US08501164B2
The present invention relates to nicotine lozenge compositions comprising reduced levels of buffering agents from traditional nicotine lozenges and which provide optimal oral pH and prompt nicotine absorption in a smaller, more convenient dosage form.
US08501159B2
There are described nanoparticles of magnetic metal oxides employable in constructs consisting in polymer particles possibly also incorporating pharmacologically active substances.
US08501157B2
A CDR grafted humanized recombinant antibody against infection from Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) comprises a human Ig framework having CDRs from murine mAb 1A4A1 VH and VL. DNA sequences, expression vectors incorporating such sequences and transformed host cells are also provided. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods of prophylaxis and treatment against VEEV infection using the humanized recombinant antibodies of the invention.
US08501153B2
The present invention provides a PET tracer that has improved properties for imaging the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) as compared with known such PET tracers. The present invention also provides a precursor compound useful in the preparation of the PET tracer of the invention and methods for the preparation of said precursor compound and said PET tracer. Also provided by the present invention is a radiopharmaceutical composition comprising the PET tracer of the invention. Methods for using the PET tracer and the radiopharmaceutical composition are also provided.
US08501152B2
The present invention relates to a method of radiolabelling carbon nanotubes, to the radiolabelled carbon nanotubes that can be obtained by implementing this method, and to applications thereof.
US08501151B2
The present invention discloses a method, apparatus and method of manufacturing an apparatus; all to produce hydrogen gas, particularly synthesis gas. Preferred embodiments of the invention include an alpha alumina membrane which has been treated with a TiO2 wash coat on one side and has an active gamma alumina layer on an opposite side. A metal catalyst, preferably rhodium, is deposited within the pores of the alumina. Oxygen travels through the membrane and is activated before contacting methane on the other side of the membrane and forming synthesis gas through partial oxidation of the methane. Embodiments of the invention have a number of benefits including the high conversion rate of oxygen (100%), the separate feed streams of methane and oxygen which allow for optimal ratios to be used without danger of explosion, and the opportunity to vary the feed rates without changing the products formed.
US08501150B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing a metal oxide by heating a porous metal-organic framework material, the framework material comprising at least one at least bidentate organic compound bound to at least one metal ion by coordination, and the metal ion being selected from the metals comprising groups 2 to 4 and 13 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, above the complete decomposition temperature of the framework material, and also to metal oxides obtainable by this method, and to the use thereof.
US08501147B2
This disclosure includes a process that unexpectedly can produce very inexpensive graphene and a new compound called graphenol in particulate or dispersions in solvents. The process can also produce graphene layers on metallic and nonmetallic substrates. Further, the graphenol and graphene can be utilized to form nanocomposites that yield property improvements exceeding anything reported previously.
US08501144B1
Methods of manufacturing polycrystalline diamond are disclosed. More particularly, a mixture including diamond and fullerenes may be provided. Further, the mixture may be exposed to a high pressure, high temperature sintering process. In addition, a volume of polycrystalline diamond bonded to a substrate may be formed by providing a mixture including diamond and fullerenes and exposing the mixture to a high pressure, high temperature sintering process. A drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation is disclosed. Further, polycrystalline diamond compacts are disclosed including polycrystalline diamond bonded to a substrate, wherein the polycrystalline diamond includes less than about 1% by weight or is substantially free of non-fullerenes, non-diamond carbon. Polycrystalline diamond exhibiting an increased diamond volume fraction due to the presence of fullerenes during manufacture relative to polycrystalline diamond formed without fullerenes is disclosed.
US08501142B2
This disclosure relates to carbonizing and activating carbonaceous material. In some embodiments, the material is selected from coconut-derived material and like material of vegetable origin and resin materials to produce activated carbon, the production comprising supplying the material to the inlet end of a kiln, supplying to the kiln an atmosphere comprising steam or carbon dioxide substantially free of oxygen, maintaining a first region of the kiln having an independently controllable supply of heat at a temperature sufficient for drying or removing solvent from the material without carbonization, maintaining a second region of the kiln having an independently controllable supply of heat downstream from the first region at a temperature sufficient for carbonization of the material without activation; maintaining a third region of the kiln having an independently controllable supply of heat downstream from the second region at a temperature sufficient for activation of the carbonized material, and collecting activated carbon from the discharge end of the kiln.
US08501128B2
Sorbent components containing halogen, calcium, alumina, and silica are used in combination during coal combustion to produce environmental benefits. Sorbents such as calcium bromide are added to the coal ahead of combustion and other components are added into the flame or downstream of the flame, preferably at minimum temperatures to assure complete formation of the refractory structures that result in various advantages of the methods. When used together, the components reduce emissions of elemental and oxidized mercury; increase the level of Hg, As, Pb, and/or Cl in the coal ash; decrease the levels of leachable heavy metals (such as Hg) in the ash, preferably to levels below the detectable limits; and make a highly cementitious ash product.
US08501125B2
Systems and methods of capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide, comprising mixing a substantially non-aqueous solvent and an alkali such that the solvent and alkali form a solvent suspension, mixing water and a flue gas containing carbon dioxide with the solvent suspension such that a reaction occurs, the reaction resulting in the formation of a carbonate, water and heat. Methods and processes of environmental remediation and recovering metals from waste streams are also provided.
US08501114B1
A curettage collection apparatus includes a plate that has first side, a second side, and a perimeter edge. The perimeter edge includes a first edge, a second edge, a third edge and a fourth edge wherein the first and second edges are positioned opposite of each other. The first edge is convexly arcuate and the second edge is concavely arcuate. An elongated rod is attached to and extends away from the first side.
US08501113B2
The invention relates to processes and devices for detecting an analyte in a sample by fluorescence measurement of a fluorophore, wherein the detection medium which contains a fluorophore or a precursor of the fluorophore is admixed with an absorber whose absorbance spectrum superimposes the fluorescence excitation range of the fluorophore. The system consisting of the fluorophore and the absorber, which is produced in the detection medium, has an altered effective fluorescence excitation range with an altered fluorescence excitation maximum. Illumination with fluorescence excitation light can take place within the range of this altered excitation maximum. The measured signal obtained from determining fluorescence emission exhibits only low dependence on the wavelength of the excitation light.
US08501100B2
An oxygen sensor includes a metalloporphyrin for detecting oxygen levels. The oxygen sensors may also include a light source and a detector. The sensors are configured to measure changes in spectra in response to the redox reaction. They can detect a variety of samples for presence and changes in oxygen concentration in both solution and gaseous form.
US08501096B2
An apparatus and method for the automated preparation of treated monolayers of sample material, comprising: a centrifuge having a rotor (12) carrying removable chamber blocks (14); sample and reagent dispensers (26) and control systems (20). First, centrifugal force sediments sample material discretely to form a monolayer onto a receiving surface member (32) on one of the chamber blocks (14), while the same centrifugal force opens a valve (48) in the chamber block (14) to drain sample material. Then, centrifugal force delivers sequentially into discrete chamber blocks (14) discrete treating agents, during which time the sampler material monolayer is held in place on the receiving surface member (32) by centrifugal force. Then, each chamber block (14) is drained centrifugally through its already opened valve (48). Each treated sampler material is confined to an individual chamber block (14). Batch and random access delivery of treating agents can be employed. Each chamber block (14) includes separate inlets for the sample and treating agents.
US08501095B2
A storage cartridge for dispensing biosensors used in the determination of an analyte in body fluid comprises a hollow body for housing a stack of biosensors having an open top, a flexible conveying member disposed over the open top of the body, the flexible conveying member having an aperture formed therein for receiving a biosensor from the stack of biosensors, a plate adapted to press the sliding conveying member against the open top to form a substantially moisture-impervious seal around the open top of the body and to permit the conveying member to slide between the plate and the open top, and a biasing mechanism the stack of biosensors towards the open top.
US08501094B2
The present invention is to present an analyzer, comprising: a container holder for holding a liquid container, wherein the liquid container includes a container body having an opening at a top end and containing a liquid, and a cover for sealing the opening; a liquid aspirating device comprising a liquid aspirating tube for aspirating the liquid within the liquid container held by the container holder; and an opening device for opening the opening such that the liquid aspirating tube is able to be inserted into the liquid container, by conducting a first operation and a second operation, wherein the first operation releases a sealing state between the cover and the opening under a condition that the cover is covering the opening, and the second operation moves the cover to a position at which the opening is not being covered by the cover under a condition that the sealed state is being released.
US08501093B2
A portable handheld medical diagnostic device includes a housing forming a protective enclosure. A main circuit board is located in the protective enclosure. The main circuit board includes a controller facilitating a physiologic measurement. A display device is connected to the main circuit board that displays information related to the physiologic measurement. An electronic skin is on the housing. The electronic skin comprises a liquid crystal material and is configured to display a color.
US08501092B2
The present invention provides a calorimeter device, generally comprising a reaction vessel which may be U-shaped and which may be cantilevered; and a sensor for detecting temperature changes. In various embodiments, the sensor detects heat input into or output from the reaction vessel; changes in the electrical properties of a material coated onto the reaction vessel; changes in the mechanical properties of the reaction vessel; or changes in the resonance properties of the reaction vessel. The present invention further provides arrays of a subject calorimeter device. The present invention further provides a system for detecting a temperature change. The present invention further provides methods of detecting a temperature change that occurs as a result of a chemical, biochemical, biological, light-induced, or physical process. The methods generally involve introducing a sample into a subject device, and detecting a temperature change.
US08501080B2
A method for producing a crystallographically oriented ceramic including a preparation step of preparing a template layer having uniform crystal orientation in a predetermined direction, a formation step of forming a shaped body including a matrix layer arranged on the template layer, the matrix layer being composed of a mixed material that contains a lead-containing material and an additional material containing lithium and boron, and a firing step of firing the shaped body formed in the formation step at a predetermined firing temperature. Furthermore, after the firing step, a post-annealing step of heating the shaped body to remove lithium and boron may be included.
US08501078B2
A method for blow molding containers having cross-sections of a non-circular shape from preforms, in which a temperature profile varying at least in the circumferential direction of the preform is produced by means of at least one heat transfer element, for which purpose the preform and at least the heat transfer element are oriented toward one another by a relative rotational movement in the circumferential direction of the preform, the heat transfer element is rotated relative to the stationary preform about a heat transfer element axis during the relative rotational movement. Further, a device for blow molding such containers where the heat transfer element and the holder are rotatable about a heat transfer element axis and are coupled with a rotational drive.
US08501073B2
The invention provides a device for injecting a resin into at least one fiber layer of a fiber-reinforced product (5) to be manufactured, comprising a mold (2, 3) having a mold cavity (4) that is surrounded by a mold wall for abutment of the product thereagainst in the closed condition of the mold. A rigid part (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) of the mold wall is movable with respect to another part of the mold wall in the closed condition of the mold so as to ensure a continued abutment of the movable part of the mold wall with the products when shrinkage of the resin caused by curing thereof takes place subsequent to the injection process.
US08501067B2
A method for producing a mold element provided with a conduit arrangement through which a cooling fluid can flow. The method includes providing a first component and a second component of the mold element, the first component being provided with a precursor arrangement of the conduit arrangement, the precursor arrangement having an open channel arrangement; joining the first component and the second component, so that a surface of the second component faces the open channel arrangement to define therewith the conduit arrangement. The step of joining includes making integral the first component with the second component via a third component formed in contact with the first component and with the second component in an auxiliary mold.
US08501057B1
Various embodiments provide materials and methods of forming hollow cubes. The hollow cubes can be formed to include a metal oxide shell layer encasing a cubic hollow space. In one embodiment, the hollow cubes can be formed from an emulsion having aqueous droplets with an interfacial layer encasing an aqueous core. By an exemplary freezing treatment, the aqueous droplets having a spherical shape can be transformed into ice components having a cubic shape. Metal oxide precursors can then be added to react with the encased cube-shaped ice core at the interface with the interfacial layer to form a sol-gel metal oxide shell layer. Hollow cubes can be formed by removing the cube-shaped ice core from the sol-gel metal oxide shell layer.
US08501055B2
A toner manufacturing method, a toner manufacturing apparatus, and a toner are disclosed. The toner manufacturing apparatus includes a droplet generating unit that includes a thin film in which plural nozzles are formed, and an annular vibrating unit that is arranged at a perimeter of a deformable domain of the thin film for vibrating the thin film; a storage unit for storing a toner-containing liquid that includes at least a resin and a colorant, and for supplying the toner-containing liquid 10 to the droplet generating unit; and a granulating unit for solidifying droplets that are periodically breathed out from the nozzles of the droplet generating unit to form toner particles.
US08501054B2
An apparatus for manufacturing a micro lens array, wherein lenses having various standards are easily manufactured by forming a micro lens array by adjusting a vacuum condition in a vacuum chamber. The apparatus including: a vacuum chamber including a vacuum space therein; a vacuum unit for forming a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber; an upper frame disposed inside the vacuum chamber and to which a substrate is installed on a lower surface of the upper frame; an elevator for ascending and descending the upper frame; a lower frame disposed below the upper frame; a master plate disposed on the lower frame and includes a plurality of molding grooves on an upper surface of the master plate; and a heater installed to a side of the master plate to heat up the master plate.
US08501050B2
Composite materials comprising titanium diboride, silicon carbide and carbon-containing scavenger additions are useful in electrolytic aluminum production cells. The carbon-containing scavenger additions may include tungsten carbide, boron carbide and/or carbon. The amounts of titanium diboride, silicon carbide and carbon-containing scavenger are controlled in order to provide optimum performance. The titanium diboride/silicon carbide composite materials may be used as cathodes in electrolytic aluminum production cells and are electrically conductive, exhibit desirable aluminum wetting behavior, and are capable of withstanding exposure to molten cryolite, molten aluminum and oxygen at elevated temperatures during operation of such cells.
US08501045B2
The present invention is a circuit connecting material used for the mutual connection of a circuit member in which electrodes and insulating layers are formed adjacent to each other on the surface of a board, and a circuit member in which electrodes and insulating layers are formed adjacent to each other on the surface of a board, with the edge parts and of the insulating layers being formed with a greater thickness than the electrodes on the basis of the main surfaces, wherein this circuit connecting material contains a bonding agent composition and conductive particles that have a mean particle size of 1 μm or greater but less than 10 μm and a hardness of 1.961 to 6.865 GPa, and this circuit connecting material exhibits a storage elastic modulus of 0.5 to 3 GPa at 40° C. and a mean coefficient of thermal expansion of 30 to 200 ppm/° C. at from 25° C. to 100° C. when subjected to the curing treatment.
US08501039B2
The embodiment provides a process for production of a green light-emitting oxynitride fluorescent material having Sr3Al3Si13O2N21 crystal structure, and also provides the fluorescent material produced by that process. An metal halide is adopted in the process as one of the starting material metal compounds. As the metal halide, a Ca or Na compound as well as a Sr compound can be preferably employed.
US08501038B2
The invention provides a liquid crystal compound having a high stability to heat, light or the like, a wide temperature range of a nematic phase, a small viscosity, a large optical anisotropy and a suitable elastic constant K33, and further having a suitable negative dielectric anisotropy and an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds. The invention also provides a liquid crystal composition including this liquid crystal compound and a liquid crystal display device containing this liquid crystal composition;a liquid crystal compound represented by formula (a):
US08501023B2
An apparatus for use with a digital micromirror device includes a hinge layer that is disposed outwardly from a substrate. The hinge layer including a hinge that is capable of at least partially supporting a micromirror that is disposed outwardly from the hinge. In one particular embodiment, the hinge and the substrate are separated by a first air gap. The device also including a first hinge support that is disposed outwardly from the substrate and inwardly from at least a portion of the hinge layer. The first hinge support being capable of transmitting a voltage to the hinge. At least a portion of the hinge support coupled to at least the portion of the hinge layer. In one particular embodiment, the first hinge support is formed in a process step that is different than a process step that forms the hinge layer.
US08501018B2
A process vessel is provided for separating a multi-component stream. The process vessel includes an inlet for permitting introduction of reaction water stream into the vessel and an outlet for withdrawing a water-rich phase from the vessel. The vessel further includes a plurality of draw-off points for drawing off a phase rich in suspended hydrocarbons from the vessel, the draw-off point(s) being located above the outlet.
US08501014B2
A separation unit for separating oil from oily water has a first oil to water ratio and the separation unit comprises a body which defines an inner chamber and which has a first end-wall and an opposite second end-wall and first and second side-walls that extend between the first end-wall and the second end-wall. The inner chamber is at least partly delimited by the first end-wall and the second end-wall, the first side-wall and the second side-wall. The separation unit further comprises a third wall which constitutes a separation wall extending from the first end-wall towards the second end-wall and divides the inner chamber into a first and a second sub-chamber. An inlet is defined at the first side-wall and the first end-wall and a first outlet is defined at the second side-wall and the first end-wall. A passage is defined at the third wall and the second end-wall and a fluid path from the inlet which passes through the first sub-chamber and the passage and the second sub-chamber to the first outlet. A second outlet is defined at the second end-wall, the second outlet defining an opening having an outlet area. The fluid has a restricted flow at the first outlet compared to the flow at the inlet so that a fraction of the fluid is separated from the fluid path through the second outlet. The fraction has a second oil to water ratio which is higher than the first oil to water ratio.
US08501011B2
A system and method for the treatment of process streams. A catalyst mediates a wet oxidation process at elevated temperatures and pressures for treating at least one undesirable constituent in an aqueous mixture. The aqueous mixture may be contacted with a catalyst and an oxidizing agent at an elevated temperature and a superatmospheric pressure. At least a portion of the catalyst may be precipitated by a pH adjustment and recycled back to contact the aqueous mixture.
US08501010B2
Diallcoxysilane and monoalkoxysilane functionalized polymers were applied as scale control agents in Bayer process. The polymer inhibitors reduced the quantity of aluminum silicate scale formed in spent liquor while significantly changed the morphology of the scale. Also a method is provided for reducing aluminum silicate scale of Bayer process by adding the dialkoxysilane and monoalkoxysilane functionalized polymer into the Bayer liquor stream.
US08501009B2
Disclosed are systems and methods of preparing dialysate for use in a home dialysis system that is compact and light-weight relative to existing systems and consumes relatively low amounts of energy. The method includes coupling a household water stream to a dialysis system; filtering the water stream; heating the water stream to at least about 138 degrees Celsius in a non-batch process to produce a heated water stream; maintaining the heated water stream at or above at least about 138 degrees Celsius for at least about two seconds; cooling the heated water stream to produce a cooled water stream; ultrafiltering the cooled water stream; and mixing dialysate components into the cooled water stream in a non-batch process.
US08501003B2
A filter element disclosed herein includes a center tube defining a central reservoir and including an interior sidewall. The filter element further includes an end plate and a pocket defining a port extending from the end plate into the central reservoir. The pocket includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a plurality of projections extending from the outer wall of the pocket toward the interior sidewall of the center tube.
US08500998B2
A hydraulic control device includes a valve body having oil passages, a solenoid valve incorporated in the valve body, an oil pan that is disposed below the valve body and that accumulates hydraulic oil, and a strainer which, as well as being disposed between the valve body and the oil pan, has a filtering medium which filters the hydraulic oil suctioned from the oil pan. The strainer is fixed to the oil pan by a magnetic force of at least one magnet.
US08500997B2
A screening grid for discharging solids from a liquid flow. The grid includes a driveable screening strip that can be inserted into the liquid flow and includes two lateral link chains between which carrying rods extend, carrying groups of adjacent screening links. All screening links include projecting parts that extend respectively only in one direction from a group of screening grids, without being overlapped by the projecting parts of the adjacent group of screening links. All of the screening links of a group are provided with projecting hooks on the outer side of the screening strip.
US08500993B2
An apparatus for a programmable self sanitizing water dispenser apparatus with a digital controller as well as a programmable method for generating ozone for cleaning the reservoir and the water contained within it. The apparatus includes an anti-spill receiver that houses the controller and that can contain a ozone generator.
US08500990B2
A biosensor for measuring an analyte in a liquid sample includes a working electrode having a dispensed reagent thereon wherein the dispensed reagent contains an enzyme capable of catalyzing a reaction involving the analyte, a mediator that is considered an enzyme inhibitor, and an enzyme co-factor where the working electrode provides a stable and sensitive response even when the biosensor is stored at ambient conditions for a period of time selected from the group consisting of at least 3 months, 12 months and two years or more.
US08500989B2
An apparatus and method for removing contaminant species from water by electrocoagulation are described. Alternating grounded, rotating, planar circular electrodes and stationary planar electrodes function as a Tesla fluid pump when placed in contact with the contaminated water, causing the water to flow between the rotating and stationary electrodes. An insoluble abrasive material introduced into the water removes scale from the electrodes while the water is pumped thereby. A direct electric current is caused to flow between each pair of rotating and stationary electrodes, thereby producing electrocoagulation of the contaminants in the water flowing therebetween. The electrocoagulated materials may be separated from the treated water by filtration or by permitting the treated water to stand for a chosen period.
US08500983B2
A plating protocol is employed to control plating of metal onto a wafer comprising a conductive seed layer. Initially, the protocol employs cathodic protection as the wafer is immersed in the plating solution. In certain embodiments, the current density of the wafer is constant during immersion. In a specific example, potentiostatic control is employed to produce a current density in the range of about 1.5 to 20 mA/cm2. The immersion step is followed by a high current pulse step. During bottom up fill inside the features of the wafer, a constant current or a current with a micropulse may be used. This protocol may protect the seed from corrosion while enhancing nucleation during the initial stages of plating.
US08500982B2
The invention herein disclosed provides for devices and methods that can detect and control an individual polymer in a mixture is acted upon by another compound, for example, an enzyme, in a nanopore. The devices and methods are also used to determine rapidly (˜>50 Hz) the nucleotide base sequence of a polynucleotide under feedback control or using signals generated by the interactions between the polynucleotide and the nanopore. The invention is of particular use in the fields of molecular biology, structural biology, cell biology, molecular switches, molecular circuits, and molecular computational devices, and the manufacture thereof.
US08500981B2
An electrophoresis apparatus includes a sample separating section for containing a sample separating medium for separating a sample in a horizontal direction, the sample separating section containing the sample separating medium in such a manner that the sample separating medium has an exposed portion at least one end of a surface of the sample separating medium, the surface being in parallel with the horizontal direction; and medium connecting means for connecting a sample containing medium to the sample separating medium at a connecting region, the sample containing medium containing a sample, and the connecting region satisfying a particular equation. By this, an electrophoresis technique with better accuracy than conventional arts can be provided.
US08500975B2
A rectangular magnetron placed at the back of a rectangular sputtering target for coating a rectangular panel and having magnets of opposed polarities arranged to form a gap therebetween corresponding to a plasma track adjacent the target which extends in a closed serpentine or spiral loop. The spiral may have a large number of wraps and the closed loop may be folded before wrapping. The magnetron has a size only somewhat less than that of the target and is scanned in the two perpendicular directions of the target with a scan length of, for example, about 100 mm for a 2 m target corresponding to at least the separation of the gap between parallel portions of the loop. A central ferromagnetic shim beneath some magnets in the loop may compensate for vertical droop. The magnetron may be scanned in two alternating double-Z patterns rotated 90° between them.
US08500974B2
A carrier for use during sputtering includes a main body and support members. The main body defines a receiving space and includes a lateral surface defining at least one groove extending along a longitudinal direction. The receiving space and the at least one groove communicate with each other. The at least one groove is defined by a first surface and a second surface. The first surface defines recessed portions along the longitudinal direction and communicates with the receiving space. The support members are used for hanging workpieces. Each of the support members includes at least one support arm protruding from the lateral surface and is selectively and movably retained by one of the recessed portions.
US08500973B2
A sputtering anode is disclosed wherein the anode is in the form of a container or vessel; and, wherein the conducting surface communicating with a cathode is the inside surface of the container or vessel. The anode can be mounted outside of a coating chamber having its opening communicating with the chamber or alternatively may be mounted within the chamber. The anode may be an inlet port for receiving inert gas for use in forming the plasma and for pressurizing the anode.
US08500970B2
An electrolytic cell is suitable for production of aluminium, and includes at least one collector bar made of first metal and at least one complementary bar made of a second metal having an electrical conductivity greater than the first metal and arranged adjacent to one of the side faces of the collector bar so that the external end of the complementary bar is at a specified distance from a specified end face of the block. The second end terminates so as to limit heat losses from said cell. The cell makes it possible to obtain significantly lower voltage drops while avoiding excessive heat losses through the collector bars.
US08500962B2
A method for substrate processing includes producing a magnetic field by a magnetron across the full width of a sputtering surface of a target in a first direction. The magnetron can produce two erosion grooves separated by a distance S on the sputtering surface. The method includes moving the magnetron continuously at a first speed by the distance S in a first segment along a linear travel path. The linear travel path is along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes continuously sputtering a material off the sputtering surface and depositing the material on the substrate during the first segment, and moving the magnetron by the distance S in a second segment along the linear travel path at a second speed higher than the first speed without sputtering the material off the sputtering surface or sputtering materials off at significant lower rate.
US08500961B2
Method of distilling mixtures comprising salts having a melting point of less than 200° C. at 1 bar (ionic liquids), wherein the mixtures additionally comprise an organic compound (called distillation aid below) which is not ionic has a molecular weight of less than 5000 has a boiling point which is at least 5° C. higher compared with the ionic mixtures included in the mixture.
US08500950B2
A method includes forming a resist film on an etching target layer disposed on a test substrate, and performing sequential light exposure with a predetermined test pattern on the resist film sequentially at a plurality of areas, while respectively using different combinations of a light exposure amount and a focus value, along with subsequent development, thereby forming resist patterns at the plurality of areas; then etching the etching target layer, removing the resist patterns, and measuring shapes of etched patterns at the plurality of areas by means of a scatterometory technique; and determining a management span of combinations of a light exposure amount and a focus value admissible to obtain an etched pattern with a predetermined shape, with reference to the light exposure amounts and focus values used in the sequential light exposure, the line widths of the resist patterns, and the line widths of the etched patterns.
US08500949B2
An exemplary wet processing apparatus includes a tank, a conveyor configured for conveying a substrate, and a spraying system. The tank receives a wet processing liquid. The conveyor includes a first conveying portion, a second conveying portion, and a third conveying portion. The first conveying portion is in the tank and conveys the substrate in the wet processing liquid. The second conveying portion is obliquely interconnected between the first and third conveying portions. The third conveying portion conveys the substrate above the wet processing liquid in the tank. The spraying system is above the third conveying portion, sprays the wet processing liquid onto the substrate on the third conveying portion.
US08500942B2
A method for forming a textile fusible sheet material includes producing a fibrous web from fibers on a laydown apparatus so as to form a backing ply and applying a mixture of a binder and a thermoplastic polymer to selected areal regions of the fibrous web. The method further includes thermally treating the fibrous web so as to dry and bond the fibers of the fibrous web using the binder to form a bonded fibrous web nonwoven fabric and so as to sinter the thermoplastic polymer with a surface of the bonded fibrous web nonwoven fabric.
US08500935B2
A method of welding a thermoplastic sheet, having a first side and a second side, into a cylinder, the method comprising the steps of folding the thermoplastic sheet into a cylinder such that the first side and the second side overlap, positioning the thermoplastic sheet in a cylinder tube having a longitudinal opening such that the overlapping portions of the first and second sides of the thermoplastic sheet are aligned with the longitudinal opening, and activating a heat welder so that a press of the heat welder moves into the longitudinal opening of the cylinder tube and presses the thermoplastic sheet against an opposing surface to weld the overlapping portions of the first and second sides.
US08500933B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to edge sealing techniques for vacuum insulating glass (VIG) units. More particularly, certain example embodiments relate to techniques for providing localized heating to edge seals of units, and/or unitized ovens for accomplishing the same. In certain example embodiments, a unit is pre-heated to one or more intermediate temperatures, localized heating (e.g., from one or more substantially linear focused IR heat sources) is provided proximate to the peripheral edges of the unit so as to melt frits placed thereon, and cooled. In certain non-limiting implementations, the pre-heating and/or cooling may be provided in one or more steps. An oven for accomplishing the same may include multiple zones for performing the above-noted steps, each zone optionally including one or more chambers. Accordingly, in certain example embodiments, a temperature gradient proximate to the edges of the unit is created, thereby reducing the chances of breakage and/or at least some de-tempering of the substrates.
US08500928B2
A method of making sputter targets using rotary axial forging is described. Other thermomechanical working steps can be used prior to and/or after the forging step. Sputter targets are further described which can have unique grain size and/or crystal structures.
US08500926B2
An aluminum alloy material for high-temperature/high-speed molding containing 2.0 to 8.0 mass % of Mg, 0.05 to 1.0 mass % of Mn, 0.01 to 0.3 mass % of Zr, 0.06 to 0.4 mass % of Si and 0.06 to 0.4 mass % of Fe, with the balance being made of aluminum and inevitable impurities; an aluminum alloy material for high-temperature/high-speed molding containing 2.0 to 8.0% of Mg, 0.05 to 1.5% of Mn and 0.05 to 0.4% of Cr, Fe being restricted to 0.4% or less and Si being restricted to 0.4% or less, the grain diameter of a Cr-base intermetallic compound formed by melt-casting being 20 μm or less, and grains of intermetallic compounds with a grain diameter in the range from 50 to 1,000 nm as Mn-base and Cr-base precipitates being present in a distribution density of 350,000 grains/mm2 or more, the aluminum alloy material being used for high-temperature/high-speed molding by subjecting the alloy material to cooling at a cooling rate of 20° C./min or more immediately after molding at a temperature range from 200 to 550° C. and at a strain rate from 10−2 to 10/sec; and a method of producing the aluminum alloy material.
US08500919B1
The portable washer for beverage containers is a hand-carried device for providing clean coffee cups or other beverage containers to a social group where facilities with a large supply of clean containers may not be available. The portable washer includes a self-contained water supply and catch basin for used water, and internal electrical power to drive a plurality of rotary brushes for the mechanical scrubbing of containers. An electrically powered water heating element and water pump are also provided. The brushes are actuated by a pushrod switch extending up from the central rotary brush, the water pump and heater being powered by a separate master switch. Water is pumped through the tubular rotary brush supports to spray hot water from the brushes during washing operations. A removable splash guard and cover are provided. The cover has a carrying handle and external racks for the carriage of beverage containers.
US08500915B2
In a substrate processing apparatus consisting of an indexer block and a processing block, a substrate is transported between the indexer block and the processing block by an indexer robot. The indexer robot includes two hands that are provided one above the other on a rotating stage. The other hand moves in a vertical direction to one hand. A difference in height between the one hand and the other hand can be adjusted so as to be equal to spacing between substrate storing grooves of a carrier where the substrate that is to be carried into the indexer block is stored. In addition, the difference in height between the one hand and the other hand can be adjusted so as to be equal to spacing between support plates of a substrate platform provided between the indexer block and the processing block.
US08500905B2
Disclosed is a sapphire single crystal growing apparatus using the Kyropoulos method, and more particularly, is a Kyropoulos sapphire single crystal growing apparatus using an elliptic crucible, which can increase the recovery rate by the elliptic crucible and anisotropic heating.
US08500901B2
The present invention relates to interference pigments based on coated flake-form substrates which are distinguished by the fact in that they comprise (A) a layer of SiO2 having a layer thickness of 5-350 nm, (B) a high-refractive-index coating having a refractive index n of >1.8 and/or (C) an interference system consisting of alternating high- and low-refractive-index layers and optionally (D) an outer protective layer, and to the use thereof in paints, coatings, automotive paints, powder coatings, printing inks, security printing inks, plastics, ceramic materials, glasses, paper, in toners for electrophotographic printing processes, in seed, in greenhouse sheeting and tent awnings, as absorbers in the laser marking of paper and plastics, in cosmetic formulations, for the preparation of pigment pastes with water, organic and/or aqueous solvents, and for the preparation of pigment preparations and dry preparations.
US08500899B2
The method of production of granulated polymer-asphalt binder and sulphur concrete with the participation of sulfur polymer obtained through solvent-borne modification of waste sulfur at the temperature of 135-150° C. consists in composing this sulfur polymer with other ingredients. At the production of granulated polymer-asphalt binder the content of the sulfur polymer amounts to 40-60% by weight which, after heating to the temperature of 135-150° C., is mixed (mixer 2) with 20-40% by weight of waste phosphogypsum and after they are mixed, 15-20% by weight of D-50 road asphalt is dosed, which dissolves in this mixture reacting partly with the sulfur polymer. Next, this mixture is cooled to plastic form and granules of polymer-asphalt binder are formed in the extruder, which fall into 5% solution of silicone emulsion where they are cooled and covered with a layer of silicone emulsion. At the production of sulfur concrete at the temperature of 135-150° C., sulfur polymer in the amount of 25-35% by weight is mixed with waste phosphogypsum in the amount of 10-20% by weight (mixer 2); then the material flows downwards where it is mixed (mixer 1) with hot mineral material and waste slag from copper smelting. Liquid sulfur concrete, which is cooled and crushed into grains of 0-1 cm or poured into molds, is formed. The produced polymer-asphalt binder is used for making a binder course in road surfaces and for road repairs. The produced sulfur concrete is used for basic foundations in road surfaces.
US08500898B2
An yttria-based slurry composition comprising yttria, an aqueous silica binder system or an aqueous ammonium zirconium carbonate binder system and a fluorine compound, which is selected from ammonium fluoride, ammonium hydrogen difluoride, sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, sodium hydrogen difluoride and/or potassium hydrogen difluoride and a method of stabilizing an yttria-based slurry composition comprising yttria and an aqueous silica binder system or an aqueous ammonium zirconium carbonate binder system which method comprises treating the composition, preferably treating the binder system, with a fluorine compound which is selected as indicated above.
US08500894B2
A method of mixing an oxygen gas with a hydrocarbon-containing gas includes the steps of wet scrubbing the oxygen gas in a wet scrubber, supplying oxygen gas from the wet scrubber to a gas mixer and mixing the oxygen gas with the hydrocarbon-containing gas in the gas mixer. Wet scrubbers for use in the method may take various forms, including packed-tower, bubble cap, and sparger-type wet scrubbers. The removal of the particulate matter reduces the risk of ignition of the hydrocarbon-containing gas in the gas mixer. The use of a wet scrubber in the oxygen supply line overcomes many problems currently faced with screen and filters, as per current practice.
US08500891B2
A system and process for capturing CO2 100 is disclosed. The process 100 includes reusing heat from a CO2 compression process 120 by providing the heat to a fuel treatment process 130. The heat may used to dry a fossil fuel to improve the efficiency of the fossil fuel combustion.
US08500882B2
There is provided an air purifier having a dehumidification function, including: a body case having an inner space; a blower part installed in the inner space of the body case and drawing outside air from both sides of the body case through a single blower fan; an air purifying part purifying air drawn from one side of the body case; and a dehumidifying part removing moisture from air drawn from the other side of the body case by a dehumidifying rotor. Through the blower part drawing the air from both sides of the body case, the air purifier purifies the air drawn from one side of the body case and dehumidifies the air drawn from the other side of the body case. Accordingly, a drop in an airflow amount caused by concurrently performing the dehumidification and the purification may be alleviated, so improved dehumidification and purification effects are achieved.
US08500875B2
A desulfurizer includes a filled chamber having a raw fuel passage through which a raw fuel flows, the filled chamber being filled with a desulfurizing agent, a supply chamber disposed upstream of the filled chamber, for uniformly supplying the raw fuel to the raw fuel passage, and a discharge chamber disposed downstream of the filled chamber, for uniformly discharging the raw fuel from the raw fuel passage. The raw fuel passage has first and second reversers for reversing the direction in which the raw fuel flows. The raw fuel passage has a cross-sectional area which is smaller in a downstream portion thereof than in an upstream portion thereof.
US08500872B2
The invention is a ceramic tube made of two parts. A first part of the tube is made of a sensitive material for facilitating oxygen separation in the membrane. The second part is made of a different material that does not react with CO2 and/or H2O. Accordingly, by means of this Invention, there is provided a ceramic tube that is stabilized and does not deteriorate upon exposure to CO2 and/or H2O at temperatures below the operating temperatures.
US08500867B2
CO2 is absorbed from a gas mixture by bringing the gas mixture into contact with an absorbent that comprises water and at least one amine of the formula (I), wherein R1 and R2, independently of each other, are hydrogen or an alkyl group. According to the invention, absorption media comprise sulfolane or an ionic liquid in addition to water and an amine of the formula (1). A device according to the invention for removing CO2 from a gas mixture comprises an absorption unit, a desorption unit, and an absorption medium according to the invention that is conducted in the circuit.
US08500864B2
A method for treating crude gas, in particular biogas, containing methane and carbon dioxide, in order to produce methane, and a plant suitable for carrying out the method. The method includes (a) washing the crude gas with an amine-containing washing solution, thereby forming a pure gas stream of methane and water, from which water is separated by subsequent cooling and condensation; (b) compressing and heating the washing solution containing CO2 and sulfur compounds and expanding the washing solution in a first expansion stage, during a secondary reaction time of 280 to 1200 seconds and at a constant reaction temperature; (c) cooling the purified washing solution and expanding it in a second expansion stage to normal pressure, whereupon any residual amounts of soluble CO2 and sulfur compounds are separated and the completely purified washing solution is cooled to normal temperature and returned to the washing stage.
US08500851B2
The present disclosure relates generally to contaminant removal from gas streams. In certain embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a process for removing one or more contaminants from a gas stream via contact with a regenerable sorbent at high temperature and pressure, utilizing a unique arrangement of reactors operating in parallel.
US08500849B2
A differential absorption spectrum for a reactive gas in a gas mixture can be generated for sample absorption data by subtracting background absorption data set from the sample absorption data. The background absorption data can be characteristic of absorption characteristics of the background composition in a laser light scan range that includes a target wavelength. The differential absorption spectrum can be converted to a measured concentration of the reactive gas using calibration data. A determination can be made whether the background composition has substantially changed relative to the background absorption data, and new background absorption data can be used if the background composition has substantially changed. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
US08500842B2
A cermet anode structure obtainable by a process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a slurry by dispersing a powder of an electronically conductive phase and by adding a binder to the dispersion, in which said electronically conductive phase comprises a FeCrMx alloy, wherein Mx is selected from the group consisting of Ni, Ti, Nb, Ce, Mn, Mo, W, Co, La, Y, Al, and mixtures thereof, (b) forming a metallic support of said slurry of the electronically conductive phase, (c) providing a precursor solution of ceria, said solution containing a solvent and a surfactant, (d) impregnating the structure of step (b) with the precursor solution of step (c), (e) subjecting the resulting structure of step (d) to calcination, and (f) conducting steps (d)-(e) at least once.
US08500837B2
An enhanced vane bundle design that provides additional inlet chord area. An enhanced vane bundle for use in separator vessels includes top and bottom convexly-curved outlet baffles that extend horizontally from the outlet-side of the vane pack, the outlet baffles including a plurality of corresponding holes. The enhanced vane bundle further includes curved plates affixed to the convexly-curved outlet baffles, the curved plates and the convexly-curved outlet baffles define vertical pockets that extend vertically through an entirety of an outlet chord area on an outlet side of the enhanced vane bundle. The enhanced vane bundle further includes a plurality of tubes connecting the corresponding holes of the outlet baffles and extending vertically through the entirety of the outlet chord area.
US08500827B2
Colloidal coal-in-water slurries having nano-particles of coal creating a pseudo-fluid. The colloidal coal-in-water slurry generally includes from about fifty to about seventy two weight percent of coal, with about 20 to about 80 percent of the coal having a particle size of about one micron or less with a mode particle size of about 250 nanometers. The coal-in-water slurry can also include a surfactant system containing one surfactant or mixtures of two or more surfactants, or mixtures of one or more surfactants and an inorganic or organic salt. The coal-in-water slurry can be used in low NOx burner applications as the main fuel and/or the reburn fuel, in gasification processes as the input fuel either alone, or in combination with organic materials, in gas turbine applications, and in diesel engine applications.
US08500826B2
Lipid-based wax compositions and their methods of making are provided for compositions substantially free of fat bloom. The compositions comprise approximately 7-80 percent by weight triacylglycerides and approximately 20-93 percent by weight monoacylglycerides and diacylglycerides combined. The methods comprise blending the monoacylglycerides, diacylglycerides, and triacylglycerides in the lipid-based wax composition by heating the lipid-based wax composition at a sufficiently high temperature to destroy substantially all crystal structure within the lipid-based wax composition. The methods further comprise pouring the lipid-based wax composition into a mold or a container having a surface and a core, wherein the pouring is conducted at a temperature at least 15° C. greater than the congeal point of the lipid-based wax composition. The methods further comprise cooling the lipid-based wax composition under conditions sufficient to cool the core to at least 5° C. below the congeal point of the lipid-based wax composition in approximately 30-90 minutes.
US08500825B2
A prosthetic foot device has an elongate forefoot spring carried by a fastener and suspended between upper and lower bumpers. A heel spring is suspended between an end of the fastener and the lower bumper.
US08500811B2
An orthopedic coupling device is used for simultaneous attachment of multiple heterogeneous orthopedic components, such as a spacer and plate, for implantation in the body. The device coupler includes a coupling base, at least one coupling member configured to attach to one an orthopedic spacer while also trapping or clamping an orthopedic fixation plate between the coupling base and the orthopedic spacer. The orthopedic coupler device may have a detachable handle to facilitate access and visibility of the spacer and plate after initial implantation.
US08500810B2
Height-adjustable devices suitable for insertion between posterior spinal processes that allow the surgeon to post-operatively adjust the height of the implant.
US08500804B2
An apparatus for sizing an intraocular lens and/or an ocular region of the eye of a subject, such as the anterior chamber, contains a sizing device and a measurement device. In one embodiment, the sizing device comprises a first leg having a first contact portion for operably engaging the ocular portion and a second leg having a second contact portion for operably engaging the ocular portion. The sizing device has a test geometry when placed within the ocular portion. The measurement device is adapted for determining a dimension of the sizing device based at least in part on the test geometry. The sizing device may also have a reference geometry when the sizing device in a reference condition. In certain embodiments, the difference between the reference geometry and the test geometry may be used for sizing the intraocular lens and/or the ocular portion.
US08500802B2
A prosthetic heart valve assembly includes a gasket member and a valve member including a plurality of fasteners and a plurality of engagement members corresponding to the fasteners. The fasteners and/or engagement members may be configured to guide the engagement members into engagement with the fasteners. For example, the fasteners may include U-shaped spring-biased clips, e.g., attached to a core or other portion of a sewing cuff of the gasket member, and the engagement members may include latches or barbed protrusions that engage one or more holes in the fasteners. During use, the gasket member is introduced into a tissue annulus, and secured to the annulus, e.g., using a plurality of clips directed through the sewing cuff. The valve member is then introduced into the annulus and the engagement members are snapped or otherwise guided into engagement with the fasteners to secure the valve member relative to the gasket member.
US08500801B2
A single piece stent construction having a plurality of commissure posts, each of which extends upwardly from a solid ring along a bend line and generally along a central longitudinal axis of the stent.
US08500800B2
Apparatus for use with at least one leaflet-engaging element, the apparatus including a delivery tool which includes an inner shaft, a surrounding shaft, and at least one leaflet-engaging element holder coupled to a portion of the surrounding shaft, the leaflet-engaging-element holder being shaped to define at least one coupling site for reversibly coupling the leaflet-engaging element to the tool. The surrounding shaft surrounds a portion of the inner shaft and is slidable along the inner shaft so as to position the leaflet-engaging holder in a vicinity of at least one leaflet of an atrioventricular valve of a patient. A distal end of the inner shaft is advanceable between leaflets of the atrioventricular valve and toward a tissue site of a ventricle of the patient. Other applications are also described.
US08500795B2
Removable cardiac implants, applicators for inserting, repositioning and/or removing them, and methods of using them are described. In particular, removable or repositionable ventricular partitioning devices are described. Systems including removable implants and applicators for inserting and/or removing them are also described.
US08500790B2
Removable cardiac implants, applicators for inserting, repositioning and/or removing them, and methods of using them are described. In particular, removable or repositionable ventricular partitioning devices are described. Systems including removable implants and applicators for inserting and/or removing them are also described.
US08500778B2
An interspinous process spacer is generally rectangular and may have an upper face that generally opposes a lower face, front and back sides that generally oppose each other, an end side, and a nose that generally opposes the end side. The spacer preferably has rounded edges between the upper face and the front, end, and back sides and between the lower face and the front, end, and back sides. The nose of the spacer is preferably asymmetrical and tapers integrally, distally, and inwardly from the first and second faces to form a generally pointed or rounded distal tip. A spacer may be inserted laterally into the interspinous space through a small, posterior midline incision, allowing the preservation of the supraspinous ligament. One or more spacers may be placed between spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae, and result in distraction of the spinous processes which may limit extension of the spine.
US08500777B2
Methods for approximating and fastening tissue by application of one or more tissue fasteners are provided. In one embodiment, spaced apart tissue locations are engaged by tissue penetrating members of a deformable fastener, one of more of the engaged tissue locations is moved toward another engaged tissue location to approximate the spaced apart locations, and the deformable fastener is deployed to secure the approximated tissue locations. These methods may be used in laparoscopic plication gastroplasty procedures for forming an invaginated tissue fold, to close holes in the gastrointestinal lumen, and in a variety of interventional procedures.
US08500775B2
An apparatus is provided that is useful in an embolization procedure and enables substantially unrestricted forward flow of blood in a vessel and reduces or stops reflux (regurgitation or backward flow) of embolization agents which are introduced into the blood. A method of using the apparatus is also provided.
US08500771B2
A rectal balloon apparatus comprises a shaft having a fluid passageway extending therethrough. A rectal gas relieving lumen may be positioned with the shaft for removal of rectal gas. A motion detecting sensor and a radiation detecting sensor may be positioned with the balloon, the shaft, and/or the rectal gas release lumen.
US08500769B2
A surgical tool system with a handpiece and a cutting accessory that has inner and outer hubs. The handpiece has a spring biased lock ring that abuts a complementary stop member integral with the accessory outer hub to hold the accessory to the handpiece. An RFID chip is disposed against an inner wall of the accessory outer hub. An elastomeric seal pressed against the inner wall of the accessory outer hub provides environmental protection for the RFID chip. The seal has a rib that extends around the outer perimeter of the proximal end of the outer hub so as to form a seal between the accessory and an adjacent inner wall of the handpiece. Stop tabs extend inwardly from the seal to prevent the drive hub disposed inside the outer hub from falling out.
US08500765B2
A rotational atherectomy device for removing a stenotic tissue from a vessel of a patient is disclosed. The device comprises a rotatable, flexible, hollow drive shaft having a fluid impermeable wall defining a fluid impermeable lumen of the drive shaft and, an abrasive element mounted to a distal end portion of the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from a distal support element formed at a distal end of the drive shaft, the distal support element being inflatable by pressurized fluid which flows in an antegrade direction through said lumen of the drive shaft and is at least partially re-directed into the distal fluid inflatable support element.
US08500763B2
Devices and methods for protecting the neurovascular structures about the vertebral column are provided. One embodiment of the invention comprises a neuroprotective stent or device adapted for placement in an intervertebral foramen of a vertebral column and configured to resist compression or impingement from surrounding structures or forces. The stent or device may further comprise a flange or hinge region to facilitate attachment of the device to the vertebrae or to facilitate insertion of the device in the foramen, respectively.
US08500762B2
The present invention provides a fixating means (200) adapted for use in hernia repair surgeries in attaching a mesh (2) and mesh deployment means (3); said fixating means are attached to said mesh deployment means (3); said fixating means (200) comprising: (a) a first portion (200a) coupled to said deployment means (3); and, (b) a second portion (200b), comprising a coil (252) having a predetermined retracted shape; said coil is reconfigurable from a plurality of unretracted positions to a plurality of retracted positions and from said plurality of retracted positions to said plurality of unretracted positions; wherein said attachment between said deployment means (3) and said mesh (2) is obtained by reconfiguration of said coil (252) from at least one of said unretracted positions to at least one of said retracted positions.
US08500760B2
The present embodiments provide a tacking device for engaging tissue, which may be useful for coupling a graft to tissue or facilitating closure of a bodily opening. In one embodiment, the tacking device comprises a main body having proximal and distal ends, and further comprises at least one proximal deployable member and at least one distal deployable member, each having contracted and expanded states. The proximal deployable members extend proximally from the proximal end of the main body, while the distal deployable members extend distally from the distal end of the main body. In one embodiment, a hook member extends from at least one of the proximal deployable members. In use, the hook member may be engaged, for example, using a loop member coupled to a stylet, thereby facilitating controlled release of the tacking device and allowing repositioning of the tacking device after at least partial deployment of the distal deployable members.
US08500759B2
A hernia mesh support device includes an outer ring, an inner ring and a plurality of ring support members extending between and interconnected to the outer ring and inner ring. On a first axial side of the outer ring and inner ring is situated a layer of mesh material. On a second axial side of the outer ring and inner ring is situated an anti-adhesion barrier. A plurality of barbed pins or hollow needles extend from the first axial side of the outer ring. A removable protective cover covers the plurality of barbed pins or hollow needles.
US08500750B2
An instrument for engaging a bone anchor may include a first implant engaging member having a proximal end and a distal end and a second implant engaging member having a proximal end and a distal end. The second implant engaging member may be integrally connected to the first implant engaging member by a pair of opposed integral spring members located proximal to the distal ends of the first and second implant engaging members. Manipulation of the proximal ends of the first and second implant engaging member can cause each of the distal ends to rotate about the pair of opposed spring members to engage at least a portion of a bone anchor. A rod adjusting tool may be connectable to the bone anchor engaging tool and may be axially adjustable relative to the bone anchor tool to adjust a spinal rod relative to the bone anchor.
US08500739B2
The present invention discloses a securing device that is used to secure a fixation device to two bone portions to promote healing between the two bone portions. The bone portions commonly include a skull bone portion and a skull bone flap or implant, and the fixation device is commonly a cranial clamp. The securing device provides for securing the fixation device in a uniform, single movement as opposed to currently available products. The securing device has two handles pivotably connected, and a gripping means moveably associated with one handle. As the handles are activated, the gripping means travels proximally along the one handle and grips an elongated section of the fixation device and exerts a tensioning force along the shaft of the elongated section prior to the cutting means cutting the elongated shaft to secure the fixation device in place.
US08500738B2
An electromagnetic pedicle awl utilizes a tightly focused time-varying magnetic flux to create a localized electromotive force (EMF) near the tip. The localized EMF creates localized eddy currents in nearby nerves which excite ionic nerve channels, the excitation being detected by an electromyographic recording device. The awl only excites nerves directly in front of and directly to the side of the tip. The awl is comprised of a tapered awl or drill tip in combination with a solid core surrounded by a solenoid. A pulsed electric current source drives the solenoid to create a time-varying magnetic field in the vicinity of the tapered tip. The awl or drill tip may be stationary with respect to the solenoid or it may rotate. The awl in combination with an EMG detector connected to a patient is sensitive to the pedicle hole position with respect to adjacent nerves and reduces false placement failure.
US08500731B2
An ablation catheter includes a flexible elongated shaft having a flexible electrode at its distal end. The flexible electrode includes an inner, flexible, electrically-conductive element and an outer, flexible, electrically-conductive polymer layer in electrical contact with the inner, flexible, electrically-conductive element. The catheter further includes an electrically insulative sheath surrounding at least a portion of the flexible electrode and a linear displacement mechanism capable of adjusting at least one of the electrically insulative sheath and the flexible electrode to vary a length of the flexible electrode exposed at the distal end of the shaft. Also disclosed is an adjustable length ablation electrode and methods of ablating tissue.
US08500729B2
An electrosurgical device includes a plurality of electrodes arranged to form a tissue treatment surface and a power supply. The power supply is configured to deliver a first drive signal with a first phase to at least a first one of the plurality of electrodes and a second drive signal with a second phase to at least a second one of the plurality of electrodes such that an electric field extends from the tissue treatment surface, where the first phase and the second phase are different. The power supply is further configured to receive an input from an operator of the electrosurgical device, and adjust the first phase or the second phase such that an aspect of the electric field extending from the tissue treatment surface changes in response to the input from the operator.
US08500726B2
A portable electrosurgical system (100) for treating biological tissue with microwave radiation (e.g. having a frequency between 500 MHz and 60 GHz) is disclosed. The system comprises a hand-held microwave sub-assembly (102) which generates and amplifies a microwave signal (which may be continuous or modulated) for treatment and includes a treatment antenna (116) for delivering the radiation. Diode detectors (120, 122) in the sub-assembly (102) may detect forward and reflected power levels to enable determination of net delivered power. A dynamic impedance matching system may be provided to match energy developed by amplifiers (110, 112) in the sub-assembly (102) to the biological tissue load. A tuning filter (144) and couplers (146, 148, 150, 152) for extracting magnitude and phase information from the microwave signal are thus provided in the sub-assembly.
US08500724B2
System and method for making incisions in eye tissue at different depths. The system and method focuses light, possibly in a pattern, at various focal points which are at various depths within the eye tissue. A segmented lens can be used to create multiple focal points simultaneously. Optimal incisions can be achieved by sequentially or simultaneously focusing lights at different depths, creating an expanded column of plasma, and creating a beam with an elongated waist.
US08500723B2
There is provided a device for use as an interface between a laser surgery device and the eye of a patient. The device is filled with a liquid that matches the index of refraction of the eye. The device further has a curved lens that follows the curvature of the outer surface of the patient's eye. In this manner the interface device, through which the laser beam must travel, has essentially the same index of refraction as the eye.
US08500714B2
Some embodiments of a system or method for treating heart tissue can include a catheter device that provides a user with the ability to perform a number of heart treatment tasks (before, during, and after a cardiac surgery or a percutaneous coronary intervention). In particular embodiments, the catheter device can be used to (i) precondition heart muscle tissue before the heart is isolated from the circulatory system, (ii) deliver cardioplegia into the coronary sinus during the cardiac surgery when the heart is isolated from the circulatory system, and (iii) control the blood flow through the heart after the heart is reconnected with the circulatory system. In some embodiments, the catheter device can perform some or all of: (i) intermittently occluding the coronary sinus, (ii) delivering a treatment fluid into the coronary sinus, and (iii) monitoring a flow rate of blood passing from the coronary sinus to the right atrium.
US08500713B2
IMDs and methods are provided for electroporation treatment of subcutaneous tumors. In some embodiments, IMDs of the present invention may store and introduce chemotherapy drugs into the body prior to electroporation therapy. High frequency stimulation of tissue in or around the tumor may also be provided to increase tissue temperature prior to electroporation therapy. Still further, delivery of the electroporation therapy may be synchronized with cardiac qRs complex to avoid impeding normal cardiac rhythm. Algorithms to suspend therapy in the event of edema may also be incorporated.
US08500704B2
A wound packing for use with suction is provided. The wound packing comprises a plurality of nonabsorbent synthetic polymeric fibers coupled together to form a nonabsorbent material suitable for placement in the wound of a mammal. A method for treating the wound in a mammal using the disclosed wound packing is also provided.
US08500695B2
A trocar is provided with a cannula and a housing and valve assembly disposed in the housing which forms a housing seal, and instrument seal, and in some cases a zero seal. A gel material is included in the valve and provides the valve with superior flotation properties for maintaining the instrument seal even when the instrument is moved off-axis. In order to accommodate movement of the gel material, voids can be formed within the valve housing and even within the gel material.
US08500692B2
Devices and methods for powering a medical device for sustained delivery of fluids or continuous monitoring of body analyte. The devices may comprise a pumping mechanism, a driving mechanism for activating the pumping mechanism to dispense fluid, and a power source coupled to the driving mechanism and having an energy storage cell for providing a pulsed power to the driving mechanism. The methods may be implemented by activating the driving mechanism using pulsed energy in the form of at least one pulse train pattern accumulated in and discharged from an energy storage component.
US08500689B2
There is disclosed a device for cannulation of a hollow organ, in particular of an arterial or venous blood vessel of a mammalian body, e.g., human, said device comprising a cannula that has a proximal end, a distal end, and a central section located between the proximal end and distal end. The distal end has an expandable structure which can be converted, for example by means of a dilator, from a non-expanded state to an expanded state, and the expandable structure comprises openings at least in the expanded state.
US08500687B2
The present invention provides an intraluminal stent delivery catheter device having improved stent retention. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a catheter having an expandable member and a fibrous matrix positioned over the expandable member and a stent mounted on the outer surface of the fibrous matrix. The fibrous matrix provides mechanical interface for improved stent retention, delivery and deployment.
US08500686B2
Some embodiments of a system or method for treating heart tissue can include a catheter device that provides a user with the ability to perform a number of heart treatment tasks (before, during, and after a cardiac surgery or a percutaneous coronary intervention). In particular embodiments, the catheter device can be used to (i) precondition heart muscle tissue before the heart is isolated from the circulatory system, (ii) deliver cardioplegia into the coronary sinus during the cardiac surgery when the heart is isolated from the circulatory system, and (iii) control the blood flow through the heart after the heart is reconnected with the circulatory system. In some embodiments, the catheter device can perform some or all of: (i) intermittently occluding the coronary sinus, (ii) delivering a treatment fluid into the coronary sinus, and (iii) monitoring a flow rate of blood passing from the coronary sinus to the right atrium.
US08500680B2
A method including introducing a treatment agent at a treatment site within a mammalian host; and introducing a bioerodable gel material at the treatment site. An apparatus including a first annular member having a first lumen disposed about a length of the first annular member and a first entry port at a proximal end of the first annular member, and a second annular member coupled to the first annular member having a second lumen disposed about a length of the second annular member and a second entry port at a proximal end of the second annular member, wherein the first annular member and the second annular member are positioned to allow a combining of treatment agents introduced through each annular member at the treatment site.
US08500676B2
A device and a method for a peritoneal dialysis treatment having several cycles include a cycler controlled by a processor. The cycler fills the abdominal cavity with dialysis fluid, and drains the abdominal cavity. A sensor senses a variable related to the draining of the dialysis fluid. The draining is interrupted when the variable reaches a breakpoint at which the variable is radically changed, thereby leaving the residual volume of fluid.
US08500672B2
An extracorporeal blood circuit, comprising an expansion chamber for air-blood separation, wherein a filter (38) retains the solid particles in the blood. The filter has a trunco-conical filtering wall with a vertical axis surmounted by a top head (43) provided with upper openings (44) conformed and arranged such as to define a fluid passage which is asymmetrical with respect to the vertical axis. The top head does not retain air bubbles internally thereof, thus preventing a situation in which the air bubbles are directed towards an outlet of the expansion chamber and thus towards the patient. The extracorporeal circuit is used in a dialysis apparatus.
US08500671B2
A device for the extracorporal blood treatment in a single-needle operating mode includes means for delivering blood into, and means for delivering blood out of means for collecting blood, and a controller for setting the respective delivery rates of the means for the delivery of blood. The operating mode of the means for delivering blood is continually switched between an arterial and a venous phase by the controller, wherein during the arterial phase the delivery rate Qb of the means for delivering blood is greater than the delivery rate Qsn of the means for delivering blood such that blood may be withdrawn from the patient during the arterial phase, and during the venous phase the delivery rate Qb is smaller than the delivery rate Qsn such that blood may be administered to the patient during the venous phase.
US08500666B2
A therapeutic massage device, specifically a manual scalp massager that can both provide a soothing sensation to the user and also stimulate the sebaceous glands and hair follicles of a person's scalp, resulting in a healthier scalp and better looking hair. The device should efficiently, and without harm or discomfort to the user, be able to pinch the tightly drawn scalp of the user, thereby squeezing the sebaceous glands and improving oil production. The device should also be easy to use and should not require an inordinate amount of effort by the operator. In operation, the device can massage one's scalp by alternating between constricting and releasing the skin.
US08500665B2
An instrument for applying vibrations to the human body is disclosed, comprising a housing in which an axially movable ram is arranged at the distal end, and a drive device for the ram, for setting the ram in a reciprocating motion, wherein the drive device comprises an axially movable projectile arranged proximally of the ram and an accelerating device for the projectile for accelerating the projectile distally in the direction of the ram, the ram being able to execute a stroke of at least 1 mm.
US08500651B2
A system and method for measuring volumes and areas using electromagnetic induction techniques. A current is generated and fed into one of two coil assemblies to induce voltage into another coil assembly to provide accurate values for volume or area.
US08500649B2
A blood pressure measuring method which can measure blood vessel elasticity, so that that the blood vessel elasticity can be commonly applied to all subjects, calculating pulse transit time at the time when no pressure is applied, calculating pulse transit time in an area where the pressure is changed by the cuff, and then calculating the elasticity of a blood vessel, using the pulse transit times.
US08500648B2
An ultrasound catheter probe assembly capable of scanning a three-dimensional volume is provided. The ultrasound catheter probe assembly contains a plurality of ultrasonic transducers disposed along a central axis of the ultrasound catheter probe assembly. The plurality of ultrasonic transducers is disposed on a mechanism operable to reciprocally pivot the plurality of ultrasonic transducers enabling the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to scan a three-dimensional volume. A helically disposed electrical interconnection member may be disposed about a pivot axis of the plurality of ultrasonic transducers and may electrically interconnect the plurality of ultrasonic transducers to an ultrasound imaging system. The ultrasound transducer catheter probe assembly may be fluid-filled and contain bubble position control and fluid expansion compensation features.
US08500647B1
A system and method are provided for producing a signal filter to block clutter. An embodiment includes the steps of acquiring samples of a clutter signal, calculating eigenvectors and eigenvalues representing the clutter signal, comparing said eigenvalues to a threshold to distinguish between eigenvectors representing clutter and those representing noise or signal, and determining filter parameters using the comparison results. Embodiments of the invention allow for optimization of wall filters for different anatomical applications, such as different body parts, in ultrasound imaging. The clutter signal may include Doppler data, and may be acquired using a pulsed wave (PW) mode, although the filter itself may be used in scanning Doppler color mode. The resulting wall filter is optimized for blocking clutter that is comparable to the clutter of the sampled clutter signal.
US08500645B2
A low power ultrasound system for use in sonography applications, including vascular imaging, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the low power ultrasound system comprises a base unit that includes an image processor and a display. An ultrasound probe is operably connected to the base unit. The probe includes a head portion including an array of crystal transducers. A plurality of pulser/receiver modules that cause the transducers to emit ultrasonic transmit pulses are also included in the probe. The pulser/receiver modules are further configured to receive analog signals relating to ultrasonic echo receive pulses detected by the transducers. The probe includes a singular low noise amplifier that amplifies the analog signals, and an analog-to-digital converter that converts the analog signals to a digital signal. A wireless interface is included for enabling the digital signal to be wirelessly transmitted from the probe to the image processor of the base unit.
US08500633B2
Methods and devices are provided for providing surgical access into a body cavity. A surgical access port is provided that has an adjustable longitudinal length, such as by being formed from multiple segments configured to move relative to one another. An anchor can be coupled to a distal end of the surgical access port to help secure the surgical access port within a tissue opening by engaging a distal side of the tissue. Optionally, the anchor can be removably coupled to the distal end of the surgical access port, thereby allowing any one of a plurality of anchors to be selectively coupled thereto.
US08500630B2
An in vivo imaging device having a flexible circuit board, for example, a one-sheet flexible circuit board. The flexible circuit board may enable folding components attached to the flexible circuit board according to a predefined angle.
US08500618B2
A gynecological balloon apparatus has a first balloon and a second balloon disposed with a gynecological brachytherapy applicator. The first and second balloons are each movable between an inflated condition and a deflated condition. The first and second balloons may conform to a shape of a vaginal cavity when in their inflated conditions. A radiation detecting sensor and a motion detecting sensor may be positioned with the apparatus.
US08500616B2
The present disclosure relates to controlling a performance characteristic of an image forming device component having a surface which may include removal of a portion of the surface to expose a plurality of voids and a surface between the voids. The surface between the voids may have a surface roughness Ra in the range of 0.1 to 5.0 microns and the relationship SAV/(SAV+SAC) is equal to 1-50%, where SAV is the surface area of the voids and SAC is the remaining surface area of the component. The performance characteristic may include the control of toner mass conveyed and/or toner filming and/or the amount of residual toner removed from a photoconductive surface.
US08500613B2
A system (100) and method (400, 500) to exercise the leg and enhance mobility after a variety of injuries or surgery is disclosed. The system could include a chair leg anchor (104), a leg wrap (102), a stationary pulley (110) secured to the chair leg anchor, a movable pulley (108) secured to the leg wrap, a rope (106), and a handle (112). The rope could be threaded from a first end secured to the chair leg anchor, through the movable pulley, through the stationary pulley, and to a second end secured to the handle.
US08500612B2
An exercise apparatus comprising a base that can be oriented at any angle and that defines a plurality of connection interfaces, each of which can be designed to support one end of a resilient member in a cantilevered disposition. The connection interfaces can be positioned at or adjusted to a widely varying range of locations and angular orientations with respect to the base. Each resilient members can be configured to support one or more removable stiffening members that provide a resistance force when a force is exerted thereon so as to bend the resilient member.
US08500604B2
An exercise monitoring method and system in one embodiment includes a communications network, a wearable transducer configured to generate physiologic data associated with movement of a wearer, and to form a communication link with the communications network, a system memory in which command instructions are stored, a user interface operably connected to the computer, and a system processor configured to execute the command instructions to receive the generated physiologic data, analyze the received physiologic data with a multilayer perceptron/support vector machine/hidden Markov (MSH) model, model the analyzed physiologic data, and generate feedback based on a comparison of the model and a stored exercise object.
US08500599B2
A machine powertrain includes an engine operably connected to a torque converter and a transmission. A switch associated with the torque converter provides a locking signal indicative of a locked or unlocked condition of the torque converter. A throttle sensor associated with the throttle provides a throttle signal. An electronic controller receives the locking signal and the throttle signal, and controls operation of the engine at least partially based on the throttle signal and the locking signal. The electronic controller determines whether a locked or unlocked condition of the torque converter is present based on the locking signal, determines whether a part throttle operating condition or a full throttle operating condition is present based on the throttle signal, and selects a derated power curve when the part throttle operating condition is present and when the torque converter switches from the unlocked to the locked condition.
US08500595B2
The invention relates to differential drives for driving axles and wheels of transport means. The differential includes output shafts, which are kinematically interconnected by at least one differential pinion. The differential pinion is connected to the differential's housing by means of at least one intermediate member, which rotates freely in the housing coaxially to the geometrical axis of the differential pinion, and—conjugated surface zones of the differential pinion and the intermediate member, which zones are offset relative to the geometrical axis of the differential pinion. The conjugated surface zones may have different configurations. The invention makes it possible to simplify the design of a self-locking differential and to significantly increase the range of the blocking effect.
US08500591B2
A vehicle final drive includes a fixed spindle about which a wheel hub is mounted for rotation by wheel bearings, and within which a park and service brake assembly is mounted including a stack of Belleville springs carried by an input quill mounted within an inner end region, and a disc brake pack mounted within an outer end region. Located in the hub outboard of the spindle is a two-stage planetary reduction transmission. A reaction plate is fixed to an outer end face of the spindle cylindrical portion and holds the disc brake pack and a hub of a double ring gear of the transmission in place and preloads the wheel bearings. A fluid distribution manifold is defined by a passage in the spindle for distributing flow for cooling and/or lubricating an input thrust bearing, input drive shaft coupling splines, the brake disc pack, the wheel bearings, and the first stage planet gear bearings.
US08500588B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque-transmitting devices. Further, a hydraulic fluid control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of the plurality of torque-transmitting devices. The hydraulic fluid control circuit receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid pump and has a plurality of fluid passages disposed in the transmission housing, input member and other coupling members.
US08500578B2
The present invention relates to an elastic grip sleeve for the grip of a ball game racket, the sleeve having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface is provided at least in parts with an adhesive strip. The present invention moreover relates to a retrofit kit for a ball game racket, comprising a grip sleeve and at least an adhesive strip. Moreover, according to the invention there is provided a method for attaching a grip sleeve to the grip portion of a ball game racket.
US08500572B2
A golf club head with an improved sweet spot, defined as a portion of the striking face that has at least 99.7% of the maximum ballspeed is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head with a significantly circular sweet spot that encompasses at least about 1.5% of the total striking face. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a improved face geometry with an elliptical factor of greater than about 0.5, a beveled transition portion around the striking face of the golf club head, a variable face thickness region with decreases thickness, or even a tilted bulge and roll radius all helping improve the performance of the golf club head.
US08500571B2
Side locking adjustable shaft connection systems for removably connecting a golf club head and shaft
Releasable golf club head/shaft connection systems and methods allow one to change shafts on a single club head, change club heads on a single shaft, and/or change the angular orientation features of a golf club. Such systems may include: (a) a club head body including a hosel and a locking nut stabilizer; (b) a shaft releasably engaged with the club head body, wherein an end of the shaft includes a retaining member that is inserted into the club head body; and (c) a locking nut engaged with a side surface of the club head body such that a body portion of the locking nut extends at least partially through the hosel and is supported by the locking nut stabilizer. The locking nut is movably engaged with the club head body such that it securely holds the shaft or allows the shaft to be removed therefrom.
US08500568B2
A launch monitor that includes substantially all of its functional components on or within a housing is disclosed. The launch monitor may be transported and used in any desired location. One or more cameras, flashes, and triggers may be used to acquire images of a golf club and golf ball. The launch monitor is preferably capable of receiving and transmitting data over a wireless network. Acquired images and other data may be analyzed by a processor, and then displayed using an LED, LCD or other type of display or printer.
US08500563B2
A system for indicating to a user a clear shot along a projectile trajectory to a target wherein one of the trajectory path indicators indicates a height of the projectile trajectory at a predetermined intermediate range to the target whereby the user is informed regarding whether or not an obstacle is in the projectile trajectory. The system facilitates accurate, effective, and safe firearm and bow use by providing indications regarding obstacles that are between the shooter and target and which may or may not be in the projectile trajectory. The system may indicate a calibrated aiming point, which is the maximum height of the projectile trajectory. Enhanced rangefinders have digital cameras and high-resolution displays. Some embodiments include a weapon scope, a simulation game device, and a mobile smart phone. A method of using the system.
US08500562B2
The invention includes a system and method for planning and customizing a gaming vacation. Initially, a central controller receives preference and configuration data from a user at a user terminal. A preparation code is then determined and associated with the configuration data. The configuration data and the associated preparation code are transmitted from the central controller to a casino server. The central controller provides feedback regarding the user's requests. The feedback may include, for example, marketing offers for the user and/or configuring a gaming device according to the configuration data associated with a preparation code received from a user at the gaming device.
US08500561B2
A gaming system having one or more reconfigurable gaming machines and reconfigurable gaming displays is disclosed herein. Each gaming machine includes three reconfigurable video screens, wherein the reconfigurable first video screen, the second reconfigurable video screen, and the third reconfigurable video screen display a first game, information associated with the first game, casino specific features, or combinations thereof. The one or more gaming machines are reconfigurable to display a second game on the three reconfigurable video screens in response to receiving a reconfiguration command and downloading the second game from a server via a network so that the first reconfigurable video screen, the second reconfigurable video screen, and the third reconfigurable video screen display the second game, information associated with the second game, casino specific features, or combinations thereof.
US08500560B2
Systems and method for providing a single sign in a gaming console that associates online activity that is out-of-game/cross game, and/or online activity that is in-game, and/or activity that is offline and in-game with that account. While online, a service tracks activity of gamers and provides usage statistics in a profile. While offline, the game console tracks the player's activity via a mechanism to collect detailed information about a specific player's in-game statistics and accomplishments. The offline activity is cached and uploaded when the console connects to the online service. Players can accumulate achievements offline that are credited towards online activities.
US08500558B2
Enhanced methodology and apparatus for use in a multi-player video game for generating a array of user selectable options for choosing real or computer generated users to play with and/or compete against. For example, in a simulated multiple driver racing game application, the user of a computing device is presented with an option for selecting any of various “ghost data” packages for downloading over a communication network such as the Internet. For example, the user may be presented with the option of selecting one of an array of ghost data packages to race against such as the top five buddies of the user with highest scores, five buddies with scores similar to a user's own score, and teams/groups of various varieties. A simulated race in a computing device initially occurs with objects and a playing field of relatively low graphic complexity, limited by constraints of the system's processing power and the associated limited number of polygons that can be processed per second, the resolution of the screen, etc. A more powerful rendering of such objects/playing field thereafter takes place in a server after the ghost/performance data is collected and uploaded.
US08500551B2
A gaming device having a bonus scheme, wherein the player may choose when to play a bonus scheme, so long as the player is qualified to do so. The method of qualifying the player to enter the bonus round connects or links the base game operation of the gaming device with the bonus scheme. The reels of the base game contain symbols which alone or in combination with other symbols yield one or more bonus awards to a player. The bonus awards are escrowed and displayed a bonus award escrow display. Once the player obtains a single bonus award, the player becomes eligible or qualified to play the bonus round and the player may choose to do so at any time. The player can accumulate bonus awards and use multiple bonus awards at one time.
US08500544B2
Some implementations of the invention provide a Keno game on a gaming machine wherein an outcome of a second game is also presented. The second game may be a Class III game such as a slot game, a video poker game, etc. Some such aspects of the invention involve providing a Keno game in which the Keno card is divided into N areas and a single number within each of the N areas is selected for the Keno game. Other aspects of the invention provide methods of populating a pay table of another game with outcomes of a Keno game.
US08500543B2
A gaming machine and method are provided which provide a video slot game to a player. The video slot game includes a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The grid has a plurality of rows and columns. The machine and method display a base instance of the video slot game and in response to occurrence of a triggering event, the base instance of the video slot game is split and a plurality of sub-instances of the video slot game are displayed.
US08500542B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. In one embodiment, the gaming system provides players with one or more loyalty incentives, such as one or more loyalty awards, utilizing one or more loyalty incentive award sequences. In one embodiment, the gaming system determines a loyalty award to provide to a player and then determines an appropriate loyalty award sequence to utilize to provide the player the determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence is determined based on the individual gaming device that the player is currently playing.
US08500541B2
A gaming machine includes a wager-input device for receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game. A display displays a plurality of moveable reels having symbols located thereon during the wagering game. The symbols indicate a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager. The plurality of outcomes include at least a first winning outcome along a first active payline and a second winning outcome along a second active payline. In response to the first winning outcome and the second winning outcome being achieved, the first active payline and the second active payline are successively displayed to the player before the first winning outcome and the second winning outcome are indicated to the player.
US08500540B2
A method for conducting bingo games includes using a server to collect game play requests from a plurality of electronic player stations. The server determines if a group of the collected game play requests meets one or more predefined conditions for establishing a quorum, and if so conducts a game with the group of game play requests. Even after the game is started, the server continues to collect game play requests in preparation for conducting additional games. When enough game play requests are collected, the server starts the next game, even if previous games are still in progress.
US08500538B2
The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides a bingo game wherein a single bingo pattern is associated with a plurality of outcomes. In one such embodiment, a first bingo pattern is associated with a static outcome, such as an award of a designated value, and a second bingo pattern is associated with an open-ended outcome, such as a progressive award. If a bingo pattern associated with a progressive award is covered, the disclosed gaming system and method causes the bingo game to display a symbol combination associated with the progressive award. In one embodiment, the disclosed gaming system and method selects the symbol combination from a plurality of symbol combinations associated with the progressive award.
US08500537B2
Methods and systems for facilitating play of group lottery games are described. In an embodiment, a process includes establishing at least two groups for play of a group lottery game, wherein each group includes a plurality of players. The method also includes determining at least one winning player from each group of a first round of the multiplayer lottery game, and advancing each of the winning players to a second round.
US08500518B2
In an indexable insert having wide sides, inclined narrow sides are to be ground, that is to say the grinding allowance 38 is to be removed. To this end, the indexable insert is set in rotation about a driven axis of rotation between a clamping insert and a thrust bolt. Serving for the grinding is a grinding wheel which rotates about rotation axis and which has a circumferential surface 18a contoured in a circular shape and having a largest diameter and is composed of a leading region and a trailing region. The grinding wheel is guided relative to the indexable insert along the geometrical defining line which is formed by the generating line of the finished narrow side in the feed direction. The leading region tapering forwards effects preliminary grinding of the narrow side by longitudinal grinding, whereas the trailing region effects finish grinding by linear contact with the narrow side. The grinding wheel is held with the clamping flanges on a grinding spindle. The grinding operation is effected with controlled movement of the driven axis of rotation, a first displacement axis, a second displacement axis and a pivoting movement of the grinding wheel relative to the indexable insert according to double arrow.
US08500506B2
A sealing apparatus and a method of manufacturing a flat display device using the sealing apparatus. The sealing apparatus to attach a first substrate and a second substrate to each other using an attachment member disposed between the first and second substrates, the sealing apparatus comprises a stage on which the first substrate is seated, a halogen lamp irradiating light, and a reflector reflecting light irradiated from the halogen lamp to the attachment member.
US08500499B2
A contact assembly, which may be included in a connector assembly for a connector module of a medical device, includes one or more resilient contact members; each contact member may comprise a coiled wire having a first stiffness and a second stiffness. The assembly may further include a plug member associated with each contact member. Each contact member may be mounted in the assembly via insertion into a corresponding channel of a mounting member, such that a first terminal end of the contact member abuts a terminal surface of the channel. If included, the plug member makes electrical contact with a second terminal end of the inserted contact member, and is coupled to the mounting member. A contact surface of the mounted contact member is exposed within a connector bore of the mounting member, through an opening in the channel.
US08500496B2
An electrical connector including a contact sub-assembly having a plurality of mating conductors that are configured to transmit signal current. Each of the mating conductors extends between an engagement portion and an interior portion of the respective mating conductor. The engagement portions are located proximate to one another at a first nodal region. The interior portions are located proximate to one another at a second nodal region. The electrical connector also includes first open-ended conductors that are electrically connected to the engagement portions of corresponding mating conductors. The electrical connector also includes second open-ended conductors that are electrically connected to the interior portions of corresponding mating conductors. The first open-ended conductors are capacitively coupled to the second open-ended conductors.
US08500495B2
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a set of contacts (3) retained in the insulative housing (1) and a shell (2). The shell (1) has a mating port to mate with a connector. The insulative housing (1) comprises a first body (11) and a second body (12) assembled together. The first body (11) includes a first tongue plate (112), the first tongue plate (112) defines a receiving cavity (1122), the second body (12) is exposed in the mating port and includes a second tongue portion (121). The first tongue plate (112) forms a first identification unit, the second tongue portion (121) forms another identification unit different from the first identification unit. As a result, user can sign if the electrical connector (100) can mate with at least two kinds of connectors.
US08500489B2
The invention provides a system of components, methods for assembly, and a hand tool, for adding a male connector to a standard and modified ribbon high definition multimedia (HDMI) cable for field termination or factory installation. The invention also provides a locking plug which can mate with female HDMI connectors with great retaining force. Features of the connector system including the locking top shell, bottom shell, wire holders and the connector core make possible and efficient the addition of a solderless male connector. Features of the modified ribbon type HDMI cable facilitate threading of the wire holders significantly improving the time it takes to assemble a male connector on the cable. The hand tool disclosed is designed to accomplish all steps of assembly for field termination.
US08500487B2
A receptacle assembly includes a front housing configured for mating with a header assembly and a contact module coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a conductive holder having a first side wall and an opposite second side wall. The conductive holder has a chamber between the first and second side walls. The conductive holder has a front coupled to the front housing. The contact module includes a frame assembly that is received in the chamber. The frame assembly includes a plurality of contacts and a dielectric frame that supports the contacts. The contacts extend from the conductive holder for electrical termination. A plurality of ground clips are received in the chamber and extend from the front of the conductive holder. The ground clips are mechanically and electrically connected to the conductive holder.
US08500484B2
The invention relates to a movable connection method of a chain line type rotary socket and the rotary socket thereof. The rotary socket is as follows: a socket port is arranged on each rotary chain link, and a plurality of chain links are connected in series through rotary sleeves (1) to form a chain. Electrical appliance plug-in pieces (3) are arranged in all the chain links, the rotary sleeves (1) are hinged outside the chain links, conductors connected with the electrical appliance plug-in pieces (3) are arranged in the rotary sleeves (1) respectively, and the adjacent two chain links can rotate mutually. The structure of the rotary socket comprises the rotary chain links, conducting wires (6) and the electrical appliance plug-in pieces (3), wherein each rotary chain link comprises the rotary sleeve (1), end holes (13) are arranged at two ends of each rotary sleeve (1) respectively, the end holes (13) of the rotary sleeves (1) are lapped and combined sequentially to form a chain type structure, a base (5) and a cover plate (2), which act as a rotary shaft, are arranged in each end hole, and the electrical appliance plug-in pieces (3) and the conducting wires (6) are arranged in accommodating spaces formed by the bases (5), the cover plates (2) and the rotary sleeves (1). The socket is small in volume, convenient to carry and convenient to arrange.
US08500483B2
A plug, in particular a high-pole plug, of a plug-type connector is disclosed for a number of multi-core, shielded cables, of whose lines are electrically conductively connected to contacts of a contact strip cable shields are electrically conductively connected to a shield support. The contact strip and the shield support are arranged physically at a distance from one another in a shroud. The shield support is electrically connected to an ground connection of the plug. Two shielding brackets are provided as the shield support and connected to one another in a releasable manner. These shielding brackets are formed in such a way as to form a holding area for cable clamps which can be clamped between these shielding brackets. As a result, a plug of this type can accommodate a contact strip with a high pole number, without the need to modify the dimensions of the shroud of the plug.
US08500480B2
Implementations of the present invention comprise systems, methods, and apparatus for distributing electric power to a plurality of access points within a plurality of spaces. In particular, implementations of the present invention allow for the distribution of electric power from a centralized panel manager, to one or more access points without the use of zone boxes. For example, a panel manager for distributing electric power in accordance with an implementation of the present invention can include a housing configured to allow at least one main input therein. The panel manager can also include a plurality of planar connection interfaces secured within the housing. The planar connection interface can be configured to mate with planar electrical connectors for the distribution of electric power to the plurality of access points.
US08500477B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a printed circuit board, a socket connector assembled on the printed circuit board and a chip module seating on the insulative socket. The socket connector assembly has an insulating socket having a plurality of terminals received therein, a cover located on the insulating housing and three retention members secured to the printed circuit board and mating with the cover. The cover is attached to two of the retention members and capable of linear and rotational movements with regarding to said retention members so that the cover presses the chip module and is secured by another retention member.
US08500466B2
An electronic apparatus with a plug is provided, which relates to the field of electronic technologies, and solves a technical problem of the plug is easily damaged when the plug in a state of extending out of a port is impacted by a force in a direction in which the plug retracts into the port. The electronic apparatus with a plug includes a housing opened with a port, a plug passing through the port, and a circuit board located inside the housing and electrically connected to the plug, where a locking mechanism is disposed between the plug and the housing, the locking mechanism is configured to lock the plug when the plug is in a state of extending out of the port, and the locking mechanism automatically becomes ineffective when the plug is impacted by the force in the direction in which the plug retracts into the port.
US08500462B2
A junction box for a solar panel comprises a housing, a lid, a first connector and a second connector. The housing comprises sidewalls and a top wall defining an interior space. The first coupling comprises a first contact element and the second coupling comprises a second contact element. Said contact elements penetrate at least one of the sidewalls, so that the contact elements provide an electrical contact from external contact elements to internal contact elements, such as solder tails. Internal contact elements are arranged at least partially in said interior space. The top wall comprises an opening extending only partially in said top wall. Said opening is located such in the top wall that access to said solder tails in a substantially perpendicular direction to the surface of a solar panel for connecting the solder tail to the solar panel is provided.
US08500461B2
A connector mechanism for connecting a board card is disclosed. The connector mechanism includes a circuit board whereon at least one metal contact is formed, and a connector installed on the circuit board. An end of the board card is for inserting into the connector. The connector mechanism further includes at least one signal transmitting component fixed on the other end of the board card and electrically connected to the board card. The at least one signal transmitting component includes at least one conductive clip for resiliently contacting the at least one metal contact on the circuit board as the end of the board card is inserted into the connector so as to electrically connect to the circuit board.
US08500457B2
An attachment mechanism for fastening an electronic component includes a circuit board and a fastener. The circuit board includes a first connector to be connected to a second connector of the electronic component. The first connector defines a groove in a first end of the first connector and a hooking slot below the groove. The fastener includes a main body and an operation portion extending up from the main body. The main body includes a block engaging in the groove and a latch engaging in the hooking slot. An engaging bar protrudes from the operation portion to abut against a top of the electronic component.
US08500456B1
In some embodiments, an interconnectable circuit board may include one or more of the following features: (a) a first electrically conductive pad located on a top of the circuit board, (b) a plated through hole on the conductive pad which passes through the circuit board, (c) a second electrically conductive pad coupled to the plated through hole; the second conductive pad capable of being electrically connected to a third electrically conductive pad attached to a top of a second interconnectable circuit board, (d) cut marks indicating safe locations for separating the circuit board, and (e) a second cut mark adjacent to the first cut mark where the area between the first and second cut mark can be utilized to make a safe cut through the circuit board.
US08500441B2
A method is proposed for regulating a firing device taking into account the temperature and/or the burner load, in particular with a gas burner, comprising the regulation of the temperature (Tactual) produced by the firing device using a characteristic which shows a value range corresponding to a desired temperature (Tdesired) dependent upon a first parameter (mL, VL) corresponding to the burner load (Q), wherein when representing the characteristic, a second parameter, preferably the air ratio (λ), defined as the ratio of the actually supplied quantity of air to the quantity of air theoretically required for optimal stoichiometric combustion, is constant.
US08500439B2
An extrusion blow-molding device (1) for producing plastic containers, particularly plastic bottles, is proposed, comprising an extruder head (3), which is connected to at least one extruder (2) for plastic material and has at least one extrusion die (4), a blow-molding tool arrangement (5) having at least one blow-molding cavity (6) and at least one injection device (7), which is disposed on the side of the blow-molding tool arrangement (5) facing away from the extruder head (3) and can be inserted into the blow-molding cavity (6) through an opening provided there. During a production cycle, the extruder head (3) can be axially adjusted in terms of the height thereof relative to the blow-molding tool arrangement (5). To do so, the extruder (2) is articulated along the longitudinal extension thereof on a rotational axis (9) and can be tilted in the manner of a rocker, and the extruder (2) is configured such that the height thereof about the rotational axis (9) thereof can be adjusted. In this way, for the production of plastic containers having a large height, a new starting position for tilting the extruder (2) can be set in that the extruder (2), to include the rotational axis (9) thereof, is raised.
US08500436B2
A ball lock clamp includes a cylinder housing. A first piston is movable in the cylinder housing in response to a first fluid pressure. A second piston is movable in the first piston. A rod extends from the first piston. A biasing member is positioned in the cylinder housing to provide a biasing force between the first piston and the housing. A plunger is at a terminal end of the rod. The plunger includes at least one ball moving radially in and out of the plunger. A receiver receives the plunger. The receiver retains the plunger in a locked position in the receiver. A mechanism releases the plunger from the receiver. The mechanism includes a member in the rod to move the at least one ball radially in and out of the rod.
US08500434B2
A device is described for granulating plastic having a granulating head (1) and having a drivable cutter head (4), which cooperates with a perforated plate (2) and is arranged inside a housing (3), and which is movable along an axial guide made of guide spars (7) and guide sleeves (8), which are displaceable on the guide spars (7), and is attachable to the granulating. head (1) via locking units (9). In order to provide advantageous design conditions, it is proposed that the locking units (9) comprise latching wedges (11) mounted so they are displaceable transversely to the guide sleeves (8), which penetrate the guide sleeves (8) and the guide spar (7) in oblong holes (12, 13) in the locking position and are supported in the direction of the spar axis on one side on the guide sleeve (8) and on the other side on the guide spar (7).
US08500428B2
A machine for making cotton candy includes a shell, a sugar-spinning unit and a scraping unit. The sugar-spinning unit includes a heater located in the shell for heating and melting sugar, a bowl located around the heater, a lid located on the bowl, and a primary motor for spinning the heater and the bowl to spin the molten sugar. The scraping unit includes a holder located in the shell, a stopper connected to the holder, a lever pivotally connected to the holder, a first scraper attached to the lever, a second scraper pivotally connected to the holder, a hook connected to the second scraper, a spring for connecting the lever to the second scraper, a difference motor, and a crank including an end connected to a mandrel of the difference motor and an opposite end connected to a pin movably inserted in a slot defined in the lever.
US08500410B2
A blade made of composite material including an airfoil formed of filaments or fibers, optionally woven, impregnated with a heat-curable resin, with an intrados wall and an extrados wall between the leading edge and the trailing edge; and a device for damping the vibrations incorporated in one or other of the intrados and extrados walls is disclosed. The damping device is formed of at least one layer made of viscoelastic material and a layer made of rigid material, these layers being superposed. The layer made of rigid material includes a first zone and a second zone. The layer made of viscoelastic material is interposed between the airfoil and the first zone of the rigid layer, and the second zone of the rigid layer is attached to the wall of the airfoil without interposition of viscoelastic material.
US08500403B2
The present invention relates to a table for a wind turbine equipped with attachment devices 103 for attaching servicing equipment, 401, 402, said attachment means being attached at and accessible from the blade exterior. They may be located in cavities and be covered when not in use. Hereby it is accomplished that the blade can be serviced and repaired while positioned horizontally without the attachment devices as such otherwise influencing the aerodynamic properties of the blade. One possibility is that during manufacturing such a cavity is closed but the cavity can later be broken open. Additionally, the invention relates to a wind turbine featuring such blade and a method of servicing a blade when mounted on a wind turbine, wherein servicing equipment is attached to at least one attachment device in the blade. It is furthermore mentioned, that the attachment devices might be used when mounting a blade.
US08500402B2
Described is a rotor blade for a wind power installation having a rotor blade leading edge. A deposit sensor device is arranged in the region of the rotor blade leading edge. That deposit sensor device has a transmitter for the wireless transmission of signals by way of a transmission link and a receiver for receiving the signals wirelessly transmitted by way of the transmission link. Deposits on the surface can be detected in the region of the transmission link on the basis of the signals transmitted by way of the transmission link.
US08500400B2
A component handling system for use in a wind turbine is described herein. The wind turbine includes a rotor, a drive train assembly supported from a support frame, and a drive shaft that is rotatably coupled between the rotor and the drive train assembly. The component handling system includes a lifting assembly that is removably coupled to a component of the drive train and a lifting device. The lifting assembly is configured to support the component from the lifting device, and includes a plurality of lifting legs extending between the component and the lifting device. An alignment device is coupled to at least one lifting leg of the plurality of lifting legs, and is configured to adjust a length of the at least one lifting leg to adjust an orientation of the component with respect to the drive shaft.
US08500389B2
A gas driven motor includes a housing, a gas driven rotating member including a rotor and a rotor shaft carrying the rotor and journalled in a first bearing and a second bearing supported in the housing, and a speed governor for controlling a pressure gas inlet flow in response to the rotation speed of the rotating member. The first bearing includes a set of rolling elements, an outer race arranged in the housing and an inner race arranged on a shaft portion of the rotating member, the set of rolling elements being in contact with the races on which the rolling elements roll. The motor further includes a coupling device arranged to couple the speed governor to the rolling elements of the first bearing, thereby transferring the rotary motion from the rolling elements to the speed governor.
US08500388B2
Modular wafer transport and handling facilities are combined in a variety of ways deliver greater levels of flexibility, utility, efficiency, and functionality in a vacuum semiconductor processing system. Various processing and other modules may be interconnected with tunnel-and-cart transportation systems to extend the distance and versatility of the vacuum environment. Other improvements such as bypass thermal adjusters, buffering aligners, batch processing, multifunction modules, low particle vents, cluster processing cells, and the like are incorporated to expand functionality and improve processing efficiency.
US08500387B2
A backhoe loader 10 with a controller 100 that uses angular signals from at least one sensor to calculate a loader tool angle with respect to the vehicle frame 12 or with respect to the earth and to maintain the loader tool angle via controller generated commands to a tool actuator 61 as a function of the angular signals and commands to a boom actuator 50. The controller 100 enables proportional control of the tool angle via a command input device such as an electronic joystick 21. If the electronic joystick 21 is moved to an appropriate detent position, the controller executes a return to carry function. If the boom 31 is at or below the return to carry angle at the time the joystick 21 is moved to the detent position, the controller 100 executes a float function allowing the bucket 36 and the boom 31 to rest on the ground and follow the contours of the earth as the vehicle moves over the earth.
US08500373B1
A pneumatic transport system is used to transport an object through a conduit extending between a first location to a second location by generating a pressure differential in the conduit. Based on detection of the movement of the object through the conduit, the pressure differential in the conduit is reduced in a controlled manner to slow the movement of the object and safely land it at the second location.
US08500362B2
A molded brick, in particular made from concrete, for laying ground coverings (10, 30), the molded brick (11, 12, 31, 32, 33) having an upper side (13) which is delimited in the transition to upright side faces (15, 16, 17, 18) by a side edge (20) which frames the upper side (13). The course of the side edge (20) of the molded brick is of curved configuration at least in regions and to correspond to a mathematical function, the course of the side edge (20) preferably corresponding at least in regions to the function ƒ(x)=a*ln(x)+b.
US08500361B2
An artificial flagstone for use in combination with other similar flagstones for covering a surface with a natural random look, the flagstone having a generally hexagonal body comprising a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth consecutive vertices; a first pair of first and second sides extending radially from the first vertex; a second pair of third and fourth sides extending radially from the third vertex; a third pair of fifth and sixth sides extending radially from the fifth vertex; wherein the sides of at least one of the first, second and third pair of sides have at least one split deviation along their length and are respectively rotational images of each other, and the artificial flagstone has no rotational symmetry when rotated about a central axis.
US08500355B2
A liquid dispensing massage device is provided with a liquid container having an externally threaded neck; a dispensing assembly comprising a retaining ring, a seal, a rotatable liquid dispensing outlet, a spring biased sliding plunger defining an axial channel therethrough; a cap; a vibration shell assembly; a vibration assembly in the shell and comprising a battery powered DC motor; and a switch. In a closed position of the device, the switch is locked. In an open position of the device, the switch is unlocked and read to move, and a fluid passage is not blocked by the plunger so that a manual movement of the switch activates the DC motor for generating vibration.
US08500354B2
A water-based ballpoint pen including a specific aqueous ink, a ball, a ballpoint pen tip that holds the ball at a front end of the ballpoint pen tip, an ink follower following the ink with consumption of the ink, and an ink container directly containing the ink and the ink follower. The ink container communicates with a rear portion of the tip. The ink follower includes at least a base oil and a thickener. The ball point pen tip discharges the ink from the top end portion. The ink container supplies the ink to the tip.
US08500351B2
A compact printer having improved operational features. The printer includes an articulating print frame assembly coupled to a top cover that is adapted to rotate out of the top cover to an open position and to rotate into the top cover to a closed position. When the print frame is in an open position, the top cover is prevented from rotating toward the bottom housing to a closed position. The print frame includes a media guide bar that facilitates loading of ribbon and media. The disclosed printer also includes a fixed or adjustable media sensor, and is configurable to accommodate an internal supply of web (roll) media or an external supply of fanfold media. a bottom housing having a top cover coupled thereto.
US08500350B2
A cutter device includes: a first cutter provided on a front surface side of a medium being fed to be cut; a second cutter that is provided on a back surface side opposite the front surface side and cuts the medium in cooperation with the first cutter; a carriage that retains the first and second cutters and moves in a width direction of the medium; a guide portion that guides the carriage in the width direction; and a post-cut guide portion that is provided on the carriage and comes into contact with the back surface to guide the medium on the downstream side of the first and second cutters in a medium feed direction after cutting to the front surface side.
US08500348B2
A keyboard includes a plurality of keys, and a keyframe into which the plurality of keys are assembled. Each of the keys includes: i) a plunger on which a character is printed, and ii) a keycap made of a transparent material. The keycap covers at least a portion of a top of the plunger.
US08500346B2
A method of configuring a printing system includes providing a document key having an initial image and providing a printing system that includes a memory storing a first system setting. The method also includes scanning the document key and validating the initial image. The method can optionally include marking a first overlay image over at least a portion of the initial image, scanning the document key, and verifying the marking of the first overlay image thereon. The method also includes configuring or permitting the configuration of the printing system after the initial image has been validated or the marking of the first overlay image on the initial image has been verified. A printing system that is capable of being configured using the document key is also included.
US08500345B2
An item handling system includes a transport system defining a transport plane, a printer assembly defining a printer plane, and a printer alignment system supporting the printer assembly. The printer alignment system includes a plurality of drive elements configured to move the printer assembly. A method of aligning a printer in the item handling system includes moving the printer assembly to a limit position of the printer alignment system distal from the transport system using the drive elements, moving the printer assembly to a limit position of the printer alignment system proximate to the transport system using the drive elements, and driving each of the drive elements at a respective predetermined level to place the printer plane in a substantially parallel orientation with respect to the transport plane.
US08500344B2
The invention provides a compact camera module and a method for fabricating the same. A compact camera module includes an image sensor device package. A back spacer ring is disposed on the image sensor device package. A first edge of the back spacer ring is aligned to a second edge of the image sensor device package. An optical lens plate disposed over the back spacer ring. A front spacer ring is sandwiched between the back spacer ring and the optical lens plate. A third edge of the front spacer ring is aligned to a fourth edge of the optical lens plate.
US08500341B2
The present disclosure relates to a drop cable assembly including a fiber optic drop cable having a length that extends from a first end of the fiber optic drop cable to an opposite second end of the fiber optic drop cable. The fiber optic drop cable also includes an intermediate location located between the first and second ends of the fiber optic drop cable. The drop cable assembly also includes a first fiber optic connector mounted at the first end of the fiber optic drop cable and a second fiber optic connector mounted at the second end of the fiber optic drop cable. The drop cable assembly further includes an optical fiber that extends continuously without splicing along the length of the fiber optic drop cable from the first fiber optic connector to the second fiber optic connector. The fiber optic drop cable has a first cable segment that extends from the first end of the fiber optic drop cable to the intermediate location and a second cable segment that extends from the intermediate location to the second end of the fiber optic drop cable. The first cable segment is more robust than the second cable segment and the second cable segment being more flexible than the first cable segment. The present disclosure also relates t methods and arrangements for mechanically attaching fiber optic connectors to drop cables of the type described above.
US08500337B2
A rotating flow diverter has a lubricated sealed bearing assembly for isolating bearing elements from wellbore fluids under pressure. The sealed bearing assembly is supported between an outer bearing housing and an axially rotatable quill. The bearing assembly further has bearing elements with a bearing lubricant under pressure and a seal assembly. The seal assembly has at least one sealing element which comprises a body, the body having an outer peripheral wall, an inner sealing surface having a plurality of sealing lips and an annular cavity, and a loading ring for compressionally fitting within the annular cavity to urge the sealing surface radially inwardly for sealing engagement with tubulars.
US08500336B2
Guide roller rotating bearing for a metal melt bath includes pivot arms and a roller bearing device arranged on each of the pivot arms. The roller bearing device includes an outer ring, cylindrical rollers and an inner ring. The outer ring includes first and second outer ring flange members. The outer ring is fixed to a pivot arm. The cylindrical rollers are configured as rolling elements. The inner ring has first and second inner ring flange members. The first and second outer ring flange members and the first and second inner ring flange members are configured to fix the cylindrical rollers in an axial direction. A shaft end includes a protective covering disposed in the roller bearing device. The protective covering includes a protective covering material that exhibits a wear-resistance which is higher than a wear resistance of the shaft end.
US08500315B2
A light emitting module includes: a semiconductor light emitting element; a plate-shaped light wavelength conversion ceramic that is provided so as to face the light emitting surface of the semiconductor light emitting element and that is configured to convert the wavelength of the light, which has been emitted by the semiconductor light emitting element; and a reflective film that is formed on the surface of the light wavelength conversion ceramic and that is configured to shield part of the light, which has been transmitted through the light wavelength conversion ceramic. The light wavelength conversion ceramic is composed on an inorganic material.
US08500314B2
Provided is a bulb holder locking apparatus, comprising a fixing mount, a bulb holder, a spring and a ratchet mechanism comprising a ratchet bar having a plurality of ratchets, a pawl and a movable cam having a curve contour; wherein the bulb holder is flexibly connected to the fixing mount; the spring is connected to the fixing mount, so as to force the bulb holder to move downwards; the ratchet bar is connected to the bulb holder; the pawl is connected to the fixing mount and elastically contacted with the ratchet bar; the movable cam is slidingly connected to the ratchet bar and elastically contacted with the pawl; and the curve contour comprises a plurality of crests engaged with the pawls.
US08500313B2
A light fixture assembly having a plurality of sockets to receive a plurality of electrically powered sources of illumination, and a plurality of receptacles to receive a plurality of LED lights, the assembly including a housing. The plurality of receptacles are mounted on the fixture housing and a logic board is mounted in the housing, the logic board being electrically connected to a switch, and the switch is electrically connected to a source of electrical power. Separate electrical connections extend between the logic board and the sockets, and between the logic board and a voltage reduction device. The voltage reduction device is electrically connected to the receptacle to provide a lower voltage to the LED receptacles compared to the voltage of the electric power supplied to the light bulb. The switch is operable between off and on positions; and the logic board activates and deactivates the electrical energy provided to the sockets and to the LED receptacles upon operation of the switch.
US08500311B1
Certain embodiments of the disclosed technology may include apparatuses for providing a cone mounting, support or gasket apparatus. According to an example embodiment of the disclosed technology, a cone mounting, support or gasket apparatus is provided that is configured to attach to a cone, wherein the cone comprises a directrix and an outer surface. The cone mounting, support or gasket apparatus comprises a ring shaped structure defined by an inner surface comprising a conical wall, wherein the conical wall has a bottom and a top. The bottom of the conical wall has a greater diameter than the top of the conical wall, and the angle of the conical wall is similar to the angle of the cone outer surface. The ring shaped structure includes a ledge, wherein the ledge originates at the bottom of the conical wall and protrudes away from the conical wall. The cone attaches to the cone support apparatus whereby the directrix of the cone is disposed on the ledge of the ring shaped structure.
US08500309B2
A lens comprises a base, the base comprising a bottom face facing a light emitting side of a light source, and a top face; a first member comprising a convex part curved outward from a first portion of the top face, and a first light emergent face formed on a top of the convex part; wherein light emitted from the first light emergent face illuminates areas far away from the lens; and a second member connecting to the first member on a second portion of the top face, the second member comprising a second light emergent face; wherein the second light emergent face is at an angle from the top face, the second light emergent face is located at a lower elevation than the first light emergent face in relation to the top face, and light emitted from the second light emergent face illuminates areas near the lens.
US08500298B2
According to one embodiment, a lighting fixture includes a fixture body and a plurality of light-emitting modules. A plurality of light-emitting module arrangement portions are formed on the surface of the fixture body. The light-emitting modules are arranged on the light-emitting module arrangement portions of the fixture body and annularly arranged so that a space is formed at the center area of the fixture body. Semiconductor light-emitting elements are disposed on the surface of the light-emitting module, and a wiring connector is arranged at the space side of the substrate.
US08500291B2
In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a mirror assembly for a vehicle is described. The mirror assembly includes a first curved wall, a second curved wall, a bottom portion, and a top portion. The first curved wall and second curved wall each extend from the bottom portion to the top portion and are joined to one another along a respective first side of each of the first curved wall and the second curved wall. The first curved wall, second curved wall, bottom portion, and top portion define an area comprising a reflecting surface. Each respective second side of each of the first curved wall and the second curved wall extends beyond the plane defined by the area and assists in a reduction in drag when fluid flow contacts the mirror assembly.
US08500287B2
A projection unit comprising a coherent light source such as a laser diode and a beam shaping element forming a light beam which is directed towards a display, characterized in that it comprises a laser speckle suppression device which is positioned between the laser source and the display and wherein the laser speckle suppression device is a diffusing element actuated randomly by a piezoelectric vibrating structure.
US08500282B2
An apparatus consistent with the present invention comprises a sensor for receiving a signal representing eye tremor and a processor for monitoring eye tremor while receiving the signal. A method consistent with the present invention includes receiving a signal representing eye tremor, comparing the received signal representing eye tremor to at least one reference value, and classifying a patient's brain stem function using the comparison of the received signal representing eye tremor to at least one reference value. An embodiment consistent with the present invention includes an ocular micro tremor (OMT) sensor and associated signal processing hardware and software for clinical analyses.
US08500281B2
There is provided an apparatus for irradiating a beam at a user's eye gaze point and an operation method thereof. The apparatus includes an eye gaze point detecting part analyzing a movement of a user's pupils and detecting the user's eye gaze point, and a beam irradiation part irradiating a beam at the user's eye gaze point detected by the eye gaze point detecting part. The apparatus detects the user's current eye gaze point and irradiates the beam at the user's detected eye gaze point, thereby allowing for the performance of desired control with greater accuracy.
US08500280B2
To provide an optical imaging apparatus capable of providing a high lateral resolution in a wide region and easily adjusting prior to imaging for imaging an optical image of an eye to be inspected which is an object, and a method for imaging an optical image. The optical imaging apparatus in which a beam from a light source is used as a measuring beam, and an image of an object is imaged based on intensity of a return beam formed of the measuring beam irradiated to the object has the following: first, an optical device for focusing the measuring beam on the object; next, a aberration detecting device for measuring a aberration of the return beam; and a focus adjusting device for adjusting the optical device based on the aberration detected by the aberration detecting device.
US08500277B1
A system and method for determining the neurological function of a patient by examining ocular responses.
US08500265B2
An ink to be applied to a recording head having a common liquid chamber, pressure chambers developing pressure applied to the liquid, individual channels through which the liquid is introduced into the pressure chambers from the common liquid chamber, and a group of nozzles which communicate with the pressure chambers and eject the liquid, where first nozzles having short individual channels and second nozzles having long ones are alternately arranged at arrangement intervals of less than 30 μm along one side or sides of the common liquid chamber, contains an aqueous medium, a surfactant and a coloring material. The aqueous medium consists of water and a water-soluble organic compound containing at least one alkanediol and has a surface tension of from 40 mN/m or more to less than 60 mN/m in an environment of temperature 25° C. and humidity 50%.
US08500260B2
An ink composition including one or more oxazoline compounds or oxazoline derivatives having either crystalline, amorphous or even semi-crystalline properties for use in a particular printing application, such as in a direct-to-paper print process.
US08500258B2
An inkjet printer includes: an inkjet printhead; an ink reservoir containing a supply of ink; and a pressure-regulating chamber for maintaining ink contained therein at a predetermined first level. The chamber includes: an inlet port connected to the ink reservoir via an ink supply line; an outlet port connected to an ink inlet of the printhead via an upstream ink line; an air vent open to atmosphere; and a float valve for maintaining the predetermined first level of ink. The float valve includes: an arm pivotally mounted about a pivot; a float mounted at one end of the arm; and a valve stem attached to the arm, said valve stem having a valve head for closure of a valve seat, the valve seat being positioned at the inlet port of the pressure-regulating chamber.
US08500257B2
An ink pressure regulator for regulating a hydrostatic pressure of ink supplied to an inkjet printhead. The regulator includes an ink chamber having an ink outlet for fluid communication with the printhead via an ink line. A roof of the ink chamber includes: an air inlet; a regulator channel having a first end communicating with the air inlet and a second end communicating with a headspace of the chamber; and a liquid-retaining structure in fluid communication with the regulator channel. The liquid-retaining structure is positioned and configured for capturing ink from the headspace of the ink chamber. The regulator channel is dimensioned to regulate a hydrostatic pressure of the ink supplied to the printhead.
US08500250B2
A liquid discharge head includes: a recording element substrate and a plurality of electric connection units; and an electric wiring member that includes a plurality of input terminals, a plurality wirings held between films and electrically connected to the plurality of input terminals, and a plurality of lead lines conducted to the plurality of wirings. In this case, the plurality of wirings include a power line for supplying power to the energy generation elements and a signal line for supplying a signal to the energy generation elements. Relationships of A>B and B
US08500244B2
A structure for an inkjet printhead is disclosed. The printhead structure has an elongate support structure for supporting a printhead integrated circuit, and ink conduits formed in the elongate support structure for supplying ink to an array of nozzles of the printhead integrated circuit. Each ink conduit includes cavities distributed along a roof of the ink conduit. An opening to each cavity has an upstream edge and a downstream edge. The upstream edge contacts the ink before the downstream edge during initial priming of the ink conduits from an ink supply. The upstream edge has a transition face between the ink conduit and the cavity interior, the transition face being configured to inhibit ink from filling the cavity by capillary action during initial priming of the ink conduit. This causes gas to be trapped within the cavity. The gas acts to compress pressure pulses in the ink.
US08500243B2
According to one embodiment, an inkjet head includes a nozzle plate, a base member, a frame-like member, an ink chamber, a supply channel and a discharge channel. The nozzle plate includes nozzles. The base member includes driving elements that cause the ink to be ejected from the nozzles, and is opposed to the nozzle plate. The frame-like member is interposed between the nozzle plate and the base member and includes first opening parts and a second opening part extending over all the first opening parts. The ink chamber is provided inside the frame-like member and communicates with the ink chamber. The supply channel is provided in the base member and communicates with the ink chamber to supply ink. The discharge channel is provided in the base member, communicates with the ink chamber to discharge ink, and is connected to the first opening parts through the second opening parts.
US08500242B2
A micro-fluid ejection head for a printer is disclosed. The micro-fluid ejection head comprises a plurality of printhead modules. Each of the plurality of printhead modules comprises an ejection chip for ejecting fluid. The micro-fluid ejection head further comprises a support frame to mount the plurality of printhead modules for creating a lengthy array of the plurality of printhead modules. The support frame is electrically coupled with the plurality of printhead modules for allowing the plurality of printhead modules to receive data and electrical power.
US08500233B2
A liquid ejection head includes a member having ejection ports and dummy ejection ports. The ejection ports are provided in correspondence with energy-generating elements used in ejecting liquid. The dummy ejection ports are provided in correspondence with a light-receiving element outputting current whose level changes in accordance with the intensity of light applied thereto. By detecting the level of current that is output from the light-receiving element, the shapes of the ejection ports are estimated.
US08500230B2
Method for manufacturing a laminate product comprising at least a laminate layer with a decor sheet, wherein, for forming the laminate layer, at least a decor sheet is formed by providing in a decor application process a decor in the form of a motif on a decor carrier, wherein this decor carrier consists of a continuous material web, wherein the decor is applied by means of one or more digital printers and wherein the global decor during the processing of the material web is controlled in a varying manner, by means of controlling the one or more printers, as a function of varying external data.
US08500227B2
A setting unit that can set the start time when a user starts using a apparatus and a control unit that can make the apparatus enter a non-operation state in either first standby mode or second standby mode where the apparatus can be actuated from the non-operation state in a shorter time than in the first standby mode are provided. The control unit performs control to determine to which of the first standby mode and the second standby mode when the apparatus enters the non-operation state, based on the time difference between a time when an instruction to turn off the apparatus is issued and the start time set with the setting unit.
US08500222B2
In order to increase the operational safety of a device which is used in a brake system of the “brake-by-wire” type and has the purpose of activating and deactivating a pedal travel simulator, an articulated connection which permits an all around pivoting movement of a piston rod is provided between a piston and the piston rod which activates the latter.
US08500219B2
A method is proposed for stabilizing a vehicle including a braking system that can be actuated by a driver of the vehicle for applying a braking force to at least two vehicle wheels. A braking force corresponding to driver specifications is applied at a first vehicle wheel of an axle, and a braking force that is smaller than the driver specifications is applied to a second vehicle wheel of the axle during a braking actuation by the driver when it is determined that an activation criterion is met. This provides a comfortable stabilization of the vehicle without an active buildup of braking force.
US08500215B2
A hydraulic unit for slip-controlled braking systems has a plurality of receiving holes for transport devices associated with a plurality of hydraulic circuits bundled into groups, wherein the receiving holes are disposed at a distance from each in parallel with the upper side and a drive shaft having eccentrics located at the plane spacing for driving the transport devices. In order to provide a compromise optimized for manufacturing a small, convenient hydraulic unit, it is proposed that three theoretical planes (E1, E2, E3) are arranged in parallel to the upper side, each receiving two V-shaped receiving holes for transport devices disposed at an angle to each other, and that the drive shaft includes three separate eccentrics for driving the transport devices.
US08500214B2
In a system and method for controlling a distributed power rail vehicle consist, each of at least one powered rail vehicle in the rail vehicle consist is designated for operation as a remote trail. Based on the designation, a respective brake pipe valve of each of the at least one powered rail vehicle is automatically operated to a cut-out mode. Upon initiation of a service, an emergency, and/or a penalty brake application in the rail vehicle consist, the respective brake pipe valve of each of the at least one the powered rail vehicle is automatically operated to a cut-in mode. Upon completion of the service, emergency, and/or penalty brake application in the rail vehicle consist, the respective brake pipe valve of each of the at least one powered rail vehicle is automatically operated back to the cut-out mode.
US08500210B2
In one aspect of the invention, a pick assembly comprises a pick shank press fitted within a bore of a pick holder. The pick comprises a pick head opposite the shank. The shank also comprises at least one longitudinal slot extending towards the pick head along the shank from a distal end of the shank. The slot allows the shank to resiliently collapse upon insertion into the bore while still allowing the shank to maintain a press fit while within the bore.
US08500207B2
A rock claw is provided for a demolition hammer. The rock claw may be a separate component attachable to the external surface of the hammer housing. The rock claw may include a first portion with a first distal end and a first proximal end and a second portion with a second distal end and a second proximal end. The first proximal end is joined to the second proximal end to form an elbow and the second distal end having a first leg spaced apart from a second leg.
US08500202B2
An item of furniture includes a frame mounting two adjustable sections which each includes a pivot shaft to cause pivoting of the respective section relative to the frame. Each pivot shaft mounts a claw-shaped arm having two legs. A dual linear actuator having openings at its opposite ends is suspended from the two claw-shaped arms and is operable to rotate the pivot shafts by engagement of sliding spindle nuts therein with the respective claw-shaped arms.
US08500199B2
Chair covers formed from disposable, polymeric non-woven fabric are disclosed. The covers are pre-formed in a variety of shapes to fit a variety of chair types. The covers are made from two pieces of non-woven material and pieced together by sewing, ultrasonic welding, heating or any other suitable fastening arrangement.
US08500197B2
A seat cover apparatus comprising: a nylon stretch portion; a terry cloth towel portion, where said terry cloth towel portion extends over the nylon stretch portion; and an attachment means, where said attachment means enables the attachment of the nylon stretch portion to a seat portion. In one particular embodiment, the attachment means includes at least four Velcro straps, wherein the Velcro straps are used to secure the seat cover over a boating seat. The nylon stretch portion covers the seat and the terry cloth towel portion extends downwardly beyond the seat. The terry cloth portion supplies a means to wipe one's hands while enjoying boating activities.
US08500195B2
An adjustable supporting bracket for a motorcycle backrest that may be disposed between a mounting bracket affixed to a motorcycle seat and a mounting bracket affixed to a backrest pad. The adjustable supporting bracket comprises an outer member and an inner member slidingly received within the outer member. The inner member has a hand retractable spring plunger whose tip is disposed to engage longitudinally arrayed recesses in the outer member in order to lockably fix the extension of the inner member. One of the outer member and the inner member is also provided with a tilt wheel disposed within a transverse slot in a lower portion of the member. The tilt wheel is threaded to receive a set screw that extends through the lower portion of the member to bear against the seat mounting bracket. The tilt wheel may be manually rotated to extend and retract the set screw, thereby allowing the user to determine the extent of backward travel of the backrest.
US08500193B2
A vehicle roof having at least one cover element, which selectively closes or at least partially exposes a roof opening and which, with respect to a vehicle longitudinal center plane, comprises a carrier element on either side, the carrier element comprising a guide web that interacts with an adjusting device that is guided in a guide rail and comprises a drive carriage, which interacts with the guide web at least to pivot the cover element and comprises a guide element on which the guide web rests. When moving the cover element in the vehicle longitudinal direction, each guide element of the drive carriages serves as a dog element, which engages in a corresponding dog recess configured at the respectively associated carrier element of the cover element.
US08500188B2
The present invention is directed to a zipper for use with a foldable, stowable roof for a vehicle, where the foldable roof includes one or more windows made of a foldable material. The zipper also changes from being in a two-dimensional plane to a three-dimensional plane around a curved portion of the window, reducing the stress placed on the portion of the zipper connected to the foldable roof, and the portion of the zipper connected to the window.
US08500186B2
A ballistic visor that may act as a sun visor or be installed on an existing sub visor and that provides protection against ballistic rounds is described. The ballistic visor includes a plurality of panels. Each panel is substantially the size of a vehicle windshield sun visor and includes an outer layer of ballistic fabric that permits ballistic rounds to penetrate the ballistic visor and prevents ballistic rounds or ballistic round fragments from exiting the ballistic visor and an inner core of semi-rigid or rigid material surrounded by the outer layer of ballistic fabric and capable of stopping ballistic rounds. The ballistic panel further includes a connection between two of the plurality of panels that enables the ballistic visor to be expanded so that one of the two connected panels hangs below the other of the two connected panels. The connected ends of the two connected panels overlap.
US08500183B2
A wall liner system for installation within the cargo space of a van or other utility vehicle is provided. The system includes an inner panel configured to conform to and contact an inner surface of the vehicle side wall, an outer panel covering the inner panel, at least one article holder on the outer panel for stowing articles, and at least one connector fastening together the holder, the outer panel and the inner panel. The outer panel can be configured to cover and conform to the configuration of wheel wells and other components of the vehicle which protrude into the cargo space. The inner panel can comprise a rigid plate and the outer panel can comprise a less rigid moulded plastic panel, with the connector being configured to transfer substantially all of the weight of the holder onto the more rigid inner panel.
US08500180B2
This invention provides hand operated portable devices for grasping and manipulation of objects as well as methods of their use.
US08500179B2
One aspect of the present invention includes a flexible gripping device. The flexible gripping device includes a plurality of pneumatic actuator rings and a grasper element disposed within the plurality of pneumatic actuator rings. The grasper element is adapted to move back and forth within the actuator rings.
US08500174B2
A coupling for joining pipe elements in end to end relationship is disclosed. The coupling includes a sealing member having an inner diameter and an outer surface. A plurality of segments are supported on the sealing member's outer surface. Each segment has a pair of arcuate surfaces positioned in space relation on either side of the sealing member. A compression band surrounds the outer perimeter of the segments, the segments being captured between the band and the sealing member. The pipe elements are inserted into the inner diameter between the segments. A tensioning member is mounted on the band. Tightening of the tensioning member causes the compression band to force the segments radially inwardly into engagement with outer surfaces of the pipe elements.
US08500161B2
A knee airbag module can include a knee airbag cushion and a deployment control mechanism, with the deployment control mechanism limiting displacement of the knee airbag cushion in at least a vertical direction relative to a vehicle. The deployment control mechanism can induce an airbag cushion to deploy in a direction rearward (relative to a front of a vehicle) and oblique along a vehicle dashboard quickly by controlling and limiting the downward deployment distance and making the rearward and oblique direction become a path of least resistance for deployment of the knee airbag cushion. In addition, the airbag module and the deployment control mechanism can permit a knee airbag cushion to provide enhanced coverage of an occupant's leg, such as above the knee of the occupant's leg, by controlling the deployment of the knee airbag cushion without the need to use an airbag cushion with a greater vertical height.
US08500158B2
The invention relates to a hinge arrangement for an airbag flap hinged to a dashboard. The motor vehicle dashboard body (1) is provided with an opening closed by a flap (4), both the opening and the flap being defined by an outline (3) that is generally rectangular, the flap being suitable for opening so as to allow an airbag to be deployed. It is further provided with one or more linear ties (11-14) fastened to one face of the dashboard body and to one face of the flap, in such manner that segments (43, 44) of linear ties straddle a portion (6) of the outline that extends transversely relative to the vehicle on which the dashboard is to be mounted, in order to constitute or reinforce a hinge (AX) via which the flap is hinged to the dashboard body. The invention relates to motor vehicle safety.
US08500151B2
A foot support device configured for use on a snowboard includes a base having a bottom surface and an upper surface, with the bottom surface being configured to attach to a top of a snowboard. The device further includes a strap adapted for removable attachment to the upper surface of said base. In certain arrangements, the base comprises at least two loops, so that the strap is configured to be selectively routed through at least one of the loops. In one embodiment, the strap generally defines a longitudinal axis that passes through the at least two loops when said strap is secured to the base. The base and the strap can define an opening for at least partially receiving a boot therein. In other arrangements, the base comprises a plurality of upwardly extending protruding members configured to provide traction to a boot positioned thereagainst. In some embodiments, the base is generally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis, thereby permitting the foot support device to be properly functional in either a regular or a goofy orientation.
US08500149B1
A control arm assembly includes a control arm including a knuckle support member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The upper surface includes a recessed portion extending from the distal end portion toward the proximal end portion. The distal end portion includes a collar defining an aperture for receiving a housing of a ball joint. The control arm assembly also includes a protective cap attached to the knuckle support member. The protective cap overlies the recessed portion of the upper surface of the knuckle support member.
US08500141B2
A portable shooting rail for use with a tree stand includes a rear frame assembly for engaging a tree. The rear frame assembly has a pair of spaced rear arms for engaging a tree and a pair of spaced forward arms and a vertical support portion that extends upwardly from the arms for placement against the tree. The vertical support member has a bottom cross bar and a top cross bar. The forward arms extend outwardly from the vertical support portion such that an obtuse angle is formed between the forward arms. A pair of struts connects the top cross bar to the forward arms. The shooting rail also includes a rail structure that is detachably coupled to the rear frame, with the rail structure being formed of separate rail sections that attach to one another and to the rear frame assembly to define a completed loop.
US08500137B2
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first coupler device configured to couple to the frame of an in-line skate. The first coupler device includes a linear portion and an angled portion where the linear portion and the angled portion have different lengths. The linear portion includes a first hole configured to couple to the frame of the in-line skate and the first hole is located near the end of the linear portion that is opposite the angled portion. The linear portion includes a second hole located at an area where the linear portion meets the angled portion. The angled portion has an angle greater than zero and includes a third hole near the end of the angled portion that is opposite the linear portion.
US08500136B2
Skateboard speed control is achieved by improved application of a mechanism to provide even force to the wheels by a simplified speed control system. The speed control system is durable, compact, simple, uses minimal components, is ergonomic, and has speed control pads that move in sync while simultaneously tolerating variations in wheel orientation and position while a rider is maneuvering the skateboard.
US08500133B2
The invention relates to a wheel suspension for a motor vehicle, comprising a wheel-side carrier part (12) holding a vehicle wheel (1) in a rotatable manner, and an axle-side guiding part (14) between which mutually rotating rotary parts (16, 18) are arranged. The guiding part (14), the rotary parts (16, 18) and/or the carrier part (12) interact with first and second effective areas (18a, 36a; 18b, 16b; 16a, 54a) facing each other. According to the invention, the first effective area radially defines a conical or spherical hollow profile into which the corresponding second effective area protrudes in an essentially form-fitting manner.
US08500128B2
A sealing device for a coolant supply on a rotating spindle includes a first brush seal and a second brush seal arranged one after another in series on the spindle. An annular leakage chamber is formed axially between the first and second brush seals, and radially between the spindle and a spindle housing.
US08500125B2
A medal game apparatus with which a player can sequentially insert a plurality of medals easily and quickly is provided.A medal apparatus 100 according to this invention includes a station 1 having a medal insertion portion 12, a medal feeding mechanism 14, a medal base 31, a base board 35, a medal receiving unit 4, and a medal payout unit 11. The medal insertion portion 12 is provided so that it can be moved. The medal feeding mechanism 14 is connected to the medal insertion portion 12 and extends in a specified direction. The medal insertion portion 12 is provided next to the medal payout unit 11 and includes a medal placement area 19 on which a plurality of medals M can be laid out flat; a medal alignment groove 16 that is connected to the medal placement area 19 and in which the medals M can be aligned in an upright state; and a medal insertion opening 17 provided at the end of the medal alignment groove 16. In this way, a player can insert medals sequentially.
US08500124B1
A media actuated, media diverter mounted on a guide member positioned between the output of a simplex path and the entrance of a duplex path in an imaging device. The media diverter comprises a first plate, a biasing member for biasing the first plate in a first position where the first plate extends into the duplex path, and a second plate having a media guiding surface and a center of gravity biasing the second plate in a first position where the media guiding surface extends into the simplex path. First plate and second plate are movable in a slot through the guide member. With the first plate in its first position, the second plate remains movable between from its first and second positions. A media sheet fed into the duplex path moves first plate to its second position blocking movement of the second plate from its first position.
US08500121B1
In a sheet downstacker of a corrugator dry end, sheets are delivered by a drive system driving both the bottom and top nip rolls with a single motor that also drives the last flat belt sheet conveyor to the nip.
US08500115B2
A feed assembly configured to feed a sheet, including: a feed roller configured to convey the sheet; a support element configured to rotatably and detachably support the feed roller; a base including a guide surface configured to guide the sheet; a frictional element configured to generate a frictional force on the sheet guided by the guide surface; and an elastic member provided between the frictional element and the base; wherein a recess is defined in the guide surface to accommodate the frictional element; and the elastic member causes the frictional element to project from the guide surface when the feed roller is detached from the support element.
US08500110B2
A panel mount for non penetrative fastening of a panel (such as a glass pane). The panel mount has clamp jaws defining an elongate slot in which an edge of a panel can be received. A foot is provided for mounting and fastening the clamp jaws to a structure. At least one of the clamp jaws carries at least one threaded fastener that can be actuated by a user, including when the foot is fastened to the structure. The threaded fastener(s) of the at least one clamp jaw, in cooperation with the other clamping jaw, is capable of operatively clamping the panel to hold it in the slot, irrespective of any non-parallel disposition of the plane of the panel to the elongate direction of the slot.
US08500103B2
A guardrail safety system includes a guardrail beam operable to contain and redirect an errant vehicle to prevent the vehicle from leaving a roadway. At least a portion of the guardrail beam includes a thrie beam. A support post is coupled to the guardrail beam and includes a lower portion, a mid portion, and an upper portion. The lower portion is installed below grade adjacent the roadway. The mid portion lies substantially adjacent the grade and is weakened about a first axis without being substantially weakened about a second axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis. An upper portion is releasably coupled to the guardrail beam such that the upper portion is uncoupled from the guardrail beam when the mid portion yields about the first axis.
US08500090B2
A ball valve sealing ring is provided for sealing between a ball valve member a valve body. The sealing ring may comprise a ring body having a ball valve member-contacting surface and one or more valve body-contacting shoulders for contacting the valve seat. The sealing ring may comprise a resilient ring core for providing bending resistance. The resilient ring core may be at least partially conical and may have a curved cross-section with a convex side oriented towards the member-contacting surface. The cross section may be of a geometry corresponding to the outer contour of the ring body or shoulders and may have ends bent towards the member-contacting surface. The ring core may also have a plurality of apertures spaced about its circumference. The sealing ring may be elastically deflected upon contact with the valve member. Also provided is a ball valve seating arrangement comprising the aforementioned sealing ring.
US08500087B2
A magnetic control valve is to block an outlet end of a water inflow passage and an inlet end of a water outflow passage of a connection pipe by using a rubber ring. A valve of the rubber ring is opened or closed by a magnetic control switch. The magnetic control switch mainly takes a valve rod carrying permanent magnetic force that completely controls direction of electromagnetic pole as a power source for moving. When a valve plug at an end of the valve rod seals the valve, a metal plate capable of being sucked by magnetic force is combined with the rubber ring to allow both to generate magnetic sucking effect, thereby firmly closing.
US08500086B2
A solenoid valve having a magnet assembly and a valve cartridge includes a capsule and a valve insert connected to the capsule. An armature, that is movably disposed within the capsule, includes a tappet having a locking element and a main sealing element. A valve body having a main valve seat is pressed into the valve insert, wherein a magnetic force generated by the magnet assembly axially moves the armature against the force of a return spring and plunges the main sealing element into the main valve seat in a sealing manner. The valve body includes an open end which acts as a spring support for the return spring, wherein the return spring is disposed outside of a fluid flow path present between the opened main valve seat and at least one radial downstream opening in the valve body.
US08500085B2
Method for manufacturing a composite fiber component (1) the method comprising the following method steps: forming a moulding core (4) comprising a hollow profile (15) made of segments (16a . . . d) in order to establish an external geometry of the moulding core (4), wherein the segments (16a . . . d) of the moulding core (4) each extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the moulding core (4) and are each constructed so as to be pivotable about an axis running in the longitudinal direction of the moulding core (4), between a folded position (A), and an unfolded position (B) of the hollow profile (15) of the moulding core (4), wherein the segments (16a . . . d) are constructed so as to be coupled to one another via connections (18a . . . d, 19a . . . c) in one piece in order to form the hollow profile (15); at least one fiber semifinished product (3) is positioned at least in certain sections on the constructed moulding core (4) in order to shape at least one moulded section (14) of the composite fiber component (1) to be manufactured; and heat and/or pressure is applied to the at least one moulded section (14) in order to manufacture the composite fiber component (1).
US08500079B2
Disclosed therein is a sprinkler mounting device having a mounting bracket that includes a tightening member mounted on the front of a bracket body for opening and closing an open portion by a lever, so that the tightening member can firmly hold a reducer, to which a head is joined, once a worker bends the lever back after inserting the reducer into the bracket body.
US08500072B2
A support device for supporting at least one electric harness where it passes through a through hole in a composite material structure, the structure presenting two faces into which the hole opens out, the device including a first element made of dielectric material presenting a first bearing surface designed to be applied against one of the faces of the structure and a sleeve having a first end secured to the first bearing surface and having outside dimensions that are smaller than those of the hole so as to be capable of being inserted therein, and a second element made of dielectric material presenting at least one second bearing surface suitable for being applied against the other face of the structure.
US08500069B2
The invention relates to a device for moving objects, particularly luggage, in an aircraft hold, said device including a moving wall (10) and at least one belt. One end of the belt (20) is connected to a roller (24) around which the belt (20) is wound. The other end of the belt (20) is attached to the moving wall (10). A lower section of the belt (20) extends from the moving wall (10) to a threshold element (22) and an upper section of the belt (20) extends from the threshold element (22) to the moving wall (10).
US08500044B2
A multiple nozzle differential fluid delivery head is disclosed. The fluid delivery head includes a body that defines a fluid chamber having a longitudinal axis. The body includes an inlet for connection to a fluid source, and the inlet is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. The fluid delivery head includes a plurality of outlet ports connected to and extending away from the body. Each outlet port has an interior space in fluid communication with the fluid chamber. The fluid delivery head includes a nozzle insert removably secured in an outer end of each outlet port. At least one nozzle insert has a fluid delivery aperture in fluid communication with the interior space of its associated outlet port for delivering fluid out of the interior space of its associated outlet port. One or more of the outlet ports is angled away from a plane normal to the axis of the fluid delivery head.
US08500032B2
An apparatus and method for protecting merchandise items is presented. In the preferred embodiment, a merchandise protection device includes first and second portions. An EAS tag is contained in the first or second portion. The first and second portions are connected together to form a head at a first end of the merchandise protection device and a base at the other end of the merchandise protection device. An opening is formed between the head and the base. The head is placed in a first recess of a merchandise item to be protected and the base is placed in a second recess of the merchandise item to be protected. The opening is configured to receive a portion of the merchandise item between the first recess and second recess.
US08500029B2
They object of the present invention is an TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM that integrates a static barcode together with a TIME VARIABLE label referred as TIME VALUE BAR or TVB. The TVB is then linked via a database to product information that vary with time such as useful shelf life, remaining shelf life, price, identity, and expiration of the article. The information is input, stored, linked, output, and managed by a Central Processing Unit (CPU), but it is also partially available to the public via the TVB. In one of the preferred embodiments of the invention the variable bar code system is compatible with the Universal Product Code (UPC) currently in use in most retail shops. In another embodiment the TIME VALUE BAR of the present invention relates a 3D barcode with a VARIABLE TIME label effectively adding a fourth dimension to the barcode thus becoming a 4D barcode system.
US08500026B2
A grayscale two-dimensional barcode may be converted to a two-dimensional color barcode. The color barcode includes a set of sub-regions, and the cells in each sub-region exhibits a color pattern that corresponds to pattern of binary, grayscale cells. The two-dimensional color barcode may be decoded by comparing the pattern for each sub-region to a known grayscale pattern. The two-dimensional color barcode may be used for error correction by first decoding the barcode in grayscale form based on the luminance without reference to color, then decoding the barcode based on its color and comparing the results.
US08500013B2
Embodiments of the invention can provide systems and methods for accessing charging capabilities of electric vehicle charging stations. According to one embodiment of the invention, a system can be provided. The system can include a computer processor. The system can also include a memory operable to store computer-executable instructions operable to receive a readable code associated with an electric vehicle charging station, and further receive a unique identifier associated with a mobile device; and based at least in part on the readable code and unique identifier, authorize a consumer associated with the mobile device to access charging capabilities associated with the electric vehicle charging station.
US08499995B2
A metal joining system having a first burner assembly configured to selectively heat a first zone and an assembly support at least partially vertically lower than at least a portion of the first heat zone and a first hood vertically above at least a portion of the assembly support.
US08499978B2
A device receives water from a source (S), to be dispensed, by a single nozzle (18), in a container (R) at a final value of a plurality of temperature values. A first feed conduit (25a) is arranged between source (S) and includes a first heat exchanger (26) to cold water, yet been provided a second feed conduit (25b) and a third feed conduit (25c), this latter including a heat exchanger (46) which heats water. A control valve (24, 34, 44) is provided in each feed conduit (25a, 25b, 25c) and operated to supply water to the nozzle (18), at either conditions of cold water, normal water and hot water. Control valves (24, 34, 44) can be operated automatically, to dispense water at a predetermined temperature in a range defined from cold water to hot water.
US08499971B2
A dispenser for a bottle that is adapted to contain a consumable beverage. The dispenser may be reusable to facilitate easy use and last minute selection of flavoring component for a consumable beverage.
US08499970B2
The invention relates to a cosmetic container with an airless discharge pump, and, more specifically, relates to a cosmetic container with an airless discharge pump in which content amount remaining in the container or content exhaustion level can be confirmed without a separate operation before the content in the container has been completely exhausted and further the state when the content in the container has been completely exhausted can be clearly indicated. To this end, with this cosmetic container, the content exhaustion level is indicated based on changes in projection definition with which the indicator is projected to the transparent window when the transparent compression disk approaches the indicator.
US08499964B1
A snow collector device for the collection and disposal of snow before the snow collects on a driveway, sidewalk, or parking lot, including a storage container having concave first and second walls to prevent the snow compaction against the storage container and having an internal cavity accessed through an open top end for receiving snow therein; an access door disposed on a front wall, an a strap pivotally attached to the front and rear walls; and magnets on the rear wall to secure the storage container to a vehicle exterior. A flag having an elongated post is vertically disposed on the top end perimeter at each corner thereof for high visibility. A large version is mounted to a pallet configured for lifting by a forklift to dispose of snow collected in the storage container.
US08499957B2
A rubber plug for a vial container containing medicinal chemicals according to the present invention can be smoothly conveyed by a part feeder while preventing each other's adhesion.The top surface of a discoid cap portion 1A has a Shore A hardness of 25-55 and a surface roughness Ra of 2.5-10.5 μm. Adherence of the top surface of the discoid cap portion 1A is reduced by synergy effect. The rubber plug 1 can be smoothly conveyed by a part feeder in an inverted position which turns the top surface of the discoid cap portion to the conveying surface.
US08499956B2
A collapsible container assembly comprising a folding container having at least four walls, with the at least four walls being pivotable relative to each other to allow the folding container to collapse in a parallelogram motion, and an inside cellular structure connected to the at least four walls. The cellular structure comprises a plurality of interconnected panels forming a plurality of cells, with the panels being formed of soft, deformable material. The folding container can be folded with the inside cellular structure therein such that the collapsible container assembly will be substantially flat when the folding container is moved to a collapsed position.
US08499955B2
An apparatus for at least one of the transport, storage, and display of one or more items of at least one of apparel and accessories is provided. The apparatus includes at least one crib defined by a bottom plate, a back plate, and first and second side plates, each of the at least one crib for having disposed therein one or more items of at least one of apparel and accessories. The at least one crib includes the bottom plate that is one of square and rectangular in shape, the back plate that is one of square and rectangular in shape, and the first and second side plates that have the same shape and that are facing each other. Each of the back plate and first and second side plates are perpendicular to the bottom plate. One edge of each of the back plate and first and second side plates is coupled to a respective one edge of the bottom plate. One edge of each of first and second side plates is coupled to a respective one edge of the back plat. An opening of the crib is defined by one edge of each of the bottom plate, the back plate, and the first and second side plates.
US08499954B2
A packing mechanism includes a plurality of first connecting members connecting end to end to form a polygon; and a plurality of sidewalls mounted on the first connecting members. Each first connecting member includes a main body, and a fixing portion mounted on an end of the main body. The main body defines at least two latching portions and at least one connecting portion. Each sidewall includes a base body and at least one positioning portion formed at an end of the base body, and the positioning portion latches with the connecting portion of the corresponding first connecting member. The fixing portion engages with one of the latching portions of an adjacent first connecting member; such that a volume of the packing mechanism is adjustable by engaging the fixing portion with another one of the latching portions of the adjacent first connecting members.
US08499947B2
The current invention relates to a thermal-insulating container (100) comprising a vessel (105) and a wrap (125) wherein the vessel comprises one or more protrusions (108) extending from a sidewall (115) wherein the wrap and the protrusions cooperate to form one or more void spaces (120) between the wrap and the sidewall.
US08499932B2
Software media packaging apparatus and associated method for manufacturing. The software media packaging apparatus may include first and second panels. The first and second panels may be connected to each other on three edges to define an enclosure. A media storage flap may be attached to the second panel and may be adapted to hold one or more software media. The media storage flap may be perforated with one or more perforations. Each perforation may be adapted to hold a software medium. The media storage flap may be foldable across the second panel. First and second sealer flaps may be connected to at least two edges of the first panel. The first and second sealer flaps may be adapted to fold over and attach to the enclosure and the media storage flap, thereby holding the media storage flap adjacent to and substantially coplanar with the second panel.
US08499916B2
A rotational coupling device is provided that minimizes flux leakage from a magnetic circuit that engages the device. The device includes a rotor and an armature defining opposed engagement surfaces. The rotor, the armature and a field shell disposed on one side of the rotor and housing an electrical conductor comprise members of a magnetic circuit that, upon energization of the conductor, draws the armature into engagement with the rotor. A torque transmission member is coupled to the armature and supported by a bearing. In one embodiment a sleeve is disposed radially inwardly of the bearing. To prevent flux leakage through the torque transmission member, the sleeve has a magnetic permeability that is lower than a magnetic permeability of the members of the magnetic circuit. In another embodiment, a support cup of the torque transmission member has a radially outwardly turned flange to distance the cup from the rotor.
US08499910B2
The invention relates to a device for inductively transmitting electrical energy to or from a mobile object (3) that is located on a roadway or rail, is at a standstill or in motion, and comprises a load and/or an energy store, comprising a floor inductor (5) that is associated with the roadway (1) and comprises a plurality of first induction coils (4) that are arranged along the roadway (1) or rail, are connected to a current source, and have a magnetically conductive iron core (6) for generating a magnetic field directed toward the moving object (3). An inductive wheel (8) attached to the moving object (3) comprises a stationary second induction coil (9) having a magnetically conductive iron core (10) and magnetically conductive wheel disks (11, 12) that are directed toward the roadway (1) or rail and connected to said magnetically conductive iron core on both sides. Elastic, magnetically conductive tires (13) rotating with the motion of the object (3) are associated with the wheel disks for contacting the roadway (1) and for ensuring a low-loss magnetic flux between the induction coils (4, 9), wherein in the flattened state, said tires securely bridge an air gap between the roadway and wheel disks. The device can be used advantageously in connection with electric vehicles for comfortably and quickly recharging the batteries during driving or parking.
US08499909B2
A mining haul truck driven by electrical wheel motors is powered by a trolley power system during an uphill climb. Retard energy captured during braking action on either the uphill climb or downhill descent is stored by an on-board electrical energy storage system. Electrical power is supplied from the on-board electrical energy storage system to reduce the peak power demand on the trolley power system during the uphill climb. One implementation of the on-board electrical energy storage system uses an ultracapacitor system.
US08499908B2
A composite cable and method provides for control of the cable, and particularly its vibration modes, in response to a wide range of resonant and non-resonant energy input. The cable comprises a non-Newtonian fluid (NNF) in a cavity of a flexible tube. The NNF is characterized by viscosity that varies with shear stress. A load applies shear stress to the NNF changing its viscosity to dampen motion of the cable. The cable may comprise inner and outer tubes that are separated by a NNF. The inner tube may be filled with the same or different NNF, a Newtonian fluid or void. A magnetic field magnetic field may be applied to further control the viscosity of the NNF. The magnetic field may be controlled in response to a sensed condition of the cable indicative of shear stress in the NNF to provide either positive or negative feedback.
US08499906B2
A bicycle suspension includes a stroke adjustment unit, a suspension damper, a damper adjustment unit, and a control mechanism. The stroke adjustment unit is configured to adjust a stroke of the bicycle suspension, which is configured to expand and contract within the stroke. The suspension damper is configured to apply damping force to the bicycle suspension. The damper adjustment unit is configured to adjust the damping force applied by the suspension damper. The control mechanism operatively couples the stroke adjustment unit to the damper adjustment unit and is configured to sequentially adjust the stroke and the damping force.
US08499902B2
The invention relates to a braking apparatus, in particular for implements of motor-driven tool units comprising an arm having at least one bearing disposed therein for rotatable mounting of an axle and comprising a flange fastened on the rotatably mounted axle, wherein the axle and/or the flange are drivable by means of a drive motor, wherein a first friction element is firmly connected on the arm and a second friction element is connected to the axle and/or to the flange, wherein the first and the second friction element come into frictional contact with one another or not depending on the action of centrifugal force on at least one flyweight.
US08499896B2
The invention relates to a system for limiting horizontal movements in a lift for humans or equipment in eg. a wind turbine tower or the like. The lift is to be provided with one or more sliding devices which, during the movement of the lift, guide(s) the lift by cooperating with a cable or the like. The system further includes a securing device for direct or indirect anchoring of the cable to the wind turbine tower. The sliding device and the securing device include tubular units that are adapted to each other to the effect that the tubular unit of the securing device is able to slide within the tubular unit of the sliding device.
US08499895B2
A system and method for pre-programming operation of an elevator to automatically service particular floors of a building at a designated future interval. A remote user may input instructions over a network to be relayed to an elevator controller including a future interval during which an elevator is to automatically make continuous or periodic trips to and from a particular floor or floors of a building, such that during the designated future interval the elevator automatically and without a user's instructions, reaches the designated floor, opens the door, waits a pre-set time period, closes the door and travels to another floor or floors.
US08499891B2
A component assembly comprising a sheet metal part and a nut element attached thereto, the nut element being arranged in an opening of the sheet metal part and being adapted to receive a bolt element having a shaft part with a thread and a head part of larger radial dimensions is wherein the sheet metal part has at least one hole adjacent to the nut element which is not covered over by the nut element but can be covered over by the head part of the screwed-in bolt element. A component assembly of this kind is in particular suitable for an oil pan since the oil can flow through the holes. A method is also claimed.
US08499888B2
One or more rack modules may be semi-permanently attached to a deck to provide storage for material. Each rack module comprises a top horizontal member which may be adjusted in length to accommodate decks with different widths. A vertical member is attached to the top horizontal member; one or more horizontal arms extend out from the vertical member. One or more of the horizontal arms may be adjustable in length. Material may be stored on an arm or arms of a single rack module or may be disposed across multiple such arms, including across multiple such arms of multiple rack modules.
US08499887B2
A wall element for the sound-insulating interior lining of a transport device, comprising at least one sandwich element, at least one insulation package and at least one absorber plane element. The sandwich element comprises at least one core layer, a first cover layer and a second cover layer, wherein the first cover layer and the second cover layer are each arranged on one side of the core layer. At least the first or the second cover layer is a microperforated layer; the sandwich element possesses a shear rigidity that is adjusted in such a way that the sandwich element comprises one or several coincidence boundary frequencies that are determined by the shear rigidity, which coincidence boundary frequencies are outside the frequency range that dominates the noise in the interior of the cabin; and the shear rigidity of the sandwich element at the same time is sufficient for said sandwich element to be used as an interior lining. Sound-insulating interior lining according to the aspects according to the invention provides adequate sound insulation also in the lower frequency range of below 500 Hz, without increasing the weight of the interior lining when compared to the weight of conventional interior linings.
US08499883B2
A first fastening portion (100) for fastening a cylinder block (20) and a bracket (50) to each other and a second fastening portion (200) for fastening a crank case (30) and the bracket (50) to each other are so provided as to have interposed therebetween a fastening bolt (40) for fastening the cylinder block (20) and the crank case (30) to each other.
US08499881B2
An upper pipe 55 includes a single front pipe portion 68, a branch portion 69 bifurcated from the rear end of the front pipe portion 68, and two left and right rear pipe portions 71L, 71R extending vehicle-rearward from the branch portion 69. A cylinder head cover 58 is located between the two left and right rear pipe portions 71L, 71R as viewed from above. Therefore, the cylinder head cover 58 can be accessed from above and removed from a cylinder head, whereby a valve train chamber can be inspected and maintained.
US08499877B1
A rear suspension architecture is provided for coupled rear suspension systems.
US08499871B2
A position control system including an actuator having a first end, an axis and including a driving device for moving the first end of the actuator in opposed directions, the first end of the actuator configured to move a hood between an open position and a closed position. A surface is associated with the hood that is configured to interact with the first end of the actuator in response to the first end of the actuator contacting and moving the hood between the open position and the closed position. The first end of the actuator moves along the axis and remains substantially coincident with the first axis while the first end moves the hood between the open position and the closed position.
US08499869B2
A cooling system for a vehicle with hybrid propulsion, the cooling system including a hydraulic circuit, within which a refrigerant flows, with a main branch to cool of a thermal engine, and a secondary branch to cool electrical components and at least one common radiator, which comprises a first portion, that is normally used by the main branch of the hydraulic circuit and has at least two trays arranged at the ends, and a second portion that is normally used by the secondary branch of the hydraulic circuit and has at least two trays arranged at the ends.
US08499860B2
A cutting element is provided having a substrate and an ultra hard material cutting layer over the substrate. The cutting layer includes a surface portion for making contact with a material to be cut by the cutting element. The surface portion in cross-section has a curvature that has a varying radius of curvature. A bit incorporating such a cutting element is also provided.
US08499857B2
A drilling apparatus which includes a drill bit attachable to the drilling end of a drill string, the drill bit including a bit body being attached to a shank and having a working face with at least one cutting element. The drilling apparatus also includes a jack element positioned within a bore of the bit body having a working tip substantially protruding from the working face, and which jack element is also adapted to move with respect to the bit body. One or more position feedback sensors are positioned proximate the jack element and are adapted to detect the axial and/or angular position of the jack element with respect to the bit body.
US08499856B2
The present disclosure is related to an apparatus for taking a sample in a wellbore during drilling operations. The apparatus may include a drill bit configured to form a core and at least one retractable cutter internal to the drill bit for taking the sample from the core. The apparatus may also include equipment for analyzing the sample, extracting fluid from the sample, testing fluid from the sample, encapsulating the sample, and/or tagging the sample. The present disclosure is also related to a method for taking a core sample without interrupting drilling operations. The method includes taking a core sample using a drill bit configured to take a core sample using internal cutters. The method may also include analyzing the sample, extracting fluid from the sample, analyzing fluid from the sample, encapsulating the sample, and/or tagging the sample.
US08499855B2
Various embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for horizontal directional drilling with a tool library. Various methods include storing a plurality of operational tool profiles in memory, the operational tool profiles of the plurality respectively associated with a plurality of boring tools attachable to a drill string for HHD and each of the operational tool profiles of the plurality including operating parameters for the boring tool of the plurality with which the operational profile is associated, and selectively displaying the operational tool profiles on a display screen based on user input.
US08499852B2
Used in a pneumatic tool, a switch includes a valve seat set in an air intake passage and movable into contact with or away from a gas control member and defining an air hole, and a valve rod inserted through the air hole of the valve seat. When the positioning portion of the valve rod is stopped against the valve seat and the valve seat is stopped against the gas control member, the air intake passage is blocked. When the valve rod is biased relative to the valve seat, the positioning portion is moved away from the air hole of the valve seat for allowing a compressed gas to pass through the air hole, and when the valve rod is biased further to carry the valve seat away from the gas control member, the compressed gas is allowed to pass between the valve seat and the gas control member.
US08499841B2
The present application is to a method of sequentially drilling a number of frac sleeves in a down hole well. The design enables the removal of fracture sleeve pistons from between treatment zones without requiring drilling or milling of the sleeve while allowing for full flow of fluids after treatment. A number of plugs or pistons having sequentially smaller central bores allows for balls to sequentially be inserted through the tool to selectively close off the pistons to isolate one zone from another. A release tool may inserted into the tool to engage and unthread the plugs to open up the inner diameter of the tool to allow greater production flow through the tool. The plugs may have mating tabs and holes so that as each plug is unthreaded it falls to the next plug and engages so that each plug may sequentially be unthreaded from the sleeve.
US08499831B2
In a formation pressure tester tool, an elongated filter piston possibly having a tapered or sharp edge configured to penetrate mud cake while the probe is being set. At the end of the setting sequence, the filter piston is retracted, thus opening a flowpath from the formation, through the mudcake, to the probe.
US08499830B2
Methods are described using resistivity measurements obtained while drilling one or more offset wells using a drilling mud to guide drilling of one or more uncased intervals of a well to identify a casing point or points in the uncased intervals of the well. Resistivity data is gathered during drilling the offset well and prior to penetrating a region of interest of a known subterranean formation. The drill string in the uncased interval of the well progresses toward the region of interest, using resistivity data at similar depths to identify a casing point while the drill bit advances toward but does not penetrate the region. In certain embodiments resistivity may also be obtained in front of the drill bit in the uncased interval of the well and used in conjunction with the offset well resistivity data to identify casing points in the uncased intervals of the well.
US08499829B2
A method for performing an oilfield operation of an oilfield having a subterranean formation. The method includes collecting oilfield data and deploying a first plug-in including a first oilfield technology functionality into an oilfield hosting application. The method further includes performing an oilfield analysis on the collected oilfield data in the oilfield hosting application using the first oilfield technology functionality of the first plug-in to generate an oilfield output and adjusting an oilfield operation based on the oilfield output.
US08499817B2
A method for making a carbon nanotube metal composite includes the following steps. A number of carbon nanotubes is dispersed in a solvent to obtain a suspension. Metal powder is added into the suspension, and then the suspension agitated. The suspension containing the metal powder is allowed to stand for a while. The solvent is reduced to obtain a mixture of the number of carbon nanotubes and the metal powder.
US08499798B2
A device and method for rehabilitating pipe connections is disclosed that simplifies the reliable transportation and positioning of a pipe lining relative to a junction region of a building service line to be lined. The device and method provides for rehabilitating the junction of a building connection from a main pipeline into the building service line. With a positioning device, a curable pipe lining may be positioned at the junction of the building service line and the main line and, with a transport device, the positioning device and the pipe lining may be transported to the junction. A detecting device may detect an extended position of the positioning device. The detecting device may include a winding box with a switch that is actuated when a cord has been pulled out of the winding box and which triggers a signaling device.
US08499796B1
A pressure stabilizer for mediating changes in pressure within a pipeline is provided. The pressure stabilizer incorporates a plurality of perforations about a central pipeline and a circumferential enclosure about the perforations. This structure allows excess fluid to flow from the central pipeline into the space provided between the central pipeline and the circumferential enclosure. As the pressure increases within the overflow space, the medium applies a pressure to an elastomeric membrane, which in turn transfers the pressure to a plurality of dampening materials. The elastomeric membrane can be filled with a porous material providing a smoother transition within the pressure dampening process. The elastomeric membrane and respective dampening materials can be placed within the circumferential enclosure assembled about the central pipeline or utilized with a pressure-stabilizing chamber.
US08499793B2
Provided are a valve unit and a reaction apparatus having the valve unit. The valve unit includes a phase transition material, which melts and expands upon an application of the electromagnetic waves to the valve filler, and the valve filler is directed into the channel through the connection passage and closes the channel. The valve unit also includes heat generation particles, which are dispersed in the phase transition material and generate heat upon an application of electromagnetic wave energy.
US08499791B2
A quick coupler has a coolant supplier seat and a transmission seat that can be optionally connected or disconnected. When the coolant supplier seat is connected to the transmission seat, the coolant can flow automatically from the coolant supplier seat to the transmission seat, so as to cool down electronic components inside a rack. When the coolant supplier seat is disconnected from the transmission seat, the coolant instantly stops flowing into the transmission seat. Because of the quick coupler, the rack installed inside a narrow space is convenient to set up or disassemble.
US08499788B2
A dry air fuel vent breather to remove the moisture from air entering a fuel system is provided. When air flows in to the breather from the outside, it is forced through a desiccant cartridge. When air is exhausted from the system, it bypasses the desiccant cartridge.
US08499787B2
A pressure control valve has a non-uniformly tapered valve bore that has an increasing diameter as it extends downstream. An interface angle, defined in part between a valve ball and the valve bore in the area of the smallest gap between them, increases as the valve ball is increasingly displaced away from a valve seat of the valve bore.
US08499778B2
A tent is safely unfolded or folded when used and requires less time to unfold or fold and can be pitched automatically as well as manually to solve the problems of the prior art. In the tent, a worm gear and worm wheels are combined and tent connecting rods are attached to the worm wheels, respectively, so that when the worm wheels are moved, the tent connecting rods are moved to fold or unfold the tent. The worm wheel can be manually moved within the tent or the worm wheel can be automatically operated by providing a motor controlled through a remove controller so that the tent connecting rods can be unfolded or folded. In the tent, a central cavity part of a worm wheel body may be used as an air vent, and used as a passage for a smoke outlet from a heater in the winter.
US08499775B1
An umbrella includes an internal shaft fit into an interior chamber of a central post. A cap is fixed to a top end of the internal shaft. An intermediate collar is movably fit to the central post and a runner located below the collar is fixed to the central post. Each of ribs has an inner end connected to the cap. Each of stretchers has two ends connected to the intermediate collar and the respective rib. Each of the driving bars has ends connected to the runner and the respective rib at a location between the connection of the rib to the cap and the connection of the rib to the respective stretcher. A connector is movably fit over the central post below the runner and is connected by a pull bar to the intermediate collar. The connector includes a fixing member engageable and fixable to the central post.
US08499774B2
A wash pad that includes a wash floor for supporting a wash item and a catch trough disposed in fluid communication with a longitudinal central portion of the wash floor. The catch trough collects at least one of wash fluid and debris from the wash floor. The wash pad also includes an evacuator disposed in fluid communication with the catch trough and an elevator disposed in fluid communication with the evacuator. The evacuator substantially removes wash fluid received from the catch trough, and the elevator elevates debris from a collection height to a dump height for dumping.
US08499769B2
The present invention relates to an applicator (1) for applying a hair treatment composition. The applicator (1) comprises a plate (10) and a containment portion (20) movably joined by a connection (30) so that said applicator (1) may alternate between a closed state and an open state. A first fin (50), preferably a first (50) and a second (60) fin, projects from the substantially flat internal surface (101) of the plate (10) and bend the hair strand into the containment portion (20) while the applicator (1) is in use. The hair treatment applicator according to the invention allows for precise, non-messy and even application of a hair treatment composition to the hair, in particular to a hair strand and preferably to a bundle of hair strands.
US08499764B2
Apparatus and methods of their use are described herein. In an aspect, an apparatus includes: a structure defining an aperture at an engagement surface configured to reversibly seal to a surface on an individual body, and further defining an isolation field; at least one gas port; one or more gas inlets operably attached to the at least one gas port, the one or more gas inlets oriented to maintain a non-turbulent gas flow traversing at least a part of the surface on the individual body; one or more gas outlets distally positioned on the structure from the one or more gas inlets, the one or more outlets configured to release a gas from the isolation field while maintaining a positive pressure in the isolation field relative to the outside environment of the structure; and at least one sealable access site.
US08499762B2
An oxygen tubing holder may support oxygen tubing away from a person's ears by providing a clip that may attach to a hat, headband or the like. The oxygen tubing holder may be placed near the ears, thereby permitting standard oxygen tubing to be used with the oxygen tubing holder. The oxygen tubing holder may include a clip end for attaching onto, for example, a hat or headband, and a U-shaped tubing holding end.
US08499743B2
A variety of skip fire engine controllers and control techniques are described. In some preferred embodiments, a skip fire engine controller is provided that includes a firing fraction calculator, an engine settings controller, a firing fraction adjuster and a firing controller. The firing fraction calculator determines a reference firing fraction indicative of a firing fraction suitable for delivering a desired engine output at a reference working chamber firing output. The engine settings controller is arranged to set selected engine settings. The firing fraction adjuster determines an adjusted firing fraction that scales the reference firing fraction appropriately such that the engine will deliver the desired engine output at the current engine settings even when the actual working chamber firing outputs do not equal the reference working chamber firing output. The firing controller direct workings chamber firings in a skip fire manner that delivers the adjusted firing fraction.
US08499741B2
A throttle control device includes a throttle body having at least three air-intake passages aligned in line as being opened and closed respectively by a throttle valve, plural motors including a first motor which commonly operates the throttle valves placed at bilateral end sides among the throttle valves aligned in line and a second motor which operates a throttle valve placed at the inner side between the throttle valves at the bilateral end sides, and a transmitting portion which transmits operational force of the first motor to a first throttle shaft fixed to one throttle valve of the throttle valves at the bilateral end sides and to a second throttle shaft fixed to the other throttle valve thereof so as to rotate the first throttle shaft and the second throttle shaft in synchronization with each other.
US08499740B2
An engine braking system for vehicles may include a rocker shaft having a lubricating oil passage and a braking oil passage, a valve unit selectively supplying part of the oil supplied to the lubricating oil passage, into the braking oil passage, and at least one exhaust rocker arm, into which the rocker shaft is inserted and pivotal about the rocker shaft, wherein the at least one exhaust rocker arm has, therein, a first connection passage communicating with the braking oil passage and a first recess, a stopper fixed above the first recess, and an actuator housed in the first recess and including a pressing piston, wherein the pressing piston moves to contact the stopper by hydraulic pressure of the oil supplied from the braking oil passage into the first recess and thus presses the at least one exhaust rocker arm in a downward direction.
US08499714B2
A powder painting cabin (10) of the type which comprises: a mantle (11) closed above by a roof (12) and below by a base (13), in said mantle (11) there being a passage (14) through which the pieces to be painted (15) pass and passages (19) for retractable powder supplier elements (18), and an air suction duct (30) of the cabin (10). Inside said mantle (11) there is a movable septum (22) between a lowered position close to said base (13) and a raised position close to said roof (12), said two lowered and raised positions defining, with the mantle (11), roof (12) and bottom (13), peripheral passages (26) for the air sucked through the duct (30).
US08499711B2
A tow rope for a water ski which provides a manner to communicate a majority of the force from a tow rope engaged to a boat directly to the water ski during deep water starts by a skier. The force is transferred to a handle held by the skiers hands once the skier has reached a substantially standing position and is on top of the water. A quick release is provided which will disconnect the tow rope should the skier activate it or fall.
US08499704B2
A motor pulley for an overlock sewing machine is provided. The motor pulley includes a frame which forms a body of the pulley, and a plurality of ribs which are integrally formed with the frame. Each rib is oriented in a radial direction at a predetermined angle displaced from an axial center line of the pulley. The motor pulley further includes a ramp which is formed on one side surface of each of the ribs, and a slot which is formed in the pulley so that outside air can enter the motor pulley. The motor pulley of the present invention increases the flow rate of air that is blown from the pulley to a motor of the overlock sewing machine. Furthermore, the path of air flow of the motor pulley is improved, thus reducing a loss of air flow and increasing the flow rate of air.
US08499703B2
An opener assembly for an agricultural seeder has an opener disc attached to an opener subframe. The opener disc is angled to the direction of travel to create a furrow for depositing seeds. A boot is mounted to the opener subframe beside the opener disc for preventing loose soil from falling into the furrow ahead of seed deposited therein. A seed tube is mounted to the opener subframe by a two-part bracket. The bracket includes a first part attached to the opener subframe and a second part fixed to the seed tube. The first part has a channel structure for receiving and partially surrounding the seed tube, and a pair of slots formed in sidewalls of the channel structure. The second part has an L-shaped structure with a portion that mates with the pair of slots. A key ring mechanism is used to lock the first and second parts together.
US08499697B2
A system and method are provided for determining the position of a vehicle on a guideway. For operation, the vehicle includes a magnet system having a wavelength “λ”. Further, the guideway includes a propulsion winding for carrying a propulsion current. Structurally, the propulsion winding includes a series of sections, with each section having a wavelength “λ”. Further, the propulsion winding includes “N” coils linearly aligned along the guideway, with a phase difference of “λ/N” between adjacent coils. Importantly, a transmitter is located on the vehicle for emitting a position current that interacts with the propulsion winding to produce a signal in each coil. Also, the system includes a trap connected to each coil for receiving each respective signal, and a processor for resolving the respective signals to determine the position of the vehicle on the guideway.
US08499696B2
A method and system of devices facilitate the uninterrupted transport of a payload of persons (110) or cargo along a multi-segmented guide cable (180), or zip line, suspended from a series of support structures (120). Transfer mechanisms (800, 810) allow the cable to loop to a starting location or to transport between discrete endpoints. A trolley (200) carrying the payload may be powered by gravity alone, or a motorized assist may allow the cable course to be traversed without regard to relative elevations of cable supports. Safety mechanisms (300) prevent the trolley from leaving the cable (180) unintentionally. The system enables one or more riders (110) to travel along the guide cable (180) at velocities desired for recreational purposes while assuming many body positions, such as prone, sitting or standing, to provide the sensation of flying like a bird.
US08499691B2
A printing unit of compact construction includes an impression cylinder and a printing form cylinder to be pivoted around the impression cylinder about a pivot axis running parallel to an axis of rotation of the impression cylinder. A spacing between the axes of rotation of the printing form cylinder and of the impression cylinder can be varied and the printing form cylinder and the impression cylinder can be set against each other, to form a press nip in which a substrate can be printed. A first drive for producing a rotational movement of the printing form cylinder is connected to the printing form cylinder through a drive train. At least one component of the drive train has a torque axis running through the impression cylinder. A printing press having at least one printing unit and a process for producing labels or self-adhesive labels in a printing press, are also provided.
US08499689B2
Compositions, methods, apparatuses, kits, and combinations are described for permanently or temporarily re-designing, decorating, and/or re-coloring a surface. In one embodiment, a kit may include a stencil with a low-slip bottom layer and a colorant composition. Useful compositions include a décor product that is formulated to be applied and affixed to a surface. A décor product may be removed from the surface before being affixed thereto. Permanent or semi-permanent affixation of the décor product to the surface may be accomplished by applying heat, pressure, emitted waves, an emitted electrical field, a magnetic field, and/or a chemical.
US08499683B2
A hot and cold food holding appliance including (1) Positioning a heat transfer plate above the top of food holding pans forming the top surface of each food holding compartment. (2) Providing a heat transfer module to transfer energy to/from the food holding pans in each compartment. (3) Thermally isolating each heat transfer module from an adjacent heat transfer module. (4) Removable heat transfer partitions that can used to subdivide each food holding compartment into sections providing additional heat transfer capability along the sides of each food holding pan and blocking the flow of ambient air between the food holding pans. (5) A control system that regulates the temperature of each food holding compartment by sensing the temperature of each heat transfer module and adjusting the amount of heat energy to be transferred.
US08499674B2
An accessory tool is configured to be coupled to a power tool having a tool drive structure. The accessory tool includes a spring component and has a first arm and a second arm attached to the spring component. The first arm includes (i) a first proximal end portion defining a first accessory drive structure that is configured to mate with a first portion of the tool drive structure, and (ii) a first distal end portion having a first holding structure. The second arm is spaced apart from the first arm and includes (i) a second proximal end portion defining a second accessory drive structure that is configured to mate with a second portion of the tool drive structure, and (ii) a second distal end portion having a second holding structure.
US08499673B2
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for self-sharpening micro surgical blades, knives and assemblies including those having a cutting edge that is less than 500 angstroms thick where the cutting edge is an exposed section of a thin planar layer or region that is supported on one or both sides by a material having a higher wear rate.
US08499661B2
An operating device for shift-by-wire transmission comprises a selector lever which has a detent mechanism. The detent mechanism comprises bevel and notched contours that can be displaced for automatically returning the selector lever back to the first lock position or shift gate. The notched contour is spring-biased toward the selector lever detent element and overlaps the bevel contour in its first position, and an actuating block is provided for locking the notched contour in its first position near the detent element. The spring-loading of the notched contour is weaker than the spring-loading of the detent element, and the shape of the first detent position of the notched contour matches that of the first detent position of the bevel contour when the notched contour is located in the first position. The operating device enables actuator-controlled automatic return, and optional locking of the selector lever with little design effort, while simultaneously having low space requirements and minimal generation of any disturbing noise.
US08499659B2
A gearbox comprises a multi-function quill. The quill is provided for loading a bearing and limiting brake-releasing movement of a piston of a brake release.
US08499658B2
A transfer case for a vehicle. The transfer case may include a rotation direction portion and an output mode portion configured to be driven by the rotation direction portion. The rotation direction portion may provide torque in different directions to the output mode portion. The output mode portion may selectively provide output torque to one or more outputs.
US08499655B2
A multistage transmission includes a lost motion mechanism for regulating the operation for a downward shift in acceleration and for an upward shift in deceleration. Regulating rods are integrally moved with a control rod. A cutout into which a pin can be fitted together with a cam groove of the slidingly touched cam rod is formed corresponding to each cam groove in the regulating rods. The cutout of the regulating rods corresponding to the cam groove of the cam rod for normal rotation is formed longer than the corresponding cam groove on the reverse side to a moving direction of the control rod in an upward shift in a state in which shifted speed is established. The cutout of the regulating rods corresponding to the cam groove of the cam rod for reverse rotation is formed longer than the corresponding cam groove on the reverse side to a moving direction.
US08499652B1
A test ramp is disclosed comprising a plurality of planar surfaces, wherein each planar surface comprises at least one impediment. Each impediment is offset along a planar axis from the other impediments, and each impediment is operable to contact part of a respective actuator arm of a disk drive in order to excite a microactuator coupled to the actuator arm.
US08499651B2
A detecting device including a pressure sensor that is deformed by a load from an outside and causes stress dispersion includes a slip detecting unit that calculates a pressure center position using a pressure value detected by the pressure sensor, calculates a movement value of the calculated pressure center position using a temporal change of the pressure center position, and detects a slip on the basis of the calculated movement value of the pressure center position. The pressure sensor has a multilayer structure in which two detecting units that detect pressure are arranged to hold a viscoelastic body made of a viscoelastic material that is deformed by a load from the outside.
US08499650B2
A torque detection device for a power steering which is less liable to be influenced by external factors or by a bending force exerted on a shaft. In the torque detection device, a torque is generated between an input shaft, which is turned interlockedly with a steering handle for operating the traveling direction of a vehicle, and an output shaft turned interlockedly with the input shaft so as to steer the vehicle. An assisting force is exerted on the output shaft by an assisting unit that is determined based on the detection result. The torque detection device is provided between the input shaft and the output shaft and includes a cam mechanism by which a torque generated between the input shaft and the output shaft is converted into a thrust force, and a pressure sensor for detecting the thrust force into which the torque is converted by the cam mechanism.
US08499645B2
The invention provides a stress micro mechanical system for measuring stress and strain in micro- and nano-fibers tubes, and wires as well as for measuring the interface adhesion force and stress in nanofibers and nanotubes embedded in a polymer matrix. A preferred system of the invention has a substrate for supporting a MEMS fabrication. The MEMS fabrication includes freestanding sample attachment points that are movable in a translation direction relative to one another when the substrate is moved and a sample is attached between the sample attachment points. An optical microscope images surfaces of the MEMS fabrication. Software conducts digital image correlation on obtained images to determine the movement of the surfaces at a resolution much greater than the hardware resolution of the optical microscope. A preferred method for measuring stress and strain in micro- and nano-fibers, tubes, and wires, and/or measuring the force required to pull-out individual micro- and nano-fibers, tubes, and wires from a polymer matrix and to therefore measure interfacial adhesion is also provided. In the method a sample is attached between freestanding platforms in a MEMS device. Relative translational movement between the platforms is created and motion of the platforms is imaged with an optical microscope. Mechanical and adhesion properties of the sample are determined by applying a digital image correlation algorithm to the image data.
US08499643B2
Sensor assemblies, units and methods are provided to determine crack development of components of interest associated with a monitored structure. According to preferred embodiments, a sample sensor bolt is provided having a shank with a threaded end, the sensor bolt being formed of a material serving as a surrogate of the material forming a component of interest associated with the monitored structure. A frame surrounds the shank of the sensor bolt and has fluid ports therein to allow fluid to contact an exposed portion of the sensor bolt shank in registry therewith. A load cell is operatively connected to the sensor bolt. A preload nut is threaded onto the threaded end of the sensor bolt shank and contacts an end of the frame so as to place the sensor bolt under an initial tensile stress. Crack formation within the sensor bolt shank caused by fluid acting upon the exposed portion thereof responsively relieves the initial tensile stress of the sensor bolt which is thereby sensed by the load cell, whereby crack formation in the shank can be used to sense the propensity for crack development in the component of interest associated with the monitored structure.
US08499640B2
A measuring apparatus for outputting a measurement signal representing the difference between a first pressure and a second pressure. The apparatus includes a first pressure measuring transducer module for outputting a sequence of first signals representing the first pressure; a second pressure measuring transducer module for producing a sequence of second signals representing the second pressure; an evaluation module for ascertaining a sequence of difference values between the two pressure values and for outputting a sequence of fourth signals, which, in each case, represent the pressure difference; a first cable connection between the first and second pressure measuring transducer module; and a second cable connection between the second pressure measuring transducer module and the evaluation module. The modules are separated spatially from one another. The second pressure measuring transducer module has a mapping unit, which is provided for receiving the sequences of first and second signals, and for outputting to the evaluation module via the second cable connection a sequence of third signals, which, in each case, contain the pressure values.
US08499631B2
Nondestructive inspection of a plurality of aircraft hat stiffeners includes exciting cavities of the stiffeners with electromagnetic radiation, and analyzing electromagnetic field responses of the cavities to detect state changes of the stiffeners.
US08499629B2
A mounting system for a MEMS device includes a proof mass selectively coupled to a substrate using a centrally located, single anchor mount that minimizes sensitivity to strain variations experienced by the MEMS device. The mounting system may include isolation cuts arranged in the proof mass to advantageously achieve a desired amount of strain isolation and to produce hinges that extend in opposite directions from the anchor mount. The single anchor mount is arranged to reduce a separation distance from a mid-point or centroid of the anchor mount to its perimeter as compared to conventional mounting schemes that have multiple anchor mounts positioned distally from a common mid-point.
US08499626B2
A device for adjusting the pitch angle of propeller blades for a model engine including at least one rotor, the blades extending radially on the surface of the rotor to form a propeller. It includes a tool-holder including a base designed to be fixed to a part of the outside of the engine housing and an upper part, the aforementioned upper part being fitted with means of support movable horizontally along a longitudinal axis (XX′), the aforementioned axis being parallel to the main axis of the model engine, contactless means of optical measurement, the aforementioned means of measurement being mounted on the movable means of support by using means of travel in rotation around an axis of rotation, the aforementioned axis of rotation being the blade's axis of rotation.
US08499623B2
An abnormal combustion detection method for spark-ignition internal-combustion engines, from combustion indicator distribution modelling is disclosed. At least one combustion indicator such as CA10 is determined. The distribution of N values of this indicator, acquired over N cycles preceding the cycle in progress, is modelled by determining coefficients of a theoretical distribution law. Modelling is repeated by removing extreme values from among the N values or for various working points of the engine, to obtain an evolution of the coefficients. At least one parameter characterizing evolution of at least one of these coefficients is determined. The start of an abnormal combustion is detected by comparing the parameter with a predetermined threshold, and the course of the abnormal combustion detected in the combustion chamber is controlled.
US08499621B2
A scanning probe microscopy (SPM) inspection and/or modification system which uses SPM technology and techniques. The system includes various types of microstructured SPM probes for inspection and/or modification of the object. The components of the SPM system include microstructured calibration structures. A probe may be defective because of wear or because of fabrication errors. Various types of reference measurements of the calibration structure are made with the probe or vice versa to calibrate it. The components of the SPM system further include one or more tip machining structures. At these structures, material of the tips of the SPM probes may be machined by abrasively lapping and chemically lapping the material of the tip with the tip machining structures.
US08499620B2
A gum substance monitoring apparatus for inexpensively and easily estimating and detecting adhesion and deposition of a gum substance produced in a fuel gas onto a combustor and fuel gas supply piping extending to the combustor, includes: detection piping branched from the fuel gas supply piping configured to supply to the combustor with the fuel gas for allowing a part of the fuel gas as a sample gas to pass therethrough; and a gum substance detecting device provided on the detection piping and configured to detect an extent of adhesion of the gum substance produced in the fuel gas, the gum substance detecting device including a simulated passage member having a simulated passage for passage of the sample gas therethrough which is formed by simulating fuel gas piping of the fuel gas supply piping extending in a portion subject to gum substance monitoring which is located downstream of a branch point at which the detection piping is branched from the fuel gas supply piping, the gum substance detecting device being configured to be capable of detecting an extent of adhesion of the gum substance onto the simulated passage member.
US08499616B2
Fault detection and response systems and processes can be used for pumps, e.g., pump/motors used in hybrid vehicles. The fault detection systems determine when certain operating conditions, which may affect the proper operation of the system, occur. The response systems take appropriate action based on which fault conditions are triggered. Example fault detection systems and processes include detection systems for different types of leaks, sensor malfunctions, or operation errors.
US08499615B2
A gas chromatograph comprising two separating devices disposed one behind the other, and through which a material sample is conducted by a carrier gas. A pressure regulator regulates the pressure of the carrier gas introduced into the first separating device. A controllable switching device is arranged between the two separating devices. The switching device contains a main gas path lying between the two separating devices and two auxiliary gas paths, which are connected to the main gas path through connecting gas paths and are both fed with the carrier gas and contain flow resistors and a controllable valve for setting different pressure conditions. The auxiliary gas paths are supplied with the carrier gas through the same pressure regulator to reduce the design and adjustment effort in setting the pressure conditions, where fixed resistors are used for the flow resistors.
US08499607B2
A billet of an aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy is formed by a combination of forming operations into a desired article of complex, but open shape. In a first step a billet is heated and extruded to form an extruded workpiece profile having at least first and second sections of different thicknesses. The extruded workpiece may be shaped so that the respective sections are at an angle to each other. The extruded workpiece is then further formed against a forming surface so that the shape of least one of the sections is further formed toward the shape of the article. The methods are suitable for efficient manufacture of many like complex shapes such as brackets and reinforcement members, and even container pans for computers and other electronic devices.
US08499606B2
In accordance with various embodiments, plates are formed via a plurality of upset-forging and forging-back cycles followed by a plurality of rolling passes.
US08499602B2
Hollow decorative tubing fabricated from thin walled metallic stock material, the stock material preferably being stock tubing. Tubing is cold worked to impart any desired design such as simulated bamboo having realistic culm and node characteristics. The tubing is preferably formed into serial or repeating sections, each characterized by the desired design. For simulated bamboo, a realistic node is worked into the tubing between adjacent sections. The invention may be regarded as a method for manufacturing the resultant elongate hollow decorative tubing or, alternatively, an article of manufacture such as a chair incorporating the resultant elongate simulated bamboo article.
US08499591B2
A drum washing machine includes a tub installed in a housing to receive wash water therein, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, a rotor having a rotating shaft connected to the drum, a bearing housing having at least one bearing for supporting the rotating shaft of the rotor, the bearing housing being located at the tub, and a stator spaced apart from the rotor by a predetermined distance and directly connected to the tub.
US08499585B2
The present invention relates to a device for manufacturing an optical preform by means of an internal vapor deposition process, said device comprising an energy source and a substrate tube, which substrate tube comprises a supply side for supplying glass-forming precursors and a discharge side for discharging constituents that have not been deposited on the interior of the substrate tube, said energy source being movable along the length of the substrate tube between a point of reversal at the supply side and a point of reversal at the discharge side.
US08499579B2
A built-in refrigerator includes a water and drinks dispenser, or an ice maker, placed on the outside of the refrigerator door. The refrigerator is installed in a modular kitchen furniture unit provided with a door panel. A sliding connection between the dispenser and the door panel of the furniture unit allows the simultaneous opening and closing of the door and the door panel and, when the door is in the closed position, prevents residual liquids or solids from falling into the air space existing between the door and the door panel.
US08499576B2
Airflow cooling device including a cooling channel, an evaporating channel separated from the cooling channel by a transfer wall, outflow from the cooling channel going to the evaporating channel, and a lower critical solution temperature polymer at least partially covering the cooling channel side of the transfer wall.
US08499575B2
The air conditioning device for electronic components features three channels (6, 7, 8) for two flowing fluids that are in heat exchange with one another. In the first operating mode these two fluids are guided by means of switchable flaps into two selected channels (7, 8) where they are in heat exchange with one another at a partition (12) that is equipped with heat exchange elements (12, 13). In a second operating mode the flaps are switched in such a manner that the two fluids are in heat exchange with one another at a Peltier element (9) that is equipped on both sides with heat exchange elements (9, 11). In a third operating mode the Peltier element is switched as a heating element. In the first operating mode on the other hand the Peltier element is deactivated and consumes no electric energy.
US08499573B2
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include first and second refrigerant paths that separately distribute refrigerant, a first cooling chamber connected with a first cold air duct, a second cooling chamber connected with a second cold air duct, and a third cooling chamber connected with a third cold air duct. Cold air generated by a first evaporator is provided to the first cold air duct to cool the first cooling chamber, cold air generated by a second evaporator, which receives refrigerant from the first evaporator, is provided to the second cold air duct to provide concentrated cooling to the second cooling chamber, and cold air generated by a third evaporator is provided to the third cold air duct to cool the third cooling chamber.
US08499572B2
A refrigerator and a control method thereof to control a rotational direction of an ice making motor to detect an ice full state of an ice storage without separating the ice from the ice maker. The refrigerator includes an ice making tray making ice therein, an ejector separating the ice, an ice storage storing the separated ice, an ice full state sensing lever detecting the ice full state of the ice storage, an ice making motor driving the ejector and the ice full state sensing lever, and a controller detecting the ice full state by driving the ice full state sensing lever by rotating the ice making motor in an ice moving direction, and detecting release of the ice full state by driving the ice full state sensing lever by rotating the ice making motor in the opposite direction after the ice full state is detected.
US08499570B2
A refrigerant additive supply device can include an outer rigid container, an inner flexible bag positioned in the outer rigid container and defining a space therebetween where the inner flexible bag contains an additive without a refrigerant, a valve in fluid communication with the inner flexible bag, an actuator operably coupled to the valve, and a propellant sealed within the space, where the inner flexible bag has a device pressure that allows flow of the additive into a refrigerant circuit when the actuator is depressed. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08499566B2
A combustor liner is disclosed. The combustor liner includes an upstream portion, a downstream end portion extending from the upstream portion along a generally longitudinal axis, and a cover layer associated with an inner surface of the downstream end portion. The downstream end portion includes the inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a plurality of microchannels. The downstream end portion further defines a plurality of passages extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. The plurality of microchannels are fluidly connected to the plurality of passages, and are configured to flow a cooling medium therethrough, cooling the combustor liner.
US08499562B2
A geared fluid drive arrangement in which a constant speed motor is used to start a “full-size” boiler feed pump, and is able to operate the pump at a limited speed and correspondingly limited power adequate to fill, pressurize and feed water to a boiler such as would be used for an electrical generating plant to start-up and to operate stably at part load, but not necessarily full load. After the boiler is operating stably, steam from the boiler or from an extraction point of the main turbine is admitted to a mechanical drive steam turbine in order to drive the same “full-size” pump to the normal operating range.
US08499557B2
A wastegate for a turbocharger wherein the valve is provided with a horn to provide a more progressive, optimally near linear, curve of turbocharger boost-to-valve opening than possible with the typical flat wastegate valve. The addition of a three-dimensional horn in the flow path is a far more cost-effective solution to acquire linear flow than an approach involving very finite, accurate control of the valve position.
US08499556B2
A diesel engine system and a method for operating said system are provided. The diesel engine system includes a diesel engine provided with an exhaust conduit including a controllable supercharger located upstream of a catalytic converter, a fuel injector located between the supercharger and the catalytic converter, a diesel particulate filter located downstream of the catalytic converter, and a control unit for controlling the engine system. The control unit is arranged to determine that a regeneration of the particulate filter is required, which regeneration is initiated when a predetermined condition is fulfilled. The fuel injector is arranged to inject a predetermined amount of fuel during a first stage of the regeneration, and the supercharger is arranged to vary the flow rate of exhaust during the injection of fuel. The catalytic converter is arranged to combust the injected fuel, and the combusted fuel is arranged to burn particulates trapped within the diesel particulate filter.
US08499552B2
Method and hydraulic control system for supplying pressure medium to at least one hydraulic consumer
The invention relates to a hydraulic control arrangement and to a method for controlling a hydraulic consumer that comprises a pressure chamber on the input side and on the return side, said pressure chamber being connected to an adjusting pump or a tank via a valve device. The valve device is controlled by means of a control unit via which it can be adjusted in a regeneration mode, in which both pressure chambers are connected to the adjusting pump. According to the invention, the adjusting pump is pressure controlled, whereby in the regeneration mode, it is automatically switched to the normal operation in which the supply side of the pressure chamber is connected to the adjusting pump and the return side of the pressure chamber is connected to the tank when the pumping rate falls below the demand for the pressure medium.
US08499550B2
According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus disclosed herein includes a regeneration event timing module, an engine speed module, an exhaust gas temperature module, and a thermal management module. The regeneration event timing module is configured to determine a regeneration event timing strategy for implementation during extended idling of the engine. The regeneration event timing strategy includes a first time period and a second time period following the first time period. The engine speed module is configured to determine a desired engine speed for the second time period and operate the engine at the desired engine speed during the second time period. The desired engine speed is greater than an idling engine speed associated with the first time period. The exhaust gas temperature module is configured to determine a desired particulate matter filter inlet exhaust gas temperature. The desired particulate matter filter inlet exhaust gas temperature corresponds to a particulate matter filter temperature for achieving a noxidation regeneration of particulate matter on the particulate matter filter. The thermal management module is configured to modulate at least one engine system component to achieve the desired particulate matter filter inlet exhaust gas temperature during the second time period.
US08499548B2
A flow device for an exhaust system includes a body that defines an interior cavity. An exhaust inlet passage is disposed in the interior cavity. An exhaust outlet passage is disposed in the interior cavity so that at least a portion of the exhaust inlet passage circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the exhaust outlet passage. A doser is adapted to inject reductants into the interior cavity of the body such that the reductants are injected in the same general direction as the direction of flow of the exhaust gases.
US08499547B2
Upon a system startup, a hybrid vehicle 20 determines whether a catalyst warm up operation of an engine 22 is to be executed or not based on a catalyst bed temperature Tcat of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst 141 and a state of charge SOC of a battery 50 (S110, S140) and determines whether a forced charging of the battery 50 with an idling of the engine 22 is to be executed or not based on the catalyst bed temperature Tcat, the state of charge SOC and an estimated intake air amount GAidl upon the idling of the engine 22 when the catalyst warm up operation is not to be executed, then controls the engine 22, motors MG1 and MG2 in accordance with determination results (S130, S210).
US08499538B2
The adjustable and foldable V-shaped hay rake which is the object of this invention is an agricultural tool used for raking hay on fields, in which, for each arm of the hay rake, all the mechanisms for moving the arm are centered on a single master support plate, that can simultaneously, both be very effectively used and easily adjusted, as well as providing the advantages of great simplicity of construction, great strength and a very economical cost of production.
US08499536B2
Packaging machines are disclosed including a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations. Packaging apparatuses are disclosed including a forming station and a closing station, each having movable die members that are counterbalanced. Methods of operating the packaging apparatus are disclosed.
US08499529B2
A modular unit for applying opening devices to packages of pourable food products includes a first conveyor for feeding the opening devices successively along a first path, a second conveyor for feeding the packages successively along a second path, a transfer mechanism for transferring the opening devices along a third path from a pickup station located along the first path, to an application station for applying the opening devices to respective packages and located along the second path, and a processing device for performing specific operations on the opening devices prior to application of the opening devices to the respective packages. The transfer mechanism defines a base module of the unit, and the processing device includes different types of processing devices forming part of different auxiliary modules selectively connectable to the base module to define different units for applying the opening devices to respective packages.
US08499527B2
The present invention provides a building construction method and a room module which can realize reduction in a construction period in addition to reduction in an on-site working amount by further enlarging a room modularization range. The present invention uses four column members which are vertically provided at inner corners of four room modules adjacent to one another as a frame column of the building when a plurality of room modules are installed in a grid pattern on a floor surface of the building. Specifically, the present invention uses the column member of an angular steel pipe, which the room module has, as the frame column of the building. Thereby, on a construction site, it is not necessary to construct the frame column in advance, and the frame column can be constructed by using the column members of the room module while the room module is installed on the site.
US08499520B2
Disclosed is a floor covering consisting of a plurality of panel elements (1) that can be laid in combination with each other. On the front sides (2, 3) and longitudinal sides (4, 5), the panel elements have locking strips (6, 7) that engage with each other in the assembled position in a covering in which panel elements (1) adjoin each other. The front sides (2, 3) of the panel elements (1) have grooves (19, 20). The grooves (19, 20) of two abutting front sides (2, 3) are aligned and form a locking channel (21) for accommodating a front spring (22) that is pre-assembled in one of the grooves (20). The front spring (22) projects from an end of the groove (20) that faces the longitudinal side (5) of the panel element (1) and can be moved in part from one groove (20) into the corresponding groove (19) of the adjoining panel element (1) by sliding the projecting end (24) of the front spring (22) into the groove (20). The groove (20) that accommodates the front spring (22) has at least one recess (45) within which the stop surface (25) is formed and into which a cam (43) of the front spring (22) engages. The front spring (22) has a wavy shape. The wavy sides of the front spring (22) face a decorative side and a bottom side of the panel elements (1). The front spring (22) should have at least one non-wavy zone (30) that is located between two wavy zones (28, 29), at a distance from the ends (24) of the front spring (22).
US08499512B2
The present application is directed toward slotted tracks, in particular slotted tracks for an exterior wall application. Embodiments can include tracks with elongate reinforcing ribs on the tracks' flanges and/or web, tabs and/or protruding ribs for supporting and positioning exterior sheathing elements, second slot patterns along the length of the web of the track to allow for attachment and drift movement of the track with another wall component, and guide marks to identify proper locations for attachment of fasteners.
US08499511B2
A precast composite flooring system utilizes girders and floor panels having steel lower structures placed in tension and concrete upper structures places in compression. Openings through a stem wall allow ducts, pipes, and conduits to be run therethrough. The system provides reduced weight over conventional precast or pour in place systems, allowing further reduction in the weight and size of other building components. The floor deck does not use tensioning strands, allowing openings to be formed at nearly any stage of construction and with reduced concern over cutting steel reinforcement. The floor panels and girders bolt together and bolt to a steel column frame, allowing for more efficient assembly.
US08499508B2
The panel element (1) comprises a frame made up of a number of frame members (2-5) as well as a panel unit (6) including at least one vacuum multi-layer pane and at least one single-layer sheet element. A spacing element is placed between the vacuum multi-layer pane and the single-layer sheet element. The spacing element is made integrally with the corresponding frame member or as a separate spacing profile.
US08499506B2
A modular element (10) for making fixed ladders, made of steel or other suitable material, having a surface (12) and two opposite shaped supports (14, 16), provided with at least one rib developed along the inner face and forming a shelf (36) for bearing a further surface (12).
US08499504B1
A prefabricated building and method for constructing a building are provided. The prefabricated building includes a base, a first module and a second module each configured to fit within a predetermined volume. Each module includes a plurality of beams and a plurality of studs. The method for constructing a building involves prefabricating a first module, prefabricating a second module, packaging the modules for transportation, transporting the modules, and constructing the building using the modules.
US08499493B2
A sprout cultivation device has a carrying body, a controlling device, at least one container, a tube and a sprinkling device. The carrying body controls the amount of water by a water controller and changes the pumping time by a timer. Moreover, an actuating switch is mounted to the carrying body to start a motor to pump the fluid to a cultivation space via the tube. Because seeds of sprouts are embedded in a tray of the container and the fluid is regularly injected into the container via the tube by the motor, the sprout cultivation device is operated automatically without manpower and accelerates the mature time of the sprouts to increase harvest. Moreover, the carrying body interiorly defines a reservoir space for accommodating the fluid to significantly diminish the carrying body's size.
US08499486B1
A propelling device for propelling bait and lures featuring a tube, a bracket is disposed on the tube, and a mounting plate disposed on the bracket. The mounting plate and tube sandwich a fishing rod. A wing extends upwardly from the mounting plate to engage the reel seat base of a reel. A spring is disposed in an inner cavity of the tube. The spring can move between a relaxed position and a compressed position. A plunger extends out of the first end of the tube and is attached to an outer end of the spring. When the plunger is pulled backwardly away from the tube the spring moves to the compressed position and when the plunger is released the spring moves back to the relaxed position such that an object in front of the outer end of the spring is propelled out of the second end of the tube.
US08499472B2
Household appliance for washing and/or drying clothes comprising an outer casing (2) provided with a worktop (3), and heating means (7) for drying garments laid upon the worktop (3), wherein the worktop (3) or the heating means (7) comprise sensor means (8) adapted to detect the moisture content of said garments, control means being provided for operating said heating means (7) in response to the moisture content being detected by said sensor means (8).
US08499470B1
The invention relates in part to templates used to aid in cutting, marking, or otherwise guiding a tool along two edges that intersect in an inside corner. The edges are extended past the point of intersection with channels so that the cutting, marking, or other operation may proceed fully up to the point of intersection or past the point of intersection if desired.
US08499468B2
A relationship between a rim shape and a position of a mounting hole is obtained based on a detection signal from the second position detector (40) by controlling a measuring element shifter (6) to move the leading end of a measuring element for a lens (36) to have contact with an refracting face of the lens (Lm) held in the lens holder.
US08499464B2
Method for detecting an angle of rotation of an angle sensor arrangement including at least one first element and one second element, which are designed and arranged such that they can be rotated relative to one another, and at least one capacitor element whose capacitance changes on the basis of the angle of rotation, the angle of rotation being detected or determined directly or indirectly on the basis of this capacitance of the capacitor element, the capacitor element having at least one first band, and the angle of rotation being detected or determined at least on the basis of the positioning of the first band.
US08499459B2
A shaving blade unit having a housing that includes a primary cap, a primary guard, an upper face, and a rear face. The shaving blade unit also includes a first primary blade located between the primary cap and the primary guard and extending at said the upper face, a first spacer stacked with the first primary blade, and a trimming blade extending at the rear face of the housing where the trimming blade is unreleasably fixed to the first spacer.
US08499458B2
A method for producing a rolling bearing component with a carbon gradient, at least in the region of its outer layer, wherein molten metal is sprayed onto a carrier in a spraying process, the carbon content of the metal to be sprayed on being varied during the spraying operation.
US08499453B2
There is provided a method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head having a substrate including energy generating elements, and a discharge port member, which is provided with discharge ports and is joined to the substrate, thereby forming liquid flow paths communicating with the discharge ports. The method includes, in the following order, preparing a conductive base on which a first insulating resist and a second insulating resist for forming the discharge ports are stacked in this order; performing plating using the first resist and the second resist as masks, and forming a first plated layer; removing the second resist; performing plating on the base using the first resist as a mask, thereby forming a second plated layer so as to cover the first plated layer; removing the base and the first resist, thereby forming the discharge port member; and joining together the substrate and the discharge port member.
US08499452B2
The invention relates to a method for connecting at least two heat exchanger plates so as to form a plate packet for a heat exchanger, said plate packet being provided with at least one passage defined by through holes in the heat exchanger plates. With the aid of this method, the heat exchanger plates are to be braced well to one another so that high-quality welding seams having a high strength can be produced. To this end, the invention suggests that two respective heat exchanger plates should be clamped together in the proximity of the edge of the future through hole, and that the respective heat exchanger plates should be welded to one another in pairs with at least one circumferentially extending welding seam marking the edge of the future through hole, the diameter of at least one circumferentially extending welding seam being at least as large as the diameter of the future through hole, and that the through hole should subsequently be cut out of the heat exchanger plates that have been welded together.
US08499450B2
A composite blade has a root and a tip in a spanwise direction and a leading edge and a trailing edge in a chordwise direction. The composite blade includes a three-dimensional woven preform having weft yarns and warp yarns. The weft yarns extend in the spanwise direction of the composite blade. The warp yarns interweave the weft yarns and extend in the chordwise direction of the blade.
US08499448B2
The invention relates to a method of producing a composite shaft comprising a shaft body (1), at least one first component (2, 9) connected to the shaft body (1) in a rotationally fixed manner, and at least one second component (3, 8) rotatable relative to the shaft body (1), in which method the at least one first component (2, 9) and the at least one second component (3, 8) are pushed onto the shaft body and assembled in the intended sequence. In order to be able to produce such shafts in a simpler and more cost-effective manner and in order to be able to finish-machine the components connected to the shaft body (1) in a rotationally fixed manner only after the complete assembly of the composite shaft, it is proposed according to the invention that at least the first component (2, 9) connected to the shaft body (1) in a rotationally fixed manner be subjected to a machining operation and that the at least one second component (3, 8) be screened from the at least one first component (2, 9) during this machining in such a way that chips produced during the machining of the first component (2, 9) do not penetrate into the space between the second component (3, 8) and the shaft body (1) or between the second component (3, 8) and a third component (21) connected to the shaft body (1) in a rotationally fixed manner.
US08499441B2
A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board includes stacking a solder resist layer on one side of a carrier; forming a first circuit pattern, which includes a first electrode pad, on the solder resist layer; forming a conductive post on the first electrode pad; stacking and pressing the carrier onto an insulation layer stacked in an inner substrate, such that the conductive post faces the insulation layer; and removing the carrier. As the conductive posts are pressed into the insulation layers to implement interlayer connections, certain drilling processes for forming via holes may be omitted, so that the degree of freedom can be increased in designing the circuits, and the circuits can be made to have greater densities. As the circuit patterns are buried in the insulation layers, the board can be made thinner, and the attachment areas can be increased, to allow greater adhesion.
US08499437B2
A device for aligning a LCD panel having circuit elements with driver circuit card assemblies, consisting of retractable pins located around a central platform. The retractable pins extend in order to receive the LCD panel and circuit element assembly and hold it in place as the circuit elements are aligned with driver circuit card assemblies. Once aligned, the drivers and LCD panel can be bonded together. Once bonded, the pins are retracted and the LCD panel and driver assembly is released. The present invention also relates to a method of aligning LCD panels and drivers using retractable pin tools.
US08499416B2
A door check link apparatus includes a check link formed by molding a synthetic resin on a surface of a core plate, and including a full open stopper including a projecting portion located at a tip end portion of the core plate, and having a width larger than a width of a detent surface, a bending piece formed at a first end portion of the projecting portion, and having a stopper surface confronting the stopper receiving surface, and a protruding portion formed on the projecting portion at a position farther apart from the stopper receiving surface relative to the stopper surface, and protruding in a direction substantially parallel to the stopper receiving surface, the full open stopper being formed by molding the synthetic resin on the tip end portion of the core plate including the projecting portion, the bending piece, and the protruding portion.
US08499410B2
A deposit removing device capable of efficiently removing deposit on a plate-like member such as a metal plate or resin plate by reducing a spacing distance between the plate-like member and an injection nozzle, and also capable of coping with the removal of deposit on the plate-like member rolled or conveyed at a high speed. This deposit removing device removes the deposit adhered to the plate-like member (T) by jetting compressed air from at least one jetting hole (101) of a nozzle body (100) in which the at least one jetting hole (101) is formed. This device is configured so that the nozzle body (100) is supported so as to be movable in a direction (W1) substantially perpendicular to the surfaces (T1 and T2) of the plate-like member (T).
US08499409B2
A cleaning device (1) for hose filters comprising a cleaning head (5) having at least one nozzle (11) rotating about a longitudinal axis (L), is characterized in that the cleaning head (5) comprises a fixed jacket (15) having a smooth outer surface which surrounds the at least one rotating nozzle (11) at a distance and in which a series of through holes (17) are formed, said holes being distributed over the circumference of the jacket (15) and being arranged with respect to each nozzle (11) such that a jet emerging from each nozzle (11) during operation can pass through a through hole (17) at least intermittently.
US08499399B1
A device for cleaning the interior of a pipeline includes an axial support, a first collar fixedly attached to a first location on the axial support, a second collar fixedly attached to a second location along the axial support, and a third collar slidingly engaged with the axial support. The second collar is located between the first collar and the third collar. A flexible support is fixedly attached to the third collar and the first collar and extends between the two. Brush members are disposed along an exterior surface of the flexible support. When the third collar is at a first position along the length of the axial support, the flexible support is distended. When the third collar is at a second position along the length of the axial support, where the second position is more distant from the first collar than the first position, the flexible support is flattened.
US08499395B2
A bridge assembly is made up of stackable components that are arranged together to span substantially any size and type of geological formation. The bridge assembly is made up of one or more support columns having respective saddle members at their upper ends. Each saddle member has a lower bearing surface that engages the support column and permits variations in their relative positioning. Each saddle member further has an upper bearing surface for receiving at least one cross beam having a lower bearing surface, which bearing surfaces permit movement between a given saddle member and the cross beams it supports. The bridge components can be pre-formed out of concrete, and are typically assembled by stacking the various components.
US08499394B1
A waterproof expansion joint comprises a ballast protection plate with one or more centering tabs. Waterproof receptacles, or T-cups, are used to provide a waterproof layer under the ballast protection plate and around the centering tabs. Sealing tape and a spray-based waterproof membrane are installed with the T-cups. Once the ballast protection plate is placed over the deck joint with centering tabs extending downward into the T-cups, a bond breaker is applied. Finally, a second layer of waterproof membrane is applied to the top of all elements of the waterproof expansion joint.
US08499392B2
An apparatus and techniques for detecting unbalanced load in a washing machine are provided. A clothes basket containing a load of clothing and rotatable about an axis is accelerated. As the clothes basket passes a first predetermined rotational speed, one of power and torque applied to the clothes basket is limited. It is determined whether the clothes basket accelerates from the first predetermined to a second predetermined rotational speed within a predetermined time. Failure to reach the second predetermined rotational speed within the predetermined time signifies an out-of-balance condition as to the load of clothing. No resonance of the machine lies between the first and second predetermined rotational speeds. In another aspect, a similar technique can be employed, with or without limiting power or torque, wherein a resonance does lie between the first and second predetermined rotational speeds.
US08499391B2
Disclosed is a laundry machine, which washes laundry using rotation of a drum, and a method of controlling an operation thereof. The laundry machine is operated in consideration of information about a floor, on which the laundry machine is installed, and thus the optimized operation of the laundry machine is performed according to a state of the floor, thereby minimizing noise and sagging of the floor due to vibration.
US08499389B2
In order to adjust the firmness of a shaped product in a targeted way, it is proposed to provide at least one section made of a thermoelastic and viscoelastic plastic, a temperature-regulating device placed in thermal contact with the at least one section made of thermoelastic and viscoelastic plastic, and a control device for the temperature-regulating device configured to adjust the firmness of the at least one section made of thermoelastic and viscoelastic plastic by changing the temperature. Such a shaped product can be used as a seat base or bed support.
US08499388B1
The folding chair pad includes a rectangular resilient foam cushion with an upper surface, a lower surface and four side surfaces. A fabric top panel covers cushion upper surface. A fabric bottom panel covers cushion bottom surface. A fabric band covers the side surfaces and is sewn to the top and bottom panels to encase the foam cushion. The cushion is compressed and tensions the fabric members when the pad is not in use. An envelope is formed on the bottom panel by a lower fabric panel and a partial fabric band. The envelope has a rearward facing opening that receives the front portion of a chair seat. A retainer flap is sewn to the rear end of the bottom panel and is attached to the rear of the chair seat.
US08499387B2
A treatment couch (1) having a first headrest (2) and a second headrest (3), wherein at least one first armrest (4) is assigned to the first headrest (2) and at least one second armrest (5) is assigned to the second headrest (3) and wherein the at least one first armrest (4) is adjustable independently of the first headrest (2) and the at least one second armrest (3) is adjustable independently of the second headrest (5). Such a treatment couch is capable of providing flexibility and saving space.
US08499385B2
A control unit controls a drive unit so that a back angle α, which is an elevation angle of a back bottom, and a knee angle β, which is an elevation angle of a knee bottom, change according to a pre-set pattern. The control unit comprises a memory unit for storing a plurality of patterns of linking a coordinate point (0,0) in a (α,β) coordinate, in which each of the bottoms is in a horizontal state, and a coordinate point (α0, β0), in which the back bottom is raised, with a plurality of points; a selection unit for selecting one pattern from the plurality of patterns stored in the memory unit; and a computation unit for controlling the drive unit so that the back angle α and the knee angle β change according to the pattern selected by the selection unit. Therefore, the patient can be prevented from being displaced on the bed and from being subjected to a sense of pressure on their stomach or chest.
US08499364B2
A ladies' visual privacy garment presents a smooth appearance over the vaginal area. The garment comprises a panty having a crotch portion provided with a layer of thin, flexible semi-rigid material that presents a smooth outer surface and overlies the vaginal area of the wearer, and a second layer of absorbent material.
US08505105B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a computer-implemented method, system, and computer-readable medium for managing a collaborative deal transaction process that provides for tracking and managing signature pages of a deal transaction using a taxonomy displayable by a computing device, including receiving a list of users that are authorized to access the deal transaction, the list including an identifier associated with each of the users, storing the list of authorized users, parsing the identifier associated with each user, grouping the users according to parties based on the identifier, creating a taxonomy including a listing of documents relevant to the deal and a listing of the parties of the deal, receiving at least one document, and storing relevant pages of the at least one document, wherein each page is associated with at least one relevant party in the taxonomy.
US08505099B2
A machine-implemented method for determining whether a to-be-analyzed software is a known malware or a variant of the known malware includes the steps of: (A) configuring a processor to execute the to-be-analyzed software, and obtain a to-be-analyzed system call sequence that corresponds to the to-be-analyzed software with reference to a plurality of system calls made in sequence as a result of executing the to-be-analyzed software; (B) configuring the processor to determine a degree of similarity between the to-be-analyzed system call sequence and a reference system call sequence that corresponds to the known malware; and (C) configuring the processor to determine that the to-be-analyzed software is neither the known malware nor a variant of the known malware when the degree of similarity determined in step (B) is not greater than a predefined similarity threshold value.
US08505098B2
A recording, recovering, and replaying method for real traffic is used for processing a plurality of network packets of a plurality of network connections. A recording procedure of the method includes the following steps. A recording parameter (N, M, P) is received. A header and a payload of each network packet of the network connections are completely recorded, and a payload accumulation value of each network connection is accumulated. When one of the payload accumulation values exceeds N, the header of each network packet and first M bytes of the payload are recorded for P consecutive network packets corresponding to the payload accumulation value. When one of the payload accumulation values exceeds N and after the P consecutive network packets of the network connection corresponding to the payload accumulation value are recorded, the header of each network packet is recorded for the network connection corresponding to the payload accumulation value.
US08505097B1
A processing device comprises a processor coupled to a memory and implements a refresh-and-rotation process to protect a system comprising information technology infrastructure from a persistent security threat. The processing device is configured to replace one or more identified resources of a resource pool of the information technology infrastructure with one or more corresponding refreshed resources so as to provide a refreshed resource pool, and to remap elements of a set of workloads running on the information technology infrastructure to elements of the refreshed resource pool in order to deter the persistent security threat. The processing device may maintain within the resource pool a set of reserve resource pool elements that have no workload elements mapped to them, and can add resource pool elements to and remove resource pool elements from the set of reserve resource pool elements in conjunction with the remapping of workload elements to resource pool elements.
US08505092B2
Methods and apparatus for optimizing security configurations of a set of computers are disclosed. A set of local servers, each functioning as a deep-security manager supporting a respective subset of the computers, maintains protection software containing filters and rules for deploying each filter. A local server receives updated protection software from a central server. Each local server interrogates each computer of its subset of computers to acquire computer-characterizing data and applies relevant rules to determine an optimal set of filters for each computer. Each rule adaptively determines required characterizing data elements from each computer for determining an optimal security configuration. A local server updates the security configuration of a computer to suit changes in the operational environment of the computer.
US08505087B2
In an SS7 network, each of a plurality of Signal Transfer Points is fronted by a front-end processor (STP-FEP) that has a network presence. The STP-FEP implements at least the MTP2 layer of the SS7 protocol stack and implements security rules at the MTP2 and MTP3 layers.
US08505085B2
A flexible authentication system is described herein that fluidly switches between a federated authentication model and a local short-lived token model that does not require sophisticated authentication infrastructure at the relying party site. Upon detecting an event that causes the identity provider to be unavailable for authentication, the relying party switches to a temporary token model. The system generates a bearer token or challenge associated with the user's identity and (optionally) associated with time data that limits the period during which the token is valid. The relying party communicates the short-lived token to the user using contact information associated with the user and already stored by the relying party. Upon receiving the short-lived token, the user provides the short-lived token to the relying party, and the relying party processes the token to validate the user's identity and then allows the user to access the relying party's online services.
US08505078B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems are described for providing an accessor device an access credential to interact with a device resource on an accessee device. An authorization entity having a trust relationship with the accessee device, or a linked subordinate authorization entity, generates the access credential. The access credential includes a modification detection indicator, at least one access privilege, and an accessor public key. The at least one access privilege corresponds to at least one device resource on the accessee device. The authorization entity forwards the access credential to the accessor device, which presents the access credential to the accessee device for authentication. Once authenticated, the accessee device grants access to one or more device resources, and controls requests to insure they are within the scope of the at least one access privilege.
US08505074B2
Devices, methods, and computer-readable media for tagging web page content according to a content access level for entry into a web page content database, and filtering in response to a dynamic web page construction request based on the access level of the requesting source.
US08505068B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for deriving express rights in protected content. Embodiments of the invention provide mechanisms to convert implicit rights to express rights for entities, including applications, inside and outside of an organizational (e.g., enterprise) boundary. The conversion can occur dynamically, based on the information protection policies defined by a policy administrator, granting entities express access to perform tasks on protected content.
US08505066B2
Methods, apparatuses and a system are provided for performing a security audit of, for example, a multi-function device.
US08505064B2
A method and system of supporting operation of customer equipment in systems having at least a portion of their signals being transported according to standards which are not supported by the customer equipment.
US08505057B2
A method (300) and system (200) for of conserving resources in a video-on-demand environment are provided. The method (300) includes storing a stub file (223) on an edge storage device while storing content (110) at a central storage device (222). When a video-on-demand request (440) is received, a resource management system (206) reads (305) the stub file (223) to determine a storage location at the central storage device (222). The resource management system (206) then retrieves the content (110) from the storage location determined from the stub file (223) and either stores it at an edge storage device (111) or delivers it the a subscriber device (109) to fulfill the video-on-demand request (440).
US08505054B1
The audio portion of an A/V signal is sent to one or more mobile devices and the video portion of the A/V signal is sent to one or more separate display devices in such a way that the signal provided to the display device(s) contains video information that is delayed by a predetermined amount greater than the expected amount of delay in a communication network over which the audio information is sent to the mobile device(s) so that the audio is received by the mobile device(s) at or before the time the video is displayed on the display device. The signal provided to the display device may include the audio information and/or other information. The amount by which the information provided to the display device (i.e., the video and optionally the corresponding audio and/or other information) is delayed may be fixed or variable/configurable. An application running in the mobile device provides for adding additional delay to the received audio information so that the audio can be synchronized to the corresponding video on the display device. The application may allow the user to manually add the delay to the audio, e.g., using various types of controls, and/or the application may automatically add delay to the audio pursuant to various synchronization protocols.
US08505052B2
A broadcasting system 1 provides a digital content to be broadcast with an attribute vector A thereof. A filter 12 is assigned with a selection vector S indicating user's taste. The filter 12 performs a standardized inner product operation between the selection vector S and the attribute vector A for selecting and recording broadcast programs. A = ( a 1 , a 2 , a 3 , … , a n ) S = ( s 1 , s 2 , s 3 , … , s n ) P = A · S A S
US08505050B2
A system and method for providing an electronic program guide for television or radio programs includes presenting listings of present or future programs on-screen, presenting listings of past programs on-screen and indicating whether the past program is available again at a future time. Also, a system and method for handling information controllable from an electronic program guide for television or radio programs comprises receiving information in a user's system, storing the received information in the user's system, displaying access to the stored information by means of a user interface and enabling the user to select one of a plurality of management options for controlling the operation of the stored information through the user interface.
US08505041B2
A disk cartridge includes a case body that can house a plurality of disk-shaped recording media and is joined or separated by making a first shell contact with/separate from a second shell in an axial direction, and a lock lever that is rotatably supported and locks the first shell and the second shell in a joining manner, in the inside of the case body. A disk inserting/ejecting slot is formed, a supporting shaft is provided to the case body, the lock lever includes a supported part, a lock part, and a lock-release part, the first shell is provided with an open/close panel that includes an insertion hole, an insertion protrusion part that is inserted into the insertion hole of the open/close panel is provided to an end part of the lock-release part, and an end face of the insertion protrusion part is formed as an inclined face.
US08505040B2
An optical disk drive including a case, a traverse, a guide rod, an optical pick-up head and at least a locking member is provided. The traverse is disposed in the case and includes at least a cantilever part and at least a locking hole. The cantilever part protrudes from a carrying surface of the traverse and is integrated with the traverse. The guide rod leans against a bearing end of the cantilever part. The optical pick-up head is slidably disposed on the guide rod. The locking member includes a leaning part and a locking part. The locking part is locked into the locking hole and the leaning part presses an upper side of an end of the guide rod for making the bearing end generate a bending displacement toward the carrying surface through the guide rod.
US08505037B2
A method of operating a self-service terminal is described, along with software for performing the method. The self-service terminal has a number of service providers installed on it. According to the method, a call from a self-service terminal application to open a session with a service provider is received by a manager module. The call includes details of a device related parameter, such as a logical service name or device class. Those service providers which can support the device related parameter are identified and then queried to determine if an associated device is present. Based on the results of the query, one of the service providers is selected and a session is opened between the self-service terminal application and the selected service provider module.
US08505035B2
A method is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes providing a system specification of the system; deriving a number N1 of base patterns dependent on the system specification, a base pattern representing at least one service and having a number N2 of parameterisable events and a parameterisable control section representing a control flow and/or a data flow between the events; selecting a number N3, wherein N3≦N1, of base patterns and providing a control structure representing a control flow and/or a data flow between the selected base patterns dependent on an event trace expected as a result of the system run; and providing the reference data having at least the selected base patterns and the provided control structure.
US08505022B2
Automatic programming, scheduling, and control of planned activities at “worker nodes” in a distributed environment are provided by a “real-time self tuner” (RTST). The RTST provides self-tuning of controlled interoperation among an interconnected set of distributed components (i.e., worker nodes) including, for example, home appliances, security systems, lighting, sensor networks, medical electronic devices, wearable computers, robotics, industrial controls, wireless communication systems, audio nets, distributed computers, toys, games, etc. The RTST acts as a centralized “planner” that is either one of the nodes or a dedicated computing device. A set of protocols allow applications to communicate with the nodes, and allow one or more nodes to communicate with each other. Self-tuning of the interoperation and scheduling of tasks to be performed at each node uses an on-line sampling driven statistical model and predefined node “behavior patterns” to predict and manage resource requirements needed by each node for completing assigned tasks.
US08505019B1
A system, and a corresponding method, implemented on a processor, is used for assigning and reassigning instant capacity (iCAP) resources and non-iCAP resources in a computer system. The system includes a workload management system (WLMS) that monitors and controls the iCAP and the non-iCAP resources; an iCAP system available to monitor and control the iCAP resources; and an iCAP-WLMS integration system that transfers iCAP monitoring and control functions from the iCAP system to the WLM system, where the transfer creates a workload management (WLM) special mode of operation of the computer system, and where the WLMS monitors and assigns iCAP resources when in the WLM special mode.
US08505013B2
Described embodiments provide address translation for data stored in at least one shared memory of a network processor. A processing module of the network processor generates tasks corresponding to each of a plurality of received packets. A packet classifier generates contexts for each task, each context associated with a thread of instructions to apply to the corresponding packet. A first subset of instructions is stored in a tree memory within the at least one shared memory. A second subset of instructions is stored in a cache within a multi-thread engine of the packet classifier. The multi-thread engine maintains status indicators corresponding to the first and second subsets of instructions within the cache and the tree memory and, based on the status indicators, accesses a lookup table while processing a thread to translate between an instruction number and a physical address of the instruction in the first and second subset of instructions.
US08505011B2
An information processing device includes an image forming device, an execution sub-job determining unit, a sub-job execution destination determining unit and an execution instructing unit. The image forming device is designated as a destination and executes at least a sub-job executed N-th as the last sub-job out of N sub-jobs in a case where a job is divided into N sub-jobs. The execution sub-job determining unit determines a sub-job other than the executed N-th sub-job within a range of the occupiable time of the image forming device in a case where there is an available capacity in the image forming device. The sub-job execution destination determining unit determines the execution destination of each sub job. The execution instructing unit instructs a calculation resource to execute the first to (i−1)-th sub-jobs and instructs the image forming device to execute the i-th to N-th sub-jobs.
US08505010B2
A computer system that includes a processor for operating a software application in the computer system. The software application provides for creation, storage, and retrieval of a file, the file having a corresponding profile that the software application uses for at least the purpose of preparing the software application to display the file upon its retrieval by the software application. Also included is a plurality of storage media that are communicatively coupled to the processor. A storage management module distributes stored files and their accompanying profiles among the plurality of storage media according to predetermined patterns. One of such predetermined patterns is separate storage of a file and the file's corresponding profile.
US08505005B1
Methods and systems are disclosed for automatically installing software applications on multiple target computers having different computing platforms from a central location. The methods and systems provide an infrastructure comprising a centralized repository and server and a plurality of remote target computers. The centralized repository stores platform-specific installation files for each software application and computing platform of interest, and one or more non-platform-specific deploy jobs for installing the software applications. The non-platform-specific deploy jobs allows a user to automatically install one or more software applications on any target computer regardless of computing platform, and to reuse any installation logic that may have been custom-developed for the software applications. A common command syntax is created that may be used to define and execute the deploy jobs across the multiple computing platforms.
US08505004B2
A cloud administration system for providing a software update to one or more remote print devices may include a processing module in communication with the submission module a plurality of print devices. The processing module may be located remotely from each print device. The cloud administration system may include a storage module in communication with the processing module. The storage module may be configured to receive a software update from an application computing device. The software update may include a software version. The processing module may be configured to receive the software update from the storage module, and transmit the software update to at least one of the plurality of print devices. The cloud administration system may operate as a shared resource for each print device and the application computing device.
US08505002B2
A data processing system is provided having a processor and analysing circuitry for identifying a SIMD instruction associated with a first SIMD instruction set and replacing it by a functionally-equivalent scalar representation and marking that functionally-equivalent scalar representation. The marked functionally-equivalent scalar representation is dynamically translated using translation circuitry upon execution of the program to generate one or more corresponding translated instructions corresponding to a instruction set architecture different from the first SIMD architecture corresponding to the identified SIMD instruction.
US08504991B2
An apparatus for cross-browser testing of a web application is disclosed, including: a first broker residing among a plurality of browsers for receiving information of a user action from a browser operated by a user among the plurality of browsers and for transmitting the information of the user action to other browsers so that the other browsers can execute the user action; a second broker residing between the plurality of browsers and the web application for receiving at least one web request generated by executing the user action from the plurality of browsers and for determining whether to be able to merge the at least one web request, so as to determine whether the plurality of browsers are compatible with the web application. An associated method is also provided.
US08504990B2
An improved middleware configuration process can include extracting parameters of a manually configured customized software instance to be implemented on a tenant that provides the customized software instance providing business process-specific support tailored to a specific organization. A configuration engine can perform the extracting and can receive a designation of a first part of the parameters as relating to tenant-independent content of the customized software instance and a second part of the parameters as relating to tenant-dependent content of the customized software instance. The tenant-independent content can relate to features of a core software platform, and the tenant-dependent content can relate to at least one organization-specific extension of the core software platform that provides the business process-specific support. The tenant-dependent content can have tenant-specific content formats and tenant-specific content data defined by and available to only the tenant. The tenant-independent content of the tenant can be modified according to the first part, and the tenant-specific content can be modified according to tenant-specific implementation input that implements the second part for the tenant in accordance with the customized software instance. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.
US08504988B2
Disclosed is a rules based editor configured to edit an equation related element where the rules based editor may use at least one rule related to a pre-built application module that is included in a viewer module. The viewer module may include rendering and equation evaluation instructions. The edited equation related element may be configured to be included in a component description file. The combination of the viewer module and the component description file may be configured to be used to display a version of the equation related element that is analytically related to an input value.
US08504985B2
Context sensitive script editing for form design is provided. In some embodiments, context sensitive script editing for form design includes receiving an indication to display a script editing interface, in which the indication includes a selected object within a sub-window of an editing application; obtaining a script associated with the selected object; and displaying a pop-up window that includes the script associated with the selected object, in which the pop-up window is displayed within the sub-window.
US08504980B1
Data changes during transaction processing by a computer system are constrained. An outbound processing sub-component of a first processing component is enabled to change a value of a status variable relating to processing performed on a data object instance by the first processing component. The data object instance includes values for variables and methods capable of being performed by the data object instance. The outbound processing sub-component is configured to trigger subsequent processing steps in a second processing component. The outbound processing sub-component is permitted to change only the status variable and is not permitted to change any other variable.
US08504976B2
In an example embodiment, the system obtains the mutual inductance (e.g., Mij) between a quiet I/O buffer and each switching I/O buffer on a PLD from an automatic SSN measurement system. The system calculates the corrected mutual inductance between the quiet I/O buffer and each switching I/O buffer by multiplying the mutual inductance by a correction factor (e.g., αj). The system multiplies each corrected mutual inductance by the rate of current flowing through the switching I/O buffer to obtain an induced voltage resulting from the switching I/O buffer. The system sums the induced voltages for all the switching I/O buffers on the PLD to obtain an estimate of total induced voltage caused in the quiet I/O buffer by all switching I/O buffers. The correction factor is based on bench measurements and depends on the amplitude of the simultaneous switching noise affecting each switching I/O buffer.
US08504964B2
A through-hole layout apparatus and method for reducing differences in layout density of through-holes. The through-hole layout apparatus includes an extractor, which extracts an existing through-hole from design data for a semiconductor integrated circuit, a calculator, which calculates a layout density of through-holes in a predetermined region for each through-hole extracted by the extractor, a selector, which selects a through-hole at the center of a predetermined region where the layout density is lower than a predetermined value as a target through-hole from among the through-holes extracted by the extractor and a through-hole adder, which determines a given position in a predetermined region centered on the target through-hole as a placement position at which a through-hole is to be added for each target through-hole selected by the selector.
US08504961B2
An integrated circuit includes processing circuitry that includes a plurality of critical path circuits. These critical path circuits include variable delay circuits which add an additional delay in to a path delay through each of the critical path circuits so as to adjust the path delay to match a target path delay. Variable delay circuit includes a tank capacitor which is charged or discharged to generate a control voltage. This control voltage serves to control a power supply voltage fed to an inverter chain. Variation in the power supply voltage of the inverter chain adjust the propagation speed of a processing signal through the inverter chain and accordingly adjusts the additional delay imposed by the variable delay circuit.
US08504950B2
Disclosed herein is an ASIC having a base array of function blocks. Each function block includes a plurality of primitive cells. Each primitive cell is defined by a component from a standard cell library. The base array is prefabricated for use later with a custom circuit design.
US08504948B2
In general, the invention relates to a method for designing a biological circuit. The method includes obtaining a target circuit objective for the biological circuit, determining an objective function corresponding to the target circuit objective, obtaining a number of nodes for the biological circuit, obtaining a set of possible circuit subgraphs using the number of nodes, obtaining a specific dissipation energy (SDE) for each one of the set of possible circuit subgraphs by optimizing the objective function, selecting at least one circuit subgraph from the set of possible circuit subgraphs with the lowest SDE, and designing the biological circuit using the at least one selected one circuit subgraph.
US08504946B2
A computer-implemented method for use in conjunction with a computing device with a touch screen display comprises displaying a portion of a web page in a web browser application without concurrently displaying a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) entry area for inputting URLs of web pages. A gesture is detected in a predefined area at the top of the touch screen display. In response to detecting the gesture in the predefined area at the top of the touch screen display, the URL entry area is displayed.
US08504944B2
An image processing apparatus includes: an image display control unit controlling an image display on a display screen; an image generating unit generating a question image including a question and option buttons configured by icons that can be arbitrarily selected for the question; a position detecting unit detecting a position of a pointer present on the display screen from imaging data acquired by imaging the display screen; a position information storing unit storing positions of the icons when the question image is displayed on the display screen; and a control unit specifying an icon out of the icons selected by the pointer based on the position of the pointer and calibrating the position of the pointer based on the position of the icon, which is stored in the position information storing unit, corresponding to the icon specified to have been selected.
US08504943B2
Information is displayed regarding an arrangement of nodes coupled by a communications network. The nodes are associated with corresponding characteristics. Plural groups of the nodes are defined based on the characteristics associated with the nodes. Group icons representing the respective groups of nodes are displayed.
US08504930B1
Methods and apparatus define a user interface for a computer program after execution of the computer program has begun. A user interface for the program is defined by: associating a map component and a fashion component on the fly at run time to generate the user interface; and executing the user interface with the associated function and appearance.
US08504929B2
A system that executes a user editable application includes a user interface that includes a plurality of components organized in a tree structure. The system indicates which of the plurality of components may be editable by a user of the application. The system receives editing input from the user for an editable component, and then updates the component based on the editing input.
US08504928B2
A communication terminal displays images on a display device. The communication terminal: receives a material image and corresponding first identification information transmitted from a communication terminal via a network; receives a captured image and corresponding second identification information transmitted from a second communication terminal via the network, the captured image being captured by a camera; compares the first identification information with the second identification information; and displays, when the result of the comparing indicates that the first identification information and the second identification information are the same, the material image and the captured image on a display device in such a manner that at least a part of the captured image overlaps with at least a part of the material image or in such a manner that an outer edge of the part of the captured image abuts an outer edge of the material image.
US08504923B2
A method and media engine for rendering a graphical interface on a device is disclosed. A skinning theme document describing rendering characteristics of the graphical interface is parsed. The document comprising at least one data element representing data generated by an application and at least one custom event representing events generated by the application. The parsed information is stored in a template including at least one named data element and at least one custom event describing the graphical interface using a markup language. Updated data element or custom event information is received from an application through an interaction interface. The template is updated with the received updated data element or custom event information. The template is rendered as the graphical interface wherein the graphical user interface presents one or more data elements from each application is rendered.
US08504918B2
Video content, such as broadcast television, may be divided into segments, and each segment may be assigned a distinguishing Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The URL assigned to a segment allows a user to access the segment via the Internet. For example, a television news program may be broken into segments (e.g., each interview on the program might constitute a segment). For each segment, a code may be assigned, and may be appended to the broadcaster's domain name to create a distinct URL for the segment. While the segment is being broadcast, the URL may be displayed with the segment, thereby allowing a viewer to identify the segment and to locate an Internet version of the segment. Entering the URL into a browser may access an Internet version of the broadcast segment to which the URL pertains.
US08504911B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating access to data in network page generation code supplied by customers of a hosting provider. A request for a network page is obtained from a client. The network page is associated with a network site hosted by a hosting provider on behalf of a customer. Page generation code supplied by the customer is obtained, and this code includes a dynamic data variable. One or more service calls are executed based at least in part on the dynamic data variable to obtain one or more data objects. The page generation code is executed to generate the network page in response to the request, where the page generation code is executed with the data objects in place of the dynamic data variable.
US08504904B2
Objects stored in a storage system (such as a file server system) are protected by multiple levels of validation. Each chunk of an object is associated with a chunk validator, and an object validator is computed for the object based on the chunk validators. The object validator is stored in the storage system and may be used at various times to validate the object, for example, upon a startup of the storage system, upon taking a checkpoint or “snapshot” of the status of the storage system, or at other appropriate times.
US08504900B2
A communication system (e.g., a hard drive) having a random-access memory (RAM) for storing trapping-set (TS) information that the communication system generates on-line during a special operating mode, in which low-density parity-check (LDPC)-encoded test codewords are written to a storage medium and then read and decoded to discover trapping sets that appear in candidate codewords produced by an LDPC decoder during decoding iterations. The discovered trapping sets are filtered to select a subset of trapping sets that satisfy specified criteria. The discovery and filtering of trapping sets is performed based on error vectors that are calculated using the a priori knowledge of original test codewords. The TS information corresponding to the selected subset is stored in the RAM and accessed as may be necessary to break the trapping sets that appear in candidate codewords produced by the LDPC decoder during normal operation of the communication system.
US08504899B2
A data transfer method transfers data encoded with a loss correction code by using a protocol having no error correction function. The method includes acquiring a data size of transfer target data; acquiring a relationship between a code length of the loss correction code and a transfer time for the acquired data size of the transfer target data; determining an optimum code length of the loss correction code for encoding the transfer target data based on the acquired relationship between the code length and the transfer time for the acquired data size; and encoding the target data with the loss correction code having the optimum code length.
US08504895B2
To decode a representation, imported from a channel, of a codeword that encodes K information bits as N>K codeword bits, estimates of the codeword bits are updated by exchanging messages between N bit nodes and N−K check nodes of a graph in a plurality of iterations. In each of one or more of the iterations, some or all values associated with the bit nodes, and/or some or all values associated with check nodes, and/or some or all messages are modified in a manner that depends explicitly on the ordinality of the iteration and is independent of any other iteration. Alternatively, the modifications are according to respective locally heteromorphic rules.
US08504889B2
A wireless device includes a functional unit, a wireless transceiver, an antenna and a clock. The wireless transceiver and antenna are coupled to the functional unit. The clock is coupled to the functional unit and the wireless transceiver. The clock is generates a clock signal. The wireless device is coupled wirelessly to a wireless slave device. The functional unit is configured to determine an amount of time since a last keep alive transmission with the slave device has occurred based on the clock. The functional unit determines a number of keep alive transmissions to transmit to the slave device, and appropriate transmission times for the keep alive transmissions relative to a next scheduled keep alive transmission time, based on the determined amount of time since the last keep alive transmission. The functional unit begins successive transmission of the keep alive transmissions to the slave device per the transmission times.
US08504888B2
Methods and devices are provided where when an online parameter change is requested a data transfer unit is stopped, a parameter change is communicated and the data transfer unit is started with changed parameters to generate new data transfer units.
US08504887B1
This disclosure relates generally to low power data decoding, and more particularly to low power data decoders for use under defects, erasures, and puncturing, with a low density parity check (LDPC) encoder. Systems and methods are disclosed for decoding a vector with punctured, detected defect and/or erased bits. Systems and methods are also disclosed for decoding a vector with undetected defects and/or unknown error patterns. Low power decoding may be performed in an LDPC decoder during the process of decoding an LDPC code in the case of defects, erasures, and puncturing. The low power techniques described herein may reduce power consumption without a substantial decrease in performance of the applications that make use of LDPC codes, or the devices that make use of low power LDPC decoders.
US08504885B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for approximating a probability density function or distribution for a received value in communication or storage systems. A target distribution is approximated for a received value in one or more of a communication system and a memory device, by substantially minimizing a squared error between the target distribution of the received values and a second distribution obtained by mapping a predefined distribution, such as a Gaussian distribution, through a mapping function, wherein the second distribution has an associated set of parameters. The mapping function can be, for example, a piecewise linear function. The second distribution has a plurality of segments and each of the segments has an associated set of parameters. The associated set of parameters can be used to compute probability values, soft data values or log likelihood ratios.
US08504864B2
A method is provided for synchronizing time in an unsynchronized vehicle controller area network system. A master control unit receives a global time from a time synchronization source. The master control unit estimates a respective time delay in transmitting messages by electronic control units on each controller area network bus. The time delay is a difference between a time when a message is generated by a respective electronic control unit for transmission on a respective controller area network bus and a time when the message is transmitted on the respective controller area network bus. The global time is adjusted for each respective controller area network bus based on the estimated time delays associated with each respective controller area network bus. Global time messages from the master control unit are transmitted to each electronic control unit that include the adjusted global times for an associated controller area network bus.
US08504859B2
Apparatus and techniques relating to data interface power consumption control are disclosed. Components of a data transfer module may be selectively moved between their normal operating states and reduced power states at times when the data transfer module is not to be used for transferring data. Decisions as to particular components that are to be moved to their reduced power states may be based on respective timing characteristics of the components and/or respective power consumption characteristics of the components, for example. In some embodiments, an action may be performed to reduce a powering up time of the data transfer module when normal operation of the data transfer module is to resume. In the case of a multiple-connection interface having respective data transfer modules for each connection, the interface may be partially shut down by moving a subset of the data transfer modules into reduced power states.
US08504858B2
An input device with a power saving system is provided for reducing the power consumption of the input device when the input device is at rest. The input device may include a sensor, a rest mode switch, control logic and a current controller. The sensor may be configured to obtain an image data in response to a light incident on the sensor. The rest mode switch may be configured to set the input device to various levels of rest modes when it is inactive. The control logic may be coupled to the rest mode switch and the sensor. The control logic may be configured to set the input device to process a portion of the image data on the sensor array during a wake up detection operation when the input device is at rest. The current controller may be coupled to the control logic and the sensor and configured to control the current supply limited to a section of the sensor array containing the portion of image data that is being processed by the input device during the wake up detection operation.
US08504855B2
The aspects enable a computing device or microprocessor to determine a low-power mode that maximizes system power savings by placing selected resources in a low power mode while continuing to function reliably, depending upon the resources not in use, acceptable system latencies, dynamic operating conditions (e.g., temperature), expected idle time, and the unique electrical characteristics of the particular device. The various aspects provide mechanisms and methods for compiling a plurality of low power resource modes to generate one or more synthetic low power resources from which can be selected an optimal low-power mode configuration made up of a set of selected synthetic low power resources.
US08504854B2
A system and method for managing multiple discrete operating points to create a stable virtual operating point. One or more functional blocks within a processor produces data corresponding to an activity level associated with the respective functional block. A power manager determines a power consumption value based on the data once every given sample interval. In addition, the power manager determines a signed accumulated difference over time between a thermal design power (TDP) and the power consumption value. The power manager selects a next power-performance state (P-state) based on comparisons of the signed accumulated difference and given thresholds. Transitioning between P-states in this manner while the workload does not significantly change causes the processor to operate at a virtual operating point between supported discrete operating points.
US08504851B2
An electronic device includes a central processing unit (CPU), a number of power supply units (PSUs), a north bridge, a south bridge, and a baseboard management controller (BMC). The number of power supply units (PSUs) supplies power to the CPU. Each PSU has a rated power. The north bridge is connected to the CPU. The south bridge is connected to the north bridge. The BMC is connected to the CPU by the north and south bridges. The BMC detects power supply states of each PSU and controls the north bridge to adjust a power consumption of the CPU according to the power supply states of the PSUs.
US08504849B2
Many storage devices are not aware of file systems while many computer host devices read and write data in the form of files. The host device provides a key reference or ID, while the memory system generates a key value in response which is associated with the key ID, which is used as the handle through which the memory retains complete and exclusive control over the generation and use of the key value for cryptographic processes, while the host retains control of files.
US08504848B2
A device for encrypted communication with external entities is configured to frustrate side channel attacks attempting to determine an encryption key. The device has a first memory, an encryption key stored in the first memory and a one-way function for application to the encryption key. During use, the encryption key is retrieved from the first memory prior to application to the one-way function and the device is configured to limit the number of times the encryption key is allowed to be retrieved from the non-volatile memory to a pre-determined threshold.
US08504846B2
A system for securely storing data is provided. The system includes a transformation component operable to scramble or encrypt the data, a dissection component operable to divide the data into a plurality of segments, and a storage component operable to store the plurality of segments in a plurality of memory locations. These components can operate various schemes identified by encoded identifiers and new schemes can be added to the system at any time. A user device can use a combination of a transformation scheme, a dissection scheme, and a storage scheme to protect stored private data at any point in time. The combination can be changed quickly by the user device autonomously or upon receiving an instruction to do so.
US08504841B1
Apparatus and method for managing password information associated with a service account are disclosed. In some embodiments, a service account management system is configured to include a security account utility and a password information data store. In some embodiments, a security account utility is used when registering, tracking, and adjusting password change information. In some embodiments, notification of a password change date is transmitted to a service account owner and a security auditor for enforcement. Use of a security account management system with a middleware application is also disclosed.
US08504839B2
The method and accompanying apparatus and device protects against programming attacks and/or data corruption by computer viruses, malicious code, or other types of corruption. In one example, signature verification policy information that identifies a plurality of policies associated with a plurality of target memory segments is programmed during a secure boot process. The programmed signature verification policy information associated with each of the plurality of target memory segments is then evaluated during run-time. Signature verification is then repeatedly performed, during run-time, on each of the plurality of target memory segments based on the programmed signature verification policy information associated with each target memory segment.
US08504831B2
Responsive to receiving an authentication request from a device, an authentication server determines a confidence level for the authentication request, generates a confidence-weighted challenge to the authentication request. The confidence-weighted challenge being weighted based upon a confidence level. The authentication server, responsive to receiving a challenge response to the confidence-weighted challenge from the device, determines whether to authenticate the user based upon the challenge response. If the authentication server determines that the challenge response satisfies an expected response known to the authentication server, the authentication server permits authentication of the user to access the device. If the authentication server determines the challenge response does not satisfy the expected response known to the authentication server, the authentication server denies authentication of the user to access the device.
US08504829B2
A certification system connected to a radio communication system which includes a device configured to perform a first certification based on first information received via the radio communication system from a radio terminal. A first access server is connected to a first network and to the radio network and the first access server is configured to acquire the first information and to perform a second certification based on second information received via the radio network from the radio terminal. The first access server also selectively provides information requested by the radio terminal to the radio terminal based on the second information.
US08504828B2
A method for providing an indication of authenticity of an electronic image of a document comprises generating a signal corresponding to a profile of at least one of a number of surfaces of the document, converting the signal into a profile signature, and correlating the profile signature with the electronic image of the document. A method for authenticating an electronic image of a document comprises receiving the electronic image of the document and a profile tracing signature of a surface of the document that is associated with the electronic image, and comparing the profile tracing signature with an exemplar profile tracing signature associated with the document. A document processing system comprises a pickup, a signal processing circuit, and a scanning module and is used for producing a profile tracing signature and electronic image of a document and for correlating the profile tracing signature with the electronic image.
US08504823B2
A host device comprises a configurable connector. The host device connector can be connected to a configurable connector of an accessory device. The host device can select connector functions to be enabled for connecting to the accessory device connector. The selection of connector functions can be based on accessory device information such as accessory device power consumption, power configuration and application information. The accessory device can exclude connector functions supported by the accessory device from the list of accessory device functions sent to the host device. The accessory device can exclude connector functions based on information about the host and connector devices. Single or mutual authentication can be performed before connection functions are enabled at either device. Host and accessory devices can require that a host device be licensed to use an accessory device connector function or to gain access to accessory device resources. Tiered licensing policies can be supported.
US08504819B2
A wireless LAN relay device connecting an outer device to a network includes a communication section for controlling wired communication and wireless communication performed between the wireless LAN relay device and the outer device using a packet. The communication section performs, in an initial state, wireless communication without encrypting the packet, and encrypts, upon reception of a setting instruction from the outer device, the packet by using a predetermined encryption key and a predetermined encryption method which are preliminarily defined in the wireless LAN relay device.
US08504818B2
The embodiments described herein generally relate to methods and systems for tunneling arbitrary binary data between an HTTP endpoint and an arbitrary destination. Such tunneling of data is valuable in an environment, for example, in which a browser-based client communicates in the HTTP protocol and desires to exchange data with a remote endpoint understanding non-HTTP communications. A relay server is used as a “middle man” to connect the client to the destination, and components supporting the necessary protocols for data exchange are plugged into the relay server. To achieve reliable and ordered transmission of data, the relay server groups sessions through the assignment of session identifiers and tracks the exchange of messages through the assignment of sequence and acknowledgment numbers. Further, the relay server provides for authenticating the HTTP endpoint with the destination and for handling other operations not available in the constrained environment of the Web-based client.
US08504804B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining if an instruction of a first thread dispatched from a first queue associated with the first thread is stalled in a pipestage of a pipeline, and if so, dispatching an instruction of a second thread from a second queue associated with the second thread to the pipeline if the second thread is not stalled. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08504801B2
A semiconductor device correctly switches endian modes regardless of the current endian mode of an interface. The semiconductor device includes a switching circuit and a first register. The switching circuit switches an interface tote used in big endian or little endian mode. The first register holds control data of the switching circuit. The switching circuit sets the interface in little endian mode when first predetermined control information is supplied to the first register, and sets the interface in big endian mode when second predetermined control information is supplied to the first register. The control information can be correctly inputted without being influenced by the endian setting status.
US08504787B1
Described are techniques for determining storage requirements for data protection. An initial size of a data protection area is determined. The data protection area provides storage for data obtained as a result of performing a data protection process for a first data area. The initial size is determined as a mathematical product of a first size of the first data area for which data protection is performed, a retention time, and a rate of change. Monitoring for an occurrence of one of a plurality of trigger events is performed. In response to an occurrence of one of the plurality of trigger events, it is determined whether an adjustment to a current size of the data protection area is needed.
US08504783B2
A storage subsystem receives writes from a computer via a standard storage subsystem interface. The storage subsystem reduces a number of the writes. A single drive of the storage subsystem has primary and redundant storage devices with storage device interfaces. A disk controller of the single drive implements a data redundancy scheme by storing data associated with the reduced number of writes in the primary storage devices and by storing computed redundancy information in the redundant storage devices. The disk controller is operable without a loss of data in the presence of at least a single failure of any of the storage devices. Optionally the storage devices are flash memory devices. Optionally the disk controller is operable without a loss of data in the presence of at least two failures of any of the storage devices when a number of the redundant storage devices is at least two.
US08504768B2
A storage apparatus has a plurality of storage media including each storage area in which a stripe is set extending over the storage area of the plurality of storage media. An access unit that writes a format data into the storage area, wherein when the plurality of storage media are formatted, the access unit writes an unformatted-state identifier indicating incompletion of formatting into at least a portion of storage area to be included in the stripe, or when the storage area to be included in the stripe is accessed for writing new data, the access unit reads out existing data stored in the storage area included in the stripe to be accessed. And when the unformatted-state identifier is detected from the existing data that has been read out, the access unit writes the new data or the format data to be written by formatting into the storage area.
US08504755B2
A bridge device for connecting a USB 3 host device with a plurality of downstream, non-USB 3 mass storage devices, such as SATA or PATA devices. The bridge device comprises an embedded hub having a plurality of internal USB 3 devices. The internal USB 3 devices do not have a physical USB 3 interface. The bridge device also has at least one downstream physical non-USB 3 device, to which a mass storage device may be attached. The internal USB 3 devices enable the host device to be presented with a plurality of USB 3 devices. This, in turn, allows transfer to the plurality of downstream physical non-USB 3 devices, via the internal USB 3 devices at an increased rate. The bridge may also include a downstream physical USB 3 interface. This can allow multiple bridge devices to be connected together in a cascade.
US08504739B2
In embodiments of extensions for USB driver interface functions, a set of USB driver interfaces are exposed by a USB core driver stack, and the USB driver interfaces include USB driver interface functions to interface with USB client function drivers that correspond to client USB devices. A composite device driver registers itself and requests a function handle for each function of a client USB device. The USB client function drivers are enumerated and the function handles generated for each function of the client USB device. A check first protocol is enforced that directs a USB client function driver to check for availability of a USB driver interface function before interfacing with the USB core driver stack via the USB driver interfaces. A contract version identifier is received that indicates a set of operation rules by which a USB client function driver interfaces with the USB core driver stack.
US08504733B1
A subtree within a global tree of nodes is created by determining a predicate condition. The predicate condition is disseminated to the nodes in the global tree. For each node in the global tree, a determination of whether the node belongs to the subtree is performed, and an indication of whether the node belongs to the subtree is stored. After the subtree is created, a query corresponding to the subtree is put to the subtree for resolution.
US08504731B2
In a parallel computer system including a plurality of processors, processors are classified into a plurality of groups including a prescribed number of processors, and processors are connected to each other in a complete connecting manner in the groups. Those groups are connected to each other as the respective processors are connected in linear to each other.
US08504728B1
A network interface system includes a memory system for managing data obtained via a system bus that supports split transactions. The memory system comprises a first memory for storing outgoing assembled data frames and associated control information prior to transfer of the outgoing data to the network, and an assembly memory that stores unassembled outgoing data from the bus. A memory control system stores the control information associated with pending bus read requests and also transfers outgoing data from the assembly memory to the first memory when all the outgoing data for a corresponding read request has been assembled.
US08504724B1
Ways of allocating an identifier to a mobile device are disclosed. One method includes receiving a request that requests an address be assigned to the mobile device, considering factors in connection with determining a mobile IP (MIP) address to be assigned to the mobile device, determining the MIP address based on the factors, and conveying the MIP address to the mobile device.
US08504716B2
The present disclosure is directed towards systems and methods for allocating a bandwidth credit or an annuity of bandwidth credit to a sender by an intermediary deployed between the sender and a receiver. The sender may be allocated a bandwidth credit or an annuity of bandwidth credit which may identify an amount of data the sender may transmit over a predetermined time period to the receiver, via the intermediary. The intermediary may determine an allocation of a one-time bandwidth credit based on the determination that a difference between the rate of transmission of the sender and the bandwidth usage of the sender falls below a predetermined threshold of the bandwidth credit. The intermediary may determine an annuity of bandwidth credit based on a determination that a difference between the bandwidth usage of the sender over the annuity period and the annuity of bandwidth credit exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US08504710B2
Systems and methods for providing accelerated data storage and retrieval utilizing lossless data compression and decompression. A data storage accelerator includes one or a plurality of high speed data compression encoders that are configured to simultaneously or sequentially losslessly compress data at a rate equivalent to or faster than the transmission rate of an input data stream. The compressed data is subsequently stored in a target memory or other storage device whose input data storage bandwidth is lower than the original input data stream bandwidth. Similarly, a data retrieval accelerator includes one or a plurality of high speed data decompression decoders that are configured to simultaneously or sequentially losslessly decompress data at a rate equivalent to or faster than the input data stream from the target memory or storage device. The decompressed data is then output at rate data that is greater than the output rate from the target memory or data storage device. The data storage and retrieval accelerator method and system may employed: in a disk storage adapter to reduce the time required to store and retrieve data from computer to disk; in conjunction with random access memory to reduce the time required to store and retrieve data from random access memory; in a display controller to reduce the time required to send display data to the display controller or processor; and/or in an input/output controller to reduce the time required to store, retrieve, or transmit data.
US08504709B2
A system receives streaming media data and stores the received data in a buffer to fill the buffer. The system selectively extracts the received data from the buffer to begin playback of the streaming media data. The system further analyzes remaining media data in the buffer, to identify a location in the buffer that stores an inactive period in the media data, when the buffer is emptied to a certain percentage of its capacity. The system also halts playback and re-fills the buffer with received streaming media data when the buffer reaches the location in the buffer and selectively extracts the received data from the buffer to resume playback of the streaming media data.
US08504705B2
Methods relate to providing limited temporary access to a web site to visitors who desire to experience all the features provided by this site before becoming a member. The temporary access privileges may be limited by duration, which is counted from the initial access request, or by number of accesses. At the end of the temporary access period, the visitor may be given additional access privileges before being permanently denied access. The user may be identified either by the IP address assigned to the user device or by the user's e-mail address.
US08504703B2
The present invention is a system for and method of providing instruction sequence compounding by (1) the virtual machine monitor's (VMM) looking ahead when an initial trap (exception) event occurs and recognizing traps within successive nearby instructions, combining and virtually executing the effects of multiple instructions while remaining inside the VMM's trap handler, and thereby minimizing the number of individual traps that would otherwise occur at each instruction and/or (2) the VMM's looking ahead when an initial context switch event occurs and recognizing context switches within successive nearby instructions, virtually combining the effects of multiple instructions and handing off this combined instruction to the host operating system, and thereby minimizing the number of individual context switches that would otherwise occur at each instruction. As a result, the number of processor cycles is reduced for exception handling and context switching in a virtual machine environment.
US08504697B2
A system and method connect a first network device and a second network device by initiating a secure communication link. The system includes one or more servers configured to: receive, from the first network device, a request to look up a network address of the second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device; determine, in response to the request, whether the second network device is available for a secure communications service; and initiate a secure communication link between the first network device and the second network device based on a determination that the second network device is available for the secure communications service; wherein the secure communications service uses the secure communication link to communicate at least one of video data and audio data between the first network device and the second network device.
US08504694B2
In various embodiments, methods and systems are disclosed for the implementation of multiple transport channels between the client and server. Each of the channels may be adapted to efficiently communicate data for a particular data type and thus be particularly well suited for its data-element characteristics and the detected link characteristics between the client and server.
US08504683B2
A system configured to manage IT assets associated with an entity (e.g., a company, an institution, etc.), in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention. The IT assets may include hardware assets, software assets, telecommunications assets, and/or other IT assets. The system enables substantially all of the information relevant to the individual IT assets to be organized within a single repository throughout the life cycle of the IT assets (e.g., from order to disposal). By organizing the relevant information within a single repository, automation and dynamic system interaction may be leveraged during the life cycle of a given IT asset to track and/or monitor the given IT asset with an enhanced efficiency. In some embodiments, the system may include a common database, and an asset implementation manager, an asset ownership manager, an asset process manager, a service manager in operative communication with the common database.
US08504681B1
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a system, method, and computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions for implementing a Socialware architecture encompassing a suite of applications for continuously and adaptively monitoring and filtering traffic to and from social networking sites, particularly useful in an enterprise computing environment. In some embodiments, an appliance may be coupled to a proxy server for providing a plurality of Socialware services, including analyzing, logging, and reporting on traffic to and from social networking sites. Some embodiments may allow a user to report, identify, and prevent malicious and potentially malicious content and/or activity by another user. Some embodiments may encrypt outgoing traffic to and decrypt incoming traffic from social networking sites. Some embodiments may provide an enterprise user to define and restrict certain social networking activities outside of the enterprise computing environment.
US08504675B2
An email system comprises a plurality of email servers connected by a data communications network. The email system avoids single points of failure by employing multiple email servers which self configure, without requiring dedicated servers, through self addressing and discovery and announcement protocols. An email server can act as a primary email server by executing an administration tool allowing an administrator to modify the configuration data set which the email servers utilize, and the primary email server will then announce the resulting change in the version level of the configuration data set to other email servers. Each email server will then determine and request any needed updates to its respective configuration data set from the primary email server or another email server.
US08504671B1
A computer-implemented method for rating a current instance of data is described. An activity occurring on a computing system is monitored. The activity includes the current instance of data. A rating is assigned to the current instance of data. A determination is made as to whether the activity includes at least one additional instance of data. When the activity includes at least one additional instance of data, the rating assigned to the current instance of data is updated. The updated rating is based on the content of the at least one additional instance of data.
US08504649B2
A method for a computer system includes determining a first social distance for a first user with respect to a second user, determining a second social distance for a third user with respect to the second user, determining a first qualitative rating associated with the first user, determining a second qualitative rating associated with the second user, determining a first trust-metric for the first user in response to the first social distance and the first qualitative rating, determining a second trust-metric for the third user in response to the second social distance and the second qualitative rating, and prioritizing a first listing from the first user over a second listing from the third user for the second user, in response to the first trust-metric and the second trust-metric.
US08504646B2
A method for transferring existing data from a source motor to a target motor includes retrieving the existing data from the source motor, optionally converting the existing data into a new format, and at least one of storing, erasing, writing, overwriting, or replacing software and/or data on the target motor such that the existing data is stored on the target motor in a format compatible with the target motor.
US08504643B2
The present invention enables enable uniform distributed destination, which greatly simplifies the management and development of distributed destination applications and permits the configuration of a clustered resource to be adjusted dynamically to meet the changing configuration of the cluster. In a uniform distributed destination, member destinations will be allocated uniformly, each having a consistent configuration of all distributed destination parameters. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.
US08504642B2
Some embodiments provide different frameworks for seamlessly issuing and executing commands across servers of different federation participants. Each framework facilitates issuance and execution of a command that originates from a first federation participant and that is intended for execution at servers of a second federation participant. In some embodiments, a framework implements a method for enabling command interoperability between distributed platforms that each operate a set of servers on behalf of content providers. The method involves receiving a command targeting a particular configuration that a first distributed platform deploys to a server that is operated by a second distributed platform. The method identifies the server of the second distributed platform that is deployed with the particular configuration. The method communicably couples to a command invocation system of the second distributed platform and issues the command to the command invocation system for issuance of the command to the identified server.
US08504641B2
A method of assigning a server to a client system includes determining an ingress point of the client system and identifying possible egress points for the client system. The method further includes selecting the server from a plurality of servers to reduce network cost and delivery time.
US08504638B2
Disclosed is a method, circuit, device and system for conveying media device control signaling over a radio frequency link. A first control signal generated by a first media device may be conveyed to a second media device over a radio frequency data link, where the data link is formed through a first transceiver connected to the first media device and a second transceiver connected to the second media device. According to further embodiments of the present invention, the first transceiver, or circuits functionally associated with the transceiver, may emulate a receipt of media control signal acknowledgement of the second media device and may provide the acknowledgement to the first media device. According to yet further embodiments of the present invention, the second transceiver, or circuits functionally associated with the transceiver, may receive, reconstruct and forward the first control signal to the second media device. Upon the second transceiver receiving an acknowledgment of receipt of the first control from the second media device, the second transceiver may drop the acknowledgement.
US08504635B2
A system comprising a first network element, a second network element and a communication device. The first network element is communicatively coupled to the second network element and the communication device. The communication device sends multimedia session information to the first network element. The first network element analyzes the multimedia session information for urgent emergency circumstances. The first network element forwards the multimedia session information to a destination on the second network element if urgent emergency circumstances are found in the multimedia session information.
US08504632B2
An electronic apparatus includes a plurality of communication units including a first communication unit which communicates via a first communication network and a second communication unit which communicates via a second communication network. The electronic apparatus acquires presence information indicating a communication state of a communication apparatus from a presence server managing a communication state of a communication apparatus on a communication network, via at least one communication network. The electronic apparatus acquires presence information of an alternative communication apparatus being as a communication apparatus which communicates via the second communication network in place of the second communication unit included in itself. The electronic apparatus determines as to whether the alternate communication apparatus is in an online state, based on the acquired presence information. The electronic apparatus suppresses electric power to be consumed by the second communication unit, when the alternate communication apparatus is in an online state.
