US07858151B2
An absorber layer may be formed on a substrate using atomic layer deposition reactions. An absorber layer containing elements of groups IB, IIIA and VIA may be formed by placing a substrate in a treatment chamber and performing atomic layer deposition of a group IB element and/or one or more group IIIA elements from separate sources onto a substrate to form a film. A group VIA element is then incorporated into the film and annealed to form the absorber layer. The absorber layer may be greater than about 25 nm thick. The substrate may be coiled into one or more coils in such a way that adjacent turns of the coils do not touch one another. The coiled substrate may be placed in a treatment chamber where substantially an entire surface of the one or more coiled substrates may be treated by an atomic layer deposition process. One or more group IB elements and/or one or more group IIIA elements may be deposited onto the substrate in a stoichiometrically controlled ratio by atomic layer deposition using one or more self limiting reactions.
US07858149B2
Methods and systems for cleaning, coating and sealing leaks in existing pipes, in a single operation. A piping system can be cleaned in one pass by dry particulates forced and pulled by air throughout the piping system by a generator and a vacuum. Pipes can be protected from water corrosion, erosion and electrolysis, extending the life of pipes such as copper, steel, lead, brass, cast iron piping and composite materials. Coatings can be applied to pipes having diameters up to approximately 6″. Leak sealants of at least approximately 4 mils thick can cover insides of pipes, and can include novel mixtures of fillers and epoxy materials, and viscosity levels. A positive pressure can be maintained within the pipes during applications. Piping systems can be returned to service within approximately 96 hours.
US07858147B2
A method of fabricating an interconnect structure is described. A substrate is provided. A patterned interfacial metallic layer is formed on the substrate. An amorphous carbon insulating layer or a carbon-based insulating layer is formed covering the substrate and the interfacial metallic layer. A conductive carbon line or plug is formed in the amorphous carbon or carbon-based insulating layer electrically connected with the interfacial metallic layer. An interconnect structure is also described, including a substrate, a patterned interfacial metallic layer on the substrate, an amorphous carbon insulating layer or a carbon-based insulating layer on the substrate, and a conductive carbon line or plug disposed in the amorphous carbon or carbon-based insulating layer and electrically connected with the interfacial metallic layer.
US07858140B2
An improved wet milling process is provided that allows for separation of seed coat particles from the horny endosperm particles of seed. The process uses soaking and grinding to produce seed coat flake particles and horny endosperm particles that may be separated using movement of liquid slurry of the particles, providing hydraulic lift to separate the seed coat particles. Improvements in the process allow for omitting addition of sulfur compounds to the process. By-products of wet milling with improved properties are provided.
US07858136B2
The present invention relates to pure oxygen-containing soju and a manufacturing method thereof. The invention provides the pure oxygen-containing diluted soju, which has excellent economy and shows a greatly reduced degree of a hangover after drinking thereof, because the amount of lost oxygen is minimized by injecting the largest possible amount of oxygen while preventing the release of oxygen using a method of injecting oxygen, and the amount of dissolved oxygen in the soju is maximized by injecting fine oxygen bubbles at low temperature, as well as a manufacturing method thereof.
US07858129B2
A coating composition for use in coating foods, confections, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals is comprised of shellac in aqueous solution, a hydrolyzed starch product having a dextrose equivalent of 10 or greater and an effective amount of a plasticizer. The coating composition provides a surprisingly high gloss coating. The edible film coating composition solution may be stabilized by adding an effective amount of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid salt wherein the solution may remain stable for at least three months. The ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid salt may include disodium, trisodium and tetrasodium salts of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid. Preferably, the concentration of ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid is about 0.5% to 2% of the solution.
US07858128B2
Hydroxycitric acid compositions which comprise approximately 14 to 26% by weight of calcium, and approximately 24 to 40% by weight of potassium or approximately 14 to 24% by weight of sodium, or a mixture thereof, each calculated as a percentage of the total hydroxycitric acid content of the composition, together with dietary supplements and food products containing such compositions and methods for utilizing such compositions, dietary supplements and food products to reduce body weight in mammals are disclosed.
US07858124B2
The present invention relates to an anti-bacterial, anti-virus, and anti-fungus composition, its preparation and use. The composition of the present invention mainly includes the following three ingredients in an adequate ratio: (A) a metal compound having a catalytic function; (B) ionic compound, and (C) an additive. The anti-bacterial, anti-virus, and anti-fungus composition of the present invention is capable of destroying viruses as well as killing bacterial and fungi. Therefore, the composition can be formulated as an aerosol and a film for applying to protection devices such as respirators, masks, gloves, filters, condoms, etc. The present composition can also be used in household, vehicle, hospital, school, restaurant, hotel, internet coffee shop for applying to filter of air-conditioner, tap, stool, interior of elevator and its keyboard. Additionally, the present composition can be applied to human being such as applying to hand, foot, genital organs, oral cavity, and the like in a lower dose to attain the effect of destroying of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
US07858123B2
The invention provides compositions, methods and devices relating to a silaceous oxide that generates a reduced heat of hydration upon contact with blood. By reducing the heat of hydration, the compositions provide a hemostatic agent that attenuates a tissue burning side effect of conventional hemostatic agents without adversely affecting the wound healing properties of the composition.
US07858118B2
An oral Tramadol-containing pharmaceutical composition suitable for once daily administration, which contains an amount of Tramadol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, providing in vivo, a time of Tramadol peak plasma concentration (Tmax) of greater than 10 hours, and peak Tramadol plasma concentration (Cmax) which are less than three times the plasma concentration obtained 24 hours after administration (C24h) of a single dose of the composition.
US07858116B2
The instant invention is drawn to a hepatocyte targeted composition comprising a mixture of free recombinant human insulin isophane and free Recombinant human regular insulin insulin and a mixture of recombinant human insulin isophane and Recombinant human regular insulin insulin associated with a water insoluble target molecule complex, wherein the complex comprises multiple linked individual units and a supra-molecular lipid construct matrix. Recombinant human insulin isophane and Recombinant human regular insulin insulin are present within the complex in at least one form wherein the recombinant human insulin isophane and Recombinant human regular insulin insulin have regions of positive charge which interacts with a negative charge on the complex. The invention also includes methods for the manufacture of the composition and methods of managing blood glucose levels in individuals with Type I and Type II diabetes.
US07858114B2
Disclosed is a percutaneous absorption preparation which enables the stable administration of an antidementia drug over a long period of time. More particularly, the percutaneous absorption preparation of the antidementia drug which is used as a plaster on skin comprises at least an adherent layer, an intermediate membrane, and a drug reservoir layer sequentially from the side which is plastered on skin, wherein the drug reservoir layer comprises at least an antidementia drug, an aminated polymer, a polyhydric alcohol, and one or more carboxylic acid esters, the intermediate membrane enables the controlled permeation of the antidementia drug into the side of skin, the adherent layer enables the plastering of the percutaneous absorption preparation on skin, and is permeable to the antidementia drug.
US07858113B2
The invention relates to a method for improving the permeability of the human skin in order to transdermally supply active substances, permeability being improved by means of a plaster that is transparent in at least some areas, contains active substance, and is flexible in at least some areas, and at least one external light source. According to said method, light that is emitted at least for a short period of time by an external light source and normally impinges at least some areas of the plaster is focused onto the stratum corneum of the skin with the aid of a plurality of individual focusing lenses which are integrated into the plaster so as to bring about changes in the stratum corneum, said changes improving the permeability of the skin. The inventive method for improving the permeability of the human skin allows for reproducible permeability for specific active substances.
US07858111B2
The invention relates to a bioactive fiber product that, as a bioactively effective constituent, contains only one polyester fiber, which is largely or exclusively made of a polyester having links, which are condensed therewith and which contain phosphorous. The bioactive fiber products are suited for all textile products for which antibacterial, fungicidal, acaricidal and similar effects are sought.
US07858110B2
This invention is related to the use of polyurethane-based polymer as a drug delivery device to deliver biologically active compounds at a constant rate for an extended period of time and methods of manufactures thereof. The device is very biocompatible and biostable, and is useful as an implant in patients (humans and animals) for the delivery of appropriate bioactive substances to tissues or organs.
US07858105B2
Methods and formulations are provided to reduce pigmentation in skin, using an array of compounds selected from benzimidazoles, phenylthioureas, phenylthiols, phenylamines, bi- and multicyclic phenols, thiopheneamines, and benzothiamides. The compounds preferably inhibit pigment synthesis in melanocytes through the tyrosinase pathway. The methods can be used for lightening skin, and for treating uneven skin complexions which result from hyperpigmentation-related medical conditions such as melasma, age spots, freckles, ochronosis, and lentigo. The compounds can be used medically or cosmetically.
US07858101B2
Modified streptococcal polysaccharides and methods of using the modified polysaccharides are provided herein.
US07858097B2
The present invention provides Listeria strains that express a heterologous antigen and a metabolic enzyme, and methods of generating same.
US07858063B2
The invention concerns a silicon designed in particular for making solar cells containing a total of impurities ranging between 100 and 400 ppm, a boron content ranging between 0.5 and 3 ppm, a phosphorus/boron content ratio ranging between 1 and 3, and a content of metal elements ranging between 30 and 300 ppm. The invention also concerns a method for making such a silicon from an oxygen- or chorine-refined metallurgical silicon containing at least 500 ppm of metal elements, and comprising: refusion under neutral atmosphere of the refined silicon, in an electric furnace equipped with a hot crucible; transferring the molten silicon, to provide a plasma refining, in an electric furnace equipped with a hot crucible; plasma refining with as plasma-forming gas a mixture of argon and of at least a gas belonging the group consisting of chlorine, fluorine, HCI and HF; casting under controlled atmosphere in an ingot mold wherein is produced segregated solidification.
US07858056B2
A process for recovering a precious metal from a sulfidic material comprises the steps of preparing an acidic aqueous halide solution having an oxidation potential sufficient to oxidize the sulfidic material and render the precious metal soluble in the solution, adding the material to the acidic aqueous halide solution so that the sulfidic material is oxidized and the precious metal is solubilized and separating the precious metal from the oxidized sulfidic material. In addition, a process for removing a contaminant from a contaminated sulfidic material comprises the steps of mixing the material in an aqueous solution wherein a multi-valent species of a relatively high oxidation state oxidizes the contaminant to render it soluble in the solution, produces a contaminant refined material, and is reduced to a relatively lower oxidation state; and removing the contaminant from the solution while regenerating the multi-valent species to its relatively high oxidation state.
US07858049B2
A parallel reactor system including a reactor and vessels in the reactor for holding reaction mixtures, and a cannula for introducing fluid reaction material into the vessels. A robot system is operable to insert the cannula into cannula passages in the reactor for delivery of reaction materials, including condensed gases, to respective vessels, and to withdraw the cannula from the cannula passages after delivery. Related methods are also disclosed.
US07858027B2
A razor protection system includes a container for holding a protective liquid such as mineral oil for protecting the razor of a non-electric shaver. The protective liquid floats on water, which is used to control the level of the protective liquid. A shaver support adjacent the container supports the razor within the container spaced upwardly from the bottom the container above the water. In one embodiment, the shaver support is movable to alternately immerse the razor in the protective liquid and remove the razor from the protective liquid. The shaver support preferably supports the shaver when the razor is not immersed to allow the protective liquid to drip from the razor into the container.
US07858021B2
A conveying system comprising elements for conveying lumpy, particularly hot, conveying stock and a cover for shielding the conveying stock. Disclosed are measures for inerting the conveying stock. A combined system encompasses a reduction plant for reducing oxides in a continuous process and processing unit for producing liquid metal in a discontinuous process. The reduction product is deliverable from the reduction plant to the processing unit. A method for coupling a reduction method used for reducing oxides in a continuous process and a method used for producing liquid metal in a discontinuous process. A reduction product from the reduction method is fed to the liquid metal production method for processing.
US07858018B2
An enclosure for mounting burners and particle injection equipment in an electric arc furnace (EAF) is described. The enclosures are mounted on the sidewalls of an EAF and include passages in which burners or injectors are mounted so that the discharge ends of the burners and injectors are located closer the melt than sidewall mounted burners and injectors. Burners and injectors mounted in the enclosures heat material in the furnace and deliver particulates to the melt more efficiently than conventionally mounted burners and injectors. The enclosures are liquid-cooled, typically by water, and constructed of high conductivity materials such as copper and/or cast iron and can be constructed in one or more pieces. Therefore, the enclosures protect the burners and injectors from the excessive heat and mechanical impact to which they would normally be subjected when mounted so close to the melt.
US07858013B2
Die assembly (21, 22), which includes slide die halves (23, 24) and can define a primary molding section (21a, 22a) and a secondary molding section (22b, 23b) adjacent to the primary molding section according to the positions of the slide die halves, are used. After a preformed film (10) is inserted into the primary molding section, a first resin material has been injected into the primary molding section so as to mold a first part (11), and then a second resin material is injected into a secondary molding section (22b, 23b and 23a, 24a) including a part of the surface of the film of the first part as a joint surface (10a), by which a second part (12a, 12) that is joined to the first part via the joint surface is molded.
US07858008B2
A profile-extruded article is disclosed, made of a fiber-reinforced polymer of vinyl-chloride monomer, wherein the article has a ratio of actual specific gravity to theoretical specific gravity of nearly unity. A method of making the article is also disclosed.
US07858007B2
A die was provided for forming a honeycomb body having a structure provided with groovy slits on a front face thereof, the slits being formed by cell blocks and back holes on a back surface thereof, each hole being communicatively connected with the slit. The die is made of cemented carbide having wear resistance. The cemented carbide is formed by compacting, followed by sintering at high temperature, metal carbide powder of transition metal element series with an iron group metal binder having toughness. A connection area ratio of the back hole and the cell block is 35 to 65%.
US07858003B2
A soft mold includes a polymer layer having a printing pattern on at least a first surface thereof; and a back-plane attached to a second surface of the polymer layer.
US07858001B2
A cast photochromic lens including a photochromic film and a cast resin, curable by heat or radiation.
US07857985B2
The invention provides a metal polishing liquid comprising an oxidizing agent and colloidal silica in which a part of a surface of the colloidal silica is covered with aluminum atoms, and a Chemical Mechanical Polishing method using the same. An amino acid, a compound having an isothiazoline-3-one skeleton, an organic acid, a passivated film forming agent, a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and a water-soluble polymer may be contained. A metal polishing liquid which is used in Chemical Mechanical Polishing in manufacturing of a semiconductor device, attains low dishing of a subject to be polished, and can perform polishing excellent in in-plane uniformity of a surface to be polished.
US07857984B2
A plasma surface treatment method for performing a surface treatment on a quartz member used under a plasma-exposed environment by using a plasma having an ion energy greater than about 5.3 eV. The plasma has, near a surface of the quartz member, an electron temperature higher than or equal to about 2 eV. Further, in a plasma processing apparatus for generating a plasma by introducing a microwave into a processing chamber through a planar antenna having a plurality of slots, the surface treatment is carried out for about 30-300 seconds by using a plasma of a processing gas containing Ar gas and N2 gas under conditions of a processing pressure lower than or equal to about 15 Pa and a microwave power higher than or equal to about 0.9 W/cm2, the surface treatment being repeated 25 to 2000 times.
US07857981B2
A catalyst which, by means of a reduction reaction at ambient temperature, permits the elimination of nitrates and nitrites in waters. The catalyst comprises a combination of a noble metal and a non-noble metal supported on or incorporated into the structure of a support which, in elemental and anhydrous form, has the formula XYMgAl, in which X is at least one noble metal, Y is at least one non-noble metal, Mg is magnesium and Al is aluminum, the Mg and Al preferably forming the structure of a hydrotalcite or a mixed oxide deriving from a hydrotalcite.
US07857961B2
To provide a copper plating solution composition that precipitates copper plated membranes that are both uniform and smooth and which has good external appearance even if the copper plated membranes that are formed are relatively thin. The copper plating solution composition contains chlorine ions and bromide ions in specific volumes.
US07857959B2
A cost-effective and highly reproducible method of fabricating nanowires, and small gaps or spacings in nanowires is disclosed. The nanogaps bridge an important size regime between 1 nm and 100 nm. The nanogaps can be selectively predetermined to be as small as 1.0 nm, or larger than 1000 nm. These electrode gaps can be useful in preparing molecular electronic devices that involve making electrical contact to individual molecules, such as biomolecules, or small clusters of molecules. Microelectrodes having nanogaps for electrical and magnetic applications formed by the method, and as well as biosensors and their use in detecting a biological species, such as DNA, are also disclosed.
US07857952B2
An apparatus for treating the surface of an object to be treated comprising introducing a surface treatment fluid into a reaction vessel (4) capable of receiving an object, introducing the surface treatment fluid into a separation vessel (14) after the object is subjected to surface treatment, and circulating the surface treatment fluid, from which a contaminant has already been removed, to the reaction vessel (4). At the time of treatment on the surface of the object, a circulation passage for the surface treatment fluid including the reaction vessel (4) is communicated and the surface treatment fluid is constantly circulated through the circulation passage.
US07857949B2
A sacrificial metal anode device incorporating a resistor assembly into the construction of the sacrificial anode is insertable into a metal water storage tank. The metal water storage tank designed to contain heated water is thereby protected from corrosion by the sacrificial metal anode. The sacrificial metal anode device comprising an elongated metal anode member with a metal wire core, an insulating sleeve secured over the elongated metal anode member wherein said insulating sleeve has an external wall with threads to fixedly secure a metal cap. The metal cap having threads on an internal wall to fixedly secure the insulating sleeve further including a cylindrical receptacle for receipt of an end of the elongated metal anode member and an electrical resistor assembly.
US07857947B2
Blocker plates for chemical vapor deposition chambers and methods of treating blocker plates are provided. The blocker plates define a plurality of holes therethrough and have an upper surface and a lower surface that are at least about 99.5% pure, which minimizes the nucleation of contaminating particles on the blocker plates. A physically vapor deposited coating, such as an aluminum physically vapor deposited coating, may be formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the blocker plates. Chemical vapor deposition chambers including blocker plates having a physically vapor deposited coating thereon are also provided.
US07857943B2
Useful byproducts are recovered through the pyrolytic processing of biomass material such as vegetation, paper, or worn tires. The process is conducted in a sealed enclosure under vacuum or other controlled atmosphere. The biomass material is ablated and burned by crunching between counter-rotating rollers whose inner walls have been exposed to a highly heated fluid. The biomass material is preheated by injecting into the feeding duct super-heated dry steam. A condenser within the enclosure reduces resulting vapors into oils that can be drained from the enclosure pan. Solid combustion residue is abstracted from the enclosure by an Archimedes screw.
US07857938B2
There is provided a method for producing a barrier container having a barrier layer which constitutes the inner surface of the container by joining container parts, the method having step (1) of producing container parts from a thermoplastic resin, the container parts each having an inner surface, step (2) of applying a coating liquid containing a liquid medium and a polymer component (A) having hydroxyl groups and carboxyl groups with a ratio of the number of the hydroxyl groups to the number of the carboxyl groups of from 30:70 to 95:5 to the inner surfaces of the container parts produced in step (1), thereby forming a film on the inner surfaces, step (3) of joining the container parts having the film to form a primary container, and step (4) of dry heating the primary container to obtain a dry heated container having a barrier layer.
US07857929B2
Provided is a method of producing a pneumatic tire where occurrence of blisters caused by trapped air is prevented even if a thermoplastic resin film is used as an air permeation prevention layer. The method includes: wrapping a thermoplastic resin film (6) around a making drum (20); winding an unvulcanized tie-rubber sheet (7) on the thermoplastic resin film (6) in a manner that a winding start portion (7a) and a winding end portion (7b) of the tie-rubber sheet (7) are overlapped with each other; and thereafter winding a carcass layer (5) on the tie-rubber sheet (7). In the method, an unvulcanized auxiliary rubber sheet (9) is bonded onto the winding start portion (7a) of the tie-rubber sheet (7) so as to project in a circumferential direction, and then the tie-rubber sheet (7) is wound in a manner that the winding end portion (7b) of the tie-rubber sheet (7) is stacked on the auxiliary rubber sheet (9).
US07857925B2
A protocol for determining process parameters for debulking composite laminates is established using a standardized a double vacuum debulk (DVD) process. This allows for the development of a rapid fabrication process for thick laminates of toughened carbon/epoxy composite materials. For rework, a single piece multilayer patch is made available for bonding with an adhesive layer to a prepared structural area.
US07857916B2
A Co—Cr—Mo alloy fine wire has superior biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, processability, and flexibility. A manufacturing method and a planar body or the like formed by processing this fine wire. This is a fine wire of diameter of 200 micrometers or less comprising 26 to 31 weight % of Cr, 8 to 16 weight % of Mo, and the remainder of Co and inevitable impurities, in which the degree of roundness (minor diameter/major diameter) of lateral cross section is 0.6 or more, and the internal structure is uniform with the concentration ratio of high Mo concentration phase to low Mo concentration phase of 1.8 or less.
US07857912B2
The present invention is drawn to a wire container comprising a plurality of spring-like wires having wave patterns forming a part support that minimize contact points between the container and one or more contained parts when the container is subjected to a vibration causing the wires and the parts to move, thereby eliminating any fixed contact points between the part and the supporting part support. Another aspect of the current invention is a process for removing penetrant from parts comprising: placing one or more parts with penetrant applied in a container having spring-like wire with wave patterns forming a part support; oscillating the container during a cleaning process thereby compressing and expanding one or more spring-like wires thus exposing part surfaces and removing the penetrant from the parts.
US07857907B2
The present invention relates to a method for forming a layered structure with silicon nanocrystals. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: (i) forming a first conductive layer on a substrate, (ii) forming a silicon-rich dielectric layer on the first conductive layer, and (iii) laser-annealing at least the silicon-rich dielectric layer to induce silicon-rich aggregation to form a plurality of silicon nanocrystals in the silicon-rich dielectric layer. The silicon-rich dielectric layer is one of a silicon-rich oxide film having a refractive index in the range of about 1.4 to 2.3, or a silicon-rich nitride film having a refractive index in the range of about 1.7 to 2.3. The layered structure with silicon nanocrystals in a silicon-rich dielectric layer is usable in a solar cell, a photodetector, a touch panel, a non-volatile memory device as storage node, and a liquid crystal display.
US07857900B2
An ink set includes a plurality of inks, at least one ink but less than all inks of the ink set including an ink vehicle, colorant and fluorescence agent and remaining additional inks including an ink vehicle, colorant and free of fluorescence agent. At least a first ink grouping and a second ink grouping of the ink set form a combination, the first and second groupings of the combination exhibiting a substantially same color under ambient light conditions upon image formation. The first ink grouping and the second ink grouping of the combination contain a different amount of the fluorescence agent, wherein upon exposure to activating energy, the fluorescence agent fluoresces to cause a visible change in the color of a pattern formed in an image by the first ink grouping as compared to the second ink grouping.
US07857885B2
A column shaped filter having a honeycomb structure including a number of through holes extending parallel with one another in the length direction with wall portion interposed therebetween. The through holes are constituted by large-capacity through holes having a relatively larger cross-sectional area in the cross section perpendicular to the length direction and small-capacity through holes having a relatively smaller cross-sectional area in the cross section. The numbers of the two types of through holes are substantially set to the same. The large-capacity through holes are sealed at one end of the filter, while the small-capacity through holes are sealed at the other end of the filter. The large-capacity and small-capacity through holes have a ratio of partition wall length, α, and an aperture ratio, β, and α and β satisfy β≧(20/9)α2+1 (where 0<α≦1.5 and 1<β≦6).
US07857881B2
An air cleaner is used in a two-stroke internal combustion engine to supply an air-fuel mixture passage and a fresh air passage in a carburetor with air cleaned by an air cleaner element. The air cleaner includes an air cleaner base having an air-fuel mixture opening communicating with the air-fuel mixture passage and a fresh air opening communicating with the fresh air passage, and an air guide member provided at the air-fuel mixture opening. The air guide member is configured to curve near the air-fuel mixture opening and extend from there along the air cleaner base, and has a cross section surrounded by a peripheral wall. The air guide member defines a mixture-use air extension passage for air to be added to prepare an air-fuel mixture air-fuel mixture, which extends from a first clean air intake to the air-fuel mixture opening. Blown-back gas from the air-fuel mixture passage hits against the inner wall of the curved portion of the air guide member, and is therefore restricted to flow out of the first clean air intake and leak into the air cleaner. Thereby, harmful emissions in the exhaust gas from the two-stroke internal engine can be reduced.
US07857876B2
Diamond clusters are used as a polishing material of free abrading particles, each being a combination of artificial diamond particles having primary particle diameters of 20 nm or less and impurities that are attached around these diamond particles. The density of non-diamond carbon contained in the impurities is in the range of 95% or more and 99% or less, and the density of chlorine contained in other than non-diamond carbon in the impurities is 0.5% or more and preferably 3.5% or less. The diameters of these diamond clusters are in the range of 30 nm or more and 500 nm or less, and their average diameter is in the range of 30 nm or more and 200 nm or less. Such polishing material is produced first by an explosion shock method to obtain diamond clusters and then removing the impurities such that density of non-diamond carbon contained in the impurities and density of chlorine contained in other than non-diamond carbon in the impurities become adjusted.
US07857875B2
A method for start-up and shut down of a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst is disclosed. Also disclosed are a computer programmed to start-up or shut down a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst or a program storage medium encoded with instruction that, when executed by a computer, start-up or shut down a fuel processor including an autothermal reformer employing a non-pyrophoric shift catalyst.
US07857872B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for the production of biodiesel and co-production of an enriched food product. The method comprises the steps of extracting with solvent from distillers grains sufficient to produce an extract and an enriched food product, separating the oil from the extract, reacting the oil sufficient to produce biodiesel, and refining the biodiesel.
US07857865B2
The disclosure relates to a method for dyeing keratinous fibers by applying, to said fibers, i) at least one entity chosen from ortho-diphenol and derivatives thereof, ii) at least one metal salt, iii) hydrogen peroxide or at least one system which generates hydrogen peroxide, and iv) at least one (bi)carbonate, wherein the method for coloring keratinous fibers is carried out in at least two stages, and wherein the at least one (bi)carbonate and the at least one metal salt are applied in separate stages. The disclosure also relates to a ready-to-use cosmetic composition and relates to a multicompartment device comprising from 2 to 5 compartments comprising from 2 to 5 compositions.
US07857864B2
Disclosed herein is a composition for the dyeing of keratin fibers, for example, human keratin fibers such as the hair, comprising at least one 3-amino pyrazolo-[1,5-a]-pyridine derivative or one of its addition salts and a method employing this derivative. The composition of the present disclosure makes it possible to obtain coloration in various shades that is powerful, chromatic, and aesthetic, with low selectivity and with good resistance to various aggressive factors to which the hair may be subjected, such as shampoos, the light, sweat and permanent shaping.
US07857862B2
A one-part hair dye composition containing (A) one or more compounds represented by the formula (1), (B) a silicone, and (C) a polyol, wherein the composition has a pH of from 8 to 11, wherein, a broken line represents the presence or absence of π bond, R1 represents OH or acetoxy, R2 represents H, —COOR (R representing H, CH3 or C2H5) or —COO−X+ (X+ representing a cation), and R3 represents H, acetyl, CH3 or C2H5.
US07857858B2
Modular bone implants, manner of assembly, and their method of use are presented. In one form thereof, a tibial component of a knee prosthesis is providing including a tray having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and an extension forming an elongate body having a top end and a bottom end. One of the tray and extension includes an outwardly projecting boss, with the boss having an outer wall including a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion. The other of the tray and extension includes an inwardly extending bore forming a bore wall, the bore wall including a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion.
US07857852B2
An artificial disc (10) to replace a damaged spinal disc in a spinal column (16) includes a resilient core (60) having an upper surface (62) and a lower surface(64). An upper retaining member (20) has an outer surface (22) engageable with a first vertebra (12) of the spinal column (16) and an inner surface (24) affixed to the upper surface (62) of the resilient core (60). A lower retaining member (40) has an outer surface (42) engageable with a second vertebra (14) of the spinal column (16) and an inner surface (44) affixed to the lower surface (64) of the resilient core (60). One of the upper and lower retaining members (20, 40) has an opening (30, 50) extending through the outer and inner surfaces into which the resilient core (60) deflects upon relative movement of the upper and lower retaining members (20, 40).
US07857842B2
The present invention concerns an improved stent in which the limbs have been fabricated from a medium having a cross sectional profile in which at least one segment is flat and straight, whereby the stent is provided with improved expansion characteristics.
US07857839B2
A fixation system includes a plate comprising at least one fixation hole comprising an undercut therein, and at least one passage intersecting one of the undercuts. At least one resilient clip is disposed in at least a portion of the undercut, with the at least one clip having a pair of generally parallel sides and an end tab. At least one fastener is provided and comprises a head and a threaded shaft, with the head comprising a perimetral groove extending around at least a portion thereof and an instrument receiving portion. The at least one clip is configured and dimensioned to seat in the undercut with the end tab extending within the passage, and the at least one fastener is configured and dimensioned to be received in the at least one fixation hole and securable therein when the at least one clip abuts the perimetral groove of the head.
US07857837B2
A system and method for facilitating the installation of spinals support members on consecutive vertebrae where the optimal positioning of screws does not form a straight line. The system includes a first plate spanning a first and second vertebrae, a second plate spanning the second vertebrae and a third vertebrae and an offset member coupling the first plate to the second plate at a defined angle to accommodate the anatomical variations of the patients vertebrae.
US07857826B2
An embolic protection filter having a reduced profile for placement within a body lumen is disclosed. An embolic protection filter in accordance with the present invention includes a filter frame slidably and rotationally disposed along a guidewire, a plurality of retaining collars coupled to a proximal end of the filter frame, a plurality of expandable struts each having a proximal section adapted to slide within a corresponding retaining collar, and a filter mesh coupled to a distal section of the expandable struts for filtering embolic debris.
US07857823B2
A medical instrument for engaging tissue includes a flexible shaft, a tissue piercing coil at a distal portion of the shaft, and a tissue stabilizer positioned over the shaft and biased in a distal direction such that as the tissue piercing coil enters tissue, the tissue stabilizer is urged against a surface of the tissue. A medical instrument for reconfiguring tissue includes a flexible shaft defining a lumen housing actuating controls, and a distal actuating assembly with a sealing portion configured to substantially seal the shaft lumen from contact with bodily fluids. A cartridge assembly includes first and second members configured for releasable attachment to a medical instrument, and a holder configured to receive the first and second members and to be released from the first and second members upon action of the first and second members attaching to the medical instrument.
US07857821B2
A positioning block (10) for use in total knee replacement surgery, permitting five degrees-of-freedom movement relative to a bone element (39) to which it is fixed. The positioning block (10) comprises a rotational mounting element (14) that is removably engaged to the bone element such that the mounting element (14) is selectively rotatable relative to the bone element, about three substantially perpendicular axes of rotation. A guide body portion (12) is engaged with the mounting element (14) such that it is translatable relative thereto along a proximal-distal axis (43) and an anterior-posterior axis (47), while being rotationally fixed relative to the mounting element (14) such that the guide body portion (12) and the mounting element (14) rotate together relative to the bone element (39).
US07857818B2
A disc nucleus implant instrument includes a passageway effective for passing a material for replacing or augmenting an intervertebral disc nucleus, and a dilator at the distal end of said passageway. The instrument is effective for dilating an opening in a disc annulus and for passing a disc nucleus repair material through the opening and into the disc nucleus.,
US07857816B2
An acetabular inserter (10) aids a surgeon in controlling the installation of an acetabular cup prosthesis (11) having a central, female aperture (13). The inserter includes an inserter head (20), a housing (12) and a locking mechanism. The housing (12) is attached to the inserter head, the housing enclosing a drive train (14) having, at a far end (134), a prosthesis engaging thread (124), and at the opposite end (42′), a handle (20) which facilitates turning of the drive train by the operator. The locking mechanism is associated with the housing which selectively locks the drive train, and thus the prosthesis, in position. The opposite end (42′) of the drive train has a latch device which enables quick removal from the housing for cleaning and sterilization.
US07857814B2
A cutting tool for creating resected surfaces of bone during arthroplasty procedures has a single offset handle arm that presents a narrower effective width than a width of the cutting profile of the cutting tool along a longitudinal axis of the cutting profile. Preferably, the single offset handle arm creates a cutting tool with a generally L-shaped outline simultaneously accounting for soft tissue/incision geometry and bony geometry to accommodate both in facilitating ease of use and minimal displacement of soft tissue during cutting. The cutting tool can be snaked into position through an incision approximately the size of the width of the handle arm, instead of requiring an incision that is essentially the width of the cutting path of the cutting tool. In alternate embodiments, the cutting tool is a milling tool, a wireplasty cutting tool, a band saw or reciprocating cutting tool.
US07857811B2
An ablating device has a cover which holds an interface material such as a gel. The cover contains the interface material during initial placement of the device. The ablating device may also have a removable tip or a membrane filled with fluid. In still another aspect, the ablating device may be submerged in liquid during operation.
US07857809B2
A porous tip electrode and a catheter having the same are provided. The catheter generally comprises a catheter body, tip section and control handle. A porous tip electrode, manufactured by injection molding, is mounted at the distal end of the tip section and comprises a main electrode body and a stem. The catheter further comprises a first irrigation tube segment extending through the catheter body and into the proximal end of the tip section, and a second irrigation tube segment extending from the stem of the tip electrode into the distal end of the tip section. Means for energizing saline or other fluid that passes to the tip electrode can include an inner conductive sleeve in the second irrigation tube segment or a conductive material on the stem of the tip electrode. The energized saline ablates lesions in heart tissue.
US07857802B2
The invention relates to a connector for medical liquid-containing packages, in particular to infusion or transfusion bags comprising a connection element (1) provided with a channel-shaped opening (1c) in which a self-sealing membrane (8) is arranged. A breakable part (17) which is connected to the connection piece closes the channel-shaped opening. Above the membrane (8), said connection element is embodied in the form a connection piece (13) comprising an internal cone (14) and external thread (15), the membrane (8) being sealed for receiving a syringe cone shaft. The inventive connector makes it possible to inject an active substance by means of a conventional Luer lock syringe devoid of an injection cannula (needle).
US07857801B2
A disposable diaper including a chassis and an absorbent assembly. The chassis includes laterally opposing side flaps formed by laterally inwardly folded portions of the chassis and deployable chassis ears formed by other laterally inwardly folded portions of the chassis. Each chassis ear is held laterally inwardly folded until being released and unfolded laterally outward so as to project laterally outward beyond the adjacent side flap. An elastically extensible stretch waistband overlies portions of the laterally opposing chassis ears and extends laterally across the waist region between them.
US07857790B2
An infection-preventing gastrostomy catheter kit to be used in the gastrostomy, which can pass an intragastric retainer of a catheter easily and reliably through an infection-preventing sheath by an easy maneuver, and which can reduce the diameter of the infection-preventing sheath.The catheter kit comprises: a gastrostomy catheter 20 including a flexible, hollow PEG tube 21 reinforced with filaments 24, an deformable intragastric retainer 23 positioned at the trailing end of the PEG tube 21, and a tapered member 22 positioned at the leading end of the PEG tube 21 for retaining the leading end portion 40a of a guide wire 40 inserted from a leading end hole 22a thereof; and an infection-preventing sheath 1 including a flexible, hollow tubular body 2, and a socket member having a socket 4 positioned at the trailing end of the tubular body 2 for retaining the intragastric retainer 23, and pins 5, thereby removably sheathing the gastrostomy catheter 20. The gastrostomy catheter 20 may be provided with a housing sheath 60 for deforming and housing the intragastric retainer 23.
US07857776B2
An adjustable orthosis for, among other functions, flexing or extending a users joint, positioning a limb or digit during or after a surgical procedure, correcting foot drop due to soft tissue contraction, and augmenting soft tissue during weight bearing therapies. In a preferred form, the orthosis includes a padded shell adapted to be worn on a user's limb and a distal support to be worn on one or more digits of the hand or foot or on the forefoot or body of the hand. The padded shell is connected to the distal support solely via an elastic member such as surgical tubing, which also applies a tension force between the two supports. One end of the elastic member carries teeth that mate with a ratcheting device that permits the wearer (1) to gradually increase the tension between the supports and (2) to quickly release the tension.
US07857775B2
A method and system for non-invasive treatment of a soft tissue, such as adipose tissue, muscle tissue or connective tissue. The apparatus comprises an applicator configured to apply a pressure pulse to the skin surface having a negative pressure phase with respect to ambient pressure. The method comprises applying at least one pressure pulse to the skin surface overlying the soft tissue, where the pressure pulse has at least one negative pressure phase.
US07857769B2
A system and method for determining a left ventricular end-diastolic pressure of blood within a left ventricle of a patient includes non-invasively measuring a plurality of cardiac parameters of the patient. The cardiac parameters may include a mitral valve area, and at least one of a stroke volume of the left ventricle, a left ventricular diastolic filling time, and a maximum velocity of blood entering the left ventricle. The systems and methods further include a step of calculating the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure using the measured cardiac parameters.
US07857752B2
A medical image processing apparatus having an image conversion section including a coordinate-system converting section for converting an image in an orthogonal coordinate system to an image in a polar coordinate system, for geometrically converting a medical image of a tubular part in vivo picked up and obtained by the coordinate-system converting section; a squamocolumnar junction detecting section for detecting a squamocolumnar junction that is a junction between a squamous epithelium and a columnar epithelium on the image of the polar coordinate system; and an analyzing section for comparing an evaluation value for a feature value determined for the detected squamocolumnar junction and a predetermined reference value and calculating an analysis result.
US07857744B2
A cell separation set for separating blood components, having a cell separation chamber with a first entry section having a wall with an outwardly flared curve, the entry section having an axial length and an inmost maximum diameter perpendicular to the axial length, the axial length being greater than the inmost maximum diameter. The cell separation chamber further comprises a separation section having a wall comprising an inward curve. A transition section between the entry section and the separation section has a wall comprising a second inward curve, the second inward curve being different from said first inward curve. The first curve may be tangent to the second curve at a first junction between the first and second curves and the second curve may be tangent to the third curve at a second junction between the second and third curves.
US07857740B2
A bench platform assembly, which has a rectangular deck having a plurality of spaced apart holes therein for permitting the free passage therethrough of an elastic cord or tubing or rope; and a semicircular rocker assembly affixed to a central bottom portion of said deck. Two removable rectangular blocks allow the bench platform to become a fixed platform.
US07857735B2
A selectorized dumbbell has a handle that can be inserted into a gap between stacks of nested left and right weight plates. A selector determines how many left weight plates are coupled to the left end of the handle and how many right weight plates are coupled to the right end of the handle. Each weight plate is held between a pair of flexible arms on a forked carrier. The arms allow the weight plates to deflect out of a normal, substantially upright, orientation if an impact shock is delivered to the dumbbell. The arms are restored to their normal orientation once the impact shock dissipates. Alternatively, the weight plates may comprise a metallic inner weight plate covered with an elastomer encasement and with an integral elastomer lug attaching the weight plates to at least one interconnecting member. The selector may comprise a connecting pin with at least one flexible shock absorbing prong.
US07857734B2
A sports training system includes a supporting structure, a first moving element supported by the supporting structure so as to be moveable relative to the supporting structure along a first path, a second moving element supported by the first moving element so as to be moveable relative to the first moving element along a second path different from the first path, and a punching bag suspended below the first moving element by the second moving element. The punching bag is moveable to any point within an area defined by the first and second paths when a trainee strikes the punching bag, thereby mimicking movements of an opponent. One or more elastic elements can be attached between the punching bag and the supporting structure for returning the punching bag to a desired region within the area.
US07857729B2
An automated striking and blocking trainer is disclosed. In some embodiments, the trainer includes the following: a frame; a striking body joined with the frame, the punching bag including one or more strike zone assemblies, the strike zone assemblies each having a light indicator and a striking force sensor; an arm assembly joined with the frame, the arm assembly including one or more arms, each of the one or more arms including a voltage differential sensor and a motion indicator in the form of an electrical motor, wherein the voltage differential between the power being used by the electrical motor when the one or more arms are not struck and when the one or more arms are struck is used to determine a torque of the one or more arms and an input force of a blocking strike; and a head assembly including a processor unit and a display.
US07857724B2
A multi-group transmission for a motor vehicle having a main transmission and a range group transmission downstream from the main transmission. The reverse gear is integrated into the range-group transmission.
US07857723B2
A transaxle unit comprises a differential assembly having a differential mechanism, a power take-off unit and a torque-coupling device for selectively restricting differential rotation of a differential mechanism. The torque-coupling device includes a friction clutch assembly for selectively frictionally engaging and disengaging a differential case and one of output axle shafts and a hydraulic clutch actuator. The hydraulic clutch actuator includes a hydraulic pump and a variable pressure relief valve assembly fluidly communicating with the hydraulic pump to selectively control a hydraulic pressure generated by the hydraulic pump. The variable pressure relief valve assembly comprises a valve closure member, a valve seat complementary to the valve closure member and an electro-magnetic actuator for engaging the valve closure member and generating a variable electro-magnetic force urging selectively vary a release pressure of the pressure relief valve assembly based on a magnitude of an electric current supplied to the electro-magnetic actuator.
US07857717B2
A hockey stick for training a person in stick handling, having elongate upper stick portion, an elongate lower stick portion, an elongate coupling member, and an elongate middle stick portion. The elongate upper stick portion is configured to be gripped by a control hand of the person. The elongate lower stick portion has a blade member extending outwardly therefrom. The elongate coupling member rigidly couples the upper stick portion to the lower stick portion. The elongate middle stick portion is positioned between and collinear with the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion and is configured to be gripped by a directional hand of the person. The middle stick portion is rotatably coupled to the elongate coupling member so that rotation of the upper stick portion causes the lower stick portion and the blade member to rotate without rotating the middle stick portion gripped by the directional hand.
US07857706B2
A system of training a golf swing including the steps of providing a positional apparatus that provides the golfer with variable impact heights and variable rotational positions to enable them to learn the correct swing, and also includes various additional training items. The stand provides heights ranging from the traditional on the ground striking position up to the golfer's waist to train the swing incrementally and can be positioned anywhere within the golfer's peripheral sight. It also provides the golfer a way to learn the correct movements used in the swing without the pressure of trying to effect a golf ball flight.
US07857704B2
A system may enable a participant to play games of chance in a water environment. A gambling facility may be part of a water ride. The gambling facility is coupled to a water amusement system. Gambling stations may be at least partially submerged in the body of water. Gambling apparatus may float on or be coupled to structures in the body of water. A participant may move from station to station, or apparatus to apparatus, by swimming, floating, traveling underwater, walking or jogging in the body of water, or using a conveyor. In some embodiments, participant identifiers are coupled to the one or more participants. The participant identifiers may be used to assess a status of the participants in the gambling facility or water amusement park system.
US07857692B2
A media game that employs a method for randomly shuffling through a large set of video and/or audio clips stored on readable media using a media player, such as a DVD player, is disclosed. In addition to the readable media, the game also includes a game board, moveable play pieces, trivia question cards, random name cards, a numbered die, and a challenge die. The game board can be converted from long play to short play by lifting the endmost sections of the game board and placing them next to each other on top of intermediate sections of the game board. A path circumnavigates the game board and appears to be continuous in both long and short play modes. The begin and end regions reside at least partially on the endmost sections and appear as unbroken shapes when configured for both long and short play.
US07857678B2
A toy is provided comprising a plush figure with a hole passing through a body part thereof, and an accessory for removable attachment to the figure, for customizing the toy.
US07857676B2
A swimming robot according to the present invention is constructed to simulate a human body having an upper portion including a chest 3, back 6, a swivable head 2, a shoulder portion 8, a pair of rotatable arms 14, 16 and a lower portion 4 including a pair of movable legs 34, 36 and a movable hip portion 7. A handle 5 is attached to the back 6 of the swimming robot 1. The swimming motion of the swimming robot 1 according to the present invention comprises drive mechanisms such as, a manual drive mechanism, a leg drive mechanism and a head-tilt mechanism.
US07857675B2
A method for producing a plasma display panel wherein the projection of the end portions of electrode in the widthwise direction are suppressed so that failure in insulation and pressure proof is not caused upon forming an electrode pattern by collectively exposing and developing a bus electrode having a two-layered structure. When the electrode pattern having two-layered structure by a photolithography method using a mask, exposure is made by applying light, while a part of a surface of portion of a paste film of an electrode material which portion to be formed into the electrode pattern is shield from the light, so that a dent is formed in the electrode surface after developing and the thermal shrinkage of the center portion and the thermal shrinkage of the end portions of the electrode in the widthwise direction are controlled separately by the dent.
US07857669B1
An electrical connection includes a socket having a bore and a pin. The pin is allowed to move along an axis defined inwardly into the socket bore, and also to move radially relative to the axis. The socket bore has a generally conical portion. The pin has a generally conical face. The generally conical face of the pin is in contact with the generally conical portion of the socket. A motor system including such a connection is also disclosed. In another feature, an electrical connection includes a socket having a bore and a pin. The pin is allowed to move along an axis defined inwardly into the bore, and also to move radially relative to the axis. The pin is spring-biased into the bore such that an end of the pin seats on an end face of the bore.
US07857666B2
An exemplary cable connector includes a terminal module, a latching flange, and a housing. The terminal module includes a first terminal, a second terminal, and an insulator. The first terminal and the second terminal are insulated by the insulator. The latching flange is fixed on an outer surface of the terminal module. The housing is fixed on a periphery of the terminal module. The latching flange forms at least one resisting surface. An inner surface of the housing defines a latching groove corresponding to the latching flange. The latching groove forms at least one resisting surface corresponding to the at least one resisting surface of the latching flange. The latching flange is latched in the latching groove.
US07857662B2
A receptacle cage (100) for receiving a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver therein includes a cage body (10) inserted into a passage (201) defined in a chassis (200), and a conductive plate (21) attached to outside of the cage body (10), said conductive plate (21) forming a plurality of resilient fingers (26) for grounding said cage body (10) to said chassis (200). The conductive plate (21) forming a front edge portion (282) closed to the cage body (10), a connection portion (284) extending slantways and rearwardly from the front edge portion (282), and the plurality of resilient fingers (26) being listed side by side in a first direction and extending from the connection portion (284), wherein said connection portion (284) extends continuously in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to corresponding wall of the cage body (10).
US07857659B2
An electronic device having a stretchable USB receptacle is provided. An extending connecting cable is added to the USB receptacle on the electronic device. In normal condition, the connecting cable is accommodated in a cable reel to make the USB receptacle accommodated in an accommodating recess of the electronic device to keep consistency of the appearance. In using condition, the USB receptacle may be taken out and used in a needed place by drawing out the connecting cable. This overcomes the disadvantage that the conventional adjacent USB receptacles may be interfered with each other, and the scope of use also increases.
US07857657B2
To provide a multicore cable connector in which alignment of signal lines of a cable and soldering of the signal lines to a wiring pattern of a substrate are facilitated, and impedance mismatch on the substrate is minimized. A multicore cable connector 1 includes a cable fixing member 2, an aggregate cable 3 accommodated in cable fixing member 2, an aligning plate 4 for aligning signal lines 312 included in aggregate cable 3, and a substrate 5 formed with a wiring pattern 53 conductively connected to signal lines 312 of aggregate cable 3.
US07857652B2
A releasably engaging high definition multimedia plug comprises a plug body and an actuator operable with the plug body to move a locking tab of the plug and facilitate releasable engagement of the plug with a standard high definition multimedia receptacle.
US07857650B1
An electrical connector includes an elongated housing having a front portion and a rear portion, a printed circuit board enclosed in the housing, a latching mechanism mounted to the housing. The latching mechanism includes a locking member and actuating member. The locking member includes a retaining portion, a locking portion extending rearwardly from the retaining portion, a ramp connecting to a back edge of the locking portion, the retaining portion engaging with the front portion of the housing. The actuating member includes a plurality of sides surrounding the rear portion of the housing, an inclined pressing tab connecting with a top side of the actuating member and disposed adjacent to the ramp of the locking member. The actuating member is rearwardly pulled to let the pressing tab sliding along the ramp and downwardly pressing the ramp to lower the locking portion of the locking member.
US07857646B2
An apparatus for forming a temporary electrical connection with a microelectronic component and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the apparatus can include a base, a plurality of electrical contacts coupled to the base, and a nest attached to the base. The nest includes a plurality of contact compartments aligned with peripheral leads of the microelectronic component and at least partially covering the contacts. Individual contact compartments are masked to prevent a corresponding contact from electrically contacting the peripheral leads of the microelectronic component. In one embodiment, the masked contact compartments are used as a guide zone to guide individual peripheral leads when the microelectronic component is seated at or unseated from the support surface. In an additional or alternative embodiment, the masked contact compartments are used to selectively isolate contacts, for example, from supply or ground electrical potentials.
US07857644B2
Apparatus and methods associated with wired drill pipe having conductive end connections are described. In one described example, an end connector for use with drill pipe includes a generally cylindrical body having an outer shoulder and an inner shoulder. In the described example, the outer shoulder is to engage a shoulder of a drill pipe to be coupled to the body to provide an electrically conductive connection between the body and the drill pipe, and the inner shoulder is to engage an end of the drill pipe. The example end connector also includes a generally cylindrical electrical connector rigidly coupled to the cylindrical body to form at least a portion of the inner shoulder. The generally cylindrical electrical connector is substantially electrically insulated from the cylindrical body and is to contact the end of the drill pipe to provide an electrically conductive connection between the electrical connector and the end of the drill pipe.
US07857642B1
A probe tip for use with an inductive amplifier unit having an inductive generator circuit connected to an indicator, such as an acoustic transducer. The tip includes a substantially non-conducting inductive member having a distal end insertable into an opening of a communication jack housing contacts and having a keyway portion. The tip includes a conductive member having a first end portion at least partially encased inside the distal end of the inductive member and a second end portion extending outwardly away therefrom. The distal end has a key portion configured to be received inside the keyway portion of the jack. Engagement between the key member and the keyway member prevents lateral movement of the distal end across the contacts inside the opening. The second end portion is connectable to the circuit, which is configured to use the indicator to indicate to a user when the tip detects a signal.
US07857639B1
A safety electric connector includes a main housing, a first plug and a second plug. The first and second plugs are in two different types and can be extended or retracted. The main housing has a chamber therein and a pair of socket holes formed on a top surface thereof. The main housing comprises two first conductive arms, two second conductive arms, two switching members and two connecting members therein. The connecting members and the switching members can be connected or disconnected. One of the plugs is moved to switch the switching member for controlling disconnection/connection of the connecting members and the switching members. Accordingly, the plug which is extended alone has a normal converting function. When both the plugs are pushed out simultaneously, only one plug has the converting function and the other plug doesn't conduct electricity. Therefore, the present invention can avoid any electric shock accidents when both plugs are pushed out, ensuring the safety of the connector when in use.
US07857635B2
Communications connectors are provided that include a printed circuit board that has a top side and a bottom side. These connectors each include a housing that receives at least a portion of the printed circuit board. The connectors include first through eighth input contacts that are mounted on the printed circuit board and first through eighth output contacts that are likewise mounted on the printed circuit board. The connectors further include a board edge termination assembly that has an opening that receives an edge of the printed circuit board. The board edge termination assembly has a body that is configured to receive a communications cable having at least eight conductors and to electrically connect the eight conductors to respective ones of the first through eighth output contacts.
US07857628B2
A connector is provided. The connector is for connecting an electronic card. The electronic card comprises a first card side and a second card side, a first notch formed on the first card side, and a second notch formed on the second card side. The connector comprises a body, a first fixer and a second fixer. The body comprises a first side, a second side and a slot. The first fixer is disposed on the first side, wherein the first fixer pivots between a first orientation and a second orientation, and the first fixer abuts the first notch when the first fixer is in the first orientation. The second fixer is disposed on the second side, wherein the second fixer abuts the second notch via elastic force.
US07857609B2
A mechanical activation system has a first activation member, a second activation member, an activation zone, and a non-slip zone. The first activation member has a first plurality of teeth, and the second activation member has a second plurality of teeth. The first plurality of teeth is capable of intermeshing with the second plurality of teeth. The activation zone includes a first portion of the first plurality of teeth and a first portion of the second plurality of teeth. The first portion of the first plurality of teeth and the first portion of the second plurality of teeth include teeth having continuous tips. The first non-slip zone includes a second portion of the first plurality of teeth or a second portion of the second plurality of teeth. The second portion includes a tooth having a discontinuous tip.
US07857608B2
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for spinning fibers, or fiberizers, using a rotary fiber-making die system made up of thin plates, embodied by a housing fixture, configured and stacked to define slots, channels and/or grooves through which the material used to make the fibers will flow. The die system allows for the production of different size and types of fibers, including nanofibers having a diameter of less than 1 micron, and facilitates a variety of cost effective methods for extrusion. The use of plates means the dies can be manufactured cost effectively, with easier clean-outs, replacements and/or variations.
US07857592B2
Quick attachable and detachable mounting arms for ceiling fans. A first version has flat headed fasteners initially attached to one end of mounting arms, with key-hole slots in the endshield of the ceiling fan motor. The user raises the mounting arm so that the flat headed fasteners fits through the larger openings in the keyhole slots and then pulls the mounting arm outward until the arm locks in place by the smaller opening portions of the keyhole slots. Rubber type gaskets and washers help lock and hold the mounting arms in place. The flat headed fasteners can also be located on the endshields with the keyhole slots on mounting arms. A second embodiment includes inwardly deformable springably snapable fasteners that can be located on the ends of the mounting arms which can deform inwardly and expand after passing through slots on the endshield of the rotor. Alternatively, the fasteners can be located on the bottom of the endshield with the receiving slots on the ends of the mounting arms. The different versions can include guide posts for allowing only one single fastener to be needed. A third embodiment allows the inwardly bendable snapable fasteners to be removable with screws.
US07857590B1
A folding rotor has a hub bar pivotally connected to a rotor blade. The hub bar is adapted to be connected to the rotorcraft, and includes a first locking aperture having a resilient bushing. The rotor blade includes a rotor strap that extends to a mounting element having a second locking aperture. A hinge element hingably connects the hub bar to the mounting element to enable the rotor blade to pivot with respect to the hub bar between a folded position and an extended position. The first and second locking apertures and the resilient bushing are coaxially aligned when the rotor blade is in the extended position, so that a locking pin may be positioned therethrough to lock the rotor blade in the extended position.
US07857587B2
A turbine blade with improved tip cooling includes an airfoil having a tip cap and a tip wall extending outwardly from the tip cap. A recessed portion of the tip wall forms a tip shelf. At least one tip shelf hole extends through the tip shelf in flow communication with an internal airfoil cooling circuit. At least one tip wall opening extends through the recessed portion of the tip wall radially outward of the tip shelf in flow communication with the internal cooling circuit. The recessed tip wall portion may be tapered from a wider base to a minimum thickness. In a cooling method, cooling air channeled through the tip wall openings joins and mixes with a stream of hot combustion gases downstream of where cooling air channeled through the tip shelf openings joins and mixes with the stream of hot gasses to enhance convection cooling of the blade tip. A system for cooling a blade includes at least one tip shelf hole and at least one tip wall opening for channeling cooling air from an internal cooling circuit toward a stream of hot combustion gases for improved cooling of at least the blade tip.
US07857575B2
A stacker (1) for storing a plurality of microplates each having a top surface side and a bottom surface side opposed to the top surface side, comprises a housing and a removal gate (13) for removing a microplate of the plurality of microplates out of the housing. The stacker (1) is arranged to accommodate the plurality of microplates inside the housing such that the top surface side of one microplate of the plurality of microplates abuts on the bottom surface side of an adjacent microplate of the plurality of microplates and such that the housing adjoins to the plurality of microplates. Using such a stacker 1, the plurality of microplates can be arranged and stored in a compact manner wherein the single microplates of the plurality of microplates can still selectively and efficiently be accessed. Further, due to the controlled access to the plurality of microplates being arranged inside the housing of the described stacker 1 via the removal gate 13, icing of the microplates can be minimized when the stacker is cooled for long term storage of samples arranged inside the microplates.
US07857567B2
Clearance can be secured, the thrust of a bolt provided with a left-hand external screw thread is stabilized and the costs of component members are reduced in attaching a steering member to a body frame. A bolt-and-nut fastening mechanism includes a right-hand bolt 4 provided with a metal-to-metal contact locking mechanism 7 on a threaded part, a left-hand bolt 5 provided with an internal screw thread 8 with which the bolt engages, and a fixing nut 6 capable of engaging with the left-hand screw thread 9 of the left-hand bolt 5 or a member 14 provided with an internal screw thread with which the left-hand screw thread 9 of the left-hand bolt 5 engages. The locking mechanism 7 of the bolt 4 thrusts the left-hand bolt 5 forward so that the gap between the top surface 13 of the head of the left-hand bolt and an inner panel 2 is narrowed, and the head of the left-hand bolt 5 comes into contact with the inner panel 2 to define a clearance between a body frame and the bracket 3 of a steering member. The bolt 4 is screwed into the left-hand bolt 5 and the base surface 11 of the bolt comes into contact with an outer panel 1 to produce a fastening force. The fastening force is transmitted through the left-hand bolt 5 to attach the steering member. A welded nut 6 may be omitted and an internal screw thread 15 with which the left-hand bolt engages may be formed in the bracket 14 of the steering member.
US07857557B2
A combination tool and method for metal-cutting machining of a drill-hole and its hole surface as well as cutting insert for such a combination tool.
US07857555B2
A double-sided indexable cutting bit has the basic shape of a prism with cutting edges along a part of the intersection lines of the peripherally extending faces with the upper and lower faces and no cutting edges at another part of the intersection lines of side faces with the upper and lower faces. An indexable bit holder has a first support face for supporting an indexable cutting bit. In respect of the indexable cutting bit, in plan view on to the upper or lower face, at least a part of the side faces respectively has at least one respective concave recess that is adapted to receive a support element. In respect of the indexable bit holder, two support elements extend from oppositely disposed portions of the support face substantially perpendicularly to the first support face, which support elements define respective further second and third support faces that are perpendicular to the first support face and that face towards each other.
US07857545B2
An apparatus for a variable volume drain field for onsite wastewater renovation. The system includes at least one module having a weir-type inlet and a one-way flow control device. The modules displace and store wastewater, and allow for differential release of the stored wastewater. The inlet is positioned adjacent the top of the module and the one-way flow control device is adjacent the bottom. In one embodiment, the module includes a pipe with caps having the inlet and one-way flow control device. In another embodiment, the module includes a container and a lid. The container includes the inlet and a one-way flow control device is connected adjacent the bottom of the container. In one embodiment, the one-way flow control device is a flexible hose with a float attached to the free end of the hose. The other end of the hose is in fluid communication with the container.
US07857540B2
A connecting system for connecting first and second mesh sheets each defining a plurality of longitudinal members at least one pin housing, a first pin member, and a second pin member. A first loop portion is formed on at least one of the plurality of longitudinal members of the first mesh sheet. A second loop portion is formed on at least one of the plurality of longitudinal members of the second mesh sheet. At least one pin housing defines a loop passageway, and the first and second loop portions extend in opposite directions through the loop passageway. The first pin member is arranged between the first loop portion and the at least one pin housing. The second pin member is arranged between the second loop portion and the at least one pin housing. Loads that displace the first and second mesh sheets away from each other are transferred between the mesh sheets by the pin housing and the first and second pin members.
US07857537B2
A writing instrument system including a writing instrument and packaging generally encasing the writing instrument, wherein the packaging includes an opening formed therein. The system further includes a retaining component, configured to be releasably coupled to the writing instrument. The retaining component is configured to at least partially extend through the opening when the writing instrument is releasably coupled to the retaining component.
US07857535B2
A method of controlling transport amounts of a pair of first rollers and a pair of second rollers, the pair of first rollers operable to nip a medium so as to transport the medium in a transport direction, the pair of second rollers operable to nip the medium so as to transport the medium and disposed at a downstream side of the pair of first rollers in the transport direction, the medium on which a recording is performed by a recording head disposed between the pair of first rollers and the pair of second rollers, the method includes performing a first correction with respect to the transport amounts of the pair of first rollers and the pair of second rollers; and performing a second correction with respect to the transport amounts of at least the pair of first rollers, from a state in which length between a trailing end of the medium and a nip point of the medium at which the medium is nipped by the pair of first rollers is a predetermined length to a state in which the medium is released from being nipped by the pair of first rollers.
US07857534B2
A printer apparatus is disclosed that includes a main body having a paper roll installing part containing a paper roll therein; a cover covering the paper roll installing part when the cover is closed; a printing part for printing data onto a part of the paper roll; and a presenter unit part mounted on the cover. The presenter unit part is configured to accommodate the printed portion of the paper roll, cut off the printed portion from the paper roll, and discharge the cut-off printed portion therefrom.
US07857532B2
An ink ribbon cassette in which an ink ribbon used to form an image on a print medium is stored includes a cylindrical ribbon core around which the ink ribbon is wound, and a first magnet and a second magnet each configured to generate a magnetic force line in a space of the ribbon core. The ribbon core includes a cylindrical outer core and a cylindrical inner core inserted inside the cylindrical outer core. The inner core has an outside peripheral surface to which the first and second magnets are fixed, and an inner peripheral surface for forming the space where the magnetic force line is formed. The outer core has an outside peripheral surface around which the ink ribbon is wound, and an inner peripheral surface to which the outside peripheral surface with the first and second magnets fixed thereto is installed.
US07857531B2
A printing device for printing labels comprising: a memory for storing one or more character sets, each character set including at least a principle character and an additional character which is associated with the principle character; user input means having character selection keys for selecting a character set to define an image to be printed by the printing device; and a controller for accessing characters from the memory to be displayed and printed which correspond to characters selected at the user input means; wherein actuation of a character selection key selects the principle character in the selected character set and maintaining activation of the character selection key for a predetermined time period selects the associated additional character.
US07857528B2
A lens barrel is configured so as to rotatably support lens barriers by a barrier drive member that rotates around an optical axis and the lens barriers rotate and revolve on an axis when the lens barriers are opened and closed. The lens barrel includes wall units provided on an inner circumference portion facing to a space where the lens barriers of the lens barrel member operates, and convexes provided on surfaces of the lens barriers adjacent to the inner circumference portion of the lens barrel member. When the lens barriers are held at a barrier opening position and the barrier drive member is moved to a driving member closing position, the wall units are brought into contact with the convexes and the lens barriers are forcibly closed.
US07857516B2
A hydrodynamic bearing (300) has a bearing surface adapted for receiving a shaft to rotate thereon. The bearing surface has a plurality of grooves (34) defined therein. The grooves are used for generating hydrodynamic pressure. A depth of each of the grooves is changed in a sloping trend along the extension direction of the groove.
US07857509B2
A cooling system is provided for controlling temperature in a power electronic device. The power electronic device includes a semiconductor having a major surface. The cooling system includes a temperature sensor coupled to the major surface of the semiconductor; and a control circuit coupled the temperature sensor. The control circuit is configured to reduce current to the inverter circuit when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature.
US07857506B2
Disposable, pre-sterilized, and pre-calibrated, pre-validated conductivity sensors are provided. These sensors are designed to store sensor-specific information, such as calibration and production information, in a non-volatile memory chip on the sensor. The sensors are calibrated using 0.100 molar potassium chloride (KCl) solutions at 25 degrees Celsius. These sensors may be utilize with in-line systems, closed fluid circuits, bioprocessing systems, or systems which require an aseptic environment while avoiding or reducing cleaning procedures and quality assurance variances.
US07857493B2
A standing lamp, wall lamp or pole-mounted lamp having a base member unit and a column unit which carries illuminants at least in the region of its free end and whose special feature consists of the fact that the column unit has an at least substantially planar functional surface in which at least one cut-out is provided for the reception of a lighting system, in particular of an LED lighting system, with a presettable light radiation direction; and in that the functional surface extends at a presettable angle with respect to the mounting unit which forms a part of the adjustable angle of the light radiation direction presettable together with the lighting system. The invention is furthermore directed to a floor lamp.
US07857488B2
An LED lamp includes a printed circuit board, a plurality of LED modules mounted on the printed circuit board and a reflector mounted on the printed circuit board and covering the LED modules. The reflector includes a first extending portion and a second extending portion extending from a side of the first extending portion. Top surfaces of the first and second extending portions are slantwise and oriented towards different directions, thereby to cooperatively form a V-shaped configuration. The LED modules are received in receiving holes in the first and second extending portions. Each receiving hole has a cross section gradually enlarged along a bottom-to-top direction.
US07857485B2
A light emitting apparatus at least includes a light emitting device, a connecting wire structure, and a space-occupation body. The light emitting device is disposed in the space-occupation body, electrically coupled with the connecting wire structure, and emits a first-frequency-range light under a suitable driving voltage. A light emitting surface of the light emitting device structure is covered by a first anti-reflection layer with respect to the first-frequency-range light. A packaging material is filled into the space-occupation body. The packaging material at least includes a luminescent material. The luminescent material is excited by the first-frequency-range light, so as to generate at least a second-frequency-range light. A reflector is disposed on the light emitting surface of the light emitting apparatus, such that the first-frequency-range light is totally or mostly reflected back to the space-occupation body omni-directionally, and the excited second-frequency-range light passes through the reflector.
US07857476B2
A backlight assembly includes an array of optical waveguides that are arranged in rows and columns. The array of optical waveguides has a planar upper surface substantially comprised of light exit facet of optical waveguides and spaced-apart lower surface substantially comprised of light input facet of optical waveguides. Backlight assembly also includes a light reflector panel that is spaced-apart from the lower surface of the array. Disposed between reflector panel and the lower light input facet of the optical waveguides are light sources. Light sources comprise light emitting diodes having 120 degree emission angles.
US07857475B2
Provided is a direct-type backlight device having a sufficient luminance in a front direction and capable of suppressing a luminance unevenness on a light emitting plane with a reduced electric power consumption. In the direct-type backlight device having linear light sources 2, a reflecting plate 3 and a light diffusing member 1, a distance (a) between centers of the adjacent two linear light sources is 30 to 65 mm. The light diffusing member 1 has an approximately flat light incident plane 1A and a light outgoing plane 1B on which multiple linear prisms 4 are aligned. The linear prism 4 has two inclined surfaces 4A having an approximately equal tilt angle against a plane which is perpendicular to a thickness direction of the light diffusing member 1. A relationship of (a)/7
US07857472B2
A backlight source has different luminescence types of electroluminescence devices and coordinates at least one of the arrangement positions and the arrangement spacing of the electroluminescence devices to improve the brightness uniformity of the backlight source and make the mixed light better. Moreover, because of the brightness uniformity promotion, the overall thickness of backlight module can be reduced.
US07857466B2
A projection-type image display device has a solid light source and a light valve, and causes light emitted from the solid light source to perform scanning on the light valve along a predetermined scanning line. The projection-type image display device is provided with a modulation amount controller configured to control a modulation amount of the light valve according to an input video signal which is a video signal inputted to the projection-type image display device, and an output controller configured to determine a reference output according to the input video signal. The output controller controls an output of the solid light source according to the reference output.
US07857465B2
A light tunnel apparatus of an optical engine and a projection system comprising the light tunnel apparatus are provided. The projection system comprises an optical engine which includes a body and a light tunnel apparatus. The light tunnel apparatus comprises a light tunnel, a housing, a frame, and a positioning device. The light tunnel has a central axis. The housing is connected to the body while the frame is connected to the housing, and the light tunnel is disposed in the frame. The positioning device, disposed between the frame and the housing, provides at least a thrust substantially perpendicular to the central axis, whereby the thrust allows the frame to be restricted to move along an axial direction substantially parallel to the central axis.
US07857456B2
An illumination system includes a light source module, a chromaticity-adjusting light source and a light-combining element. The light source module provides a first color light beam, a second color light beam and a third color light beam. The chromaticity-adjusting light source provides a chromaticity-adjusting light beam. The light-combining element is disposed on the transmission paths of the chromaticity-adjusting light beam and the color light beams provided by the light source module to combine the color light beams with the chromaticity-adjusting light beam into an illumination beam.
US07857449B2
There is provided a technique for efficiently acquiring a tomogram of an eye portion. A diagnosis support apparatus includes a wide-area image acquisition means for acquiring a wide-area image of an eye portion, a detection means for detecting a lesion candidate on the eye portion by analyzing the wide-area image acquired by the wide-area image acquisition means, a determination means for determining a parameter associated with acquisition of a tomogram of the eye portion, based on a lesion candidate detection result obtained by the detection means, and a tomogram acquisition means for acquiring a tomogram of the eye portion based on the parameter determined by the determination means.
US07857440B2
An ink stick comprises an ink stick body configured for insertion in an insertion direction into an ink loader of the phase change ink imaging device. The ink stick body has an insertion perimeter in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction and has a longitudinal dimension for aligning with a feed direction of the ink loader. A symbol contour is formed in a first position on the perimeter of the ink stick body. The symbol contour defines a portion of a perimeter of a visually recognizable symbol shape and extends at most partially along the perimeter of the ink stick in the longitudinal dimension of the ink stick body. At least one key contour is formed in a second position on the perimeter of the ink stick body corresponding to a color of the ink for the ink stick body.
US07857437B2
The present invention prevents ink leaked from an atmospheric pressure introducing port of an ink cartridge from adhering to an outer surface of the ink cartridge. An ink filling unit includes a leaked ink leading member which receives ink leaked from an atmospheric pressure introducing port and leads the ink to an ink absorber assembled to the outside of a cartridge casing. Due to such a constitution, the ink leaked from the atmospheric pressure introducing port is led to the outside of the cartridge casing by the leaked ink leading member and the ink is absorbed by the ink absorber. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the ink leaked from the atmospheric pressure introducing port from adhering to an outer surface of the ink cartridge.
US07857427B2
An inkjet printhead is provided having nozzles, bubble forming chambers containing ejectable ink, generally planar heater elements each bonded on one side to an associated chamber so that the other side faces into the chamber, a MEMS fluid sensor having a MEMS sensing element for detecting the presence or otherwise of the ejectable ink in the chamber, and control circuitry for measuring the current passing through the sensing element during its heating. The heater elements receive heating pulses to form gas bubbles in the ejectable ink on the side facing into the chamber which cause ink ejection from the nozzle. Each chamber has a dielectric layer proximate the side of the heater element which has a thermal product less than 1495 Jm−2K−1s−1/2, the thermal product being (ρCk)1/2, where ρ is the density of the layer, C is specific heat of the layer and k is thermal conductivity of the layer.
US07857420B2
Methods and apparatus for adding pages to a sequence of imprinted images used for flushing of inkjet features and then discarding the added pages following imprinting of the added pages. Features and aspects hereof within a printing system automatically insert additional pages (flush pages) in a sequence of imprinted page. The inserted pages are used for flushing ink-based nozzles (e.g., inkjet nozzles). The frequency of flushes and the volume of ink to be flush at each opportunity may be determined by automated features hereof based on statistics regarding operation of the printing system or may be statically pre-determined. Post-processing features (e.g., paper handling features) may scan the pages for marks identifying a page as a flush page inserted for flushing and may discard the added pages so identified.
US07857417B2
Provided is a printhead assembly having a support structure with a printhead mounted on the support structure, said printhead having an ink ejection face, and a print media guide proximate the support structure for guiding print media past the printhead for printing. The assembly also includes a wicking element mounted on the support structure between the support structure and the print media guide. An ink collector is arranged on the wicking element for receiving ink that has wicked through the wicking element to ensure that wicked ink is removed away from the printhead.
US07857416B2
A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printer is disclosed. The nozzle arrangement is formed on a substrate defining an ink supply conduit. A nozzle chamber is formed over the ink supply conduit. The nozzle chamber is defined by a floor portion, a roof portion having an ejection port defined therein, and peripheral sidewalls extending from the floor portion and the roof portion respectively. The roof portion and the sidewalls extending from the roof portion are movable upwardly and downwardly relative to the floor portion. The nozzle arrangement further includes a bend actuator fastened at one end to the substrate and at an opposite end to the roof portion of the nozzle chamber. Differential expansion of the bend actuator causes the bend actuator to bend and straighten. This in turn displaces the roof portion and varies the volume of the nozzle chamber, causing ink to be ejected through the ink ejection port.
US07857415B2
A recording apparatus including a movable carriage, wherein a plurality of mounting positions are arranged in a moving direction of the carriage, a light receiving portion capable of receiving light emitted by a light emitting portion of a plurality of liquid containers, a determining means for determining whether a correct liquid container is mounted at a mounting position based on a light receiving amount received by the light receiving portion, and a specifying means for specifying an incorrectly mounted liquid container based on the light receiving amount received by the light receiving portion, wherein the specifying means stops the carriage such that any mounting position with the incorrectly mounted liquid container is opposite the light receiving portion, and wherein if a plurality of liquid containers are determined to be incorrectly mounted, the light emitting portion of the incorrectly mounted liquid containers emit light in a specific order.
US07857414B2
A registration system for use with an imaging device includes sensors for detecting a web speed and a web tension of a moving web and a control system configured to generate a first timing offset for at least one marking station based on the detected web speed and web tension. An image sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of a marking material applied to the moving web by at least one of the marking stations. The control system is configured to generate a second timing offset for the at least one marking station based on the position of the marking material indicated by the third signal, and to adjust an actuation time for the at least one marking station using the first timing offset and the second timing offset.
US07857412B2
An inkjet recording apparatus includes a head assembly in which a plurality of head chips, each having multiple nozzles arranged therein for discharging ink, are disposed in the arrangement direction of the nozzles. The discharge of ink from the nozzles of each head chip in band-boundary regions in which bands recorded by the head chips overlap each other is adjusted in accordance with the detection result of the temperature of each head chip.
US07857411B2
There is disclosed a recording apparatus including a feeding mechanism, a recording head, a position sensor, a determining portion, and a recording-head controller. The feeding mechanism feeds a recording medium placed on a feeding surface. The recording head ejects a liquid droplet onto the recording medium on the feeding mechanism. The position sensor outputs a detection signal when the recording medium being fed by the feeding mechanism reaches a predetermined position, and also when a liquid-droplet ejection area formed at a part of the feeding surface reaches the predetermined position. The determining portion determines whether the liquid-droplet ejection area reaches the predetermined position. The recording-head controller controls the recording head such that: (i) when the detection signal is not outputted from the position sensor, the recording head does not eject a liquid droplet, (ii) when the detection signal is outputted from the position sensor and the determining portion determines that the liquid-droplet ejection area does not reach the predetermined position, the recording head records on the recording medium an image desired to be recorded on the recording medium, and (iii) when the detection signal is outputted from the position sensor and the determining portion determines that the liquid-droplet ejection area reaches the predetermined position, the recording head prints on the liquid-droplet ejection area an image desired to be printed on the liquid-droplet ejection area.
US07857408B2
A recording device counts the number of pulsed signals applied to drive a recording head after the device determines that ink tanks have been interchanged. The recording device compares the number of pulsed signals counted after the interchange of the ink tanks with a predetermined threshold to change the energy supplied to drive the recording head according to the comparison.
US07857405B2
This invention provides for a method of mapping data to data region dots on a photograph. The method includes the steps of compressing the data with a JPEG compression technique, and redundantly encoding the compressed data using Reed-Solomon encoding techniques. The method also includes the steps of shuffling the encoded data in a deterministic manner to reduce potential effects of localized encoded data damage to said photograph, and printing the shuffled data as dots in data blocks on the photograph.
US07857403B2
A retaining mechanism for a multi-section slide track assembly includes a stop actuating assembly and a resilient retainer assembly. The stop actuating assembly is provided on an intermediate slide track of the multi-section slide track assembly while the resilient retainer assembly is provided on an outer slide track of the multi-section slide track assembly. To retain a return movement of the intermediate slide track, the stop actuating assembly is directly engaged with the resilient retainer assembly to provide a high-degree effective operation of retaining reliability. The stop actuating assembly includes a stop-engaging member and a resiliently actuating member combined therewith. The resilient retainer assembly correspondingly includes a resilient stop member which can be engaged with the stop-engaging member for positioning the intermediate slide track, and can be actuated by the resiliently actuating member for releasing the intermediate slide track.
US07857395B2
A backrest of a seat includes: a pad including a slit air guide hole which penetrates the pad from a front surface of the pad to a rear surface of the pad; a base member for blocking the air guide hole on a rear side of the pad, the base member including an inlet hole communicated with the air guide hole; and a cover for blocking the air guide hole on the front surface of the pad, the cover including a plurality of outlet holes communicated with the air guide hole.
US07857389B2
The present invention intends to arrange the appearance of furniture at a connecting portion between a first member having stiffness and a second member movable relative to the first member and having stiffness without forming the connecting portion in an unnaturally large diameter. More specifically, the present invention provides a structure for connecting members comprising: a first member having stiffness; a second member movable relative to the first member and having stiffness; and a spring member in which an end portion thereof is connected to the first member and other end portion thereof is connected to the second member so as to accumulate a reaction force by elastic deformation, wherein the spring member is formed into a frame-like shape extending along the first and second members.
US07857385B2
A juvenile vehicle seat includes a seat base adapted to set on a vehicle seat and a foldable backrest associated with the seat base. The juvenile vehicle seat also includes a backrest lock coupled to the foldable backrest.
US07857382B2
A vehicle entertainment system includes a video system detachably mounted within an automobile arm rest/console, the armrest/console including an upper support surface. The video system includes an integrated housing supporting a video monitor and a video source.
US07857381B2
A vehicle seat is disclosed with a seat back frame with a pair of spaced apart linkages connected to side members of the frame. A horizontally actuatable lumbar mechanism is connected to the pair of linkages for providing lumbar support to the occupant and for receiving an input force for actuating the linkages. A head restraint extends from the seat back frame and is operably connected to the frame and the pair of linkages such that actuation of the linkages actuates the head restraint from a design position to an actuated position. A flexible band lumbar support mechanism is provided. Also, a lumbar mechanism is provided with a pair of upright wires and a series of transverse suspension wires for supplying the back of the occupant and for distributing the input force during an impact.
US07857377B2
A pillar to rocker joint assembly comprising a tubular pillar having a pinched flange near a lower end of the pillar is joined to a rocker assembly including a side sill and rocker reinforcement. A method of making a pillar to rocker joint assembly that comprises a vehicle structural support is formed by welding a structural support pillar to an outer body panel through an access opening in the pillar and welding a rocker reinforcement to a side sill. The rocker reinforcement is welded to the pillar through an access opening in the side sill, an access hole in the body outer panel, and an access opening in the pillar that is vertically spaced relative to the first access opening. A bottom flange of the B-pillar is welded to a lower edge flange of the rocker reinforcement and a lower edge flange of the side sill.
US07857375B2
A collision absorption system including a dual support pad for a vehicle door is disclosed. The system includes an integrated dual support pad comprising a first portion and a second portion configured to reduce the force of impact to a shoulder portion and a hip portion, respectively, of a vehicle occupant during a side impact collision.
US07857371B2
A vehicle bed extender particularly adapted for ease of installation and removal. The extender includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a connecting wall, a first mount, a second mount, a first mounting station, and a second mounting station. The connecting wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall cooperate to form a generally U-shaped frame. The first mounting station and the second mounting station each comprise a stationary portion and a moveable portion configured such that the moveable portion, in a first position, cooperates with the stationary portion to engage the first mount or the second mount and to prevent disengagement. The moveable portion of the first mounting station and the second mounting station can be moved by a manual application of pressure to a second position which allows such disengagement.
US07857369B2
A flexible gripping device including a plurality of pneumatic actuator rings. A grasper element is disposed within the plurality of pneumatic actuator rings and adapted to move back and forth within the actuator rings.
US07857365B2
A vehicle bumper assembly is provided with a bumper cover attachable to a body of a vehicle, the bumper cover having an inner surface defining a groove portion. The vehicle bumper assembly further provides an energy absorbing member with a base to be fixedly secured to a bumper of a vehicle and a bracket coupled to the body of the vehicle, the bracket defining a protrusion portion to engage with the groove of the bumper cover.
US07857358B2
A fitting for use with metal tubing in a jacket, the fitting including: an adaptor having exterior threads at a first adaptor end, the adaptor having a longitudinal passage for fluid flow; a body having interior threads at a first body end, the interior threads engaging the exterior threads to secure the body to the body in a first body cavity; and a jacket lock ring positioned at a second body end, the jacket lock ring including barbs for engaging a surface of the jacket.
US07857351B2
An auxiliary fuel tank for use with a motorcycle. The auxiliary fuel tank can be mounted in a saddlebag. The fuel tank can include a container that defines a reservoir for holding fuel. The container can be shaped such that the container can fit inside the saddlebag. A mounting mechanism is coupled with the container. The mounting mechanism can be connected with the motorcycle in order to support the container and the saddlebag.
US07857337B2
The present invention provides an improved collapsible step assembly for recreational vehicles. The movable step apparatus comprises a mounting frame, at least one step mounted to the frame through a linkage assembly, and a pivot rod with a longitudinal axis of rotation. In use, the pivot rod is rotatably mounted to the frame and rotates the linkage assembly and the at least one step between an extended position and a retracted position. Rotating the pivot rod in a first direction moves the step to the extended position, and rotating the pivot rod in the opposite direction moves the step to the retracted position. The linkage assembly includes a link which is movable in the direction of the link toward extension of the step to contact a stop of the frame that reacts against a gravitational load acting on the step.
US07857336B1
An air suspension device includes a housing enclosing a compressor chamber that communicates with an air source and at least one piston chamber, optionally through internal air ports. A compressor is disposed in the compressor chamber. When the compressor is driven by a power source, such as a motor, the compressor draws air from the air source and drives the air into the piston chamber. A piston disposed in the piston chamber is cushioned by the pressurized air.
US07857331B2
A trailer assembly includes a trailer frame that supports a load to be carried. One or more axles have laterally-spaced wheels and are affixed to the trailer frame. A flip axle assembly is provided including one or more axles having laterally-spaced wheels. The flip axle assembly is hingeably mounted to the trailer frame, so as to be rotated from engagement with a road surface and onto the trailer frame. A drive system is provided that rotates the flip axle assembly between the trailer frame and engagement with the road surface.
US07857328B1
A mobile garden tool center is provided. The mobile garden tool center comprises a transport cart having a support frame, upper support arms secured to and extending from the support frame, lower support arms secured to and extending from the support frame, a pair of wheels are rotatably secured to the lower support arms, and a carrying platform is attached to the support frame opposite the lower support arms. A barrel is restable on the carrying platform and is releasably secured to support frame of the cart with at least one strap. At least one tube is secured to the support frame of the cart. A basket is releasably attached between the upper support arms. A compactable stool is pivotally connected to the lower support arms.
US07857326B2
A runner and method of making a runner for mounting on a snow ski including a runner body fabricated of one piece of stamped metal which includes a central base portion and a pair of longitudinally extending runner portions which are bent downwardly from the base portions in laterally spaced relationship to one another. Carbide wear strips are secured to the lower edges of the runner portions, while the base portion 18 is fitted with mounting structure 48 which extends upwardly from the base portion and does not extend into the channel 36. The mounting structure 48 may be formed as one piece with the runner body 16 of the same material, has one or more tab features, and may be threaded and/or pierced to accommodate an associated net or mounting pin as desired for mounting the runner.
US07857319B2
A mechanical end face seal with a pair of annular relatively rotating seal face defining seal rings. An annular compression contact ring disposed in surrounding relation to one of the seal rings includes a plurality of pads at asymmetrical locations in interference contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the ring.
US07857312B2
A puzzle game of the present invention consists of a field of play having associated positions upon which place-indicators are placed during game play along a predetermined game path. Placement of the place-indicators represents a sequential series of steps from a starting point along a game path in the field of play to an end point. Each of the steps is dependent on a predetermined step pattern and the place-indicator is placed on the position upon which the end of the step pattern falls. The solution to the puzzle is achieved by the placement of all place-indicators between the starting point and the end point. In order to indicate a particular game path, at least two place-indicators are pre-placed as givens in the solution. The place-indicators may be, by non-limiting example, numerals, letters or a group of shapes with a predetermined series displayed on the game play interface, but outside of the field of play.
US07857309B2
This disclosure provides a shaft driving apparatus and method of operation. The shaft driving apparatus comprises a shaft and a slip joint configuration to extend the wear zone associated with bearings operatively connected to an apparatus which rotates a shaft less than 360 degrees in an oscillatory manner or other cyclical manner.
US07857304B2
An image forming apparatus including a sheet bundle boundary detecting unit which detects a boundary of sheet bundles added to a sheet storage case, and a control unit which controls a feeding condition of sheet feeding unit based on a detection result of the sheet bundle boundary detecting unit. With this, overlapping-feeding and misfeeding at the boundary between the sheet bundles are reliably prevented.
US07857297B2
A transport system for conveying sheet material along a feed path. The transport system includes an electro-dynamic propulsion system for moving sheet material, or a stacked collation of sheet material, along a support deck which defines the feed path. More specifically, the electro-dynamic propulsion system includes at least one guideway and a ferromagnetic element disposed internally of the guideway. The guideway includes a magnetic coil to produce a variable magnetic field. By varying the flux density and polarity of the magnetic field the ferromagnetic element may be propelled within the guideway. An abutment member is coupled to the ferromagnetic element, extends through the elongate opening of the support deck and engages an edge of sheet material. A processor is operative to control the electro-dynamic propulsion system and, accordingly, the rate of travel and position of the sheet material along the feed path.
US07857292B2
A fence system including a fence post and a rail inserted into and supported by the fence post. The rail being an elongated member having a channel or U-shaped cross section defined by a web member and parallel leg members attached to the web member. The rail is inserted into an aperture located in a sidewall of the post. The aperture having a shape or configuration that is substantially the same as the cross-sectional shape of the rail. Accordingly, any gaps between the opening or aperture in the post and the rail, once the rail is inserted into the post, are minimized.
US07857289B2
The present invention discloses a tapered braking device for electric winches which disposes a section of gear shaft, a section of core shaft, a wedge shape support, braking plates, an elastic element, a wedge shape piece A, a wedge shape piece B, a braking clutch base and so on in a gear box of an electric winch. When a motor works, the section of core shaft of the motor can drive the braking clutch base and the wedge shape pieces A, B to rotate, until a gap is formed between the friction faces of the wedge shape support and the wedge shape piece B and the braking plates so that the braking action stops. When the motor suddenly stops, a heavy load lifted by a tight wire rope reel provides a reverse pulling force so that the wedge shape piece B produces a reverse thrust force to push the friction faces of the braking plates, so the braking effect is achieved quickly. Based on the braking plates with the double tapered faces, the present invention can increase the braking area and the braking force and achieve safe braking. Furthermore, worn parts concentrate in the braking plates, so it only needs to replace the braking plates made of friction materials, which can simplify maintenance, reduce the costs and ensure service life of the gear box.
US07857277B2
A portable drawing apparatus configured to act as an easel and/or desk includes a pair of upper support members each pivotally connected to a respective lower support member, and also each pivotally connected to a respective rear support member. In an operational configuration, the rear support members can project rearwardly in a plane substantially normal to a plane defined by two mutually parallel upper support members. A lower cross frame and upper cross frame are each connected to respective lower support members, and upper support members, and each further connected to the non-removable portion. A hinged lateral member, when configured in a locked position, defines the apparatus width. In a collapsed configuration, the distal portions of the upper and lower support members are configured to point in the same direction and form a bundle whose length is substantially less than that of the apparatus length in operational configuration.
US07857268B2
A suction-type mounting bracket device for use with a portable electronic device includes a crossbar, an adjustable mount, at least two support posts, at least two suction cups, and a control lever. The adjustable mount is slidably provided on the crossbar for the portable electronic device to connect thereto. The support posts each have a first end connected to connecting sections provided on the crossbar and a second end connected to the suction cups. The control lever is connected to the suction cups for controlling the suction cups to attach to or release from a smooth surface. With these arrangements, the portable electronic device may be stably and firmly mounted in a car via the suction-type mounting bracket device and may be adjusted to different angular positions for use.
US07857265B1
A mounting mechanism for a flat panel TV or other flat panel viewing device permits vertical positioning as well as swinging, swiveling, and tilting positioning of the flat panel viewing device.
US07857262B2
The present invention relates to helicopter automatic piloting equipment. The automatic piloting device for helicopter acts on flight controls of the helicopter that are affected by mechanical play by means of a group of mechanically irreversible rams termed series rams with fast response and short stroke, placed in series on the flight controls. According to the invention, the device comprises at least one detector for detecting direction of variation of the displacement instructions of the series rams and a play compensator adding to the instruction, as a function of the latter's direction of variation, a corrective term dependent on the mechanical play affecting the flight control equipped with the series ram concerned.
US07857257B2
A thermal management system includes a cooling duct system that locates a ram air intake and an exhaust through a first aircraft surface above a second aircraft surface which locates a fan intake. During ground operations, an anti-re-ingestion door is open and a ram air door is closed such that the fan system may draw relatively cooler air from below the aircraft and exhaust the heated air above the aircraft to minimize re-ingestion of the heated exhaust. During flight operations, the anti-re-ingestion door is closed and the ram air door is open such that ram airflow communicates through the fan system prior to communication through the heat exchanger. Both the anti-re-ingestion door and the ram air door may also be operated in flight.
US07857251B2
Film lamination vehicles and methods that can be used to laminate films to surfaces are disclosed. The vehicles and methods use a moving lamination device that forms a lamination front over which the film is applied to the surface. The lamination front complies to irregularities in the surface such as dips, bumps, etc. while providing substantially uniform pressure such that the film conforms to the surface.
US07857244B2
Methods for preparing high aspect ratio nanomaterials from spherical nanomaterials useful for oxides, nitrides, carbides, borides, metals, alloys, chalcogenides, and other compositions.
US07857243B2
A high frequency disintegrator includes a plurality of high frequency vibration generators, a plurality of connectors, and at least a heat exchanger. The high frequency vibration generators each have an operational portion that axially outputs high frequency vibration energy. The connectors are respectively connected to the high frequency vibration generators, and each include an action portion for allowing the operational portion to axially output the high frequency vibration energy, an inlet, and an outlet, wherein the inlet and the outlet are connected to the action portion. The connectors are connected in series. The heat exchanging device dissipates heat from the connectors. The high frequency disintegrator eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional techniques.
US07857236B2
An aromatic odor neutralizer includes a dispenser housing with an internal passage between end walls and communicating with vents in the sides for aerodynamic airflow to efficiently absorb vapors from a vaporizer chamber within the dispenser housing. The vaporization chamber contains a wick with an end part immersed in fluid in a storage cup that is gravity fed from an air tight vessel by the use of air pathways exposed when the liquid level in the cup is reduced.
US07857233B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for regulating temperature in a system comprises receiving, at a building management system, information concerning a degree of opening of a plurality of control valves. Each of the plurality of control valves is associated with at least one terminal that is in communication with a supply header line of a system, and is operable to open or close according to its own logic based on the demand of the associated terminal or terminals. A determination is made, based on the degree of opening of the plurality of control valves, as to whether changes need to be made to the operating parameters of production equipment of the system. The changes to the production equipment operation of the system are operable to change at least one parameter of a fluid being supplied to the supply header line of the system. An initiation of changes is made if it is determined that the change needs to be made. The changes in the production equipment yield a difference in the at least one parameter of the fluid.
US07857231B2
A rotatable disc comprises a first zone in which a plurality of features, e.g. optical filters, are located at uniform angles from each other with respect to an axis of rotation of the disc and a second annular zone comprising sets of adjacent marks of a first type and of a second type. Each set may have a same total circumferential length, but the marks of a given type may have at least two different total circumferential lengths within a set of marks, or may be distinguishable by the relative position of marks of the different type to each other. The adjacent marks of the first and the second type may also form a code pattern that can be used for identifying the features. A method for adjusting the rotational orientation of the disc based on detecting the widths of the sectors is described.
US07857223B2
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a scanning module for a scanner system comprises a frame having a first section and a second section. The first section of the frame is capable of receiving a laser to secure the laser in the first section, and the second section of the frame is capable of receiving a MEMS device having a mirror, to secure the MEMS device in the first section. The laser is aligned with the mirror by the frame to cause light emitted from the laser to impinge upon the mirror during operation of the laser. Such an arrangement may facilitate the physical and/or electrical assembly of the components of the scanner system.
US07857213B2
A system has a plurality of groups of service facilities, each facility having an access control device with a read/write device for a contactless data carrier. The read/write devices of each group are networked with a separate database provided for each group. The data carrier has an identification number and a transaction counter with a transaction number which is changed upon a change of application data stored thereon. The application data, the identification number and the transaction number are stored in the database of the group to which the user goes for access. Upon access to a service facility, only the identification number and the transaction number are read from the data carrier. If the identification number and transaction number match with the identification number and transaction number stored in the database, the application data is retrieved from the database, and in case of a valid access authorization, the access control device permits access without reading application data from the data carrier.
US07857211B2
An information processing system comprises an identifying information reading portion that reads out identifying information from a recording medium storing the identifying information capable of identifying an individual, an information managing portion that in advance manages and keeps information available for information providing, an information extracting portion that extracts information from the information managing portion, based on the identifying information read out by the identifying information reading portion, and an information output portion that outputs the information extracted by the information extracting portion. The information extracting portion selects and extracts the information to be provided out of the prearranged information, based on the identifying information read out by the identifying information reading portion and acquiring conditions of the identifying information.
US07857208B2
An automated banking machine operates responsive to data read from data bearing records, such as user cards, to cause machine user authorization and financial transfers. The read card data can also be associated with a server address, where a record is located. The machine operates prior to a transaction to determine whether the record can be fully downloaded from the server address. Based on a successful determination, the machine can then fully download the record from the address during a transaction that needs the record. The pre-check arrangement reduces transaction time outs that may occur as a result of futile attempts by the machine to access an unavailable record during a transaction.
US07857207B1
Disclosed are systems and methods for providing a financial transaction. The systems and methods provide techniques for providing an automated teller machine (ATM) and allowing a customer to operate the ATM at the ATM to complete the transaction. In addition, the customer, while at the ATM, can communicate with a representative at a centralized hub that is remote from the ATM and the representative can take control of the ATM to complete the transaction.
US07857204B2
An encoded, reusable sticker is provided for temporary adhesion to a support surface. The sticker has coded data that is indicative of a sticker identity that is recorded in a computer system. The coded data is a two dimensional pattern and has an interactive element and a generation element. The interactive element is an area of the two dimensional pattern in which the coded data is also indicative of an action to be performed by the computer system. The generation interactive element is an area of the two dimensional pattern that is also indicative of an instruction for the computer system to generate an association between the sticker identity and an object stored in an object repository in the computer system. The sticker also has a visual representation of the action to be performed by the computer system and a visual representation of the generation of an association between the sticker identity and an object. The sticker allows the use of a sensing device for sensing the coded data and transmitting to the computer system to initiate the association between the sticker identity and the object by holding the sensing device in an operative position relative to the interactive element, and initiate the action performed by the computer system by holding the sensing device in an operative position relative to the interactive element.
US07857191B2
Friction stir welding (FSW) processes, systems and the resulting friction stir welded components are disclosed whereby first and second workpieces are welded to one another using a first workpiece having mutually orthogonal structural components and a junction region therebetween which defines a bearing surface of predetermined geometry. A shoulder of a FSW tool may be brought into bearing contact with the bearing surface so that a pin extending from the shoulder of the FSW tool may be advanced into and through the one structural component of the first workpiece at an angle relative thereto so as to thereby form a friction stir weld region between the first and second workpieces. Some preferred embodiments will provide a bearing surface which defines an arcuately concave geometry, in which case the shoulder of the FSW tool defines an arcuately convex geometry conformably mateable with the bearing surface. According to other preferred embodiments, the bearing surface defines an arcuately convex geometry, in which case the shoulder of the FSW tool defines an arcuately concave geometry conformably mateable with the bearing surface. According to yet other preferred embodiments, the bearing surface and the shoulder of the FSW tool are each planar.
US07857186B2
A surgical stapling instrument including first and second jaw members which can be pivotably connected to each other and secured in position relative to each other by a latch. The first and second jaw members can include first and second locking members which can allow the first and second jaw members to be rotated relative to one another but prevent, or at least inhibit, the first and second jaw members from being separated from one another. Such embodiments may be particularly useful in circumstances when the latch is in a partially-closed position and the first and second jaw members are being manipulated to position tissue therebetween. The first and second jaw members can be sufficiently connected together in order to prevent, or at least reduce the possibility of, the first and second jaw members from becoming detached from one another and exposing a cutting member.
US07857181B2
This invention presents strap apparatus that is attached to a carrying bag such as a briefcase, computer bag, or golf club bag. In the first embodiment, the strap apparatus is constructed from a single strap that is configured as a closed loop. The closed loop is constrained to the sides of the bag near the top by two constraining means; the closed loop being divided into two strap segments of approximately equal lengths. Depending on how the straps are shouldered, the bag may be worn in a single-strap configuration, a backpack configuration, or a dual-strap configuration. Transitioning from one configuration to the other is easily done by the wearer without having to remove the apparatus from the bag. Furthermore when in the single-strap configuration, the straps stay together and appear to the casual observer as a single-strap as found on an ordinary bag. The appearance of the bag when in the single-strap configuration will not reveal its multimode capability.
US07857179B1
A universal folding carrier for carrying objects on tailgates of pickup trucks and trunk lids of automobiles or the like has a substantially U-shaped frame, a substantially U-shaped carrying member and a substantially U-shaped supporting member. The folding carrier is movable between a folded or storage position and a locked extended or operational position. The carrying arm is pivotally mounted to the frame and the supporting member is pivotally mounted to the frame. A latching assembly includes a pair of first brackets. The first brackets are mounted on opposite sides of the frame. A pair of second brackets is mounted to opposite sides of the carrying member, each second bracket having a ramp portion and a latch. A latching assembly with first and second latching members is mounted to the first brackets. Each latching member has an engaging pin, the engaging pins extending from opposite ends of the latching members. The first latching member includes a first trigger assembly and the second latching member includes a second trigger assembly, the trigger assemblies being urged apart by a spring. The engaging pins are position for locked engagement with the latches when the folding carrier is in its extended position. The trigger assemblies are spaced apart a distance that permits a user using one hand to move the trigger assemblies towards one another for disengaging the engaging pins from the latches so that the folding carrier can be moved from its locked extended position to its folded position.
US07857178B2
A universal mobile telephone headpiece holder includes a U-shaped receiver member, configured to hold an earpiece, and a generally linear support member that is capable to engage a curved member on a telephone headpiece not having an earpiece to support the headpiece within convenient reach of an operator of an automobile vehicle while the headpiece is not in use. The receiver member can be configured for mounting in different attachment members to be detachable therefrom. The attachment member can be in the form of a clip engagable with an air conditioning vent grille louver or an adhesive member that is simply stuck on a flush surface of the dashboard. Through the universal telephone headpiece holder, the headpiece can be supported at an elevated location to be accessed when the phone rings without searching for the headpiece.
US07857177B2
Method and arrangement for providing a bicycle transport system that includes a rack assembly securing a bicycle, with both wheels still attached, in the bed of a pickup truck without requiring physical modification of the pickup truck bed. The transport system includes a rack frame having a securing assembly releasably securing the rack frame in the bed of a transporting pickup truck. The system also includes a bicycle restraining portion that is maintained in abutting engagement with a front tire of a bicycle being transported in the pickup truck bed. The securing assembly has an anchor member that in a secured configuration maintains the rack frame in abutment with the pickup truck bed so that the rack frame is substantially fixing relative to the truck bed. The bicycle restraining portion has a constrictable arm that presses upon the front tire of the bicycle in a transporting configuration. The arm exerts a compression force, obliquely directed with respect to both horizontal and vertical, upon the bicycle front tire in such a manner that the tire is compressed into a substantially fixed position above the truck bed when in the bicycle transporting configuration.
US07857172B2
A cap (30) has an end wall (32) and inner and outer cylindrical walls (34, 36) which are internally threaded. The threads on the inner wall (30) mate with external threads on the neck (38) of a first sized container (40) the threads on the wall (38) are adapted to engage threads on the neck of a second, larger size container (44). A pump (10) is mounted on the cap (30).
US07857164B2
Device for selection of capsules containing a food product from a, stack of capsules contained in a container, comprising a body (10) which delimits a passage (20) through which the capsules pass by gravity; first stop means (30, 31, 32, 33) for selectively retaining and releasing said first capsule (90); actuating means (8) for actuating said stop means (3, 30, 31, 32, 33) between a stop position and a release position. The first stop means (3, 30, 31, 32, 33) are distributed about the circumference of the passage (20) and are able to move by turning transversely, and simultaneously, towards the inside of the passage to a stop position in order to form several support points distributed under the capsule (90).
US07857156B2
A plastic bottle that can easily be collapsed after used is provided.The plastic bottle has a body portion that is depressed internally by applying external force, and a depressible portion formed on a circumferential wall of the body portion to protrude externally. The depressible portion is depressed internally by applying external force. Plural depressible portions and plural depression-resistant portions may be formed alternately on the circumferential wall of the body portion in the circumferential direction of the body portion.
US07857151B2
A tension rod assembly is provided that includes first and second telescoping rod sections. An outer diameter of the second rod section is larger than an outer diameter of the first rod section. First and second end members are provided. Each of the first and second end members has a recess with substantially the same inner diameter. The first end member is adapted to be received on the end of the first rod section. The second end member is adapted to be received on the end of the second rod section. An adapter is interposed between the end of the first rod section and the first end member. The adapter is configured to compensate for the difference in the outer diameters of the first and second rod sections such that identical end members can be used on both ends of the tension rod.
US07857149B2
A gun carousel 100 including a main post 102 secured to a base 104, a center wing 106 secured to the middle portion of main post 102, and a top cabinet 108 secured to the upper end of main post 102. The base 104 incorporates slots 110 for receiving rifle butts, while the center wing 106 incorporates a set of cutouts 112 for receiving rifle upper portions. Top cabinet 108 has a top panel 114, a bottom panel 116, side panels 118, and doors 120 secured by hinges 122. Doors 120 may incorporate inserts 124 having images thereon. Bottom panel 116 connects to main post 102 through a flange 126.
US07857141B2
An apparatus for separating components and a method of separating components using the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes: a main chamber which contains a sample that is separated into a plurality of layers by a centrifugal force; a component separating chamber which is connected to the main chamber, and receives a specific layer including specific components among the plurality of layers; a first channel which connects the component separating chamber to the main chamber; and a first channel valve which is disposed in the first channel to control a liquid flowing through the first channel.
US07857138B2
An apparatus and method for delivery of medication is provided. The invention includes a system for organizing and storing pre-determined dosages of medication by matching indicia on both the storage apparatus and the apparatus containing the medication. The invention allows visually-impaired, elderly, or those unable to read conventional indicia to determine the appropriate dosage of medication and to safely select and take the medication in the appropriate pre-determined dosage indicated by the indicia on the storage apparatus matching the indicia on the apparatus containing the medication.
US07857133B2
A windshield wiper package for containing a windshield wiper includes a front portion having a recess for receiving the windshield wiper, a back portion connected to the front portion for containing the windshield wiper within the recess, and an opening disposed in the back portion to allow loading or unloading of the windshield wiper. The opening is sized such that a length of the opening is less than about one-third of a length of the wiper package. A door is slidingly received by the back portion such that the door can be moved between an open position and a closed position. Complimentary detents and indentations are provided for securing the door in the open position or the closed position, the detents being positioned on one of the back portion and the door, and the indentations being positioned on another of the back portion and door.
US07857119B2
A method for grouping boxes, after stopping the head box of a train line, includes transversally displacing a last box of the train line with respect to the first box of the upstream line waiting for grouping and introducing a stop motion unit for holding the upstream line into the space cleared by the last box. The conveyor device includes an endless lateral rail which is used for guiding boxes and is laterally shifted at a length corresponding to at least the box longitudinal dimension and forms something like a funnel at the location of the last box of the train and a device, which is used for transversally displacing the last box by pushing it into the funnel and includes the stop motion unit holding the first box of the upstream line.
US07857118B2
A product orienting apparatus for orienting a product according to the present invention comprises a table comprising a rotatable device. The table has a table surface comprising at least a first surface area being provided by the rotatable device. The device is rotatable about an axis substantially perpendicular to the table surface. The table also has an array of substantially identical spherical rollers, each spherical roller being suitable for contacting the product at a first contacting point of the spherical roller and for contacting the table surface with a second contacting point of the spherical roller. The array of spherical rollers comprises a first group of spherical rollers contacting the surface area of the device with their second contacting point thereby enabling to convert a rotation of the device into rotation of a product contacting the spherical rollers of the first group of spherical rollers. The table furthermore has a plate having an aperture encompassing the rotatable device. The table surface comprises a second surface area provided by the plate. The second surface area is substantially coplanar with the first surface area.
US07857109B2
In a cam actuated brake, an adjustable cam disposable intermediate a pair of following surfaces on first ends of a pair of arms. The arms being rotatable about parallel axes and having a pair of opposing brake surfaces at second ends. The cam comprises a body having a first and second opposite cam surfaces adapted to engage the following surfaces and a bore intermediate the cam surfaces and a piston receivable in the bore. The piston is releasably coupled to the bore. The cam further comprises an adjuster for varying the position of the piston in the bore. The piston may be engaged by an actuator so as to wedge the cam between the following surfaces of the arms so as to rotate the first and second arms about their respective axes thereby frictionally engaging an object between the braking surfaces.
US07857108B2
A cart having a frame for conveying cargo. The cart includes at least one brake assembly mounted within the frame of the cart. The brake assembly is configured to provide braking by engaging and disengaging a rear wheel axle. The cart further includes a control mechanism configured to selectively engage and disengage the brake assembly by rotation of a cart handle. In addition, the cart includes a brake release device configured to disengage the brake assembly when carts are nested.
US07857104B2
A method of preventing a collision of two elevator cars of an elevator installation, which cars move substantially independently of one another in a common shaft, and an elevator installation includes a collision protection system that produces a retardation of each moved elevator car by a stopping brake as soon as the effective distance between the elevator cars falls below a critical minimum distance. After retardation of the cars by the stopping brakes, an emergency stop system comes into function. A control system of this emergency stop system ascertains the instantaneous movement state of the elevator cars. With the help of the car brakes, which are associated with the elevator cars, an additional retardation of each moved elevator car is triggered when the movement state thereof fulfils definable emergency stop criteria.
US07857103B2
An elevator system has a lower elevator car, an upper elevator car and a common counterweight in an elevator shaft. A support device has a first support strand and a second support strand. Each of the elevator cars is connected with the two support strands. In addition, a drive for driving the elevator cars is arranged in the elevator shaft. The drive includes four drive pulleys, wherein a first drive pulley and a second drive pulley are associated with the first support strand and the third drive pulley and the fourth drive pulley are associated with the second support strand.
US07857098B2
An automated hunting blind which includes a platform operable to be always maintained in a generally horizontal position. The blind includes a base which is secured in an elevated position with a tree trunk. A boom is pivotally connected with the base and the platform. A drive and a control are provided to move the platform between a down position and selected elevated positions.
US07857096B2
An upper shackle assembly for a steel pump jack for a wood pole includes a u-shaped shackle component to receive the wood pole. The assembly includes a crank handle that extends through the shackle component and engages the pole to lower the pump jack down the pole. The assembly includes a brake attached to the shackle component to engage with the pole if the crank handle fails. A method for installing a steel pump jack to a wood pole includes the steps of placing a u-shaped shackle component about the wood pole. There is the step of closing a brake with the shackle component to engage with the pole if a crank handle fails. There is the step of extending the crank handle through the shackle component to engage the pole. A steel pump jack.
US07857094B2
A combustion chamber for a gas turbine engine comprising at least one Helmholtz resonator having a resonator cavity and a resonator neck in flow communication with the interior of the combustion chamber. The cavity extends around at least part of the neck and is spaced apart therefrom to define a cooling chamber therebetween. The cooling chamber allows the neck and the cavity to be cooled with a flow of cooling air. The sunken neck allows the resonator to be located within enclosures with minimal volume without compromising on the damping properties afforded.
US07857090B2
A control system for a construction vehicle, such as a motor grader, is provided. The control system includes a plurality of joysticks supported by an operator seat assembly of the motor grader.
US07857087B2
An actuator AE1 includes a lock mechanism R1 configured to fill a gas G generated by operating a gas generator 35 at inside of a cylinder 22 and moving forward a piston 38 along with a support rod 40 for restricting a rearward movement of the support rod moved forward. The support rod 40 is arranged to be able to absorb a kinetic energy of a protection object person and capable of being plastically deformed when the protection object person is received by a receiving member after having been moved forward. A lock mechanism R1 is constituted by a diameter enlarging deformed portion 42 arranged at a piston and a locking stepped portion 24 capable of restricting the rearward movement of the piston. Further, the diameter enlarging deformed portion 42 is locked by the locking stepped portion 24 by being elastically deformed by an elastic force of the diameter enlarging deformed portion 42 per se from a diameter contracting state to a diameter enlarging state when arranged to the locking stepped portion 24 after moving the piston forward.
US07857080B2
A system for selectively consuming and storing electrical energy in a hybrid vehicle. The system includes an electric motor/generator unit having a rotary shaft and an internal combustion engine having a main shaft. A continuously variable transmission mechanically couples the electric motor/generator rotary shaft to the engine main shaft. A control circuit varies the amount of torque of the electric motor/generator unit rotary shaft between a negative and a positive value as a function of the operating condition of the vehicle. The control circuit also controls the transmission to vary the transmission ratio as a function of the engine operating conditions.
US07857078B2
A cutting tool includes a mandrel; a matrix affixed to the mandrel; and cutting material disposed within the matrix and method of making the same.
US07857074B2
The invention is based on a power hand tool, in particular a hammer drill and/or hammer chisel, with a percussion unit (10), which comprises a tumble bearing unit (12) with a tumble body (14) and also a piston (16). It is proposed that the power hand tool comprises at least two bearing locations (18, 20; 22, 24) arranged in parallel in the force of flux, by means of which the tumble body (14) is coupled to the piston (16).
US07857071B1
A graphical grade indicator for use in earth moving operations has an improved, variable resolution and a substantially unlimited range. This grade indicator results in a more accurate indication of the position of a cutting blade relative to the desired grade and, as a result, allows a machine operator to more accurately control grading operations. In one embodiment, a graphical grade indicator has a graphical scale with a substantially unlimited range and various indications indicating a desired grade level and at least a first undesirable grade level. When the cutting blade deviates from the desired grade level, a first indication is provided indicating, illustratively, the direction and magnitude of movement of the cutting blade repositioning necessary to achieve the desired grade. The resolution of the graphical scale can be changed in order to provide a desired degree of accuracy in grading operations.
US07857070B2
The present invention relates to machinery having multiple hydraulically actuated functions and, more particularly, to a control system for using a single proportional valve to control multiple hydraulically actuated functions on a piece of machinery such as a tractor or front-end wheel loader.
US07857069B2
A method for activating a sprinkler system comprises maintaining a liquid extinguishant in system pipes under a standby pressure that is less than the operating pressure, determining an arrangement of the sprinklers that will control a fire, and opening the sprinkler system valve in response to a drop in pressure in each of the pipes to which at least one of the sprinklers of the arrangement is connected. An alternate method comprises providing a bypass around the system valve, and opening the system valve in response to (1) a predetermined flow of liquid extinguishant through the bypass and (2) a drop in pressure in the sprinkler system below a predetermined pressure. In a variation of the alternate method, the system valve is opened in response only to a predetermined flow of liquid extinguishant through the bypass.
US07857068B2
The invention relates to an inertization device for establishing and maintaining a presettable inertization level in a protective room. The inertization device has an inert gas system for providing inert gas, a supply pipe system connected to the inert gas system for supplying the inert gas to the protective room, and an inert gas system control unit for controlling the inert gas system. The rate the inert gas rate is provided determines a level of inertization inside the protective room. In order for the inert gas rate supplied to the protective room to be appropriately controlled, even in the event of a disruption in the control of the inert gas system or in the event of a failure of the inert gas system control unit, a safety device is provided.
US07857059B2
A system for mitigating slugging in the conveyance of hydrocarbons in a flowline includes a first portion of flowline that extends substantially longitudinally along a declining surface. The first flowline portion carries multiphase hydrocarbons. A second portion of flowline extends upward from adjacent the first portion of flowline, and is in fluid communication with the first portion of flowline. A slug-mitigating region is between the first and second portions of flowline so slug-mitigating assembly receives the hydrocarbons from the first portion of flowline and conveys the hydrocarbons to the second portion of flowline. The slug-mitigating region has consecutively joined tubular segments that are each arcuate along a predetermined arcuate angle, with substantially uniform cross-sections. The first portion of flowline can be a subsea flowline extending along a sea floor, and the second portion of flowline can be a riser.
US07857057B2
Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems.
US07857054B2
A temporary matrix is provided in treating a subterranean formation by providing a composition comprising a matrix forming material and a matrix degrading material. The matrix degrading material is capable of degrading the matrix after a period of time when subjected to existing or induced conditions of the subterranean formation. The composition is placed into a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation. The composition is allowed to form a matrix within the wellbore, whereby the matrix at least one of significantly reduces the passage of fluid across or near the matrix or provides structural strength. A treatment operation is performed on the subterranean formation or wellbore and the degrading material is allowed to degrade the matrix.
US07857053B2
A cement slurry composition for cementing a well comprising: a hydraulic cement, water and a combination made of a hydroxyethyl cellulose and an acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonate-acrylamide copolymer. Provided is also a method for cementing a well involving such cement slurry composition. The composition provides a solution to decouple the fluid-loss control and the slurry rheologyfor cement for slurry and particularly for extended cement slurry.
US07857045B2
A torque transfer arrangement includes a relatively immobile construct; a relatively mobile construct. The relatively mobile construct is radially adjacent the relatively immobile construct. One or more torque body assemblies are mounted to the relatively mobile construct. The assemblies are radially responsive to applied hydraulic pressure to contact a surface of a separate structure and transmit torque from the arrangement to the separate structure. A method is included.
US07857028B2
A mounting device for an electric component includes a thermocompression bonding head with a pressure bonding member made of a predetermined elastomer, the pressure bonding member provided in a head main body, and a pressing force adjusting mechanism for adjusting a pressing force corresponding to a region on a pressure bonding surface of the pressure bonding member, wherein the pressure bonding member is pressed at a predetermined pressure toward an electric component placed on a wiring board.
US07857023B2
Various exemplary implementations of the principles described herein provide a cover for a golf club. The golf club may include a head and a shaft, the head having a heel end and a toe end, and the shaft connected at the heel end. The cover may include a toe portion substantially shrouding the toe end of the club head and a heel portion substantially shrouding the heel end of the club head and a first length of the shaft. The cover may include a sleeve portion extending from the heel portion and substantially shrouding a second length of the shaft, the second length being greater than the first length. The sleeve portion may have an opening opposite the heel portion. The cover may include a first pull member on the heel portion.
US07857016B2
A plastic adapter for fuel tanks. The adapter includes crimping lugs for fixing the adapter to a pipe or an opening in the tank.
US07857009B2
An apparatus for increasing the bending strength of tubes is provided. The apparatus may include an adapter and at least one sprint element. The adapter may have a shape that is matched to a cross-sectional shape of a tube end in such a manner that the adapter may be fitted to a tube connection of a device instead of the tube end and the tube end may be fitted to the adapter. The at least one spring element may be connected to the adapter. The at least one spring element may project out of the adapter in the direction of the tube. The at least one spring element may include a holding element at the projecting end. The holding element matches the cross-sectional shape of the tube and describes at least half the periphery of the tube. A fitted tube abuts against the holding element when the tube is subjected to bending. The rigidity of the spring element increases the bending strength of the tube in the region between the adapter unit and the holding element.
US07857000B1
A garden hose assembly is provided which includes a protective and decorative housing at least partially enclosing a hose reel assembly. The housing is rotatable fully 360 degrees about a supporting post. Water is supplied to the assembly through a connector mounted on the post. Water is conducted in a water supply line concealed entirely within the post and housing.
US07856998B2
A portable fluid containment assembly capable of holding and transporting oils, water, engine antifreeze, and the like and/or used fluids of the same types. The assembly includes multiple fluid tanks that are mounted in a tubular structure integrated into a platform. The tubular structure includes multiple support members and reinforcement bars. The tubular structure includes lift tip members and forklift pockets to facilitate movement of the portable fluid containment assembly.
US07856992B2
Tobacco catalyst and methods for reducing the amount of undesirable small molecules in tobacco smoke
Tobacco products and articles are disclosed that include a nanoparticle catalyst. The nanoparticles are capable of degrading undesirable small molecules in tobacco smoke. The nanoparticle catalyst includes a dispersing agent that inhibits the deactivation of the nanoparticle catalyst. One embodiment disclosed has a dispersing agent that anchors the nanoparticles to a support material thereby preventing agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The dispersed nanoparticles exhibit higher activity and reduce the required loading in the tobacco material.
US07856989B2
Fibrous structures composed of electrostatically prepared polysaccharide micro- and nanofibers are described which contain active agents such as drugs and/or flavorants encapsulated within the structures. When exposed to moisture, the structures are disrupted and the active agent rapidly released. The fibrous structures containing active agents such as flavorants can be incorporated into smoking articles which, when smoked, release the flavorants.
US07856984B2
A surgical covering material formed by extruding a sheet, either by a blown film or a cast film process. The upper exposed layer of the material is made by using a foaming agent to create elongated depressions that are surrounded by raised areas. The alternating raised and depressed areas provide the material with a coefficient of friction that compares well to standard drape materials that include a non-woven layer. The raised and depressed areas also provide the material with hydrophilic and non-glare properties that make is a highly effective drape or covering material for use in making mayo stand covers, back table covers and patient drapes. The size and shape of the depressions may be varied to create materials of different toughness or tearability, and differing materials may be combined to form customized drapes with the ability to gain access or make pathways through the drape.
US07856983B2
Apparatus for assisting phonation in a wearer of a tracheostomy tube having a first end lying outside the trachea of the wearer in the use orientation, a second end lying inside the trachea of the wearer in the use orientation, and a first lumen coupling the first and second ends of the tracheostomy tube. The tracheostomy tube may or may not include a fenestration through a sidewall of the tracheostomy tube coupling the first lumen to the outside of the tracheostomy tube. The apparatus includes a cannula for insertion into the first lumen from the first end of the tracheostomy tube. The cannula includes a first end lying outside the first end of the tracheostomy tube in the use orientation, a second, opposite end, and a second lumen coupling the first and second ends of the cannula. If the tracheostomy tube has a fenestration, the second end may lie within the first lumen adjacent and toward the first end of the tracheostomy tube from the fenestration, or generally between the first end of the tracheostomy tube and the fenestration, or adjacent the second end of the tracheostomy tube. A one-way valve is provided at the second end of the cannula.
US07856978B2
An anesthesia apparatus with a breathing circuit (1) has improved initiation of anesthesia for the patient. The gas mixture dispensed into the breathing circuit (1) is circulated in a first operating state without release to a patient until a preset anesthetic concentration is set in the breathing circuit (1). The respiration of the patient connected to the anesthesia apparatus takes place in a subsequent second operating state with the gas mixture set in the first operating state.
US07856966B2
When an estimated alcohol concentration is higher than a specified concentration, an operation time of an engine is cumulated to obtain an alcohol cumulative operating time (ACOT). When the ACOT exceeds a specified time and a feedback correction quantity of a fuel injection quantity exceeds a specified quantity, a computer estimates that a deposit quantity exceeds a permissible value to notify the driver to refuel a fuel tank with gasoline. After fueling with gasoline, a cleaning agent contained in the gasoline removes the deposit accumulated on a fuel injector. As a result, a variation in fuel injection quantity due to deposit on the fuel injector can be avoided, and a deterioration in exhaust gas emission and drivability can be avoided.
US07856961B2
A method for automatically controlling the pressure of a common rail system on an A side and a common rail system on a B side of a V-type internal combustion engine, in which the rail pressure (pCR(A)) of the common rail system on the A side is automatically controlled by an A-side closed-loop pressure control system, and the rail pressure (pCR(B)) of the common rail system on the B side is automatically controlled by a B-side closed-loop pressure control system. The automatic control of each side is independent of the other. A common set rail pressure is set as a reference input for both closed-loop pressure control systems. A set injection quantity is computed by a speed controller as a function of an actual speed relative to a set speed, and a common disturbance variable is computed as a function of the set injection quantity. Both the correcting variable of the A-side pressure controller and the correcting variable of the B-side pressure controller are corrected by the common disturbance variable.
US07856947B2
A wireless fencing system comprises a tetherless leash, a programming fixture, and, optionally, a terminal. The tetherless leash, which is attached to a monitored animal, establishes a “virtual” (i.e., barrier-free) perimeter based on geo-coordinates. The tetherless leash also monitors the position and movement of an animal relative to the perimeter, and delivers warnings, corrections, and praise to the animal in accordance with its programming. The programming fixture serves as a user interface during programming operations, since there are no exposed buttons by which a user can directly program the device. The wireless fencing system does not expand the perimeter in response to perimeter breach of a monitored animal. Rather, a protocol that monitors the animal's speed and location direction of movement relative to the perimeter and/or outbound way points is used.
US07856946B2
The instant invention is directed towards a method of preparing a clumping animal litter comprising a combination of a high molecular weight polymer, a gum, and cellulosic components. The invention particularly relates to a method of preparing a clumping animal litter that comprises a homogenous mixture of anionic polyacylamide, a guar gum, grist and optionally cellulosic fines in combination with one or more sources of cellulosic material, thereby providing a litter with enhanced absorption, clumping size and hardness.
US07856944B1
A pet food feeding dish includes a bowl having a generally concave portion, a rim extending along the periphery of said bowl, and a surrounding wall extending downwardly from the rim. The concave portion has a top surface and a bottom surface. A container or housing extends under the bowl downwardly from the bottom surface of the concave portion. Cat nip may be stored within the housing in order to attract a pet to the food contained bowl. The housing includes a main body portion and a cap that may be removably mounted to the main body portion. The cap includes a plurality of apertures therein for releasing the odor of the cat nip and the wall includes a plurality of openings around the periphery thereof so that the scent of the cat nip flows to the exterior of the bowl.
US07856938B2
The present invention provides a submarine that is capable of surface operation with its passenger compartment completely or predominately above the waterline. The vessel is capable of high-speed, long-range surface navigation and seakeeping.
US07856932B2
A pallet for shipping and displaying of packaged goods wherein the pallet comprises a plurality of stacking feet joined together by angled ribs to substantially prevent or inhibit spreading of the stacking feet due to high weight loads, a plurality of handles that include handle-strengthening areas and finger recesses to increase the strength and lifting ergonomics of the pallet, and an angled surface on the bottom of the stacking feet to facilitate transporting of the loaded pallet from a distribution vehicle to a retail location over certain obstacles. Accordingly, the packaged goods can comprise beverage trays filled or partially filled with beverage bottles, or any good and/or raw material for sale and/or use in manufacturing.
US07856931B2
A center sill for inclusion in a center sill assembly of a railroad freight car. The center sill includes a first main structural member of metal plate bent to a three-sided shape including a bottom cover and a pair of side web portions, and a top cover plate fastened to the side web portions to form a box beam structure. Horizontal filler plates that may be of thicker material are fastened to the bottom cover portion at the ends. Stub sills may be attached to the ends of the center sill to form a center sill assembly for a freight car such as a hopper car.
US07856930B2
A balancer hoist has an electric servomotor driving irreversible gearing in turn driving a hoist chain drive. A float mode and a manual mode are provided using two independent load sensors for sensing the load weight and force applied to a control grip. A traversing control is produced by a tractor carriage rolling on tracks defined by bottom flanges of an overhead rail connected to a trolley also traveling on the rail and supported on upper hoist assembly. A load sensor interconnects the tractor carriage and upon hoist assembly to sense forces created by an operator pulling on the chain, which are used to control an electric motor on the tractor carriage driving a pinion gear engaged with a separately assembled gear rack held against the underside of one of the bottom flanges of the overhead rail by being attached to a series of vertical clamping plates which are each held against the side of the rail by threaded fasteners passed through each plate and received in a series of retainer blocks in a sideways facing T slot defined in either bottom flange to positively drive the carriage, trolley and upper hoist assembly along the rail. A stationary dual hoist system is also provided in which two hoist assemblies are interconnected by a chain and sprockets to provide synchronized operation.
US07856927B2
The present invention provides a digital offset printing method for producing a composite image on a substrate wherein the image is made up of a first plurality number of component images, each being formed from a different ink. The method comprises providing a first component image on a first surface, transferring the first component image from the first surface to an intermediate transfer module, repeating said provided and transferring steps for further component images until a second plurality number, less than the first plurality number, of component images has been accumulated on the intermediate transfer module, and transferring the accumulated component images from the intermediate transfer module to the substrate. The step of transferring the accumulated images from the intermediate transfer module to the substrate comprises applying a plurality of inks, which correspond to the second plurality number of accumulated component images, to the substrate, and repeating said steps until all of the first plurality number of component images have been transferred to the substrate.
US07856924B1
A cooking apparatus has a food support with food engaging structure, such as a rotisserie spit. A firebed is mounted under the food support to heat food at the food support. A heat reflective vault is mounted over the food support for reflecting radiant heat back down toward the food support. The vault extends over the food support while still providing access from the side. A drive mechanism can vertically adjust the firebed to adjust heat flowing toward the food support. An elevator motor may be coupled to the drive mechanism for vertically positioning the firebed. A thermostat responsive to heat from the firebed and coupled to the elevator motor can control elevation of the firebed.
US07856922B2
A beverage brewer, adapted to discharge fresh extractable ingredients to a liquid receiving container there below including a brewing cup having an open top and having a liquid pervious bottom, adapted for holding a quantity of an infusible material for a certain time limit to allow a stirring action before dispensing the brewed beverage there from into the liquid receiving container, at least one sheet of filter element sealed along a perimeter of a bottom base of the brewing cup by a non-toxic meltable substance and thereby sealed unto the bottom base of the brewing cup, a plurality of perforations formed in the bottom base of the brewing cup wherein each of the perforations has an area of at least about 25 millimeters square and where the perforations are separated from each other by at least about 2 millimeters, at least one concave shape vent disposed on a lower part of an outer wall of the brewing cup and configured to allow escape of steam from the liquid receiving container during brewing, and a sit-on-ring configured to support the brewing cup on the liquid receiving container, the sit-on-ring including a tapered frustoconical shaped ring, and a plurality of supporting legs extending generally radially from the annular shaped ring, the legs each including at least one ridge feature configured to receive a rim of the liquid receiving container and to removably fix the sit-on-ring to the liquid receiving container.
US07856921B2
A device for preparing a whipped food, including a container portion that contains a food component and that is configured for receiving a fluid for mixing with the food component to produce a fluid mixture. A film conditioning conduit is associated with the container portion to receive the fluid mixture with gas bubbles entrained therein as a food product. The conduit includes a restriction channel associated with the container portion downstream thereof to receive the food product. The restriction channel has a cross-section sufficiently small and a length sufficiently large to selectively feed bubbles in the food product that are smaller than a preselected maximum bubble size. The conduit also includes a deceleration channel and fluid communication with the restriction channel downstream thereof to receive the food product. The deceleration channel substantially reduces the flow speed of the food product. An outlet downstream of and in fluid association with the deceleration channel dispenses the slowed food product.
US07856917B2
An adjustable gas block designed to interface with an autoloading firearms gas system. Three positions of adjustment are provided to optimize the gas flow from the barrel for the host firearm. One of the three provided positions of adjustment is selected if a silencer is in use, not in use, or if the user desires to stop the autoloading function of the firearm entirely. This design works by restricting the flow of gas from the gas port in the barrel and does not vent excess gas into the atmosphere around the gas block.
US07856913B2
A rotary cutting blade provided with a curved cutting edge and a cutting surface extending centripetally from the cutting edge at angles varying in regular or irregular sequence between a predetermined maximum and a predetermined minimum.
US07856898B2
The calibration tool is provided for use with a detector, such as a detector for detecting trace amounts of one or more substances of interest. The calibration tool includes a body with at least one reservoir for retaining the calibration solution therein. A nib projects from the body and communicates with the reservoir. The nib can be wiped across a detection surface and the detection surface then may be presented to a detector. The detector then can be calibrated for the particular substance of interest in the calibration solution. The calibration tool may include plural reservoirs isolated from one another and plural nibs for applying the calibration solution to a detection surface. A detector kit is also provided.
US07856897B2
An application for a liquid sampling device includes an elongated shaft with a handle at a first end of the elongated shaft and a sample container removably affixed to a distal end. A trigger is pivotally affixed to the handle and a flapper is pivotally affixed to the elongated shaft. The flapper is urged towards an opening in the sample bottle, thereby covering the opening in the sample container in a default position and the trigger is linked to the flapper, wherein operation of the trigger results in opening of the flapper.
US07856894B2
The invention concerns a device (1) for measuring the strip tension in a metal strip, especially a steel strip, which device has a flat, level table (2), over which the metal strip can run and at one end (3) of which a plurality of measuring elements (4) is mounted, which are suitable for measuring the strip tension, where cooling elements (5) are provided, which are installed under the table (2) and with which cooling liquid, especially water, can be carried into the area of the measuring element (4). In order to secure the table against sagging in a simple way, the invention provides that the cooling elements (5) have a box-like cooling liquid tank (6), which is arranged on both sides of the metal strip on at least one support member, such that the underside of the table (2) rests directly or indirectly on the box-like cooling liquid tank (6).
US07856882B2
A system for mapping a condition of a structure that includes a plurality of support members covered by a wall is disclosed and includes a computer processor having a memory, a two-dimensional model of the structure stored in the memory and a three-dimensional model generator operatively associated with the computer. A density sensor that includes an ultrasonic transducer is operatively connected to the computer processor and provided with an ultra wideband transmitter. A position locating system is provided for determining the position of the ultra wideband transmitter, and hence the density sensor, in a frame of reference and communicating the position to the computer processor which displays indications of density on a three-dimensional model of the structure. A method for mapping a condition of a structure is also disclosed.
US07856871B2
A wheel for vehicles includes a rim, a tyre mounted on the rim, and at least one device for energy generation operatively associated with the tyre. The device for energy generation includes a first element that is fixed relative to the rim or to the tyre, and a second element mounted on the first element and free to rotate relative to the first element around a predetermined rotation axis. The second element has a mass centre eccentric to the predetermined rotation axis. The device for energy generation further includes an electric generator having a stator mounted on the first element and a rotor mounted on the second element.
US07856849B2
Shown is a ring for interchangeably displaying a bead-type ornament. The ring includes a shank portion for at least partially circling a user's finger. A support member extends away from the shank to a position spaced from the user's finger. A post extends from the support member toward the user and terminates in a free end. A bead-type ornament may be positioned on the post while the ring is not on a finger and is held captive by the support member and post when the ring is on a finger.
US07856841B2
An air conditioning system for an automobile prevents leakage of condensed water by locating two drain parts respectively on an air conditioning case and a protective cover having a drain structure beneath the air conditioning case. A drain hose, connected to and communicating with the drain parts, discharges the condensed water to the outside of the automobile without dispersion of the condensed water by forming a condensed water discharge pipe positioned on the protective cover. The protective cover, mounted on the bottom surface of the air conditioning case, surrounds the inflow and outflow pipes and has an auxiliary drain part formed at a side thereof. The drain hose connects the drain part of the air conditioning case with the auxiliary drain part of the protective cover.
US07856838B2
A movable data center or container enclosed data center is disclosed in which a plurality of data processing modules, a plurality of heat exchange modules, and a plurality of fans are operatively arranged. The enclosure defines a continuous closed-loop air passage between a exterior walls and interior walls. The data processing modules, heat exchange modules, and fan units are arranged in an alternating pattern adjacent to the sidewalls of the enclosure.
US07856836B2
A refrigerating air conditioning system is provided with a refrigerant circuit which includes a compressor 3, an indoor heat exchanger 6, a first pressure reducing device 10, an outdoor heat exchanger 11, and a switching device 4 for switching a direction of a refrigerant flow between heating and cooling modes for supplying heat from the indoor heat exchanger 6. In the system, a refrigerant temperature detection sensor 14c of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and an outdoor air temperature detection sensor 14d are provided for determining a state of a frost formed on the outdoor heat exchanger 11. Two types of defrosting inhibition time values τ1 and τ3 are allowed to be set in accordance with a previous defrosting time τ2 for continuously performing heating operation. A defrosting operation is performed by controlling the defrosting inhibition time value to be long when an amount of the frost formed on the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is determined to be small, and the defrosting inhibition time value to be short when the amount of the frost formed on the outdoor heat exchanger 11 is determined to be large.
US07856834B2
A centrifugal compressor assembly for compressing refrigerant in a 250-ton capacity or larger chiller system comprising a motor, preferably a compact, high energy density motor or permanent magnet motor, for driving a shaft at a range of sustained operating speeds under the control of a variable speed drive. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises a mixed flow impeller and a vaneless diffuser sized such that a final stage compressor operates with an optimal specific speed range for targeted combinations of head and capacity, while a non-final stage compressor operates above the optimum specific speed of the final stage compressor. Another embodiment of the centrifugal compressor assembly comprises an integrated inlet flow conditioning assembly comprising a flow conditioning nose, a plurality of inlet guide vanes and a flow conditioning body that positions inlet guide vanes to condition flow of refrigerant into an impeller to achieve a target approximately constant angle swirl distribution with minimal guide vane turning.
US07856829B2
A method of generating electrical power in which a synthesis gas stream generated in a gasifier is combusted in an oxygen transport membrane system of a boiler. The combustion generates heat to raise steam to in turn generate electricity by a generator coupled to a steam turbine. The resultant flue gas can be purified to produce a carbon dioxide product.
US07856826B2
A method of assembling a combustor for use in a turbine engine is disclosed. The method includes providing a dome assembly ring including a plurality of assembly ring openings, positioning a plurality of elongated rings on the dome assembly ring, providing a cowl assembly including an inner cowl portion and an outer cowl portion that are fabricated from sheet metal, and coupling the inner and outer cowl portions to the dome assembly ring such that each of the plurality of elongated rings is coupled to the dome assembly ring.
US07856822B2
A heat regenerative engine uses water as both the working fluid and the lubricant. In operation, water is pumped from a collection pan and through a coil around a cylinder exhaust port, causing the water to be preheated by steam exhausted from the cylinder. The preheated water then enters a steam generator and is heated by a combustion chamber to produce high pressure super heated steam. Air is preheated in a heat exchanger and is then mixed with fuel from a fuel atomizer. An igniter burns the atomized fuel as the flames and heat are directed in a centrifuge within the combustion chamber. The speed and torque of the engine are controlled by a rocker and cam arrangement which opens a needle-type valve to inject high pressure super heated steam into a cylinder having a reciprocating piston therein. The injected steam expands in an explosive action on the top of the piston at high pressure forcing the piston down and drivingly rotating a linked crank cam and crankshaft. Exhaust steam is directed through a centrifugal condenser having an arrangement of flat plates. Cooling air from blowers circulates through the flat plates to condense the steam to a liquid state. The water condensation is returned to the collection pan for subsequent use in steam generation.
US07856806B1
A propulsion system includes a canted multinozzle plate, which has a multitude of small nozzles angled (not perpendicular) to major surfaces of the multinozzle grid plate. The multinozzle plate may be a cylindrical section or plate, and the multitude of nozzles may be substantially axisymmetric about the cylindrical plate. The propulsion system includes a pressurized gas source which may be placed either forward or aft of the multinozzle grid plate. The propulsion system may have a conical insert, an internal flow separator cone, to aid in changing directions of flow from the pressurized gas source, to divert the flow through the multiple nozzles.
US07856799B1
A lawn mower drive arrangement delivers power to a mower deck of a lawn mower vehicle. The drive arrangement includes a prime mover and a drive sheave, at least one mower deck sheave for powering at least one cutting blade and an endless engaging the drive sheave and at least one mower deck sheave. The drive sheave is oriented such that its axis of rotation is generally transverse. Guide pulleys engage the tension side and the slack side of the endless belt between the drive sheave and at least one mower deck sheave. The guide pulleys are positioned such that the endless belt twists by an acute angle substantially less than 60 degrees between the drive sheave and the guide pulleys.
US07856795B2
The present invention relates to a method of identifying a batch of articles comprising the following step: (AA) a plurality of containers (1) is taken, characterized in that the following steps are carried out: (AB) one intrinsic identification code (5) is generated for the batch; (AC) the batch of containers (1) is marked by providing a two-dimensional or three-dimensional intrinsic marking zone (4) in the wall (3) of each container (1) and reproducing a readable intrinsic identification code (5) in each container (1) identified by the latter, by the modification of the constituent substrate of the wall (3); (AD) one extrinsic identification code (16), relating to the product (10) filling the containers (1) of the batch, is generated; (AE) the batch of containers (1) filled with the product (10) is marked again, by associating with each container (1) an extrinsic marking means (15) that readably reproduces each extrinsic identification code (16); (AF) each article is identified by reading its intrinsic (5) and extrinsic (16) identification codes.
US07856788B2
The invention comprises a completely recessed wall-wash lighting fixture capable of being installed within a ceiling. The lighting fixture comprises a housing, which contains a lamp. The invention may comprise a lighting fixture further comprises a reflector disposed within the housing and adjacent to the first end of the housing. The invention may also comprise a flared lamp shield attached to the housing, which is capable of protecting the lighting fixture from damage. The lamp shield extends below the ceiling when the lighting fixture is installed.
US07856786B2
Various floor and wall constructions are disclosed. One embodiment includes a second vertical wall supported over a first vertical wall. One or more joist rims may be attached to the first vertical wall and pluralities of joists may be attached to the joist rims. Decking material may be supported on the plurality of joists. The second vertical wall may be fabricated from spaced second studs that extend between a top track and a bottom track. The bottom track comprises a web and two upstanding legs. The ends of the second studs serve to define open areas within the bottom track between the respective stud ends. A cementitious material may be applied onto the decking material and into the open areas within the bottom track to form the floor surfaces and barriers within the open areas.
US07856776B2
The invention relates to a plane structure, such as a wall, floor, ceiling or roof, comprising profiles (3A) extending mutually parallel in a first direction, elements (1) which can be coupled releasably to the profiles, wherein a profile extends on both sides of an element and wherein the elements are coupled to both adjacent profiles. The invention also relate to the elements and profiles for use in this structure, as well as to the method for building such a structure. An automatic positioning of the elements is created as a result of these measures; this then no longer depends on the skill of the builder. Owing to the releasability of the coupling the elements can simply be stacked on the profiles.
US07856771B2
A set of extruded interlocking moldings joins together panels of framed glass and/or framed glass doors. A first molding has a channel along an edge of one face and a groove in the opposite face. A second molding has a tongue extending along an edge of one face and a flange along an edge of the opposite face. The channel of the first molding is configured to receive and hold the tongue of the second molding to secure the moldings together as the panels are aligned. The flange of the first molding snaps into the groove of the second molding when the moldings are rotated to a predetermined angle with respect to each other.
US07856759B2
A power drive unit system includes a vehicle door, a slide member, a motor, first and second cable guide members, first and second cables, an external spool, a door inner panel and one guide track. The internal spool unit includes an internal spool. The motor operatively communicates with the internal spool. The first cable guide member is associated with a first cable and the external spool. The first cable is attached to the internal spool and the external spool. The second cable guide member is associated with a second cable and the external spool. The second cable is attached to the internal cable spool the external spool, which in turn communicates with an output gear. The motor actuates the internal cable spool to pull the second cable, thereby causing rotation of the external spool and the drive shaft. The rotation of the drive shaft results in rotation of the door relative to the body; after which the door slides open.
US07856757B2
A sash window assembly includes: a window frame having upper, lower, and left and right vertical frame members; and at least one sash guided by the vertical frame members and supported to be openable and closable by being slid vertically. The sash has: latch devices provided respectively at left and right ends in an upper end portion of the sash; an upper frame element having first passage holes formed in a top surface thereof and through which respective operating members of the respective latch devices are exposed toward an indoor space; a lower frame element; left and right vertical frame elements, each having a second passage hole formed in a depth-direction surface of the vertical frame element and through which a fastening section of the latch device is passed; and a face material provided inside the upper, lower, and left and right vertical frame elements.
US07856753B2
An easily disassembled navel orangeworm egg trap apparatus which facilitates easy cleaning, inspection, maintenance, reloading, and repair. One or more embodiments of the invention enable orchard workers in the field to easily disassemble a navel orangeworm egg trap for cleaning, inspection, and repair. In one or more embodiments of the invention, at least one chamber section that is detachably coupled along the length of the chamber section. The chamber disassembles along the length of the chamber sections, thus exposing the inner surfaces of the ovipositional bait attractant chamber. By offering an easily disassembled chamber that exposes the inner surface, navel orangeworm egg traps are easily cleaned and repaired in the field.
US07856745B2
Information-bearing articles (10,50,100,100′,150, . . . 850) for securing to flexible tubing (38) such as catheters and their extension tubes, to provide important information about the tubing (38) such as flow rating or contraindications on types of cleaning fluid not to be used therewith. The devices are provided with large outwardly facing indicia-bearing surfaces (30,32;70,72;120,122; . . . 834) and may be clipped directly to the tubing (38) at a selected location therealong, or be clipped directly to a clamp member (40,330) that is disposed along and around the tubing for clamping the tubing (38) when desired to occlude fluid flow therethrough. Those devices (10,100,100′,550, . . . 750) clippable to the tubing may have a C-shaped channel (18,20,58,108,554,604) therealong that may be flexed open to be placed about the tubing, which may be temporarily compressed as well to enter the channel, or the devices may be rings (800,850) that clip closed about the tubing (38). Other devices (200,250, . . . 500) are adapted to be clipped to the clamp (40,330) by latch projections (208,210;258,260; . . . 508,510). Still others (50,150) may be clipped to the tubing (38) but be adapted to be placed partially around an end or a side of the clamp (40,330).
US07856742B2
An application for an adjustable orthopedic device includes a holder configured to be worn on a wearer's foot. The holder has an elastic cloth band sized to encircle the wearer's foot at a location between the wearer's toes and the wearer's ankle. A platform is removably secured to the holder by hook and loop material. The platform includes more hook and loop material on its top surface. Raised pads are provided for applying pressure to one or more bones of the wearer's foot, the raised pads include mating hook and loop material for providing a removable adherence to the top surface of the platform and allowing the raised pads to be manually repositionable to any X and Y coordinate on the platform.
US07856736B2
A drying apparatus includes an outer case, a portion of the outer case defining a cavity in which articles can be dried and an outlet disposed at the lower end of the cavity. A removable liquid treatment module is arranged downstream of the outlet and within the outer case, the liquid treatment module including a liquid dispersal unit. By providing a liquid treatment module that is removable, the liquid treatment module can be easily and quickly replaced by an unskilled user without undue burden. The invention is particularly suitable for use in a hand dryer.
US07856734B2
A linear measuring arrangement for measuring a relative position of two objects, the linear measuring arrangement including guide surfaces, a scale having a measuring graduation and a scanning carriage for scanning the measuring graduation, wherein the scanning carriage is linearly guided in a measuring direction on the guide surfaces. The linear measuring arrangement further including a carrier device which can be fastened to one of the two objects and a coupling, by which the scanning carriage is coupled to the carrier device rigidly in the measuring direction and transversely thereto resiliently. The coupling includes a first coupling element, having a first coupling face, arranged on the scanning carriage and a second coupling element, having a second coupling face, arranged on the carrier device, wherein the second coupling face contacts the first coupling face and wherein at least one of the first and second coupling elements is made of a ceramic material at least in an area of a contact.
US07856728B1
A converging lines of sight mount which utilizes handgun type scopes. It provides for elevation, windage and draw length adjustments. It features a graduated range scale with highly discernable graduations each representing less than one yard. It is constructed for mounting on a bow forward of the archer, having two forward facing oscillating arms with integral gears. A linkage connects both arms at one end and a pinion imparts synchronized motion at the opposite end. Said arms arc lengths, being dissimilar, impart a tilting motion to the linkage. Said tilting provides for converging lines of sight at the archer's eye at any elevation setting. Said converging point equates to draw length and is adjustable by means of an offset rotary device which alters the arm length ratio between arms. An effective windage adjustment provides in excess of 240 inches at 100 yards with a resolution of approximately 2 inches.
US07856727B2
The system is used to determine the position of a tool mounted on a digging machine. It includes a monitoring appliance and several independent position-detecting devices each including a face equipped with attachment elements to be held flush against an articulated component of the machine, a wireless communication module remotely sending data to the monitoring appliance, an independent electrical power supply source, a processing unit, and an electronic module with angular position sensors. The devices are distributed so that each is on a different articulated part of the machine. They need no cables, and are easy to fit. The signals emitted by the devices are received by the monitoring appliance, which calculates a setpoint for positioning the tool.
US07856726B2
A rotary encoder for a rotor machine with at least one track with a pulse series for the generation of signal pulses, where a selectable reduction of the signal pulses is possible for the output, and can include a rotor machine with a machine partition and a rotary encoder above. There is also a method by which, using a rotary encoder for a rotor machine, a reduction of the signal pulses to be output is selected, as well as to a method by which the signals of a rotary encoder of a rotor machine are output in accordance with a selected reduction.
US07856721B2
The scrubbing razor includes a handle, an elongated head with a blade mounting portion, and one or more forward straight blades and one or more rearward straight blades mounted to and extending from the underside of the blade mounting portion. The one or more rearward straight blades are mounted in opposing relation to the one or more forward straight blades, so that the scrubbing razor is bidirectional. The cutting edges of the one or more forward straight blades and the opposing cutting edges of the one or more rearward straight blades define a single plane.
US07856720B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a hair brush that can be used for cutting the hair so that no skills and knack are required for adjusting the inclination angle of bristles and cutters with respect to the scalp. In a hair brush in which multiple the bristles 12 are set upright on a the brush body 14, the cutters 18 provided with the cutting edges 18a are set upright nearby the bristles 12.
US07856718B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a screen cylinder, and a screen cylinder that is particularly suitable for screening, filtering, fractionating, or sorting cellulose pulp suspensions of the pulp and paper making industry, or other similar suspensions. The present invention relates more particularly to a screen cylinder formed from a plurality of screen wires leaving screening slots therebetween, and circular support elements. The support elements include openings/grooves for installation of the screen wires therein, so that at least one of the support rings is thermally deformed and clamps the screen wires in the openings/grooves of the rings.
US07856716B2
A method for assembling a plurality of tubes to a tubesheet. A first end of each of the tubes is situated over a corresponding support rod that extends from a pattern block of the fixture. A first end of a plurality of locating members is inserted into a second end of each of the tubes such that a second end of the locating member extends from the tube second end. The tubesheet is then slid over the locating members and tubes such that each of a plurality of holes in the tubesheet receive corresponding ones of the tubes.
US07856715B2
A vessel system comprising a vessel. The vessel system further comprises at least one internal wall located within the vessel. The vessel system further comprises at least one inflatable seal allowing to create a seal between an outer periphery of the internal wall and an internal cavity wall of the vessel.
US07856714B2
A method of retrofitting for electrical power generation an internal combustion engine (including a plurality of pistons connected to a common crankshaft) includes applying to at least one and optionally to each piston a power converter operable to convert mechanical energy of the piston to and from electrical energy.
US07856709B2
The invention relates to a method for high-frequency tuning a high-frequency plug connector, comprising a printed circuit board that has both contact points for high-frequency contacts as well as contact points for insulation displacement contacts. Each contact point for the high-frequency contacts is connected to one respective contact point for the insulation displacement contacts. Capacitive couplings, which cause a near-end crosstalk, occur between the high-frequency contacts. At least one first conductor path, which is connected on only one side to a contact point of an electrical contact, is situated on the printed circuit board that, together with at least one second conductor path, which is situated on and/or in the printed circuit board, forms a capacitor. At least one frequency-dependent parameter of the device is measured, and this frequency-dependent parameter is compared to a set parameter and, according to on a difference between the two, the conductor path that is contacted on one side is partially removed or completely separated.
US07856703B2
A short-circuit member includes a short-circuit conductor and a short-circuit insulator. The short-circuit conductor includes superimposed first and second short-circuit member formation groups. Each of the short-circuit member formation groups has outer terminals, inner terminals, and linking portions. The outer terminals contact one another and the inner terminals contact one another between each of the short-circuit member formation groups. The linking portions are maintained in non-contact between each of the short-circuit member formation groups. In a method for manufacturing the short-circuit member, the short-circuit insulator is molded by filling molten resin material between opposing ones of the linking portions in the first and second short-circuit member formation groups, which are superimposed in a mold, along a longitudinal direction of the linking portions so that filled resin material leaks out of gaps between adjacent ones of the linking portions in a thicknesswise direction of the linking portions.
US07856702B2
A method for manufacturing an armature including securing a core to the shaft having a plurality of slots extending in the axial direction formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof, forming a coil composed of a plurality of coil portions by simultaneously winding wires a plurality of turns around a pair of slots separated by a predetermined number of slots and offsetting each of the coil portions one slot at a time in the circumferential direction of the core, securing a commutator to the shaft having a plurality of segments, adjacent coil portions having a slot along one side thereof, wherein a number of vacant slots between adjacent ones of the coil portions within each of simultaneously-wound coil portion groups is nonuniform, and electronically connecting segments which should have the same electric potential by means of equalizing connectors so that each of pairs of the coil portions that should have the same electric potential has a substantially equal electric potential.
US07856700B2
The invention relates to a device for repeatedly machining workpieces (1), especially bar-shaped or tubular workpieces, which are located next to each other. Said device comprises a bottom part (2) for supporting the workpieces (1), a top part (3) that can be drivingly moved relative to the bottom part (2) in order to mount the workpiece on the bottom part (2), and a tool support (24) for receiving several tools. In order to be able to universally use the device, the tool support (24) is equipped with a support plate (29) which can be drivingly displaced relative to the bottom part (2) and encompasses several tool receptacles (30) for axial tools (25), said tool receptacles (30) being arranged next to and underneath each other. A drive unit (26) is allocated to the tool support (24) in order to actuate the axial tools (25).
US07856691B2
A painting system is provided and the system comprises: a first application device comprising opposing sides, the first application device comprises a pole adaptor directly and pivotably attached to the first side of the first application device, and the second side of the first application device is adaptable to receive a paint pad; and a second application device comprising opposing sides, the second application device comprises a handle situated on the first side of the second application device, and the second side of the second application device has a cavity for receiving the pole adaptor when the second application device is attached to the first application device.
US07856690B2
The present invention provides a brushing assembly and a method of cleaning a surface. In one embodiment, the brushing assembly comprises a lint roller comprising a handle and a roll of adhesive tape supported by a barrel, wherein the adhesive tape has an exposed tacky surface. The brushing assembly further comprises a caddy cover comprising an opening for placement over the barrel and roll of adhesive tape of the lint roller and at least one working surfaces. In one embodiment, the method of cleaning a surface comprises providing a lint roller, providing a caddy cover having at least one working surfaces, placing the caddy cover over the lint roller, brushing the surface to be cleaned with at least one of the working surfaces of the caddy cover to gather debris, removing the caddy cover from the lint roller, and rolling the lint roller over the surface to be cleaned to capture the debris.
US07856683B2
A foldable cot includes a cot frame includes two longitudinal and a plurality of supporting legs, and a fabric made cot panel, wherein the longitudinal arms are coupled with the longitudinal edge portions of the cot panel respectively. A tensional enhancing arrangement includes two transverse arms coupled with the transverse edge portions of the cot panel, and four coupling joints rotatably mounted with end portions of the transverse arms to couple with four ends of the longitudinal arms respectively, wherein each of the transverse arms is rotated between a releasing position that the cot panel is loosely supported by the longitudinal arms and the transverse arms, and a setup position that the cot panel is stretched towards the four peripheral edges thereof for enhancing a tension of the cot panel.
US07856681B2
An integrated drain and fountain device having a stationary fountain nozzle integrated within a lower portion of a sink and disposed to produce a vertical stream of water at a user-defined water pressure. A concentrically located drain to the fountain nozzle is adapted to receive and collect water and is in fluid communication with drain piping. A water supply riser is in fluid communication with a water intake pipe that allows both hot and cold water to enter the water supply riser so that water can be discharged through the fountain nozzle. A controller for the fountain device is located on a counter top so that when a downward force is applied to the controller, the downward force is directed through a linkage including a flexible arm that redirects the downward force to an upward force causing an o-ring stopper of the integrated drain and fountain device to move vertically.
US07856679B1
A bath aid device includes a base formed with a padded area for kneeling. A seat is carried by a seat support mounted to the base for movement between a sitting position of the seat away from the padded area for kneeling and a stored position of the seat toward the padded area for kneeling, and a chest support mounted to a chest support extension mounted to the base for reciprocal movement between lowered and raised positions of the chest support relative to the base, and in the raised position of the chest support for pivotal movement between a deployed position of the chest support away from the padded area for kneeling and a stored position of the chest support toward the padded area for kneeling. The chest support extension is supported between the base and the seat support in the stored positions of the seat and the chest support.
US07856677B1
A cover for a bathtub overflow port includes a concave body provided with a circular inner edge maintaining a vacuum seal with an inner surface of the existing bathtub. Such a circular inner edge of the body is removably abutted directly against the inner surface of the existing bathtub during operating conditions. The inner edge of the body creates a vacuum within the body when the inner edge of the body is abutted against the inner surface of the existing bathtub. Such a vacuum statically affixes the body to the inner surface of the existing bathtub during operating conditions. The cover further includes a curvilinear handle provided with axially opposed ends.
US07856672B1
A belt sword system includes a flexible sword and a sword belt. One end of the flexible sword includes a handle and the other end is angled to form a point. The handle may be formed by wrapping tape around the one end. At least one of the exposed lengthwise edges may be sharpened. The sword belt preferably includes a belt, a plurality of retention clips and a slide buckle keeper. The belt includes a strap and a retention buckle. The slide buckle keeper retains an end of the strap. The plurality of retention clips are attached along a length of the strap with rivets. The sword belt may be worn with the plurality of retention clips facing outward or facing inward toward the waist. Preferably, the flexible sword is inserted into the plurality of retention clips, before the sword belt is inserted into the loops of a pair of pants.
US07856671B1
A cap for providing a distinctive appearance for a person includes a head cover being positionable over a portion of a head of a person. A bill is coupled to the head cover and extends outwardly from the head cover to shade eyes of the person. A band is removably positioned on an exterior surface of the head cover. The band is positioned adjacent and coextensive with a bottom edge of the head cover. The band includes a loop portion and a single raised section spaced from the exterior surface. The band extends upwardly from the bottom edge of the head cover and above the bill. The raised portion is adjustable to adjust a length of the loop portion to frictionally engage the head cover. At least one decorative item is insertable through the raised section.
US07856668B2
The apparel is an athletic garment formed from textiles for use as a resistance training tool that works by increasing the fluid resistance such as aerodynamic drag or hydrodynamic drag on an athlete in a predetermined event. The athletic garment has a first fabric for covering at least a portion of a first body segment, and a second fabric, different from said first fabric, for covering at least a portion of a second body segment; wherein the second fabric is a turbulence-generating fabric.
US07861315B2
A simple method for integrating a circuit onto a probe with a handle, a cantilever and a tip is provided. By fabricating a probe whose surface has recessed patterns of the desirable profile, a circuit can be formed on one part of the handle out over the cantilever and back onto a different part of the handle without employing a circuit lithography step. The circuit material constituting the circuit is deposited orthogonally to the probe surface with a line-of-sight technique.
US07861311B2
Provided is a method of hiding a specified directory with no effect on compatibility with an existing file system. According to an aspect of the invention, an apparatus for managing a hidden area includes a hidden area generation unit which sets a portion of the data area as a hidden area and records meta data for the set hidden area, a hidden area release unit which moves a directory entry of a root directory of the hidden area into the directory entry area and returns a cluster recorded with the meta data to release the set hidden area, and an access control unit which controls an access to the hidden area when the hidden area is set.
US07861310B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for modifying a user interface of a client application. A method includes rendering a graphical user interface of a client application having a first and second control coupled to the client application, receiving user-generated input characterizing a request to modify the first control and a selection of a third control; exchanging the first control with the third control; rendering the graphical user interface of the client application as having the third control in lieu of the first control; receiving user-generated input characterizing interaction with the second control; and rendering the third control to reflect the interaction with the second control.
US07861309B2
The invention provides a business platform, a business entity management system, and a software module that can be used in conjunction with the software service framework. The invention mimics actual business relationships between business entities, and uses a software service module to configure the business entities into a network that comprises at least three generations of business entities, wherein role dependent associations mimicking real life business relationships are established between the business entities. The invention provides management of active content in a website and allows modification of the content by different business entities. Control of the active content is determined by precedence of the business entities.
US07861303B2
A system, method and computer program product are provided for scanning a mobile wireless device for malware. Initially, a service agent is initiated utilizing a mobile wireless device. Next, information describing the mobile wireless device is transmitted to a back-end server over a wireless network utilizing the service agent of the mobile wireless device. An update is then received from the back-end server over the wireless network utilizing the service agent of the mobile wireless device. Subsequently, an anti-malware scanner installed on the mobile wireless device is updated so that the mobile wireless device may be scanned utilizing the updated anti-malware scanner.
US07861302B1
Scanning a storage device for viruses includes determining physical portions of the storage device that have been modified since a previous virus scan and scanning at least parts of the physical portions for viruses. The physical portions may correspond to tracks of the storage device, sectors of the storage device, and/or to subportions of the storage device. Determining the physical portions of the storage device that have been modified may include creating a table that is indexed according to each of the portions and has entries indicating whether a corresponding one of the portions has been modified, the entries being cleared after a virus scan to indicate that no portions have been modified and setting a specific one of the entries in response to a corresponding one of the portions of the storage device being subject to a write operation. Creating the table may include copying an other table provided by the storage device and/or using an other table provided by the storage device.
US07861300B2
Disclosed is a method, a computer system and a computer readable media product that contains a set of computer executable software instructions for directing the computer system to execute a process for determining a non-replicative behavior of a program that is suspected of containing an undesirable software entity. The process causes execution of the program in at least one known environment and automatically examines the at least one known environment to detect if a change has occurred in the environment as a result of the execution of the program. If a change is detected, the process automatically analyzes the detected change (i.e., the process performs a side effects analysis) to determine if the change resulted from execution of the program or from execution of the undesirable software entity. The process then uses the result of the analysis at least for undoing a detected change that results from execution of the undesirable software entity. The result of the analysis can also be used for informing a user of an anti-virus system of the non-replicative changes made to the environment.
US07861299B1
A network security system is provided that receives information from various sensors and can analyze the received information. In one embodiment of the present invention, such a system receives a security event from a software agent. The received security event includes a target address and an event signature, as generated by the software agent. The event signature can be used to determine a set of vulnerabilities exploited by the received security event, and the target address can be used to identify a target asset within the network. By accessing a model of the target asset, a set of vulnerabilities exposed by the target asset can be retrieved. Then, a threat can be detected by comparing the set of vulnerabilities exploited by the security event to the set of vulnerabilities exposed by the target asset.
US07861296B2
The present invention is directed toward a system, method, and a computer-readable medium for efficiently loading data into memory in order to scan the data for malware. The logic provided in the present invention improves the experience of a user when operating a computer protected with antivirus software. One aspect of the present invention is a method that identifies a pattern in which data in a file is loaded into memory from a computer-readable medium. Then the method identifies a pattern in which data in the file may be loaded into memory in a way that minimizes the time required to read data in the file. When a subsequent scan of the file is scheduled to occur, the method causes data in the file to be loaded in memory using the pattern that minimizes the time required to read data in the file.
US07861287B2
A system, method, and computer usable medium for utilizing audit information for challenge/response during a password reset process. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a client tracker compiles a log of user actions while a user accesses an account on a data processing system. In response to a user password reset request, the client tracker selects at least one user action from the log of user actions, forms a challenge question based on the selected user action, and in response to an acceptable response to the challenge question, resetting a password associated with the account.
US07861279B2
An apparatus and method is provided for increasing a channel change speed in a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) receiving terminal. The apparatus includes a DMB buffering unit for buffering DMB data, a DMB extractor for extracting only DMB data of a currently set channel, and a controller for setting a changed channel into a DMB signal-receiving unit so that a DMB program can be output using extracted DMB data. DMB data output from the DMB signal-receiving unit is stored in the DMB buffering unit, and DMB data according to a channel set by the user is extracted. Thus, a channel change can be performed without stopping or restarting a DMB receiving operation of the DMB receiving unit, and the time required for the channel change is reduced.
US07861272B2
A master device interactively distributes a television signal to a remote device for remote display with low latency between a user input and a television signal change.
US07861264B2
A television receiver (1) acquires numerical quantity information from program list information acquired from a television signal or the like, the acquired numerical quantity indicates the number of program-related information related to a television program and (2) displays the acquired numerical quantity information on a television display screen. When a user selects a television program whose program-related information is to be acquired, the television receiver acquires a URL of program-related information from an address server by utilizing the program identification code of the selected television program, acquires the program-related information from an information server by utilizing the acquired URL, and displays the acquired program-related information so as to be superimposed on a television picture.
US07861259B2
An interactive television system tailoring delivery of interactive content. The system includes a request processing engine accepting user interactions with an interactive television (ITV) application. A user profiling engine associates the user interactions with an individual profile or profile group. The profile group defines events that may be triggered upon receipt of certain user interactions. A trigger/event engine monitors, in real-time, whether the user interactions correspond to any of the defined events. If an event is to be triggered, an action engine transmits an ITV command associated with the event to an encoder. The encoder performs a real-time of encoding of the ITV command for providing viewers with a dynamic ITV experience. The ITV experience provided to the viewers may also be customized based on the profile information obtained for each individual viewer.
US07861257B2
A method and an apparatus for displaying the viewing time and TV ratings based on a viewer grade, wherein information on the TV ratings and viewing time is indicated using lamps provided in the external case of the display apparatus. The display apparatus includes an information-analysis unit that analyzes the viewer grade based on user information inputted by a user of the display apparatus and TV ratings by extracting program information from signals broadcasted by a broadcasting station, a ratings-comparison unit that compares the viewer grade with the TV ratings, and a lamp-control unit that lights lamps according to the comparison result.
US07861248B2
An adaptive integration activity management framework for on demand business process integration provides a mechanism to enable easy integration of legacy and new applications. The framework minimizes the effort need to integrate a new application into an existing business process environment such that the new activity is a “plug-in” into an action manager by implementing a standard adaptation layer. Activity integration is implemented in the principle of “on-demand” because it is invoked as required, so the communication and collaboration between partners become much more flexible.
US07861239B2
A system and method are used for updating software to include new versions of the software without losing the ability to return to the prior software in the event of flaws or deficiencies in the new version. A framework organizes conversion and reversion codes into major components responsible for conversion of the data entities. The components are ordered based on their dependence on other components first completing their conversions. Each component implements an interface allowing a framework to process sequentially through all components and sequentially retrieve handles for their respective entities, and accessing the version of the entity. The framework processes an ordered set of interfaces representing the conversion/reversion, checks for progressively newer versions. As data structures are changed for a single component, a new version is appended to that component's ordered set of version interfaces. Restart of a conversion or reversion following an interrupt is also provided.
US07861238B2
A configuration tool and method of updating a pointer entry in a Java archive (JAR) file pointing to a peripheral configuration file comprises generally continuously listening for an event signifying deployment of a peripheral configuration file and in response to the event, automatically updating the pointer entry in the JAR file that points to the deployed peripheral configuration file.
US07861234B1
An application compiled to a binary executable according to a first set of binary interface rules has selected caller/callee pairs that present parameter passing improvement possibilities modified from compliance with the first set of binary interface rules to compliance with a second set of binary interface rules to improve the efficiency of parameter passing, such as by reducing the number of instructions used to pass the parameters. A binary executable search engine searches the binary executable to locate functions having parameter passing improvement possibilities. Identified caller/callee function pairs are updated with a function modifier to pass the parameters more efficiently. Selected of the identified callee functions are cloned so that a cloned function is modified instead of the original function, thus leaving the original function to pass parameters with functions beyond the view of the binary executable search engine.
US07861229B2
A schema code complexity analysis architecture that computes complexity data for output to a code designer. The complexity data can be in the form of a number and/or complexity level. A schema component is provided for processing schema code, and a metrics component, for outputting a complexity value based on complexity of the schema code. In one implementation, the schema code is based on an XML schema, and the metrics component employs a newly-defined variation of a McCabe cyclomatic complexity metric to determine the complexity value. The decisions employed for computing schema complexity can include choices, occurrence constraints, element references to substitution groups, type references to types that are extended or restricted, a multiplicity of root element declarations, and nillable elements.
US07861228B2
A method for detecting computational errors in a digital processor executing a program. The program is divided into a plurality of computation sections, and two functionally identical code segments, respectively comprising a primary segment and a secondary segment, are generated for one of the computation sections. The primary segment is executed, after which a temporal diversity timer is started. The secondary segment is then executed upon expiration of the timer. The respective results of execution of the primary segment and the secondary segment are compared after completion of execution of the secondary segment, and an error indication is provided if the respective results are not identical.
US07861226B1
Constraint solver to code based test data generation for improving software reliability and security
The present invention is directed to automatically analyzing software systems for identifying faults or bugs and/or detection of malicious code. In various embodiments, the present invention measures code coverage for high priority invocable program elements, uses a relaxed coverage estimation technique that, instead of guaranteeing which code units will be executed, guarantees that at least a certain number of code units will be executed, determines and solves constraints in code to identify infeasible paths containing one or more selected nodes, determines, for a composite data type, a range of values for each of at least two non-composite data fields, and/or translates, prior to code analysis complex code into simpler code having fewer operators.
US07861224B2
Encoding a new version of a data module includes constructing a delta data module having data for providing the new version of the data module. The delta data module may indicate an encoding for copying data at an offset from one of a number of pointers into different versions of the data module. Decoding a delta data module to provide a new version of a data module includes copying, to the new version of the data module, data relative to a target pointer when an encoding in the delta data module indicates a matching pattern relative to the target pointer, and copying, to the new version of the data module, data relative to at least one other pointer when an encoding in the delta data module indicates a matching pattern relative to the at least one other pointer.
US07861223B1
The subject invention relates to systems and methods that generate modules profiles for industrial control modules (e.g., I/O, scanners, adapters . . . ). A module profile generally includes a set of components, interfaces and/or plug-ins that determine possible configurations for a module. Such entities are packaged in an XML based format to provide a dynamic module profile, wherein a definition type can be dynamically changed. Development and/or configuration of a module can be achieved through an industrial software development environment via a graphical hierarchical representation of configuration options defined in the module profile. In addition, the module profile provides for separately installable/release independent utilization via XML and COM based interfaces, wherein an end-user does not have to wait for a new software release in order to add a new module.
US07861217B2
Graphical programming or modeling environments, such as a block diagram environment, are disclosed in which dependencies that influence how a model executes are defined without altering the visual representation of the model. In the graphical modeling or programming environment, users create a model that describes how the system is to execute. The users can then augment the model with non-graphical dependencies that provide general execution goals or specific dependencies between blocks. The user can augment the graphical model with dependency constraints specifying how the model should execute. The constraints are coupled to the model and can be optionally displayed on the model in a debugging/analysis mode to provide further insight into how the model executes.
US07861216B2
Portable equipment for optimization of a visual inspection and expert appraisal of a structure, particularly in civil engineering, includes an on-board database of visual references for decay in different states of advancement and computing elements for calculation, by interpolation of data from a database of results from predictive physical simulations of materials and structures, of indicators of deterioration and key aging parameters to represent several possible visual appearances of an element of the structure in different stages of the life thereof from reference images from the database of visual references and categorization of the state of the structure by comparison with the actual appearance.
US07861212B1
A method, system, and computer readable medium for integrating an original application with a remote application comprises generating adapter classes related to the original application, generating proxy classes related to the remote application, wherein the proxy classes are adapted to communicate with the adapter classes, generating data types related to the remote application, wherein the data types related to the remote application are equivalent to data types related to the original application, and generating streamers related to the remote application, wherein the streamers related to the remote application are adapted to be utilized by the proxy classes.
US07861210B2
An exposure data generator for generating exposure data representing graphical information of a pattern to be exposed and a computer-readable recording medium are provided. The generator includes a storage device for storing pre-correction exposure data which include information on positions and sizes of patterns placed within an target region and a search device for classifying the patterns according to placement positions within the target region, searching for a pattern which is another pattern by using the classified patterns, and storing information on the patterns. The generator also includes a back-scattering intensity calculation device for calculating a back-scattering intensity from at an evaluation point on the pattern. The generator also includes a movement quantity calculation device for calculating a movement quantity of a side of a pattern.
US07861203B2
Disclosed is a method, system, and computer program product for implementing model-based floorplanning, layout, placement, and routing. Models are used to guide the placement and routing of polygons on the IC layout based upon predictions of manufacturing variations.
US07861198B2
A method to perform timing analysis for a complex logic cell with distorted input waveform and coupled load networks is presented. Timing arc based models are used in conjunction with CCB based current models of portions of the logic cell to compute the output signal of the logic cell. For example, an intermediary signal is generated using a first timing arc based model and an equivalent coupled network output signal is generated using a channel connected block (CCB) based current model.
US07861191B2
Methods and corresponding computer systems for characterizing signals and applications thereof are provided that use a functional depending on signal waveforms.
US07861182B2
After print path construction logic has established a print path to convert print data from a source format to a target format, the print path construction logic determines, for each print filter that is contained in the print path, the set of print options that such a print filter provides. The print path construction logic can make this determination because the print filters expose which print options those print filters provide. The print path construction logic merges together the print options that each such print filter provides, including those print options together with the print options that the printer driver provides, thereby producing a master set of print options that is based on the print path (which, in turn, is based on the source and target formats, which may vary depending on the print data and the selected printing device). Thus, the master set of print options dynamically determined.
US07861180B2
A user displayed interactive GUI widget (icon) provides two or more regions. A first region provides widget manipulation function for editing the widget, editing including moving or sizing functions. A second region provides widget interaction function for user interaction with the widget including interaction lists or interaction graphics. The regions may comprise one or more icon border regions and one or more icon internal regions.
US07861175B2
A method and apparatus for using a contact-list entry of an IM contact-list interface to designate an IM game in progress to facilitate switching between an IM conversation and an IM game.
US07861173B2
A method for configuring Internet settings on a zSeries compatible computer can include the step of providing a graphical user interface including at least one control. The graphical user interface can be configured for a multiple virtual storage operating system, an OS/390 operating system, and/or a z/OS operating system. Data contained within at least one configuration file containing Internet settings for the zSeries compatible computer can be accessed. The accessed data can be displayed within the graphical user interface. Data within the configuration file can also be altered responsive to manipulation of the control.
US07861170B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for creating a voice application, the method being implemented by a computer system and comprising generating a graphical user interface comprising a text-to-topic button; receiving first input identifying a location of a text file; receiving second input selecting the text-to-topic button; partitioning content associated with the text file into subjects in response to receiving the second input; andstoring information on the partitioning.
US07861166B1
An electronic book having various features for manipulating text or other information. The subscriber may highlight, cut and paste, copy and paste, and annotate information within an electronic book. A multiple page view feature permits the subscriber to simultaneously view any plurality of pages of an electronic book, and a multiple screen feature permits the subscriber to view one or more pages on a viewer having multiple screens. A picture-in-picture feature permits the subscriber to simultaneously view a page of an electronic book along with other content, such as a television program or information from another electronic book. The picture-in-picture feature may display an electronic book page as a main image wrapped around an inset image.
US07861160B2
Setting for detecting a region of interest from data to be inserted into a field region in a page is performed. When target data is inserted into the field region, a region of interest in the data is detected in accordance with the setting. a size of the destination field region is adjusted, to which the data of the region of interest be inserted, on the basis of the size of the region of interest, and the data of the region of interest in the destination field region in the page is lie out.
US07861149B2
Computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions and apparatuses provide a keyphrase navigation map (KNM) for a document page. Keyphrases are extracted from the document page. Keyphrase clusters are subsequently formed by a measure of relevancy, and a salient keyphrase is determined for each cluster. A thumbnail is formed with tags corresponding to the salient keyphrases. A selected tag is expanded with associated keyphrases. An associated keyphrase may be further selected in order to facilitate the navigation of the document page. The displayed tags on the thumbnail are positioned in accordance with locations of associated keyphrases in the document page.
US07861147B2
An add-compare-select (ACS) unit generates first path metrics having a first bit-pair and a most significant bit-pair (MSB) each including a high bit and a low bit. A first ACS circuit produces the first bit-pair and a first carry. A limiting circuit generates the MSB based on the first carry, and limits the MSB to a first predetermined value. A MSB maximum select (MS) unit receives an MSB of second path metrics from another ACS unit, and compares the MSBs of the first and the second path metrics to determine MSB decision signals based on maximum likelihood selection. A MSB storage unit stores the MSB of the first path metrics. A reset unit resets the high bit of the MSB of the first path metrics to a second predetermined value when the high bits of the MSBs of the first and the second path metrics reach the first predetermined value.
US07861135B2
Provided is a turbo decoder with a variable scaling factor. The decoding convergence degree of the turbo decoder is evaluated using a sign difference ratio (SDR) value, the iterative-decoding number is limited, a variable scaling factor is calculated and applied in each decoding convergence area based on the SDR value, and the average number of decoding iterations is reduced.
US07861129B2
An integrated circuit on a semiconductor chip with a plurality of registers distributed across the semiconductor chip. The registers are writeable and readable. The integrated circuit comprises a central control block. The integrated circuit comprises a plurality of circuit units. The circuit unit includes a functional portion with a local clock controller and one or more of the registers. The circuit unit includes a satellite portion. The central control block and the satellite portions are serially connected together and form a scan chain, wherein the scan chain is formed as a ring.
US07861123B1
Loop interface failure is managed. A first device on a loop is identified as a potential cause of the loop interface failure. The loop is tested with the first device functionally removed from the loop. Depending on the results of the test, it is determined that the first device is not the cause of the loop interface failure and a second device on the loop is identified as the cause of the loop interface failure.
US07861122B2
A host processor is coupled to a memory controller and configurable to retrieve from the memory controller information indicative of the health of a non-volatile memory device operatively coupled to the memory controller. A host system uses the information to monitor the health of the non-volatile memory device.
US07861121B2
A method and system for verifying computer system drivers such as kernel mode drivers. A driver verifier sets up tests for specified drivers and monitors the driver's behavior for selected violations that cause system crashes. In one test, the driver verifier allocates a driver's memory pool allocations from a special pool bounded by inaccessible memory space to test for the driver's accessing memory outside of the allocation. The driver verifier also marks the space as inaccessible when it is deallocated, detecting a driver that accesses deallocated space. The driver verifier may also provide extreme memory pressure on a specific driver, or randomly fail requests for pool memory. The driver verifier also checks call parameters for violations, performs checks to ensure a driver cleans up timers when deallocating memory and cleans up memory and other resources when unloaded. An I/O verifier is also described for verifying drivers use of I/O request packets.
US07861114B2
A method for transactional writing of data into a persistent memory comprising memory cells includes a transactional writing step and a transaction recovery step. The transactional writing step comprises one or more memory cell writing steps comprising the sub-steps of writing in a transaction buffer as transaction buffer entry the current data value and the corresponding address of the respective memory cell, writing a first valid marker for the memory cell in the transaction buffer, and writing a new data value to the memory cell. The transaction recovery step is performed in case of an abortion of the transactional writing step for restoring the current data values of the aborted transaction in the persistent memory, the transaction recovery step comprising the sub-step of writing a transaction recovery marker to the transaction buffer indicating the start of the transaction recovery.
US07861111B2
Systems and methods for providing disaster recovery services to enterprise customers of virtual computing services are described. Disaster recovery services may be provided in data centers that also provide primary computing services to enterprise customers. Disaster recovery services may be distributed across the data centers, such that no dedicated disaster recovery site exists. In addition, disaster recovery services may be provided such that each of the enterprise customers receiving primary services at a given data center may be distributed across the remaining data centers for disaster recovery purposes.
US07861102B1
A power management system for providing a unified power management of at least one electronic system in a selected environment is provided, wherein the at least one electronic system includes a plurality of electronic components. The power management system includes a first controller module operating at the at least one electronic system in the selected environment to generate a first power control of the each electronic component based at least on a system power budget for the at least one electronic system; a second controller module operating at each of the electronic components to generate a second power control of the each electronic component based at least on a component power budget for the each electronic component; and a third controller module operating at each of the electronic components to modify a power-performance state of the each electronic component based on a target resource utilization level, wherein the target resource utilization level is based at least on the first and second power controls.
US07861094B2
A computing system includes data encryption in the data path between a data source and data storage devices. The data encryption may utilize a key which is derived at least in part from an identification code stored in a non-volatile memory. The key may also be derived at least in part from user input to the computer.
US07861090B2
In an electric conference system using a large-screen display, presentation in an environment with a plurality of portable terminals connected is not taken into consideration. To do this, a host computer for an electric conference system is arranged to store a member ID to specify a terminal, generate a password, display the generated password on a large-screen display and make the password open to participants of a conference, authenticate the terminal on the basis of a member ID and a password, which are contained in a connection request received from the terminal, and process a command received from the terminal on the basis of the authentication result.
US07861089B2
A communication device, operable to communicate with an electronic device via a network, may include a storage section, an image capturing section, and an identification section. The storage section may store device identification information identifying the electronic device and one or more face images of one or more users that use the electronic device while associating the device identification information with each of the face images of the users of the electronic device. The image capturing section may capture an image of a face of the user of the electronic device. The identification section may identify the electronic device on the basis of the device identification information stored in association with one of the stored face images that matches the captured image of the face of the user of the electronic device.
US07861084B2
A method of authenticating data transmitted in a digital transmission system, in which the method comprises the steps, prior to transmission, of determining at least two encrypted values for at least some of the data, each encrypted value being determined using a key of a respective encryption algorithm, and outputting said at least two encrypted values with said data.
US07861082B2
In a subscriber television system having a headend, a server, and plurality of client-receivers, the server, which is remote from the headend, is adapted to receive a validation-message from one or more client-receivers. The validation-message includes content and an authentication-token. The server validates that the sender of the validation-message is a valid client-receiver of the subscriber television system using an authentication-token and a validator that is known to both the server and to at least one of the client-receivers.
US07861081B2
A security system and method is provided. In an embodiment, a personal integrated circuit (“PIC”), is provided that can be presented to a laptop computer. The PIC includes a digital certificate personal to an authorized user and is operable to automatically install the certificate on the laptop computer once presented into the computer and once the user enters a valid password respective to the PIC. At this point, the laptop presents the certificate to a server via a network, and the certificate is checked for validity. If valid, the user is then permitted to log into the server. Having logged into the server, the user can remain logged in even as the PIC is removed and presented to different computing devices that are also able to connect to the server via the network. Typically, the user is only able to access the server through the computing device to which the PIC is attached. The user is automatically logged out of the server after a predefined period of inactivity or according to such other criteria as may be desired.
US07861070B2
The present invention proposed a trace compression method for a debug and trace interface of a microprocessor, in which the debug and trace interface is associated with a plurality of registers for storing data. The trace compression method comprises the steps of: (1) finding register content of each of the registers in a first cycle and register content of each of the registers in a second cycle, in which the second cycle is next to the first cycle; (2) calculating difference of the register content of each of the registers in the second cycle and the register content of each of the registers in the first cycle; and (3) packing the differences of the register contents into data trace packets, in which the differences of the register contents of adjacent registers are condensed into a single data trace packet when the differences of the register contents of the adjacent registers are zeroes.
US07861069B2
The present invention provides a system and method for managing load and store operations necessary for reading from and writing to memory or I/O in a superscalar RISC architecture environment. To perform this task, a load store unit is provided whose main purpose is to make load requests out of order whenever possible to get the load data back for use by an instruction execution unit as quickly as possible. A load operation can only be performed out of order if there are no address collisions and no write pendings. An address collision occurs when a read is requested at a memory location where an older instruction will be writing. Write pending refers to the case where an older instruction requests a store operation, but the store address has not yet been calculated. The data cache unit returns 8 bytes of unaligned data. The load/store unit aligns this data properly before it is returned to the instruction execution unit. Thus, the three main tasks of the load store unit are: (1) handling out of order cache requests; (2) detecting address collisions; and (3) alignment of data.
US07861064B2
A method for selectively accelerating early instruction processing including receiving an instruction data that is normally processed in an execution stage of a processor pipeline, wherein a configuration of the instruction data allows a processing of the instruction data to be accelerated from the execution stage to an address generation stage that occurs earlier in the processor pipeline than the execution stage, determining whether the instruction data can be dispatched to the address generation stage to be processed without being delayed due to an unavailability of a processing resource needed for the processing of the instruction data in the address generation stage, dispatching the instruction data to be processed in the address generation stage if it can be dispatched without being delayed due to the unavailability of the processing resource, and dispatching the instruction data to be processed in the execution stage if it can not be dispatched without being delayed due to the unavailability of the processing resource, wherein the processing of the instruction data is selectively accelerated using an address generation interlock scheme. A corresponding system and computer program product.
US07861061B2
A processor and a method for executing VLIW instructions by first fetching a VLIW instruction and then identifying from option bits encoded in a first one of the instructions within the fetched VLIW instruction packet which, if any, of the remaining instructions within the VLIW instruction are to be executed in the same execution cycle as the first instruction. Finally, executing the first instruction and any remaining instructions identified from the encoded option bits.
US07861060B1
Parallel data processing systems and methods use cooperative thread arrays (CTAs), i.e., groups of multiple threads that concurrently execute the same program on an input data set to produce an output data set. Each thread in a CTA has a unique identifier (thread ID) that can be assigned at thread launch time. The thread ID controls various aspects of the thread's processing behavior such as the portion of the input data set to be processed by each thread, the portion of an output data set to be produced by each thread, and/or sharing of intermediate results among threads. Mechanisms for loading and launching CTAs in a representative processing core and for synchronizing threads within a CTA are also described.
US07861058B2
The embodiments described herein can be used to enable one-time or few-time programmable memories to work with existing consumer electronic devices (such as those that work with flash—an erasable, non-volatile memory) without requiring a firmware upgrade, thereby providing backwards compatibility while minimizing user impact. As such, these embodiments are a viable way to bridge one-time or few-time programmable memories with existing consumer electronic devices that have flash card slots. These embodiments also allow future consumer electronic devices to be designed without updating firmware to include a file system customized for a one-time or few-time programmable memory.
US07861055B2
Aspects of a method and system for an on-chip configurable data RAM for fast memory and pseudo associative caches are provided. Memory banks of configurable data RAM integrated within a chip may be configured to operate as fast on-chip memory or on-chip level 2 cache memory. A set associativity of the on-chip level 2 cache memory may be same after configuring the memory banks as prior to the configuring. The configuring may occur during initialization of the memory banks, and may adjusted the amount of the on-chip level 2 cache. The memory banks configured to operate as on-chip level 2 cache memory or as fast on-chip memory may be dynamically enabled by a memory address.
US07861038B2
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide an apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid drive system. In one embodiment, a process determines whether the detachable memory contains clean data in response to identifying that a cache portion of a detachable memory is unavailable. The clean data does not require a disk to be in a spin state to be removed from the detachable memory. The process removes the clean data from the detachable memory in response to determining that the detachable memory contains the clean data. The process stores the data on the detachable memory.
US07861030B2
A method for providing field updates through the use of a memory emulation circuit with a content addressable memory (CAM) as the intelligent portion of the emulation circuit's arbiter. CAM circuit 200 is comprised of configurable memory and is initially unprogrammed. Address requests are passed straight through multiplexer 201 to Read Only Memory (ROM) 202. As a result the data in the data location in ROM 202 that corresponds to the requested address will be output to data bus 205. If data locations in ROM 202 become defective or contain data that needs to be upgraded the circuit implements a remapping of the data location. CAM circuit 200 is programmed with direct addresses to be replaced in ROM 202. The direct addresses are paired to emulation addresses of data locations in configurable memory 203. Upgraded or substitute data is programmed into the configurable memory 203 at the paired emulation address. When address requests are received thereafter, CAM circuit 200 compares the address request to its stored direct addresses. If a match is found the paired emulation address is passed through multiplexer 201 instead of the direct address. As a result, the substitute or upgraded data in configurable memory 203 is output to data bus 205 in place of the old data.
US07861028B2
A system and a method for configuration and management of flash memory is provided, including a flash memory, a virtual memory region, and a memory logical block region. The flash memory includes a plurality of physical erase units. Each physical erase unit is configured to include at least a consecutive segment, and each segment is configured to include at least a consecutive frame. Each frame is configured to include at least a consecutive page. Each virtual memory region is configured to include a plurality of areas, and each area is configured to include at least a virtual erase unit. The memory logical block region is configured to include a plurality of clusters, and each cluster includes at least a consecutive memory logical block. By forming correspondence among the physical erase unit, segment, frame, page, virtual erase unit, area, memory logical block and cluster to control the data access to the flash memory, the present invention achieves the reconfiguration and management of memory consumption and access efficiency for the flash memory.
US07861025B2
An automatic crossover and healing process is disclosed for the P1394b standard. In particular, a crossover process is disclosed which comprises coupling the transmitting logic of a PHY to TPA, and coupling the receive logic of a PHY to TPB.
US07861021B2
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a persistent storage is maintained in a device receiving unit that is capable of receiving one or more devices. The device receiving unit receives a device that includes device specific information that identifies the device. The device is interfaced with the device receiving unit. The persistent storage is updated with the device specific information that identifies the device, in response to the interfacing of the device with the device receiving unit.
US07861020B1
Apparatus, methods, and systems provide for remote management of a set of local computers by transferring screen frames produced by the local computer for viewing at a remote computer. A redirection module captures and transmits video signals from a local computer through over a network, such as the Internet, to a remote computer where the remote computer produces a display that contains the screen frames being transferred. The module is configured for use with and installation within a keyboard, video, and mouse switch configured for receiving the module. The redirection module is further configured for use with and installation on a server-blade to allow remote management of the server-blade.
US07861019B2
A computer system, and related components including network interface devices, as well as methods for implementing and/or operating network interface devices to achieve network-based communications, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the computer system includes a network interface device, and a bus driver in communication with the network interface device. The bus driver has access to a plurality of driver programs, and the bus driver is capable of causing an installation of one such driver program on the network interface device. Also, in at least some embodiments, the bus driver facilitates communications between multiple network interface devices and an operating system of the computer system, and/or between the network interface devices and user mode applications implementing graphical user interfaces. Further, in at least some embodiments, the bus driver governs operation of the network interface devices, for example, in relation to power management and/or interrupt handling.
US07861018B2
A system for transmitting data includes a transmitter module, a receiver module and a channel provided with a flow control link between the transmitter and receiver modules. The channel provides a first control signal from the transmitter module to the receiver module, and a second control signal from the receiver module to the transmitter module for initiating data transmission. The transmitter or receiver module includes a synchronizer for synchronizing the first and second control signals.
US07861006B2
The disclosure details the implementation of a tunneling client access point (TCAP) that is a highly secure, portable, power efficient storage and data processing mechanism. The TCAP “tunnels” data through an access terminal's (AT) input/output facilities. In one embodiment, the TCAP has no user input or output peripherals. The TCAP connects to an access terminal and a user employs the AT's user input peripherals for input, and views the TCAPs activities on the AT's display. This enables the user to observe data stored on the TCAP without it being resident on the AT, which can be useful to maintain higher levels of data security. Also, the TCAP may tunnel data through an AT across a communications network to access remote servers. The disclosure teaches how to allow users to employ traditional large user interfaces that users are already comfortable with. The disclosure, also, teaches a plug-n-play virtual private network (VPN).
US07861000B2
Dial-out route service is forwarded by a gateway to reduce congestion in a data communication network. The first gateway determines availability of it ports to provide dial-out service for a dial-out route. If the first gateway is unable to provide dial-out service to the dial-out route, the first gateway transfers information corresponding to the dial-out route to a second gateway. The second gateway may access a central database storing static routes corresponding to the transferred dial-out route information. The second gateway advertises the transferred dial-out route. The dial-out route may be terminated based on one or more termination parameters. Forwarding dial-out route service may be used to dynamically scale dial-out service provided by a gateway.
US07860995B1
A method of transmitting audio content over a communication network includes generating a predetermined audio content in a format capable of being transmitted to members in the publisher's network; receiving a request for the predetermined audio content from the members interested in receiving the audio content; embedding advertisements into the predetermined audio content selected according to details describing each of the members and transmitting to each of the members the predetermined audio content embedded with the advertisements selected specifically for each member. Additionally, a communication method selectively transmits messages between a publisher and members of a publisher's network. The communication method includes receiving a request from a member of the publisher's network to communicate with the publisher, ordering the request to communicate from the member according to a queuing scheme that serializes the request with other requests from other members of the publisher's network, determining if a response to the request from the member should be made through a synchronous interactive communication channel rather than the queuing scheme and an asynchronous communication channel, ordering a response from the publisher responsive to the determination and according to a queuing scheme that serializes the response to the request along with other responses to other requests over the asynchronous communication channel from other members and establishing the synchronous interactive communication channel responsive to the determination that circumvents the queuing scheme and is capable of delivering a response to the request directly to the member making the request.
US07860983B1
A network server architecture that provides network integration and control functions is disclosed. The architecture includes a virtual directory server (VDS) and an identity provider. The VDS provides an interface for access of external user stores, external business rules and external service discovery configurations. The identity provider allows for a client interface for transfer of that information to the client. A rules engine and a service discovery provider configuration module are integrated into the VDS. The rules engine processes the external business rules that have been retrieved. The service discovery control module allows for retrieval of external definitions and information about the users stores that the VDS supports and update of the service discovery control module, even while the architecture is online. The service discovery control module is in a UDDI format, although other formats could be used.
US07860975B2
Upstream devices, such as load balancers or routers, within a server farm, may be configured to route requests to the servers handling sessions for those requests using a secure (e.g. encrypted) unique ID or network address received with requests identifying how requests may be routed through the server farm. Upstream devices or a server receiving a request that is not associated with a session may generate a unique ID or select a network address identifying how the request is routed through the server farm. The server handling the request forms a session ID and returns that session ID and the unique ID to the client that originated the request. Encryption may be performed on network addresses or session IDs. Upon receiving a request corresponding to an established session, an upstream device may then decrypt routing information from the encrypted unique ID or network address and send the request downstream accordingly.
US07860973B2
An exemplary data stream includes value information for use by consumers of global computing resources in making requests for global computing resources. An exemplary method includes receiving information about data center resources from one or more data centers, based at least in part on the information estimating value information for consumption of computing resources of the one or more data centers and streaming the value information via a network. An exemplary medium or media includes instructions to instruct a computing device to receive, from a data stream, value information for computing resources of one or more data centers, to format the value information for display and to issue requests for consumption of at least some of the computing resources. Other methods, devices and systems are also disclosed.
US07860964B2
In a framework wherein resources of a content provider may be delivered to clients from different domains, a method distributes the requests based on content-provider policies. In some cases, the domains include at least two distinct content delivery network (CDN) domains. The domains may include a content provider domain. Responsive to a request, either the content provider domain or one of the two CDN domains is selected, the selection being based at least in part on one or more policies set by the content provider.
US07860962B2
A method of offering a video file to a video receiver that comprises determining a connection speed of a network connection to the video receiver. A progressive download, but not a non-progressive full download, of the video file is offered to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed is greater than a first threshold value. The non-progressive full download, but not the progressive download, of the video file is offered to the video receiver via the network connection when the connection speed is less than a second threshold value.
US07860960B1
A method and apparatus is provided for monitoring a variable of concern across multiple dynamic instances of a MIB object. The collection mechanism is associated with an interface that receives the executable command. The executable command is in an encoded format identifying one or more objects the collection mechanism is responsible for. This avoids the need to send multiple executable commands to a network device in order to monitor and evaluate the values of multiple variables across multiple MIB object instances.
US07860958B2
A network management method for wireless transmission/reception of data streams and a network system and apparatus using the same. The network apparatus for wireless transmission/reception of data streams includes management information on wireless channels used for the data streams transmitted in a wireless manner among apparatuses in a network. Upon occurrence of an event in the network, the network apparatus processes the event by transmitting an event response signal including the management information corresponding to the event or by updating the management information corresponding to the event, thereby managing the wireless channels for the data streams transmitted in the wireless manner among the apparatuses in the network.
US07860957B1
A system includes a network and multiple network devices. The network devices run instances of various services. If a particular network device becomes inaccessible, the system is capable of replacing the services instances running on the inaccessible network device by initiating new service instances on the remaining network devices. If a new network device becomes accessible, the network is capable of redistributing the currently running service instances to balance the workload by initiating service instances on the new network device and terminating service instances on existing network device.
US07860954B2
A device management apparatus is equipped with a function to record document information including link information about a specified linked object in response to a link request and a Web server function to provide the document information to a Web client and is connected with a managed device. The device management apparatus has a recording unit which records information about the managed device; a Web server unit which provides the information to the Web client; and a transmission unit which transmits, to the managed device, a link request for the information about the managed device recorded by the recording unit.
US07860953B2
A system and method automates and simplifies tasks associated with setting up a user self-activating network-based service. A configurable input engine is configured to define the service. The service may, for example, use a plurality of networking devices and/or computing devices. After the service is defined, an offer of the service is published to a user. The offer includes values of commercial terms and/or values of configuration parameters associated with the offer. Upon receiving an acceptance of the offer from the user, the configurable input engine automatically generates activations for the devices to be used by the service. The activations are sent to policy distribution points (PDPs) where the activations are translated into device-specific instructions. The device-specific instructions are in turn sent to the devices (networking devices and/or computing devices) to be configured. The device-specific instructions configure the devices, thereby automatically setting up the service for the user.
US07860950B2
Metadata enabled push-pull model for efficient low-latency video-content distribution over a network
Method, system, computer program and computer program product for a metadata enabled push-pull model and method for efficient low-latency video-content distribution over a network. Metadata is used as a vehicle and mechanism to enable intelligent decisions to be made on content distribution system operation. Metadata is data that contains information about the actual content, and in some cases, the metadata may also contain portions of the content or a low-resolution preview of the content. Aspects of the invention are directed toward the distribution of metadata throughout the network in a way that facilitates efficient system operation as well as optionally but advantageously providing set of services such as tracking, reporting, personalization, and the like.
US07860947B2
The invention provides a storage medium and a downloading method by which data can be downloaded comparatively simply and efficiently. Program information describing a downloading procedure is stored in a storage medium, and the storage medium is provided in this form to a user. When the user utilizes the storage medium, a procedure that can be executed to perform necessary processing without depending upon an operation of the user can be included in the process from accessing to a server to final downloading of desired content data. Consequently, the necessary number of operations by the user can be reduced as much.
US07860945B2
An information browse supporting system and method utilized for a plurality of users to browse the information and capable of vitalizing user-to-user communications. The information browse supporting system includes favorite information tables each of which holds the first search condition information inputted by a user, care-fore-others information tables each of which holds the second searching information on a specific user inputted by other users; an control unit for searching, from within browsing target information containing a plurality of information elements, for an information element with respect to a certain user in accordance with the first search condition information in his or her favorite information table and the second search condition information in his or her care-fore-others information table and of presenting to the user a piece of information corresponding to the searched result.
US07860940B2
A transmission cancellation section is provided on a bus connecting a master and a slave. During a reset of the master, the transmission cancellation section blocks the bus so that an invalid command flowing on the bus does not reach the slave and executes, instead of the master stopped by the reset operation, generation of data which corresponds to an access request command already output to the slave and is to be sent to the slave and receiving of data from the slave.
US07860927B2
The present invention provides a browser-independent method to inspect the state of any Web Browser from a service that has been invoked synchronously. The remote agent responds to the service request with instructions for the browser to synchronously and recursively invoke another service request with a specific portion of the browser state as the arguments. This allows the browser to continue operating in a synchronous manner, while appearing to behave like a multi-threaded application that is responsive to state inspection requests.
US07860921B2
According to some embodiments, a registry is displayed. The registry may, for example, indicate resources available from a plurality of remote network access devices via a communications network. Moreover, a personal network address may be associated with each available resource, the personal network address including an destination address portion and an application program identifier portion. A direct communications link may then be established between a first network access device hosting an available resource and a second network address device using the personal network address associated with the resource.
US07860919B1
A system receives notification from an agent of that agent's availability for data collection from resources within a network. The system identifies, from the notification, a version value associated with the agent. The system determines, from the version value, a set of operations to be assigned to the agent that will be compatible with that agent, and assigns a subset of the set of operations to the agent to enable that agent to collect data from resources in the network.
US07860917B2
To suppress a server processing load and a network load in a sensor network which accommodates a great number of mobile sensor nodes. Among a plurality of distributed data processing servers (DDS) for managing data of sensor nodes, a distributed data processing server (DDS) that is a home server to hold data of a mobile sensor node is set for each sensor node by a directory server (DRS). At each distributed data processing server (DDS), upon reception of the data from the sensor node, identification process is executed as to whether the data is sensor data to be managed by itself or another distributed data processing server. If a result of the identification is the sensor data to be managed by another distributed data processing server, the data is transferred to the distributed data processing server (DDS-1), which corresponds to the home server of the sensor data, based on setting of the directory server (DRS).
US07860916B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a unique memory management scheme utilized by the DTP whereby data extracted from an external source is placed in a memory buffer and is then manipulated by the components without the need for copying the data to any other location in memory. While logically the data moves from component to component in the DFE for the various embodiments described herein, the data does not in fact change locations but, instead, the data resides in the buffer and is operated upon by a series of components that, in turn, access the data in the buffer via pointers and manipulate same.
US07860910B2
A floating-point number is encoded into a binary string. A left-to-right comparison of the binary string determines relative magnitude of the floating-point number. If the floating-point number is negative, then take an absolute value of the floating-point number. The resulting binary string conversion is then complemented. If the floating-point number is zero, then a value for the binary string is assigned. The value is a “1” followed by a plurality of “0”s. A portion of each byte of the binary string determines whether another byte follows in the binary string. A value of a bit of each byte of the binary string determines whether another byte follows. In another aspect, the floating-point number encodes to a binary string having a length as a function of the mantissa and exponent of the floating-point number.
US07860908B2
In a subject filesystem, the invention computer method use the filesystem's dentry trees for all file system objects not contained in a corresponding stacking filesystem. The invention method set the process environment to have a reliable inheritance of the stacking filesystem's root context to new processes and uses the subject filesystem's (VFSMNT, dentry) for most lookups. All lookup results are then with respect to the subject filesystem's roots.
US07860905B2
Systems, devices, and methods for modularizing data flows and for providing stand-alone execution of incomplete data flows are provided based on an improved data warehousing framework. Data flow modularization and code reuse is improved through the use of the disclosed flowlets and allows for consistent and efficient standalone testing of incomplete data flows. The disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to system design considerations.
US07860904B2
Systems, devices, and methods for modularizing data flows and for providing stand-alone execution of incomplete data flows are provided based on an improved data warehousing framework. Data flow modularization and code reuse is improved through the use of the disclosed flowlets and allows for consistent and efficient standalone testing of incomplete data flows. The disclosed details enable various refinements and modifications according to system design considerations.
US07860899B2
A method and apparatus for determining a database representation for an abstract datatype that may have more than one database representation. A user supplies a logical description that references the abstract datatype, along with one or more sample queries that reference the abstract datatype. For example, the user supplies a DDL statement to create a table using that abstract datatype as a column, without specifying any database representation for the abstract datatype. Also the user supplies a set of queries that reference the abstract datatype columns. Based on the user information, a database representation for the abstract datatype is determined. A script file containing code to create one or more base structures for the abstract datatype and to create zero or more indexes for the base structures is generated. The script file may be commented to explain to the user why a particular base structure or index was included in the script file.
US07860893B2
A computer-based method and apparatus for identifying hazardous materials based on observable physical properties and signs and systems of exposure to the hazardous materials. The observable physical properties are obtained by preprocessing plain language data to obtain normalized descriptors and modifiers pertaining to a plurality of properties and signs and symptoms. The normalized descriptors and signs and symptoms are presented to a user in lists for comparison with a sample in the field. Once a material is identified, information can be obtained from the apparatus which is necessary for response to an incident involving the hazardous material. The preferred embodiments of the invention are particularly useful to responders to a hazardous waste incident.
US07860888B2
An authorization data model factors roles into generic roles and responsibilities, using these attributes at run-time to complete an authorization process based on non-static privileges associated with currently defined roles and responsibilities. Multiple applications collect current variable authorization information at run-time, when prompted by a user request to access a protected resource, from an external central repository that maintains updated generic role and responsibility information independent of user identity, thus replacing a fixed authorization structure with a flexible wild-card based model.
US07860871B2
Improved mobile content presentation capabilities are disclosed for mobile communications facilities, such as cell phones. Information relating to the user history associated with a mobile communication facility and other capabilities are employed to improve the presentation and relevance of mobile content to appropriate or desirable mobile communication facilities.
US07860862B2
Recommendation systems and methods are disclosed that objectively determine similarities between products and quantify diversity between products for use in generating recommendations. The product interests, such as musical interests, of a user are measured based on objective characteristics of the product. Then the interests are modeled by a distribution. The resulting distribution is then used as a measure of the diversity of the user's tastes. Based on the diversity and the characteristics of other products, recommendations are then made to the user. The systems and methods may also utilize subjective information as a secondary filter to add or remove products for which such data is known.
US07860861B2
An apparatus and method enable easy extraction of popular programs from program information. A keyword extracting section extracts keywords from program information received by a program information receiving section. A keyword counting section counts a number of keywords for one week among the extracted keywords to obtain a keyword count for that week. A difference value computing section computes a difference value between the keyword count for the current week and the keyword count for the past week. A popular keywords extracting section extracts a predetermined number of keywords in a descending order of difference values each indicating a difference between the keyword count for the current week keywords and the keyword count for the past week keywords, and sets the keywords as those for the current week.
US07860857B2
The invention provides, in one aspect, human machine interface (HMI) methods and apparatus that permit users to search and/or view plant and other real-time process automation data in a manner similar to that with which they search and/or view pages on the Internet (web). Related aspects of the invention provide such methods and apparatus as permit users to search and/or view such real-time process automation data concurrently with such Internet web pages. Further related aspects of the invention provide such methods and apparatus as permit users to search and/or view such real-time process automation data concurrently with business data maintained in pages on an enterprise network (e.g., a LAN, WAN or otherwise).
US07860849B1
A search tree embodying a plurality of signatures and a number of states each having a failure transition to a fail state and one or more success transitions to next states is optimized by selecting a success size parameter that indicates a maximum number of input characters to be traversed on the success transitions and compressing the search tree to create a compressed search tree characterized by the selected success size parameter.
US07860841B2
A tool for use in a computer system revises a large set of transaction records, for example hundreds or thousands of records, with a convenient user interface. An operator builds a query for a database to retrieve transaction records. The tool generates temporary copies of the transaction records that are responsive to the query and applies a specified data revision operation to each of the temporary copies. The operator may review and approve the data revision before it is committed to the database system. After receiving approval from an operator, the computer system substitutes the revised temporary copies for the transaction records in the database.
US07860839B2
Systems and methods for storing and restoring backup data. One method includes receiving, while a current view of an application is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting a history view associated with the current view of the application. The history view is displayed in response to the first user input, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view of the application, the earlier version including a first element. A second user input is received while the history view is displayed. The second user input requesting that the current view of the application be modified according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element. The current view of the application is modified in response to the second user input according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element.
US07860838B2
A computer implemented method for managing entities in a computer system. The method includes relating the managed entities and sub-entities each with a node into a hierarchical tree structure defined in a common information model with a tree root and child associations, traversing the tree structure until the tree root and all of the child associations are encountered and determining an origination of each managed entity based on the associations encountered for at least one of adding, deleing or revising information associated with the node for dynamically propagating a status of the managed entities of the hierarchical tree structure.
US07860834B2
A system for generating a compact update package between an old version of content and a new version of content. The system includes a conversion element generator for generating a conversion element associated with the old version and new version. A modified version generator for generating a modified version including applying the conversion element to the old versions. An update package generator for generating the compact update package. The compact update package includes the conversion element and a modified delta based on the modified version and the new version.
US07860831B2
The present invention comprises a novel system for managing changes to a graph of data bearing objects. In one embodiment, an object graph manager object referred to as an editing context is used to identify changes made to data bearing enterprise objects and to notify other interested objects when changes occur. As a result, data bearing objects need not themselves contain code necessary for monitoring changes. In another embodiment of the invention, the editing context is used to provide event-based “undo” capabilities. In another embodiment of the invention, each enterprise object has a primary key that is used to maintain the identification between an enterprise object instance and a corresponding database row. In another embodiment of the invention, multiple levels of editing contexts are used to provide multiple isolated object graphs, each of which allows independent manipulation of the underlying data bearing objects.
US07860829B2
The present invention discloses a modified computer architecture (50, 71, 72) which enables an applications program (50) to be run simultaneously on a plurality of computers (M1, . . . Mn). Shared memory at each computer is updated with amendments and/or overwrites so that all memory read requests are satisfied locally. During initial program loading (75), or similar, instructions which result in memory being re-written or manipulated are identified (92). Additional instructions are inserted (103) to cause the equivalent memory locations at all computers to be updated.
US07860809B2
A brokerage for digital media distribution allows initial recipients of digital media to promote and generate additional distribution of the digital media. The brokerage may involve transferring a copy of the digital media from the device of the initial recipient to a device of an entity interested in obtaining the same digital media, and the device of the entity may then complete the transfer by submitting a record of the transaction that identifies the recipient who has generated the sale such that this initial recipient is compensated by the digital media distributor. The brokerage may alternatively involve directing the device of the receiving entity to a network link that provides access to the digital media and that is associated with the initial recipient. The device of the entity may then complete the transfer that causes the initial recipient to be compensated by the digital media distributor.
US07860805B2
A computer-implemented method for managing personal information. The method includes (a) electronically receiving personal information of a monitored individual and a unique identifier of the monitored individual; (b) electronically receiving mortality information based on a mortality database having one or more records; and (c) electronically searching the mortality database records for the unique identifier of the monitored individual to obtain a mortality search result.
US07860802B2
A license is issued to a user as decryption and authorization portions. The decryption portion is accessible only by such user and has a decryption key (KD) for decrypting corresponding encrypted digital content and validating information including an identification of a root trust authority. The authorization portion sets forth rights granted in connection with the digital content and conditions that must be satisfied to exercise the rights granted, and has a digital signature that is validated according to the identified root trust authority in the decryption portion. The user issued accesses the decryption portion and employs the validation information therein to validate the digital signature of the authorization portion. If the conditions in the authorization portion so allow, the rights in the authorization portion are exercised by decrypting the encrypted content with the decryption key (KD) from the decryption portion and rendering the decrypted content.
US07860797B2
A method wherein, by using a storage medium arranged on goods, it is possible to distinctly register a conveyance of ownership or title on this storage medium, and wherein only the current owner or proprietor and possibly also an independent verifying agency has access to the storage medium.
US07860796B2
Methods and systems for trading financial or commodity assets are presented. In particular, the invention relates to a trading system and method that operates with third party data and a Third Party Inside Market to promote fair and orderly transactions. In some embodiments, a client order or client bid/offer is protected by automated order protection (AOP), which may be a set of rules or specifications that can modify a client's order. In certain embodiments, an average weighted price function is used to protect a client order that might be larger than the best bid/offer. In other embodiments, an autofill, a tie-breaking, and a wait-for-follow process can be used to promote trading opportunities for dealers and/or clients.
US07860789B2
A system of accessing through a financial processing network multiple accounts associated with a single financial card. Data is input to the financial network in addition to the transaction data and the account identification data that is read from the card. This additional data permits the proper account to be accessed. The data may be input at the point of sale as an account selection. In this instance, the selection may be used to route the transaction data through the financial processing network or may be used to read data regarding one of multiple accounts encoded on the card. The data may also be stored as conditional routing rules at transfer points in the financial processing network. In this instance, the transaction is routed to the proper account based on the stored rules.
US07860787B2
A processing system for modifying attributes of a plurality of loans is described. The processing system includes an attribute change processor for receiving and implementing a proposed change to an attribute of at least one of the plurality of loans and a loan pricing processor for generating a pricing value associated with the proposed change to the attribute of the at least one loan.
US07860785B2
A machine, computer-readable media, and method using a communications system to automatically refer an inbound communication. The communications system includes a computer and a call-routing database in a memory operably associated with the computer. The method and operations include: receiving an inbound communication with the communications system; capturing information associated with the inbound communication and using the captured information in a search of the call-routing database; if the database reveals a previous successful referral associated with the captured information, routing the inbound communication to a same outbound communications path as used in the previous successful referral; if the database does not reveal a previous successful referral associated with the captured information and if the database reveals call-routing criteria associated with the captured information, routing the inbound communication to an outbound communications path selected in accordance with said call-routing criteria; and if the database does not reveal a previous successful referral associated with the captured information and if the database does not reveal call-routing criteria associated with the captured information, routing the inbound communication to an outbound communications path.
US07860784B2
Embodiments of a method and system for user payment account management in a networked system are disclosed. User information regarding a user, an account identifier, and a server location may be received from a merchant application. The account identifier may identify the user to the merchant application. An underwriting process may be initiated using the user information to determine whether to establish a user payment account for the user. The user payment account may enable the user to perform at least one of making a payment and receiving a payment in a networked system. The user payment account may be established for the user in response to a result of the underwriting process. Establishment information may be provided regarding the user payment account and the account identifier at the server location designated by the merchant application. The establishment information may include information regarding functionality available through use of the user payment account.
US07860777B2
A method and system are presented for making temporary changes to business logic implemented in a software program. In the preferred embodiment, business logic is stored in rules that are associated together in a series of tests. Changes to the business logic are stored in overrides, which contain one or more instructions for altering the rules. These instructions can either add or delete a business rule, or can create a new test that contains multiple business rules. The overrides themselves are grouped together into negotiations. Since the changes to the rule set are stored in overrides, no changes are made to the base rule set. Thus, updates to the base rule set are immediately effective in implementations using one or more overrides. When an evaluation is conducted in situations requiring a variation from the standard business process, the base rule set is still utilized as a starting point. The negotiations and associated overrides are then loaded and the changes found in the overrides are made to the base set. Only at this point does rules engine begin analyzing the rule set.
US07860776B1
Some embodiments include a networked sales method. The method includes presenting, via a first network, item information associated with an item on a sales screen to a user. The method also includes communicating a variable price schedule for the item to the user. The variable price schedule includes a plurality of price selections for the item. The method includes receiving a reminder command associated with a selection of an entry in the variable price schedule from the user. The reminder command includes a price selection from the plurality of the price selections for the item. The method includes notifying the user when the entry in the variable price schedule is reached.
US07860767B1
A method of determining an interest rate to be applied against a debit amount in a collateralized lending transaction. The method includes identifying a plurality of assets to be used as collateral, grouping the assets by class, and assigning an interest rate to each class of assets. The method also includes allocating the debit amount to each of the asset classes based on market values of the assets, calculating a blended interest rate based on the allocated debit amounts, and applying the blended interest rate to the debit amount to determine the accrual amount due on the debit amount.
US07860761B2
A code management system is provided for reducing an amount of data on a product identification number assigned to a product in traceability system and enabling to reduce an information management burden required for a history reference. In a weighing label attaching process, a main server distributes unused individual product code complying with a request from a weighing machine. The weighing machine creates and stores a weighing related information that relates a case code previously read to a weighing result (weight), a calculating result (price), a label code (a product identification information) determined as any of individual product codes, and a content of a label information. The main server requires the weighing related information to provide, complying with a request submitting the label code from a purchaser of the product. The weighing machine searches and transmits the weighing related information to the main server complying with the request from the main server.
US07860759B2
A system gathers user behavior data from a group of web retailers and/or non-web retailers, analyzes the user behavior data to identify product recommendations for products offered by the web retailers, and provides one of the identified product recommendations in connection with a product page associated with one of the web retailers.
US07860744B2
A personalized notice pertaining to financial products or services is provided, including a method and system for preparing the same. The financial product and/or financial services are associated with a set of separate descriptions, characteristics and/or identifications, any one of which may be presented within a personalized content section of the personalized communication documents. The notices are generated automatically by a computing system such that different consumer entities can be provided with different personalized content for a particular product/service.
US07860737B2
The present invention is a constraint-based planning tool that specifically addresses the needs of complex discrete and process industries by providing a computationally efficient method and system for fulfillment of customer orders in a supply chain. By comprehensively synchronizing and optimizing the flow of materials through the enterprise, the present invention creates a feasible plan for manufacturing operations that simultaneously optimizes both material and capacity constraints by planning and scheduling multiple customer orders, planning for use the various resources located in remote locations needed to fulfill such orders, and scheduling the used resources for replenishment at appropriate times so that the resources meet the needs of the orders.
US07860731B2
A system and method are provided for obtaining medical data from a user, analyzing it and providing a feedback message. Existing home medical devices are connected to a data translation device which transmits the data to a cellular phone. The cellular phone transmits the data to a server where it is analyzed and a feedback message is transmitted back to the phone.
US07860727B2
An interface point network (IPN) and a method for communication with a laboratory information system using an IPN, wherein the IPN includes at least one host computer in communication with at least one laboratory instrument, the laboratory information system and an interface point server in communication with the host computer and the laboratory information system, the interface point server being configured to function as a communication interface between the host computer and the laboratory information system in a manner responsive to a predetermined communication protocol. Use of bar code and RFID labels for tracking samples and in maintaining sample data is described.
US07860722B1
A method for keyword detection in a controlled-environment facility comprises capturing a conversation within the controlled-environment facility and executing a hybrid keyword detection application for detecting a keyword spoken during the conversation. A system comprises an audio capture system operable to capture an audio signal within a controlled-environment facility and a hybrid keyword detection system connected to the audio capture system, where the hybrid keyword detection system is operable to detect a keyword.
US07860721B2
Provided are an audio encoding device and an audio decoding device, by which optimal trade-off between code rates and sound quality can be flexibly adjusted. A variable frequency segmentation encoding unit includes: difference degree calculation units for calculating a difference degree between first and second input signals depending on a segmentation method for segmenting a frequency band into sub-bands; a selection unit for selecting one of the segmentation methods; and a difference degree and segmentation information encoding unit for encoding the selected method and the difference degree for each sub-band. A variable frequency segment decoding unit includes: a segmentation information decoding unit for decoding the segmentation information to learn the segmentation method; a switching unit for outputting a difference degree code corresponding to the segmentation method; and difference degree decoding units for decoding the difference degree code to the difference degree for each sub-band.
US07860717B2
A system and method may be disclosed for facilitating the site-specific customization of automated speech recognition systems by providing a customization client for site-specific individuals to update and modify language model input files and post processor input files. In customizing the input files, the customization client may provide a graphical user interface for facilitating the inclusion of words specific to a particular site. The customization client may also be configured to provide the user with a series of formatting rules for controlling the appearance and format of a document transcribed by an automated speech recognition system.
US07860714B2
The present invention is a detection system of a segment including specific sound signal which detects a segment in a stored sound signal similar to a reference sound signal, including: a reference signal spectrogram division portion which divides a reference signal spectrogram into spectrograms of small-regions; a small-region reference signal spectrogram coding portion which encodes the small-region reference signal spectrogram to a reference signal small-region code; a small-region stored signal spectrogram coding portion which encodes a small-region stored signal spectrogram to a stored signal small-region code; a similar small-region spectrogram detection portion which detects a small-region spectrogram similar to the small-region reference signal spectrograms based on a degree of similarity of a code; and a degree of segment similarity calculation portion which uses a degree of small-region similarity and calculates a degree of similarity between the segment of the stored signal and the reference signal.
US07860713B2
Systems and methods for annotating speech data. The present invention reduces the time required to annotate speech data by selecting utterances for annotation that will be of greatest benefit. A selection module uses speech models, including speech recognition models and spoken language understanding models, to identify utterances that should be annotated based on criteria such as confidence scores generated by the models. These utterances are placed in an annotation list along with a type of annotation to be performed for the utterances and an order in which the annotation should proceed. The utterances in the annotation list can be annotated for speech recognition purposes, spoken language understanding purposes, labeling purposes, etc. The selection module can also select utterances for annotation based on previously annotated speech data and deficiencies in the various models.
US07860712B2
A method of storing data in a memory circuit of an Aho-Corasick type character recognition automaton recognizes character strings by implementing successive transitions in a tree of nodes stored in a memory. Each node corresponds to a state of the automaton and to a recognition of a sequence of the character string. Each node is associated with a transition vector serves to determine the destination node or nodes of a transition. For storage of the data, a test is performed to find out whether transition vectors point to common destination addresses. The transition vectors are combined if the addresses to which the vectors point are separate by formulating a combination vector and the nodes are stored at the memory addresses pointed at by the combination vector.
US07860711B2
The present invention relates to a transmitter and a receiver for speech coding and decoding by using an additional bit allocation method. The transmitter and the receiver according to the present invention realize a voice communication service of high quality by using additional bits permitted in system requirements while using a conventional speech coder as it is. In addition, the transmitter and the receiver according to the present invention have an advantage in that they enable insertion of additional quantization blocks while not changing the structure of the conventional standard speech coder, since they allocate additional bits by applying a multi-stage quantization procedure not in a speech signal domain but in a parameter domain.
US07860705B2
A technique for context adaptation of a speech-to-speech translation system is provided. A plurality of sets of paralinguistic attribute values is obtained from a plurality of input signals. Each set of the plurality of sets of paralinguistic attribute values is extracted from a corresponding input signal of the plurality of input signals via a corresponding classifier of a plurality of classifiers. A final set of paralinguistic attribute values is generated for the plurality of input signals from the plurality of sets of paralinguistic attribute values. Performance of at least one of a speech recognition module, a translation module and a text-to-speech module of the speech-to-speech translation system is modified in accordance with the final set of paralinguistic attribute values for the plurality of input signals.
US07860702B1
An improved method for analyzing power systems; in particular, power systems that may incorporate distributed energy resources (DER), that provides a thorough determination of the potential for network performance improvement that DER could provide, independent of non-network benefits DER could provide. The method incorporates an Energynet dataset simulating the power system, integrating transmission and distribution elements together and capable of evaluating the impacts of additions of real energy sources and/or reactive energy sources anywhere in the network. Such energy source additions are evaluated for their impact on a broad set of performance measures. The specific DER projects that would realize that potential improvement in network performance are characterized as an Optimal DER Portfolio. Network performance improvement attributable to the Optimal DER Portfolio is quantified in engineering and financial terms.
US07860701B2
A method for predicting functionality of an integrated circuit segment to be lithographically printed on a wafer. Initially there is provided a two-dimensional design of an integrated circuit, including an integrated circuit segment having critical width, and a two-dimensional printed image of the critical width integrated circuit segment is simulated. The method then includes determining a ratio of perimeters or areas of the designed critical width integrated circuit segment to the simulated printed critical width integrated circuit segment, and predicting functionality of the critical width integrated circuit segment after printing based on the ratio of perimeters or areas.
US07860699B2
A software product includes instructions stored on computer-readable media, that when executed by a computer, perform steps for optimizing an optical system design and a digital system design. The instructions are for simulating an optical model of the optical system design, simulating a digital model of the digital system design, analyzing simulated output of the optical model and simulated output of the digital model, to produce a score, modifying the optical model and the digital model, based upon the score, controlling re-execution of the instructions for simulating the optical model, the instructions for simulating the digital model, the instructions for analyzing and the instructions for modifying to produce an optimized optical model and an optimized digital model, and outputting predicted performance of the optimized optical and digital models.
US07860682B2
A diagnostics system comprising a topological map of a target system that has nodes (38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) that correspond to components (29, 30, 32, 34, 36) of the target system and links that correspond to connections between the components. Associated with the topological map is a knowledge store (50) that has a structure that reflects or corresponds to that of the topological map. Included in this store (50) is a plurality of sections or libraries each of which is provided for storing design specific data associated with one of the nodes (38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) of the topological map. Data received from one or more sensors on the target system is included in the topological map, and used together with the design specific information in the knowledge store to diagnose faults.
US07860671B1
High resolution liquid level gauge includes a float member with a buoyant, free end, and an opposing end rotatably attached to an interior surface of a reservoir such that the float member is free to rotate about an axis of rotation. A single magnet defining a single magnetic field is attached to the pivoting end such that the magnetic field is centered on the axis of rotation and rotates with the float member. A magnetic rotary encoder chip configured to detect angular position of the magnetic field is positioned to be aligned with the axis of rotation on the exterior of the reservoir at a distance from the magnet to detect the magnetic field. The encoder is configured to provide a signal representative of the angle of the magnetic field. A computer processor determines the liquid level within the reservoir based upon the signal.
US07860670B2
A device for detecting a leak in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine including a piston in the cylinder, the piston being attached to a crankshaft, includes a time interval determining unit which is designed to determine a first time interval in which the crankshaft passes a preset first angle segment before reaching the ignition top dead center of the piston in the cylinder, and to determine a second time interval in which the crankshaft passes a preset second angle segment after reaching the ignition top dead center of the piston in the cylinder, and a cylinder leak determining unit which is designed to detect a leak in the cylinder as a function of the first time interval and as a function of the second time interval.
US07860666B2
A system for determining airtime, speed and/or drop distance of a moving sportsman includes at least one accelerometer for detecting vibration or acceleration of the sportsman and/or a GPS unit. A processor in communication with the at least one accelerometer may process signals from the accelerometer to determine free-fall.
US07860661B2
Least Square Deconvolution (LSD) uses quantitative allele peak data derived obtained from a sample containing the DNA of more than one contributor to resolve the best-fit genotype profile of each contributor. The resolution is based on finding the least square fit of the mass ratio coefficients at each locus to come closest to the quantitative allele peak data. Consistent top-ranked mass ratio combinations from each locus can be pooled to form at least one composite DNA profile at a subset of the available loci. The top-ranked DNA profiles can be used to check against the profile of a suspect or be used to search for a matching profile in a DNA database.
US07860660B2
Generally, the present invention applies a transformation to convert a probability distribution of gene expression signals in control samples to a uniform distribution. The uniform distribution allows better comparisons between expression levels for genes. The transformation is derived from gene expression signals of control data, and is applied to gene expression signals of phenotype data. The phenotype data can be represented in a matrix format. A number of gene expression patterns may be determined (in the form of submatrices) that will characterize the phenotype. The uniform distribution helps in this regard, as it allows better comparisons of patterns. The gene expression patterns can then be used to classify samples as belonging to the phenotype set. Preferably, a discriminant function is used to compare a sample with the gene expression patterns that characterize the phenotype. The discriminant function can determine a score that can be used to determine whether the sample belongs to the phenotype.
US07860659B2
The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing an animal with a nutraceutical program that is specifically tailored to address the deficiencies and/or needs of the particular animal. Blood is drawn from the animal and analyzed at a lab to obtain blood test results. The blood test results are scored to obtain at least one blood test score for at least one corresponding blood parameter. If the at least one blood test score falls within a normal range but outside of an optimal range, one or more nutraceuticals needed to bring the animal within the optimal range for the at least one corresponding blood parameter are identified. A prescribed dosage amount is then calculated for at least one of the one or more identified nutraceuticals for the animal. The calculation of the prescribed dosage amount is based on at least the blood test score for the corresponding blood parameter and a deviation of the blood test score from the optimal range.
US07860657B2
A forward synthetic method is described that utilizes recursive application of established organic chemical reactions to derive more complex synthons from available reagents than are available from the reagent synthons themselves. The product of each reaction serves as the starting point for further reactions thereby permitting the generation of multiple complex molecular structures. This synthon generation procedure typically yields 20 ? 30 new structures within the limits of easily accessible syntheses based upon each starting reagent. More complex syntheses yield even more structures. The generated synthons are characterized with a molecular structural descriptor possessing a neighborhood property and can be further characterized with features. The synthons are searched for three dimensional shape and feature similarity to molecular fragments derived from query molecules, typically pharmacological molecules of interest. Identified synthons can be assembled into molecules possessing the same three dimensional shape and likely activity as the molecule of interest.
US07860648B2
Provided is a computer system and methods related to a map display. A method includes but is not limited to receiving a request for the map, the map illustrating one or more locations; determining a status associated with at least one of the one or more locations on the map, the status being a function of one or more location interaction rules associated with the at least one of the one or more locations on the map; and generating a signal related to indicating on the map the status associated with the at least one of the one or more locations.
US07860647B2
A navigation device 100 includes: a map information acquirer for acquiring map information; a current position acquirer for acquiring current position information about a current position of a mobile body; a destination acquirer for acquiring destination information about a destination; an information retriever for acquiring plural pieces of parking information about parking lots to park the mobile body based on the map information; a route setting section for setting travel routes from the current position to the parking lots and travel routes from the parking lots to the destination; and a display controller for controlling a terminal display section 140 to display any one of the parking lots and at least one of the travel routes based on the travel routes.
US07860646B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for generating a route for a vessel to travel from a start point to an end point. A start point and an end point for the vessel are identified. A forecast of wave conditions during a period of time is obtained. A model of the vessel is obtained, wherein the model includes parameters used to calculate a response of the vessel to the wave conditions. A route is generated from the start point to the end point for the vessel to travel on using the model of the vessel and the forecast of the wave conditions, wherein the route avoids conditions that may cause a treacherous environment and meets a set of goals.
US07860640B1
A system for determining a direction and a magnification of a means for viewing is described herein. The system can have a means for viewing, a marker means, and a processor in communication with a data storage. The means for viewing can have a means for viewing longitude, a means for viewing latitude, a means for viewing height, and a field of view. The system can have a marker means disposed within the field of view, and the marker means can have a certain point, which has a marker means longitude, a marker means latitude, and a marker means height. The marker means can have a first area of a certain shape and of at least one color.
US07860634B2
A method of determining the location information of a plurality of wheels mounted on a vehicle by obtaining a relationship between the lateral location of a wheel and the polarity of a transverse acceleration transmitted by an accelerometer of a wheel in response to a lateral turn of the vehicle in a direction of a lateral side of the vehicle and determining the lateral location of a wheel with reference to the polarity of the transverse acceleration signal transmitted by the accelerometer of the wheel upon the vehicle undergoing a lateral turn.
US07860632B2
At least one input signal is detected in a time slot, representing the temporal progression of at least one rotational value of the motor of a drive train section and/or the respective corresponding power thereof and is electronically treated and/or evaluated a plurality of times in a parallel manner and according to different characteristics. At least one comparison of the different treating and/or evaluation results of the same input signal is determined, whether the transmission behavior of the drive train or at least one predetermined drive train component is altered. A PT1 filtering, for example, is used for the treatment and/or evaluation.
US07860625B2
A vehicle seat pressure sensor includes a light source, a non-fiber optical polymer sheet, a boundary layer and a detection unit. The non-fiber optical polymer sheet is composed of non-woven flexible optical polymer material and has a first surface with a peripheral edge surrounding the first surface. The peripheral edge of the optical polymer sheet is aligned with the light source such that light emitted from the light source projects into the optical polymer sheet through the peripheral edge. The boundary layer is disposed along the first surface of the optical polymer sheet. The detection unit is disposed relative to the optical polymer sheet to detect changes in attenuation of light emitted from the peripheral edge of the optical polymer sheet in response to elastic deformation of the boundary layer and the optical polymer sheet.
US07860608B2
A method and apparatus generating and tracing a cleaning trajectory of a home cleaning robot the method including: controlling the home cleaning robot to straightly travel as much as a set distance from the docking station and then rotationally travel, maintaining the set distance from the docking station, until the home cleaning robot reaches one of two walls; controlling the home cleaning robot to travel as much as the set distance along the wall if the home cleaning robot reaches the wall and resume rotational-traveling around the docking station, maintaining a distance between the docking station and the home cleaning robot increased by the set distance until it reaches one of the two walls; and repeatedly controlling the home cleaning robot to travel as much as the set distance along the wall if the home cleaning robot reaches the wall and resume rotational-traveling around the docking station, maintaining a distance between the docking station and the home cleaning robot increased by the set distance until it reaches one of the two walls until the home cleaning robot arrives at a point where it cannot travel in a direction in which a distance between the docking station and the home cleaning robot increases.
US07860602B2
A mail processing system in which an estimated group of mail pieces is sorted in a mailroom area and delivered to a preset number of mailboxes is provided. The mail processing system includes a memory for storing information related to sorting and delivery and a processor that uses the sorting and delivery related information to determine, (i) an amount of time required to sort the estimated group of mail pieces, and (ii) an amount of time required to deliver the estimated group of mail pieces to the mail boxes. Operation of the mailroom may be evaluated by comparing a sum of the amount of time required to sort the estimated group of mail pieces and the amount of time required to deliver the estimated group of mail pieces to the preset number of mail boxes with an amount of time available for both sorting the estimated group of mail pieces and delivering the mail pieces to the preset number of mail boxes.
US07860601B2
A system and method are disclosed for quickly characterizing the profile of a surface of a processed workpiece using a non-contact scanner, such as a laser scanner, in preparation for subsequent machining. The method determines the location of a plurality of features of a processed workpiece on a machine tool, and includes steps of reading a first list of approximate feature locations, defining a scan path based on the first list, scanning a profile of the workpiece along the scan path and calculating an actual location of each feature of the plurality of features based on the profile. The system and method are well suited to determine the location of features such as holes in welder header boxes.
US07860599B2
Apparatus and methods for assembling semiconductor chips packages are provided. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes placing a first set of semiconductor chip package substrates in a first group of receptacles of a first processing station. Each of the first set of semiconductor chip package substrates has a first footprint. The receptacles of the first group being dimensioned to accommodate the first footprint. A second set of semiconductor chip package substrates is placed in a second group of receptacles of the first processing station. Each of the second set of semiconductor chip package substrates has a second footprint larger than the first footprint. The receptacles of the second group being dimensioned to accommodate the second footprint. A first set of lids is placed on the first set of semiconductor chip package substrates and a second group of lids is placed on the second set of semiconductor chip package substrates.
US07860598B2
In a method for controlling material flow in production, or a consumable or replacement part maintenance, of a product comprised of a plurality of individual parts, the individual parts are delivered to a goods receipt of a logistic system, a transponder being associated with the individual parts. In the transponder are stored production and delivery data regarding the individual part. The data of the transponder are read at the goods receipt and used for controlling further material flow such that the individual parts are transported in a controlled manner to subsequent process stations.
US07860593B2
A prog analysis and execution system and method. The system includes a computer control system, an interface engine in communication with the computer control system, the interface engine being configured to receive prog information, and an action item development engine in communication with the control system, the action item development engine being configured to analyze received prog information and to determine corresponding action items. The system further includes a sensor engine in communication with the computer control system, the sensor engine being configured to receive input from at least one sensor for use in controlling a well drilling operation, and an operational equipment engine in communication with the computer control system, the operational equipment engine being configured to receive input from the computer control system and to control the well drilling operation in accordance with the determined action items in the prog.
US07860590B2
An apparatus and method simulates more accurately the natural statistics of a physical reverberation process. A new filter design is provided having a comb shaped group delay. Gain minimums at a plurality of frequencies are combined with a delay line to create a constant reverberation time independent of frequency while allowing for temporal spreading. In addition, the connection topology between the plurality of energy transmission networks is temporally randomized to facilitate energy distribution within the reverberation apparatus. Both the temporal and spectral responses are actively changed on each iteration of the energy recirculation. By making the response have a high echo density and a lack of spectral coloration in the decay, the illusion of a natural process is enhanced.
US07860588B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for positioning a feeder needle, and to a production line for optical components, in which a feeder needle of an apparatus for portioning fluid material, preferably softened glass, in particular of a needle feeder, has its position relative to a seat for the feeder needle recorded by means of a force-measuring device, and to further apparatuses which realize this method and to objects produced by the process.
US07860586B2
A parameter value estimator is provided for a process performed primarily to control emission of a particular non-particulate pollutant, such as NOx and SO2, into the air. The process has multiple process parameters (MPPs) including a parameter representing an amount of the particular non-particulate pollutant emitted. The parameter value estimator includes either a neural network process model or a non-neural network process model. In either case the model represents a relationship between one of the MPPs, other than the parameter representing the amount of the emitted particular non-particulate pollutant, and one or more other of the MPPs. Also included is a processor configured with the logic, e.g. programmed software, to estimate a value of the one MPP based on a value of each of the one or more other MPPs and the one model.
US07860578B2
A cardiac ablation device, including a catheter and an expandable ablation element incorporating one or more balloons at the distal end of the catheter, has a continuous passageway extending through it from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal side of the expandable ablation element. A probe carrying electrodes is introduced through this passageway and deploys, under the influence of its own resilience, to a structure incorporating a loop which is automatically aligned with the axis of the expandable ablation device, so that minimal manipulation is required to place the probe. The probe may have an atraumatic tip with a ball formed at the leading edge. The atraumatic tip prevents any tissue damage such as perforation of heart wall.
US07860577B2
With use of three-dimensional data of a brain shape, a mold for forming a sheet-shaped structure having a three-dimensional shape of the gyrus or sulcus surface, or the interhemispheric fissure or interlobar fissure surface is formed. With use of the mold, a sheet-shaped silicone structure 2 having a three-dimensional shape of the gyrus or sulcus surface, or the interhemispheric fissure or interlobar fissure surface is formed. An electrode 3 is arranged on at least one side of the silicone structure 2. With this configuration, an intracranial electrode 1 in which the electrode 3 is arranged on the sheet-shaped silicone structure 2 having the three-dimensional shape of the gyrus or sulcus surface, or the interhemispheric fissure or interlobar fissure surface can be produced.
US07860571B2
The Pain relief device used to relieve pain and promote faster healing in the bodies of humans and animals safely. A positive electrode touches the skin at the site of an injury and a negative electrode completely shielded with insulation is place on the skin at a spaced distance form the positive electrode. A low voltage direct current power source supplies a positive voltage to the positive electrode and a negative voltage to the negative electrode. Electrical stimulation occurs harmlessly, because the shielded negatively charged electrode or insulated pad, being an insulated sheet of aluminum foil produces an electric field in the body that is strong enough to cause a current to flow into the body at the site of the positive electrode. However, no current can flow at the site of the negative electrode because it is insulated and therefore no burns to the skin.
US07860570B2
Miniature implantable stimulators (i.e., microstimulators) are capable of producing unidirectionally propagating action potentials (UPAPs). The methods and configurations described may, for instance, arrest action potentials traveling in one direction, arrest action potentials of small diameters nerve fibers, arrest action potentials of large diameter nerve fibers. These methods and systems may limit side effects of bidirectional and/or less targeted stimulation.
US07860568B2
A lead retention assembly for an implantable medical device includes (i) a conductive set screw and (ii) a housing defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of the set screw. The assembly further includes a block disposed within the housing. The block defines a lead receiving bore and a second bore extending generally perpendicular to and intersecting with the lead receiving bore. The assembly further includes a conductive lead engagement member having a lead engagement feature. The lead engagement feature is disposed within and movable within the second bore such that advancement of the set screw causes the lead engagement feature to move within the second bore towards the lead receiving bore. The set screw is electrically isolated from the conductive lead engagement member.
US07860559B2
Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using different algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and/or an external alarm system (external alarm means) which are activated after the ST segment of the electrogram exceeds a preset threshold.
US07860556B2
Tissue imaging and extraction systems are described herein. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. Additionally, the extraction system can include features or instruments for procedures such as clearing blood clots, emboli, and other debris which may be present in a body lumen. Other variations may also be used for facilitating trans-septal access across tissue regions as well as for balancing body fluids during a procedure.
US07860555B2
Tissue visualization and manipulation systems are described herein. Such a system may include a deployment catheter and an attached imaging hood deployable into an expanded configuration. In use, the imaging hood is placed against or adjacent to a region of tissue to be imaged in a body lumen that is normally filled with an opaque bodily fluid such as blood. A translucent or transparent fluid, such as saline, can be pumped into the imaging hood until the fluid displaces any blood, thereby leaving a clear region of tissue to be imaged via an imaging element in the deployment catheter. Additionally, any number of therapeutic tools can also be passed through the deployment catheter and into the imaging hood for treating the tissue region of interest.
US07860552B2
CNS assay for prediction of therapeutic efficacy for neuropathic pain and other functional illnesses
In general, the invention features methods for identifying therapeutic interventions for functional illnesses, e.g., neuropathic pain or depression, and methods for identifying markers for functional illnesses by employing an acute painful stimulus or other stimulus for a functional illness and measuring levels of CNS activity.
US07860548B2
This document discusses brain stimulation models, systems, devices, and methods, such as for deep brain stimulation (DBS) or other electrical stimulation. A model computes a volume of influence region for a simulated electrical stimulation using certain stimulation parameters, such as electrode contact selection or location. The model uses a non-uniform tissue conductivity. This accurately represents brain tissue, which has highly directionally conductive neuron pathways yielding a non-homogeneous and anisotropic tissue medium. In one example, a second difference of an electric potential distribution is used to define a volume of activation (VOA) or similar volume of influence. In another example, a neuron or axon model is used to calculate the volume of influence without computing the second difference of the electric potential distribution.
US07860544B2
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US07860541B2
A portable communication device (100) includes a radio (102) and RF memory key (104) that allows both RF and baseband signals to be transported over the radio antenna port. A single wire memory device (134) is embedded into RF memory key (104) along with frequency diplexing circuitry (116) to transport single wire bus communications between the radio (102) and RF memory key (104) while RF is passed from the radio (102) to an antenna (150).
US07860535B2
A radio-frequency receiver device including receiver antenna elements each arranged to receive a signal from a desired communication object, a phased-array control portion to perform a phased array antenna control for controlling the directivity of reception of the signals by the receiver antenna elements, an adaptive-array control portion to perform an adaptive array antenna control for controlling the directivity of reception of the signals by the receiver antenna elements, a received-signal-quality determining portion to determine whether the signals received by the receiver antenna elements has a quality higher than a predetermined threshold, and a directivity control switching portion configured to enable the phased-array control portion to perform the phased array antenna controls, and to enable the adaptive-array control portion to perform the adaptive array antenna control only if a negative determination is obtained by the received-signal-quality determining portion after the phased array antenna control.
US07860533B2
A mobile telecommunications device is disclosed. The mobile telecommunications device has a media feed path, a sensor module in the media feed path for sensing data encoded on a surface of a print medium, the data encoding at least a print media identifier, a print medium identifier identifying the print medium, processor for determining the print media identifier from the data, communication means for communicating a request to a remote server, the request including the print media identifier, and for receiving a security identification associated with the print media identifier from the remote server, and a printer module in the media feed path for printing the security identification on the print medium.
US07860528B2
Systems and methods for a mobile universal communication gateway are provided. The mobile universal communication gateway can bridge a mobile station located in a personal area network with one or more wide area networks. The mobile universal communication gateway can select one or more backhaul communication links to the one or more wide area networks based on a variety of factors such as available bandwidth, access cost, traffic loads and the like. The mobile universal communication gateway can also include a non-volatile storage area to store information for mobile stations of the personal area network.
US07860517B1
A method, a computer readable medium and a system for using a mobile agent to track a mobile device using a plurality of location breadcrumbs in an environment where network access may be unreliable, comprising, registering with a tracking server by a tracking client to receive a location of the mobile agent, receiving a location breadcrumb by the tracking server from the mobile agent, and reporting the location of the mobile agent by the tracking server to the tracking client.
US07860516B2
A device is described which changes its operation dependent upon the location of the device. The device accesses parameters which are specific to its location and uses these to determine how the operation of the device should be changed.
US07860506B2
Disclosed is a general model and method for computing performance bounds in multi-hop wireless networks. Rather than focusing on computing asymptotic performance bounds under assumptions of homogeneity or randomness in the network topology and/or workload, the present invention accommodates any given network, technology, interference model, routing paradigm, and workload. Using a conflict graph to formally characterize the impact of wireless interference on the performance of multi-hop wireless networks, methods for computing upper and lower bounds on the capacity of a given wireless network are detailed. Besides computing network capacity, the model and method disclosed can also enable or benefit other applications including maximizing fairness and minimizing maximum link utilization.
US07860503B2
A radio network controller includes a selection decision unit for deciding whether or not the selection of cells to be used by mobile stations after data reception is to be performed, and a mobile station controller for instructing the mobile stations to select cells to use after the data reception according to a result of a decision by the selection decision unit.
US07860496B2
A device for simulating a data transmission via a data transmission network, especially in a motor vehicle, for evaluating the transmission quality via the network as a function of an interference environment and of a channel characteristic of the network. To be able to draw a conclusion regarding transmission quality that is as reliable and as close to reality as possible, the device receives at least one modulated input signal to be transmitted via the network, that it receives a description of a simulated interference environment, that it receives a description of a simulated channel characteristics of the network, and that it features a logic module which is programmed in such a way that an output signal is computed according to a specifiable algorithm as a function of the received signal and taking into consideration the description of the interference environment and the description of the channel characteristic, the output signal allowing for a conclusion regarding the quality of transmission via the network.
US07860493B2
The invention provides a method for transmitting data through mobile communication equipment. The mobile communication equipment has a first communication mode and a second communication mode. In the method, it is first determined whether the mobile communication equipment is required to transmit the data by the first communication mode or the second communication mode, wherein the data conforms to a first format related to the first communication mode. Subsequently, when the mobile communication equipment is required to transmit the data by the second communication mode, the data is adjusted according to a second format related to the second communication mode to generate an adjusted data. The adjusted data is then transmitted by the second communication mode.
US07860488B2
An application (1, 10, 20) in a mobile network, receives an EIR trigger (MAP CHECK_IMEI). The application generates a signature derived from a device identifier (IMEI) and a subscriber identifier (e.g. IMSI), the signature not having a semantic meaning as it is pseudo-randomly generated. The application (1, 10, 20) checks if the signature exists in a signature store (2, 11, 21); and if not, determines that the device/subscriber combination has not been detected in the network within a certain preceding time window, and stores the signature in the store, with an associated timestamp. It also transmits a notification to an external system such as a device management system. If the signature is already in the database, the application determines that the device/subscriber combination already exists in the network and updates a time stamp associated with the signature in the store to indicate the last time the signature was processed.
US07860485B2
The present invention concerns WLAN association device and process for associating a new station to a WLAN, via a central apparatus.The association device comprises receiving and sending means for exchanging signals between the station and central apparatus, securing means for automatically providing the central apparatus with at least one central secret key, and recording means for recording the station as part of the WLAN, under wireless exchanges between the station and central apparatus initiated by an association request sent by the station and secured by means of the central key and a station secret key corresponding to the central key. The recording means confirm the recording of the station only when the user executes a confirmation physical action on the central apparatus.
US07860484B2
Systems and methods according to certain embodiments of the invention include integrating a network-enabled application with a platform having a plurality of users and a plurality of communication channels with a respective plurality of wireless network carriers. The systems and methods include providing a developer library for use by developers in creating their network-enabled applications.
US07860480B2
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal and mixing the RF signal with a master clock to obtain a mixed signal, cyclically rotating the mixed signal to each of N gain stages for at least one cycle of the master clock, and summing the outputs of the N gain stages to provide an output signal.
US07860479B2
An FM receiver that is suitable for reducing a transmission bandwidth WF of a bandpass filter to remove adjacent-channel interference, and increasing WF to prevent audio distortion. A detection output signal SOUT is inputted to an HPF 122 when a reception electric field strength signal SM-DC indicates an intermediate or stronger electric field. In a weak electric field, an AC component signal SM-AC, which is extracted from an intermediate signal SIF1 prior to detection and which has fewer high-pass noise components than SOUT, is inputted to the HPF 122. A control circuit 120 detects a case as an adjacent-channel interference state when a large amount of high-pass components passes through the HPF 122, and reduces WF of an IFBPF 70 in order to remove adjacent-channel interference. When a small amount of high-pass components is transmitted, WF is increased in order to minimize audio distortion.
US07860477B2
Techniques for self-calibrating filtering circuits with feedback are described herein.
US07860474B1
A method of controlling noise in a pulse width modulation circuit includes varying a sample frequency and a range of information levels, wherein each sample within a data sample stream at the sample frequency represents a level within the range of information levels, to shift in frequency noise generated at the sample frequency during encoding of the data sample stream into pulse width modulated patterns.
US07860468B2
A programmable variable gain amplifier includes at least three amplifiers. A first amplifier is configured to amplify an input signal. A second amplifier, which includes a programmable output load stage, is configured to receive an output signal from the first amplifier and to output a first differential output signal. The output load stage includes multiple first switches and multiple first diode-connected transistors that are open-circuited or short-circuited by the first switches. A third amplifier, which includes a programmable current mirror input stage, is configured to receive the first differential output signal from the second amplifier through the current mirror input stage and to output a second differential output signal. The current mirror input stage includes multiple second switches and multiple second transistors that are open-circuited or short-circuited by the plurality of second switches. The second transistors respectively form current mirrors with the first diode-connected transistors corresponding to the second transistors.
US07860463B2
A method of reporting channel state information by a Mobile Station (MS) in a mobile communication system is disclosed. The method includes measuring a state of a downlink channel for the entire frequency band, determining a first Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) level corresponding to the measured channel state, and reporting the determined MCS level to a Base Station (BS).
US07860458B2
An audio transmitting apparatus connectable to an audio playing apparatus via a short distance wireless communication network includes: a transmission buffer configured to store an audio signal; and a short distance wireless transmitting unit configured to cause the audio signal to be stored in the transmission buffer, or transmit the audio signal stored in the transmission buffer to the audio playing apparatus. When a transmission process in which the audio signal is transmitted to the audio playing apparatus by the short distance wireless transmitting unit is interrupted, the short distance wireless transmitting unit corrects the audio signal and stores the corrected audio signal in the transmission buffer, or corrects the audio signal stored in the transmission buffer and transmits the corrected audio signal to the audio playing apparatus.
US07860456B2
Provided is a method and apparatus for secured communication between Bluetooth devices. A temporary Bluetooth Device Address (BD_ADDR) is generated and set if a Bluetooth communication request is generated in a secured mode and Bluetooth communication is performed using the temporary BD_ADDR; when the Bluetooth communication is terminated, the temporary BD_ADDR is released and eliminated and a default BD_ADDR is set. Thus, it is possible to prevent another Bluetooth device from performing the Bluetooth communication without a bonding process, thereby enabling secured communication.
US07860455B2
An electric field generated by another electric field communications apparatus reaches electric field sensor ES. Electric field sensor ES outputs an electric signal in response to the changes in the electric field. The electric field that reaches electric field sensor ES enters a return path of the electric field communications apparatus that is a source of the electric field. By locating electric field sensor ES between receiver main electrode ERB and receiver return electrode ERG, electric field intensity at the location where electric field sensor ES is positioned. Therefore, sensitivity of the changes in electric field for electric field communications apparatus TRX can be improved.
US07860451B2
A method and apparatus for controlling a power of a relay are provided. The apparatus includes: a signal receiver which receives signals which are transmitted to a plurality of receiving antennas directly from a source or via at least one relay; a channel information acquirement unit which acquires channel information between the source and the at least one relay, and acquires channel information between the at least one relay and the plurality of receiving antennas; a power control signal generation unit which generates a power control signal, based on the acquired channel information and a maximum SNR; and a relay power control unit which transmits the generated power control signal to the relay and thereby controls a transmit signal power with respect to the at least one relay.
US07860449B1
A system and methods for targeting mobile content to a mobile device based on the context of where and how a user discovers the content. Instead of advertising content during commercial breaks of a television program, the invention contextually targets the mobile content to specific program content (e.g., music video) as it is being broadcast in the form of a screen pop-up containing text messaging instructions to obtain the mobile content concurrently with, or following the broadcast of the specific program content. Such “contextual targeting” leads to a significantly higher frequency and profitability of conversions and downloads. Similarly, the invention contextually integrates mobile content into a user's online experience using a web-enabled device in which the contextual content can be integrated with a search engine or a contextual link can be placed on web pages that are served to the user.
US07860445B2
A document feeder includes a bidirectional feed path having both ends connected to predetermined positions of the bidirectional feed path, respectively. A document is fed from a downstream side of the image reading position to an upstream side with leading end and trailing end being reversed. The driving force is not transmitted when the rotation of the rotating member of the driving source is switched from one direction to the other, while the driving force is transmitted when an actuator is operated based on the driving system being rotated in the other direction. The actuator is actuated when the driving system is rotated in the other direction and the document is drawn in the bidirectional feed path. If the rotated amount of the driving source during the actuation of the actuator is less than a predetermined value, the actuator is actuated by a predetermined period.
US07860444B2
A fixing device comprises a thermally fixing roller, a belt, and pushing means which pushes the belt toward the thermally fixing roller. A nipping region is formed between the belt and the thermally fixing roller. A maximum pressure is produced in an upstream end region of the thermally fixing roller in the direction of rotation in the nipping region, another maximum pressure is produced in a downstream end region thereof in the direction of rotation in the nipping region, and a pressure is produced in an intermediate region, which pressure being not higher than the maximum pressure in the upstream end region and not higher than the another maximum pressure in the downstream end region.
US07860443B2
A fusing unit provided in a printing path of an image forming apparatus to fuse an image transferred onto a printable medium, the fusing unit including a heat source; a heating roller of which a surface is heated by heat generated by the heat source; a plurality of pressing rollers which is provided opposite to the heating roller and presses a supplied printable medium in cooperation with the heating roller; a fusing pressing belt which is wound on the plurality of pressing rollers and forms a fusing nip contacting with the heating roller; and a supporting unit which rotatably supports the plurality of pressing rollers and guides the fusing pressing belt, a surface hardness hP of at least one of the plurality of pressing rollers is greater than or equal to a surface hardness hH of the heating roller.
US07860439B2
An image forming apparatus, includes: a latent image carrier that moves in a first direction; an exposure head that includes a light emitting element and an imaging optical system row which is arranged in the first direction and which is made up of imaging optical systems which are arranged in a second direction different from the first direction and image light emitted from the light emitting element on the latent image carrier; a developing unit that develops a latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the exposure head; and two detectors that detect an image obtained by developing a latent image by the developing unit, the latent image being formed using the same imaging optical system row.
US07860437B2
A developer container for an image forming apparatus includes a developer accommodating chamber, provided with an opening, for accommodating a developer to be supplied to the opening; a feeding member, provided in the developer accommodating chamber and having an elasticity, for feeding the developer by rotation thereof; a deforming portion, provided in the developer accommodating chamber and contactable to the feeding member, for deforming the feeding member against the elasticity with the rotation of the feeding member; and a restoration portion for permitting the feeding member deformed by the deformed portion to restore elastically, thereby to throw the developer toward the opening, wherein a boundary portion between the deformed portion the restoration portion is disposed below a lower end of the opening.
US07860433B2
A process cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum frame, a movable developing frame taking a position where the roller contacts the drum, and a force receiver having first and second force receivers for receiving first and second external forces. The second force receiver moves relative to the developing frame. The second force receiver takes a stand-by position retracted from an operating position when the first force receiver receives the first external force, and moves from the stand-by to the operating position for moving the developing frame from the contacting position to the spacing position. The distance the second force receiver moves from the stand-by to the operating position is larger than the distance the first force receiver moves by the first external force.
US07860429B2
A cleaning device, comprises: a plurality of brush rolls being contact with a surface of the image carrier that a toner is attached; and a biasing unit applying bias voltages having different polarities from each other to at least two of the brush rolls, the plurality of brush rolls including a first brush roll and a second brush roll, a bias having a polarity opposite to a normal polarity of the toner being applied to the first brush roll, a bias having the same polarity as the normal polarity of the toner being applied to the second brush roll, a surface circulating speed of the first brush roll being set to be higher than the surface circulating speed of the second brush roll.
