior to final fixation so that the electronic components are reliably positioned in manufacture.
US07988353B2
An electronic thermometer includes a temperature sensing means for sensing a temperature of a part to be measured, a prediction means fro predicting an equilibrium temperature by using the temperature being sensed, and a temperature display means having a temperature display unit. The temperature display means switches the display of the temperature display unit from the predicted temperature predicted by the prediction means to the actual measured temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means, based on a variation state of a peak of the temperature sensed by the temperature sensing means. Accordingly, a variation in displayed temperature is reduced, when the display switching is performed from the predicted temperature to the actual measured temperature, and a determination of the display switching from the predicted temperature to the actual measured temperature can be achieved by a simple circuit.
US07988349B2
A device for displaying an item, wherein the item being displayed can be selectively changed. The device includes an annular body with an inside circumferential surface having an associated mounting arrangement including a shoulder, a groove and a snap ring. A changeable item for display is generally received in the annular body and held in place between the shoulder and the groove by positioning the snap ring into the groove. In some embodiments, the annular body may be adapted to be carried and used on a strap or band, generally in the manner a wristwatch is carried and used. In other embodiments, the annular body may be free-standing or adapted to be supported by a suitable support. The present invention may further include a cover hingedly attached to the annular body. In some embodiments, the cover may have generally similar characteristics as the annular body, it may interchangeably display other selected items, and/or it may include or display a watch face.
US07988339B2
An illumination system includes at least one illumination module and a mechanism. The illumination module includes a light source generating a light beam, a first reflector, in which the light source is positioned, including a first reflective surface to reflect the light beam to form a first beam, and a second reflector including a second reflective surface reflecting the light beam and the first beam to form a second beam and a third beam, wherein the second and third beams combine to generate a projection pattern. The mechanism adjusts the position of the second reflector relative to the light source to change the projection pattern.
US07988330B2
An LED lamp includes a plurality of barrel-type holders and a plurality of LED modules mounted on an outer surface of each of the barrel-type holders. Each of the barrel-type holders has a small opening end and a large opening end opposite to the small opening end. The barrel-type holders are coaxial with each other, with a larger barrel-type holder enclosing a smaller barrel-type holder. The small opening ends of the barrel-type holders face downwardly, while the large opening ends face upwardly.
US07988327B1
A LED luminaire comprises a heat sink disposed above an LED array and in thermal communication with the LED array, the LED array having at least one red LED and a plurality of cool white LEDs, the at least one red LED providing a warmer correlated color temperature for an output light and the plurality of white LEDs providing a higher efficacy, a diffuser positioned to enclose the LED array between the heat sink and the diffuser, the diffuser color mixing the at least one red LED and the plurality of cool white LEDs rendering a red light from the at least one red LED indiscernible from a cool white light of the plurality of white LEDs, a reflector positioned adjacent the heat sink.
US07988325B2
An embodiment of the invention discloses a wavelength converting system. The wavelength converting system comprises: a wavelength converter having a first area and a second area; a first light source disposed under the first area and inducing a first mixed light being visible above the first area; a second light source disposed under the second area and inducing a second mixed light being visible above the second area; and a carrier supporting the first light source and the second light source. The first light source and the second light source have a dominant wavelength difference of 1 nm˜20 nm, and the first mixed light and the second mixed light have a color temperature difference less than 100K.
US07988324B2
The present invention includes decorative, architectural, and building materials and methods of making these materials, using them or both. The present invention relates to an article of manufacture that includes a light source and a substrate with a plurality of volumes of material, where each volume is capable of transmitting light from one location to a second location on a surface of the substrate. The present invention also relates to an article of manufacture having a substrate with a first surface, and a volume of material contained within the substrate and adapted to transmit light from a first location on the first surface to at least a second location. The present invention also relates to methods of making the articles and to methods of transmitting information.
US07988317B2
Provided is a storage case which can be opened and closed by a main body and a cover, including: an electric power switch having function of an electric contact switch added to a locking unit between the body and the cover; a lamp which emits light and flickers by electric power supplied according to an on- or off-state of the electric power switch; a half mirror which operates as a mirror or a glass plate through change of light transmissivity; a general mirror located at the back of the storage case for reflectivity of light; and a light transfer medium positioned within a gap space between the half mirror and the general mirror, and controls a refractive index of light, to reveal a feeling of solidity. Through self-lighting in the storage case, values of jewels, cosmetics etc., contained in the storage case as well as the storage case can be heightened.
US07988313B2
An illuminated headgear (10), with an energy absorbing support structure (11), operationally coupled to an outer shell (12), with illuminated graphical lighting displays, containing graphical representations that are illuminated by lights (25a-25f), the lighting displays being integrated with the outer shell instead of being supported on the supporting structure (11), and further comprising graphical support membrane (82), enabling individuals to make and apply their own unique graphical representations to light-transmissive windows (13, 14) in the generally opaque outer shell (12).
US07988311B2
A light emitting device and method of producing the same is disclosed. The light emitting device includes a light emitting semiconductor, an encapsulation layer, wherein the light emitting semiconductor is disposed within the encapsulation layer, a phosphor layer provided over the encapsulation layer, and an air gap provided between the encapsulation layer and the phosphor layer.
US07988309B2
An illumination device has a light source that supplies illumination light to an object to be illuminated and also has a corner cube member disposed at the opposite side of the light source with respect to the object to be illuminated. With this feature, efficient illumination of the object to be illuminated is achieved without need for high precision in positioning.
US07988306B2
A projection apparatus has a spatial light modulator to modulate illumination from a laser light source. A base projection lens has, from its long conjugate side to its short conjugate side, a first lens group with negative focal length and with a first lens element that has a negative focal length and a second lens element of positive focal length, a second lens group of negative focal length and spaced apart from the first lens group and having one or more cemented lens elements, and a third lens group spaced apart from the second lens group and having a lens with a positive focal length. The base projection lens has a first field of view and is telecentric in its short conjugate. An afocal attachment to the base projection lens alters the first field of view by the same amount in both of two orthogonal directions.
US07988297B2
Non-rigidly coupled, overlapping, non-feedback optical systems for spatial filtering of Fourier transform optical patterns and image shape characterization comprises a first optical subsystem that includes a lens for focusing a polarized, coherent beam to a focal point, an image input device that spatially modulates phase positioned between the lens and the focal point, and a spatial filter at the Fourier transform pattern, and a second optical subsystem overlapping the first optical subsystem includes a projection lens and a detector. The second optical subsystem is optically coupled to the first optical subsystem.
US07988286B2
An ophthalmic lens is presented in which the lens includes a progressive addition region and a dynamic optic. The dynamic optic and the progressive addition region are in optical communication. The progressive addition region has an add power which is less than a user's near viewing distance add power. The dynamic optic, when activated, provides the additional needed optical power for the wearer to see clearly at a near distance. This combination leads to the unexpected result that not only does the wearer have the ability to see clearly at intermediate and near distances, but the level of unwanted astigmatism, distortion, and vision compromise are reduced significantly.
US07988278B2
An inkjet ink and a method for printing on hydrophobic media such as offset coated media, using the inkjet ink, including an inkjet containing a pigment, water, a surfactant and 40 to 75 weight % of a polar non-protic solvent with a molecular weight of 40 to 130 which has permeability to a hydrophobic surface such as the coating of an offset coated medium.
US07988275B2
An inkjet head, comprises an ink jetting chamber unit in which a plurality of ink jetting chambers to jet ink from respective nozzles is arranged along at least one array; a manifold to distribute ink to the plurality of ink jetting chambers; a first ink flow path to supply ink from the outside to the manifold; an air chamber structured to form an air-liquid interface at which air contacts with ink in the air chamber; and a second ink flow path branched from the first ink flow path and connected to the air chamber.
US07988269B2
The present invention provides a liquid droplet ejecting device including a liquid droplet ejecting head; a liquid storage unit that stores a liquid; a first flow path and a second flow path that connect the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, the second flow path connecting with the first flow path in the liquid droplet ejecting head; a bypass flow path connected with the first flow path and the second flow path; a liquid feed unit provided between the liquid storage unit and a connecting portion of the bypass flow path and the first flow path, and circulating the liquid in the liquid droplet ejecting head and the liquid storage unit, and a pressure control unit provided at the bypass flow path, and controlling pressure of the liquid flowing through the bypass flow path from the first flow path side to the second flow path side.
US07988267B2
A buffer tank mounted on a head holder has a plurality of air discharge valves for discharging the air accumulated in inks to the outside. The air discharge valve includes a valve body for opening and closing the passage bore and a valve rod provided extending from the valve body downwardly. A maintenance unit is provided outside the buffer tank, which includes an air discharge cap for covering the lower ends of the passage bores and a plurality of air discharge rods provided corresponding to the air discharge valves respectively. The air discharge rods are different in length from one another, depending on the colors of ink. When the air discharge rods are lifted up simultaneously by a lifting, they come into direct contact with the lower ends of the corresponding valve rods in sequence as their movements are delayed one after another, hence opening the valve bodies separately.
US07988254B2
The inkjet apparatus for double-side recording, comprises: liquid ejection heads which are disposed on either side of a recording medium and face each other across the recording medium, the liquid ejection heads ejecting liquid onto recording surfaces of the recording medium; conveyance devices which hold the recording medium in such a manner that a normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal, and convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction in such a manner that the recording surfaces face ejection surfaces of the liquid ejection heads; and end supporting devices which support an upper end and a lower end of the recording medium, as the conveyance devices convey the recording medium in a horizontal direction while holding the recording medium in such a manner that the normal of each of the recording surfaces is substantially horizontal.
US07988244B2
A modular merchandise pod includes a generally elongated merchandise pod base having first and second ends, a rack assembly carried by the merchandise pod base and disposed generally midway between the first and second ends and a rack assembly top panel carried by the rack assembly.
US07988239B1
A wheel assembly includes a decorative member mounted on an outer race of a bearing carried in a holder with an inner race mounted on a spindle and secured by an attachment fastener. The bearing holder is carried on the spindle projecting from a coupler hub fixed to an axle cap secured to a vehicle axle hub. Set screw fasteners are employed to retain securement fasteners to the spindle and to retain the coupler hub fasteners with the axle cap. The wheel mounting assembly permits the movably mounted decorative member carried on the rotatable vehicle axle hub to remain static or to rotate while the wheel is turning as a vehicle travels along a roadway.
US07988232B2
A vehicle seat (1) is disclosed, particularly a commercial vehicle seat, with a seat base (3) which is designed as a scissors-type stand and is provided with intersecting rockers (15) and at least one frame (11, 13) that movably guides at least one of the rockers (15) in the longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle seat (1) by a bearing mechanism (21). The bearing mechanism (21) features at least one compensating element that rests against a first guide (33), at least some sections of which are inclined at an angle (a) relative to the transversal direction (y) of the vehicle seat (1), and can be moved along the first guide (33) in the longitudinal direction (x). The bearing mechanism (21) further features at least one rotatably mounted wheel (23) which is supported on a second guide (35) and can be rolled along the second guide (35) in the longitudinal direction (x). A slider (31) which can be displaced along the first guide (33) is used as a compensating element.
US07988226B2
A reflector support structure capable of reducing the effect on the appearance of a vehicle body, while maintaining good visibility. In a vehicle including a wheel disposed on a vehicle body frame via a suspension, a fender covering an upward area of the wheel, a cross frame disposed on an inside of the fender and extending laterally across the vehicle body frame, and a shock absorber having an upper end attached to the cross frame, a reflector is disposed visibly from an outside of the vehicle body on the cross frame disposed on the inside of the fender.
US07988225B2
A support member for attaching a vehicle fascia such as a front bumper fascia, to a vehicle frame or other support component is described. The support member includes a bracket at one end of the member and various fasteners for attachment to the vehicle fascia.
US07988219B2
A recreational vehicle slide out roof block prevents foreign material such as water, dirt, or debris from accumulating on a recreational vehicle slide out roof. A slide out roof block has a size and shape selected to fill a gap between a slide out roof and an awning sheet extending over the slide out roof. Embodiments of a slide out roof block comprise a compressible bolster having a rain flap along a bottom edge of a front side. The bolster includes a block of compressible polymer foam in some embodiments. One or more pole sleeves may optionally be attached to the front side of the bolster. A pole inserted into a pole sleeve may be used to install or retrieve a slide out roof block. Some embodiments have an airtight cover and a valve, enabling a slide out roof block to be compressed for storage and reinflated for installation.
US07988212B2
A bracket for attaching and aligning a forward-looking radar (FLR) having a front face is disclosed according to one embodiment. The bracket includes a bracket frame having an attachment feature for attaching the FLR to the bracket frame. The bracket also includes a first mounting feature extending from the bracket frame for coupling the bracket face and the first mounting surface of the conveyance to define a first mounting surface angle. The bracket also includes a bracket member extending from the bracket frame. The bracket member includes an end portion disposed proximate to the bracket face and a distal end portion, which includes a second mounting feature for coupling the bracket member and the second mounting surface thereby defining a second mounting surface angle and aligning the FLR front face to an alignment angle.
US07988207B2
Mechanical pipe couplings for joining pipe elements in end to end relation have arcuate keys which engage circumferential grooves in the pipe elements and radially projecting stiffening ribs aligned with the keys. At the end of the keys on opposite sides are camming surfaces which are formed by a thinning of the key. The camming surfaces may be concave, convex, or angularly oriented surfaces and serve to guide the keys into grooves when the keys are not directly aligned with the grooves.
US07988198B2
An album includes a front cover panel, a back cover panel, and a spine panel extending between the front and the back cover panels edge-to-edge. A folding arrangement, which couples between a last album page and the back cover panel, includes a flexible sheet having two longitudinal edges coupling at an outer side of last album page and an inner side of the back cover panel to retain the last album page being overlapped on the back cover panel in a slidably movable manner. When the album is folded at an opened position, the front cover panel, the spine panel, and the back cover panel are aligned to form a planer backing for providing a completely plane on the surface of the album.
US07988186B2
An airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The airbag includes an airbag body (12) defining an interior (15) of the airbag (10). A series of substantially sinusoidal seams (20) join together portions of the airbag body (12) to partition the airbag interior (15) into a plurality of fluidly communicating chambers (22). It is believed that characteristics of the airbag (10) during inflation and after inflation may be controlled by varying the characteristics of the sinusoidal seams (20).
US07988178B2
A motorcycle hitch assembly is disclosed for attachment to a hitch support on a motorcycle for towing a trailer. The hitch assembly comprises a base and a pivotal trailer ball carried by the base for being coupled with the trailer coupling. The trailer ball includes a ball element and a ball shank extending from the ball element having a free end. A pivot support connects the base and the ball shaft so that the trailer ball and base pivot relative to each other generally in a vertical plane so that the trailer ball remains generally vertical as the motorcycle and base lean during turning. A clearance space defined between the free end of the shank and a bottom of the base allow the trailer ball to pivot freely in a vertical plane. Binding between the trailer coupler and the trailer ball element is reduced during turning.
US07988169B2
A bicycle according to the present invention comprises of a steering axis and an axle of rear wheel that are attached in one unit with a frame to build a form; a pair of guide members with guide holes formed therein are attached to both cut ends of the frame; a pedal axle with the attachment of pedals and a rotating gear in a unit are respectively assembled and fixed onto the guide members; the bicycle according to the present invention comprises a crankshaft of which a pair of crank cams is assembled and fixed into both cut ends of the frame; a gear which engages with the gear; and a spindle which supports a unit of the gear and a sprocket to rotate; the bicycle according to the present invention is run by a running system in which the crank cam rotates when the pedals are reciprocated up and down.
US07988166B2
A corner assembly includes a suspension module and a wheel assembly. In order to compensate for tolerance stack up in relation to a specified height of the corner assembly, the attachment between a damper of the suspension module and a knuckle of the wheel assembly is adjusted. The amount of adjustment is determined by measuring the assembled length of the suspension module, comparing the measured length to a standard length and determining an amount of adjustment necessary.
US07988163B2
The present invention relates to a balance compensation apparatus to be used by persons with one dysfunctional leg and one operative leg. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus with a frame having at least one lateral support with an aperture for slidably engaging a kneeling platform assembly and a steering column that is mounted on the frame to be offset from a longitudinal centerline of the frame. A handlebar is connected to the steering column. The platform and the handlebar are adjustable for added comfort, control and stability. The platform assembly may be offset of the longitudinal centerline to a side in common with the steering column and have cushions for added comfort. A hand brake may provide stability and safety and the steering column may fold for easy storage.
US07988159B2
A wheeled device having pairs of wheels positioned on opposite sides (e.g. skateboard or “quad” skate) that includes a base and at least one turnable wheel assembly. A turnable wheel assembly includes two wheels having negative camber angle, and is configured such that the axles of the wheels can pivot about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel. This configuration is conducive to the use of large wheels.
US07988158B2
A driving device for adjusting an orientation of a wheel attached to a vehicle body includes: a driving unit; a lifting shaft extending along a first axis and capable of moving axially when driven by the driving unit; a suspension arm extending along a transverse direction intersecting the first axis, and having one end adapted for connection with the wheel and another end disposed in proximity to the lifting shaft; and a cam unit including at least one roller connected to one of the lifting shaft and the suspension arm, and an inclined cam face provided on the other one of the lifting shaft and the suspension arm. The roller and the inclined cam face interact with each other such that the suspension arm moves along the transverse direction.
US07988157B2
An apparatus is disclosed for use on standard or customized wheelchairs for moving the wheelchair and wheelchair occupant up or down a stairway or stairway-like structure (e.g., a curb) with greater confidence and stability to the occupant of the wheelchair and its handler(s). The apparatus includes a motorized assembly that interacts with stair steps when the apparatus and wheelchair are tilted backwardly. The motorized assembly allows the wheelchair to glide or move up or down the steps without experiencing the bumps commonly associated with rolling a wheelchair up or down a set of stairs. The apparatus includes a headrest to provide comfort to the occupant during operation and includes pivoting handlebars to allow the operator of the wheelchair to control the movement of the wheelchair. The apparatus is mountable to, and removable from (when not in use), the wheelchair. The apparatus can be considered as a retrofit.
US07988156B2
A seal assembly, for an additive pump having a reciprocating piston, is provided. The seal assembly includes a seal carrier having first and second components each having a bore therein to receive the piston. Each component has an end face arranged to abut one another when arranged axially on the piston, and a face seal is interposed between the end faces to inhibit egress of fluid between the end faces. A pair of circumferential seals at axially spaced locations are provided along the seal carrier and operable to engage the piston during reciprocating thereof, and a drain port intersecting one of the bores intermediate the seals is provided to permit egress of fluid from between the seals.
US07988154B1
An air actuated ball game which utilizes a table-like member having an exterior frame supporting a circular top surface. The top surface has a plurality of holes therethrough and is divided into equal segments each having a different color. Air from a fan or similar air generating means is compelled through the holes for moving sets of balls, each set of balls having a different color, around the top surface of the table-like member. Each of the sets of balls has a color which matches one of the segments. As balls move around the top surface, players must retrieve certain balls which drop into openings in each segment and bounce the balls into a cup located at the center of the top surface. Various rules of play are anticipated based on these basic game components.
US07988152B2
An apparatus is for shuffling a plurality of playing cards used in gaming. The apparatus includes a card support adapted to support the unshuffled cards on-edge. An exciter is also included, and is adapted to impart vibrational action to the supported cards. Cards drop in a random fashion such as by controlling the relative position of the cards and passage through one or more card slots in a card rest. In at least some of the apparatus, a medial receiver is adapted to receive at least one card dropped from the card support and to retain the at least one received card to substantially block a card slot to prevent further cards from dropping. A positioner is preferably included to change a relative position of the unshuffled deck and card slots though which the cards drop.
US07988150B2
A machine which transports and processes print media can incorporate a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber can be within a print media transport device in order to maintain a print medium at a uniform predetermined distance from a print media processing device, such as an image printing device (e.g., an inkjet printer), an image scanning device, or a spectrophotometer). In one embodiment the vacuum chamber is located within a roller that transports print media past the processing device. In another embodiment the vacuum chamber is located on an opposite side of a belt that transports print media past the processing device. In each of the embodiments the size of the vacuum chamber opening, which defines the vacuum area on the transport device, and also the amount of vacuum pressure may be selectively adjusted depending upon the size and weight, respectively, of the print medium being processed.
US07988145B2
A hold-down device is disclosed for holding down the leading edges of sheet materials, such as multiple-ply sheets or integrated forms, disposed in a tray of a printer in a horizontal or flat position prior to feeding the leading edge of the top sheet or integrated form into the printer feed mechanism. Because some sheet materials are prone to curling, which causes jamming in the feed mechanism or downstream in printing path within commonly used printers, the disclosed hold-down device maintains the leading edge of the top sheet in a flat or horizontal position so it can be reliably and evenly received in the feeder mechanism of the printer, thereby reducing the chances of jamming when sheet materials that are prone to curling, such as multiple-ply sheets or integrated forms, are being printed. The hold-down device includes a base with two ends. Each end may include a retainer or other means for detachably connecting the base to the paper tray of the printer. The base is hingedly connected to a pair of parallel arms. Each arm includes a distal end that engages or rests on the top sheet adjacent, but proximal to the leading edge of the top sheet to prevent curling.
US07988141B2
A bill deposit/withdrawal machine includes a deposit/withdrawal port, a bill discriminating unit, a plurality of bill accepting boxes and a bill transport path which connects the deposit/withdrawal port and the bill accepting boxes through the bill discriminating unit which transports bills. The deposit/withdrawal port and the bill discriminating unit are disposed in an upper part of the machine, and the bill accepting boxes are disposed in a lower part of the machine. The bill transport path includes an upper bill transport path provided in the upper part of the machine, and a lower bill transport path provided in the lower part of the machine. The lower bill transport path is installed along the bill accepting boxes and includes a mechanism for bidirectionally transporting bills and a switchable gate connecting with one of the bill accepting boxes.
US07988139B2
A reference member serves as a reference for aligning trailing edges of a stack of sheets stacked on a binding tray. A binding unit binds the sheets with the trailing edges aligned. A discharge unit discharges the sheets with or without performing the binding process from the binding tray to a discharge tray. The reference member is movable in a sheet width direction such that a first position of the reference member at a time of discharging the sheets without performing the binding process is closer to a center of the binding tray than a second position of the reference member at a time of discharging the sheets with performing the binding process.
US07988135B2
For the reliable condensation of steam on condensation nuclei in an aerosol flow and therefore for enlarging the particles in the aerosol, the invention provides a method which is characterized in that condensation nuclei are passed through an inner area of an evaporating zone forming a flow area, the liquid to be evaporated is contacted with the flow area and evaporated therein and the thus produced steam is condensed on the condensation nuclei. the invention also provides an apparatus for condensing steam on condensation nuclei with an inlet for condensation nuclei and an evaporating zone constructed in such a way that a flow area for the condensation nuclei has a heated liquid duct open thereto and that a condensation flue is connected to the flow area. The invention also provides methods and apparatuses for counting particles, for producing monodisperse aerosols using the aforementioned method or the aforementioned apparatus.
US07988126B2
The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuation unit (2) of a hydraulic valve (1), with a housing (14), a closing body (4b) and a sealing element (6), the closing body (4b) being plugged into an insertion opening (14a) of the housing (14), the sealing element (6) bearing against the closing body (4b) and the housing (14) and protecting the interior of the actuation unit against the ingress of media.
US07988124B2
Provided is a needle valve in which a gap between a valve casing and a needle is reliably sealed and an origin of the needle can be readily obtained with high precision. A needle (6) is screwed into a cylindrical rotor (44) of a stepping motor (7) so as to be retractable, and a rotation regulating member (47) prevents the needle (6) from rotating together with the rotor (44). Accordingly, in a case of driving the motor (7) to rotate the rotor (44), the needle (6) vertically moves without rotating. A lower limit sensor (61) and an upper limit sensor (60) detects a detection target piece (49) provided to the rotation regulating member (47), so a lower limit position and an upper limit position of the needle (6) are obtained. The motor (7) is controlled such that, after the motor (7) is driven until the lower limit sensor (61) detects the detection target piece (49), an origin sensor (71) monitors an origin detection plate (62) so as to stop at a predetermined rotation stop position. Thus, an origin of the needle (6) is obtained.
US07988121B2
A wall hanger for hanging a display device on a wall includes a latching member, an outer hanger member, an inner hanger member and a screw. The inner hanger member includes a threaded portion with a threaded hole and a lock portion with a lock hole. The lock portion is integrally formed with the threaded portion and bent to face the threaded portion with a predetermined space therebetween so that the threaded hole and the lock hole are concentrically positioned. The screw has a predetermined length so that the inner and outer hanger members sandwich a rear cover of the display device when the rear cover of the display device is disposed therebetween. The lock hole prevents a long screw from being threaded into the display device by mating an inner peripheral face of the lock hole with a distal end of the long screw.
US07988118B2
A suspended bottle holder has substantially vertically disposed first and second straps, each of which has an upper strap portion and a lower strap portion. A bottle base holding loop has proximal and distal longitudinal ends, the bottle base holding loop being attached to the upper and lower portions of the first strap, for engaging at least a portion of a bottle base. A bottle neck holding loop has proximal and distal longitudinal ends, the bottle neck holding loop being attached to the upper and lower portions of the second strap, for engaging at least a portion of a neck of the bottle. A connector connects the first and second straps to a structural member. The bottle base holding loop and the bottle neck holding loop are sufficiently spaced and the first and second straps are of a substantially equal length both when a bottle is removed from, or received in, the bottle base and bottle neck holding loops, so as to maintain the bottle in a substantially horizontal disposition.
US07988115B2
An articulating hook assembly adapted to pivot between open and closed positions as desired. The assembly includes a support frame, a hook pivot base of cloven construction projecting outwardly away from the support frame and a support hook adapted to pivotally engage the hook pivot base. The hook pivot base includes a pair of ear members separated by a variable width gap. At least one ear member includes a contoured inner face with a pattern of variable height surface structures including at least a first depression and a second depression with a raised height platform disposed between the first depression and a second depression. A projection finger on the support hook rides in sandwiched relation within the variable width gap such that upon rotation of the support hook between open and closed positions, the finger projection moves across the raised height platform surface between the first depression and a second depression.
US07988114B2
An apparatus expanding around the perimeter of a box-shaped electronic device, the apparatus having a rectangular frame which is expandable lengthwise and widthwise and brackets for three-dimensional retention of an electronic device.
US07988113B2
A display device includes a seat, a support member, an adjusting member, and a display panel. The adjusting member is moveably attached to the rear of the display panel. The adjusting member includes a pair of first linkage poles, a pair of second linkage poles, a pair of third linkage poles, a fixing member, a first rotating shaft, a second rotating shaft, a third rotating shaft, and a fourth rotating shaft. The linkage poles and rotating shaft form a transmutable quadrilateral.
US07988111B2
An apparatus and method for mounting various audio devices to a flat panel display employing mounting holes disposed on a rearward face of the panel of the flat panel display that are otherwise normally employed to couple a support of the flat panel display to the panel of the flat panel display, wherein a hub supporting rods that in turn support the audio devices is coupled to the rearward face of the panel with the aid of those holes, and wherein the hub and rods together convey electrical signals between at least one of the audio devices and at least one cable.
US07988110B1
A cable clamp includes a base, a cover, a supporting plate, and a piece of foam secured to a top of the supporting plate. The cover includes a main body, a connection member and a fixing member extending from opposite ends of the main body. The connection member is fixed to a first end of the base. A latch is formed on a second end of the base to engage with the fixing member of the cover, the supporting plate is slidably installed to a top of the base.
US07988105B2
A fastener for attaching an attached article to an attaching object is taught that preferably include a holding member that is arranged and constructed to hold the attached article, and an engagement leg that is arranged and constructed to engage an engagement hole formed in the attaching object. The engagement leg is connected to the holding member via a breakable connecting device. The connecting device is arranged and constructed to be easily broken when a substantial force is applied thereto.
US07988099B2
A winglet for an aircraft wing is provided. The winglet has an airflow control arrangement, for example in the form of a trailing edge flap (20) by means of which lift generated by the winglet can be varied. The control arrangement desirably forms part of a manoeuvre load alleviation system (22) for the aircraft.
US07988081B2
Condiment grinder and dispenser in which the usual shield for protecting the adjustment screw on the end of the drive shaft is replaced and the screw is secured against accidental removal and loss by providing a stop structure which is attached to or integral part of the end of the drive shaft. This structure, unlike a shield, does not interfere with the adjustment of the coarseness of the grind produced by the grinding dispenser, and yet maintains the integrity of the device without undue complexity or manufacturing expense.
US07988079B2
The present invention relates to a new-type dual-passage paper feeding safety structure for shredders comprising a shredder upper lid, a dual-passage paper feeding safety cover plate and a touch safety switch, touch components are arranged on the dual-passage paper feeding safety cover plate, the shredder upper lid has a paper inlet corresponding to the dual-passage paper feeding safety cover plate and above the set of paper shredding blade shafts of the shredders, the dual-passage paper feeding safety cover plate is arranged in the paper inlet, the middle parts of two ends of the dual-passage paper feeding safety cover plate is connected rotatably with the shredder upper lid, the touch safety switch is fixed inside the shredder upper lid and cooperated with the touch components so that the touch components would touch the touch safety switch when the dual-passage paper feeding safety cover plate is rotated to open and work, more preferably, the middle parts of two ends of the dual-passage paper feeding safety cover plate are pivoted with the shredder upper lid, the touch components are touch cams, a working and stand-by limiting structure is also included, and the dual-passage paper feeding safety cover plate further has a disc feeding passage at its middle part, therefore the new-type dual-passage paper feeding safety structure for shredders of the present invention is designed dexterously and convenient to use, and has a high safety and economy.
US07988069B2
A shower header type spraying device having an elongated spray header with a plurality of laterally-spaced nozzles and an elongated cleaning brush assembly supported in said spray header for cleaning inlet apertures of said spray nozzles. The cleaning brush assembly includes an axially extending rod and a plurality of brush elements each mounted on the rod by means of a self-aligning member that has an arcuate shape corresponding to the outer circumference of the rod for orienting a row of brush bristles of the brush element in predetermined relation to the elongated axis of the rod. The illustrated brush rod assembly includes a plurality of brush rod segments each having a self-aligning coupling at an axial end thereof such that joining of adjacent rod segments automatically orients the brush elements in predetermined angular offset relation to each other.
US07988059B2
A method for connecting an electronic chip (10) to contacts (47and 48) of an electric circuit, the chip having two conductive plates (31and 32) located on the last layer of the chip and at least one electromagnetic shielding layer, at least one of the plates (31or 32) being entirely covered with an electrical insulating layer (34). The method includes placing an adhesive dielectric material (40) on the circuit between the contacts (47, 48), to fix the electronic chip (10) relative to the circuit, positioning electronic chip (10) on the circuit so that conductive plates (31et 32) are opposite the contacts (47and 48), so as to create between the chip and the electric circuit at least one capacitive link made up of the conductive plate (31or 32), the electrically insulating layer and the contact (47or 48).
US07988057B2
It is an object to provide a flexible semiconductor device bearing a memory device with a highly reliable storage function, where the memory device comprises a layer containing an organic compound. Specifically, the memory device has a memory element which comprises a layer including an organic compound between a pair of electrodes and a sealing layer formed over the memory element, and a moisture absorbing material is contained in the sealing layer. As the moisture absorbing material, a particle of molten silica, crystalline silica, alumina, silicon nitride, aluminum nitride, boron nitride, zeolite, an oxide of an alkaline earth metal, sulfate or a high water-absorbing polymer can be used.
US07988048B2
A control chip of a card reader providing at least one card detection pin for detecting memory cards connected to corresponding read/write interfaces. The card detection pin is for the prevention of mutual interference caused by the memory cards connected with shared pins of the control chip. The card detection pin of the memory card may be used for the detection of another memory card being inserted into or pulled out from a read/write interface when the control chip of the card reader is accessing a memory card. An interference-acknowledgement signal is generated for the prevention or correction of accessing errors.
US07988047B2
An optically readable sheet has plural mark spaces and has at least two fiducial marks defining the orientation and scaling of the sheet. A method for reading an optically readable sheet may comprise imaging the sheet and decoding the fiducial marks from the image of the sheet for scaling the image of the sheet and decoding the mark spaces therein. Scaling the image may include comparing the locations of the decoded fiducial marks from the image of the sheet and the predetermined locations of the fiducial marks on the sheet.
US07988038B2
The present invention discloses a system and methods for biometric security using biometrics in a transponder-reader system. The biometric security system also includes a biometric sensor that detects biometric samples and a device for verifying biometric samples. In one embodiment, the biometric security system includes a transponder configured with a biometric sensor. In another embodiment, the system includes a reader configured with a biometric sensor. The device for verifying samples compares the biometric samples with information stored on databases.
US07988037B2
A method and device exchanging contact information on an electronic device. Contact information is obtained from a contact by scanning a barcode using an electronic device and decoding the barcode to recover the contact information encoded therein. The contact information may be used to reciprocate by sending user contact data in a message addressed to an electronic address obtained from the contact information. The user contact data may be encoded in a second barcode displayed on the electronic device.
US07988032B2
Two tubular components (10, 14) are provided with integral end caps (11, 15). The end caps (11, 15) are placed in abutting relationship and are held together under pressure whilst the tubular component (10) is rotated. A pressure is applied and this causes frictional heating. A friction welded joint (18) occurs at the interface between the two end caps (11, 15). On completion of the welding process a machining tool is then passed through the internal bore (12 or 16) in either of the tubular components. The machining tool cuts through the joined end caps (11, 15) to produce a single uniform bore thorough the joined components. In a further post processing operation the extruded flash (20) is removed from the outer surfaces (13, 17).
US07988018B2
An apparatus for dispensing a flowable product from a product package through a dispensing outlet at or above a preset elevated temperature is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a container slide structure coupled with a first side of the container and having: a first slide member coupled with a first side of the container; a second slide member extendably coupled with the first slide member; a slide mounting bracket for connecting with a fixed surface coupled to the first slide member; a container tilt structure coupled with a first side of the container and having a: tilt member coupled with the first side of the container and the slide mounting bracket; a slot member having a slot coupled with the first side of said container; a slot engagement member slidably movable in the slot of the slot member coupled with the first side the container and the tilt member; and a pivot member coupled with the first side of the container at a lower back position of the container, enabling the tilting of the container about the pivot member from a horizontal position to a titled position, the titling being constrained by the movement of the slot engagement member in the slot of the slot member. Other embodiments disclose a roller and roller retainer mechanism; and a product package holder.
US07988005B2
A storage system for storing a plurality of fluids or other goods has a plurality of containers adapted to fit within a receptacle. Each of the containers has an inner sidewall, an outer sidewall, and a top sidewall having a spout sealable with a cap such that the container contains the fluid or other goods when the cap is engaged with the spout. The plurality of containers are shaped such that the containers are stackable or nestable within the receptacle such that the containers tessellate, the inner sidewalls of the containers abutting each other, and the outer sidewalls abutting the inner surface of the receptacle, completely filling substantially all of the receptacle.
US07988002B2
A plastic container and closure and method of making the same. The container can include a solid bottom end, an outer sidewall extending from the solid bottom end, and a neck portion extending from the outer sidewall to create an open end of the container. The neck portion may have a spout portion having an aperture formed therein. The spout portion can be inverted to form a flange receptacle. The closure can include a sealing portion which includes a first receptacle, a spring portion that includes a second receptacle, and a planar center area configured in the center of the closure and extending inward from the spring portion. The container may be filled with a product and the closure secured to the container, over the open end, to create a primary seal and a secondary seal. When the closure is secured to the container, the spring portion can exert a sealing pressure against the neck portion of the container to create the primary seal.
US07987999B2
A product display highlighter has a product carrier body for containing and displaying product, and which is configured to fit with a relatively larger display in a manner in which the product carrier body of the display highlighter and products therein are physically set apart from the products of the larger display. The product display highlighter can be placed at any of multiple locations on a larger display, and multiple product display highlighters can be used in connection with a single larger display.
US07987996B2
A filter medium comprises a modified cross-section fiber (A) having a fiber diameter between 40 and 70 μm, an extremely fine fiber (B) having a fiber diameter of more than 5 μm and no more than 10 μm and a modified cross-section fiber (C) having a fiber diameter between 15 and 30 μm, the content of the extremely fine fiber (B) is between 3 and 10% by mass, and the content of the modified cross-section fiber (C) is between 5 and 15% by mass based on 100% by mass of total the fibers in the filter medium.
US07987990B2
A system, methodology, and product to sort, organize and store individual members of building/construction toy sets utilizing a multi-level system of bins with sieves at different heights using user applied forces and gravity to automatically sort and organize pieces into bins, while providing a fun hands-on sorting experience for kids. The location, size and shape of the sieves can be designed to optimize sorting speed and user experience for specific toy manufacturer brands including Lego™ bricks made by Lego Corporation. The system also functions as a storage unit for the pieces, during and after sort. A flexible binding mechanism holds the system together during sort. The system is designed with see-through materials to monitor the status of the sort and find specific pieces in respective bins. A set of wheels enables mobility. The “hands-on” involvement in sorting also makes this an entertaining and educational apparatus for kids.
US07987982B2
A retainer ring is provided for use in a welding wire package having looped magnetic welding wire. The ring is a flat sheet of flexible permanent magnet material with an outer periphery and an inner periphery and includes printed material on the ring which can be cut from the ring and affixed to any metal surface.
US07987979B2
An enclosure for housing a portable data transfer device, such as a bar code scanner, data collection device, or other equipment, for use in environments requiring a certain level of cleanliness, for protection against transmission of infection or merely dust or dirt, while allowing a full range of functional capability of such devices and equipment.
US07987977B2
A hearing aid is enclosed in a gas-impermeable or substantially gas-impermeable package to prevent inadvertent activation of the hearing aid during transport. The package may include a housing having a groove that substantially conforms to at least a portion of the shape of the hearing aid to snugly hold the hearing aid. The groove may be substantially open adjacent a switch on the hearing aid. A securing member, such as a strap, may be used to immobilize the switch relative to the housing.
US07987968B2
A method and a system for stabilizing the sight line of a chip component being carried on two discs, for stabilizing delivery of the chip component between the two discs, and improving and stabilizing the inspection accuracy in the visual check of the chip component. This is achieved by employing a mechanism for carrying the chip component while supporting it on the horizontal plane of the first rotary disc and then carrying the chip component while suction-holding it on the vertical plane of the second rotary disc. When the chip component is carried on the first rotary disc, the upper surface and one side face of the chip component are imaged by first and second cameras. When the chip component is carried on the second rotary disc, the lower surface and the other side face of the chip component are imaged by third and fourth cameras.
US07987964B2
An apparatus for transferring articles such as absorbent cores or disposable diaper chassis components from a rotary mechanism, such as a pad turner, to a linear mechanism, such as a conveyor, for further processing. A puck on the apparatus is capable of manipulating the article during this transfer procedure.
US07987959B2
An actuator for a state changeover element that is actuated in a manner interlocking with the tilting of a tilt member is provided. The actuator is equipped with a rotational power generating portion, an output shaft coaxially and integrally rotatably coupled to a tilt spindle of the tilt member to output a rotational power generated by the rotational power generating portion, a casing that covers the actuator and having an opening for exposing one axial end side of the output shaft to an outside. The actuator is further equipped with a rotational angle limiting unit provided between the output shaft and a wall portion of the casing radially facing the output shaft to physically limit a rotational angle of the output shaft. A range changeover device for an automatic transmission equipped with this actuator and a parking device equipped with this actuator are provided.
US07987958B2
A one-way clutch including first and second races with radially opposed circumferential surfaces and at least one wedge separate from the races and disposed radially between the races. The first race is arranged for rotational connection to a torque transmitting element in an automotive device and is arranged to rotate independently of the second race for relative rotation in a first direction. A circumference for one of the circumferential surfaces has a uniform radius. A circumference for the other of the circumferential surfaces includes at least one radial protrusion. The wedge elements are arranged to engage the protrusions and the opposing circumferential surface to rotationally lock the first and second races for relative rotation of the first race in a second rotational direction, opposite the first rotational direction. During lockup, a circumferential extent of the wedge elements in contact with the second race is greater than an axial extent.
US07987954B2
A damper for reducing vibrations present in various portions of small vehicles, other transportation devices and other rolling and/or motorized devices, such as bicycles, motorcycles, lawn mowers, snowblowers and the like, may comprise a resilient member and a weight. The resilient member may mounted to a portion of a device having a surface suitable for engaging and retaining the resilient member therein, and the resilient member may have an inside surface suitable for engaging and retaining the weight.
US07987950B2
The present invention provides an electro wedge brake (EWB) system that implements a main braking function by using power generated by one motor. Further, the electro wedge brake system implements various additional functions such as a function for maintaining a set clearance of a pad, a Fail-Safe function, and an EPB function, by using that the forward movement of a push rod shaft screwed using a NSL (Non-Self Locking) type screw is restrained or released on the basis of ON/OFF control of the solenoid mechanism interlocked with the main braking function motor. Accordingly, since only one motor is used to generate power, it is possible to reduce the number of parts and to simplify the structure.
US07987949B2
The present invention relates to parking brake lever system 1 for manually tightening and releasing of at least one brake cable 90, wherein the parking brake lever system 1 comprises at least one rotation arm 10, 12 pivotably supported at a fixed support 50, wherein the rotation arm 10, 12 is connected to the brake cable 90, and at least one actuation lever 20, 22, which at a first end thereof is pivotably connected to the rotation arm 10, 12 and which at a second end thereof is rigidly connected to a hand grip 40, wherein the actuation lever 20, 22 is slidingly supported at the fixed support 50, such that the hand grip 40 defines a curved path during actuation of the parking brake lever system 1.
US07987946B2
A tropicalized petroleum sector cut-off valve gear box system and its respective method of application are described. The system involves the conversion of any gear box model with cut-off valves used in the petroleum industry, into tropicalized gear boxes, so as to allow total preventative maintenance with no need for interruptions on production lines.
US07987937B2
The present disclosure provides a Front End Module (FEM) assembly and associated assembly method with a rail system to enable efficient assembly, tighter clearances between the front end module assembly and the vehicle, and time and cost savings. The present disclosure provides a FEM assembly including grilles and headlamps and a rail system enabling the FEM to be assembled on a vehicle. Advantageously, the present disclosure allows the FEM to pass between fenders on the vehicle with a very tight clearance condition. The rail system included in the present disclosure allows the FEM to be assembled efficiently while protecting grilles and headlamps from being damaged by fenders and protecting the fenders from damage from the FEM.
US07987935B2
When an exhaust gas switching valve is in a closed state, a target rotation speed Ne* and a target torque Te* are set in the same way as when the exhaust gas switching valve is in an open state to control an engine (S120, S130). A motor torque command Tm1* is set by using the target torque Te* corrected by a correction torque ΔT based on an engine rotation speed Ne, and also a motor torque command Tm2* is set so that a torque demand Tr* is delivered to a drive shaft to control motors MG1 and MG2 (S150 to S230). Thereby, since the exhaust gas switching valve is in a closed state, even if the output from the engine decreases, the engine and the motors MG1 and MG2 can be controlled properly.
US07987934B2
A method for controlling operation of a hybrid powertrain is proposed, the hybrid powertrain comprising an internal combustion engine, an electric energy storage device, an electric machine, and an electro-mechanical transmission. The engine and the electric machine and the transmission are operative to transmit torque therebetween to generate an output. The method comprises determining optimum engine operation and an engine capability, and an operator torque request. A limit to the engine capability is determined based upon optimum engine operation, engine capability, and states of the parameters of the electrical energy storage device. Power limits are determined. The limit to the engine capability is adjusted based upon the power limits of the energy storage device. The engine operation is controlled based upon the engine capability and the adjusted limit to the engine capability.
US07987932B2
A heavy vehicle, such as a transport vehicle or a “civil engineering” vehicle, of a mass greater than 500 metric tons, fitted with tires of radial structure of a diameter greater than three meters fifty having an axial width greater than 37 inches, and comprising a front axle provided with at least two tires and a rear axle, by which is transmitted at least part of the motive power. The rear axle of the vehicle comprises at least five tires.
US07987923B1
A valve tester suspension assembly for allowing one person to perform the tasks necessary to test underground valves includes an articulated arm attached to a mobile base such as a vehicle. The articulated arm may be biased such that the biasing assists in supporting the weight of a rotating assembly positioned at a distal end of the articulated arm. The articulated arm is pivoted to permit positioning of the rotating device in a substantially horizontal orientation at a desired position within a three dimensional space adjacent to the base to which the articulated arm is attached. A method of use is also described.
US07987922B2
While a load torque applied to a tool shaft is lower than a predetermined value, a moving member is maintained at a first position, and a sun gear is rotated integrally with an internal gear. When the load torque applied to the tool shaft reaches or exceeds the predetermined value, the moving member is moved to a second position, to thereby prohibit relative rotation of the internal gear and a gear case. A latch member is engaged in a catching portion of the moving member when the moving member is moved to the second position, to thereby prevent the moving member from moving back to the first position. In this manner, repetitive switching between speed reduction ratios can be prevented even when the load torque applied to the tool shaft fluctuates.
US07987921B2
A hammer comprising: a body; a tool holder mounted on the body for holding a cutting tool; a handle pivotally mounted on the body about an axis; a vibration dampener which connects between the handle and the body and which reduces the amount of angular vibrations transmitted from the body to the handle; a motor mounted within the body; a hammer mechanism mounted in the body, capable of being driven by the motor when the motor is activated, the hammer mechanism, when driven, imparting impacts onto a cutting tool 6 when held by the tool holder; wherein the handle is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis which passes through the centre of gravity of the hammer.
US07987914B2
A technique is provided for actuating devices deployed in a wellbore. The technique utilizes an actuator that cooperates with a downhole device, such as a well tool. The actuator has a phase change material that can be caused to undergo a phase change upon an appropriate input. The phase change of the material is used to provide the force necessary for actuation of the downhole device.
US07987912B2
A subterranean location accessed via a wellbore is treated with an oilfield fluid containing a viscosifying agent which is a polymer and a cross-linking agent which can undergo the Diels-Alder reaction to form a gel. Conditions at the subterranean location alter fluid viscosity by bringing about the Diels-Alder reaction to increase viscosity or the retro Diels-Alder reaction to decrease the viscosity of the gel.
US07987905B2
An apparatus to protect the mounting area of casing and a locating profile and optionally a sliding sleeve valve and a flow path is provided from the outside of the valve to the annulus when subsequent attachment of an expanded liner is intended and the expanded liner is to be cemented in place.
US07987900B2
A heat exchange chamber includes an inlet, an outlet and a plurality of walls defining a chamber interior. The inlet receives a heat exchange medium flowing in a first flow direction in an initial line of flow. Disposed within the chamber interior is a medium directing member, having an inclined surface, which diverts the medium from the initial flow direction so that it disperses within the chamber interior. The medium exits the chamber, via the outlet, in the initial line of flow. The chambers are interconnected by tubes to form assemblies. Plural sets of chamber and tube assemblies are arranged between manifolds to provide a heat exchanger.
US07987893B2
The invention provides a method of forming a metal matrix composite (MMC) comprising a metal matrix and a fibrous material embedded therein, the method comprising bringing the metal matrix into the molten state and contacting the fibrous material with the metal matrix in the molten state in a directionally controlled manner, whereby the Young's modulus of the resultant cooled MMC is controlled in one or more particular direction and optionally at one or more particular location.
US07987892B2
A spherical casting sand having an average particle diameter of 0.03 to 1.5 mm, produced by a flame fusion method, usable together with a urethane binder. Casting sands capable of producing a mold having higher strength and excellent surface smoothness without deformation or breakage with fewer gas defects in producing a mold by using a urethane binder in the cold box process or in the urethane self-hardening mold making method. The casting sand has longer bench life in the cold box process. Amount of generated gas that is a problem of the mold making method using a urethane binder can be significantly reduced, and a casting with fewer gas defects can be obtained.
US07987886B2
A chuck table is configured with a table main body having a wafer placement part holding a wafer placed thereon, and an annular tape support frame provided outside the wafer placement part with a cutter blade traveling groove being interposed therebetween. The tape support frame has, at a top face thereof, a plurality of linear grooves arranged in parallel in a tape joining direction, a large number of linear tape support parts each located between the linear grooves, and an annular tape support part supporting the protective tape at an outer side of the cutter blade traveling groove.
US07987883B2
A tire having a radial carcass reinforcement comprising a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers of inextensible reinforcement elements, which are crossed from one ply to the other, forming angles of between 10° and 45° with the circumferential direction, which itself is topped radially by a tread, said tread being joined to two beads by means of two sidewalls. The tire comprises additionally in each shoulder at least a layer of reinforcement elements which are parallel to each other in the layer and are oriented circumferentially, the axially inner end of said additional layer being radially adjacent to the edge of the radially outermost working crown layer, the axially outer end of said layer being located at a distance from the equatorial plane of the tire which is at least equal to the distance between said plane and the end of the working layer to which it is adjacent and the distance between said additional layer and the end of the axially widest working crown layer being greater than 1.5 mm.
US07987873B2
The present invention relates to a new liner for repairing a damaged portion of a pipe. A lining tube formed from a non-resin absorbent material has an exterior surface adapted to receive a curable resin and contact an interior wall of the pipe. The present invention also includes a main/lateral liner assembly for repairing the junction between main and lateral pipes using a non-resin absorbent liner for at least a portion of the lining.
US07987865B2
An assembly includes a first panel and a second panel. Each panel has a foldable frame member having a folded and an unfolded orientation, with a fabric material covering selected portions of the respective frame member to form the respective panel when the respective frame member is in the unfolded orientation. A connection system is provided to removably connect the first and second panels.
US07987857B2
A multi-component filter for a smoking article comprises: a mouth end segment; a first flavor release segment comprising plant leaf upstream of the mouth end segment; and a second flavor release segment comprising filtration material and a flavorant upstream of the first flavor release segment. The resistance to draw of the second flavor release segment is greater than the resistance to draw of the first flavor release segment and the resistance to draw of the second flavor release segment is greater than the resistance to draw of the mouth end segment. The multi-component filter preferably further comprises a rod end segment comprising filtration material upstream of the second flavor release segment, which has a lower resistance to draw than the second flavor release segment.
US07987855B2
The apparatus and method for delaminating tobacco in the form of slices from a layered parcel comprise conveyor means for delivering a parcel of tobacco to a separating location and a rotatable tine assembly mounted on an axis extending at right angle to the conveyor means and parallel the layering of the parcel. The rotatable tine assembly includes a plurality of tines which are pointed and profiled to extend in the direction of rotation of the tine assembly and are driven at a speed greater than that of the conveyor means. The tines are adapted to enter the parcel at an entering location in a direction substantially parallel to the layering of the parcel and to accelerate a layer away from the parcel for effecting separation of the layer of tobacco from the parcel. The axis of the tine assembly is arranged at a distance above the parcel such that the line from the axis of the tine assembly to the entering location forms an angle between 14 and 24° with the horizontal and the peripheral speed of the tine assembly is about three to five times the linear speed of the conveyor means.
US07987853B2
Devices and method for occluding a fallopian tube. The devices, in one embodiment, may include a plurality of expandable occluding members coupled by respective dissolvable connecting members.
US07987849B2
A method for determining the consumption of a CO2 absorber (8) in a respirator with a rebreathing system, with a fresh gas mixer (1) and with a computing and control unit (10). The rebreathing system has a respiration drive (2), a volume flow sensor (3) located in the inspiratory branch, a CO2 absorber (8) located in the expiratory branch, whose output, combined with that of the fresh gas mixer (1), is fed into the inspiratory branch, a breathing gas escape valve (7) and a breathing gas reservoir (9). The computing and control unit (10) is connected to the fresh gas mixer (1), to the respiration drive (2) and to the volume flow sensor (3) in order to receive signals and send control commands. The fresh gas volume flow FG discharged from the fresh gas mixer (1) and the inspiration volume flow I flowing into the inspiratory branch are determined in the method in the computing and control unit (10). A value for the purified rebreathing volume flow abs admitted from the CO2 absorber (8) is determined from the difference I−FG of those values, and a rate of CO2 absorption is determined herefrom on the basis of a preset CO2 concentration value or from a CO2 concentration value measured with a gas sensor in the expiratory branch and integrated over time in order to determine the quantity of CO2 absorbed in the CO2 absorber (8).
US07987845B2
Dry powder inhalers include: (a) a first generally planar spiral travel path in an inhaler body, wherein the first spiral travel path has a plurality of adjacent curvilinear channels forming lanes with upstanding sidewalls, including an inner lane and an outer lane; and (b) a plurality of discrete sealed microcartridges with substantially rigid bodies disposed in the first travel path, each comprising a pre-metered (typically dose) amount of dry powder, the microcartridges being configured to slidably advance along the first travel path toward an inhalation chamber that merges into an inhalation output port. In operation, at least one microcartridge is held in the inhalation chamber to release the dry powder therein during inhalation.
US07987834B2
An electronically controlled throttle valve unit includes a valve shaft supported by a throttle body, a throttle valve provided on the valve shaft rotatably therewith, an actuator for controlling the valve shaft, and a mechanical valve opening/closing mechanism. The mechanical valve opening/closing mechanism comprises: a valve lever provided on the valve shaft rotatably therewith; a cam lever supported rotatably with respect to the valve shaft so as to be directly operated through a throttle operation; and a link lever supported rotatably by the throttle body and transmitting a rotation of the cam lever in a direction of opening the throttle valve to the valve lever so as to rotate the valve lever and the valve shaft in a throttle valve opening direction with a predetermined rotation angle characteristics.
US07987832B2
A lubrication system for a small lightweight four-stroke engine is disclosed. The lubrication system, provided with a weight at one end of a flexible oil tube inserted into an oil reservoir, is capable of providing a sufficient lubrication to components of the engine which may operate in a horizontal posture, a vertical posture, or any posture therebetween.
US07987820B2
A cattle foot-bath system, specifically adapted to mix and charge foot-bath troughs with repeatably precise quantities of chemical treatments. The system administers a concentrated medicinal agent, such as a bactericide, a fungicide, or a viruscide, for the treatment of cattle feet, and includes a day-tank feed valve, which may be a three-way or interlocked valve, for controlling an infeed flow of the concentrated medicinal agent fed into a day tank, which may be mounted to a portable tote-tank containing the concentrated medicinal agent. A day-tank drain valve controls an outlet flow of the concentrated medicinal agent drained from the day-tank, and the day-tank holds a set quantity of the concentrated medicinal agent. A footbath then receives a quantity of dilution water and the set quantity of the concentrated medicinal agent from the day-tank.
US07987819B1
A portable animal washing system having a means of dispensing a pressurized liquid cleaning agent, a means of dispensing a pressurized liquid rinsing agent, a means of extracting said liquid cleaning and rinsing agents as well as any dislodged dirt, debris, parasites, or foreign matter from the animal's coat, and a means of drying the animal's coat. The device is designed in such a way that both the cleaning and the rinsing agents may be directed into and under the animal's coat and then be immediately extracted along with any dislodged dirt, debris, parasites or other foreign material. The device is also design in such a way as to direct a stream of heated forced air into and under the coat of the animal so as to dry the animal.
US07987806B2
An inflatable rubber boat includes a flat bottom fabric member formed of a fabric having a front V-cut and two lateral sides, the two border edges of the front V-cut being seamed together to form a forwardly upwardly curved front end edge of the flat bottom fabric member, an elongated main inflatable airbag member fastened to the forwardly upwardly curved front end edge and two lateral sides of the flat bottom fabric member, a floorboard member having a body fitting over the flat bottom fabric member and a pointed arch-shaped rib obliquely upwardly extended from the front side of the body and fastened to the contained angle defined between the upwardly curved front end edge of the flat bottom fabric member and the elongated main inflatable airbag member, and a supplementary inflatable airbag member longitudinally set between the floorboard member and the flat bottom fabric member and inflated to stretch the flat bottom fabric member into shape.
US07987803B2
Disclosed is a pontoon boat. The pontoon boat includes a deck, a pair of pontoons, an elongated channel member and a boat. The pair of pontoons is disposed on a water side portion of the deck for supporting the deck above a water level. The elongated channel member is disposed on the water side portion of the deck between the pair of pontoons. The elongated channel member is configured to have longitudinal sliding movement with respect to the water side portion of the deck. The boat includes a body portion and a pair of lip portions. The pair of lip portions is configured to be slidingly received in the elongated channel member for removably securing the boat to the water side portion of the deck.
US07987801B2
The present invention relates to a device and a method for monitoring a thread wound on a bobbin during operation in a sewing machine that reduces the expenditure on apparatus and production technology with increased monitoring reliability wherein at least three different marking states are provided in the area of the bobbin (3) and are coupled to an optical device (8) in such a manner that movement of the bobbin (3) produces a change in marking which can be detected in the optical device (8) which can be evaluated in a logic unit connected to the optical device (8), that the marking (10) in the area of the bobbin (3) comprises more than two states, wherein at least one state is defined by at least one true color (g, r, b) or a mixture of the primary colors.
US07987798B2
The pallet includes a plurality of supporting members, a plurality of upper plate members placed parallel with one another on and across the supporting members, and a pair of prop members placed at both ends of a bottom surface of each of the support members. Each of the prop members are constructed such that the outer wall thereof has the same height as both sidewalls accommodated in grooves of the supporting members and the inner wall thereof has a groove into which the body of the supporting member is to be inserted, thereby, preventing possible accidents of injuries and damages by keeping dangerous sharp cut edges of the respective members from being exposed.
US07987794B2
A side-shift raise climbing system is provided that utilizes a side-cut excavated into the wall of the access drift for a raise in a mine. A transfer section is incorporated into the existing length of rail servicing the raise. The transfer section includes a laterally transferable rail that can be detached from the existing rail and shifted along a set of monorails that extend into the side-cut. The transfer section enables a raise climber, when parked thereon, to be shifted out of the access drift without requiring additional access drifts or parking/nesting areas to accommodate the use of muck removal equipment.
US07987784B2
A printing plate has a substrate, an array of cells on the substrate, wherein each cell corresponds to an element of a print image, a deformable polymer material localized into the cells such that each cell is at least partially formed from the deformable polymer material, a reservoir corresponding to each cell to collect the deformable polymer material as needed when the deformable polymer material is one of either melted or softened, and a heater to cause the deformable polymer material to either melt or soften. A method of forming a printing plate provides an array of cells, first heats the array of cells such that the deformable polymer material does one of either melts or softens, actuates the cells in the array to assume a deformed state, cools the array of cells to solidify the cells in the deformed state, second heats the cells such that the deformable polymer material in selected ones of the cells does one of either soften or melt and return to a less deformed state to form a printing pattern, and cools the surface to solidify the deformable polymer material in the printing pattern. A method of forming a printing plate provides an array of cells, heats the array of cells such that the deformable polymer material softens, actuates selected ones of the cells to deform surfaces of the selected ones to form a printing pattern, and cools the array of cells to solidify the printing pattern into a printing plate.
US07987778B1
A pre-separator for a screw press separator wherein the pre-separator increases the concentration of solid material in a water solid material mixture. The pre-separator is configured to have a frustoconical screen surface where a plurality of wiper blades engage the interior portion of the surface to provide de-watering action, and the plurality of blades are configured to reposition with respect to the center axis of the frustoconical surface to allow for engagement between the interior surface of the frustoconical screen, and the wiper blades.
US07987777B1
A biomass baler having a baling chamber adapted to receive tall grass biomass material, a compression system adapted to compact the material into a rectangular bale in the chamber, and an ejection system adapted to move the bale from the chamber, wherein the baling chamber has a front wall consisting of a reciprocating compression platen corresponding in dimensions to the width W and height H of the bale, opposing upper and lower walls corresponding in dimensions to the length L and either of the W and H of the bale, and opposing sidewalls corresponding in dimensions to the L and the other of the W and H of the bale, wherein each chamber wall selected from among the upper wall, the lower wall, and the sidewalls can withstand a minimum distributed force perpendicular to the selected wall of at least (0.22×Pp×Aw) pounds, wherein Pp is the maximum pressure that the compression platen can apply to the material and Aw is the area of the selected wall expressed in square inches.
US07987771B2
A pump unit includes a reservoir for containing a liquid, a duct system for conveying the liquid, and a pumping section for subjecting the liquid to a pumping force. The initial filling of at least a portion of a duct for conveying the liquid from the reservoir to the pumping section is brought about under the influence of another force other than the pumping force, for example, under the influence of gravity.
US07987768B2
A dispensing system for injecting a fluid into a number of containers. The dispensing system may include a turret plate for holding the containers and an injection system positioned about the turret plate. The injection system may include a piston for contacting a container. The piston may include an injection surface in communication with an internal spring such that the internal spring forces the injection surface against the container.
US07987765B2
A hydraulic control system for high flow applications in motor vehicles, in particular for active wheel suspensions and active steering arrangements, includes at least one passive high flow valve which is controlled hydraulically by at least one low flow valve.
US07987761B2
A time limited restraint device. After a predetermined time, a cutter of the time limited restraint device cuts a restraint.
US07987758B2
The rolled media cutter includes an elongated tray and a cutting mechanism. The elongated tray includes first and second substantially parallel channels. The first channel is formed in the tray and is configured to receive the rolled media therein. The cutting mechanism is configured to be slidingly coupled to the second channel. The cutting mechanism includes a cutting surface and a slider coupled to the cutting surface. The slider is configured to be retained within the channel so as to prevent the cutting mechanism from being removed from a portion of the second channel.
US07987753B2
A cutting machine is configured for cutting an injection molded original product. The injection molded original product has a component and stub bar connected to the component. The cutting machine includes a base portion, a supporting arm attached to the base portion, and a cutting device coupled to the supporting arm. The cutting device includes an electrothermal cutting line for cutting the component off the stub bar.
US07987745B2
This invention relates to a fastener driving device including a variable ratio gear mechanism that enables the ratio of the rotation of the handle to the rotation of a driving bit extending from the handle to be varied to allow the bit to rotate at different speeds from the handle. The device includes a gear mechanism disposed within a housing for the device that includes a locking member and a biasing member. The biasing member urges the locking member into engagement with the gear mechanism to lock the gear mechanism in a configuration for a 1:1 gear ratio. A selector switch is secured to the device over the gear mechanism and is operable to move the locking member into and out of engagement with the planetary gears against the bias of the biasing member to provide an increased gear ratio for the gear mechanism when desired.
US07987741B2
In an auxiliary range transmission comprising a main group having a main transmission shaft and two main countershafts capable of rotating in relation to two auxiliary countershafts of a range or an auxiliary transmission group, a gearshift element is provided, which, in a first position, rotationally engages a loose gear of the main group and, in a second position, rotationally locks a loose gear of the range or auxiliary group with the main shaft. In an alternative embodiment, a splitter group may also be arranged in front of the main group in place of the range or auxiliary transmission group.
US07987739B2
The present invention is directed to a transmission capable of minimizing the number of speed-change driven gears on a first countershaft to ensure a layout space in an engine compartment of a vehicle, and reducing a driving torque to be applied to a second countershaft to facilitate downsizing of the transmission. In the transmission, the first countershaft 2 is arranged at a position above an input shaft 1, and a first-speed driven gear 14 and a second-speed driven gear 24 are provided on the first countershaft 2.
US07987736B2
A device for drawing off a liquid from a container comprising a drawing-off needle having a free lower end and an upper end, a suction deliverer connected to the upper end of the needle, and a blower carried by the needle allowing drops of the liquid present on the inside wall(s) of the container in the bottom section of the container to be concentrated.
US07987731B2
The present invention provides an ultrasonic flowmeter comprising an oscillator and an oscillation start unit for accelerating oscillation of the oscillator. The oscillation start unit accelerates the oscillation of the oscillator so that pulses from the oscillator will become stable in a shorter time period. The accuracy of flow rate measurement is improved. Electric power can be saved where the flow rate is measured repeatedly at intervals.
US07987719B2
The invention relates to a device for the ultrasound testing of hot rolling material during the rolling procedure in one of a plurality of rolling stands in a rolling train which are arranged one behind the other, comprising at least two rolls which leave a roll gap between them, there being associated with the rolls ultrasound testing heads which are arranged such that parts of the roll body itself serve as the path along which the ultrasound waves pass on their way to the rolling material to be tested in the roll gap, which is characterised in that the rolls provided with the ultrasound testing heads are adjustable, have a straight transverse profile and a diameter which is a multiple of the width of the roll gap, with the result that a large rolling angle (α) is provided, and these rolls are arranged in one of the first rolling stands of the rolling train.
US07987714B2
A disc resonator gyroscope (DRG) and method of manufacture. The DRG has a surrounding pattern of bond metal having a symmetry related to the symmetry of a resonator device wafer that enables more even dissipation of heat from a resonator device wafer of the DRG during an etching operation. The metal bond frame eliminates or substantially reduces the thermal asymmetry that the resonator device wafer normally experiences when a conventional, square bond frame is used, which in turn can cause geometric asymmetry in the widths of the beams that are etched into the resonator device wafer of the DRG.
US07987704B2
A diagnostic system comprises a monitoring module and a diagnostic module. The monitoring module receives a first rail pressure measured by a high side rail pressure sensor during engine cranking at a location where fuel is pressurized by a high pressure fuel pump. The diagnostic module selectively diagnoses a fault in at least one of the high pressure fuel pump and the high side rail pressure sensor when the first rail pressure is less than a predetermined pressure and rail pressures received during a predetermined period after the first rail pressure is received are less than the predetermined pressure.
US07987687B2
Disclosed is a rotary lock cylinder comprising a blocking element (25, 64) that engages into the rotor (10) in a closed position while releasing the rotor (10) in an open position. An actuator (17, 78) can be controlled in accordance with data located on the key (2). In order to displace the blocking element (25, 64) from the closed position into the open position, a latch element (33, 63) is provided which can be moved along with the key (2). The blocking element (25, 64) can be attached by means of the actuator (17). The energy required for moving the blocking element (25) is supplied by the user when introducing the key (2) into the key duct (11) such that the load on the power source used for actuating the actuator (17, 78) is minimal.
US07987680B2
Between two heat exchangers of a first heat exchanger unit 41 and a second heat exchanger unit 42 included in an indoor heat exchanger 40, an opening 80 is arranged for introducing indoor air sucked from an air inlet 321 into an indoor blower 50 without being heat-exchanged. At the opening 80, a damper 91 is arranged for adjusting the opening rate of the opening 80, which is driven by a predetermined driving member 92. During a cooling cycle running of a freezing cycle, the opening rate of the opening 80 and/or the devices included in the freezing cycle such as a compressor, blower and expansion valve are controlled alone or in combination so that the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 40 is lower than a dew point temperature of the indoor air.
US07987674B2
An energy producing device, for example a submersible vehicle for descending or ascending to different depths within water or ocean, is disclosed. The vehicle comprises a temperature-responsive material to which a hydraulic fluid is associated. A pressurized storage compartment stores the fluid as soon as the temperature-responsive material changes density. The storage compartment is connected with a hydraulic motor, and a valve allows fluid passage from the storage compartment to the hydraulic motor. An energy storage component, e.g. a battery, is connected with the hydraulic motor and is charged by the hydraulic motor when the hydraulic fluid passes through the hydraulic motor. Upon passage in the hydraulic motor, the fluid is stored in a further storage compartment and is then sent back to the area of the temperature-responsive material.
US07987668B2
A fluid pressure actuator includes an output cylinder, a fluid pressure pump, an electric motor, a first output cylinder passage, a second output cylinder passage, a return passage and a swash plate control cylinder. The output cylinder includes a first output cylinder chamber, a second output cylinder chamber and an output piston arranged between the first output cylinder chamber and the second output cylinder chamber. The fluid pressure pump includes a first supply and discharge port, a second supply and discharge port and a swash plate for changing displacement of the fluid pressure pump. The electric motor drives the fluid pressure pump. The first output cylinder passage connects the first output cylinder chamber and the first supply and discharge port. The second output cylinder passage connects the second output cylinder chamber and the second supply and discharge port.
US07987660B2
The present invention provides a gas turbine capable of reducing energy consumption while suppressing a so-called cat back phenomenon. The gas turbine includes a combustor-accommodating chamber casing for accommodating therein a combustor which burns fuel and air compressed by a compressor to generate combustion gas and which injects the combustion gas to a turbine. The gas turbine also includes a first air supply passage and a second air supply passage on an upper portion of the combustor-accommodating chamber casing in the vertical direction. The first air supply passage discharges air toward the compressor in the combustor-accommodating chamber casing. The second air supply passage discharges air in a direction different from that of the first air supply passage.
US07987650B2
The disclosure relates to a clip and associated method and building structure. The clip is provided for repairing building surfaces. The clip includes a first generally planar elongate portion having an inner face and an outer face, and a second generally planar elongate portion having an inner face and an outer face. The first elongate portion and second elongate portion are joined to define a generally U-shaped member having a generally elongate gap defined by the inner faces of the first and second elongate portions, the gap being adapted and configured to receive a building member therein.
US07987640B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a foundation for a wind turbine. The foundation includes a section which is partly embedded in a concrete section and a cover which is arranged across an intersection between the embedded section and the concrete section. In that way, intrusion of water between the sections can be prevented effectively, and the lifetime of the foundation can be increased and/or the maintenance costs can be reduced. A method of making a foundation for a wind turbine and a wind turbine with the foundation are also disclosed.
US07987639B2
A new configuration damper, for interconnecting two elements of a structure that undergo relative movements and deformations, that increase the level of damping when the overall structure is subjected to a loading condition is disclosed. The new configuration damper aides in controlling displacements, velocities and accelerations under dynamic loading in structural systems.
US07987634B2
A gutter cover inside miter to be used with both open valley and closed valley roof miters, where the gutter cover inside miter is formed by coupling two primary member having a stem, legs, a tapered trough, a diverter and a plurality of draining and guide vents oriented to accommodate a variety of water flows. The gutter cover inside miter is also used with an underlying gutter cover as a system to improve the functionality of the gutter cover.
US07987620B2
A railroad ballast removal system capable of removing ballast material from below a rail line. The railroad ballast removal system includes at least one rotary cutting wheel having a plurality of individually replaceable cutting attachments positioned about a perimeter of the rotary cutting wheel. Each rotary cutting wheel is attached to an articulated arm capable of adjusting the position of the rotary cutting wheel along varying axis. The articulated arm is mounted to a support structure capable of transporting the rotary cutting wheel to a portion of railway requiring maintenance of the ballast material. The railroad ballast removal system is able to operate at a spot location or in a continuous manner down a length of railroad track. The ability to manipulate the rotary cutting wheel along the various axis allows the rotary cutting wheel to be used for ballast removal in locations wherein adjacent railways limit cutting access.
US07987617B2
A method of customizing an article of footwear that is configured for self assembly is disclosed. The method includes steps of applying customized designs to pre-cut portions, and packaging the pre-cut portions with a lace and a set of instructions into a kit of parts. The kit of parts can be taken home and assembled by the customer.
US07987601B2
The folding tool has one side-plate (1a) and the other side-plate (1b). A part of the rear side of the other side-plate (1b) or an arm-like plate (2) attached as a separate body is used as an inwardly pressing member, and a projection (3) is provided at the head of the arm-like plate (2). The base end of the body (5) having at its end a rear recess (6) is foldably pivotally attached by means of a support shaft (4) to the base ends of both the one side-plate and the other side-plate. The projection (3) and the recess (6) of the body (5) are engaged with and locked to each other.
US07987591B2
A silicon chicklet pedestal for use in a wafer-level test probe of a wafer is provided and includes a main body, first and second opposing faces, and an array of vias formed through the main body to extend between the first and second faces, through which pairs of leads, respectively associated with each via at the first and second faces, are electrically connectable to one another.
US07987586B2
A method for manufacturing a printed circuit board (PCB) having different thicknesses in different areas includes: providing a first substrate having two lateral unwanted portions bounded two imaginary boundary lines, a binder layer having a through opening and a second substrate having a mounting area for mounting electronic elements; forming two slots bounded the imaginary boundary lines in an intermediated unwanted portion of the first substrate corresponding to the mounting area; laminating the first and second substrates, and the binder layer with the mounting area exposed via the through opening; filling the two slots and the through opening with a filling material, thereby obtaining a semifinished PCB board; cutting the semifinished PCB board along the imaginary boundary lines to remove the two lateral unwanted portions and a portion of the second substrate corresponding to the two lateral unwanted portions; and removing the intermediate unwanted portion and the filling material.
US07987585B1
A robotic tool for assembling a portion of a disk drive includes a movable end effector that includes a first portion and a second portion that is movable relative to the first portion. The first portion may be configured to engage the actuator assembly and the second portion may be configured to engage the flex circuit connector. A controller may be provided to control the movable end effector, causing the end effector to pick up the head stack assembly in a first configuration, move the second portion of the end effector relative to the first portion thereof so as to articulate the head stack assembly into a second configuration that is different than the first configuration, and place the head stack assembly into the base.
US07987582B2
A micro-actuator to which no head slider is adhesively bonded is mounted on a suspension. The head slider is adhesively bonded to the micro-actuator mounted on the suspension. Before the head slider adheres to the micro-actuator, an electrical connecting work of the slider is completed, and a characteristic test is carried out. If the head slider is judged as being normal as a result of the characteristic test, the head slider concerned is bonded to the micro-actuator by the adhesive.
US07987581B2
Transformers having bobbins that are constructed in such a way that pre-formed secondary windings (e.g., resembling springs) may be slipped onto the bobbins after a primary winding has been wound onto the bobbin. Additionally, the secondary windings may also serve as a self-leading device. That is, they may not require terminations on pins of the bobbin, which may reduce cost and complexity. The secondary windings may have circular or non-circular (e.g., flat) cross-sections. The transformer winding techniques provided herein may reduce the number of components, and may promote smaller input filters and/or less filtering stages at a fraction of the cost of conventional transformers.
US07987563B2
A load-securing device having (a) a rope having a first end and second end; (b) multiple hooks, wherein the hook has a first end and a second end, the first end of the hook forms a loop around the rope where the hook can slide along the rope but cannot be removed from the rope, the second end of the hook forms a C-shape; and (c) a first stopper attached to the first end of the rope and a second stopper attached to the second end of the rope, the stoppers being effective to prevent the hooks from sliding off the rope.
US07987557B2
The present invention discloses an enclosed hinge device with a readily center-aligned mechanism, employing two protruded blocks of a locking retainer engaged into and fastened with two notch grooves of an arresting part to form two positioning points, such that the locking retainer and the arresting part are not slidable therebetween along with the advantage of easy assembly. Further, the securingly connection between the enclosing part, the arresting part, and the locking retainer also enhances the structural strength, thereby reducing the rotational shaking of the pivotal axle.
US07987549B2
The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner with a golf massage club, including a handle (4), a cleaner body (3) connected to the first end of the handle (4), and a suction head (1) connected to the head of the cleaner body (3), wherein a golf massage head (5) is connected to the second end of the handle (4). With the vacuum cleaner of the invention, the user can use the handle for human body massage when the vacuum cleaner is not in use. The vacuum cleaner of the invention is of compact structure and multiple functions.
US07987547B2
A cleansing pad (10) is made of a web of fibers, forming a substrate (11), where the substrate (11) includes a cleansing agent (12) therein. The cleansing agent (12) is a pourable soap. In making the cleansing pad (10), the cleansing agent (12) is initially heated from solid form into molten/liquid form, and distributed essentially throughout one or more portions of the substrate (11) in molten form to coat the fibers in said portions of the substrate (11). After application of the molten cleansing agent (12), the substrate (11) is then allowed to cool such that the molten cleansing agent (12) solidifies and remains solid at a desired range at and above room temperature, forming the cleansing pad (10). Thereafter, in use, the cleansing pad (10) is applied for cleaning an object in conjunction with a solvent such as water. The solvent dissolves the solidified cleansing agent (12). The cleansing pad (10) can be used in this manner multiple times without the need for application of additional cleansing agent (12) to the cleansing pad (10). As such, the cleansing pad (10) is a self-contained, long lasting product that maintains its creamy lather during multiple uses and does not require the user to reapply cleansing agents to the cleansing pad (10) with every use.
US07987546B2
The invention relates to a cleaning machine with at least one cleaning tool which is adapted to be driven in rotation by way of a drive shaft that is rotatably mounted on a carrier, the drive shaft carrying a torque-transmission member which engages, by way of protrusions, in drive recesses of the cleaning tool. In order for it to be possible for the cleaning machine to be manufactured more cost-effectively, it is proposed according to the invention that the drive shaft is made from metal, and that the torque-transmission member is formed, as a plastics-material molding, onto the drive shaft.
US07987545B2
The invention is directed to a method and a device for cleaning teeth wherein a variety of cleaning tools are coupled to a common handle section for the individual cleaning of teeth. It relates in particular to a handle section of an electric dental cleaning device, with a coupling section for coupling various cleaning tools thereto, as well as said cleaning tools. According to the invention the handle section detects a coding provided on the respective cleaning tool attached. In dependence upon the respective coding detected, various functions of the dental cleaning device are controlled.
US07987542B2
Devices for cleaning vessels, especially swimming pools, are discussed. The devices may include repositionable in-line valves, with the valves typically moving laterally (from side to side) and changing the initial direction of the main fluid-flow path through the valves and corresponding cleaner bodies. Asymmetric feet may be utilized as part of the devices, whose bottom bearing surfaces may include elongated strips of material placed parallel to the normally-forward direction of travel of the devices. Discs of non-uniform flexibility also may be employed, and blocking tabs or gripping material may be used to inhibit undesired backward movement of a cleaner when its operation commences.
US07987538B1
A bed support system may include first and second rails each including at least two legs connected at a top thereof by a handle. A first adjustable strap and a spaced apart second adjustable strap may be placed around the legs of the first and second rails. A method of installing a bed support system on a bed on a ground may include: positioning a first adjustable strap around first and second rails so that the first strap anchors around legs of the first and second rails; positioning a bed frame over the first strap to aid in anchoring the first strap to the first and second rails; positioning a box spring onto the bed frame; and positioning a second adjustable strap over the box spring and around the first and second rails so that the second strap anchors around the legs of the first and second rails.
US07987531B2
A portable floating hot tub that is easy to assemble and take down and can be used in environments with extremely cold and turbulent water. The hot tub has three main components: a collapsible frame made of connected rigid members, an insulated liner sized and shaped to closely fit against the deployed frame and form a subassembly, and an inflatable pontoon that may have a central aperture for receiving the subassembly. The pontoon is first inflated and placed on the body of water, after which the frame and liner subassembly are placed over the central aperture. Filling the internal volume defined by the insulated liner with water causes the subassembly to descend within the pontoon. Cooperating means on the subassembly and/or pontoon prevent the subassembly from passing completely through the central aperture. A source of heated water such as a portable heater having a heating capacity of at least 30,000 BTUs rapidly heats up the water within the hot tub. The system components can be transported in one or more carry bags of less than 100 pounds and deployed and taken down by one person in an extremely small space, such as on a boat.
US07987527B1
One embodiment of a device for transporting odor-containing air from a region including an interior airspace of a toilet bowl to a drain line that connects a water seal-type drain of the toilet bowl to a septic system comprises: an exhaust tube having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the region, the water seal-type drain having a drain ceiling at least partly below the normal standing water level of the toilet bowl, wherein the outlet is substantially between the surface of the water seal and the portion of the drain ceiling furthest below the normal standing water level of the toilet bowl.Another embodiment of such a device comprises: an air pump assembly having an air intake and an air exhaust, wherein the air intake is in fluid communication with the region, an exhaust tube assembly including an inlet, and a connecting channel, wherein the connecting channel is in fluid communication with the air exhaust and the inlet.
US07987526B2
An item of protective gear for a body, including a section of shell material and a section of a relatively softer flexural material joined in a unitary structure, wherein the flexural material is a joint compliantly allowing for the shell material to conform to the body, or is an edge extension on the shell material for cushioning or comfort; and the item is configured to protect a specific area of a body.
US07992216B2
Systems and methods for displaying messages to a user, the messages having different levels of security, are provided herein. One method of displaying to a user messages having different levels of security includes receiving a message over a network includes examining an attribute of the message to determine a security-related level associated with the message. A visual indication for display to a device user is generated by the device. Such visual indication is indicative of the determined security-related level, and is configured to be visible during scrolling through a majority of the message text.
US07992213B2
A method of gaining access to a resource using an access token printed on a print medium, comprising the steps of: determining, using a sensor module of a mobile telecommunications device, the access token and a print media identifier printed on the print medium; and, causing the access token to undergo authentication, at least partially based on the print media identifier, and if the authentication succeeds, gaining access to the resource.
US07992195B2
The invention allows a reliable and efficient identity management that can, with full interoperability, accommodate to various requirements of participants. For that a method and system are presented for providing an identity-related information about a user to a requesting entity. The method comprises a location-request step initiated by the requesting entity for requesting from a client application a location information that corresponds to a location entity possessing the identity-related information, a redirecting step for connecting the client application to the location entity in order to instruct the location entity to transfer the identity-related information to the requesting entity, and an acquiring step for obtaining the identity-related information. The acquiring step comprises a contact step wherein the location entity contacts the requesting entity, a request step wherein the requesting entity requests the identity-related information, and a response step wherein the requesting entity receives the identity-related information from the location entity.
US07992192B2
A method and a system, wherein the system comprises a first server operatively coupled to a router, to receive a copy of network traffic processed by the router, a database operatively coupled to the first server, wherein the server records parsed network traffic information onto the database, and a device operatively coupled to the first server to receive alerts regarding possible denial-of-service attacks, the alerts based upon network traffic falling outside a standard deviation range. A method that comprises receiving a data packet from a network, parsing the data packet, storing data in the fields of the data packet into a database, comparing observed data set values with a historical data set values, sending an alert to a device based upon network traffic falling outside a standard deviation range, and updating the historical data set values by averaging the observed data set values with an old historical data set values.
US07992187B2
Disclosed is a system and method of dual-screen interactive digital television (IDTV), which is implemented by applying modality-independent remote console technology. The system has two ends, referred to as host IDTV and handheld device. The host IDTV includes a host IDTV content, an IDTV middleware, a host graphic user interface (host GUI), and a server-side remote console control protocol. The handheld device includes a handheld IDTV content, an interface generator, a handheld GUI, and a client-side remote console control protocol. In the invention, the DTV content may only have a dual-screen execution mode. The DTV content may also switch between single-screen and dual-screen modes.
US07992182B2
Information provisioning includes acquiring a data stream of content that is composed of a plurality of segments, and actual data of metadata that includes information related to the content and information related to the plurality of segments. The metadata is divided into metadata processing units (MPU) corresponding to segments subjected to processing in the plurality of segments. A capsulized stream is generated that includes packetized elementary stream (PES) packets acquired by packetizing the segments subjected to processing of the data stream and metadata PES packets acquired by packetizing at least one MPU, the metadata PES packets including control information of the metadata. The control information includes an overwrite_flag which indicates whether previous metadata is to be overwritten.
US07992180B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for displaying images, which enables a selected image to be displayed in full screen mode or slide show mode on the TV receiver, while images stored in the recording medium are being displayed on the remote controller. The apparatus and method can also display the thumbnail in an image display area by putting time periods on the vertical axis and photography locations on the horizontal axis.
US07992166B2
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.
US07992163B1
A method for providing a video-on-demand (VOD) presentation includes determining whether an active video-on-demand (VOD) session for the VOD presentation exists, providing a selectable option to view the VOD presentation responsive to determining that the active VOD session exists, and providing a list of selectable VOD titles responsive to determining that the active VOD session does not exist.
US07992157B2
A disk transport apparatus is disclosed which can transport a disk appropriately. First and second arms are mounted for pivotal motion in first and second directions in which they are spaced from each other around second ends thereof to transport the disk. A link pivots the first or second arm in response to pivotal motion of the second or first arm. The first arm and the link have teeth and meshing portions which mesh with each other. The first arm has a blocking portion which blocks, when the second arm is pivoted in the second direction with the disk contacting only with the second arm, meshing engagement between the meshing portions to block pivotal motion of the arms in the first and second directions.
US07992154B1
A communication device comprises a processor, a server proxy object accessible to the processor, and an object-oriented application that runs on the processor. The application requests a service from the server proxy object. The server proxy object generates a packet that contains an identity of the requested service. The service identity is converted into a corresponding method by a remote computer such that the server proxy object need not change if the corresponding method changes on the remote computer.
US07992146B2
A method for detecting race conditions involving heap memory access including a plurality of threads being tracked. At runtime a plurality of APIs utilized to create and destroy thread synchronization objects are intercepted, and each synchronization object created via the APIs is tracked. A bit field is created that contains a unique bit for each synchronization object. Heap memory allocations and deallocations are intercepted and tracked. The heap memory access is intercepted, and at that time, the ID of the accessing thread is compared with the last thread ID associated with that memory block when it was last accessed. If the thread IDs do not match, then the current thread synchronization object bit field is compared with the last synchronization object bit field associated with thread memory block. Provided the bit fields are different, a race condition warning is reported that is displayable to the user having the call chains.
US07992121B2
A method for connecting a programmable device (PD) and an electronic component (EC) based on a protocol, including: obtaining a signal group of the protocol having a group constraint, a first pin definition including an electrical constraint and a logical constraint, and a second pin definition; mapping the first pin definition to a first pin of the PD based on the electrical constraint, the logical constraint, and the group constraint; identifying a first pin of the EC to connect with the first pin of the PD based on the electrical constraint, the logical constraint, the group constraint, and a connection preference; generating a first connection between the first pin of the EC and a second pin of the PD based on the electrical constraint, the logical constraint, the group constraint, and the connection preference; and storing the first connection in an edge list.
US07992119B1
Pin placement legality is verified in real-time in a background to reduce a number of input/output assignment analysis runs during a physical design of a programmable logic device. Edited pin properties are checked quickly in the background against certain rules, and results displayed to a user usually before a new pin is edited. Available and legal positions are found and displayed for a selected pin to reduce errors.
US07992116B2
A single verification tool provides both static timing analysis and timing simulation capabilities targeted at both full-custom and ASIC designs in a unified environment. In various embodiments the verification tool includes the following features: (a) Integrating both static timing analysis and dynamic simulation tools into a single tool, (b) Efficient path search for multi-phase, multi-frequency and multi-cycle circuit in the presence of level sensitive latch, (c) Automatically identifying circuit structure, e.g. complex gate, for timing characterization, (d) Circuit structures at transistor level solved by incorporating function check, (e) Carrying out functional check to filter out false path and identifying gate with simultaneously changing inputs, (f) Finding maximum operating frequency in the presence of level sensitive latches after filtering out false paths, (g) Crosstalk solver by utilizing the admittance matrix and voltage transfer of RLC part in frequency domain coupled with the non-linear driver in time domain implemented in spice-like simulator, (h) Making use of the correlation between inputs of aggressors and victim to determine switching time at victim's output iteratively.
US07992115B2
A method of measuring overlay between a first structure and a second structure on a substrate is provided. The structures include equidistant elements, such as parallel lines, wherein the equidistant elements of the first and second structure alternate. A design width CD1 of the elements of the first structure is different from a design width CD2 of the elements of the second structure. The difference in design width can be used to identify measurement points having incorrectly measured overlay errors.
US07992114B1
A statistical on-chip variation approach to timing analysis permits the automated or semi-automated selection of design-specific margins without requiring complex statistical libraries. By separately addressing the impact of random and systematic variations on timing, a design-specific margin can be obtained and used in downstream OCV analysis. In addition, where statistical libraries are available for some portions of a design, these can be incrementally included in the timing analysis to obtain more accurate results.
US07992111B1
Approaches for processing an electronic circuit design. In one embodiment, the graphical model of an outer subsystem block and an inner subsystem block are translated into a high-level language (HLL) program. The HLL program includes a specification of a first function corresponding to the outer subsystem block and within the specification of the first function a specification of a second function corresponding to the inner subsystem block. The specification of the first function references a parameter of the outer subsystem block and specifies invocation of the second function. The specification of the second function specifies invocation of a third function corresponding to a leaf block in the inner subsystem block. The specification of the first function references a variable corresponding to the parameter, and that variable is referenced by the second or third functions. Execution of the HLL program instantiates a model of the design.
US07992110B1
Structured ASIC circuitry that is intended to be functionally equivalent to a programmed block of FPGA circuitry (e.g., a programmed FPGA LUT) is verified for such functional equivalence by using the specification (logical or physical) for the structured ASIC circuitry as a starting point for an FPGA design project. If the design project results in the same FPGA circuitry as it was intended that the structured ASIC circuitry would be functionally equivalent to, the structured ASIC circuitry has been verified and can be added to one or more libraries of structured ASIC modules that are available for use in providing structured ASIC products that are functionally equivalent to programmed FPGA products.
US07992109B2
Photomask patterns are represented using contours defined by level-set functions. Given target pattern, contours are optimized such that defined photomask, when used in photolithographic process, prints wafer pattern faithful to target pattern. Optimization utilizes “merit function” for encoding aspects of photolithographic process, preferences relating to resulting pattern (e.g. restriction to rectilinear patterns), robustness against process variations, as well as restrictions imposed relating to practical and economic manufacturability of photomasks.
US07992106B2
A software and/or hardware facility for generating menu trails for a portable media player. A menu trail is a visual cue to a user, repeated on each menu item in the media player navigation interface, that highlights a path for the user to follow to a content item stored on or accessible by the media player, or to a capability of the media player. Menu trails may highlight new content and capabilities, or may highlight existing content or capabilities. A user using the media player may easily follow the visual cues through the player's menus in order to navigate to the content item or capability.
US07992102B1
A method and system for processing user information are described. A graphical user interface is provided to include a display region, a first bounded region circumferentially surrounding the display region, and a second bounded region circumferentially surrounding the first bounded region. The first bounded region may include one or more first-type graphical user interface elements with each of the first-type graphical user interface elements selectively mapped to one or more first-type display data. The second bounded region may include one or more second-type graphical user interface elements with each of the second-type graphical user interface elements selectively mapped to one or more second-type display data. A user input is received using the graphical user interface, and a result is generated based at least on a user activation of at least one of the first-type and second-type graphical user interface elements.
US07992098B2
Systems, methods, and computer program products are described for providing a graphical user interface (GUI) that may include a first openable window of image features constituting, for example, a pseudo-image of a scanned probe array. The image features each have one or more characteristics representing one or more hybridization reactions associated with a probe of the probe array. The GUI also has a second openable window including data features, each relating to one or more quantifications of one or more hybridization reactions associated with a probe of the probe array. This second window may be, for example, a scatter plot of hybridization intensities of probes to two or more labeled samples. The GUI further includes a third openable window including descriptive features such as rows of a spreadsheet. Each row may include descriptive elements associated with a probe. When a user selects a feature from any of the two or more windows, a corresponding feature in at least one other of the two or more windows is highlighted.
US07992097B2
A computer-implemented method includes displaying, within a user interface in a digital media system, a media pane, and a project pane, displaying, within the media pane, a thumbnail group representing a media item, the thumbnail group comprising one or more thumbnails, enabling a user to select, from the thumbnail group, a segment of the media item, and enabling a user to transfer the selected segment to the project pane.
US07992095B2
Since a editing character string is managed by an input server, an application device cannot know whether scrolling is necessary. Accordingly, there has been a problem that it is impossible to properly realize a scroll function. Accordingly, a receiving unit receives an instruction from a user operation or an application device, and a character string editing unit edits a character string according to the instruction received. Further, an output management unit manages output, and a state notifying unit notifies a change of the internal state to the application device. When a output area does not have enough empty space to display an editing character, the state notifying unit instructs the application device to shift the confirmed character string. The application device, upon receiving the instruction, scrolls the confirmed character string upward.
US07992083B2
An information processing apparatus fully utilizing contents available on a network by processing content that cannot be displayed on a built-in browser. A web browser displays in a pop-up fashion a dialog window that queries a user about the process to be performed on undisplayable data if the received data is undisplayable. The user can select between “print” and “send” as an alternative process for the undisplayable data.
US07992081B2
A method and apparatus for streaming validation of XML documents is provided. A particular event of a series of events is received. The series of events is generated as an XML document is parsed by a parser, and the received particular event indicates that the parser has encountered a particular part of the XML document. The particular part of the XML document indicated by the particular event is then received. A current validation state for the XML document is determined. The current validation state, which is one of a plurality of validation states for the XML document, indicates a validation type associated with the particular part of the XML document. Based on at least the current validation state, the particular part of the XML document is validated against an XML schema that defines the structure of the XML document.
US07992074B2
Even when erroneous encoded data is inputted to a decoding device, the decoding device is recovered during one video frame period including a video frame time of the inputted data to enable decoding processing on a next video frame. The decoding device includes: a receiving section (1) for receiving encoded data (11) to output the encoded data corresponding to a video frame, outputting encoded data of a next frame in response to a decoding completion signal (14) to be received, and for transmitting an error signal (15) when the decoding completion signal is not received during a predetermined time; an image decoder (2) for decoding the encoded data (12) from the receiving section (1), transmitting the decoding completion signal (14) to the receiving section (1) when decoding is completed, and for stopping decoding processing in response to a reset signal (16) to be received; and an error recovery section (3) for outputting the reset signal (16) to the image decoder (2) when the error signal (15) is received.
US07992071B2
A method in a data storage device for storing a plurality of data bits into a non-volatile memory includes transforming a plurality of data bits to be stored in a non-volatile memory device to generate a plurality of transformed data bits. The method further includes generating a parity bit corresponding to the plurality of transformed data bits, transforming the parity bit, and storing the plurality of data bits and the transformed parity bit in the non-volatile memory device. Each of the plurality of data bits and the parity bit form an all-one codeword.
US07992070B2
A transmitter includes a plurality of encoders configured to receive source bit streams from m information sources, each of the plurality encoders including identical (n,k) low-density parity check (LDPC) codes of code rate r=k/n, where k is a number of information bits and n is codeword length. An interleaver is configured to collect m row-wise codewords from the plurality of encoders, and a mapper is configured to receive m bits at a time column-wise from the interleaver and to determine an M-ary signal constellation point. A modulator is configured to modulate a light source in accordance with the output of the mapper at a transmission rate Rs/r (Rs—the symbol rate, r—-the code rate). A receiver and transmission and receiving methods are also disclosed.
US07992068B2
In a transmitter, a standard stream of encoded multi-media data and uniform error correction data is transmitted through a first channel. The uniform error correction data provides substantially the same error correction for all portions of the encoded multimedia data. Simultaneously, additional unequal error correction data is generated for critical portions of the standard stream and not for other portions of the standard stream, and the additional error correct data is transmitted through a second channel. In a receiver, the additional error correct data is used to error correct just the critical portions of the standard stream, and then the uniform error correction data is used to error correct all the portions of the encoded multimedia data of the standard stream.
US07992059B2
A system and method for replicating a memory block throughout a main memory and modifying real addresses within an address translation buffer to reference the replicated memory blocks during test case set re-executions in order to fully test the main memory is presented. A test case generator generates a test case set (multiple test cases) along with an initial address translation buffer that includes real addresses that reference an initial memory block. A test case executor modifies the real addresses after each test case set re-execution in order for a processor to test each replicated memory block included in the main memory.
US07992047B2
Methods for context sensitive detection of failing I/O devices sample and record a response time of an I/O device for each of a first plurality of time intervals to generate a first plurality of sampled and recorded response times, and to determine whether or not at least one I/O error has occurred in each of the first plurality of time intervals. A mathematical model is applied which characterizes the first plurality of sampled and recorded response times. The mathematical model is applied in accordance with an I/O device category corresponding to the I/O device. The mathematical model provides a frame of reference for defining an I/O failure.
US07992045B2
Monitoring asynchronous transactions in a computing environment is disclosed. A first unique identifier is determined when a first method executes. The identifier is associated with an asynchronous transaction. A second unique identifier is determined when a second method executes. If it is determined that the first unique identifier and the second unique identifier match, then is it determined that the asynchronous transaction started with the first method and completed with the second method. In one embodiment, code that identifies a routine that has instructions for determining the first unique identifier at runtime is added to the first method, and code that identifies a routine that has instructions for determining the second unique identifier at runtime is added to the second method.
US07992037B2
Exemplary systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention may provide a plurality of data services by employing splittable, mergable and transferable redundant chains of data containers. The chains and containers may be automatically split and/or merged in response to changes in storage node network configurations and may be stored in erasure coded fragments distributed across different storage nodes. Data services provided in a distributed secondary storage system utilizing redundant chains of containers may include global deduplication, dynamic scalability, support for multiple redundancy classes, data location, fast reading and writing of data and rebuilding of data due to node or disk failures.
US07992032B2
Even when a large number of guest OSs exist, a failover method meeting high availability needed by the guest OSs is provided for the each guest OS. In the event of a physical or logical change of a system, or change of operation states, a smooth failover method can be realized by preventing the consumption of resource amounts due to excessive failover methods, and the occurrence of systemdown due to an inadequate failover method. In a server virtualization environment, in a cluster configuration having a failover method due to hot standby and cold standby, by selecting a failover method meeting high availability requirements specifying performance during failover of applications on the guest OSs, a suitable cluster configuration is realized. Failure monitoring is realized by quantitative heartbeat.
US07992025B2
A power control circuit for supplying power for a computer component of a computer includes first to sixth switches. In response to the computer changing to a normal work state, a power state signal changes from low level to high level and a motherboard state signal is at high level, the fourth switch is turned on, the fifth switch is turned off, and the sixth switch is turned on, and power of the computer component is stably supplied by a system power supply. The motherboard state signal and the power state signal are at low level in response to the computer changing to a sleep state, the second switch is turned off, the first and third switches are turned on, and power of the computer component is stably supplied by a standby power supply.
US07992022B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for setting computer-working-hours-based shutdown options. A method for setting computer-working-hours-based shutdown options in accordance with an embodiment includes: when receiving a shutdown command from a user, determining, based on a setting of computer working hours by the user, whether a current time of the system is within the working hours of the computer; and performing at least one of setting a shutdown option according to the determination result and presenting a shutdown option according to the determination result.
US07992008B2
Disclosed is a method of authorizing access to an item that maintains a lockout count and blocks access to the item if the lockout count exceeds a predetermined value. One feature is that the invention “variably” increments the lockout count if the presented password fails to exactly match the stored password. In this process the invention increments the lockout count different amounts depending upon how closely the presented password matches the stored password. The invention also provides a methodology that allocates a plurality of the same passwords to a plurality of users who share the same userid. The invention allows continuous operation of the item being accessed by providing that each of the passwords has a different expiration date. Also, when dealing with situations where a plurality of users who share the same userid also share the same password, the invention maps information associated with the users to the password in a data file and periodically updates the data file.
US07991999B2
A technique for security and authentication on block-based media includes involves the use of protected keys, providing authentication and encryption primitives. A system according to the technique may include a secure device having a security kernel with protected keys. A disk drive security mechanism may support authentication of data, secrecy, and ticket validation using the security kernel and, for example, a ticket services module (e.g., a shared service that may or may not be used by other storage devices like flash).
US07991998B2
A system and method determines the proximity of the target node to the source node from the time required to communicate messages within the node-verification protocol. The node-verification protocol includes a query-response sequence, wherein the source node communicates a query to the target node, and the target node communicates a corresponding response to the source node. The target node is configured to communicate two responses to the query: a first response that is transmitted immediately upon receipt of the query, and a second response based on the contents of the query. The communication time is determined based on the time duration between the transmission of the query and receipt of the first response at the source node and the second response is compared for correspondence to the query, to verify the authenticity of the target node.
US07991993B2
The invention relates to a telecommunication system including a plurality of terminals divided into groups such that within each group each terminal can send multidestination messages to the other members of the group. Each terminal of a group is associated with encryption and decryption means so that each terminal can send multidestination messages that can be decrypted only by the other terminals of the group. The system includes a central server for distributing to each encryption and decryption means keys for secure transmission of communications within each group.
US07991991B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, an apparatus operable under an operating system having an input device for inputting information, the apparatus being activated by booting a BIOS and the operating system successively comprises, a storage for storing information; and a processor receiving specific information inputted by the input device before completion of booting the operating system, storing the specific information into the storage, determining whether or not the specific information is stored in the storage after completion of booting the operating system, rebooting the BIOS when the specific information is stored in the storage and displaying information related to the BIOS.
US07991981B2
A method within a data processing system by which a processor executes an asynchronous memory move (AMM) store (ST) instruction to complete a corresponding AMM operation in parallel with an ongoing (not yet completed), previously issued barrier operation. The processor receives the AMM ST instruction after executing the barrier operation (or SYNC instruction) and before the completion of the barrier operation or SYNC on the system fabric. The processor continues executing the AMM ST instruction, which performs a move in virtual address space and then triggers the generation of the AMM operation. The AMM operation proceeds while the barrier operation continues, independent of the processor. The processor stops further execution of all other memory access requests, excluding AMM ST instructions that are received after the barrier operation, but before completion of the barrier operation.
US07991980B2
A scalable processing system includes a memory device having a plurality of executable program instructions, wherein each of the executable program instructions includes a timetag data field indicative of the nominal sequential order of the associated executable program instructions. The system also includes a plurality of processing elements, which are configured and arranged to receive executable program instructions from the memory device, wherein each of the processing elements executes executable instructions having the highest priority as indicated by the state of the timetag data field.
US07991977B2
An advanced processor comprises a plurality of multithreaded processor cores each having a data cache and instruction cache. A data switch interconnect is coupled to each of the processor cores and configured to pass information among the processor cores. A messaging network is coupled to each of the processor cores and a plurality of communication ports. In one aspect of an embodiment of the invention, the data switch interconnect is coupled to each of the processor cores by its respective data cache, and the messaging network is coupled to each of the processor cores by its respective message station. Advantages of the invention include the ability to provide high bandwidth communications between computer systems and memory in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
US07991974B2
Access to a plurality of logical devices is enabled regardless of the number of ports provided in a storage system and the number of logical devices that can be allocated to a single port, thereby improving the usability of the logical devices. A storage system comprises a plurality of logical devices, a target device which is the object of access from a computer, and a juke box system for allocating one of the plurality of logical devices to the target device. The juke box system changes the logical device that is allocated to the target device in accordance with a request from the computer.
US07991966B2
This disclosure presents an architectural mechanism which allows a caching bridge to efficiently store data either inclusively or exclusively based upon information configured by an application. An INC bit is set for each access to a page table that indicates whether the data is shared or not shared by a LLC. This allows a multicore multiprocessor system to have a caching policy which enables use of the last level cache efficiently and results in improved performance of the multicore multiprocessor system.
US07991963B2
In an embodiment, the method provides receiving a memory access request for a demanded cache line from a processor of a plurality of processors; accessing coherency information associated with the demanded cache line from a memory unit by bringing in from a memory page in which the demanded cache line is stored, the memory page also including a directory line having coherency information corresponding to the demanded cache line; reading data associated with the demanded cache line in accordance with the coherency information; and returning the data to the processor.
US07991961B1
Leaked memory in a computer system is detected and recovered by first detecting memory leakage within the computer system based on nonlinear and non-parametric time-series regression analysis of software telemetry data generated by one or more software process running on the computer system. If existence of memory leakage is detected, then memory that has leaked is specifically identified and recovered. This is done by halting one or more of the software processes, generating a core image file or files of the halted software process(es), and re-starting the halted process or processes without waiting for analysis of the core image file(s). Then, the core image file is evaluated to specifically identify leaked memory in the computer system based on the core image file. Finally, the identified leaked memory is recovered.
US07991944B2
A system and method for searching a mapping table of a flash memory is provided. The system includes at least one random access memory for storing the mapping table retrieved from the flash memory and at least one search engine for searching for data from the mapping table stored in the at least one random access memory using dedicated hardware. Thus, the search efficiency for the mapping table and system performance may be increased.
US07991941B2
A method and apparatus are provided for facilitating access from a control system to the memory of a processor across two buses, one of which acts as a bottleneck to communication between the control system and the processor. A bridge between the two buses acts as an intermediary. The control system issues simple diagnosis and data loading verification commands across a slow bus to the bridge. The bridge then performs the data intensive tasks by communicating with the processor through a faster bus. The bridge writes and reads data to the processor, and generates checksums of the written and read data. The bridge then returns status information to the control system indicative of the comparison of the checksums. In the case of memory diagnosis, the control system need only issue a simple command to the bridge through the slower, which then diagnoses the memory through the fast bus by writing and reading data, and returns a status to the control system through the slow bus. In the case of verification of loading of data, the bridge generates a checksum of the written data and then generates of a checksum of the data it reads back from the processor through the fast bus, and returns a status to the control system through the slow bus.
US07991935B2
A remote control system for portable devices comprises a separate programmable remote controller, a base station communicatively interconnected with a portable device, and a detachable video capture unit communicatively interconnected with the base station. In operation, a user can instantly review, browse and manage an originally optimized user interface of the portable device with the video capture unit, thereby dispensing with the need of learning and accommodating a new user interface.
US07991925B2
A memory controller is unaware of device types (DTs) of a plurality (N) of series-connected memory devices in an interconnection configuration. Possible DTs include, e.g., random access memories and Flash memories. First, the memory controller sends a specific DT (“don't care”) and an initial number of binary code to the first device of the interconnection configuration and the binary code is propagated through the devices. Each device performs a “+1” calculation regardless of the DT. The last device provides the memory controller with Nד+1” from which the memory controller can obtain the number N of devices in the interconnection configuration. Thereafter, the memory controller sends a search number (SN) of binary code and a search DT for DT matching that propagate through the devices. Each device performs DT match determination of “previous match”, “present match” and “don't care match”. Based on the match determination, the SN and search DT are or not modified. The modified or non-modified SN and DT are propagated through the devices. Such processes are repeated. From the propagated SN and DT and the previously recognized number of the devices, the memory controller can identify the DT of each device in the interconnection configuration.
US07991916B2
Architecture that allows users in an application sharing environment to separately view portions of data that are not part of the current shared view. An enhanced application sharing component is provided that facilitates rendering the application data multiple times for a correspondingly similar number of simultaneous users, and sending the additional renderings to the other users for interaction. Each user client includes an application sharing viewer that composites the per-user renderings onto the base shared image of the user client to create a per-user view of the shared document. The enhanced sharing component renders the portion of the data that is requested by the remote user as a bitmap and passes the bitmap along with coordinate information to the client rendering program presentation with the shared data view. The coordinate information indicates where on the shared screen of the remote client the bitmap is overlayed to produce a seamless experience.
US07991906B2
Systems and methods are provided for scheduling data requests for streaming media data in a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network. A method is provided to increase a peer's contribution to the whole P2P network by partitioning the data chunks to request into several regions according to their relative time urgency, and data requests are scheduled in an effort to maintain availability of data in each region to a corresponding predefined target amount.
US07991897B2
In an effort to transmit/receive MDI data in a session among a plurality of terminals, when any of the terminals designates a communication partner and transmits a request to join a session to a management server 100, the management server allows the terminal to join a session joined by the designated communication partner, allocates a channel different from those allocated to the other terminals in the session, and notifies the allocated channel together with information on the terminals joining the session. Further, the terminal sets communication destinations based on the notification.
US07991891B2
Content returned by a search query is specific to a version of a product installed on or associated with the computer system requesting the search. Upon receipt of the search query, a search system accesses a persistent descriptor corresponding to a detected version of the product. The persistent descriptor may be a cookie file stored on the requesting computer system. A product detection module interrogates the computer system to identify the associated products, including the particular versions of those products. The search of a repository of general content related to the product is scoped using the persistent descriptor as a search filter in order to provide version-specific content.
US07991889B2
A deferred maintenance mode for network elements is described, wherein upon failure of one or more resources in a network element, redundant resources are used to preserve functionality. Upon subsequent failure of the redundant resources, function can revert to the first set of resources if those resources have a higher level of functionality. This deferred mode is valuable in situations where it may not be possible to repair failed elements in a timely manner, or if there is a limit upon the amount of backup power available.
US07991874B2
The disclosure is directed to an enterprise system including a message topic, a monitor definition, a monitoring manager, and an alert topic. The message topic includes a message associated with performance of a distributed computing application. The monitor definition includes performance rules for evaluating data associated with the message associated with the distributed computing application. The monitor definition is associated with a role. The monitoring manager is configured to access the message topic. The alert topic is configured to receive an alert message from the monitoring manager. The monitoring manager provides the alert message in accordance with the monitor definition. The alert message is accessible to a user associated with the role.
US07991873B2
An UI display apparatus capable of searching for and identifying a communication device connected to a network, in accordance with a user's preference. A television being the UI display apparatus includes a communication unit communicating with a DVD recorder, which is a communication device connected via the network, receiving data sent from the DVD recorder via the network, and sending the received data to the processing unit, and a processing unit instructing the display unit to perform UI rendering based on information stored in a recording unit, the recording unit storing the type name of a device the television wishes to display on the display unit among the devices on the network, the type name of a service provided by the device, a function name, etc. The television also includes a display unit displaying a UI such as an icon according to an instruction from the processing unit.
US07991868B2
A system and method for transporting data units for a communication network. In a communication between two peers a proxy and a network entity for controlling a partial communication are provided. One or both of the proxy and the network entity is arranged to modify one or more of the data units, in order to provide communication control related information that is different from communication control related information exchanged between the two peers The respective other or both of the proxy and the network entity is arranged to perform data unit transmission control based on the different communication control related information.
US07991867B2
A load balancer sends a probe packet to a first server in a list of servers. Each server in the list sends the probe successively down the list of servers and acknowledges the probe if the server is healthy. The final server in the list sends a signal to the load balancer to indicate that the chain of server probing has completed successfully. In this manner, the load balancer (or other device performing the checking) only needs to send a single probe rather than probe each server in the list separately. Embodiments include serial and recursive acknowledgments from the servers, sending a beacon message upon failure, and other features.
US07991855B2
Networks may be implemented using peer-to-peer technology. A plurality of peers may form a peer-group, having a unique group label. To relieve the user from administrative tasks, some configuration routines for such networks may be automated. A peer-group may select one of its peers as negotiation peer, having the task to communicate with other peers, e.g. negotiation peers from other peer-groups. When merging or splitting peer-groups, the group label is usually modified. But it may be advantageous to keep the group label. If a new peer-group in a peer-to-peer network is created by merging or splitting of peer-groups, a method for selecting a group label for the new peer-group comprises determining a negotiation peer, exchanging information between the negotiation peers in the case of merging, comparing features of the two peer-groups and assigning the label of one of the peer-groups to the new peer-group.
US07991853B2
An information processing system configured to include at least an open server apparatus and a terminal apparatus communicable with each other through a network is disclosed. The system includes: an opening mode setting means for setting an opening mode; a transmitted content information creating means for creating content information including at least body information and predetermined additional information; a content information storing means for storing content information; a content information upload control means for transmitting content information; and an opening mode determining means for determining an opening mode of the content information stored in the content information storing means.
US07991849B1
A system for managing and updating a configuration database for a network element is described. The network element includes several managed objects. The managed objects represent logical representations that can be configured and modified through transactions executed by the network management software. The configuration management system includes a database manager that maintains a database file and a transaction log file. Each managed object includes an object reference key and a storage location pointer. Logical dependencies among objects are maintained through the linking of storage location pointers in the objects. Actions that modify an object are stored in the database file and the transaction log file. The present state of an object is stored by the database management system. In the event of an abort condition, the most recent configuration state of the network element is restored by re-applying the transactions stored in the transaction log file, and resolving the pointer links contained in the affected managed objects.
US07991835B2
A network provides distributed client services based on participation in respective resource groups by computing nodes, each resource group including a corresponding resource requirement for any computing node that joins the corresponding resource group for execution of the corresponding distributed client service. Each computing node, in response to determining its corresponding available node capacity, is configured for selectively creating and joining at least one new resource group for execution of a corresponding distributed client service having a corresponding resource requirement, and/or selectively joining at least one of the available resource groups, based on the corresponding available node capacity satisfying the corresponding resource requirement. Each distributed client service also includes service attributes that define parameters for execution of the distributed client service, and data attributes that define the attributes required for data to be used in the distributed client service.
US07991820B1
The ONE STEP BINARY SUMMARIZER is a digital logic circuit. It is used for summarizing two binary numbers. It contains one Function Generator Module and one or more SUMMARIZER Units. For subtraction it is subtracting Register “A” from Register “B” and Register “B” from Register “A”. The two subtraction and one addition operations are executed simultaneously. The Function Generator Module determines the actual correct operation, (addition or subtraction) and selects the correct results for the resultant operand. The circuit utilizes the subtraction-by-carry method; therefore the subtraction operation does not require any presorting, complementary operations, iterative additions, temporary storage, and multiple instruction sets, etc. The logic-flow is similar, the operational speed is identical for the addition and subtraction operations; and therefore, it is a true Time Symmetrical circuit. It is independent from the initial operation selection, the signs and magnitudes of the input operands.
US07991817B2
An apparatus and method that use an associative calculator for calculating a sequence of non-associative operations on a set of input data, comprising: using the associative calculator to calculate from the set of input data an evaluated value of each operation of said sequence as if the non-associative operations were associative operations; detecting if some of the evaluated values are erroneous; if there are erroneous evaluated values, correcting the erroneous evaluated values; and if there are no erroneous evaluated value, outputting as the result of the sequence of non-associative operations the evaluated value of the last operation of the sequence.
US07991806B2
A system and method to facilitate importation of data taxonomies within a network are described. Advertiser entities access a data storage module within a network-based entity to retrieve content information from one or more content taxonomies stored within the data storage module. Subsequently, the advertiser entities select advertisements targeted to specific users based on the retrieved content information and further transmit the advertisements to the network-based entity. Furthermore, publisher entities and/or advertiser entities transmit data, such as, for example, associated taxonomy information, to the network-based entity. The entity receives the respective taxonomy information and parses the taxonomy information to extract node information and associated categories related to the received information. Finally, the entity integrates the node information and associated categories into one or more taxonomies stored within the data storage module. Alternatively, the entity maps the node information and associated categories into corresponding nodes within one or more taxonomies stored within the data storage module, and further stores the mapping information into a mapping database within the data storage module.
US07991799B2
A computer-implemented method of creating a schema specific parser for processing Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents can include identifying a plurality of XML processing templates, wherein each of the plurality of XML processing templates performs a specific task of processing an XML document against an XML schema component. An XML schema including a plurality of components can be received. A hierarchy of the plurality of components of the XML schema can be determined. An execution plan specifying a hierarchy of XML processing instructions can be created, wherein each XML processing instruction is associated with an XML processing template from the plurality of XML processing templates. The hierarchy of the XML processing templates can be determined according to the hierarchy of components of the XML schema. The execution plan can be compiled to generate the schema specific parser. The schema specific parser can be output.
US07991779B1
A disclosed embodiment relates to a system for populating an index table. The system comprises a component that decomposes a spatial object into a set of object pairs, a component that employs a value associated with the object pairs to sort the set of object pairs into a sequence of object pairs, a component that uses a sliding border analysis to create a subset of the sequence of object pairs depending upon a position of the object pair in the sequence of object pairs, and a component that populates the index table with the subset of object pairs.
US07991778B2
A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques provide mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). The MMR system includes an action processor and methods, and an MMR document with having an associated action. The MMR document specifies different actions for different MMR documents, and creates any number of MMR documents for a particular location on any media, thereby allowing the MMR architecture to serve as a universal trigger or initiator for additional processing. The action processor receives the output of the MMR recognition process which yields an MMR document including at least one action. The action processor executes that action which includes various commands to the MMR system or other systems coupled to the MMR system. The MMR system architecture can perform action such as retrieving the electronic form of the document to the capture device, retrieving the specification for the action, inserting data to a MMR document, transferring data between documents, purchasing items, authoring actions or reviewing historical information about actions.
US07991753B2
The acquisition of a lock among nodes of a divided cluster is disclosed. A method is performable by each of at least one node of the cluster. A node waits for a delay corresponding to its identifier. The node asserts intent to acquire the lock by writing its identifier to X and Y variables where another node has failed to acquire the lock. The node waits for another node to acquire the lock where the other node has written to X, and proceeds where Y remains equal to its own identifier. The node waits for another node to acquire the lock where the other node has written to a Z variable, and writes its own identifier to Z and proceeds where the other node has failed. The node writes a value to Y indicating that it is acquiring the lock, and maintains acquisition by periodically writing to Z.
US07991751B2
A method for detecting an information item within an information sequence obtained from a digital medium, the information item comprising any one of a specified set of prestored information items, comprises: transforming each of the set of prestored information items into a respective representation, in accordance with a predetermined transformation format; transforming the information sequence obtained from the digital medium, in accordance with the transformation format; and determining the presence of one or more of the prestored information items within the transformed information sequence, utilizing the respective representation.
US07991742B2
Provided is a database schema migration difference detecting technique for detecting differences of a customized database schema before and after database migration by using XML technology, including: extracting a first database schema from a fresh database of a release and saving the first database schema in a first XML file; extracting a customized database schema from a customized database of the release and saving the customized database schema in a second XML file; comparing the first and second XML files, filtering the identical content in the first and second XML files and saving differences in a delta XML file; and comparing the delta XML file with a new database to detect a state of the customized database schema after migration. The detecting state indicates whether there is any loss or change in the customized database schema after migration, as well as, conflicts with the database schema in a database of a new release.
US07991738B2
Connection architectures, methods, systems and computer readable media are described. In one exemplary embodiment, a computer readable medium comprises a first software component which is configured to interface, through first software based messages, with synchronization software components during a structured data synchronization process between a host and a device and which is configured to interface, through second software based messages, with a plurality of different stream handlers for a corresponding plurality of physical interfaces. Systems, methods, architectures and other computer readable media are also described.
US07991732B2
A system displays and filters reports including website visitation data in response to receiving user input. The system includes a client for processing the input as a query to a network, which returns the requested data. The system and accompanying method provide a user interface for incrementally adjusting report data and tailoring reports to user specifications. In addition, adjusted reports can be further adjusted per additional data input. The results are returned virtually instantaneously, enabling users to analyze the effects of combinations of factors.
US07991724B2
A method for providing a response to a statement of a user, the method includes: receiving user input that comprises a portion of a user statement; selecting, before receiving a whole user statement, an answerable statement response between an answerable statement, multiple answerable statements and a response to an answerable statement; wherein the selecting is responsive to user input and to structured representations of answerable statements answerable by an answering entity; and sending to the user information representative of response to the user statement.
US07991718B2
The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate generating an inference about events that may not have yet been observed. Open-world modeling can be used to take a history of observation so as to understand trends over time in the revelation of previously unseen events, and to make inferences with subsets of data that new unseen events will be seen. Thus, inaccuracies associated with predictions generated from incomplete data sets can be mitigated. To yield such predictions, open-world submodels and closed-world submodels that do not allow for previously unseen events can be combined via a model mixture methodology, which fuses inferences from the open- and close-world models.
US07991711B2
A method, system, and computer program product are described for delivering smart services. According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for delivering smart services includes receiving a request to determine an availability of a service subscriber for responding to an event associated with a service. The service is defined in terms of the event and a situation of the service subscriber. A current situation of the service subscriber is determined using subscriber context information based on private information of the subscriber. Attributes of the event and the current subscriber situation are used to provide to the service at least one of the subscriber context information and a probability related to an availability of the subscriber for responding to the event, allowing the service to generate a response to the event on behalf of the subscriber without the service having direct access to the private subscriber information.
US07991709B2
A method is provided for operating a computing device to create a document structure model of a computer parsable text document utilizing recognition of at least one ordered sequence of identifiers in the document. The method includes converting a computer parsable text document of any format to an alternative structured language format to form a converted document. The text of the converted document is fragmented into an ordered sequence of text fragments within a text format. The text fragments are enumerated to obtain a sequence of terms. At least one optimal sub-sequence of terms is identified from among the sequence of terms, with an optimal sub-sequence being one or more longest increasing sub-sequence(s). The computer parsable text document is annotated with tags, with the tags including information derived from identification of the optimal sub-sequence(s). The annotated document is displayed on the graphical user interface.
US07991703B1
An environment provided by a financial entity in which buyers and sellers may be brought together to initiate and complete a transaction for the purchase of a property for sale or rental. The environment enables sellers to list items together with relevant information that buyers may need to understand the item. Buyers may apply for financing, insurance or other related services to receive approval to purchase properties. A mechanism by which the seller and buyer may communicate enables a negotiation process, scheduling and other processes associated with the sale or rental. After an agreement is reached between the buyer and seller, components associated with the environment, such property and casualty and banking may complete the necessary paperwork, etc. to close the deal.
US07991702B2
A system and method for management of real estate open house data includes a database and a website configured to provide access to information from the database. The website is configured to communicate with a user identification device, in the form of a user's cell phone or other mobile device, upon a user's entry into the open house, to transfer user identification data to the database.
US07991686B1
Various embodiments show a system for conducting an auction for a plurality of financially settled contracts: The system may comprise at least one computer. The at least one computer may be programmed to receive a plurality of first participant bids from a first participant and a plurality of second participant bids from a second participant. The at least one computer may also be programmed to match a batch of bids, where the matched bids may be modified to reduce the trade risk of a portfolio of the first participant, or to liquidate a defaulted portfolio subject to a Maximum Portfolio Liquidation Cost Constraint. The contracts may include, for example, an oil contract, a coal contract, a natural gas contract, an electricity contract, a weather contract, a weather-related events contract, a commodities contract, a location specific service contract (e.g., a passenger contract and/or freight contract), a financial derivative contract, or a credit default contract on any of an entity's issued securities.
US07991681B2
In one mode the present invention allows for transactions of various types to take place “anonymously” and securely over public (WAN), semi-public (e.g. AOL) and private or subscription networks and without regard or dependency to currency valuations or per se financial institutional policy. The present invention in another mode allows individuals or groups to “attract” investors anonymously over the network in their own asset holdings or even their asset building or acquisition plans, making each individual or pooled group capable of becoming their own “IPO.”
US07991676B1
A fluctuating annuity payment is determined and generated, and that annuity payment is subsequently fixable. The fluctuating annuity payment may be based on an interest rate, such as the market yield of a 1-year U.S. Treasury adjusted to constant maturity, for example. The fluctuating annuity payment may be determined on a certain date, or periodically, for example. The annuity payment, while fluctuating, may have a predetermined floor or minimum threshold amount that is does not pay less than. At some point, a request may be received to fix the payment, and the fluctuating annuity payment is converted to a fixed annuity payment. The fixed annuity payment may be based on a long term interest rate, for example. After receiving a request to fix the annuity payment, a payment schedule may be determined based on the value of the remaining payments that are to be made.
US07991670B1
A system comprises a memory operable to store a first closing value of an index for a first day, wherein the index is based at least in part on a cash account and a variance future. The system further comprises a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and operable to determine a first settlement value of a variance future for the first day and to determine a second settlement value of the variance future for a second day. The processor is further operable to determine an increase of cash in the cash account from the first day to the second day, wherein the determination is based at least in part on an interest rate. The processor is further operable to determine a second closing value of the index for the second day, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the determined increase of cash in the cash account, the first settlement value, and the second settlement value. The processor is further operable to store the second closing value in the memory.
US07991662B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for providing e-commerce and accounting services to organizations and service providers for offerings ordered by the organization via an on-line interactive communication network. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and system whereby a third party intermediary can absorb certain payment, collection and billing functions on behalf of an organization and service providers which provide services to the organization. The term service provider as used herein refers to any entity or individual that provides a service, including the service of providing goods.
US07991660B2
A multi-user information processing method for managing and determining tax provision information that includes a source database storing data for determining tax provision information; a calculation engine for performing information processing operations on the data stored in the source database for determining tax provision information; a transformed database for storing tax provision information determined by the calculation engine; and a reporting engine for producing reports using information from the transformed database.
US07991657B2
A method and apparatus for a pull back optimizer in conjunction with an inventory management system allows for efficient retrieval of return assemblies for optimized parts fulfillment. The inventory management system includes a return assembly inventory and a list of parts needed for order fulfillment. The return assembly inventory lists the part numbers and quantities of parts in each return assembly. The pull back optimizer allows a user of the inventory management system to efficiently determine the optimal return systems to pull back to production for parts fulfillment to minimize the impact on those using the return assemblies.
US07991647B2
Systems and methods for providing traders with an opportunity to trade on the VWAP price are provided. After a trader enters a VWAP auction session, the trader has a predetermined about of time (i.e., the length of the VWAP auction period) to place bids and/or offers on an item. When the VWAP auction period ends, the electronic trading application matches the VWAP orders. The VWAP orders that are not matched are cancelled. The electronic trading application collects trading information (e.g., price, size, etc.) corresponding to the received orders. The collected information is processed to determine the VWAP price. The VWAP price is presented to the trader and the matched VWAP orders are filled based on the determined VWAP price.
US07991637B1
A method of sharing a calendar between a plurality of users is described where the calendar is capable of holding one or more events. The method includes providing the calendar to each of said plurality of users. The method further includes allowing any of the plurality of users to add to the calendar a new event, a change to an event and a message relating to an event. The method further includes providing a new event, change to an event and/or message added by a user to the other users including automatically displaying at least one updated calendar to its respective other user without said other user having to cause said updated calendar to be fetched through a network.
US07991619B2
A system, method and computer program product for performing blind change detection audio segmentation that combines hypothesized boundaries from several segmentation algorithms to achieve the final segmentation of the audio stream. Automatic segmentation of the audio streams according to the system and method of the invention may be used for many applications like speech recognition, speaker recognition, audio data mining, online audio indexing, and information retrieval systems, where the actual boundaries of the audio segments are required.
US07991614B2
A speech recognition system includes the following: a feature calculating unit; a sound level calculating unit that calculates an input sound level in each frame; a decoding unit that matches the feature of each frame with an acoustic model and a linguistic model, and outputs a recognized word sequence; a start-point detector that determines a start frame of a speech section based on a reference value; an end-point detector that determines an end frame of the speech section based on a reference value; and a reference value updating unit that updates the reference value in accordance with variations in the input sound level. The start-point detector updates the start frame every time the reference value is updated. The decoding unit starts matching before being notified of the end frame and corrects the matching results every time it is notified of the start frame. The speech recognition system can suppress a delay in response time while performing speech recognition based on a proper speech section.
US07991610B2
The present invention is based on the finding that parameters including a first set of parameters of a representation of a first portion of an original signal and including a second set of parameters of a representation of a second portion of the original signal can be efficiently encoded, when the parameters are arranged in a first sequence of tuples and in a second sequence of tuples, wherein the first sequence of tuples comprises tuples of parameters having two parameters from a single portion of the original signal and wherein the second sequence of tuples comprises tuples of parameters having one parameter from the first portion and one parameter from the second portion of the original signal. An efficient encoding can be achieved using a bit estimator to estimate the number of necessary bits to encode the first and the second sequence of tuples, wherein only the sequence of tuples is encoded, that results in the lower number of bits.
US07991606B1
An electronic design automation system merges embedded logic analyzer technology with system level design and analysis technology. Embedded logic analyzers provide hardware to allow board-level signal capture and subsequent analysis of test devices programmed with a hardware design generated using electronic design automation. System level environments provide interactive tools for entering, modeling, simulating and analyzing multi-domain systems such as DSP designs. Typically, a user enters a system level design as a block diagram, including embedded logic analyzer blocks. The user inserts such blocks at nodes in the design where he or she wishes to capture signals to verify the design.
US07991600B2
Irregular volumes within one or more three-dimensional volume datasets are identified and extracted in response to criteria. The processing involves automatically finding a seed voxel or seed cell that meets the criteria and thus belongs to an irregular volume of interest, and then identifying cells related to the seed cell by one or more predetermined relationships that are therefore also to be grouped into that irregular volume. Information, which can be of any suitable type, identifying each such cell as being related to other cells and belonging to an irregular volume is stored in a suitable data structure. The location or similar neighborhood information and other data describing properties or attributes of the identified cell are also stored. Because the irregular volumes are extracted and pre-processed in this manner, operations including rendering them on a display and performing Boolean and arithmetic operations on them can readily be performed.
US07991587B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for testing a material. A signal is sent into the material using the transmitter. The signal has a frequency range that falls within a selected frequency range to form a transmitted signal. An actual response to the transmitted signal is received at a sensor. A simulated response of the material to the transmitted signal is generated using a functional model capable of modeling responses of the material to different frequency ranges falling within the selected frequency range. The simulated response is compared to the actual response to determine if a change has occurred in the material.
US07991581B2
A method and system for analyzing interlinked production processes for manufacturing a product are provided. Static and dynamic input data for at least one product parameter or process parameter are acquired. At least one degree of freedom of the at least one product parameter or process parameter is determined. At least one target parameter is acquired. The acquired static and dynamic input data are processed on the basis of at least one degree of freedom and, the at least one product parameter or process parameter is automatically adjusted. At least some of the data determined and acquired are stored or output.
US07991578B2
A method of finding a cluster in a data stream includes updating statistical distribution information of a grid-cell corresponding to a currently generated data element, statistical distribution information on previously generated data elements being managed using grid-cells, which are partitioned within the range of a data space and have statistical distribution information of data elements within the range; comparing the occurrence frequency of the data element in the grid-cell according to the update result with a predefined partitioning threshold, partitioning the grid-cell into a plurality of grid-cells according to the comparison result, and estimating statistical distribution information of the partitioned grid-cells; recursively performing the updating or comparing step until the grid-cell becomes a unit grid-cell; and comparing the occurrence frequency of a data element in the unit grid-cell with a predefined minimum support and defining a set of unit grid-cells as a cluster according to the comparison result.
US07991574B2
A method, system and computer program product for filtering systematic differences from wafer evaluation parameters provides an efficient visual display and numerical map technique for observing wafer-level process variation. Measurement data is gathered from electronic circuits at multiple positions within multiple regions on one or more wafers and parameters are computed from the measurement data, which may be the measurement data values themselves. The set of parameters is filtered for expected systematic variation by computing a set of normalization values from the set of parameters and normalizing the data according to the normalization values. The normalized parameter set is then either presented in a visual display, e.g., by color mapping, or arranged in a numerical map of parameter value by location.
US07991566B2
An apparatus is presented for monitoring the relative positions and/or for measuring and evaluating relative position in a system which contains at least two sub-systems. The apparatus has several devices, of which at least one device has a vibration-isolation device. Furthermore, at least one device is provided for determining the relative positions of the devices and one evaluation device is provided for testing whether the measured relative positions of the devices lie within a tolerance interval.
US07991561B2
Systems and methods for determining the cycle threshold (Ct) value in a kinetic PCR amplification curve. The PCR data set may be visualized in a two-dimensional plot of fluorescence intensity (y-axis) vs. cycle number (x-axis). The data set is transformed to produce a partition table of data points with one column including the fluorescence at cycle (n) and a second column including the fluorescence at cycle (n+i), where i is typically 1 or greater. A cluster analysis process is applied to the partition table data set to determine a plurality of clusters in the partition table data set. In one aspect, the clustering process used includes a k-means clustering algorithm, where the number of identified clusters, k, is greater than or equal to three. In another aspect, a Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM) algorithm is used to identify three or more clusters. Using the identified clusters, a linear slope of each of the clusters is determined based on y(n+1) vs. n, and for each cluster, a ratio of the slope of that cluster with the slope of an adjacent cluster is determined. The ratios are then compared. An end point of a cluster having the largest or smallest ratio represents a specific point of interest in the data curve. The data point representing the elbow or Ct value of the PCR curve is identified as an end point of one of the identified clusters, and the cycle number corresponding to this data point is returned or displayed.
US07991558B2
Systems and methods for determining the elbow or Ct value in a real-time, or kinetic, PCR amplification curve data set. The PCR data set may be visualized in a two-dimensional plot of fluorescence intensity (y-axis) vs. cycle number (x-axis). The data set is transformed to produce a partition table of data points with one column including the fluorescence at cycle (n) and a second column including the fluorescence at cycle (n+i), where i is typically 1 or greater. A cluster analysis process is applied to the partition table data set to determine a plurality of clusters in the partition table data set. In one aspect, the clustering process used includes a k-means clustering algorithm, where k≧3. The data point representing the elbow or Ct value of the PCR curve is identified as an end point of one of the identified clusters, and the cycle number corresponding to this data point is returned or displayed.
