US08518806B2
To produce a Group III nitride-based compound semiconductor having a m-plane main surface and uniformly oriented crystal axes.A mesa having a side surface having an off-angle of 45° or less from c-plane is formed in a a-plane main surface of a sapphire substrate. Subsequently, trimethylaluminum is supplied at 300° C. to 420° C., to thereby form an aluminum layer having a thickness of 40 Å or less. The aluminum layer is nitridated to form an aluminum nitride layer. Through the procedure, a Group III nitride-based compound semiconductor is epitaxially grown only from a side surface of the mesa having an off-angle of 45° or less from c-plane in the sapphire substrate having an a-plane main surface. Thus, a Group III nitride-based compound semiconductor having m-plane which is parallel to the main surface of the sapphire substrate can be formed.
US08518804B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method and manufacturing apparatus with which it is possible, when a wafer has a warp, to effectively peel off an ultraviolet peelable tape with ultraviolet irradiation of a short duration. Even when a wafer has a warp, by correcting the warp of the wafer with an ultraviolet transmitting plate, and uniformly irradiating an ultraviolet peelable tape attached to the wafer with ultraviolet light, it is possible to reduce a distance between an ultraviolet light source and the ultraviolet peelable tape. Also, by blocking heat from the ultraviolet light source with the ultraviolet transmitting plate, it is possible to suppress a rise in temperature of the wafer. As a result of this, it is possible to effectively peel the ultraviolet peelable tape from the wafer with ultraviolet irradiation of a short duration without any adhesive residue remaining.
US08518797B2
The method includes steps of adding first ions to a predetermined depth from a main surface of a semiconductor substrate by irradiation of the semiconductor substrate with a planar, linear, or rectangular ion beam, so that a separation layer is formed; adding second ions to part of the separation layer formed in the semiconductor substrate; disposing the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and a main surface of a base substrate to face each other in order to bond a surface of an insulating film and the base substrate; and cleaving the semiconductor substrate using the separation layer as a cleavage plane, so that a single crystal semiconductor layer is formed over the base substrate. The mass number of the second ions is the same as or larger than that of the first ions.
US08518792B2
Disclosed is a non-volatile, ferroelectric random access memory (F-RAM) device and a method for fabricating a damascene self-aligned F-RAM that allows for the formation of a ferroelectric capacitor with separated PZT layers aligned with a preexisting, three dimensional (3-D) transistor structure.
US08518790B2
A variable resistance memory device, and a method of forming the same. The method may include forming a lower electrode on a substrate, stacking a first etch stop layer and a second etch stop layer on the substrate, forming an insulating layer on the second etch stop layer, forming a recessing region to expose the lower electrode by patterning the insulating layer and the first and second etch stop layer, forming a variable resistance material layer in the recess region, and forming an upper electrode on the variable resistance material layer. The first etch stop layer can have an etching selectivity with respect to the second etch stop layer.
US08518789B2
An integrated electronic device includes a substrate, passive components, pads for external connection, and three-dimensional wiring. The passive components includes a multi-stage coil inductor provided on the substrate. The multi-stage coil inductor has a plurality of coils disposed in several layers. Mutually adjacent coil wires are spaced-apart from each other. The three-dimensional wiring includes a first wiring portion which extends on the substrate, a second wiring portion which extends off the substrate but along the substrate, and a third wiring portion connecting with the first wiring portion and the second wiring portion.
US08518788B2
A method of forming a plurality of capacitors includes providing a plurality of capacitor electrodes, an elevationally inner insulative retaining material received laterally about the capacitor electrodes, an elevationally outer insulative retaining material received laterally about the capacitor electrodes, a first material received laterally about the capacitor electrodes elevationally inward of the inner insulative retaining material, and a second material received laterally about the capacitor electrodes elevationally between the inner and outer insulative retaining materials. Openings are anisotropically etched to extend through the outer insulative retaining material and the second material. After the anisotropic etching, remaining of the second material is isotropically etched through the openings from being received laterally about the capacitor electrodes between the inner and outer insulative retaining materials. The isotropic etching of the second material is conducted selectively relative to the capacitor electrodes and the inner and outer insulative retaining materials. The capacitor electrodes are ultimately incorporated into a plurality of capacitors.
US08518786B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device such as a MOSFET. The method includes forming gate electrode pillars on a silicon substrate via material deposition and etching. Following the etching step to define the pillars, an epitaxial silicon film is grown on the substrate between the pillars prior to forming recesses in the substrate for the source/drain regions of the transistor. The epitaxial silicon film compensates for substrate material that may be lost during formation of the gate electrode pillars, thereby producing source/drain recesses having a configuration amenable to be filled uniformly with silicon for later forming the source/drain regions in the substrate.
US08518778B2
A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. A second area is between first and third areas. An epitaxial layer is formed on a substrate. A first gate is formed in the epitaxial layer and partially in first and second areas. A second gate is formed in the epitaxial layer and partially in second and third areas. A body layer is formed in the epitaxial layer in first and second areas. A doped region is formed in the body layer in the first area. All of the doped region, the epitaxial layer and the second gate are partially removed to form a first opening in the doped region and in the body layer in the first area, and form a second opening in the epitaxial layer in the third area and in a portion of the second gate. A first metal layer is filled in first and second openings.
US08518775B2
A memory device is fabricated through the integration of embedded non-volatile memory (eNVM) with replacement metal gate (RMG) and high-k/metal gate (HKMG) modules. Embodiments include forming two substrate portions having upper surfaces at different heights, forming non-volatile gate stacks over the substrate portion with the lower upper surface, and forming high-voltage gate stacks and logic gate stacks over the other substrate portion. Embodiments include the upper surfaces of the non-voltage gate stacks, the high-voltage gate stacks, and the logic gate stacks being substantially coplanar.
US08518773B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor capacitor includes forming a cavity in a first dielectric layer. Then, a nitride stack comprising a slow-etch nitride layer disposed between two fast-etch nitride layers is deposited in the cavity. Next, a portion of the nitride stack is etched within the cavity. Continuing, a metal plug is deposited in the cavity. The fast-etch nitride layers of the nitride stack are removed while preserving the slow-etch nitride layer of the nitride stack. A first metal layer is deposited over the slow-etch nitride layer, a second dielectric layer is deposited over the first metal layer, and a second metal layer is deposited over the second dielectric layer.
US08518770B2
A method to fabricate a transistor including forming at least one electrically conductive channel structure over a substrate, the channel having a length, a width and a first height (h1); forming a gate structure over the substrate, the gate structure having a length, a width and a height, the gate structure being perpendicular to the channel structure and being formed over the channel structure such that the channel structure passes through the width of the gate structure, where the height of the gate structure is greater than h1; reducing the height of the channel structure external to the gate structure so as to have a second height (h2); and depositing a silicide layer at least partially over the at least one channel structure external to the gate structure.
US08518761B2
An object is to provide a deposition method in which a gallium oxide film is formed by a DC sputtering method. Another object is to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using a gallium oxide film as an insulating layer such as a gate insulating layer of a transistor. An insulating film is formed by a DC sputtering method or a pulsed DC sputtering method, using an oxide target including gallium oxide (also referred to as GaOX). The oxide target includes GaOX, and X is less than 1.5, preferably more than or equal to 0.01 and less than or equal to 0.5, further preferably more than or equal to 0.1 and less than or equal to 0.2. The oxide target has conductivity, and sputtering is performed in an oxygen gas atmosphere or a mixed atmosphere of an oxygen gas and a rare gas such as argon.
US08518755B2
It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device, a semiconductor device with low power consumption, a semiconductor device with high productivity, and a method for manufacturing such a semiconductor device. Impurities left remaining in an oxide semiconductor layer are removed without generating oxygen deficiency, and the oxide semiconductor layer is purified to have an extremely high purity. Specifically, after oxygen is added to the oxide semiconductor layer, heat treatment is performed on the oxide semiconductor layer to remove the impurities. In order to add oxygen, it is preferable to use a method in which oxygen having high energy is added by an ion implantation method, an ion doping method, or the like.
US08518748B1
A method and system for providing a laser diode submount for use in an energy assisted magnetic recording disk drive are described. A portion of a silicon substrate is removed, forming trenches therein. Each trench has sidewalls, surrounds a silicon island corresponding to a laser diode submount, and corresponds to a thickness of the laser diode submount. The silicon island has a top surface and a facets corresponding to the trench sidewalls. Insulator(s) for the top surface and facets of the silicon island are provided. Metallization is provided on the top surface and facets of the silicon island. A first portion of the metallization on the top surface corresponds to under bump metal (UBM) for solder pad(s). A second portion of the metallization corresponds to electrical traces. Solder pad(s) are provided on the UBM. The silicon island is released from the silicon substrate.
US08518747B2
Stacked semiconductor devices and assemblies including attached lead frames are disclosed herein. One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a semiconductor assembly includes forming a plurality of first side trenches to a first intermediate depth in a molded portion of a molded wafer having a plurality of dies arranged in rows and columns. The method also includes forming a plurality of lateral contacts at sidewall portions of the trenches and electrically connecting first side bond-sites of the dies with corresponding lateral contacts of the trenches. The method further includes forming a plurality of second side channels to a second intermediate depth in the molded portion such that the channels intersect the trenches. The method also includes singulating and stacking the first and second dies with the channels associated with the first die aligned with channels associated with the second die.
US08518746B2
A semiconductor device has a TSV semiconductor wafer with a cavity formed in a first surface of the wafer. A second cavity can be formed in a second surface of the wafer. A plurality of semiconductor die is mounted within the cavities. The semiconductor die can be mounted side-by-side and/or stacked within the cavity. Conductive TSV can be formed through the die. An encapsulant is deposited within the cavity over the die. A CTE of the die is similar to a CTE of the encapsulant. A first interconnect structure is formed over a first surface of the encapsulant and wafer. A second interconnect structure is formed over a second surface of the encapsulant and wafer. The first and second interconnect structure are electrically connected to the TSV wafer. A second semiconductor die can be mounted over the first interconnect structure with encapsulant deposited over the second die.
US08518744B2
The reliability of the semiconductor device which has the structure which stores a plurality of semiconductor chips with which plane sizes differ in the same sealing body in the state where they are accumulated via the insulating film which has adhesive property is improved.In the semiconductor device which has the structure which stores a plurality of semiconductor chips with which plane sizes differ in the same sealing body in the state where they are accumulated via DAF, thickness of DAF of the back surface of the uppermost semiconductor chip with which the control circuit was formed was made thicker than each of DAF of the back surface of the lower layer semiconductor chip with which the memory circuit was formed. Hereby, the defect that the bonding wire which connects the uppermost semiconductor chip and a wiring substrate contacts the main surface corner part of a lower layer semiconductor chip can be reduced.
US08518736B2
In a method of making a monolithic elongated nanowire, a mask polymer layer is applied to a selected crystal surface of a seed crystal. A plurality of spaced apart elongated openings is defined through the mask polymer layer, thereby exposing a corresponding plurality of portions of the crystal surface. The openings are disposed so as to be aligned with and parallel to a selected crystal axis of the seed crystal. The portions of the crystal surface are subjected to a chemical nutrient environment that causes crystalline material to grow from the plurality of portions for at least a period of time so that monocrystalline members grow from the elongated openings and until the monocrystalline members laterally expand so that each monocrystalline member grows into and merges with an adjacent one of the monocrystalline members, thereby forming a monolithic elongated nanowire.
US08518729B1
A method includes forming a black photoresist layer on a substrate to form a black matrix; forming an isolation layer on the black matrix; forming first and second metal layers sequentially on the isolation layer to form source terminal/drain terminal and storage capacitor Com electrode; forming an ohmic contact layer on the second metal layer; forming a channel layer on the ohmic contact layer to form an island; forming a gate insulation layer on the channel layer and forming a third metal layer on the gate insulation layer to form a gate terminal and a storage capacitor counter electrode; forming a protection layer on the third metal layer; forming pixels on the protection layer; forming vias in the pixels; forming a transparent conductive layer on the pixels to form pixel electrode, thereby forming a COA substrate; and bonding the COA substrate to an upper substrate and filling liquid crystal therebetween.
US08518719B2
A method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescence device includes: preparing an organic EL device in which an anode, an organic layer including a luminescent layer, and a cathode formed of a transparent material are stacked in order and which has a shorted defective portion; irradiating the organic EL device with a laser beam from a direction of the cathode; measuring an intensity of radiated light from the organic EL device after the laser beam is absorbed through multiphoton absorption; changing a focal position of the laser beam in a stacking direction for performing the irradiating and measuring, and subsequently determining the focal position of the laser beam in the stacking direction such that the intensity of the radiated light is minimal; and irradiating the determined focal position with the laser beam, so as to solve a defect caused by the shorted defective portion.
US08518710B2
The present invention provides a method for reducing undesirable light emission from a sample using at least one photon producing agent and at least one photon reducing agent (e.g. dye-based photon reducing agents). The present invention further provides a method for reducing undesirable light emission from a sample (e.g., a biochemical or cellular sample) with at least one photon producing agent and at least one collisional quencher. The present invention also provides a method for reducing undesirable light emission from a sample (e.g., a biochemical or cellular sample) with at least one photon producing agent and at least one quencher, such as an electronic quencher. The present invention also provides a system and method of screening test chemicals in fluorescent assays using photon reducing agents. The present invention also provides compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, and kits for practicing these methods.
US08518708B2
A leak detection system for a flowing electrolyte battery comprising a containment member associated with at least one of a stack of a flowing electrolyte battery and an electrolyte reservoir of a flowing electrolyte battery and a sensing member for sensing a fluid leak within the containment member.
US08518692B2
Gas permeable devices and methods are disclosed that provide highly efficient cell culture. Gas compartments, made up at least in part of gas permeable material, are dispersed within the culture device in locations that allow cells to remain within a fixed distance from a gas transmission location as the device scales in the horizontal direction. Gas permeable walls of the gas compartment(s) allow gas exchange with the ambient gas. Such an arrangement provides many advantages including the ability to eliminate the need for a gas-liquid interface, allow cell culture to proceed in the static mode (i.e. absent the need for media or gas to be pumped through the device), allow the scale of the device to increase in both the horizontal direction and vertical direction, reduce the rate of media evaporation, allow uncomplicated and low cost device fabrication, and provide the capacity for reduced feeding frequency.
US08518683B2
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
US08518680B2
Hydrocarbon and hydrogen fuels and other products may be produced by a process employing a combination of fermentation and electrochemical stages. In the process, a biomass contained within a fermentation medium is fermented with an inoculum comprising a mixed culture of microorganisms derived the rumen contents of a rumen-containing animal. This inoculated medium is incubated under anaerobic conditions and for a sufficient time to produce volatile fatty acids. The resultant volatile fatty acids are then subjected to electrolysis under conditions effective to convert said volatile fatty acids to hydrocarbons and hydrogen simultaneously. The process can convert a wide range of biomass materials to a wide range of volatile fatty acid chain lengths and can convert these into a wide range of biobased fuels and biobased products.
US08518674B2
Engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing greater than 25% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, an ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) in the total oil fraction are described. These strains comprise various chimeric genes expressing heterologous desaturases, elongases and acyltransferases and optionally comprise various native desaturase and acyltransferase knockouts to enable synthesis and high accumulation of EPA. Production host cells are claimed, as are methods for producing EPA within said host cells.
US08518670B2
The present invention provides thermostable enzymes, such as DNA polymerases and restriction endonucleases, that are substantially free from contamination with nucleic acids. The invention also provides methods for the production of these enzymes, and kits comprising these enzymes which may be used in amplifying or sequencing nucleic acid molecules, including through use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
US08518668B2
The invention is related to a method for making mature human insulin or an analogue thereof by culturing a fungi cell comprising a DNA sequence encoding a precursor for human insulin or an analogue of human insulin which precursor comprises the B-chain of human insulin or an analogue thereof, the A-chain of human insulin or an analogue thereof and a C-peptide linking the B-chain and the A-chain together thereof, wherein the C-peptide comprises at least one Kex2 cleavage site and an amino acid sequence attached at one end to the C-terminal amino acid residue in the B-chain and at the other end to the Kex2 site which amino acid sequence will facilitate a more efficient Kex2 cleavage within the fungi cell. The C-terminal extension of the B-chain may furthermore be capable of subsequently being cleaved off from the C-terminal amino acid residue in the B-chain by means of a carboxypeptidase activity either within the fungi cell or subsequently in the culture medium.
US08518667B2
The invention relates to a fusion DNA construct comprising a KEX2 region comprising a KEX2 site and a KEX2 site pre-sequence immediately 5′ to the KEX2 site, a fusion polypeptide, vectors and cells comprising the fusion DNA construct, methods for producing desired proteins from filamentous fungal cells and methods for enhancing the secretion and/or cleavage of a desired protein from a cell.
US08518666B2
The invention provides certain embodiments relating to methods and compositions for incorporating non-natural amino acids into a polypeptide or protein by utilizing a mutant or modified aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase to charge the non-natural amino acid to a the corresponding tRNA. In certain embodiments, the tRNA is also modified such that the complex forms strict Watson-Crick base-pairing with a codon that normally forms wobble base-pairing with unmodified tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase pairs.
US08518655B2
The invention relates to a novel molecule, termed SC5 by the inventors, to a novel allelic form of p140, and to the biological applications of SC5 and p140 molecules, notably in the diagnosis and therapy of CTCL.
US08518654B2
A novel biomarker for use in lung cancer diagnosis is provided.
US08518653B2
A binding partner, especially an antibody fragment that specifically recognizes an antigen-antibody immune complex between anti-THC and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), is disclosed. The binding partner facilitates a non-competitive homogenous immunoassay for detection of cannabis use. A test kit comprising the binding partner is also described. Preferably the immunoassay is applied for roadside testing of saliva from suspected drivers.
US08518642B2
Provided are a method of analyzing a sequence of a first probe nucleic acid using a substrate on which a second probe nucleic acid is immobilized, and a microarray and a kit for the same.
US08518638B2
The present invention relates to the NIPA-1 proteins and nucleic acids encoding the NIPA-1 proteins. The present invention further provides assays for the detection of NIPA-1 polymorphisms and mutations associated with disease states, as well as methods of screening for ligands and modulators of NIPA-1 proteins.
US08518630B2
The present invention relates to a fluorine-free photoacid generator (PAG) and a photoresist composition containing the same. The PAG is characterized by the presence of an onium cationic component and a fluorine-free fused ring heteroaromatic sulfonate anionic component containing one or more electron withdrawing substituents. The onium cationic component of the PAG is preferably a sulfonium or an iodonium cation. The photoresist composition further contains an acid sensitive imaging polymer. The photoresist composition is especially useful for forming material patterns on a semiconductor substrate using 193 nm (ArF) lithography.
US08518629B2
A resist composition for immersion exposure, including a base component (A) that exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid, an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure, and a fluorine-containing compound (C) represented by general formula (c-1) (in formula (c-1), R1 represents an organic group which may contain a polymerizable group; X represents a divalent organic group having an acid dissociable portion; and R2 represents an organic group having a fluorine atom).
US08518626B2
The carrier is used for a two-component developer for developing an electrostatic latent image, and includes a particulate magnetic core material; and a cover layer located on a surface of the particulate magnetic core material and including a crosslinked material. The crosslinked material is formed by hydrolyzing a copolymer including at least a unit (A) having a specific acrylic siloxane structure including a tris(trialkylsiloxy)silanyl group and a unit (B) having a specific acrylic silicone structure to form a material having a silanol group, and subjecting the material having a silanol group to a condensation reaction using an organic zirconium-containing catalyst.
US08518620B2
To provide a magnetic toner which: enables a stable image density to be obtained irrespective of a use environment; and exhibits excellent low-temperature fixability, little image deterioration upon fixation, high coloring power, and a reduced toner consumption. The present invention relates to a magnetic toner containing at least: a binder resin; and a magnetic body. The binder resin contains a polyester unit. The toner has a weight average particle size of 5.0 to 9.0 μm, a true specific gravity of 1.3 to 1.7 g/cm3, and a saturated magnetization of 20 to 35 Am2/kg in a magnetic field of 796 kA/m. The dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) of the toner satisfies (tan δH−tan δL)/tan δL≦0.20 at 100 kHz.
US08518618B2
To provide an electrophotographic photoconductor, containing: a conductive support; a photosensitive layer provided above the conductive support; and a hardened protective layer provided above the photosensitive layer, wherein the hardened protective layer contains a hardened product of a radical polymerizable compound containing an adamantane skeleton.
US08518611B2
A mask fabrication method can include receiving a mask design, sending first exposure parameters to a first exposure machine, sending second exposure parameters to a second exposure machine, sending a first exposure generation command to the first machine based on the first exposure parameters and sending a second exposure generation command to the second machine based on the second exposure parameters.
US08518607B2
A membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) is prepared by a low-temperature transfer method. A binder-free carbon layer is formed on a transfer substrate so as to avoid decreased performance due to the formation of a skin layer caused by the interfacial segregation of the ionomer or binder.
US08518602B2
A hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell including an electrolyte sandwiched between two catalyst layers or sheets, each catalyst layer or sheet being in contact with a porous electrode, in which one or several catalyst layers or sheets and one or several electrode layers or sheets interpenetrate.
US08518600B2
A gas diffusion layer (19) contacts the surface of an electrode layer (17) contacting the surface of a solid electrolyte membrane (16), and a gas channel forming member (21) interposed between the gas diffusion layer (19) and a separator (23). The separator (23) and a first tilted plate portion (28a) formed on a linking plate portion (28) of a ring portion (27) of the gas channel forming member (21) form a first tilt angle (α). The gas diffusion layer (19) and a second tilted plate portion (28b) formed on the linking plate portion (28) form a second tilt angle (β). The first tilt angle (α) is set to be smaller than the second tilt angle (β).
US08518595B2
A proton-conducting structure that exhibits favorable proton conductivity in the temperature range of not lower than 100° C., and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. After a pyrophosphate salt containing Sn, Zr, Ti or Si is mixed with phosphoric acid, the mixture is maintained at a temperature of not less than 80° C. and not more than 150° C., and thereafter maintained at a temperature of not less than 200° C. and not more than 400° C. to manufacture a proton-conducting structure. The proton-conducting structure of the present invention has a core made of tin pyrophosphate, and a coating layer formed on the surface of the core, the coating layer containing Sn and O, and having a coordination number of O with respect to Sn of grater than 6.
US08518594B2
A power cell comprises a membrane with a first side and a second side. The membrane has a geometric structure encompassing a volume. The power cell also has a cover that is coupled to the membrane to separate the first flow path from the second flow path at the membrane. In the power cell, first and second catalyst is in gaseous communication with respective first flow path and second flow path and in ionic communication with respective first and second sides of the membrane. Furthermore, a first electrode is electrically coupled to the first catalyst on the first side of the membrane, and a second electrode is electrically coupled to the second catalyst on the second side of the membrane. In another embodiment, the power cell further includes a substrate on which the membrane is coupled.
US08518592B2
There is provided a fuel cell system capable of improving the performance and operational stability of the fuel cell system by measuring the exact amount of flow of an oxidizer that is supplied to the fuel cell system. The fuel cell system includes a stack for generating electricity by an electrochemical reaction of a fuel and an oxidizer, an oxidizer supply device for supplying an oxidizer to the stack. A volume flow meter coupled to the oxidizer supply device. The volume flow meter measures a volume flow the oxidizer.
US08518585B2
A method for producing a lithium ion conductive solid electrolyte including the step of bringing one or more compounds selected from phosphorous sulfide, germanium sulfide, silicon sulfide and boron sulfide into contact with lithium sulfide in a hydrocarbon-based solvent.
US08518584B2
A production method for an electrode for a battery includes preparing a conductive substrate, and electrode material particles having ion conduction anisotropy; and producing an electrode by attaching the electrode material particles onto the conductive substrate, and applying a magnetic field in a predetermined direction.
US08518582B2
A cathode including an active material composite and a lithium battery using the same. The active material composite of the cathode includes a mixed oxide complex and a lithium-containing compound, the lithium-containing compound having a metal based compound coated on the surface of the lithium-containing compound.
US08518578B2
The electrode plate for use in an electrochemical battery is made of a casting; a planar portion; a perimeter and a bus bar extending along a portion of that perimeter. The planar portion and the bus bar are integral parts of the aforesaid casting. The electrode plate is made of lead when used in a lead-acid battery or of other electrode material capable of being formed by casting, when used in other types of batteries. More specifically, the electrode plate has a rectangular shape and a higher-current-density side, and the aforesaid bus bar extends over three adjacent sides of the rectangular shape including the higher-current-density side.
US08518572B2
Disclosed is a graphite/DSA assembled electrode for a redox flow battery, obtained by assembling a graphite electrode made of micro-sized graphite and a DSA electrode using rolling thus improving cell performance including electrode durability, corrosion resistance, power density, energy efficiency and cycle properties. A method of manufacturing the graphite/DSA assembled electrode is also provided, which includes preparing a mixture composed of a graphite active material, a conductive material and a binder into a slurry using an alcohol, evaporating the alcohol from the slurry thus preparing a paste, thinly spreading the paste into an electrode sheet, and rolling the electrode sheet along with a DSA electrode thus obtaining the assembled electrode. A redox flow battery including the electrode thus obtained is also provided, which has increased electrode durability and corrosion resistance and enhanced power properties, energy efficiency and cycle performance.
US08518557B2
This invention pertains to light emitting materials comprising novel ortho-metalated transition metal complexes [C^N]2ML comprising two orthometalated ligands having imidazole moieties and an ancillary ligand of β-diketonate type. The ortho-metalated transition metal complexes are represented by formula (I): It has been surprisingly found that when the metal has bound thereto both orthometalated ligands comprising imidazole moieties and an ancillary ligand of β-diketonate type, the ligands advantageously participate in the emission process, significantly broadening emission in the visible region and enabling appreciable improvement of the white emission efficiency of complexes [C^N]2ML. Additional objects of the invention are the use of the light emitting materials and organic light emitting device comprising the light emitting material.
US08518554B2
A ceramic-metal composite includes a ceramic substrate, an active metal brazing alloy layer, and a metal plate bonded to the ceramic substrate through the active metal brazing alloy layer disposed therebetween. The active metal brazing alloy layer contains a transition metal that is at least one element selected from Group-8 elements specified in the periodic table. According to the above configuration, the following composite and device can be provided: the ceramic-metal composite that exhibits high bonding strength, heat cycle resistance, durability, and reliability even if the ceramic-metal composite is used in a power module and a semiconductor device including the ceramic-metal composite.
US08518551B2
An object of the invention is to provide a biaxially oriented polyester film for automobile driving motors, which has, in addition to high-temperature dimensional stability, high hydrolysis resistance required for an insulating film of an automobile driving motor, and also exhibits excellent delamination characteristics.
US08518550B2
A polyimide wherein a tetracarboxylic dianhydride including 3,3′,4,4′-phenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride as the essential component is the starting tetracarboxylic dianhydride component, and an amine comprising between 0.5 and 30 mole percent of a diamine represented by the following general formula is the starting diamine component. (wherein A is a direct bond or a crosslinking group, and R1-R4 each represent a substituent). It is possible to obtain a polyimide, a polyimide film and a laminated body with an improved adhesion property and an improved moisture permeation rate, even without surface treatment, comprising, as the essential tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride which has conventionally only yielded polyimides with low adhesive strength.
US08518548B2
A thermosensitive light-adjusting material is formed by reacting 18-84% polymer polyols and/or terminal hydroxyl-containing polymers which are formed by reacting polymer polyols and diisocyanate, with 15-80% terminal hydroxy-containing ethylenically unsaturated monomers through light or heat polymerization reaction. A process for preparing the thermosensitive light-adjusting material and an optical device comprising thereof. The light-adjusting ability is high, the light-adjusting range is broad, and mechanical capability is good. The preparation method is simple, short-circle, and high effective, so it can be applied in industry, furthermore, because of no organic solvents, the method's advantages are low cost and without pollution.
US08518546B2
The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formula I, Ring-A of the Formula I can be, for example an aryl group, and L1 is a chiral or achiral lengthening group. The compound represented by Formula I can be a photochromic compound. The present invention also relates to photochromic compositions and photochromic articles that include one or more photochromic compounds, such as represented by Formula I.
US08518542B2
The present invention provides a carbon film that is remarkably excellent in current voltage (IV) characteristics. This is achieved by way of a carbon film structure, two or more carbon film assembly units 12 are formed on a substrate 10. The carbon film assembly units 12 comprise: a stem-like carbon film 14 which is made into a film in the shape of a long and thin needle; and a branch-like carbon film cluster 16 which is made into a film so as to surround the stem-like carbon film 14 from the halfway to the lower part of this stem-like carbon film 14. The stem-like carbon film 14 has the shape of a long and thin needle having a configuration which has a spiral streak-like step part 18 towards the distal end at the circumference face of a near tip and in which the radius becomes small as going to the distal end.
US08518535B2
A multilayer insulated wire, comprising: a conductor; and at least three extruded insulation layers covering the conductor, which extruded insulation layers comprise: (A) an outermost layer composed of an extruded covering layer of a resin whose elongation rate after heat treatment by immersion in a solder at 150° C. for two seconds is at least 290% and at least equal to elongation rate before the heat treatment; (B) an innermost layer comprising a resin whose elongation rate after heat treatment by immersion in a solder at 150° C. for two seconds is at least 290% and at least equal to elongation rate before the heat treatment; and (C) an insulation layer that is placed between the outermost layer and the innermost layer and that is composed of an extruded covering layer of a crystalline resin with a melting point of at least 280° C. or an amorphous resin with a glass transition temperature of at least 200° C.; and a transformer having the multilayer insulated wire.
US08518533B2
A coating includes a zirconium yttrium carbon-nitride layer including a first surface and an opposite second surface, the atomic carbon content and the atomic nitrogen content in the zirconium yttrium carbon-nitride layer gradually increasing from the first surface to the second surface.
US08518530B2
The present invention relates to a production method for an ultra-low-dielectric-constant film, in which ratios are optimised in a mixed solution having a matrix consisting of a poly (alkyl silsesquioxane) copolymer and a porogen represented by Chemical formula 1, and in which this mixed solution is subjected to ultraviolet curing during a heat treatment. The ultra-low-dieletric-constant film of the present invention can be used as an intermediate insulating film for next generation semiconductors instead of the SiO2 dielectric films currently used, since pores of from 1 to 3 nm are uniformly distributed at from 10 to 30% and a very high degree of mechanical elasticity of from 10.5 to 19 GPa is achieved at a low dielectric constant from 2.12 to 2.4.
US08518520B2
To provide a film superior in hand tearability and linear cutting efficiency that can be produced without need for a complicated blending of resin raw materials and high-grade processing facilities. There is provided a film having an average distance between the local apexes in any one direction of 8 μm or less.
US08518519B2
A sill cover includes an elongated sill cover main body, a plurality of hinges, a plurality of attachments and a linking portion. The plurality of hinges is foldably provided along a longitudinal direction of the sill cover main body. The plurality of attachments is connected to the plurality of hinges and shifts to a vehicle mounting position according to folding of the plurality of hinges. The linking portion links three attachments among the plurality of attachments to one another.
US08518518B2
A fiber structure that can be embedded in a matrix for obtaining a piece made of composite material, includes a first fiber element having a first support surface, at least one L-shaped fiber element having a base that is flattened against the support surface of the first fiber element at a junction zone and a wing that is not flattened against the first fiber element, and another fiber element having one part flattened against the wing of the at least one L-shaped fiber element. The elements are assembled by tapping fibers from a second surface of the first fiber element so as to form loops, at least certain fibers being oblique relative to the second surface, in a plane that is perpendicular to the junction zone, wherein certain loops of the oblique fibers protrude to the outside of the outer surface of a wing of at least one L-shaped fiber element.
US08518504B2
The technical problem to be solved is to change the thickness of the colored resin layer of the preform gradually in the upward or downward direction, by utilizing a tendency of gradual decrease in the thickness of the colored resin layer caused by the flow of the main resin inside the preform mold when the main resin and the colored resin are injected into the mold. This involves adjusting the injection pattern including the time of starting and ending the supply of the main resin and the colored resin, and pressure or velocity profiles, reducing the thickness of the colored resin layer gradually upstream or downstream, injection-molding the preform in which a color-gradated portion associated with the thickness of the colored resin layer has been formed, and biaxially drawing and blow molding this preform into a bottle having a color-gradated portion.
US08518502B2
An inflatable device, in particular a device including a body having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface accessible through an orifice in the body, the body including a prolamine protein that exhibits air or gas impermeability for a suitable period of time, and yet is biodegradable upon exposure to the environment. The device can be utilized as a balloon for personal uses such as toys, gifts or balloon releases at events, or as a medical device.
US08518488B2
A method for using an apparatus configured to form a germanium-containing film includes performing a first film formation process for forming a first product film containing germanium by CVD on a product target object placed inside a reaction container, a first cleaning process for etching the film formation by-product, a second cleaning process for removing residual germanium from inside the reaction container, and a second film formation process for forming a second product film containing no germanium by CVD on a product target object placed inside the reaction container, in this order. The second cleaning process is performed by exhausting gas from inside the reaction container with no product target object placed therein, supplying a second cleaning gas containing an oxidizing gas and hydrogen gas into the reaction container, and heating an interior of the reaction container thereby activating the second cleaning gas.
US08518476B2
Various embodiments provide materials and methods for forming a fluoroplastic coating layer from a powder mixture including a leveling agent and/or a transient binder material to improve the powder coating quality, wherein the powder mixture can further include a plurality of fluoroplastic powder and a plurality of aerogel particles.
US08518457B2
Methods and devices for treating excess mucus accumulation in mammals by administering gaseous inhaled nitric oxide or nitric oxide releasing compounds as a mucolytic agent or expectorant are provided. Delivery of gaseous nitric oxide can be made nasally or orally and is preferably substantially coincident with inhalation of the mammal or based on a synchronous parameter of the mammal's respiratory cycle. Varying therapeutic profiles may be used for the delivery of gaseous nitric oxide depending on the severity of the excess mucus accumulation. Parameters for the therapeutic profiles may include flow rate of nitric oxide containing gas, duration of administration of nitric oxide containing gas, number of breaths for which nitric oxide containing gas is to be administered, and concentrations of therapeutic NO delivered to the airways.
US08518455B2
A method for treating myocardial or skeletal muscle anoxia which occurs in coronary or post-infarct disorders or during prolonged physical activity and muscle fatigue. This method comprises the administration of a combination composition comprising (a) an alkanoyl L-carnitine selected from the group consisting of isovaleryl L-carnitine, propionyl L-carnitine or the pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof or mixtures thereof; and (b) ribose or a phosphate derivative thereof.
US08518452B2
Process for the stabilization of blood plasma components in a lyophilizate, wherein in a freeze-drying process, said blood plasma components were in a solution containing at least two different pH-lowering substances causing a predetermined pH value range to be adjusted in the solution formed upon reconstitution.
US08518451B2
Disclosed are methods of treating subjects having conditions related to angiogenesis including administering an effective amount of a polymeric form of thyroid hormone, or an antagonist thereof, to promote or inhibit angiogenesis in the subject. Compositions of the polymeric forms of thyroid hormone, or thyroid hormone analogs, are also disclosed.
US08518444B2
The present invention relates to graft copolymers of polyvinyl sulfonic-co-vinyl alcohol)-g-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (P(VS-VA)-g-PLGA) with negatively charged electrolyte properties, their method of preparation and their use. These negatively charged graft copolymers are suitable for effective loading and sustained-release of especially positively charged drugs, proteins and peptides, and drug-loaded particles from these grafted co-polymers are especially useful as parenteral or mucosal drug delivery systems for pharmaceutical applications.
US08518436B2
The invention relates to engineered matrices comprising collagen fibrils with specific characteristics, including, but not limited to, a specific fibril area fraction (i.e., density) and/or a specific elastic or linear modulus (i.e., stiffness). The invention also relates to methods of preparation and use of the matrices.
US08518422B2
A cosmetic or dermatological preparation that is obtainable by combining collagen and/or a derivative thereof, chitosan and/or a derivative thereof and glycosylaminoglycan and/or a derivative thereof with one or more selected substances. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08518416B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treatment of microbial infections and for the enhancement of resistance to infection. The invention comprises administration of an effective amount of a protein isolated from bacterial lysate compositions for the treatment of pathological conditions of microbial infections. The present invention can also be used to enhance the immune system to prevent infections by the administration of an effective amount of the compositions.
US08518406B2
Monoclonal antibodies which bind specifically to the proinflammatory cytokine pyroglutamate MCP-1 (MCP-1 N1pE) are described.
US08518392B2
Targeting constructs and methods of using them are provided for differentiation-dependent modification of nucleic acid sequences in cells and in non-human animals. Targeting constructs comprising a promoter operably linked to a recombinase are provided, wherein the promoter drives transcription of the recombinase in an differentiated cell but not an undifferentiated cell. Promoters include Blimp1, Prm1, Gata6, Gata4, Igf2, Lhx2, Lhx5, and Pax3. Targeting constructs with a cassette flanked on both sides by recombinase sites can be removed using a recombinase gene operably linked to a 3′-UTR that comprises a recognition site for an miRNA that is transcribed in undifferentiated cells but not in differentiated cells. The constructs may be included in targeting vectors, and can be used to automatically modify or excise a selection cassette from an ES cell, a non-human embryo, or a non-human animal.
US08518386B2
The invention is directed to a cosmetic composition which contains at least one poly-α-olefin produced by subjecting at least one primary alcohol to dehydrating polymerization at a temperature of 60° C. to 340° C. in the presence of acidic alumino layer silicates. The primary alcohol is an alcohol from the group of unsaturated monofunctional alcohols, branched monofunctional alcohols and difunctional alcohols. The poly-α-olefin is a high-spreading oil component which imparts an almost instantaneous and relatively long-lasting feeling of smoothness to the skin and has good dermatological compatibility.
US08518382B2
A method of polishing a tooth surface without mechanical abrasion is provided. Kits and compositions are also provided.
US08518366B2
The present invention relates to a process and a device for the combustion of sulphur and/or sulphur-containing compounds, via which a sufficient production of SO2-containing gases having a high SO2 concentration is made possible. The combustion preferably proceeds using a combustion gas which has an oxygen fraction at least as high as air, but preferably a higher fraction of oxygen. The process and the device should be suitable, in particular, for providing sulphur dioxide as a source for further production of sulphuric acid or highly concentrated SO3-containing gases. In addition, the device and the process should be suitable for oxidizing hydrogen-sulphide-containing gases, such as occur, for example, in the refinery industry, in high concentrations to SO2.
US08518363B2
[Problems to be Solved]There is provided a method for production of a carbon nanotube, which allows for production of the carbon nanotube in a large scale and at a low cost.[Solution]The temperature of a catalyst loaded on a support is raised by heating the support and a raw material gas containing a carbon source is supplied on the catalyst to synthesize the carbon nanotube. The synthesized carbon nanotube is recovered, and after the recovery, the catalyst is subjected to a regeneration treatment to repeatedly utilize the support. Since the catalyst deteriorates, the catalyst is regenerated periodically or nonperiodically during the production. The regeneration treatment of the catalyst involves an oxidation treatment of the catalyst. Further, after the oxidation treatment, a reducing gas is fed to and brought into contact with the catalyst surface to reduce the catalyst. As the support, a honeycomb is used.
US08518361B2
Disclosed is a method of preparing mesoporous silica nanoparticles using hydrothermal synthesis, including adding a transition metal when reacting a surfactant and a silica precursor. The mesoporous silica nanoparticles are high functional particles able to be used as an adsorbent, a sensor, a membrane, a catalyst and a catalyst support, thanks to their large surface area and nano-sized pores. The mesoporous silica nanoparticles are functionally advantageous in terms of increased material diffusion rate and reactivity, easy recycling after use as a catalyst and slow inactivation, compared to conventional mesoporous silica, and are prepared through a very simple process among methods of controlling the particle size of mesoporous silica to a nano size.
US08518358B2
A metal oxide powder includes a powder feed material structured and arranged to form molten droplets when melted in a plasma stream. The molten droplets are structured and arranged to form frozen spherical droplets under free-fall conditions such that said molten droplets have ample time for complete in-flight solidification before reaching a collection chamber.
US08518351B2
An apparatus is disclosed for hydrocracking hydrocarbon feed in a hydrocracking unit and hydrotreating a diesel product from the hydrocracking unit in a hydrotreating unit. The hydrocracking unit and the hydrotreating unit shares the same recycle gas compressor. A warm separator separates recycle gas and hydrocarbons from diesel in the hydrotreating effluent, so fraction of the diesel is relatively simple. The warm separator also keeps the diesel product separate from the more sulfurous diesel in the hydrocracking effluent, and still retains heat needed for fractionation of lighter components from the low sulfur diesel product.
US08518350B2
A reagent container having a plurality of open holding sections, each holding a reagent and into which a probe is inserted to suck the reagent. An opening of each of the holding sections is sealed with at least one sheet-like seal member. The reagent container includes a container body and a lid having a plurality of hollow piercing sections, formed on a lower surface of the lid, protruding downward for piercing the seal member at each of the openings, and openings, formed in an upper surface of the lid, communicating with piercing sections respectively to allow the probe to be inserted therethrough or withdrawn therefrom.
US08518338B2
A sterilization container has a box-like lower part and a removable container cover (1), which form a closed, airtight sterilization space. Ventilating openings (4), through which exchange of air takes place between the sterilization space and the environment, are provided in a wall area (2) of the sterilization container. A cover plate (6) detachably meshes with the wall area (2) through at least one spring-loaded snap-in or locking connection (9). The cover plate (6), as a round disk with a peripheral ring wall, has on the outside a peripheral locking groove, which detachably meshes with a plurality of locking elements (9) arranged in the peripheral area of the cover plate (6). The locking elements (9) are arranged stationarily as a separate assembly unit each in mounting holes of ring segments (8) projecting axially over the wall area (2), which mounting holes extend at right angles to the cover plate (6).
US08518336B2
The present invention provides for a thermo-chemical reactor vessel having a plurality of planer baffles with an offset and opposing orientation affixed to the interior sides of the vessel. The materials which are to be processed enter the reactor from the top and move downward by gravity and the rate of movement is controlled by the internal configuration of the plurality of planar surfaces. The slope angle of said plurality of planar baffles can be controlled from outside of the vessel. Further, the angle of the interior planar baffles can be changed from horizontal to near vertical. Still further, the plurality of planar baffles can be vibrated using pulsed gas released from beneath the baffle.
US08518334B2
A process for upgrading unconventional or heavy oils such as, tar sands, shale oil, or bitumen. This process may include a coking scheme in which oil-containing solids, of suitable size, are fed directly into the riser of an FCC unit. Contacting a hot stream of solids causes vaporization and produces a gaseous product stream. The gaseous product may be separated out in a separating vessel and coked or unconverted oil-containing solids may be transferred to a gasifier for combustion at high temperatures to remove the coke and residual oil. Syngas from the gasifier may be converted to hydrogen using a water gas shift reaction. The hydrogen may be used for hydroprocessing.
US08518326B2
A method may include obtaining information representing at least one of a concentration of carbon dioxide in a patient's blood, a concentration of oxygen in the patient's blood or a pH value of the patient's blood. The method may also include setting an initial carbon dioxide tension in a membrane oxygenator of an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system based on the obtained information.
US08518319B2
Process of making fibers by electric-field-driven spinning using low-conductivity fluid formulations
A first method comprises: dissolving a polymer in a terpene, terpenoid, or aromatic solvent to form a polymer solution; dissolving a salt in a polar organic solvent to form a salt solution; and mixing the salt solution and the polymer solution to form a mixture. The salt and the polar organic solvent do not cause substantial precipitation of the polymer upon mixing with the polymer solution. A resulting terpene, terpenoid, or aromatic solvent phase of the mixture is suitable for forming fibers by electric-field-driven spinning from one or more spinning tips onto a target substrate. A composition comprises the terpene, terpenoid, or aromatic solvent phase of the mixture resulting from the method. A second method comprises forming fibers by electric-field-driven spinning of the first composition from one or more spinning tips onto a target substrate. A second composition comprises the fibers formed by the second method.
US08518314B2
An anchoring method of anchoring an anchoring element in a construction object is provided, where a surface of which object has at least one of pores in a surface, structures in a surface (such as an arrangement of ridges with undercut), a inhomogeneous characteristic with makes the penetration of a surface by a liquid under pressure possible, thereby creating pores filed by the liquid underneath the surface, and of a cavity. The method includes the steps of: providing a first element and a second element, the first element comprising a thermoplastic material; positioning the first element in a vicinity of said surface and/or of said cavity, respectively, and positioning the second element in contact with the first element; and causing a third element to vibrate while loading the first element with a force, thereby applying mechanical vibrations to the first element, and simultaneously loading the first element with a counter-force by the second element.
US08518300B2
A β-sialon phosphor particle in which Eu (europium) is solid-soluted in a crystal having a β-type Si3N4 crystal structure, wherein the median diameter (D50) in the particle size distribution curve of the primary particle is from 3.0 to 10 μm and the aspect ratio is less than 1.5.
US08518299B2
A dichroic guest-host polarizer comprises an oriented polymerized liquid crystal host and aligned therewith a dichroic guest. The dichroic ratio of the polarizer is about 15 or more. The polarizer may have a small thickness, be manufactured using a wet deposition method, optionally in accordance with a desired pattern, and be provided on the inside of a liquid crystal cell. Polymerizable liquid crystals having a highly ordered mesophase which may be suitable used to obtain highly oriented polymer films such as polarizer films are disclosed.
US08518296B2
A slurry for polishing a phase change material, such as Ge—Sb—Te, or germanium-antimony-tellurium (GST), includes abrasive particles of sizes that minimize at least one of damage to (e.g., scratching of) a polished surface of phase change material, an amount of force to be applied during polishing, and a static etch rate of the phase change material, while optionally providing selectivity for the phase change material over adjacent dielectric materials. A polishing method includes applying a slurry with one or more of the above-noted properties to a phase change material, as well as bringing the polishing pad into frictional contact with the phase change material. Polishing systems are disclosed that include a plurality of sources of solids (e.g., abrasive particles) and provide for selectivity in the solids that are applied to a substrate or polishing pad.
US08518295B2
A polyol ester suitable for use as a lubricant or a lubricant base stock has a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. greater than or equal to 200 cSt and a viscosity index of greater than or equal to 100. The ester comprises the reaction product of (a) a polyhydric alcohol component comprising at least 50 mole % of penterythritol, and (b) a carboxylic acid component comprising: (i) at least one linear or branched monocarboxylic acid having 2 to 7 carbon atoms; (ii) at least one branched monocarboxylic acid having 8 to 15 carbon atoms; and (iii) at least one polycarboxylic acid having 2 to 8 carbon atoms; wherein the ratio of the number of acid groups derived from the monocarboxylic acid(s) (i) to the number of acid groups derived from the monocarboxylic acid(s) (ii) is between about 0.9 and about 1.1 and the number of acid groups derived from the polycarboxylic acid(s) (iii) is between about 15% and about 25% of the total number of acid groups derived from the carboxylic acids (i), (ii) and (iii).
US08518290B2
Provided is a piezoelectric material which includes a compound free of lead and alkali metal and has a good piezoelectric property. The piezoelectric material where tungsten bronze structure oxides being free of lead and alkali metal and represented by AxB10O30 and A′x′B′10O30 are combined to form a morphotropic phase boundary has good piezoelectric property. The AxB10O30 is b(Ba5−5αBi10α/3Nb10O30)+(1−b)(Ba4Ag2Nb10O30) (0≦b≦1 and 0<α≦0.4), and the A′x′B′10O30 is c(Sr5Nb10O30)+d(Ca5Nb10O30)+e(Ba5Nb10O30) (0≦c≦0.8, 0≦d≦0.4, 0.1≦e≦0.9, and c+d+e=1).
US08518286B2
The invention relates to compositions and methods that are useful in etching a metal surface. In particular, the invention relates to novel acid compositions and methods of using such compositions in etching a metal surface, preferably an aluminum surface prior to anodizing to dissolve impurities, imperfections, scale, and oxide. The compositions are effective in maintaining their etching capacity and in removing smut produced by the etching of a surface as well as in general cleaning.
US08518266B2
A dissolved air flotation clarifier for removing impurities from a liquid to be clarified. The dissolved air flotation clarifier includes a housing having an inlet for receiving a liquid to be clarified. The housing further includes a reaction zone, a clarification zone and an effluent channel. The reaction zone has at least one saturated water distributor and at least one dissolved air flotation nozzle operably connected to the at least one saturated water distributor to receive saturated water from the at least one saturated water distributor. The dissolved air flotation nozzle is configured to release micro-bubbles from a saturated water so that the micro-bubbles can mix with the liquid to be clarified to remove impurities from the liquid to be clarified. The clarification zone includes a flow control member for controlling the flow of the mixture of micro-bubbles and liquid in the clarification zone to ensure that the area surrounding the inlet to the effluent channel has little or no micro-bubbles to prevent or significantly reduce micro-bubbles from becoming entrained in a clarified liquid passing through the effluent channel.
US08518259B2
An apparatus for de-aering, oxygenating and controlling a temperature of blood in an extracorporeal blood circuit. The apparatus includes a housing, a manifold body, a heat exchanger, and an oxygenator. A blood inlet tangentially directs blood into a first chamber of the housing. The manifold body is disposed in a second chamber, and includes a core and a plurality of vanes that define channels. The heat exchanger is arranged around the manifold body, and the oxygenator around the heat exchanger. The channels are open to the heat exchanger. An established blood flow path includes rotational flow within the first chamber to separate air from the blood, generally longitudinal flow from the first chamber and along the channels, and generally radial flow through the heat exchanger and the oxygenator. With this construction, gross air removal occurs prior to the blood passing through the heat exchanger and oxygenator.
US08518257B2
A denitrification system is disclosed, where a plurality of biological regenerated adsorptive cells or units. Each cell includes a counterflowing absorptive media and waste water to achieve a two or three zone biomass nitrate/nitrite degradation environment. The system includes a backwash water recirculation loop and a media recirculation loop, where the media recirculation loop subjects the media a sufficient shear to dislodge dead microbes and/or weakly bound microbial films from the media surface, but insufficient to substantially reduce the particle size of the friable media. Nutrient supply and distribution and gas controls are used regulate cell characteristics.
US08518249B2
A biological wastewater treatment system is provided which is adaptable to small, shop fabricated package plants and large, assembled in place plants, and which can be operated as a secondary treatment, activated sludge process, for suspended solids and BOD removal, or a tertiary treatment, activated sludge process, for suspended solids, BOD, nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The system includes a wastewater pump and an air aspirator-mixer to provide aeration, sludge recirculation and waste, and wastewater recirculation for the secondary and tertiary treatment processes. The aeration system with the air aspirator-mixer transfers oxygen to the wastewater, and is located outside aeration tanks. The wastewater pump and air aspirator-mixer system lends itself to continuous and cyclic aeration and oxic and anoxic treatment processes. The multiple use of the wastewater pump for aeration, recirculation and sludge waste minimizes the number of pumping systems required and eliminates air blowers.
US08518242B2
Catalysts are disclosed comprising fibrous substrates having silica-containing fibers with diameters generally from about 1 to about 50 microns, which act effectively as “micro cylinders.” Such catalysts can dramatically improve physical surface area, for example per unit length of a reactor or reaction zone. At least a portion of the silica, originally present in the silica-containing fibers of a fibrous material used to form the fibrous substrate, is converted to a zeolite (e.g., having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of at least about 150) that remains deposited on these fibers. The fibrous substrates possess important properties, for example in terms of acidity, which are useful in hydroprocessing (e.g., hydrotreating or hydrocracking) applications.
US08518235B2
A coagulation generating system that combines the advantages of conventional and electrocoagulation. In the coagulation generating system electro-coagulation is performed on an input (e.g., salt/brine) solution to generate a concentrated coagulant solution, which is then added to the source water in the same way as a standard stored chemical coagulant.
US08518228B2
Methods and apparatus for separating, concentrating and/or detecting molecules based on differences in binding affinity to a probe are provided. The molecules may be differentially modified. The molecules may be differentially methylated nucleic acids. The methods can be used in fields such as epigenetics or oncology to selectively concentrate or detect the presence of specific biomolecules or differentially modified biomolecules, to provide diagnostics for disorders such as fetal genetic disorders, to detect biomarkers in cancer, organ failure, disease states, infection or the like.
US08518225B2
An apparatus for producing in the home hydrogen-dissolved drinking water that is suitable for drinking, has a high dissolved hydrogen concentration, and a long dissolved hydrogen life. A hydrogen-dissolved drinking water production apparatus includes an electrolytic cell through which water can pass for producing drinking water having a pH in a range of 2.5 to 8.5, and in particular, in a range of 5.8 to 8.5, and a dissolved hydrogen concentration of 0.1 ppm or more by supplying high-purity water having a conductivity of 50 μS/cm or less. The hydrogen-dissolved drinking water production apparatus is characterized in that the electrolytic cell includes a vertical anode chamber having a water-permeable plate-like anode electrode and a vertical cathode chamber having a plate-like cathode electrode, the anode chamber and the cathode chamber are separated by a diaphragm formed from a fluorine-based cation exchange membrane, the water-permeable plate-like anode electrode is closely adhered to the diaphragm formed from the fluorine-based cation exchange membrane, and an ion-exchange resin is filled in a space between the diaphragm and the cathode electrode.
US08518213B2
A method for the production of alcohol and other bioproducts from power boiler woody biomass extract containing hemicelluloses, with or without combining extract from wood prior to Kraft cooking. The process is integrated with the host Kraft pulp mill plant process to minimize the heat loss from extracting hemicelluloses and the energy used in the process.
US08518210B2
An apparatus for purging a space in a processing chamber comprises a source of a purge gas; an inlet portion of a purge ring; an inlet baffle located in the inlet portion and fluidically connected to the source of purge gas; and an exhaust portion of the purge ring. The inlet portion and the exhaust portion define a ring hole space having a 360° periphery. The inlet baffle preferably surrounds not less than 180° of said periphery. The inlet baffle is operable to convey purge gas into the ring hole space. The exhaust portion is operable to convey purge gas and other matter out of the ring hole space. Cleaning of the purge ring and other structures in a processing chamber is conducted by flowing a cleaning gas through the inlet baffle. Some embodiments include a gas inlet plenum and an exhaust channel but not a purge ring.
US08518208B2
Thermosetting adhesive compositions formed from an epoxy resin containing nano-sized core-shell particles, one or more thermoplastic toughening agent containing an amine-terminated polyethersulfone, and at least one multi-functional epoxy resin, together with at least one amine curing agent to allow full cure of the adhesive composition up to 400° F. are provided herein. Such compositions are useful for forming adhesive films that can bond composite/metal/honeycomb structures for aerospace including bonding of aircraft leading or trailing edges, acoustic nacelle structures, horizontal and vertical tail, and various other structures, as well as for other high performance industrial applications.
US08518193B2
Low density Be-bearing bulk amorphous structural alloys with more than double the specific strength of conventional titanium alloys and methods of forming bulk articles from such alloys having thicknesses greater than 0.5 mm are provided. The bulk solidifying amorphous alloys described exclude late transition metal components while still exhibiting good glass forming ability, exceptional thermal stability, and high strength.
US08518191B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a high strength cold-rolled steel sheet, which has superior bake hardenability, aging resistance at room temperature and secondary work embrittlement resistance, and a method for manufacturing the same. The steel sheet has a grain size of ASTM No. of 9 or more after annealing, a BH of 30 MPa or more, an AI of 30 MPa or less, and a tensile strength of 340˜390 MPa through appropriate control of solute elements in steel by addition of a small amount of Ti, addition of Al and Mo, and control of manufacturing conditions, and refinement of crystal grains after annealing. The cold-rolled steel sheet and the galvannealed steel sheet produced using the cold-rolled steel sheet have the superior bake hardenability, aging resistance at room temperature, and secondary work embrittlement resistance.
US08518188B2
There is provided a method of controlling a dishwasher. The method includes performing a preliminary washing cycle, performing a main washing cycle, and performing a rinsing cycle. Steam is supplied during at least one of the main washing cycle and the rinsing cycle.
US08518183B2
A film deposition apparatus is configured to deposit a film on a substrate by carrying out a cycle of alternately supplying at least two kinds of reaction gases that react with each other to the substrate to stack multiple layers of a reaction product in a vacuum chamber so that a thin film is formed. The film deposition apparatus includes a rotation table, a substrate providing area, a first reaction gas supplying part, a second reaction gas supplying part, a separation area, a center part area, an evacuation opening, and a substrate cooling part.
US08518180B2
A silicon single crystal pull-up apparatus is used to pull up a doped silicon single crystal from a melt by means of the Czochralski process and includes a pull-up furnace, a sample chamber which is externally mounted on the pull-up furnace and houses a sublimable dopant, a shielding means for thermally isolating the interior of the pull-up furnace and the interior of the sample chamber, a sample tube which can be raised and lowered between the interior of the sample chamber and the interior of the pull-up furnace, and a raising and lowering means which is provided with guide rails on which the sample tube can slide and a wire mechanism by which the sample tube is raised and lowered along the guide rails.
US08518177B2
Concrete mixtures containing a biological catalyst with silica leaching activity are generally described. In an example, in the presence of the biological catalyst a high strength, environmentally friendly, sustainable concrete mixture is produced. Further, described herein are methods for producing the concrete mixtures.
US08518163B2
A device having advantages in terms of equipment maintenance, since it provides maximum limitation of the onset of electric arcing between the electrodes, including a vertical cathode equipped with emissive points, these points being offset at an angle from each other from one plane to another, so as to be optimally distributed in space. One embodiment using two planar anodes, between which several vertical cathodes are arranged equipped with points, is also envisaged.
US08518162B2
A method is described for treating gas exhaust from a polysilicon etch process, which uses a plasma abatement device to treat the gas. The device comprises a stainless steel gas chamber having a gas inlet for receiving the gas and a gas outlet. As the gas may contain a halocompound and water vapor, the chamber is heated to a temperature that inhibits adsorption of water on the surface within the chamber, thereby inhibiting corrosion of the gas chamber. The gas is then conveyed to the gas chamber for treatment, and the temperature of the chamber is maintained above said temperature during treatment of the gas.
US08518160B2
A heat transfer system is provided for a filter house. The filter house is configured to channel air into a turbine engine. The heat transfer system includes at least one of an expansion device and a compressor, a circuit coupled to at least one of the expansion device and the compressor, at least one sensor that detects a parameter of at least one of air channeled through a filter house and the fluid channeled through the circuit, and a controller coupled to the at least one sensor. The controller is configured to selectively control flow of fluid through the circuit to change the parameter of air channeled through the filter house based on the parameter detected by the sensor.
US08518157B2
Disclosed is a device for purifying a process gas in a reflow soldering system. Said device comprises a receptacle that contains at least one packing bed. The process gas is fed to the receptacle via a gas inlet while being discharged from the receptacle after penetrating the packing bed. The inventive device further comprises an apparatus for delivering a liquid fluid to the receptacle. Secondary materials of the soldering process in the reflow soldering system can be absorbed by the liquid fluid and thus be eliminated from the process gas. Secondary materials and/or droplets and vapors of the fluid can additionally be absorbed and adsorbed on the surface of the packing.
US08518151B2
A dense hydrogen-permeable layer, such as palladium or palladium alloy, is deposited on a porous hollow fiber. A porous hollow fiber is defined as having an inner diameter of approximately 30 microns to approximately 1500 microns and an outer diameter of approximately 100 microns to approximately 2000 microns. This allows an order-of-magnitude increase in the surface per volume ratio in a hydrogen separation or purification module, or a membrane reformer or reactor.
US08518148B2
A method and system for dehumidifying flue gas from a flue gas-generating process that supplies the flue gas to a wet flue gas processor. A wet cooling tower supplies water to a wet flue gas processor to condense water from the flue gas and form a liquid mixture in the wet flue gas processor.
US08518147B2
A method of separating metals that are physically or structurally combined in assemblies which includes the steps of: providing at least one assembly that comprises two or more different metals that are physically or structurally combined; heating the at least one assembly in a tunnel kiln furnace to melt at least one of the different metals while maintaining at least one of the different metals in a solid state; and separating the at least one of the different metals that was melted from the at least one of the different metals that was maintained in the solid state. According to one embodiment the assemblies are “copper meatballs.” Also disclosed is a system for separating metals that are physically or structurally combined in assemblies which system includes a tunnel kiln furnace and processing containers or processing containment assemblies into or onto which the assemblies are loaded and transported through the tunnel kiln furnace in.
US08518137B2
One or more embodiments of a standoff chamber system configured to generate aerosolized clouds, useful in testing or calibrating standoff detectors in a laboratory environment, includes a chamber body having vertically recirculating vortices for generation of the clouds. The standoff chamber further includes a pair of aero-windows configured to surround a pair of apertures in the chamber body, filtering and preventing escape of the cloud, while allowing direct observation of the cloud by standoff detectors.
US08518131B2
The invention relates to systems and methods for modifying the volatility of petroleum prior to ethanol addition. The methods can include (a) providing (i) a supply of gasoline, (ii) an ethanol standard, and (iii) a supply of butane; (b) analyzing the volatility of a sample formed by mixing the gasoline and ethanol standard; (c) calculating from the volatility a ratio of butane that can be blended into the sample without causing the sample to pass the one or more fixed volatility limits; and (d) blending butane from the butane supply with gasoline from the gasoline supply at or below the ratio calculated in step (c).
US08518121B2
A prosthetic joint assembly supports articulation of a joint. The joint assembly includes a first component configured to be fixed to an anatomical feature. The first component includes a first impact surface and a second component that engages the first component. The second component includes a second impact surface that impacts the first impact surface as the first component moves relative to the second component. Furthermore, at least one of the first impact surface and the second impact surface includes a dampening member that dampens energy resulting from impact of the first and second impact surfaces.
US08518120B2
The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
US08518108B2
Prosthetic heart valve suture rings having a suturable annulus of a compliant internal member and a cloth covering. Three evenly spaced upwardly opening depressions formed on an internal circumference of the suturable annulus receive downwardly-directed cusps of a stent structure of the heart valve. The suture ring may include a silicone sponge waffle annulus having a walled lip on an inner circumference thereof. The lip is contoured to include the three depressions, and a ring washer mounts on the annulus surrounding the walled lip for added stiffness.
US08518106B2
Valve delivery catheter assemblies including components that limit trauma to the expanded prosthetic valve and body channels as the distal tip of the catheter is withdrawn through the expanded valve and thereafter from the body. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly according to the present invention includes a handle assembly, an introducer sheath, and a distal tip assembly. The handle assembly can include a fixed main handle and two or more rotating handles that allow a user to control the distal tip assembly of the catheter. A valve retaining mechanism can be included to assist in retaining the prosthetic valve prior to deployment. Each control knob on the handle assembly controls a portion of the components on the distal tip of the catheter by allowing for precise manipulation of various delivery shafts. Each delivery shaft extends from the handle assembly to respective positions towards the distal end of the catheter.
US08518105B2
A method and apparatus to treat regions of a vessel is described. A protein elastin-based polymer is released from the apparatus to coat the vessel lining as a primary therapy or an adjunct therapy with the delivery and deployment of a stent with or without drug coating. The protein elastin-based polymer may include a triblock structure having an elastin pentapeptide as the flanking block and a hydrophilic variant of the pentapeptide as the middle block. Both the flanking and middle blocks can be modified to change the structural and chemical properties of the polymer. In particular, the protein elastin based polymer is adapted to perform at least one of controlling release of a treatment agent, stimulating endothelial cell growth and stabilizing the vulnerable plaque to prevent rupture of the vulnerable plaque.
US08518103B2
A catheter assembly includes an elongate main catheter branch and an elongate side catheter branch. The main catheter branch includes an arc shape and an inflatable balloon extending along a portion of the arc. The side catheter branch extends along the main catheter branch within a plane of the curvature of the arc of the main catheter branch. A stent can be positioned along the inflatable balloon. The stent includes a lateral branch opening through which the side catheter branch extends.
US08518092B2
The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for anchoring medical devices to hard tissues, such as bones or bony structures, particularly vertebrae. By anchoring these medical devices directly to the surrounding hard tissue, the devices are anchored closer to the source of treatment. This provides additional stability and reduces migration of the device at the treatment site. Also, by attaching to hard tissue rather than soft tissue, a stronger attachment is often able to be made.
US08518089B2
An engagement mechanism for a sternal clamp, the mechanism allowing for an open status where the clamp may be lengthened or shortened, a closing status where the clamp may only be shortened, and a locked status where the clamp cannot be lengthened or shortened, and wherein the device can be disposed in the locked status in differing overall lengths. The sternal clamp having a pair of rib plate members for affixation to the ribs.
US08518083B2
A conical interspinous apparatus includes a distractor comprising an insertion portion and a central engagement groove, the insertion portion having a conical shape which tapers to a tip and is adapted to enable passage of the distractor between two spinous processes of vertebrae, and the central engagement groove is adapted to secure the distractor between the two spinous processes such that the two spinous processes rest in the central engagement groove. The conical interspinous apparatus includes a stabilizer which is adapted to be deployed from within the distractor to secure the two spinous processes within the central engagement groove and an insertion driver detachably coupled to a rear portion of the distractor. A guide wire, having a pointed tip, aids in the insertion of the distractor between the two spinous processes and is configured to guide the insertion of the distractor.
US08518078B2
A surgical suture material and a method to the use thereof are represented by different needles and surgical threads. The main embodiments comprises a needle (6), consisting of two needles (7, 8) jointed by a temporary connection having a tetrahedral, diamond or another shape in such a way that a single needle point (9) is formed, and a surgical thread (10) provided with shaped design projections embodied on the thread surface in the form of notches. The method consists in introducing, during a surgical intervention, the twin needle in one puncture at a small depth, wherein the needle is divided into two needles, and in leading each needle along a required contour. The surgical suture material can be extensively used for surgical and cosmetic interventions.
US08518076B2
An adhesive applicator for applying medical adhesives, particularly cyanoacrylates, to incisions such as those made during minimally invasive surgery. The applicator employs a pipette tip or similar narrow flow restrictor tip to close the incision and a body of foam to seal the incision. Methods of using the applicator are also disclosed.
US08518074B2
A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw in opposed correspondence with the first jaw. A first driver is configured to cause relative movement of the first jaw and the second jaw in a plane. The first driver is configured to engage a drive shaft rotatable about a rotation axis arranged in non-parallel, e.g., perpendicular, correspondence to the plane. The device may also include a surgical member, e.g., a cutting and stapling element, disposed within the first jaw. A second driver is configured to cause relative movement of the surgical member in a direction parallel to the plane. The second driver is configured to engage a drive shaft rotatable about a rotation axis arranged in non-parallel correspondence to the plane.
US08518071B2
The invention concerns a driving device for a device for the local puncturing of a skin, particularly for the application of permanent make-up or a tattoo, as well as a method for operating the driving device. The driving device comprises a drive mechanism for producing a repetitive thrust movement at a frequency, which is usable for the retraction/extension of a puncturing mechanism, a detection apparatus with which a parameter is detectable, which indicates a resistance force acting against the repetitive thrust movement, a setting apparatus with which, for the case that a changed resistance force is detected with the detection apparatus, can be pre-set by a user into an operating mode of increased frequency in which the frequency is increased after detection of the changed resistance force, or an operating mode of reduced frequency in which the frequency is reduced after detection of the changed resistance force, and a control apparatus coupled to the detection apparatus and the setting apparatus, the control apparatus automatically causes the frequency change of the increased frequency mode and the reduced frequency mode.
US08518059B2
A surgical incision suturing device particularly suited for minimally invasive surgical procedures comprising a suturing mechanism built into a trocar stem that enables a surgeon to stitch a patient by utilizing controls on the exposed top portion of the trocar.
US08518058B2
Sutures can be placed in difficult to access areas of the human body with devices, and related methods, utilizing a needle carrier. The devices and methods can be used in conjunction with both endosurgical and traditional open surgery procedures.
US08518051B2
A system and method for knee arthroplasty procedures, using a novel leg rotation fixture to enable the leg mechanical axis, the tibia and the femur to be mutually disposed such that the load bearing, mechanical axis of the leg runs through the center of the knee joint. A measurement gauge is provided for mounting on the tibia and for aligning a baseplate in a known position on the tibia. This baseplate supports an X-ray target plate in a known position relative to the tibia, used in determining the mechanical axis, and an optional surgical robot, used to perform tibial and femoral cuts. The position of the femur relative to the robot may be determined from X-ray imaging of the pelvic region after attachment to the baseplate of an additional target extending to the pelvic region. The system enables improvement in the accuracy of knee arthroplasty procedures.
US08518040B2
An intramedullary nail includes (a) a longitudinal nail body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having a central longitudinal axis and a diameter D, the nail body being configured for insertion into a medullary cavity of a bone, the nail body having a proximal portion and a distal portion longitudinally separated from one another; (b) a first transverse hole extending through the distal portion of the nail body at an angle transverse to the central longitudinal axis and defining a first transverse hole axis, the first transverse hole axis being offset from the central longitudinal axis of the nail body; and (c) a second transverse hole extending through the distal portion of the nail body at an angle transverse to the central longitudinal axis and defining a second transverse hole axis. The first transverse hole axis intersects the second transverse hole axis.
US08518027B2
A phototherapy device includes a light source; a light emanation block; and a heat exchanger for the dissipation of heat from one or more heat loads associated with the device. Heat may be transferred via the heat exchanger from the light source independently of the dissipation of heat from one or more of the other device heat loads. Substantially thermally isolated heat transfer regions may be provided, and such regions may be maintained at different operating temperatures, to control the transfer of heat in conjunction with a phototherapy method and to promote efficient and enhanced device operation and performance.
US08518026B2
A system and method for inserting an intraocular lens in a patient's eye includes a light source for generating a light beam, a scanner for deflecting the light beam to form an enclosed treatment pattern that includes a registration feature, and a delivery system for delivering the enclosed treatment pattern to target tissue in the patient's eye to form an enclosed incision therein having the registration feature. An intraocular lens is placed within the enclosed incision, wherein the intraocular lens has a registration feature that engages with the registration feature of the enclosed incision. Alternately, the scanner can make a separate registration incision for a post that is connected to the intraocular lens via a strut member.
US08518019B2
A valve assembly is provided which includes a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end and defining a fluid channel and a central chamber. A dissolvable valve member is positioned to obstruct flow through the channel within the chamber. The dissolvable valve member is formed of a material which is dissolvable at a predetermined rate upon contact with a preselected fluid. The preselected fluid is selected from the group consisting of blood, urine, saline and antimicrobial solutions. The dissolvable valve member can be formed from a fluid soluble glass or a starch based material.
US08518012B2
The device for rectal lavage includes a generally rigid tubular body (10) having a relatively flexible tapered front end nozzle portion (12) for insertion into the anus (50) of a patient. A port (14) is provided for the insertion of an irrigation hose (16) into the device, which passes through a nozzle opening (18). At least one drain hole (20) is positioned in said nozzle (12), spaced from said opening (18), for the passage of irrigated fecal matter from the rectum (52) into the hollow interior (24) of said tubular body (10). A discharge outlet (22) member from the hollow interior (24) of said tubular body (10) for the discharge of irrigated fecal matter from the device. In the method, the device is inserted into the anus (50) of the patient, the irrigation hose (16) is fed through the device into the rectum (52) of the patient, irrigation fluid is passed through the irrigation hose (16) and irrigated fecal matter is allowed to pass through said drain holes (20) into the hollow interior (24) of said tubular body (10) and is discharged therefrom through said discharge outlet (22).
US08518002B2
A removable manifold for a medical/surgical waste collection system. The manifold is dimensioned to be mounted to a receiver integral with the system. The manifold includes a includes at least one fitting through which waste is drawn into the manifold. The fitting opens through an inlet port into a void space internal to the manifold. A backflow prevention valve is disposed in the manifold void space. The backflow prevention valve includes a static hub to which a driver for engaging a complementary valve internal to the receiver. The valve regulates flow between the receiver and the down line components of the waste collection system. The valve is normally closed. When the manifold is fitted to the receiver the driver engages the valve so as move the valve to the open position. This allows fluid flow from the manifold and receiver to the downstream components of the system.
US08517992B2
A drive mechanism for an injection device in which a piston is successively moved in a first axial direction in relation to a medicament cartridge containing a medicament selectively to drive a bung closing a first end of the medicament cartridge into the medicament cartridge to expel medicament through a delivery member located at a second end of the medicament cartridge, the drive mechanism comprising: a base member, a first drive member fixed relative to the base member, a second drive member axially and rotatably moveable relative to the first drive member and a piston member axially moveable relative to the first and second drive member, wherein the second drive member is drivingly connected between the first drive member and the piston member such that rotation of the second drive member in a first direction of rotation relative to the first drive member and the piston member causes the second drive member to move in the first axial direction relative to the first drive member and the piston member to move in the first axial direction relative to both the first and second drive member, and an injection device comprising such a drive mechanism.
US08517991B2
The invention relates to a mechanical drive system for a medical infusion device. The disclosed drive system employs a flexible tape with recesses or holes that are configured to mate with tabs or protrusions on a gear to advance the rotation of the gear at a rate determined by the pattern of recesses or holes on the flexible tape.
US08517983B2
A dual chamber combined container-syringe includes: an outer casing having a bypass portion; a hub lure lock; a front stopper; a middle stopper that seals a pharmaceutical preparation together with the front stopper; an end stopper that seals a liquid medicine together with the middle stopper; a finger grip; and a plunger rod that is connected to the end stopper from the rear end side, wherein a female screw portion twisted around an axis is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the finger grip, and a first male screw portion, a tip of which comes into contact with a rear end of the female screw portion and can be screwed into the female portion, and a first guide plate are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the plunger rod when a part of the middle stopper enters the bypass portion.
US08517979B2
Apparatuses and methods for administering a hemostatic agent to the tissue surrounding an opening in a body lumen are disclosed. The apparatus can include a tissue-contacting region and an optional body lumen-penetrating region. At least one hemostatic agent is included as a component of a coating over and/or a mixture with the material of at least a portion of the tissue-contacting region.
US08517978B2
The invention provides a catheter for placement within a vessel of a patient. The catheter comprises an elongated catheter body, a septum extending longitudinally through the interior of the catheter body from the dividing the interior of the catheter body into a first lumen and a second lumen. Each lumen has curved or angled internal walls at the distal end of the catheter that terminate at ports located on opposing sides of the catheter body. The invention also provides a method for exchanging fluids in a patient comprising the step of positioning the catheter of the present invention in communication with a fluid-containing vessel of a patient. The method is particularly well-suited for hemodialysis, plasmapheresis, and other therapies which require removal and return of blood from a patient.
US08517971B2
A cannula for placement within a salivary gland duct having a first end adjacent an oral cavity and a second end adjacent a salivary gland is provided. The cannula includes an elongate body having a lumen and a first and a second plate offset from a proximal end of the elongate body. The first plate is located on one side of the elongate body and the second plate is correspondingly located on the other side of the elongate body and adjacent the first plate. The first plate has a first hole that is operable to suture the first plate to a location adjacent the first end of the salivary duct adjacent the oral cavity, whereby upon placement of the cannula within the salivary gland duct, saliva flows through the elongate body's lumen from the salivary gland to the oral cavity.
US08517966B2
A screw nail correcting apparatus used for treating ingrown nails seen in human feet and/or hands adapts to different nail widths and to the changes that may occur in time on the same nail and practically enables pulling of the nail with an amount of force complying with the requirement. The fact that the apparatus is not a single piece and that it can be mounted separately from both sides of the nail provides ease of use, and the screw mobile part in the middle thereof helps to adjust the tautness according to the requirement of the nail at the concerned moment.
US08517962B2
A system for treatment includes a focused ultrasound energy source for placement outside a patient, wherein the focused ultrasound energy source is configured to deliver ultrasound energy towards a blood vessel with a surrounding nerve that is a part of an autonomic nervous system inside the patient, and wherein the focused ultrasound energy source is configured to deliver the ultrasound energy from outside the patient to the nerve located inside the patient to treat the nerve.
US08517954B2
A neural monitoring system for detecting an induced response of a muscle to a stimulus provided within an intracorporeal treatment area of a human subject includes a mechanical sensor configured to be placed in mechanical communication with the muscle and to generate a mechanomyography output signal corresponding to a sensed mechanical movement of the muscle, and a receiver in communication with the mechanical sensor. The receiver is configured to: receive the mechanomyography output signal from the mechanical sensor; compute a time derivative of an acceleration of the muscle from the mechanomyography output signal; compare the computed time derivative of acceleration to a jerk threshold; and indicate that the sensed mechanical movement of the muscle was induced by the provided intracorporeal stimulus if the computed time derivative of acceleration exceeds the jerk threshold.
US08517952B2
It is an object to provide a blood pressure monitor, wherein the noise caused by the friction of overlapping parts of a cuff can be inhibited during automatic elevation in the cuff pressure, and reliability in the automatic elevation of cuff pressure can be significantly enhanced.A cuff (1) is used in a blood pressure monitor to measure a blood pressure in a rolled condition where one end of the cuff (1) is wound within the other end thereof, wherein a cushion member (6) made of a raised fabric (61) is provided in at least one of surfaces at one end and the other end of the cuff (1) which rub against each other.
US08517948B2
An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 causes discharge means 4 to apply a discharge pulse (having a peak value equal to or greater than a collapse voltage) between electrodes of an ultrasound transducer 20 a plurality of time while inverting the polarity of the discharge pulse each time, to thereby accelerate discharge of the charge accumulated in the diaphragm of the ultrasound transducer 20, so that a transmission-reception sensitivity offset can be caused to quickly approach zero. The charge is discharged instantaneously. That is, it is possible to quickly calibrate a transmission-reception sensitivity drift stemming from time-course accumulation of charge flowing into the diaphragm between the electrodes upon application of a DC bias thereto.
US08517944B2
An ultrasonic scanning apparatus that includes a unique ultrasonic array to transmit ultrasonic energy to a biological structure, such as an eye. The ultrasonic array provides specific three-dimensional (3-D) information relating to the eye and precise volumetric information relating to structures associated therewith, such as a tumor, prior, during and/or after treatment. The ultrasonic array can also be combined with a therapeutic ultrasonic unit for real-time 3-D observation of a structure and the focal point of the transmitted therapeutic beam(s) on a monitor during the treatment of a structure, e.g., treatment of a lesion.
US08517943B2
An imaging and treatment head for imaging and treating an organ or tissue of a living being, and usable in particular for treating tumors of the prostate or the thyroid. The head includes an ultrasonic probe suitable for emitting waves or radiation so as to provide an imaged representation of an organ or tissue for treatment. The head also includes a treatment mechanism suitable for treating the organ or tissue locally. The treatment mechanism is suitable for emitting waves or radiation so as to treat the organ or the tissue. The head is characterized in that the ultrasonic probe is mounted in a removable manner on an adapter that ensures positioning of the ultrasonic probe relative to the treatment mechanism.
US08517942B2
Provided is a non-invasive method of determining glycogen stores including: receiving an ultrasound scan of at least a portion of a target muscle; and evaluating at least a portion of the ultrasound scan to determine glycogen store within the target muscle.
US08517935B2
A surgical retractor includes a plurality of blade assemblies interconnected by a plurality of racks. One or more of the blade assemblies is movable along a rack to selectively expand the retractor. At least one of the blade assemblies includes a blade that is rotatably connected to the blade assembly and that is rotatable independent of other blades of the retractor.
US08517927B2
A medical instrument includes: an image pickup unit incorporated in a medical instrument body for picking up an image of the subject to be examined from an observation window; an airflow generating unit provided rotatably with respect to the medical instrument body so as to cover the image pickup unit by a covering unit having an opening formed therein, the airflow generating unit being configured to generate an airflow for preventing adherents from sticking to the observation window, by rotation of the covering unit; a fixing unit for indwelling and fixing the medical instrument body inside the subject to be examined; and a drive unit incorporated in the medical instrument body, for driving the airflow generation unit.
US08517925B2
In a medical control system, when motors are in a stopped state according to the determination based on an amount of change in an instruction value, the disturbance characteristics is set at high sensitivity in order to keep the detection capability of a disturbance observer section in an enhanced state during a period to the drive start time of the motors, and when the motors are brought into an operating state, a gain of a controller is returned to a normal setting value to maintain the excellent follow-up characteristics.
US08517920B2
An imaging-device driving unit comprising a detector and an exposure controller is provided. The imaging-device driving unit controls a CMOS imaging device amounted in an endoscope. The detector detects the pattern of emitted illumination light. The illumination light is emitted by a light source. The illumination light is shone on a subject. The CMOS imaging device is ordered to capture an optical image of the subject. The exposure controller orders the CMOS imaging device to perform the global exposure and the line exposure when the patterns of emitted illumination light detected by the detector are the first and second patterns, respectively.
US08517918B2
An optical access apparatus for receiving an endoscope to permit visualization during passage through tissue includes an access member dimensioned for insertion through body tissue. The access member defines a longitudinal axis and has a longitudinal opening for receiving an endoscope. The access member has a closed penetrating end adapted to pass through tissue. The closed penetrating end is transparent to permit visualization of tissue with the endoscope. The optical access apparatus further includes a locking collet coaxially mounted relative to the longitudinal axis of the access member and a manual member mounted adjacent the locking collet and operatively engageable therewith. The locking collet has internal surfaces defining an internal passage to permit passage of the surgical instrument. The manual member is adapted for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis to reduce an internal dimension of the internal passage of the locking collet to cause the internal surfaces of the locking collet to securely engage the surgical instrument.
US08517917B2
A capsule medical apparatus includes a needle driving unit that punctures an internal region of a subject with an injection needle and pulls out the injection needle from the internal region, a liquid injection unit that injects a liquid into the internal region through the injection needle, and a leak prevention unit that prevents the liquid that is injected into the internal region from leaking from the internal region.
US08517908B2
The invention is directed to a novel method for reducing discomfort caused by transcutaneous stimulation. The novel method includes providing transcutaneous stimulation, reducing the transcutaneous stimulation at a first location, and substantially maintaining the transcutaneous stimulation at a second location. The transcutaneous stimulation may be created by electric and/or magnetic fields. The first location may be relatively proximate to the cutaneous surface and may comprise tissue, nerves and muscle. Also, the second location may be relatively deeper than the first location and include, for example, brain tissue that requires the transcutaneous stimulation for treatment purposes. The invention further may include locating a conductor on a treatment area and/or a transcutaneous stimulation device relative to the first location. In addition, the method may further include adjusting how much the transcutaneous stimulation is reduced at the first location.
US08517905B2
A device and a method for accurate dispensing of a radioactive liquid are disclosed. A source of a radioactive liquid and a source of a flushing liquid are selectively connected to a fluid delivery path by way of valve means. An activity metering unit is operable to determine a level of radioactivity in a metering section of the fluid delivery path downstream from the valve means. The device is operated by transporting a first amount of radioactive liquid to the metering section, using the activity metering unit to measure a reference level of radioactivity, calculating a second amount of the radioactive liquid still to be delivered such that the first and second amounts of radioactive liquid together have some predetermined level of radioactivity, and delivering the first and second amounts of radioactive liquid to the destination.
US08517901B2
Provided is a horizontal machine tool with a base frame including a base part and a saddle supporting part vertically standing on the base part; an X-axis saddle mounted on the back face of the saddle supporting part and capable of sliding in the left-right direction via an X-axis translation mechanism; a Y-axis saddle mounted on the X-axis saddle and capable of sliding in the up-down direction via a Y-axis translation mechanism; and a spindle device mounted on the Y-axis saddle and capable of sliding in the front-rear direction via a Z-axis translation mechanism. The horizontal machine tool is adapted such that a workpiece supporting member is installed on the base part in front of the saddle supporting part. This configuration can reduce the size and weight of the entire construction.
US08517884B2
A differential assembly, bevel gears for the assembly, and a method of making the bevel gears are disclosed. The bevel gears have a form which provides for high power density transfer.
US08517881B2
A micro-traction drive includes an inner ring formed rotatably supported about an axis; an outer ring having a larger diameter than the inner ring; rolling elements rolling while being in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the inner ring and an inner circumferential surface of the outer ring; a retaining portion that keeps the rolling elements apart from one another; a pressing portion that applies a preload between the inner ring and the rolling elements and between the outer ring and the rolling elements; and an input shaft that is formed to have a smaller diameter than the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring, is disposed adjacent to the inner ring, and transmits a rotational driving force to the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring. One of the outer ring and the retaining portion is connected to the output shaft, and the other thereof is fixed.
US08517878B2
A planetary gear mechanism of the invention includes a housing, an input shaft that has an eccentric portion whose center lies on an eccentric axis, and is rotatable about the axis of input and output shafts relative to the housing, an oscillating face plate that eccentrically oscillates relative to the input shaft via the eccentric portion, and rotates about the eccentric axis, and an output shaft that is provided with a second internally toothed gear that internally contacts and meshes with a second externally toothed gear formed on the oscillating face plate, and is rotatable about the axis of the input and output shafts relative to the housing. The housing is formed with a first internally toothed gear that internally contacts and meshes with a first externally toothed gear formed on the oscillating face plate. As the input shaft rotates, a circumferential position at which each externally toothed gear meshes with the corresponding internally toothed gear changes, and rotation of the input shaft is transmitted at a reduced speed to the oscillating face plate, of which rotation is delivered at a further reduced speed to the output shaft.
US08517875B2
A transmission for transferring torque from a prime mover includes a first input shaft adapted to be driven by the prime mover, a second input shaft and an output shaft. A compound planetary gearset includes a sun gear driven by the first input shaft, first pinion gears being driven by the sun gear, a ring gear fixed for rotation with the second input shaft and being meshed with second pinion gears, and a carrier driving the output shaft. A reaction motor drives the second input shaft. A controller controls the reaction motor to vary the speed of the second input shaft and define a gear ratio between the first input shaft and the output shaft based on the second input shaft speed.
US08517869B2
A bladder for an inflatable ball, in particular a soccer ball, has electrical wiring wherein the wiring is at least partially arranged along a bladder wall to interconnect two electrical or electronic devices.
US08517865B2
The present invention relates to a softball/baseball pitcher's pitching practice device, and to a method for using the device. It is a simple and inexpensive pitching practice device useful for indicating the boundaries of a typical strike zone to softball and baseball pitchers. More particularly, this invention relates to a pitching practice device having a strike zone indicator that can be conveniently adjusted to simulate the strike zones of batters of various heights.
US08517859B2
A golf club with a multi-material face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention has a striking face that forms a pocket, wherein the pocket is filled with a secondary material having a lower density to improve the performance of the golf club head. The multi-material face disclosed in accordance with the present invention may generally have a characteristic time slope of greater than about 5 and less than about 50, wherein the characteristic time slope is determined based on the various data points collected according to the United States Golf Association's (USGA's) Characteristic Time (CT) test.
US08517844B2
A torque transmitting device comprises a vibration damping unit for damping torsional vibrations, said unit having at least two transmission parts, wherein one of the transmission parts is assigned to one of the shaft sections and the other transmission part is assigned to the articulated arrangement, and wherein the transmission parts each have segment formations with radial or axial segment sections, which interact in a torque-transmitting manner with one another in a transmission area, wherein at least one damper arrangement is provided between neighboring segment sections in the transmission area.
US08517843B2
A torque limiting device includes: a clutch disc clamp plate 17 having a surface area 13 where the surface and the outer area surface of the flywheel press or come in contact with each other, and is provided with an opening 16 at the center middle part of the clutch disc clamp plate 17 so that a concave space 14 is formed between the clutch disc clamp plate 17 and the fly wheel 2 when the clutch disc clamp plate 17 is fastened to the fly wheel 2; a clutch disc 18 fitted in the concave space, and connected to the driven apparatus; a clutch pressing plate 22 fitted between the clutch disc 18 and the fly wheel 2; and, at least one pressing means fitted to and in the flywheel 2 and presses the clutch pressing plate 22 in a surface contact condition.
US08517832B2
A computerized wagering game system a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and an audio module operable to exchange digital audio data with an audio device over a digital audio format link. The digital audio format link in various embodiments comprises a SPDIF link, an AES/EBU link, an HDMI link, or an I2S link.
US08517827B2
A gaming system displays a plurality of emblems in a predefined field. For a play of an accumulator positioning game, the gaming system enables a player to position at least one accumulator in the field based on a set of accumulator positioning criteria. The accumulator positioning criteria define allowable accumulator positions and also define whether a positioned accumulator causes the gaming system to indicate any of the emblems as winning emblems. The gaming system may indicate such winning emblems based on a spatial relationship between that emblem and any accumulator, such as a relationship wherein an accumulator encircles an emblem. The gaming system indicates any such winning emblems and provides an award for the play of the game based on any indicated winning emblems.
US08517826B1
Methods and apparatus are described relating to enabling customized gaming to game players. In one embodiment, a method is described, comprising providing a selection of two or more rake options to a first game player via a first gaming terminal, receiving an indication of a selected rake option from the two or more rake options for use during the course of game play by the first game player, and deducting a fee from an account balance associated with the first game player in accordance with the rake option selected by the first game player.
US08517823B2
A payout administration method including automatically retrieving a plurality of electronic forms by a computer in communication with a gaming apparatus adapted to receive a wager from a player and to provide a payout based on the wager and a game outcome, at least one of the plurality of electronic forms selected according to a location of the gaming apparatus, retrieving stored data about the gaming apparatus and the player, and combining the plurality of electronic forms and the stored data to generate a plurality of completed electronic forms. The method also includes receiving an electronic player certification, and combining the electronic player certification and at least one of the plurality of completed electronic forms generated from stored data about the player to generate a certified completed player electronic form. A payout administration system operates according to the method.
US08517821B2
A multiple bonus modifier game includes a base game and two or more base award modifiers. The multiple bonus modifier game comprises a single spin game that includes a plurality of spinning reels in a base game, a first base award modifier that includes at least one spinning reel, and a second base award modifier that includes at least one additional spinning reel. The outcome of the spinning reels in the base game defines a base game award. The outcome of the spinning reel in the first base award modifier defines a first modifier award, which potentially adjusts the base game award. The outcome of the additional spinning reel in the second base award modifier defines a second modifier award, which potentially adjusts the base game award.
US08517807B2
A game carcass retrieval system has a frame and a removable retrieving head. The head may be coupled to a game carcass and then retracted by a winch coupled to the frame. The winch may pull the carcass into an upright position for easy loading into a vehicle or easy processing of the game carcass. A processing table may be coupled to the game carcass retrieval system. The table may include a grapple that helps pull meat away from the carcass and a skinning arm to further separate the meat from the carcass.
US08517799B2
An apparatus includes a surface preparation device for moving a backing pad in a random orbital motion, a first ball joint connected to the device, a second ball joint connected to the first ball joint; and a robotic end effector, connected to the second ball joint, for pressing the device against a surface.
US08517794B2
Stretch mark prevention undergarments (1) worn around a woman's abdomen, chest, lower torso, legs, buttocks and other areas for reinforcing elastic fibers in the skin and preventing stretch marks. The stretch mark prevention undergarment has an outer layer (2) made of stretchable material and an inner layer (8) of webbed material made of a non-slip material (9). The non-slip material maintains a constant adherent traction with the skin of a wearer, thereby reinforcing elastic fibers of skin. The inner layer is arranged in a webbed “fishnet” or other design to allow a wearer's skin to breath through the outer layer of the stretch mark prevention undergarment. The stretch mark prevention undergarment may be in the form of underwear (14), briefs, underpants, panties, leggings (16), corsets, bras (10) or any combination thereof to help prevent stretch marks on various parts of the body.
US08517788B2
A method for operating a driven output device provided in an articulated head, mobile prop, or other object worn by a performer. The method includes providing a wearable control system, the control system including a driver for the output device, a control module, a wireless receiver, and memory. The method includes storing a set of show control commands for the output device in the memory, and receiving a show control signal with the wireless receiver from a wayside controller. The method includes operating the control module to process the show control signal, to retrieve the show control commands, and to signal the driver to drive the output device based on the commands. The commands are selected based on a character identifier stored in memory associated with the output device such as in a character head junction box, and this memory stores tuning or configuration data for the output device.
US08517784B1
A system for lifting thrusters of vessels enabling for maintenance to be safely provided on the thrusters, wherein the system can include a lifting means with a line and a connector to engage thrusters or portions of thrusters. A transport device can be connected to the lifting means for transporting the thrusters or the portions of the thrusters. Clamps can secure thruster mounting flanges to thruster well bottom flanges. A conduit with a controller and a pump can allow water to flow into and out of the thruster wells. Seals adjacent the thruster mounting flanges can provide a connection between the flanges. A plurality of alignment guide plates can be disposed concentrically around the thrusters in the thruster wells and for a rough alignment of the thrusters to the thruster mounting flanges. Fasteners can secure the thruster mounting flanges to the thruster well bottom flanges.
US08517783B2
A propeller having a hub with a shaft hole at the center thereof, and a number of blades provided radially around the hub; a shaft connected at one end to a motor driving the marine vehicle, the shaft being adapted to the shaft hole, and having a threaded portion arranged at least partially in the longitudinal direction thereof; at least one bearing provided on the shaft for bearing the propeller to the shaft, the at least one bearing being rotatable in a single direction; a connection hub associated with the hub of the propeller, the connection hub comprising a threaded portion being screwable to the threaded portion of the shaft in the direction opposite to the rotatable direction of the at least one bearing, and being non-screwable to the threaded portion of the shaft in the rotatable direction of the at least one bearing.
US08517777B2
The invention relates to an electrically conductive contact member for an electrical connector, comprising a terminal portion adapted to be mechanically and electrically connected to at least one conductor, a contact portion adapted to contact a mating contact portion of a mating connector, a spring portion that electrically connects the terminal portion to the contact portion, the contact portion being supported by the spring portion elastically displaceable from a resting position to a displacement position, and a holding portion that comprises a picking platform for attachment of a pick-up head, wherein the holding portion provides a stop against which, in the resting position, the spring portion is pressed. To improve the mechanical and electrical performance, the spring portion is spaced apart from the picking platform in the displacement position.
US08517775B1
An electrical connector includes an insulating housing which defines an inserting mouth penetrating through a front side thereof and terminal grooves communicating with the inserting mouth and each extending longitudinally to penetrate rearward through the insulating housing. A plurality of electrical terminals is assembled in the terminal grooves and each has a contact arm elastically stretching into the inserting mouth and defining a contact end. The insulating housing further defines a plurality of through holes penetrating vertically therethrough to connect with the inserting mouth and arranged in accordance with the contact ends of the electrical terminals. The through holes are used to provide action space for meeting movements of the contact ends and receiving the contact ends therein, when a mating part is inserted into the inserting mouth and pressure contacts with the contact ends.
US08517771B2
Systems and methods electrically connect a first electronic device or electrical component, having a external electrical connector, to a circuit board of a second electronic device. A low-cost, user-installable connection system isolates mechanical stresses imposed on the external electrical connector to within the user-installable connection system, thereby preventing the mechanical stresses from reaching the circuit board in the second electronic device. If the connection becomes faulty, only the low-cost, user-installable connection system must be replaced.
US08517760B2
A temporary mobility kit to minimize or prevent the inadvertent outflow of tire sealant is provided. The temporary mobility kit includes a switch-inflator assembly and a removable sealant assembly. The switch-inflator assembly includes a pump motor and an electrical plug assembly having a cord portion and a plug. The plug is adapted for use in the vehicle's power unit. The housing includes a peripheral channel about which the cord portion of the electrical plug assembly is wrapped when the electrical plug assembly is not in use. A plug-receiving aperture is provided to receive and retain the plug when not in use.
US08517755B2
A power plug locking device prevents unauthorized removal of a power plug from an inlet. An operation button is arranged on a case of the power plug locking device to switch the power plug locking device to a lock state. The operation button is coupled by a link to a lock bar of a lock mechanism. When the operation button is pushed, the pushing force is transmitted by the link to the lock bar. This pivots the lock bar in a lock direction. When the lock bar is located at a lock position, a pin of a plug lock is hooked to the lock bar to maintain the lock bar in a lock state.
US08517754B2
A cable attachment has a body and a plunger. During installation, a filling material binds the cable to the attachment.
US08517751B1
A dual orientation connector having a connector tab with first and second major opposing sides and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector tab. The plurality of contacts includes a first set of external contacts formed at the first major side and a second set of external contacts formed at the second major side. The first plurality of contacts are symmetrically spaced with the second plurality of contacts and the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that it can be inserted and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations.
US08517746B2
A card edge connector comprises an body, a plurality of terminals received into the body, and at least one card-ejecting member installed on the body. The body comprises a base portion having an insertion slot and an installation portion disposed on at least one end of the base portion. The card-ejecting member comprises a pivotable main body disposed on the installation portion, an ejecting portion disposed on the lower end of the main body and opposing the bottom of the insertion slot, and a metal reinforcing member; the metal reinforcing member is disposed on the ejecting portion of the card-ejecting member.
US08517742B1
A system and method for testing labor resources is disclosed. The method includes defining core skill set requirements for a project and/or job and defining each according to expertise and experience requirements is disclosed. The defined skill set requirements and their corresponding expertise levels are provided into a tool via a web interface where they are used to compile an examination from questions selected from a database. The invention further administers the compiled examination to one or more candidates, scores the examination, transmits results and analysis to a hiring manager and accepts subjective input from the hiring manger following a personal interview. Subjective input is used to adjust future weighting values of the examination questions.
US08517734B1
A removable tooth cap defines a cavity for receiving a real tooth as well as material for removably attaching the tooth cap to the real tooth. The tooth cap has a front side and a back side which form a tip at the distal or free end of the tooth cap. The back side has a length which is less than ⅔ of the overall length of said tooth cap. The back side further defines a hole for receiving the material so that said material anchors or locks to the tooth cap when the material hardens.
US08517729B2
The present invention relates generally to an oral device, or mouthpiece, for delivering a fluid to the mouth or oropharynx of a user. In one embodiment, the oral device includes an intraoral portion, an extraoral portion, and an auxiliary support device that serves to stabilize the oral device. In various embodiments, the auxiliary support device may be configured with ear loops, a support band, a support frame and/or a support member. The intraoral portion generally includes at least one outlet port through which the fluid is delivered to the oral cavity or oropharynx. A method of dispensing a fluid using the oral device is also provided.
US08517728B2
An oral care implement has a head portion with tooth cleaning elements on one surface thereof and a reservoir containing at least one active agent. A capillary channel extends through at least a portion of the oral care implement to deliver active agent(s) to one or more outlets. In one aspect, a vibration-producing device is provided to vibrate at least a portion of the implement to enhance the function of tooth cleaning elements and the delivery of the active agent through capillary action. A variety of active agents can be administered for therapeutic, hygienic, and/or other benefits, such as fresh breath, tooth whitening, or producing sensations of heat, cool, or tingling.
US08517727B2
A system automatically adjusts an orthodontic bracket to a desired occlusal height on a tooth within a 3D environment. The system allows a practitioner to specify a desired occlusal height at which to place the bracket on the tooth. The practitioner may choose the desired occlusal height from a standardized set of occlusal heights or may create a customized occlusal height to meet a patient's particular needs. Based on the desired occlusal height, the system automatically adjusts the placement of the orthodontic bracket to the desired occlusal height on the tooth within the 3D environment. The system then generates a visual representation the resulting bracket placement within the 3D environment.
US08517725B2
A ceramic burner for use in a combustion chamber of a regenerative heat generator, such as a hot blast stove of a blast furnace, the ceramic burner including a burner feed chamber with a partition wall for dividing the burner feed chamber into a fuel chamber and an air chamber, where the fuel chamber has a fuel inlet for receiving combustible fuel and a fuel outlet for feeding the combustible fuel to a mixing zone (34), the air chamber having an air inlet for receiving combustion air and an air outlet for feeding the combustion air to the mixing zone, where the ceramic burner further includes a gastight metallic fuel container arranged in the burner feed chamber, the fuel container including the fuel chamber therein, a wall portion of the fuel container forming the partition wall between the fuel chamber and the air chamber.
US08517710B2
A machine for the manufacture of containers made of thermoplastic, includes at least one molding unit selectively associated with a control module (70) able, in the use state, selectively using a first actuating device (76) to control the locking device and using a second actuating device (78) to control the opening/closing device with which the molding unit is respectively equipped.
US08517694B2
The present invention generally relates to the field of air compressors and particularly to a shroud assembly for use with air compressors. An aspect of the present invention is directed to a shroud assembly having an outfit shroud, including a top outfit shroud coupled with a bottom outfit shroud; and, a pump shroud including a top pump shroud coupled with a bottom pump shroud; wherein the pump shroud at least partially encompasses a pump assembly of an air compressor and the outfit shroud at least partially encompasses the pump assembly, the pump shroud, a manifold assembly and a pressure switch assembly of an air compressor, the shroud assembly further configured for mounting to an air tank of an air compressor, the shroud assembly allowing for access to working parts of the air compressor and also allowing for a cooling air flow through the interior of the outfit shroud.
US08517693B2
Starter arrangement for high power rotating equipment strings with multiple compressors driven by a single turbine or motor includes multiple variable fluid drive torque converters (CSTCs) to start the compressors in a pressurized start. The string can use a single CSTC for each compressor or a single CSTC for more than one compressor with at least two CSTCs for a given string. The starting procedure is sequential. After the turbine or motor is started and brought up to speed, successive CSTCs are operated from zero to lock-up speed sequentially to start each compressor or group of compressors in turn. In order to cool the working fluid of the CSTCs, a single heat exchanger is provided and the working fluid of each CSTC in turn is circulated through the heat exchanger as they are sequentially started. At lock-up speed, the CSTC is locked up, the working fluid is drained, and the working fluid of the active CSTC is isolated from the heat exchanger and the next succeeding CSTC in the start sequence is in turn, filled with the working fluid and connected to the heat exchanger. At full start, with all compressors operating at full speed, no working fluid is present in the CSTCs, and no working fluid is circulated through the heat exchangers from the locked-up CSTCs. A single heat exchanger may also be used for multiple strings, each having multiple CSTCs for multiple compressors. The starter arrangement is useful in high compressor load strings for LNG refrigeration service.
US08517690B2
The invention relates to an aerodynamic profile for the root of a wind turbine blade having a double leading edge, including a leading edge (13), a trailing edge (15) and suction and pressure sides (17, 19) between the leading edge (13) and the trailing edge (15). The profile (5, 5′, 5′) has a relative thickness in the 30%-50% range in at least one section (37) of the root region (31). In addition, the convex portion (21) of the pressure side (19) is configured such that the curvature thereof decreases from a value C0 at the leading edge (13) to a value C1 at a first point P1 and subsequently increases to a value C2 at a second point P2, after which it decreases to a value 0 at the end of the convex portion (21).
US08517685B2
A device (10) for reducing vibration of a main rotor (1) having a support (20) and a plurality of heavy elements (30) and of rollers (50). Each heavy element (30) includes two first openings (31) respectively at least partially in registration with two second openings (22) of the support (20. Each roller (50) passes through a first opening (31) and a second opening (22). The device (10) has link means (60) for connecting the support (20) to the hub (2). A drive shaft (70) and a drive means (80) rotate at a first speed of rotation (V1) greater than a second speed of rotation (V2) of the hub (2). The drive shaft (70) rotates about an axis of rotation (AX1) of the support (20). The link means (60) is connected to the support (20) by a link member (90) enabling the support (20) to rotate about the axis of rotation (AX1) relative to the link means (60).
US08517677B2
A compression stage having a plurality of stator vanes and rotor blades coaxial with a longitudinal centerline axis, each stator vane having an exit swirl angle distribution such that the exit swirl angle has a maximum value at an intermediate radius location and each rotor blade having a blade leading edge adapted to receive the flow from the stator vanes with the exit swirl angle distribution profile.
US08517676B2
A rotor (1) of a gas turbine compressor comprises a multiplicity of welded-together rotor disks (3a, 3b, 4, 5), of which two or more rotor disks (3a, 3b), in a radially outer region (9′), are welded together, and, in a radially inner central region (9), are abutment-joined together. Via the abutment-joining of two rotor disks (3a, 3b), a heat flow (8) radially outward from the center of the rotor (1) is achieved so that the material temperature of the rotor (1) can be kept below a predetermined level during operation. As a result, the service life of the rotor (1) can be increased. In one embodiment, one rotor disk (3a), on its surface, additionally has a recess (7) which can be cooled from outside. The rotor disks (3a, 3b) according to the invention, which are welded and abutment-joined together, can especially be used at the last point in the flow direction of the compressor.
US08517675B2
According to some embodiments, a method and system are provided to receive an airflow at a blower fan via an axial fan, and expel the airflow via a blower fan. The blower fan comprises a hub associated with an axis of rotation, and the axial fan comprises the hub.
US08517658B2
A device for raising and lowering a spare wheel (R) of a vehicle includes an actuation device (14), a flexible cable (16) co-operating with the actuation device (14), and an engagement member (18, 85) fixed to one end of the flexible cable (16). The device further includes a transmission member (22, 78) fixed with respect to the structure (12) of the vehicle and having a substantially cylindrical shape, arranged with its own longitudinal axis horizontal. The flexible cable (16) co-operates with a curved outer surface (28, 79) of the transmission member (22) from which it is deviated substantially by 90° around the transmission member (22); the engagement member (18, 85) has a bar with a horizontal axis (83) fixed to one end of the flexible cable (16), the bar being designed to engage in a fixed transverse seat (30, 76) made on top of the transmission member (22, 78) for stable anchorage of the wheel (R) to the structure of the vehicle (12) when the wheel is in the completely raised position.
US08517654B2
A threaded bolt includes a head (11), a load cation section (12) having a bar-shaped core region (17), an attachment section (13), with the head (11), the core region (17), and the attachment section (13) being formed as a one-piece part formed of metal, and a thread (15)-carrying threaded sleeve (16) formed of a plastic material and secured radially outwardly on the core region (17), with the thread (15) of the threaded sleeve (16) forming the outer thread of the load-application section (12).
US08517652B2
A winged wall anchor having wings pivotally connected with a rivet and spring biased to an open position. The wings pivot about the rivet axis so that they can open parallel to the wall which allows the wings to open even when they are adjacent an obstacle and requires substantially less backspace.
US08517650B2
A removable blind fastener comprising a first member (10) having an elongate body (11) with a head (12) at one end, a second member (20) adapted for axial movement relative to the first member, the second member having a threaded aperture (25) and at least one adjustable finger (22), the adjustable finger having a flange remote from the head of the first member and the finger being within the circumference of the hollow body of the first member in the first position of the adjustable finger and the flange extends beyond the circumference of the hollow body of the first member in the second position of the adjustable finger. Rotation of a threaded member (30) in a first direction causes axial movement of the second member relative to the first member in a clamping direction.
US08517646B2
A vehicle restraint system includes a strap assembly configured to be positioned on a portion of a tire of a vehicle to secure the vehicle to a configurable track assembly, such that the strap assembly is configured to be coupled to the configurable track assembly on inboard side of the tire of the vehicle. System includes a pin assembly configured to be coupled to the configurable track assembly on outboard side of the tire of the vehicle, such that the pin assembly is operable to receive the strap assembly. System also includes a winch assembly configured to be coupled to the configurable track assembly and to a second end of the strap assembly, such that the winch assembly is uncoupled from the pin assembly and operable to tighten the strap assembly around a portion of the tire.
US08517644B2
An adjustable drill has a drill body having a face surface with a directional feature provided therewith. At least one cartridge is mounted adjacent the face surface and selectively slidable along the directional feature to provide adjustment. At least one insert is releasably affixed in an insert pocket provided in the cartridge. In further examples, the adjustable drill may have a central cutting system in combination with the adjustable cartridge type system, wherein the central cutting system may be modular. There may also be provided a modular type of holder arrangement to provide flexibility to adapt the system for various applications.
US08517639B2
A method of securing a load bearing structure to the bed of a sea, river or estuary. The method comprises placing the load bearing structure on the bed; forming a pile-receiving hole in the bed by means of drilling equipment which is connected to a surface vessel by flexible lines only so that the weight of the drilling equipment is supported by the bed, the drilling equipment being guided by the load bearing structure, and the load bearing structure resisting any non-vertical loads imparted to the drilling equipment; and withdrawing the drilling equipment and installing an attachment pile within the formed hole.
US08517633B2
The invention discloses a debris-flow prevention method by controlling debris-flow magnitude and avoiding to block main river. This method first adopts the drainage works for delivering debris flow in corporation with the transport of the main river; if the drained sediment cannot be transported by the main river, the blocking works are adopted; and if the sediment still exceeds the delivering capacity, the deposit stopping works are adopted. Compared with the prior art, this invention makes full use of the main river's transport capacity, gives priority to dredging and also reasonably distributes the sediment and deploys the engineering system, so as to realize the safe discharge of debris flow, and avoid the secondary disaster of “barrier lake” caused by the blocking of main river due to excessive discharge of debris flow and fully guarantee the safety of mountain towns, major projects and infrastructure located at the mouth of debris flow gully.
US08517628B2
A self-propelling machine for processing bituminous or concrete pavement material, in particular a road finisher or a feeder. The machine comprises an internal combustion engine as a primary drive source, a controller for the engine, said controller receiving control signals, at least one additional drive unit for functional and operational components of the machine as well as at least one hydraulic circuit comprising a hydraulic medium reservoir. The controller is configured for automatically causing starting and/or stopping of the engine in response to receipt of at least one specific control signal.
US08517627B2
A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a method of placing visible advertising on the upper surface of a road (1). This method includes determining the location of any traffic control signs that are applied to the surface of the road, such as the location of signs (22, 25). Following from this, two exclusion zones (31, 32) are defined. These zones extend from the respective signs (22, 25) and terminate at a predetermined minimum distance from the signs. Advertising is then applied to the surface such that it overlies neither the signs nor the exclusion zones. Particularly, the advertising has been placed in the areas bounded by rectangles (33, 34), which are respectively disposed within lanes (7, 8).
US08517607B2
Provided is an X-ray generation device including an X-ray tube and a high-voltage generation unit arranged inside a housing and also having insulating oil filled in the housing, which uses no lead and is small in size, thereby achieving a reduction in manufacturing cost, and which also has high cooling performance. An X-ray generation device 1 includes an X-ray tube 2 and a high-voltage generation unit 3 inside a housing 8 and also has insulating oil 4 filled in the housing 8, the X-ray tube 2 being configured to generate an X ray, the X-ray generation device 1 characterized in that the X-ray tube 2 is arranged inside an X-ray tube holder 10, a material of the X-ray tube holder 10 contains at least bismuth oxide and a resin, and the X-ray tube holder 10 includes an opening and a plurality of slits 11, the opening being provided in a portion corresponding to an X-ray irradiation window 7 through which the X-ray tube 2 applies the X ray, the slits 11 allowing the insulating oil 4 to circulate between an inside and an outside of the X-ray tube holder 10.
US08517586B2
An illumination device is provided in the present disclosure. The illumination device may include a substrate having a first surface, at least one light-aggregation component having a free-form curved surface and located on the first surface, at least one light source at least partially surrounded by the light-aggregation component, and a light-mix component positioned adjacent to the first surface and the at least one light-aggregation component thereof.
US08517585B1
A laser-sustained light source having a first laser source for providing a first beam portion having a first characteristic, a second laser source for providing a second beam portion having a second characteristic, where the first characteristic is different from the first characteristic, first optics that are reflective to the first characteristic and transmissive of the second characteristic, for reflecting the first beam portion along a first path into a reflection optics and through a cell to sustain a plasma, second optics that are reflective to the second characteristic and transmissive of the first characteristic, for reflecting the second beam portion along a second path into the reflection optics and through the cell to sustain the plasma, the first path exiting to the second optics, where the first beam is transmitted through the second optics and into a beam dump, and the second path exiting to the first optics, where the second beam is transmitted through the first optics and into the beam dump.
US08517581B2
A vehicle light can include an LED light source disposed such that the optical axis of the LED light source is directed downward, a first lens disposed forward of the LED light source, a second lens disposed below and forward of the first lens, and a first reflector extending from both sides of the LED light source to a position near the optical axis of the LED light source. The first reflector can be configured to reflect light beams from the LED light source toward the first lens so as to form a wide vertically converged and horizontally diffused light distribution pattern. The vehicle light can include a second reflector disposed at a position below and forward of the first reflector. The second reflector can be configured to reflect light beams from the LED light source toward the second lens so as to form a middle-area vertically converged and horizontally diffused light distribution pattern. The lens can be formed by a toroidal lens that is horizontally elongated and that is formed by horizontally extending an aspherical lens cross section having a focus near the LED light source in an arc shape, or by a cylindrical lens having a horizontal focus line. In particular, the lens can be formed by an upper-half lens portion of such a toroidal lens. The vehicle light can include a light shielding shutter having a first upper edge portion and a second upper edge portion lower than the first upper edge portion.
US08517578B2
A road-adaptive vehicle headlight system includes at least one headlight device, which includes a curved base plate divided into an inner-side module, an outer-side module, and a middle module located between the inner-side and outer-side modules, and the middle module is further divided from top to bottom into an upper-side module, a basic module, and a lower-side module; a plurality of LED light sources differently distributed in the above modules; a power source assembly being connected to and driving the base plate to turn in different directions; and a controller electrically connected to the LED light sources and the power source assembly. With these arrangements, the headlight device of a car can quickly produce different light beam patterns, increase the road visibility and the illumination areas of the headlight devices, and accordingly, ensure high safety in driving.
US08517573B2
An optical substrate having a structured surface that enhances brightness and reduces moiré effect. The optical substrate has a three-dimensionally varying, structured light output surface that comprises an irregular prismatic structure. The irregular prismatic structure may be viewed as comprising longitudinal prism blocks or rows thereof, arranged laterally defining peaks and valleys. Adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley may be parallel or non-parallel, in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner. The lateral adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley are not parallel. The adjacent irregular prism blocks may be irregular longitudinal sections having the same length, or random or quasi-random irregular sections having different lengths. The facets of each prism block may be flat, or curved (convexly and/or concavely).
US08517566B2
Disclosed herein are apparatus, methods, and systems for illuminating roadways, paths, tunnels, bridges, and areas adjacent to such in a manner which minimizes glare and/or other adverse lighting effects commonly experienced by night-time drivers. According to aspects of the invention, horizontal and vertical aiming of a plurality of solid-state light sources permits projected light from a fixture to be tailored to roadway features (e.g., bends in the road) and in some cases, permits the mounting height of fixtures to be reduced which can make the envisioned system a cost-effective alternative to traditional roadway lighting.
US08517548B2
An instrument includes a transparent dial and a light source. The transparent dial includes an indicia, a graduation, and first and second surfaces, wherein the first and second surfaces are parallel to each other, and wherein the second surface is closer than the first surface to a viewer of the instrument. The light source provides light through the transparent dial to project the indicia and the graduation to a location that is closer than the second surface to the viewer of the instrument.
US08517546B2
An object of the invention is to provide a multi-directional cube corner retroreflective article (may be referred to as a retroreflective article, hereinafter) capable of improving entrance angle characteristic and rotation angle characteristic.A multi-directional cube corner retroreflective article, wherein a large number of retroreflective element assemblies, each of which is formed by assembling triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective elements each having an isosceles-triangular base (ABC) and an element apex (H) while sharing an apex (C) and base lines of equal length (AC and BC) of the base, are connected, and a shape of an outer circumference of each of the retroreflective element assemblies is a regular polygon and the bases of at least two of the triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective elements are not parallel to a common plane including the outer circumference.
US08517540B2
A liquid crystal projector includes a light modulating device, a cooling device, a dehumidification device, and a housing. The light modulating device forms an optical image by modulating light flux emitted from a light source based on image information. The cooling device cools air to be supplied to the light modulating device. The dehumidification device dehumidifies and dries air to be supplied to the corresponding cooling device. The housing includes a cooling medium flow path for circulating air among the light modulating device, the cooling device, and the dehumidification device. The cooling device includes a thermoelectric conversion material interposed between a pair of heat transmission plates arranged to face each other.
US08517535B2
A phase diversity wavefront sensor includes an optical system including at least one optical element for receiving a light beam; a diffractive optical element having a diffractive pattern defining a filter function, the diffractive optical element being arranged to produce, in conjunction with the optical system, images from the light beam associated with at least two diffraction orders; and a detector for detecting the images and outputting image data corresponding to the detected images. In one embodiment, the optical system, diffractive optical element, and detector are arranged to provide telecentric, pupil plane images of the light beam. A processor receives the image data from the detector, and executes a Gerchberg-Saxton phase retrieval algorithm to measure the wavefront of the light beam.
US08517534B2
This semi-finished blank for a varifocal lens comprises a first substrate (13), a second substrate (15) that is opposite the first substrate (13), a first transparent conductive film (27) produced on the front of the first substrate (13), a second transparent conductive film (33) produced on the back of the second substrate (15), a varifocal section (5) disposed between the front of the first substrate (13) and the back of the second substrate (15); a first internal electrode (17) of the first transparent conductive film (27), a second internal electrode (19) of the second transparent conductive film (33), a first laser separation film (29) that is opposite the second internal electrode (19) and in which a partial region of the first transparent conductive film (27) is separated with a laser, and a second laser separation film (35) that is opposite the first internal electrode (19) and in which a partial region of the second transparent conductive film (33) is separated with a laser.
US08517521B2
A printing apparatus includes an overflow tube into which ink overflowed from a buffer tank flows, an overflow tank to which the overflow tube is connected, a drain tank to which ink is drained from the overflow tank, and an atmosphere communication port provided to the drain tank. The buffer tank communicates with the atmosphere through the atmosphere communication port.
US08517519B2
An ink jet type recording head includes a substrate, a nozzle plate having nozzles, and a sealing sheet, and the substrate and the nozzle plate are bonded to each other through a bonding film, and the substrate and the sealing sheet are bonded to each other through a bonding film. These bonding films are each obtained by drying and/or curing a liquid material containing an epoxy-modified silicone material. Further, by applying energy to each bonding film, the surface thereof is activated, and therefore, each bonding film exhibits a bonding property. By this bonding property, the substrate is bonded to the nozzle plate and to the sealing sheet.
US08517514B2
An inkjet printhead includes a printhead die including an array of nozzles disposed along a nozzle array direction on a first surface, and an ink feed opening disposed on a second surface opposite the first surface, the ink feed opening being fluidically connected to the array of nozzles; a printhead chassis including an ink inlet port; a manifold affixed to the printhead chassis, the manifold including an ink outlet and an ink path that is fluidically connected to the ink outlet and to the ink inlet port of the printhead chassis; and a gasket that provides a fluidic seal between the ink outlet of the manifold and the ink feed opening of the printhead die.
US08517499B2
A temperature rise of a head due to a printing operation with a higher speed and a higher density is suppressed. To realize this, an inkjet printing head is provided in which a plurality of printing element substrates having an ejection opening array consisting of a plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink are arranged on a support plate in a direction of the ejection opening array. The support plate includes therein a heat pipe and a flow path through which cooling liquid is flowed.
US08517498B2
Liquid ejecting apparatus and control methods thereof are disclosed. A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting head having liquid-ejecting nozzles, a platen disposed to support a recording medium and face the ejecting head, a heater that heats the platen, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the ejecting head, and a control section that causes liquid to be ejected from the nozzles. If a change in a temperature of the ejecting head and/or a temperature of the ejecting head exceeds a predetermined range, the control section stops ejection of liquid for printing from the nozzles in the absence of a user input to continue printing. After the control section stops the ejection of liquid, a response process can be carried out.
US08517497B2
A recording device includes a conveying device configured to convey a recording medium to a recording performing region. The conveying device includes a pair of rollers and a pressure device configured to press one of the rollers into the other one of the rollers. The conveying device is configured so that a recording medium sandwiched in the rollers is conveyed by rotating at least one of the rollers, and the pressure device has a pressure load switching mechanism configured to switch a pressure load of the rollers to between a first pressure load and a second pressure load which is lower than the first pressure load.
US08517490B2
The present invention provides a printing apparatus and a printing method according to which, even when misalignment in mounted print heads or a print medium conveying error has occurred, a high quality image can be printed by performing one-pass printing or multi-pass printing of a time division driving method. In a case wherein a plurality of nozzles are divided into a plurality of blocks to perform time division driving method, the driving order for the plurality of nozzles in the print head is changed in accordance with a displacement of a plurality of nozzles employed to print on the same raster.
US08517488B2
An inkjet image forming apparatus includes: a liquid ejection head having an ejection surface in which a plurality of nozzles are arranged two-dimensionally; a scanning device which conveys at least one of the liquid ejection head and an image formation receiving medium on which liquid ejected from the plurality of nozzles is deposited, to cause relative movement between the image formation receiving medium and the liquid ejection head in a first direction; and a member which vibrates at a fixed frequency that is independent of a speed of the relative movement caused by the scanning device in such a manner that relative vibration is caused between the image formation receiving medium and the plurality of nozzles, wherein when vp represents a relative scanning speed produced by the scanning device in forming an image on the image formation receiving medium by the relative movement and droplet ejection from the liquid ejection head, fv represents the fixed frequency, and OSy represents an offset distance in the first direction of a pair of nozzles which form dots that are mutually adjacent in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on the image formation receiving medium, of the plurality of nozzles arranged two-dimensionally, then relationship of OSy≈k×vp/fv (where k is a natural number) is satisfied.
US08517485B2
A gutter line of a continuous inkjet printer which includes a variable flow restrictor fitted into the gutter line, and a pressure transducer for measuring the pressure in the gutter line downstream of the variable flow restrictor, where the variable flow restrictor is controlled in response to the output of the pressure transducer to maintain a downstream pressure substantially constant. Airflow along the gutter line has a lower flow resistance than a slug of ink. Accordingly, the system responds dynamically to restrict the flow of air along the gutter line when no ink is passing along it, thereby reducing the volume of air sucked along the gutter line while maintaining adequate suction to reliably clear ink away from the gutter so that the amount of solvent lost from the ink is reduced during operation of an inkjet printer.
US08517482B2
A friction controlled mechanism for use on a cabinet assembly is provided. The cabinet assembly includes a stationary structure such as a cabinet, a moveable structure such as a drawer that is moveable in relation to the stationary structure and the friction controlled mechanism. The friction controlled mechanism is attached to each side of the moveable structure. The friction controlled mechanism includes a frame member with a length and a friction based flexible member. The flexible member is wrapped around a perimeter of the frame member such that the flexible member is capable of traveling in opposite directions around the perimeter of the frame member during movement of the moveable structure toward and away from the stationary structure. The flexible member imparts a friction to side rails of both the stationary structure and the moveable structure to provide a controlled stable movement of the moveable structure.
US08517481B2
An enclosure includes a main body, a front panel, a pivot member pivotably attaching the front panel to the main body, and a positioning member. The pivot member is substantially U-shaped, allowing the front panel a large angle of rotational movement relative to the main body. Positioning members are in place to facilitate the refitting of the front panel.
US08517474B2
The present invention relates to a non-rotating wheel cap device which is inserted at the center of a wheel rim using fixtures; wherein such cap is used to display printed or adhered decorations; and wherein such decorations remain stationary in an upright position, while the rim is rotating. The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a non-rotating wheel cap device comprising a cylindrical body having a shaft, a roller bearing adapted to receive the shaft in a press-fit configuration, a curved body and a disk-shaped cover.
US08517467B2
A child restraint includes a juvenile seat and a child-restraint harness coupled to the juvenile seat. The juvenile seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom. The juvenile seat also includes a headrest mounted for up-and-down movement on the seat back relative to the seat bottom.
US08517466B1
A convertible boat seat transforms from a standard bench-style seat configuration capable of accommodating multiple occupants to a lounger that allows a single occupant to comfortably lounge without impeding into the available deck space. A convertible boat seat comprises a chaise lounge type seat having a plurality of configurable components including a two-piece back rest, a configurable armrest, a hinging bench seat assembly, and an inclined chaise end forming a lounge backrest adapted with a pivoting armrest. The two-piece backrest includes first and second backrest components that are each configurable between a raised position and a lowered position. The inclined chaise end includes a pivoting armrest configurable between a stowed, out-of-the-way position, and a deployed position wherein it functions as a lounge armrest. A hinging bench seat includes first and second hingedly connected seat components that are configurable between a generally flat configuration for bench seating and a raised configuration wherein the lounger's knees are supported in a partially bent lounging position. On an opposing end of the inclined chaise end is an armrest configurable between a raised position wherein it functions as an armrest when the seat is configured for bench-style seating, and a lowered position wherein it is stowed generally flush with the bench seat surface for providing increased leg room while lounging.
US08517461B2
A vehicle body structure includes a bumper fascia panel, a fender body panel and a mounting flange attachment arrangement. The fascia panel includes a fascia mounting flange forming a first outboard abutment edge visible exterior to the vehicle body structure. The fender body panel includes a fender mounting flange forming a second outboard abutment edge visible from the exterior. The mounting flange attachment arrangement includes first and second fastening members overlying the fascia and fender mounting flanges, respectively, and a fastening element coupling the first and second fastening members together while sandwiching the mounting flanges. The fastening element (bolt) has a tool engagement portion (bolt head) at a first end on an inboard side of the attachment arrangement and a second threaded end opposite to the first end, with a center fastening axis extending from the second to first end in an upward slanted direction of the vehicle body structure.
US08517459B2
A body structure of a motor vehicle is provided that includes, but is not limited to a floor panel, that has an inner side directed toward the motor vehicle interior and an outer side directed toward the motor vehicle exterior, and also includes, but is not limited to a seat mounting for securing a motor vehicle seat. To reduce driving noise and air resistance, it is provided that on the outer side thereof, the floor panel is free from corrugations or stiffening structures running predominantly in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle is also provided having a corresponding body structure and a method is provided for the manufacture thereof.
US08517449B2
A motorcycle cowl structure for suppressing a flow of air flowing toward a rider and a pillion passenger when the rider travels alone or when a pillion passenger is mounted on the same vehicle. A flow of air flowing toward a rider sitting on a rider seat and a pillion passenger sitting on a pillion passenger seat is suppressed by the cowl structure that includes left and right cowl main body portions for preventing the flow of air from hitting the knee portions, thighs, waist and flanks of the rider. Left and right movable cowl portions are provided on the respective left and right cowl main body portions so as to be movable vehicle-widthwise and opened to prevent flow of air from hitting the pillion passenger. The opening and closing of the movable cowl portions can suppress flow of air flowing toward the rider and the pillion passenger.
US08517448B2
In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a magnetic decklid damper system is provided for a vehicle. The system comprises a decklid coupled to a body of the vehicle via a hinge strap facilitating the decklid moving between a closed position and an open position. The hinge strap includes a first magnetic element coupled to the hinge strap, and a second magnetic element coupled to a body member of the vehicle. The first and second magnetic elements have a common polarity to magnetically repel each other as the decklid moves toward the open position to provide a damping effect for the decklid.
US08517447B2
A vehicle storage compartment assembly includes a housing and a rigid lid. The housing defines a storage compartment and a lid cavity separated by a partition wall. The lid moves between an open position and a closed position. At least a portion of the lid is positioned within the lid cavity and the storage compartment uncovered in the open position. The lid covers the storage compartment and at least a portion of the lid cavity in the closed position. The lid has an inner surface configured relative to the upper free edge of the partition wall such that a first blocking portion of the inner surface is disposed adjacent a upper free edge of the partition wall and aligns with or overlaps with the upper free edge blocking space above the upper free edge of the partition wall while the lid is in the closed position.
US08517443B2
In one embodiment, a vehicle floor console is provided that includes a support structure and a retaining feature pivotally biased toward the support structure. The retaining feature is configured to secure cargo between the support structure and the retaining feature.
US08517437B2
A plastic sealing fastener includes a fixing member, a latching strip fixed on the fixing member and a cover mounted on the fixing member. The fixing member defines a locking hole through which the latching strip passes. The fixing member forms a plurality of elastic teeth locking the latching strip in the locking hole. The cover defines a covering hole communicating with the locking hole through which the latching strip passes. A diameter of the covering hole is less than that of the locking hole.
US08517436B2
A locking assembly for a swinging door of a container. The locking assembly includes an axially elongated lock rod having cam structure at opposed ends thereof. The lock rod is provided, toward each end thereof, with axially spaced radial projections which are axially fixed relative to the lock rod and define a channel therebetween. The locking assembly further includes a pair of guide plates; with each guide plate rotatably accommodating a lengthwise portion of the lock rod between the plate and the door. Each guide plate further includes structure for allowing each plate to be fastened to the door. After each guide plate is fastened to the door, a portion of each plate is entrapped between the axially spaced radial projections on the lock rod whereby inhibiting axial shifting movements of the lock rod.
US08517435B2
An espagnolette lock for a door or shutter. An actuating shaft can be rotatably mounted within the interior of a housing and can be coupled with a lock-actuator. The actuating shaft is monolithically formed with a tongue. A securement mechanism is configured for insertion into the housing parallel to the plane of a door panel or of the shutter for fixing the housing in position on the door panel or shutter. The securement mechanism is further configured for being supported against the door panel or shutter. When a mounting of the espagnolette lock is completed, the securement mechanism is configured to engage the actuating shaft to thereby secure and fix the actuating shaft in position in the housing.
US08517427B2
An information page (1) and method are provided for a security document. The information page includes: an information part (3), and an attachment part (2) for attaching the information part to the security document. In order to make forgery visually detectable, the information part (3) is provided with a unique identifier (5), and the attachment part (2, 2′) is provided with the same unique identifier (5) as the information part (3).
US08517426B2
A motorcycle fan unit or a horn and fan combination unit includes a decorative cover having a primary surface. An optional first bracket is attached to the cover, and an optional horn is attached to the first bracket. A second bracket is attached to the cover, and a fan is attached to the second bracket. The horn and fan are located behind the cover so as to be hidden from view when the cover is viewed from an angle being approximately perpendicular to the primary surface, or when the motorcycle is viewed from its lateral side. The fan may be located behind the horn in an overlapping fashion. Also, the fan may be designed to move air along a path approximately perpendicular to the primary surface of the cover and also move air along a path approximately parallel to the primary surface of the cover.
US08517423B1
A frame assembly for an off-road vehicle including a left frame rail and a right frame rail that are identical to each other, a front frame module that includes at least one left foot and at least one right foot, an occupant frame module that includes at least one left foot and at least one right foot, a rear frame module that includes at least one left foot and at least one right foot, and a plurality of identical adapters mounting the components to the left and right frame rails.
US08517415B2
The invention provides an airbag apparatus including an airbag that is folded toward an inflator attaching part and that is accommodated within a pad functioning as a case such that the airbag is provided with first and second folded parts arranged on a cabin side from an inflator. A tear line is formed on the pad at a position deviated from a center of the inflator toward the first folded part and divides the case into a first door and a second door. In the airbag apparatus, the second folded part that is covered by the first door is folded in a bellows shape.
US08517408B2
A side stand switch includes a case member having a fixed contact; and a rotor body having a moving contact that can come into contact with the fixed contact, mounted by tightening a securing bolt, and turned together with a side stand bar with respect to the case member. The rotor body has an engagement pin inserted therein and to be inserted into an engagement hole formed in the side stand bar. A width of the engagement pin in the turning direction of the rotor body is larger at a base portion inside the rotor body than at a tip portion protruding from the rotor body.
US08517396B2
A gas spring assembly includes a gas spring and a height control module. The gas spring includes a first end member, a second end member and a flexible wall secured therebetween. The height control module includes a height control system that is operatively associated with the gas spring. The height control system includes a sensor, a valve arrangement and a fixed-logic control circuit. A suspension system and a method are also included.
US08517393B1
The assembly includes a cleat holder having a base, an outer wall opposite the base, and a cleat-receiving pocket having an opening in the outer wall. A cleat has one end mounted within the cleat holder and an opposite free end tip. The cleat is movable within the pocket between a gripping position in which the free end tip of the cleat projects through the opening of the pocket beyond the outer wall of the cleat holder and a retracted position in which the free end tip of the cleat at least partially retracts into the pocket. A spring is mounted in the pocket for resiliently urging the cleat from the retracted position toward the gripping position. The cleat assembly can include a plurality of separately manufactured, identical cleat holders secured in end-to-end alignment forming an endless belt, chain or the like.
US08517388B2
A bellows type mechanical seal is provided that is capable of reducing adverse effects on the bellows. The bellows type mechanical seal includes a first annular member fixed on a rotary shaft, a second annular member resiliently supported by the bellows in a housing axially to the outside of the first annular member, a seal ring having a first end seal face contacting the first annular member and a second end seal face contacting the second annular member, both seal faces being perpendicular to the shaft. A centering member is arranged contacting the inner surface of the seal ring and the inner surface of the second annular member within an annular space formed between both of the inner surfaces and the shaft to keep the sealing ring and the second annular member in alignment with each other.
US08517366B2
A quick release vise includes a first and second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw, and a threaded shaft rotatably fixed to the second jaw. A shaft receiver is fixed relative to the first jaw and includes a boss and a boss cover that is moveable relative to the boss. The boss and the boss cover have channels which cooperatively define an at least partially threaded shaft-receiving bore. The boss cover is moveable between a first position wherein the threads of the shaft engage threads within the shaft-receiving bore, and a second position wherein the threads of the shaft are disengaged from the threads within the shaft-receiving bore.
US08517362B1
An arrow fletching jig provides operation that adapts to various arrow shaft diameters and arrow fletching patterns. The fletching jig includes a clamp secured to a base. The clamp secures a fletch at a fixed orientation along the arrow shaft while the fletch is being glued to the arrow shaft. The clamp can be made rotatable to tilt the clamp with respect to the arrow shaft, so that the fletch forms a helicoid around the shaft. The clamp may provide semi-cylindrical notches at each end to maintain spacing of arrow shaft and clamp by contacting the arrow shaft along an inner surface of the semi-cylindrical notches when an end of the clamp is rotated around the shaft to tilt the clamp. The fletching jig may also include a notched arrow shaft clamp for securing the arrow shaft to the base, which is rotated to secure and release the arrow.
US08517360B2
A clamp device includes a support mechanism that supports a grip member when expanding the diameter thereof, a clamping hydraulic cylinder that can drive the grip member and a clamp rod axially forwards and backwards (up and down), and a main body member to which the grip member, the clamp rod, the support mechanism, and the clamping hydraulic cylinder are mounted, with the grip member, the clamp rod, and the support mechanism being positioned at one end portion of the body member, and with the common axis of the grip member and the clamp rod being offset from the axis of the clamping hydraulic cylinder in a direction orthogonal to the clamp rod.
US08517355B2
A cooling tower for evaporating water from a brine solution is provided and may include a housing having an air inlet and a brine inlet. The cooling tower may also include a heat-exchange assembly having a heat-exchange media that suspends the brine solution and at least one nozzle in fluid communication with the brine inlet. The at least one nozzle may receive the brine solution from the brine inlet and may transfer the brine solution from the brine inlet to the heat-exchange media to allow the heat-exchange media to transfer moisture from the brine solution to air received from the air inlet to reduce the moisture content of the brine solution.
US08517353B2
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for distributing vapor and liquid flow. Problems with maldistribution, due to out of level positioning of the distributor tray, are addressed by varying the height of the caps and/or their openings to control the liquid flow profile (distribution) that results due to the rising liquid level.
US08517350B2
An improved venturi apparatus for the incorporation of air into a liquid as it is poured from a bottle. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises an entry section, a constricted intermediate section, and an outflow section. Lateral tubes extend from the constricted intermediate section so as to form an acute angle relative to both the central and cross-sectional axes of the constricted intermediate section, thereby preventing leakage of liquid out through the lateral tubes during use and subsequent handling. The device includes a ventilation tube with a ventilation cavity for capturing backwash of the liquid as pouring is terminated, and for preventing leakage from the ventilation port.
US08517340B2
An apparatus for pushing a fastener from a host material with, for example, an air hammer includes a punch shank, a compression spring, a hollow sleeve, a fastener and a punch. The hollow sleeve includes an opening formed therein for interfitment over a central portion of the punch shank, and a set screw placed therein for engagement with a retention flat portion of a central portion of the punch shank. The punch includes a top that operably engages with the air hammer, and a bottom end having a recess formed therein, where the recess is configured and arranged for retention of a top of the punch shank. The spring fits over the punch shank, and contacts the bottom end of the punch and the top end of the sleeve.
US08517336B2
A solenoid valve for controlling a fluid is disclosed. The solenoid includes an armature, a pole core, wherein a working gap is provided between the armature and the pole core, a valve member which is connected to the armature and can be moved together with the armature, a valve body with a through-opening on which a valve seat is formed, wherein the valve member opens and closes the through-opening on the valve seat, a return element which applies a return force to the valve member in order to return the valve member to a closed state, a spring element which is arranged in the working gap, and an adjusting device which is in contact with the spring element in order to adjust a spring force of the spring element.
US08517327B2
A support plate for positioning containers having a base body includes at least one pressure element disposed on the base body in a spring-loaded manner, with the pressure element having at least one elongated pressure section extending parallel to a plate of the base body, and including a positioning body attached to the base body. The base body is releasably attached to the base body and has at least one opening through which the pressure element at least partly projects.
US08517325B2
An adaptor band is flexible, C-shaped, and includes a torsion spring receiver. Additionally, the adaptor band includes one or more slots for receiving a screw to fasten the adaptor band to an internal surface of a pre-existing light housing. The adaptor band is compressed and inserted within the pre-existing housing that does not have torsion spring receivers already therein. Once inserted, the adaptor band is released, thereby expanding and pushing against the internal surface of the housing. The adaptor band is fastened to the internal surface of the housing without having to hold the adaptor band in a fixed position. The torsion spring receivers receive torsion springs coupled to other lighting components, including light modules and trim modules.
US08517319B2
An apparatus for mounting multiple lasers, including a mounting plate configured to receive multiple lasers and including a first side and a second side, wherein the first side and the second side are not coplanar; at least six leg portions, each including a support end; wherein at least three of the leg portions project away from the first side of the mounting plate and at least three of the leg portions project away from the second side of the mounting plate; and wherein the support ends of the leg portions projecting away from the first side are configured to support the mounting plate when the first side is facing in a generally downward direction, and the support ends of the leg portions projecting away from the second side are configured to support the mounting plate when the second side is facing in a generally downward direction.
US08517314B2
An actuator for use in driving the leading edge slats or other control surfaces of an aircraft includes a carrier element which is translatable and angularly moveable about a first fixed axis relative to an aircraft wing structure, an actuator arm pivotally mounted to the carrier element, and a support arm pivotally mounted to the wing structure about a second, fixed pivot axis, such that the first and second fixed axes are not perpendicular to one another.
US08517311B2
An aircraft seat that includes a seat bottom frame having a back, a seat back frame pivotally connected to the back of the seat bottom frame, and a seat back shell. The seat back shell has at least a front panel, a back panel opposite the front panel, and at least two side panels disposed between the front and back panels which connects the front panel to the back panel. The combination of the front, back, and side panels form a gap to receive the entire seat back frame.
US08517305B2
An engine attachment pylon for an aircraft, including a rigid structure including a box formed by one or plural hollow segments. The section of at least one hollow segment is circular or elliptical in shape.
US08517301B1
A highly visible tether assembly for use on parked aircraft that interconnects the pitot tube covers with the landing gear lock pin thereby assuring removal of both the covers and the lock pin as part of the aircraft preflight check list. The assembly is made of heat and environment resistant materials that avoid instrument and air craft damage during installation and residence.
US08517296B2
The roller grinding mill for comminuting brittle grinding stock includes at least one grinding roller which co-operates with a counter-face in such a manner that the grinding stock is comminuted between the grinding roller and the counter-face and a pressing system for applying a force to the grinding stock via the grinding roller. The pressing system includes: at least one hydropneumatic store and at least one dual-articulation actuating cylinder. The dual-articulation actuating cylinder is connected to the hydropneumatic store and has two pistons and a housing which acts as a coupling rod.
US08517289B2
An apparatus and method of moving a mobile tower using solar power are disclosed for use with an irrigation system. The disclosed improvement includes a solar panel with a collecting surface to convert light energy to electrical energy, an electrical charge source in communication with the solar panel to receive electrical energy, and a motor to drive a ground-engaging wheel in communication with the electrical charge source. The improvement also includes a direction control system for regulating rotation of the solar panel and a tilt assembly for adjusting the angle of the solar panel to maintain the disposition of the collecting surface in alignment with the direction of incoming sunlight. The method of moving the mobile tower includes collecting light energy with a solar panel, converting the light energy into electrical energy, and driving a wheel of the mobile tower with a motor powered by the converted electrical energy.
US08517288B2
A swivel fitting used to connect to various components in a fluid handling system is provided. The swivel fitting incorporates an annular chamfer surface to reduce the affect that the fitting has on the flow properties of the fluid when the fluid is caused to flow through the fitting. The use of the swivel fitting in a paint supply line is also described.
US08517282B2
A thermostatic mixing valve has an enhanced response to temperature change by arranging one of the hot water and cold water flows into a series of jets that intersect the other flow such that the proportions of hot water and cold water mixing at the surface of the thermostat is made to respond to the inlet water pressure to augment the temperature change normally experienced at the surface of the thermostat.
US08517271B2
An optical code symbol reading system including a hand-supportable housing having a light transmission aperture. A manually-actuated trigger switch is integrated within the housing. An optical code symbol reading subsystem is disposed in the housing for optically reading a code symbol in the field external to the light transmission aperture, and generating symbol character data representative of the read code symbol. One or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed in the housing, for producing a visible illumination. Also, an optical-waveguide structure is disposed in the housing for coupling visible illumination produced from the one or more LEDs, so as to illuminate the region about the manually-actuated trigger switch, thereby causing the optically-translucent region about the manually-actuated trigger switch to glow and visually indicate where it is located on the hand-supportable housing.
US08517258B2
Systems and methods of attracting and retaining customers of a Banking institution through an incentive program is disclosed, comprising: operating a promotional program, comprising the dispensing of a indicia redeemable for a prize, and wherein the dispensing of the indicia is accomplished through the use of an automated teller machine (ATM); and operating a rewards program, wherein upon a customer completing a triggering behavior, a specified reward is granted to the customer. Systems and methods of operating a promotional program for customers of a Banking institution is also disclosed, wherein the method comprises dispensing a indicia redeemable for a prize, and wherein the dispensing of the indicia is accomplished through the use of an automated checking machine (ATM).
US08517251B2
A system includes, but is not limited to: one or more conformation sensor modules configured to direct obtaining information associated with one or more changes in one or more sequences of two or more conformations of one or more portions of one or more regions of the flexible interface and one or more coordination modules configured to direct coordinating the one or more changes in one or more sequences of two or more conformations of one or more portions of one or more regions of the flexible interface with one or more commands. In addition to the foregoing, other related method/system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08517249B2
A soldering structure using Zn includes a bonding layer which contains Zn; and a lead-free solder which bonds and reacts to the bonding layer. The bonding layer can be a Zn alloy layer or a multilayer including a Zn layer. Accordingly, the characteristics of the soldering structure can be improved by involving the high reactive Zn to the interfacial reaction of the soldering.
US08517248B2
A method of providing a mould with a conformal cooling passage includes rough machining a mould cavity generally corresponding to a moulded part shape using CAD data. Conformal cooling slots are cut in the mould cavity using the CAD data. The conformal cooling slots are welded shut using the CAD data to provide conformal cooling passages. A class A surface is machined over the conformal cooling passage and corresponds to a finished mould part shape using the CAD data.
US08517247B2
A beam includes at least three web plates that are connected to a bottom flange and top flange.
US08517243B2
A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise an end effector comprising at least one sensor. The surgical instrument may also comprise an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft. The handle may comprise a control unit electrically coupled to the shaft such that the shaft radiates signals as an antenna from the control unit to the sensor and receives radiated signals from the sensor. Other components electrically coupled to the shaft may also radiate the signals.
US08517241B2
A surgical system is provided and includes an intelligent surgical device having a drive motor supported in the housing and being in electrical communication with the power source; and control circuitry. The control circuitry includes a feedback system for monitoring a condition of the surgical device during a use thereof and for changing an operative parameter of the surgical device when a change in the monitored condition occurs. The surgical system includes a non-intelligent loading unit for selective connection to the housing of the surgical device and which is actuatable by the drive motor, the loading unit having a first and a second condition. During operation, the drive motor actuates the loading unit from the first condition to the second condition; and when the loading unit achieves the second condition, a change in the at least one monitored condition occurs and an operative parameter of the surgical device is changed.
US08517223B2
A two stage grease gun with a handle capable of being actuated by a user is provided. The gun includes a high volume/low pressure piston for delivery of grease at a high volume and low pressure. A high pressure/low volume piston for delivery of grease at a high pressure and low volume is also included. Acutation of the handle by the user causes both pistons to move. A by-pass check valve is present and is configured to actuate based upon a backpressure. The by-pass check valve is not actuated by the user and effects the amount of grease dispensed by way of the high volume/low pressure piston. An associated method is also provided.
US08517208B2
A muck bucket for containing backflowing waste from an end of a pipe includes an enclosure having a continuous wall. The continuous wall includes an upper edge defining an upper opening and a lower edge defining a lower opening. The lower edge is configured to surround the end of the pipe and form a watertight seal with a surface surrounding the end of the pipe. There is at least one flange peripherally extending outwardly from the lower edge of the enclosure. The flange is secured to the surface surrounding the end of the pipe via a screw, a bolt, or an adhesive. The screw, bolt, or adhesive is included to maintain a water-tight seal between the lower edge and the surface.
US08517201B2
Heat-sealable seal including a support bonded to an inner seal by a temporary adhesive is provided. The inner seal has a pull-tab which is folded back once on the surface of the inner seal in contact with the corresponding surface of the support. The inner seal includes a laminate having a reinforcing layer and a sheet of a conducting material, to the lower surface of which is applied a heat-sealing film. The temporary adhesive is applied to the whole surface of the inner seal once the pull-tab is folded back. The seal is characterized in that the laminate has over its entire thickness a notch from which the pull-tab emerges, and a fold line formed by the pull-tab once the pull-tab is folded back, the fold line having a shorter length than the length of the notch. Methods of producing the seal are also disclosed.
US08517199B2
A tank having a structure which restricts decline in the strength of a screw section. The tank includes a mouthpiece having a mouthpiece screw section which is formed with a screw thread and has a larger diameter on the outer side than on the inner side in an axial direction of the tank, and a valve having a valve screw section which corresponds only to a portion of the mouthpiece screw section.
US08517198B2
A vehicular fuel tank fuel filler orifice device that is provided with a fuel filler orifice in an upper wall of a vehicular fuel tank that stores ethanol fuel for an engine and a fuel filler guide tube extending from the fuel filler orifice to the interior of the fuel tank. A flame arrestor made of a metal mesh with a larger diameter than that of the fuel filler guide tube is mounted on the fuel filler guide tube. The flame arrestor covers a lower opening of the fuel filler guide tube for allowing a flow of the fuel but preventing the entrance of a flame. Using a flame arrestor, not only prevents a flame from entering a fuel tank from a fuel filler orifice but also smoothly carries out an exchange of fuel and air in the flame arrestor when filling with fuel, thus speeding the filling with fuel.
US08517196B2
A positioning structure for a clipboard contains a first cover and a second cover. Two grooves are formed on a connection of the first cover and the second cover. The first cover includes two first recesses, and the second cover includes two second recesses, two retainers are attached in the two first recess and the two second recess. The first cover also includes a first slot, a second slot, and a third slot. The second cover also includes a first notch, a second notch, and a third notch. Each of plural positioning members includes an integrally formed abutting block, an actuating section, a first inserting piece, two second inserting pieces, and a cutout. The plural positioning members are inserted in or removed from the first slot, the second slot, the third slot, the first notch, the second notch, the third notch by using a plurality of first inserting pieces.
US08517190B2
A pivoting storage apparatus that is adapted to storage structures such as cabinets, refrigerators, and the like, whose horizontal interior storage surfaces are generally rectangular. The shelving system is presented in the form of a shelf accessory, in addition to use as an independent storage platform. A portion of the rotary shelving is capable of being manually drawn out of the confines of the storage structure's interior by the user, thereby enabling easy access to shelf contents.
US08517187B1
A sanitary toothbrush holder is disclosed. In place of traditional vertical toothbrush placement one or more toothbrushes can be secured on two oppositely positioned drying rack arms extending forward of the base of an upright rear panel of the holder. Pairs of alternating in depth slots along the length of each one of the drying arms permits an operator to position at least one toothbrush within at least one pair of slots at an angle to the horizontal for enhanced moisture drainage therefrom, with the alternating slot arrangement preventing bristle portion cross contamination when two or more toothbrushes are secured on the holder. Provisions are also provided for a toiletry shelf, and removable wall mounting of the holder.
US08517176B2
A container configured to be stacked adjacent to a second container is provided. The container includes a sidewall having a first end, an end wall having a peripheral edge, a seam coupling the peripheral edge of the end wall to the first end of the sidewall, and an alignment feature coupled to the seam. The alignment feature includes an inner surface. The alignment feature is positioned relative to the seam such that, when the container is stacked adjacent to the second container, the inner surface of the alignment feature contacts an outer surface of a seam of the second container, the contact resisting lateral movement of the container relative to the second container.
US08517171B1
A device for holding antibacterial gel and wipes in two separate compartments that are connected, one compartment having a slot to dispense antibacterial wipes, the other compartment having an opening with a lid to dispense an antibacterial liquid or gel. The device also has an attachment mechanism which can be attached to items such as a key ring for easy access while on the go.
US08517163B2
A system for handling coins employs a front end coin acceptor and validator that feeds a sorter mechanism. The sorter mechanism utilizes a substantially horizontal track module to load coins by denomination into an arrangement of bins. The coins are ejected by means of a solenoid onto the track module that provides a path according to the denomination of the coin into the proper bin.
US08517161B2
The disclosure relates to modeling the structure of an item of currency and to predicting the behavior of a currency sensing system as related to the structure of a tested item of currency. For a specified set of parameters of an item of currency, the response of the currency sensing system can be predicted. A particular construction of an item of currency can be determined based on theoretical responses from the item of currency being tested with a theoretical currency sensing system.
US08517142B1
A steering unit includes a housing, a steering shaft, a bearing, a steering arm, and a stop portion. The housing includes upper and lower portions that cooperate to define an interior. The steering shaft includes an upper and lower end. The bearing is supported by the lower portion of the housing and is disposed at least partially within the interior. The steering shaft is journaled with respect to the lower portion of the housing by the bearing. The steering arm is coupled with the lower end of the steering shaft and is configured for coupling to steerable wheels. The stop portion projects from the lower portion of the housing and into a travel path of the steering arm such that the steering arm selectively contacts the stop portion to prevent over-rotation of the steering shaft. A vehicular frame assembly for supporting the steering unit is also provided.
US08517140B2
An independent rear suspension kit includes first and second mounting brackets configured to be fastened to a chassis of a vehicle, a cross-member interconnecting the first and second brackets, a differential housing supported by the cross-member, first and second upper control arms pivotably coupled to the cross-member, first and second lower control arms pivotably coupled to the differential housing, a first upright pivotably coupled to the first upper control arm and the first lower control arm, and a second upright pivotably coupled to the second upper control arm and the second lower control arm.
US08517136B2
A vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle may include an operator area including side-by-side seating. The vehicle may further include a prime mover and a transmission operatively coupled to at least one ground engaging member of the vehicle. The prime mover may be a diesel engine and the transmission may include a CVT. The prime mover and the transmission may be assembled together and supported by a frame of the vehicle through a plurality of mounts.
US08517126B2
Disclosed is an electric vehicle which receives power from a road surface by means of a wireless connection, in which an optimal configuration of a repeater (which is a resonator) and a receiving coil relative to the vehicle body is clarified. A first coil configuring the repeater forms a first wireless connection with a receiver coil, and a second coil forms a second wireless connection with a transmitting coil. The first coil is proximally arranged below the receiving coil and is aligned with the receiving coil, which is on the top side of a vehicle underbody panel; the second coil is arranged on the bottom side of the vehicle underbody panel. A performance indicator k*Q of the path from the transmitting coil below the road surface to the receiving coil of the electric vehicle is increased.
US08517117B2
A fire suppression system with a visible status indicator positioned within a ventilation hood of a stove is described. The fire suppression system comprises a container within which resides a fire suppressing material and an expulsion activation mechanism subassembly. The fire suppressing material further comprises a dye colorant material. The system further comprising a light source positioned adjacent and projected through the container such that when the fire suppressant material is present within the container, the light appears to be a different color. The system positioned with a canopy portion of a ventilation hood.
US08517113B2
A technique that is usable with a subterranean well includes communicating a wireless stimulus in the well. The technique includes actuating a valve in response to the communication. The valve has more than one controllable open position.
US08517104B2
A process for increasing, on an existing installation, the amount of water-soluble polymer in an emulsion injected into pipelines transporting oil produced at offshore oil wells, includes before injection, diluting the emulsion with fuel oil found on the platform or Floating Production Storage & Offloading unit (FPSO).
US08517102B2
A thickened aqueous composition is delivered to a subterranean location accessible via a wellbore by steps of i. providing a biphasic aqueous mixture comprising two aqueous solutions which, at surface temperature and pressure, are able to co-exist as separate aqueous phases in contact with each other, ii. pumping said biphasic aqueous system down the wellbore to the subterranean location, and iii. converting the biphasic mixture below ground so that its phases combine into a single aqueous phase which is more viscous than the biphasic mixture. The two phases of the aqueous biphasic mixture contain dissolved solutes which segregate between the two phases such that at least one first solute is present at a greater concentration in the first aqueous phase than in the second aqueous phase while at least one second solute is present at a greater concentration in the second aqueous phase than in the first aqueous phase. The solute in the first phase may be a thickening polymer or other thickening material such as viscoelastic surfactant. The solute in the second phase may be a different polymer, surfactant or salt. Conversion to a single phase may be carried out in various ways including dilution, change in pH, change in salinity, increase in temperature and adsorption of one solute onto formation rock.
US08517086B2
A heat exchanger having a tube bundle disposed within a housing with a resilient end structure disposed in compressed, plug-forming relation at least partially across the heat exchanging cavity. The resilient end structure includes one or more boundary segments extending between an internal wall of the housing and the perimeter of the tube bundle. The boundary segment includes a combination of materials having differing compression characteristics providing enhanced support to the boundary segments.
US08517077B2
The invention generally relates to an automatic taper for drywall. More specifically, the invention relates to a manner for accessing the interior of the business end of the automatic taper for drywall. The taper may have an easily removable cover plate which may allow a user to obtain easy access to the interior of the nozzle of the taper. A user may gain access to the interior of the nozzle by flipping a rotating securing bar upward and then removing the removable cover plate.
US08517074B2
An apparatus for laminating a film on a wafer includes a cutting mechanism and a laminating mechanism. The cutting mechanism has a cutting device disposed thereon for pre-cutting a dry film. The cutting mechanism has a supporter disposed adjacent to the cutting device for positioning a wafer. The cutting mechanism has a suction member disposed and corresponding to the cutting device for sucking the cut dry film to allow the cutting device pre-cutting the dry film and moving the cut dry film to the supporter. The laminating mechanism has a first lower member provided for positioning the wafer and a first upper member disposed above the first lower member for laminating the cut dry film with electrically heating to adhere the cut dry film on the wafer.
US08517072B2
A tire having a circumferential tread, at least one belt, an inner liner, a pair of sidewalls, at least one carcass ply, and a pair of bead portions. The pair of bead portions each further includes a bead core, a bead filler having an upper end, a chaffer, and a gum strip. The chaffer extends axially outward from the inner liner towards the sidewall and curves radially upward along an axially outer portion of the bead core. The sidewall gum strip extends radially upward from a curved portion of the chaffer, wherein the sidewall gumstrip is located axially between the at least one carcass ply turn-up end and a sidewall.
US08517068B2
Non-pneumatic resilient wheel (10), that is supported structurally and defines three perpendicular directions, circumferential (X), axial (Y) and radial (Z), this wheel comprising: a hub (11); an annular band referred to as a shear band (13) comprising at least one inner circumferential membrane (14) and one outer circumferential membrane (16) that are oriented in the circumferential direction X; and a plurality of support elements (12) that connect the hub (11) to the inner circumferential membrane (14)U. The two membranes (14, 16) are connected to one another by means of a series, that extends in the circumferential direction (X), of cylinders (15) referred to as connection cylinders, said connection cylinders (15) being non-touching in the circumferential direction X and having their generatrix oriented in the axial direction Y. The connection cylinders (15) are composite cylinders comprising fibers embedded in a resin matrix.
US08517057B2
The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to pump installations, It has particular relevance in the field of reciprocating piston pumps, such as condensate removal pumps which are used to remove condensate from air conditioning installations. We describe a liquid pulse damping device (20) comprising a body (21) having an inlet (22) and an outlet (23) in fluid communication. Intermediate the inlet and outlet is at least one liquid flow direction changing element (24, 25). Preferably, the at least one flow direction changing element (24, 25) is in the form of an elongate element having a closed end (30, 31) and a side wall, suitably a cylindrical side wall, having at least one bore (40) formed therethrough.
US08517056B2
A fluid regulator (1) for use as a shower water saving device, wherein an initial volume of water of a water stream at an undesired cold temperature is collected in a chamber and is reintroduced into the water stream when the stream has reached the desired temperature. Reintroduction of the initial volume of cold water is at a controlled rate such that the temperature change upon reintroduction is not significant. The fluid regulator (1) comprises a body (2), a flow passage (3) having an inlet (20) and outlet (21) for the water stream, a water collection chamber (4) in fluid communication with the flow passage (3), and a flow diverter (5) associated with the flow passage (3) and moveable between a closed position in which the water stream is directed to the collection chamber (4), and an open position in which the water stream may flow to the outlet (21) and the water in the collection chamber (4) may be drained from the collection chamber (4) to the outlet (21) by way of the flow passage (3).
US08517055B2
A one-handle valve cartridge has one or more lobular keys formed on a housing of the valve cartridge. The lobular keys interface with keyways formed in a valve body.
US08517052B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a novel pressurized vapor cycle for distilling liquids. In some embodiments of the invention, a liquid purification system is revealed, including the elements of an input for receiving untreated liquid, a vaporizer coupled to the input for transforming the liquid to vapor, a head chamber for collecting the vapor, a vapor pump with an internal drive shaft and an eccentric rotor with a rotatable housing for compressing vapor, and a condenser in communication with the vapor pump for transforming the compressed vapor into a distilled product. Other embodiments of the invention are directed toward heat management, and other process enhancements for making the system especially efficient.
US08517039B2
Assembly of multiple individual fluid pressure control solenoid valves and an individual fluid temperature sensor so packaged relative to a respective one of the individual solenoid valves as to permit direct or indirect fluid temperature measurement at individual solenoid valves. The assembly can include a lead-frame support (e.g. a printed circuit board) having multiple individual fluid pressure control solenoid valves and an individual transmission oil temperature sensor disposed on the lead-frame support in an oil passage that communicates to an output flow port of a respective one of the individual solenoid valves to provide transmission oil temperature information to a transmission electronic control unit, wherein the transmission electronic control unit provides command signals to the individual solenoid valves in response to the individual transmission oil temperature input signals associated with an individual solenoid valve to achieve more accurate pressure control.
US08517031B2
A system for determining a position of a medical device within a body is provided that reduces positional error by establishing a reference origin closer to the device and/or simplifies the system by integrating components and functions. In one embodiment, a pair of drive electrodes are affixed to opposed surfaces of the body and create a pathway for transmission of current through a position sensor related to the medical device. A pair of reference electrodes proximate the drive electrodes are coupled to a common reference node outputting a reference signal establishing the reference origin. An electronic control unit determines the position of the medical device responsive to the position signal and the reference signal. In another embodiment, a patch affixed to an external surface of the body has a base layer and multiple devices supported on the base layer, electrically isolated from one another, and configured to perform different functions.
US08517029B2
Device (1) for treating breathing problems, comprising a lower part (2) mountable on the lower jaw and an upper part (3) mountable on the upper jaw; and left and right coupling means (4) for coupling the lower part to the upper part close to the back teeth; wherein each of the left and right coupling means comprises an upper coupling element (6) connected to the upper part and a lower coupling element (5) connected to the lower part; which left and right coupling means are adapted to move the lower jaw forward in relation to the upper jaw, wherein the upper coupling element is provided with a stop (13) for co-action with a contact surface (12) of the lower coupling element.
US08517024B2
An elbow assembly for a mask system includes an elbow including a slot and a port, an anti-asphyxia valve adapted to be received within the slot and including a flap portion adapted to selectively close the port depending on the presence of pressurized gas, and a clip member to secure the anti-asphyxia valve to the elbow. The clip member includes a slot that is adapted to interlock with a protrusion provided to the anti-asphyxia valve.
US08517023B2
A mask system for delivering breathable gas to a patient includes a common frame provided without built-in or integral headgear attachment points and at least first and second headgear connectors adapted to be provided to the frame. Each of the at least first and second headgear connectors are adapted to attach headgear straps of headgear. The at least first and second headgear connectors are different from one another in at least one aspect.
US08517022B2
A light weight securable nasal cannula and system including the nasal cannula for delivering therapeutic gas, e.g., oxygen, to the nostrils of a patient. The nasal cannula may include a hollow body having at least one inhale aperture defined therein and at least one nasal insert therein. Each nasal insert may include a nasal insert tube associated with the nasal insert of the body. Each nasal insert may further include at least one exhale aperture adjacent to the nasal insert tube, wherein each of the exhale apertures, either alone or in combination, has a cross-sectional area greater than a cross-sectional area of the nasal insert tube. Each nasal insert may further include an annular sleeve surrounding the nasal insert tube and the at least one exhale aperture, the annular sleeve including a contact surface formed thereon and configured for placement against an inside surface of the nostril to achieve a friction fit.
US08517015B2
Methods and systems for delivering a pharmaceutical gas to a patient. The methods and systems provide a known desired quantity of the pharmaceutical gas to the patient independent of the respiratory pattern of the patient over a plurality of breaths every nth breath, where n is greater than or equal to 1. The pharmaceutical gases include CO and NO, both of which are provided as a concentration in a carrier gas. The gas control system determines the delivery of the pharmaceutical gas to the patient to result in the known desired quantity (e.g. in molecules, milligrams or other quantified units) of the pharmaceutical gas being delivered. Upon completion of that known desired quantity of pharmaceutical gas over a plurality of breaths, the system can either terminate, continue, activate and alarm, etc.
US08517013B2
Systems and methods provide for coordinated cardiac pacing with delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a patient. Managing cardiac pacing in a patient during a cardiac arrhythmia involves detecting a cardiac arrhythmia using a patient implantable medical device, prompting a cardiopulmonary resuscitation compression, and delivering, using the patient implantable medical device, a pacing pulse to a heart chamber in coordination with the compression prompt.
US08517012B2
A multiple stage variable speed blower for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilation of patients includes two impellers in the gas flow path that cooperatively pressurize gas to desired pressure and flow characteristics. Thus, the multiple stage blower can provide faster pressure response and desired flow characteristics over a narrower range of motor speeds, resulting in greater reliability and less acoustic noise.
US08517008B2
A modular panel for a solar boiler includes an inlet header, an outlet header, and a plurality of tubes fluidly connecting the inlet header to the outlet header. The tubes are substantially coplanar with one another forming a solar receiver surface and an opposed internal surface. The panel is modular in terms of height, width, number of tubes, and size of tubes, for improved handling of high heat flux and resultant thermally induced stresses.
US08517000B2
A fuel enhancer device provides a substantially higher miles per gallon gas saving of at least ten (10) miles per gallon for motor vehicles powered by fuel-injected, internal combustion engines. The device pre-heats the fuel, and subjects the fuel to a magnetic field, prior to the fuel's entry into the engine fuel injectors. The device is simple to install within a fuel line system next to an engine's bank of fuel injectors.
US08516997B2
A fuel pump temperature is regulated by selectively directing liquid fuel to an expansion section to evaporate the liquid fuel and create a drop in temperature to thermally cool the fuel pump.
US08516994B2
A fuel injection system is described, and which has an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion includes a source of fuel, the fuel inlet of a fuel injection servo or flow regulator, and a first fuel flow line connected in fuel flowing relation relative to the source of fuel and to the fuel inlet of the fuel injection servo. The downstream portion includes a flow divider, at least one fuel outlet of the fuel injection servo, and a second fuel flow line connected in fuel flowing relation relative to the flow divider and the fuel outlet of the fuel injection servo. A fuel accumulator pressure damper is mounted in fuel flowing relation relative to the downstream portion of the fuel injection system so as to substantially reduce standing waves in the fuel injection system.
US08516991B2
To improve an ignitability to a fuel having a low compressed ignitability in a combustion chamber in a compressed self-ignition diffusive combustion mode operation. In a multi-fuel internal combustion engine operated by introducing at least one type of fuel among at least two types of fuels having different properties into a combustion chamber or introducing a mixed fuel composed of at least the two types of fuels into the combustion chamber, an electronic control unit is provided with a fuel characteristics detection means that detects an ignitability index value as an index showing a compressed ignitability of a fuel itself introduced into the combustion chamber, and a fuel injection control means that previously injects, when a compressed self-ignition diffusive combustion is performed using a fuel in the combustion chamber, which is determined to have a low compressed ignitability based on the ignitability index value, the fuel at a predetermined timing in a period from an intake stroke to a compression stroke, and thereafter mainly injects the fuel and introduces the fuel having the low compressed ignitability into the combustion chamber.
US08516990B1
A hybrid engine including a set of sequencing generators, an electric motor, and a rotary internal combustion engine, including pivotal vane elements mounted on a rotor and biased into engagement to sequentially form intake, compression, combustion and exhaust chambers between the rotor and its housings annular inner wall.
US08516986B2
An intake tube for an air intake system of a vehicle is provided. The air intake system is located upstream of an intake manifold and includes an intake enclosure and an air precleaner. The intake tube directs a flow of air from the intake enclosure to the air precleaner. The intake tube comprises a first end section, a second end section and a curved section. The first end section is connected to the intake enclosure and has a first longitudinal axis. An inner surface of the first end section defines a first section air passage. The second end section is connected to the air precleaner and has a second longitudinal axis. The inner surface of the second end section defines a second section air passage. The curved section is located between the first and second end sections. The curved section has a third longitudinal axis. An inner surface of the curved section defines a curved air passage. The curved section includes a compressed portion having a minor dimension and a major dimension. The major dimension is greater than the minor dimension so that the flow of air through the curved air passage has minimal separation which increases flow rate into the air precleaner.
US08516980B2
A method for operating an engine with a fuel reformer is presented. In one embodiment a method for operating an engine by injecting a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel to at least an engine cylinder is presented. The method may prioritize the injection of the gaseous fuel in response to an amount of gaseous fuel stored in a fuel storage tank.
US08516979B2
One example embodiment includes a retractable leash for restraining an animal attached to the retractable leash. The retractable leash includes a housing and a spool in the housing. The retractable leash also includes a leash, where the leash is wound around the spool and at least a portion of the leash can extend from the housing. The retractable leash further includes a cam, where the cam is configured to be forced outward against the housing when the spool rotates at a high rate.
US08516977B2
An animal toy features the ability to connect two or more separate toys of varying shape, size, color, and/or texture, together to create larger and more complex toy systems. The animal toy allows an almost endless variety of toy systems to capture the interest as well as challenge and develop the animal's problem solving skills. The animal toy is either solid or include internal chambers for holding and ultimately dispensing food. When two or more toys with the internal chambers are combined the food may flow from the chamber of one toy into another toy several times before exiting the toy system. The increased problem of extracting the food challenges and develops the animal's skills. Moreover, by combining solid and food dispensing toys in random combinations further increases the problem solving skills required to completely extract the food from the toy system.
US08516975B2
A pet feeding system for separating spilled food from spilled water comprises a housing having a contained feeding area and at least one opening used to separate spilled food from spilled water. The system may include a sloped surface extending downward from a bowl region toward a collection region. A method for collecting spilled food and spilled water from a pet feeding system includes the step of separating spilled water from spilled food.
US08516969B2
A direct drive electric seed metering system is provided for use with a row crop planter or seed planter that intakes a volume of multiple seeds from a seed hopper, draws individual seeds from the volume of multiple seeds and discharges them into a seed furrow formed in an agricultural field. The direct drive electric seed metering system includes a meter assembly having a meter housing and a seek disk rotatably mounted concentrically in the housing for singulating the seeds. A direct drive mechanism is mounted to the meter assembly for interfacing and driving the seek disk at an angular velocity which corresponds to the travel velocity of the seed planter. A single seed planter can have multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems, and each of the multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems preferably has its own prime mover to effectuate driving the seek disk.
US08516964B2
The invention relates to a cartridge having a propellant charge casing at least partially filled with a propellant charge powder, and a projectile part connected on a front of the propellant charge casing, wherein the propellant charge casing comprises a casing cover, a casing sheath and a casing base, and the casing sheath is connected to the projectile part via the casing cover and to the casing base via a spring steel sheet. In order to achieve different amounts of propellant charge powder filled into the same propellant charge casing without igniting the propellant charge at undesirable blast waves, a sack-shaped container that is completely filled with the respective amount of propellant charge powder is disposed inside the propellant charge casing so that the container, and thus also the propellant charge powder, extends in the direction of the central longitudinal axis of the cartridge.
US08516950B2
The invention concerns a center arm for holding an upper grilling or roasting plate, the center arm having a substantially vertical supporting section and a holding section which is arranged pivotably on the vertical supporting section and on which is arranged the upper grilling or roasting plate, which is distinguished in that the pivot shaft of the holding section is formed and arranged approximately at the point of intersection S of the center axes M1 and M2 of the holding section on the one hand and the supporting section on the other hand. Furthermore the invention concerns a contact grilling or roasting device having such a center arm.
US08516942B2
An extensible protection system, comprises a frame that can be deployed around a central tube of longitudinal axis, comprising two ends, a frame covering fabric, the frame having at least two pairs of rigid tubes, two rigid tubes of one pair, in a respective axial plane passing through the longitudinal axis, being articulated by one of their ends to a respective yoke, of which yokes one is secured to one of the ends of the central tube, and the other is secured to the other end of said central tube, the other free ends of the rigid tubes being able to move in the axial plane of the pair, one semirigid tube per pair of rigid tubes, in said axial plane of the pair, comprising at each of its ends a piston, each piston of a semirigid tube being able to slide fluidtightly in each one of the rigid tubes of the pair in order to form a pressurizing chamber in each of the rigid tubes, the protection system further comprising a device for pressurizing the chambers of the rigid tubes in order to cause the pistons to move in the rigid tubes and cause the system to change from a folded position to a deployed position.
US08516939B1
Restraint release devices, systems and methods may enable actuation of a release function without using chemically energetic or thermally sensitive devices, and may employ an electromagnetic (EM) force to mechanically separate components of a fastener. A pulsed power system having a capacitive discharge circuit may be used to supply an electric current pulse to generate the EM force. The EM force can be applied to a retaining wire that surrounds and holds intact a segmented fastener. The EM force may cause the retaining wire to increase in length, thereby relaxing its hold on the segmented fastener and allowing the segments to separate and release the restraint mechanism. Restraint mechanisms using such EM restraint release devices, systems and methods may not need periodic recertification or replacement of energetics and may not have a risk of cook-off resulting from heat soak of thermally sensitive devices during operational and fault scenarios.
US08516938B2
A weapon interface system, and methods of operating the same. The weapon interface system is coupled to an electrical interconnection system of a delivery platform and a weapon system coupled to a rack system. The weapon interface system includes a translation interface configured to provide an interface between the electrical interconnection system and an inductive power and data circuit. The weapon interface system also includes a weapon coupler, coupled to the translation interface, configured to provide an inductive coupling to the weapon system to provide mission information thereto.
US08516935B2
A cutting tool is described comprising a cutting insert with an upper surface, a lower surface, a side surface, and a cutting blade formed at the intersection of the upper surface and the side surface, and a holder comprising an insert pocket to which the cutting insert is attached. The cutting insert is attached to the holder in such a manner that the cutting blade projects outward from the front end surface and the outer peripheral surface of the holder. The holder comprises in the outer peripheral surface on a rear end side with respect to the cutting blade a concave curve-shaped first wall surface portion that extends from the vicinity of the insert pocket toward the rear end side. The lower end of the front-end-side edge of the first wall surface portion is disposed at a lower position than the cutting blade.
US08516924B2
A harmonic drive includes a circular rigid internal gear, a circular flexible external gear, a wave generator, a cover, and a fan blade. The circular flexible external gear is disposed in the circular rigid internal gear, and the wave generator has at least one through hole and is disposed in the circular flexible external gear. The cover and the fan blade are respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the wave generator, and the cover is located in the circular flexible external gear. The cover and the wave generator form an air chamber together, and the through hole and an air flow opening are respectively in communication with the air chamber. The wave generator operates to drive the fan blade to operate. The fan blade rotates to generate an air flow, thus performing heat dissipation on the harmonic drive.
US08516920B2
A wrist housing, a wrist rotatably connected to the wrist housing, a first driver, a first transmission mechanism, a rotary member, a second driver, and a second transmission mechanism makes a robot arm assembly. The wrist housing is hollow. The first driver is assembled within the wrist housing for driving the wrist to rotate relative to the wrist housing along a first rotary axis. The first transmission mechanism is also assembled within the wrist housing and is positioned between the wrist and the first driver. The rotary member is rotatably assembled to a distal end of the wrist along a second rotary axis. The second driver is assembled within the wrist housing for driving the rotary member to rotate. The second transmission mechanism is assembled within the wrist housing, and is positioned between the second driver and the rotary member.
US08516917B2
An exemplary translational branch joint for a parallel robot includes a swing arm connected to a four-bar linkage. The four-bar linkage includes two parallel connecting bars, a first link member, a second link member, and joint members. The first link member and the second link member connect the connecting bars. Each joint member comprises a first joint portion and a second joint portion extending from the first joint portion. The first joint portion has a first axis, and the second joint portion has a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The first joint portions of the joint members are rotatably connected to ends of the first link member and the second link member, and the second joint portions of the joint members are rotatably connected to ends of the connecting bars.
US08516903B2
A mounting assembly for adjusting the position of an electronic module along a first axis, a second axis, and a third axis, in which the first, second, and third axes are all perpendicular to each other, includes a first adjustment block, a second adjustment block, and a third adjustment block. The first adjustment block is movable along the first axis and the second axis and is mounted against movement along the third axis. The second adjustment block is coupled to the first adjustment block, is movable along the second axis, and is mounted against movement along the first and third axes. The third adjustment block is disposed between the first adjustment block and the second adjustment block, is movable along the second and third axes, and is mounted against movement along the first axis.
US08516900B2
A process fluid flow system is provided having an input, an output, and a plurality of fluid circuits disposed between the input and output. At least one valve is disposed to selectably cause process fluid to flow through either a first circuit of the plurality of circuits, or a second circuit of the plurality of circuits. Process fluid flows through the first circuit during normal production, and through the second circuit during process fluid sequestration. A process fluid flow measurement device is operably interposed between the input and output and configured to measure total flow through the system. A separator is disposed in the second circuit and is arranged to allow the process fluid to separate gravitationally over time into immiscible components of the process fluid, the separator having a known internal volume. A guided wave radar level measurement device is preferably disposed to measure heights of interfaces within the separator. A controller is coupled to at least one valve, the process fluid flow measurement system, and the guided wave radar level measurement device. The controller is configured to combine total process fluid flow information from the process fluid flow measurement device with measured height information from the guided wave level measurement device to provide fractional flow rates for at least one immiscible component of the process fluid.
US08516897B1
The present disclosure relates to pressure sensor assemblies and methods. The pressure sensor assembly may include a first substrate, a second substrate and a sense die. The first substrate may be connected to the second substrate, such that an aperture in the first substrate is in fluid communication with an aperture in the second substrate. The second substrate may be connected to the sense die, such that the aperture in the second substrate is in fluid communication with a sense diaphragm on the second substrate. The pressure sensor assembly may include a media path that extends through the aperture in the first substrate, through the aperture in the second substrate, and to the sense die. In some cases, the first substrate, the second substrate and the sense die may be connected in a manner that does not include an adhesive.
US08516890B2
An acceleration sensor having a substrate, at least one web, and a seismic mass, the web and the seismic mass being situated over a plane of the substrate. The seismic mass is situated on at least two sides of the web and elastically suspended on the web. The web is anchored on the substrate with the aid of at least one anchor. At least one anchor is situated outside the center of gravity of the seismic mass.
US08516889B2
A MEMS resonant accelerometer is disclosed, having: a proof mass coupled to a first anchoring region via a first elastic element so as to be free to move along a sensing axis in response to an external acceleration; and a first resonant element mechanically coupled to the proof mass through the first elastic element so as to be subject to a first axial stress when the proof mass moves along the sensing axis and thus to a first variation of a resonant frequency. The MEMS resonant accelerometer is further provided with a second resonant element mechanically coupled to the proof mass through a second elastic element so as to be subject to a second axial stress when the proof mass moves along the sensing axis, substantially opposite to the first axial stress, and thus to a second variation of a resonant frequency, opposite to the first variation.
US08516887B2
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for making and using gyroscopes. Such gyroscopes may include a central anchor, a sense frame disposed around the central anchor, a plurality of sense beams configured for connecting the sense frame to the central anchor and a drive frame disposed around and coupled to the sense frame. The gyroscope may include pairs of drive beams disposed on opposing sides of the sense frame. The gyroscope may include a drive frame suspension for substantially restricting a drive motion of the drive frame to that of a substantially linear displacement along the first axis. The sense frame may be substantially decoupled from drive motions of the drive frame. Such devices may be included in a mobile device, such as a mobile display device.
US08516886B2
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for making and using gyroscopes. Such gyroscopes may include a sense frame, a proof mass disposed outside the sense frame, a pair of anchors and a plurality of drive beams. The plurality of drive beams may be disposed on opposing sides of the sense frame and between the pair of anchors. The drive beams may connect the sense frame to the proof mass. The drive beams may be configured to cause torsional oscillations of the proof mass substantially in a first plane of the drive beams. The sense frame may be substantially decoupled from the drive motions of the proof mass. Such devices may be included in a mobile device, such as a mobile display device.
US08516883B2
Included are systems and methods for determining a fill level of an inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir as a source for medicine, where the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir has a monotonically decreasing fill level. Some embodiments of a device include a stop surface designed and arranged such that the stop surface contacts the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir while the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir is filled above a predetermined level. Similarly, some embodiments of the device additionally include a release detector that generates an output signal indicative of contact between the stop surface and the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir being released and a processing unit for determining the fill level of the inflow-less flexible medicine reservoir from an output signal of the release detector.
US08516878B2
In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes an oxygen depletion sensor (ODS) includes a thermocouple, a first nozzle configured to direct heat from combustion of a first gas, liquid, or combination thereof to the thermocouple, a second nozzle configured to direct heat from combustion of a second gas, liquid, or combination thereof to the thermocouple, and a first igniter.
US08516874B2
A stamping tool for forming a stamped metal panel used as part of a pillar of a motor vehicle is provided. The stamped metal panel is arcuate and has a u-shaped cross-section, the arcuate panel including a transitional portion so as to avoid a die lock condition. The tool includes an upper die, and a lower die, and transitional portion surfaces. The transitional portion surfaces tapers as the transitional portion surface extends from the ends of respective upper and lower dies to a first point. The transitional portion is substantially tangential with at least the first wall surfaces of the dies to facilitate removal of the panel from between upper and lower dies of a stamping tool.
US08516868B2
Provided is a die for shear drawing capable of performing continuous drawing and shear deformation at the same time. The die for shear drawing includes a material processing channel in which a material is sheared and drawn while passing therethrough, wherein the processing channel includes an inlet path positioned at a front end thereof, and an outlet path positioned at a rear end thereof, when viewed from a movement direction of a material. The inlet path and the outlet path are connected to intersect a central axes thereof at a certain angle, and the processing channel includes a cross-section reduction segment allowing an outlet cross-sectional area of the outlet path to be smaller than an inlet cross-sectional area of the inlet path to thereby draw out a material from an exit of the outlet path with the material filled therein.
US08516864B2
A latch apparatus for providing secure storage to an enclosure is disclosed. The latch apparatus can include an actuating device that operates to lock or unlock the latch apparatus in response to a control signal. The control signal can be communicated to the latch apparatus through an RF or other transmitted signal or through hardwires connecting the latch apparatus to the remote device. The latch apparatus can be maintained in either a locked state or an unlocked state without having to continuously supply power to the latch apparatus. The latch apparatus can include a latch hook that can be detent biased to both the open position and the closed position while the latch apparatus is in either a locked state or an unlocked state. The latch hook can move from the open position to the closed position while the latch apparatus is in a locked state. The latch apparatus can also have a thickness such that the latch apparatus will fit in the gap in which drawer slide hardware for an enclosure is installed.
US08516861B2
Disclosed herein is a washing machine having the structure to reinforce fastening bosses (100) formed on a front surface of a tub (56) to mount a balance weight (90). The washing machine comprises a tub (56) having a gasket coupling part (80) to which a gasket (50) is coupled, a plurality of fastening bosses (100) formed on a circumference about a central axis of the tub (56) to secure a balance weight (90), and a plurality of ribs (310) to reinforce the fastening bosses (100), wherein at least one of the ribs (310) formed in an outer direction of the tub (56) around each fastening boss (100) is thicker than the ribs (310) formed towards the central axis of the tub (56).
US08516855B2
A method for producing an optical fiber preform. Glass soot particles are formed by jetting and combusting a gaseous glass-forming material and a fuel gas from a burner in the presence of oxygen. The glass soot particles are deposited on a deposition rod while rotating the deposition rod about its axis and reciprocating the burner in parallel to the deposition rod so as to form the preform and varying at least one of the translation velocity of the burner and the rotation velocity of the rod so as to obtain a predetermined radial soot density distribution in the preform.
US08516842B2
A climate control device includes a first and a second thermal module. The first module is configured to provide climate conditioned air to a first portion of a seat. The second module is configured to provide climate conditioned air to a second portion of the seat. A control system is provided for controlling the climate control device. The control system includes an input device for providing a set point for the system. A first control unit of the control system is provided for the first thermal module and a second control unit is provided for the second thermal module.
US08516841B2
A heating and air conditioning device 20 for an automotive vehicle, including a refrigerant circuit 4 in which a refrigerant circulates between three distinctive units 6, 10, 14 exchanging with respective secondary liquid loops 8, 12, 16. An evaporating unit 6 is dedicated to the evaporation of the refrigerant when operating in a cooling mode. A cooling unit 10 is dedicated to the cooling or condensation of the refrigerant when operating in the cooling mode as well as operating in the heating mode. A reversible unit 14 is dedicated to the evaporation of the refrigerant when operating in the heating mode and dedicated to the cooling or condensation of the refrigerant when operating in the cooling mode.
US08516836B2
A method of adding refrigerant to an air conditioning system. The method includes measuring a first pressure inside of the air conditioning system and a second pressure inside of a container that holds refrigerant being added to the air conditioning system. The method also includes comparing the difference between the two measured pressures to empirical data in order to determine how long to pulse additional refrigerant into the air conditioning system. In addition, an apparatus configured to add refrigerant to an air conditioning system.
US08516832B2
A controller for a thermoelectric cooling system comprises a sensor input that receives input from a sensor that measures a performance parameter of a thermoelectric cooling system. The thermoelectric cooling system comprises a plurality of thermoelectric devices electrically coupled in a combination of in series and in parallel with one another and electrically driven by a common driver. The controller also comprises a voltage control signal output, a processor, and a non-transitory memory having stored thereon a program executable by the processor to perform a method of controlling the thermoelectric cooling system. The method comprises receiving sensor data from the sensor input, determining a parameter of the voltage control signal based on the input sensor data, and transmitting a voltage control signal having the parameter to the driver to control heat transfer by the plurality of thermoelectric devices. The voltage control signal may include a pulse width modulation signal having a pulse width modulation duty cycle, or a variable voltage control signal having a percentage of the maximum voltage of the variable voltage control signal.
US08516828B2
An assembly and method for providing buffer air and/or ventilation air within a gas turbine engine, the assembly includes an accessory gearbox and a centrifugal compressor. The accessory gearbox is connected to a driven shaft of the gas turbine engine. The centrifugal compressor is driven by the accessory gearbox during operation of the gas turbine engine to receive and compress a bleed air to produce the buffer air and/or the ventilation air. The buffer air and/or the ventilation air is communicated within the gas turbine engine.
US08516824B2
A gas ejection cone for an aircraft turbojet, the cone including a hollow main body defining, on the outside, a radially inner skin of an annular primary flow channel, and a device generating turbulence in the primary flow limiting jet noise, mounted so as to move on the main body so as to be able to be displaced from an extracted position in which the device projects toward downstream in relation to a downstream end of the hollow main body, and a retracted position in which the device is retracted into the hollow main body, and vice versa. Further, the device includes a cylindrical support body having an axis parallel to an axis of the ejection cone, and at least one fin supported by the body.
US08516811B2
In the oil pressure system, a control unit sets a flow passage changeover valve to be in a merging state, and sets a relief pressure to a low relief pressure via a relief pressure changeover unit in the case that the rotational speed of the engine is lower than a predetermined threshold level. Also, the control unit sets the flow passage changeover valve to be in a branching state, and sets the relief pressure to a high relief pressure via the relief pressure changeover unit in the case that the rotational speed of the engine is the predetermined threshold level or higher.
US08516805B2
Disclosed is a hydraulic drive system for a working machine, which enables to conduct forced regeneration continuously for a sufficient time. Based on an input of a lock detection signal S1 from a gate lock detection switch 40, a controller 50 detects that a gate lock lever 32 for controlling a gate lock on/off valve 33 is in a locked state, in other words, hydraulic actuators such as an arm cylinder 12 arranged on a hydraulic excavator 1 are all in non-operated states. Upon an input of a forced regeneration command signal So from a forced regeneration switch 53 in this detected state, control signals Cp,Cf are outputted to a boosting control valve 51 and regulator 52 to make a forced regeneration means (an arm cylinder control valve 27 and the regulator 52) conduct forced regeneration.
US08516801B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine which can properly purge at least NOx of unpurified components contained in exhaust gas while considering characteristics of NOx desorbed from an adsorbent. A bypass passage 18 bypassing a main exhaust passage 12 of the internal combustion engine 10 is provided. A HC/NOx adsorbent 22 having a function of adsorbing HC and NOx is provided in the bypass passage 18. A second underfloor catalyst 30 is provided downstream of the adsorbent 22. A purge passage 26 branching off from the bypass passage 18 while connecting to an intake passage is provided. An exhaust switching valve 20 and a purge control valve 28 are provided as a flow path switching means that is capable of switching a flow target into which the exhaust gas flows between the main exhaust passage 12 and the bypass passage 18. If the purging operations are executed, the intake purging operation is first executed. After that, the intake purging operation is switched to the exhaust purging operation at a timing existing after the purge of NOx is completed and at the time point at which the temperature of the adsorbent becomes stable.
US08516792B2
A system for managing heat fluxes of an aircraft is provided, including a fuel tank supplying a turbomachine with fuel via a fuel supply circuit; a cell cooling circuit connected to a thermal effluents source, which integrates a first heat exchanger ensuring heat transfer between a coolant circulating in the cell cooling circuit and air flow channeled into a cooling air channel extending from an air intake to an exhaust; and a second heat exchanger ensuring a heat transfer between the coolant circulating in the cell cooling circuit and the fuel. The air intake includes a blocker to open/close it. The system includes a fuel transfer circuit, which connects the fuel tank to the second heat exchanger and provides fuel to the second heat exchanger, including a valve selectively changing a fuel supply direction from the second heat exchanger between the directions of the tank and the fuel supply circuit.
US08516778B1
An insulated wall stud for reducing the energy loss via a wall stud. The insulated wall stud generally includes a first board, a second board, a plurality of brackets attaching the first board to the second board defining a space between thereof, and insulation material positioned between the boards within the space. The insulation material increases the thermal resistance of the wall stud.
US08516777B2
Wall panels and building walls, comprising inner and outer layers, and spaced reinforcing webs extending between the inner and outer layers. Optionally studs extend inwardly from the inner layer away from the outer layer with one of the stud legs on each stud being aligned with one of the reinforcing webs, or the building load delivered to an underlying footer varies less than 50% per 10 foot length of the wall, or height of the wall varies no more than 0.25 inch over a 40 foot length of the wall. The resulting wall panel can provide tough, water-proof, otherwise weather-proof, building systems and buildings.
US08516776B2
A fire-prevention structure for buildings includes at least a first fire-prevention district, a fire-prevention floor slab, and a second fire-prevention district. The first fire-prevention district having at least a steel-structured story further includes a plurality of first steel columns and a plurality of first steel beams. The first steel column is a hollow rectangular column with an upper end opening. The first steel beam is connected to a lateral side of the first steel column. The fire-prevention floor slab is constructed on top of the first steel beams and partly inside the end opening of the first steel column. The second fire-prevention district having at least a steel-structured story further includes a plurality of second steel columns and a plurality of second steel beams. The second steel column has a lower end portion further extruding an engagement plate and an engagement column. The engagement plate is fixed to the fire-prevention floor slab through anchor bolting, and the engagement column is protruded into the end opening of the first steel column.
US08516774B2
Disclosed are apparatus and corresponding methodology for providing a base support, such as including concrete, and used such as for a wind-driven generator. Precast concrete cylinders are stacked in place upon a platform that may be partially precast and partially cast in place during assembly and supported, in certain embodiments, by plural concrete legs, the other ends of which are supported on a unitary or subdivided concrete foundation. In other embodiments, the platform may be supported by ribbed concrete panels. The concrete cylinders are glued together using an epoxy and then secured by an internal vertical post tension system extending from the platform to the upper most cylinder. Different types of concrete are used between upper and lower sections of the stacked cylinders. The lower section uses reinforced concrete while the upper section used ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete.
US08516759B2
In one form of building structure, trim installations are applied around window or door frame openings and at internal or external corners of a building. The trim serves both an aesthetic purpose in adding a decorative feature to building envelopes and also adds an additional weatherproofing purpose in allowing for more complete weatherproofing of building envelope corners and openings. The present invention relates to a concealed fastening building finishing element system that enables concealed fastening of finishing elements such as trim components, fascia boards, frieze boards, belly band boards, and the like to an underlying structure and to the fixings used in these systems. The invention is particularly useful with trim elements around window and door frame openings and at building corners.
US08516758B2
The lineal crown mouldings of the present invention comprise an elongated moulding with a front surface having a top front chamfer portion, a bottom front chamfer portion and a front non-planar decorative profile portion positioned between said top front chamfer portion and said bottom front chamfer portion and a back surface having a top back chamfer portion and a bottom back chamfer portion and a back non-planar decorative profile portion positioned between said top back chamfer portion and said bottom chamfer portion. The front surface and the back surface have substantially identical configurations inverted relative to each other about a vertical centre line from a top edge of said crown moulding to a bottom edge of said crown moulding.
US08516755B2
Supporting frame for an electrically active panel comprising a peripheral structure for receiving an electrically active panel, the peripheral structure including an internal electrical connector for connection to an electrically active panel carried by the frame, at least one first external electrical connector for connection to a first means external to the frame, and an electrical link for electrically linking at least the internal electrical connector to at least the first external electrical connector, the electrical linking link extending along the peripheral structure so as to be concealed by the peripheral structure, the peripheral structure comprising a hollow portion in which the electrical link is received. The peripheral structure is a framework consisting of tubular uprights, the internal electrical connector and external electrical connector extending through a wall of the uprights on which they are disposed and the electrical link extending inside the tubular uprights.
US08516749B2
A encapsulated window assembly may be fixed or movable upon installation into an opening in a vehicle body, particularly a vehicle roof. In order to keep air, water and/or dirt from entering the passenger compartment of the vehicle, an integral seal is molded onto a dielectric substrate material. The seal, upon installation of the assembly into the vehicle body opening, effectively closes the gap between the edge of the window assembly and the sheet metal surrounding the body opening, without the need for a post-applied seal, for example, a preformed bulb seal.
US08516748B2
A door edge protection device for a motor vehicle door, with a door edge protection profile (5) which is guided movably with respect to the door at least two points lying one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the door, the door edge protection profile (5) being driven via an eccentric lever (7) mounted rotatably in the door and the door edge protection profile (5) having a holding rod (6) which is guided by a linear guide (10) which is fixed in the door, the holding rod (6) being bent in the region of the linear guide (8, 9; 11).
US08516742B1
An automatic cloning apparatus is disclosed which comprises a housing having an interior divided into a plant compartment and a water compartment. The plant compartment has a plurality of porous net pockets adapted to allow plants to rest thereon and water to drain therethrough. Above the water compartment is a mixing area having a mist generator thereon. The mist generator is mounted to the housing and has a motor with a hollow tapered shaft extending downwardly therefrom into the water compartment. The shaft is tapered whereby when spinning rapidly, the combination of centripetal force on the water and the outwardly sloping inner surface of the tapered shaft forces water upwardly therein. A disk is mounted atop the open upper end of the tapered shaft and adapted to receive water therefrom. The disk throws the water off in a radial movement in small droplets in the mixing area and also forces air within the mixing area outwardly throughout the mixing area. This action mixes the air and the water within the mixing area and forces the resultant mixture through the cage to the plant compartment in a fine mist.
US08516741B2
A method and associated composition for growing plants is disclosed. The method includes the steps of mixing a gel precursor that is characterized by the ability to absorb water, form a viscous gel, provide water and nutrition to a plant, and remain capable of being reconstituted with a fresh supply of water, with a gel-forming nutrient composition in an amount sufficient to create a viscous gel, and adding a plant item selected from the group consisting of seeds and seedlings to the gel. An associated gel composition is disclosed that includes a gel precursor that is characterized by the ability to absorb water, form a viscous gel, provide water and nutrition to a plant, and remain capable of being reconstituted with a fresh supply of water, a plant nutrient composition, and a plant item selected from the group consisting of seeds and seedlings.
US08516736B2
A locking turret knob includes an adjustment member, a first member, and a second member. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about an axis of rotation. The first member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement member. The second member is disposed in proximity to the adjustment member and has at least one engagement surface. The adjustment member is adjustably positionable about the axis of rotation when each engagement member does not engage an engagement surface. The adjustment member is locked in a selected position about the axis of rotation when at least one engagement member engages an engagement surface. The adjustment member can be coupled to an adjuster of an optical enhancement device, such as a telescopic sight, a telescope or a microscope.
US08516734B2
Firearm supporting devices (e.g., firearm vises), methods of assembling firearm supporting devices, and methods of packaging firearm supporting devices are disclosed herein. One aspect is directed to a firearm supporting device for supporting a firearm having a first section and a second section spaced apart from the first section. In one such embodiment, a firearm supporting device includes a base, a first support for carrying the first section of the firearm, and a second support for carrying the second section of the firearm. The base includes a first portion and a second portion configured to be attached to the first portion. The first portion is fixed relative to the second portion when the first and second portions are attached. The first support is configured to project from the first portion of the base. The second support is configured to project from the second portion of the base.
US08516733B1
Shooting supports for rifles and other long barreled firearms are provided for. The novel shooting supports comprise a sleeve and a cushion member. The sleeve has a circumference such that the sleeve is adapted to fit over a forend of a long barreled firearm. The cushion member is carried on the sleeve. It is sized such that when the sleeve is fitted on the forend the cushion member may be positioned under the forend without extending over the forend.
US08516732B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a detachable swivel and associated mount. In one embodiment, a detachable swivel can be provided. The detachable swivel can include a housing with an axial cavity; at least one retention device; and an internal body operable to mount within the axial cavity, the internal body operable to contact the at least one retention device, wherein the internal body axially translates within the axial cavity between a first position and a second position; wherein an axial force applied to a portion of the internal body and away from the housing causes the internal body to translate between the first and second position.
US08516731B2
A firearm may have a plurality of power-consuming accessories that can be attached to the weapon. In order to reduce the weight of these power-consuming accessories, as well as the proliferation of their batteries, the Weapon Accessory Power Distribution System provides a common power source to power the power-consuming accessories attached to the weapon. One or more powered rails are provided on the handguard, which encircles the barrel of the weapon, to provide a point of mechanical and electrical interconnection for the power-consuming accessories to provide quick-connect mounting and dismounting of the power-consuming accessory, absent the use of connectors with their tethering cables, which are susceptible to entanglement. The Weapon Accessory Control System is provided to enable the user to control the activation of a power-consuming accessory as well as enable communications between the user and the accessory and among power-consuming accessories.
US08516728B2
Provided is a flexible display apparatus that includes: a flexible display apparatus including: a flexible display panel; a housing including an opening through which the flexible display panel enters and exits the housing; a cylinder disposed within the housing to coil and uncoil the flexible display panel; and a stretcher that selectively extends from the opening to support the flexible display panel, such that the flexible display panel is substantially planar when the flexible display panel is extended outside of the housing.
US08516723B2
An article of footwear is provided and includes an outsole structure having a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and a midfoot portion disposed between the forefoot portion and the heel portion. The midfoot portion includes a series of ribs cooperating to define a series of pockets disposed between the forefoot portion and the heel portion. The plurality of pockets include a smaller volume proximate to a longitudinal axis extending through a center of the outsole structure and a greater volume proximate to an outboard, lateral edge and an outboard, medial edge of the article of footwear.
US08516720B2
An article of footwear with an interchangeable pod system is disclosed. The interchangeable pod system includes an outsole, a pod set, and a cleat set. The pods are attached to the outsole by means of the members of the cleat set. Variations in the types of pods and cleats used allow a wearer to reconfigure the article of footwear in order to maximize performance on a given surface in a given set of surface conditions as well as other parameters.
US08516709B2
An apparatus for testing the accuracy of machine tools and measuring devices has a support and at least one reference element formed as a sleeve, wherein the reference element is glued on top of the support.
US08516707B2
An embodiment of the hand held implement is in the form of a pair of scissors (10), as shown for example in FIG. 1. The pair of scissors include a pair of blades (12, 13) which are pivotally mounted about pivot pin (11). The blades are fitted with plastic loop portions which form the handles (14, 15) of the scissors (10). Handle (15) includes a moveable portion in the form of gate (16) which is pivotally mounted about pin (18). Handle (14) is fitted with a latching arrangement in the form of a slidably moveable (latch 20) which cooperates with a T-shaped lug (24) (visible in FIGS. 2, 5a and 5b) to retain the handles together in a closed position, or to allow the handles to be separated.
US08516706B2
A shaver that includes a cartridge with one or more razor blades and a source of RF energy operative to apply RF energy to one or more of the blades. The cartridge can be attached to a handle for moving the cartridge along the surface of the skin. The cartridge may include a variety of configurations including one or more electrodes and one or more blades with the RF current conducting through any subset of the electrodes and blades, through the skin, thereby heating the skin to help facilitate the engagement of the blade with the hair on the skin surface.
US08516705B2
A method for manufacturing a bearing ring member for a rolling bearing unit is provided. In this method, a blank hollow cylindrical portion having a smaller diameter than a hollow cylindrical portion is formed, the blank hollow cylindrical portion is radially expanded to form the hollow cylindrical portion, and a raceway surface is formed on either inner or outer circumferential surface of the hollow cylindrical portion along a circumferential direction thereof.
US08516694B2
A method for manufacturing printed circuit board includes steps below. An inner substrate including a first electrically conductive layer is provided. A first electrically conductive pattern is formed in the first electrically conductive layer. The first electrically conductive pattern includes an exposed region and an attaching region. A protective layer is formed on the entire exposed region. A first adhesive layer and a second electrically conductive layer are laminated on a surface of the first electrically conductive pattern in the attaching region and a surface of the protective layer. A slit along a boundary of the exposed region passing through the second electrically conductive pattern and the first adhesive layer is defined. The second electrically conductive layer corresponding to the exposed region, the first adhesive layer corresponding to the exposed region and the protective layer is removed.
US08516687B2
A battery replacing apparatus includes a battery mount portion, vehicle hoist members, and a lifting-lowering means for lifting and lowering the battery mount portion. When attaching a battery unit to or detaching a battery unit from the battery support portion of an electric vehicle, the vehicle hoist members are moved together with the battery mount portion to be brought into contact with the vehicle body. The vehicle hoist members are formed like rods extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The vehicle hoist members are arranged on the left and right sides of the battery unit placed on the battery mount portion. The battery unit is attached to the battery support portion of the vehicle or detached from the battery support portion from below.
US08516685B2
In a method of manufacturing a disk drive device, a cleaning process and an assembly process are performed in succession in a clean room having a predetermined cleanness level. The cleaning process includes an alkali cleaning process, a first purified water cleaning process, a second purified water cleaning process, a spray cleaning process, a draining process and a drying process. In the first purified water cleaning process, purified water ultrasonic wave cleaning is sequentially performed on the base member of the disk drive device to be cleaned by using ultrasonic waves of frequencies of 40 kHz, 68 kHz and 132 kHz in purified water filled in a first purified water cleaning tank. The cleaned base member and other components having a predetermined cleanness level are assembled in the assembly process continuous from the cleaning process.
US08516683B2
Methods and apparatuses for an electronic assembly. The electronic assembly has a first object created and separated from a host substrate. The first object has a first electrical circuitry therein. A carrier substrate is coupled to the first object wherein the first object is being recessed below a surface of the carrier substrate. The carrier substrate further includes a first carrier connection pad and a second carrier connection pad that interconnect with the first object using metal connectors. A receiving substrate, which is substantially planar, including a second electrical circuitry, a first receiving connection pad, and a second receiving connection pad that interconnect with the second electrical circuitry using the metal connectors. The carrier substrate is coupled to the receiving substrate using the connection pads mentioned.
US08516682B2
A manufacturing method of a stator core of a rotating electrical machine includes a finishing process that simultaneously moves a coining punch divided in a circumferential direction and arranged around a helically stacked core to a center side in a radial direction and presses an outer surface of a core-back part of the helically stacked core while pressing an end side of the helically stacked core in an axial direction by a holding device.
US08516665B2
A fastener comprising two parts (502,514) separable along a separation axis, at least one part (502) comprising a magnet (510) establishing magnetic force along the separation axis; and a mechanical coupling having complementary elements (508,522) formed respectively on the two parts (502,514) of the fastener, the mechanical coupling being configured such that movement together of the two parts (502,514) under magnetic force causes automatic relative rotation of the parts (502,514) about the axis.
US08516660B2
A cable tie is revealed. The cable tie includes a slot base with an insertion hole, a belt and at least one fastener. At least one surface of the insertion hole is a slanted surface. Locking teeth is arranged at a surface of the belt. The fastener is mounted into the insertion hole of the slot base correspondingly. The fastener includes a slanted surface corresponding to the slanted surface of the slot base, and projecting teeth corresponding to the locking teeth of the belt. When the belt is inserted through the insertion hole of the slot base to bind objects tightly, the fastener is mounted into the insertion hole so that the projecting teeth of the fastener are engaged with the locking teeth of the belt so as to lock and fix the belt. The cable tie can be used again once the belt is released from the fastener.
US08516653B2
Handle has status indicators viewable by operator while viewing location being cleaned and using handle in ordinary cleaning position, and light illuminating location being cleaned. Indicators are LED lamps. Light is an LED lamp. Microphone senses particles and illuminates an indicator. Indicators and light are provided in a housing section that forms part of a housing for handle. Housing section may be integrated with the remainder of the housing, or may be unit that fits into remainder of housing. Light has central axis generally parallel, within approximately five degrees from parallel, with cleaning axis of handle. Indicators each have a central axis generally parallel, within approximately 5 degrees from parallel, with cleaning axis of handle. The indicators have limited beam angle. Indicator viewable over grasping section of handle from towards distal end of handle. The cleaner may be a vacuum cleaner, which may be a central vacuum cleaner.
US08516651B2
An autonomous floor-cleaning robot comprising a housing infrastructure including a chassis, a power subsystem; for providing the energy to power the autonomous floor-cleaning robot, a motive subsystem operative to propel the autonomous floor-cleaning robot for cleaning operations, a command and control subsystem operative to control the autonomous floor-cleaning robot to effect cleaning operations, and a self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem that includes a deck mounted in pivotal combination with the chassis, a brush assembly mounted in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to sweep up particulates during cleaning operations, a vacuum assembly disposed in combination with the deck and powered by the motive subsystem to ingest particulates during cleaning operations, and a deck adjusting subassembly mounted in combination with the motive subsystem for the brush assembly, the deck, and the chassis that is automatically operative in response to an increase in brush torque in said brush assembly to pivot the deck with respect to said chassis. The autonomous floor-cleaning robot also includes a side brush assembly mounted in combination with the chassis and powered by the motive subsystem to entrain particulates outside the periphery of the housing infrastructure and to direct such particulates towards the self-adjusting cleaning head subsystem.
US08516645B2
A toothbrush head having a bristle carrier, and bristles held in bristle holders, the bristle holders being connected to the bristle carrier by resilient connectors which cause the holders to move resiliently as brushing pressure is applied to the bristles and also cause the bristle holders to rotate. A suitable form of connector follows a conical surface between the bristle holder and bristle carrier.
US08516643B1
A sports towel constructed in the form of bag having an interior surface and an exterior surface wherein soil on the interior surface is prevented from transfer to the exterior surface is provided. The towel includes a bag-shaped body constructed of a fabric material. The body has opposing first and second ends and a continuous peripheral wall extending between said first and said second ends. The first end being closed and together with said peripheral wall defining an interior space within said body. The second end being open and providing access into said interior space. The peripheral wall including an interior surface that includes two areas of dissimilar surfaces.
US08516636B2
A hybrid imaging system and a patient bed for same are disclosed. The hybrid imaging system includes a magnetic resonance scanner and a second modality imaging system spaced apart from the magnetic resonance scanner by a gap. In some embodiments, the gap is less than seven meters. The patient bed is disposed at least partially in the gap between the magnetic resonance scanner and the second modality imaging system, and includes a linearly translatable patient support pallet aligned to be selectively moved into an examination region of the magnetic resonance scanner for magnetic resonance imaging and into an examination region of the second modality imaging system for second modality imaging. In some embodiments, a linear translation range of the linearly translatable pallet is less than five times a length of the patient support pallet along the direction of linear translation.
US08516633B2
A mattress encasement with improved bed bug protection includes an encasement body configured to cover a mattress and a zipper disposed at an opening in the encasement body and movable between an open condition permitting insertion and removal of the mattress and a closed condition preventing bed bugs from traversing the zipper. The zipper has a zipper head and a zipper pull pivotable on the zipper head. A clasp is at least partly fixed to the encasement body. A hook-and-loop fastener is associated with the encasement body and the clasp for locking the zipper pull to the clasp with the zipper in the closed condition to prevent movement of the zipper head and opening of the zipper.
US08516632B2
The comfort quilt and a pillowcase combination has features that permit easy and efficient cleaning thereof. The quilt incorporates a housing or cover member that encapsulates an insert therein. The insert includes plastic sheathing that is stuffed with a soft insulating material. When the quilt is soiled, the insert is easily removed from the cover member so that the cover member can be cleaned (wash and dried). An electronic device (battery operated) is attached to the insert for emitting spiritual music or prayers for comfort. The pillowcase includes a facing member attached thereto. The facing member can be easily removed from the pillowcase.
US08516630B2
A convertible wheelchair having two self-propelling rear wheels and two front casters, electric controls for converting from a chair position to a reclined position by an electric actuator connected between a bottom panel of a frame and under a seat support, a backrest connected pivotally at intermediate points between sides of the frame, and a leg support pivotally connected to front corners of the frame and front ends of the seat support. The wheelchair may be secured adjacent to a bed by a mount disc on a center portion of the rear wheels enabling a user to safely convert the wheelchair to the reclined position by moving a switch of the electric controls. When reclined, the user may move over onto the bed without a caregiver's assistance, unless necessary.
US08516615B2
A protective garment comprising an outer shell having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The protective garment further comprising a moisture barrier layer, a thermal insulating layer and a mesh liner layer. The thermal insulating layer comprises at least one of a facecloth material, a batting material, a spunlace material and a felt material, and the mesh liner layer is unattached to the thermal insulating layer.
US08522357B2
A user playing a media file having ads on a playback device is able to automatically skip the ads during playback depending on the user's subscription level, as indicated in a user license or user account information. Whether an ad is automatically skipped may depend not only on the user license but also on attributes of the ad. An ad may have a skip-level which indicates the “importance” of the ad. If the advertiser wants to ensure that the ad will be seen and not be automatically skipped by a media playback unit, it can pay a higher price for the ad and the ad will be assigned a higher skip-level value. On the user subscription side, a user who wants to avoid ads may pay a higher subscription fee and have a user license that determines, via an auto-skip level value (“user level”), how many ads the user can automatically skip during playback of the media file. With a higher the auto-skip level value, the user is able to automatically skip more ads on the playback device.
US08522346B1
Files are protected against intrusion by badly behaving programs. An embodiment may define a file association between a kind of file on an operating system, and a program which normally opens that kind of file. An operation is detected whereby another file attempts to change the file association. When that happens, a recommendation is provided to a user of whether the user should change the file association and allow said different program to open the file. One embodiment may determine if there is another program which is masquerading as said file-associated program and prevent the masquerading program from opening the file.
US08522341B2
Systems and methods allow service-to-device mapping by which services are mapped onto best-suited smart items selected from a plurality of smart items of a sensor network. As part of the mapping, and/or subsequent thereto, a deployment of the service(s) onto the smart items is initiated. However, in some cases, the deployment may fail, or may only partially succeed. In such cases, one or more conditions of the deployment may be altered to obtain a modified, allowable deployment condition, so that the deployment may then proceed. As a result, users may achieve a desired result in a fast, convenient, and reliable manner, even when executing the deployment remotely or automatically.
US08522336B2
A gateway device that is in electronic connection with at least one client computer, a first domain name system (DNS) server located in a first communication network, and a second DNS server located in a second communication network separated from the first communication network. When a domain name is transmitted to both the first DNS server and the second DNS server, the first DNS server and the second DNS server respectively resolve the domain name into two groups of internet protocol (IP) addresses, and the gateway device compares the two groups of IP addresses with each other to select one of the two groups of IP addresses that is identified as all IP addresses of which are safe, and allows the client computer to access websites within the first communication network via the selected group of IP addresses to prevent the client computer from phishing attacks.
US08522323B1
A system and method identifies one of several security token services that can be used to convert an identity token into one containing content, a format and having a signature corresponding to a signing key name that a software service can use. The identification of the security token service that may be used to perform the conversion is made using machine readable information about the signing key name that the software service can use.
US08522322B2
A method, apparatus, method, machine-readable medium, and system are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes is a processor. The processor includes switching a platform firmware update mechanism located in a computer platform to a platform firmware armoring technology (PFAT) mode on a boot of the computer platform. The computer platform includes a platform firmware storage location that stores a platform firmware. The method then persistently locks the platform firmware storage location in response to the platform firmware update mechanism switching to the PFAT mode. When persistently locked, writes are only allowed to the platform firmware storage location by an Authenticated Code Module in the running platform and only after a platform firmware update mechanism unlocking procedure.
US08522319B2
A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process is provided. The process includes obtaining note content information representing note content included in a note if the note has been input to registered information; obtaining user specification information for specifying a user who has input the note; causing the note content information and the user specification information to be stored in a memory in association with the registered information; and outputting at least one of the registered information, and the note content information and the user specification information stored in the memory to a user as a request source, and not outputting at least the user specification information if the user as the request source is different from the user who has input the note, in response to a request for outputting information from the user as the request source.
US08522310B1
A system for securely providing psychometric information is disclosed. The system includes a psychometric information database storing the psychometric information, wherein the psychometric information corresponds to an individual, and wherein the psychometric information is derived from an interaction with the individual. The system includes a validation module configured to validate an entity requesting the psychometric information. The system further includes an authorization module configured to selectively allow usage of a portion of the psychometric information based at least in part on a type of the portion of the psychometric information and at least in part on the interaction from which the portion of the psychometric information was derived.
US08522308B2
Exemplary systems and methods for providing a spatial-input-based multi-user shared display session are disclosed herein. An exemplary system includes a spatial input subsystem configured to detect gestures made by a plurality of users within a physical user space associated with a display screen. The system further includes a shared display subsystem communicatively coupled to the spatial input subsystem and configured to authenticate the plurality of users, execute a multi-user shared display session that provides the plurality of authenticated users with concurrent control of a display on the display screen through the detected gestures, and control, based on a shared session heuristic, how at least one resource associated with the display is shared between the plurality of authenticated users during the multi-user shared display session. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08522306B2
Methods and apparatus are described for facilitating communication among a plurality of entities via an interoperability network. Each entity has policy data corresponding thereto governing interaction with the entity via the interoperability network. A message is transmitted from a first one of the entities to a second one of the entities. The first entity has first policy data corresponding thereto and the second entity has second policy data corresponding thereto. The transmitted message was handled in the network according to combined policy data representing a combination of the first and second policy data.
US08522303B2
A jukebox system, including a server that stores a master library of audiovisual selections; a plurality of jukeboxes, each of which is operable to store audiovisual selections received from the server and to play the audiovisual selections at the request of a user; a communication system through which the server and the jukeboxes communicate; wherein the server is operable to define authorized uses for the audiovisual selections received from the server; and further wherein the authorized uses correspond to various rights that third parties have in the audiovisual selections, the rights requiring by law or regulation payment of respective royalties; and further wherein the server maintains information on the authorized uses made by each of the jukeboxes and determines the amount of royalties due.
US08522299B2
The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method that manages media content. The disclosed system includes a component that synchronizes with a multimedia player that is in communication with the component. The component upon synchronization automatically determines an amount of storage space available on the handheld device and based at least in part on this available space, the component substitutes a first media presentation persisted on the storage space with a second media presentation retrieved from a media storage farm.
US08522298B2
Systems and methods according to the present invention provide methods, devices and systems for delivering media content to users. Broadcast audio and video streams can be synchronized for substantially simultaneous output by users. User feedback can be used to compose playlists of synchronized media.
US08522296B2
A broadcast receiving apparatus and a configuration method thereof are provided in which the broadcast receiving apparatus can be configured according to configuration setting values received from outside. The broadcast receiving apparatus is configured according to configuration setting values of the broadcast receiving apparatus, which are received from outside.
US08522294B2
A video generation device, system and method. The device, system and method may perform the configuration of the video generation device, and thus may include a configuration file and a file format. The device, system and method may include at least one processing unit communicative with at least one cable modem, at least one application specific output generated from the processing unit, and a plurality of inputs to at least one processing unit for receiving at least a video input, a management input, and a configuration input, wherein the configuration input may include configuration information for processing the other received inputs. In embodiments, the video input, the management input, and the configuration information may be processed by at least one processing unit to at least one application specific output.
US08522291B2
A video playback device, provided in a P2P-based network, comprises a channel pre-cached buffer, for storing a plurality of video blocks corresponding to a number of pre-cached channels; a display interface, for receiving a request for channel browsing from a viewer and executing playback of the video blocks pertaining to a selected channel indicated on the request; and an agent module, for receiving the request for channel browsing from the display interface, obtaining a seed/peer list pertaining to the selected channel indicated on the request, and downloading the video blocks from seed and/or peer nodes based on the seed/peer list; characterized in that the agent module applies an automatic refreshing mechanism for updating the corresponding video blocks to each pre-cached channel by supplying the most updated video blocks in the channel pre-cached buffer.
US08522286B2
A digital television (DTV) signal for use in a DTV receiver includes an extended text table (ETT) which includes a header and a message body. The header includes a table identification extension field which serves to establish uniqueness of the ETT, and the message includes an extended text message (ETM). If the ETT is an event ETT, the table ID extension field includes an event identification which specifies an identification number of an event associated with the ETT. On the other hand, if the ETT is a channel ETT, the table identification extension field includes a source identification which specifies a programming source of a virtual channel associated with the ETT. A section-filtering unit included in the DTV receiver is able to use table identification extension fields of a plurality of ETTs for section-filtering a pertinent event or channel ETT from the ETTs.
US08522264B2
A system and method for scheduling media for consumption via a demand broadcast channel based upon notifications received during user consumption of media. An embodiment of the present invention may employ notifications generated when users select media for consumption, to calculate one or more statistics. The statistics may be calculated and used by a media provider to schedule media into a demand broadcast channel in which the frequency of repetition or time of availability of the media is set according to a ranking of the relative frequency of requests for the media. The statistics may also be shared with a third party, to enable a third party media provider to arrange the scheduling of media availability according to the relative frequency of requests for the media.
US08522255B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for multi-tiered parsing of messages. A message that includes data characterizing values is received, the message is parsed to obtain the values as a first data type, and an instance of a value being of a second data type is generated in response to a request for the value. The requested value is one of the values characterized by the data in the message. The first and second data type are different, and, the second data type is associated with the requested value (e.g., the message may indicate that the first value is of the second data type). The parsing may be considered multi-tiered as parsing to obtain values as a first data type may be considered a first tier and generating an instance of a value as a second data type may be considered a second tier of an overall parsing technique.
US08522254B2
An integrated processor block of the network on a chip is programmable to perform a first function. The integrated processor block includes an inbox to receive incoming packets from other integrated processor blocks of a network on a chip, an outbox to send outgoing packets to the other integrated processor blocks, an on-chip memory, and a memory management unit to enable access to the on-chip memory.
US08522253B1
A method for tagging cache entries to support context switching for virtual machines and for operating systems. The method includes, storing a plurality of entries within a cache of a CPU of a computer system, wherein each of the entries includes a context ID, handling a first portion of the entries as local entries when the respective context IDs indicate a local status, and handling a second portion of the entries as global entries when the respective context IDs indicate a global status.
US08522251B2
Task placement is influenced within a multiple processor computer. Tasks are classified as either memory bound or CPU bound by observing certain performance counters over the task execution. During a first pass of task load balance, tasks are balanced across various CPUs to achieve a fairness goal, where tasks are allocated CPU resources in accordance to their established fairness priority value. During a second pass of task load balance, tasks are rebalanced across CPUs to reduce CPU resource contention, such that the rebalance of tasks in the second pass does not violate fairness goals established in the first pass. In one embodiment, the second pass could involve re-balancing memory bound tasks across different cache domains, where CPUs in a cache domain share a same last mile CPU cache such as an L3 cache. In another embodiment, the second pass could involve re-balancing CPU bound tasks across different CPU domains of a cache domain, where CPUs in a CPU domain could be sharing some or all of CPU execution unit resources. The two passes could be executed at different frequencies.
US08522249B2
A service management system for devices with embedded processor systems manages use of memory by programs implementing the services by assigning services to classes and limiting the number of services per class that can be loaded into memory. Classes enable achieving predictable and stable system behavior, defining the services and service classes in a manifest that is downloaded to embedded devices operating on a network, such as a cable or satellite television network, telephone or computer network, and permit a system operator, administrator, or manager to manage the operation of the embedded devices while deploying new services implemented with applications downloaded from the network when the service is requested by a user.
US08522245B2
Each thread of a multi-threaded application is assigned a ranking, referred to as thread criticality, based on the amount of time the thread is expected to take to complete one or more operations associated with the thread. More resources are assigned to threads having a higher thread criticality, in order to increase the rate at which the thread completes its operations. Thread criticality is determined using a perceptron model, whereby the thread criticality for a thread is a weighted sum of a set of data processing device performance characteristics associated with the thread, such as the number of instruction cache misses and data cache misses experienced by the thread. The weights of the perceptron model can be repeatedly adjusted over time based on repeated measurements that indicate the relative speed with which each thread is completing its operations.
US08522237B2
This description provides tools and techniques for virtualizing embedded systems. Systems are described for embedding into a vehicle, with the systems including subsystems and centralized physical platforms that include computing resources operating on behalf of the subsystems. Systems may also include shared bus systems that place the centralized physical platforms and the subsystems in communication with one another. The centralized physical platforms may also include virtualization layers for operating virtual machines, with the virtual machines being associated respectively with the subsystems.
US08522231B2
Updating a plurality of computers is accomplished. A first message is created in an update source, where the first message includes a one or more instructions and an address of a message repository. The first message is transmitted to a first computer using either a Push or a Pull protocol. A second message is transmitted to the first computer using the Push or Pull protocol, the second message comprising data retrieved from the address in the first message. The first computer executes one or more of the instructions in the first message with at least some of the second message. The address in the first message is updated to match the address of the first computer. The updated first message is transmitting to a further one of the computers. Transmission of the second message is repeated to further ones in the plurality of computers until all of the plurality of computers have been updated.
US08522226B2
A system and method for discovering a set of possible iteration sequences for a given loop in a software program is described, to transform the loop representation. In a program containing a loop, the loop is partitioned into a plurality of portions based on splitting criteria. Labels are associated with the portions, and an initial loop automaton is constructed that represents the loop iterations as a regular language over the labels corresponding to the portions in the program. Subsequences of the labels are analyzed to determine infeasibility of the subsequences permitted in the automaton. The automaton is refined by removing all infeasible subsequences to discover a set of possible iteration sequences in the loop. The resulting loop automaton is used in a subsequent program verification or analysis technique to find violations of correctness properties in programs.
US08522213B2
A method of debugging a program includes setting a breakpoint in the program identifying a location within the program, a reference-typed expression that is valid within the scope of the location, and a set of statically-specified data entities to which the expression refers, upon encountering the location during a current run of the program, determining whether the associated expression evaluates to a reference corresponding to one of the statically-specified data entities, pausing the program at the location if a value of the expression refers to one of the statically-specified data entities, and continuing the program without pausing if the value does not refer to one of the statically-specified data entities.
US08522212B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for generating one or more test utility classes for use in testing a web application user interface (UI). Source code for the UI is provided. The source code includes one or more UI elements. The source code is compiled to generate UI elements to be rendered on the UI. The compiling includes invoking a test utility class generator framework and passing a UI object tree that includes the UI elements to the test utility class generator framework. The test utility class framework analyzes the UI object tree to identify a set of basic UI elements on the rendered UI and to compute an extensible markup language path for each UI element in the hypertext markup language rendered for the UI. Based on the analysis, test utility classes are generated for use in testing the UI.
US08522210B1
A computerized method for detecting errors in program code including searching for lines of command codes in the program code, wherein a line of command code includes a set of command codes and a set of indices; separating the sets of command codes from the sets of indices, wherein the sets of indices are a matrix; parsing the sets of command codes to locate three or more consecutive lines of command codes, which have the same sets of command codes; for the three or more consecutive lines of command codes, generating sets of vertical indices from vertically aligned indices in the matrix; determining if each set of vertical indices does not match at least one known series in a set of known series; and reporting to a user computer each set of vertical indices that does not match the at least one known series.
US08522209B2
A system and method are provided to integrate profiling and debugging. In one embodiment, a profiling infrastructure is generated, the profiling infrastructure having profiling components capable of performing profiling sessions. An integrated infrastructure is generated by associating the profiling infrastructure with a debugging infrastructure, the debugging infrastructure having debugging components capable of performing debugging sessions. The profiling sessions and the debugging sessions are simultaneously performed via the integrated infrastructure.
US08522204B2
A method for creating a user program for a safety controller designed to control an automated installation having a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators involves several programming steps. The user program comprises a first program portion, in which safety-related program variables are processed in failsafe fashion, and comprises at least one second program portion, in which non-safety-related program variables are processed, wherein failsafe processing is not necessary for the non-safety-related program variables within the second program portion. The method steps involve a step of defining a number of safety-related program variables, a step of defining a number of non-safety-related program variables, a step of selecting a safety-related program variable from the number of safety-related program variables, a step of selecting a first non-safety-related program variable from the number of non-safety-related program variables, wherein the first non-safety-related program variable is repeatedly assigned an instantaneous value when the user program is executed, a step of defining at least one assignment condition which is processed when the user program is executed, a step of defining an association which associates the selected first non-safety-related program variable with the selected safety-related program variable, wherein the instantaneous value of the selected first non-safety-related program variable is assigned to the selected safety-related program variable depending on the assignment condition, when the user program is executed.
US08522191B2
The design aiding device includes a processor that creates assembled model data, representing an assembled model that assumes arrangement of the part on the board, on the basis of the board data and the part data stored in the first storing section and the second storing section, respectively. The processor includes a recognizing section that recognizes a mounting face of a part model defined by the part data, the mounting face being mounted on a board model defined by the board data; and an arrangement processing section that creates the assembled model data by arranging the part model on the board model on the basis of the mounting face recognized by the recognizing section.
US08522190B1
A clock gating mechanism controls power within an integrated circuit device. One or more clock gating circuits are configured to couple a system clock to a different portion of the integrated circuit device. A logic circuit applies an enabling signal to one of the clock gating circuits to control whether the system clock passes through the clock gating circuit to a portion of the integrated circuit device associated with the clock gating circuit. A plurality of scan flip-flops is configured to provide a binary code to the logic circuit, where the binary code indicates to the logic circuit that the enabling signal should be applied to the clock gating circuit. One advantage of the disclosed technique is that power droop during at-speed testing of a device is reduced without significantly increasing the quantity of test vectors or reducing test coverage, resulting in greater test yields and lower test times.
US08522189B2
A Test Access Mechanism (TAM) architecture for facilitating testing of IP blocks integrated on a System on a Chip (SoC). The TAM architecture includes a Test Controller and one or more Test Wrappers that are integrated on the SoC proximate to IP blocks. Test data and commands corresponding to input from an external tester are packaged by the Test Controller and sent to the Test Wrappers via an interconnect fabric. The Test Wrappers employ one or more test ports to provide test data, control, and/or stimulus signals to the IP block to facilitate circuit-level testing of the IP block. Test results for the circuit-level tests are returned to the Test Controller via the fabric. Test Wrappers may be configured to pass through interconnect signals, enabling functional testing of IP blocks to be facilitated via test packages and test results transmitted between the Test Controller and the IP blocks via the fabric.
US08522183B1
A method for incorporating aging effects into the static timing analysis of a design of an integrated circuit includes determining aging factors for the arc-state pairs of standard cells. The aging factors may include nominal aging factors and variational aging factors reflecting on chip variation aging effects. State profiles are determined for each cell instance in the design. The state profile for a cell instance indicates probabilities for each possible state that the cell may occupy. Based on the instance-specific state profiles and the aging factors, instance-specific aging factors are derived. The instance-specific aging factors may then be converted into instance-specific aging effect timing values. The instance-specific aging effect timing values may then be used to generate instance-specific static timing models, which may be used to perform static timing analysis.
US08522181B2
A technology specific information to design the integrated circuit is received. A plurality of canonical hierarchical models to capture an integrated circuit capacitance are created. The plurality of canonical hierarchical models includes at least a canonical model to capture a capacitance of a device having a plurality of conductors, and a canonical model to capture a capacitance between at least a portion of the device and one or more other conductors of the integrated circuit. The canonical hierarchical models can be applied to a layout of the integrated circuit. A capacitance for the layout can be determined based on the canonical hierarchical models.
US08522174B2
A method includes simulating a first design of a semiconductor memory that includes at least one device disposed between and coupled to a memory bit cell and to a power supply line, determining if at least one simulated operational value of the semiconductor memory is above a threshold value, and adjusting at least one of a size of the device or a type of the device if the at least one simulated operational value is below the threshold value. The memory bit cell is disposed in a column including a plurality of bit cells. The size or type of the device is repeatedly adjusted and the design of the semiconductor memory is repeatedly simulated until the at least one simulated operational value is at or above the threshold value.
US08522168B2
A method for navigating posts in a discussion including parent posts and child posts, a child post being in reply to a parent post, wherein a further reply can be made to a child post and wherein multiple child posts can be made in reply to respective parent or child posts, the method including receiving posts and storing posts; arranging posts in a discussion linearly one below another; providing a parent navigator which, when actuated, causes a copy of a parent post to be inserted adjacent its child post. Some embodiment comprise providing a child navigator which, when actuated, causes a copy of a parent post to be inserted adjacent its child post. Various other methods and apparatus are also provided.
US08522166B2
A method for providing an energy map may include receiving an indication of status for each of a plurality of individual entities with respect to corresponding priorities defined for each respective individual entity, correlating received indications of status to respective group priorities, providing a representation of a plurality of the group priorities, and mapping an amount of energy associated with the group priorities by providing a graphical representation of a respective amount of resources associated with the group priorities based on the received indications.
US08522156B2
To provide a method, a program and a system for supporting the input of one or more execution parameters of predetermined software in an input field. The method includes: receiving input of a text character string including one or more execution parameters in the input field displayed on a display device; displaying one the display device one or more execution options of the predetermined software in such a manner that a user can select the options in response to selection of a part of the text character string by the user; and transforming the text character string so as to include at least one of the one or more execution options selected and displaying the transformed text character string on the display device. The one or more execution options displayed can vary with the type of selection of the part of the text character string.
US08522151B2
A visualization design system is provided. The system includes a metadata component to describe characteristics of data. An analyzer determines attributes of a peer group, where the attributes are related to prior visualization design experiences of the group. A wizard component determines a subset of potential visualization types based in part on the characteristics of data and the attributes of the peer group.
US08522140B2
Methods and computer programs for automatically creating a text layout in a markup language design for a product to be printed. A number of defined text elements are available for user text. The layout is based on the text elements having user text content. Text elements without text content are disregarded. Positioning of the text elements is determined based on the height of the text elements, defined text element spacing distances, and a defined positioning order. Creating a layout may include positioning design elements relative to the text elements. Font sizes and spacing distances are automatically reduced if necessary to create a suitable layout.
US08522139B2
A modeling system for universal specification of user interfaces. The system provides a means for defining user interfaces, including highly complex and dynamic user interfaces, in a manner that is independent of any implementation context. The modeling system leads from a user-friendly visual representation of the user interface, through progressively detailed specifications of structural and behavioral aspects of the user interface parts, until a rigorous definition of the user interface in all its contexts of use is achieved. Using the information captured in the model, tools that automatically generate the fully working user interface code can be built.
US08522134B1
Methods and apparatus for in-line editing of web page content with reduced disruption of logical and presentational structure of content are described. In one embodiment, a rendering of a web page is presented in a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) editing environment. The presenting includes overlaying an editing control layer for accessing editing functions of the what-you-see-is-what-you-get editing environment, and an electronic commerce web page layer derived from an electronic commerce web page document. The presenting includes inserting into structural tags of the electronic commerce web page document attribute data. The attribute data identifies editing functions available from the what-you-see-is-what-you-get editing environment for elements of editable content of the electronic commerce web page document. Responsive to a control actuation in the editing control layer, code for performance on the web page document of an editing function associated with the respective element of editable content by the attribute data is executed.
US08522133B2
Techniques are described herein that are capable of incrementally tokenizing and/or parsing a style sheet. For example, tokens may be created to represent respective sequences of characters in a style sheet. A token that includes a change (a.k.a. a changed token) and other token(s) that follow the changed token may be re-tokenized and/or parsed without re-tokenizing and/or parsing token(s) that precede the changed token. In another example, hierarchical node trees may be used to represent a style sheet. Each of the hierarchical node trees includes a respective subset of tokens, which are assigned among various hierarchical levels of the respective hierarchical node tree. Each of the tokens has a respective absolute or relative character position that indicates a location in the style sheet of the sequence of characters that is represented by the respective token. Absolute character positions may be updated without updating the relative character positions.
US08522132B2
A computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium to store a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform operations for customizing behavior of a JavaScript widget on a web page via a presentation definition language. The operations include: creating a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) Document Object Model (DOM) element; assigning a CSS class from the presentation definition language to the DOM element; obtaining a computed style for the DOM element, wherein the computed style is computed based on the CSS class assigned to the DOM element; extracting a styling property from the computed style; parsing the styling property to determine an option to be applied to the widget; and applying the option to the widget.
US08522130B1
A notepad application enables users to create notes associated with electronic documents. The document, configured for rendering by an eReader browser application, is associated with a table of contents defining a plurality of sections of the document. The notepad application displays a note window associated with a section of the document within a user interface of the browser application. When a user generates a note in connection with the note window by indicating a location within the document, the notepad application adds the note to a note region in a note object that is associated with a section of the document defined by the table of contents. The notepad application then can access the note using the table of contents of the document.
US08522117B2
A communication system that provides fast and reliable communications. The system is suitable for use in connection with wireless computing devices in which transmission errors may occur because of channel conditions, such as interference. Channel conditions causing transmission errors may be bursty and transient such that the errors temporarily overwhelm an error control code. By combining data received for multiple transmission attempts of a packet that fail error checking or that pass error checking with low reliability, a reliable representation of the packet may be quickly constructed. Though, combining may be omitted when a transmission attempt is received that passes error checking with high reliability.
US08522110B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for transmitting data using turbo code. The apparatus includes an auxiliary bit adding unit configured to add padding bits to information bits, a convolutional turbo code (CTC) encoder configured to encode the padding bit-added information bits using turbo codes to generate coded data, a padding removing unit configured to remove the padding bits from the coded data, and a transmission processing unit configured to transmit the padding bit-removed coded data. The auxiliary bit adding unit adjusts the length of the padding bits according to a maximum size of an input that can be processed by the CRC encoder, and adds the length-adjusted padding bits to the information bits. Limited radio resources can be effectively used and the efficiency of data transmission can be improved.
US08522106B2
Apparatus and method for transmitting data using a CTC (Convolutional Turbo Code) encoder in a mobile communication system. The data transmission method according to the present invention includes: a first encoding step of encoding input data bits inputted through two input terminals of the CTC encoder and outputting first encoding bits; a step of interleaving the input data bits by using four CTC interleaver parameters (P0, P1, P2, and P3) corresponding to the sizes of the input data bits; a second encoding step of encoding the interleaved data bits and outputting second encoding bits; and a step of selectively transmitting the input data bits, the first encoding bits, and the second encoding bits to a receiving side in accordance with a predetermined coding rate.
US08522101B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate signaling Physical Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) Indicator Channel (PHICH) resource assignments in a wireless communication environment. At least a portion of a current PHICH resource assignment for a current Transmission Time Interval (TTI) and at least a portion of a subsequent PHICH resource assignment for a subsequent TTI can be encoded within a common encoded signal. Further, the common encoded signal can be sent to an access terminal during the current TTI. For instance, the common encoded signal can be transmitted via a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). Alternatively, the common encoded signal can be sent through dedicated Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling during handover. The access terminal can decode the common encoded signal received from the base station to identify the current PHICH resource assignment (or portion thereof) and the subsequent PHICH resource assignment (or portion thereof).
US08522095B2
The disclosure provides a novel method and apparatus for inputting addresses to devices to select the device TAP for access. Further, the disclosure provides a novel method and apparatus for inputting addresses for selecting device TAPs and for inputting commands for commanding circuitry within the device. The inputting of addresses or the inputting of addresses and commands is initiated by a control bit input on TDI that is recognized during the Run Test/Idle, Pause-DR or Pause-IR TAP states.
US08522094B2
Connection circuitry couples scan test port (STP) circuitry to test access port (TAP) circuitry. The connection circuitry has inputs connected to scan circuitry control output leads from the TAP circuitry, a select input lead, and a clock input lead. The connection circuitry has outputs connected to a scan enable (SE) input lead, a capture select (CS) input lead, and the scan clock (CK) input lead of the STP circuitry. The connection circuitry includes a multiplexer having a control input connected with a clock select lead from the TAP circuitry, an input connected with a functional clock lead, an input connected with the clock input lead, an input connected with a Clock-DR lead from the TAP circuitry, an OFF lead, and an output connected with the scan clock input lead.
US08522093B2
Topology discovery of a target system having a plurality of components coupled with a scan topology may be performed by driving a low logic value on the data input signal and a data output signal of the scan topology. An input data value and an output data value for each of the plurality of components is sampled and recorded. A low logic value is then scanned through the scan path and recorded at each component. The scan topology may be determined based on the recorded data values and the recorded scan values.
US08522089B2
A method of testing a semiconductor device that includes first and second mutually asynchronous modules, a buffer for storing transaction data for read/write operations from the first module and transferring it to the second module synchronously with the data rate of the second module, and an inhibit input. The second module receives the transaction data from the buffer and transfers the data to a data output when the inhibit signal is de-asserted and not when the inhibit signal is asserted. The method of testing includes repeatedly: asserting the inhibit signal; providing test transaction data to the first module and storing the data in the buffer while the inhibit signal is asserted; de-asserting the inhibit signal so that the second module transfers test transaction data received from the buffer to the data output synchronously with the data rate of the second module; and capturing deterministically test transaction data from the output of the second module.
US08522087B2
A counter configuration operates in cooperation with a delay configuration such that the counter configuration counts an input interval based on a given clock speed and a given clock interval while the delay configuration provides an enhanced data output that is greater than what would otherwise be provided by the given clock speed. The counter configuration counts responsive to a selected edge in the clock interval. An apparatus in the form of a correction arrangement and an associated method are configured to monitor at least the delay configuration output for detecting a particular time relationship between an endpoint of the input interval and a nearest occurrence of the selected clock edge in the given clock signal that is indicative of at least a potential error in the enhanced data output and determining if the potential error is an actual error for subsequent use in correcting the enhanced data output.
US08522085B2
A computer-enabled method of learning the behavior of a program. A processor can execute a target program during a learning interval while varying a plurality of stimuli provided to the target program so as to produce a multiplicity of different sequences of events which differ in combinations of types of events in respective sequences, orders in which the types of events occur in respective sequences, or in the combinations and in the orders in which the types of events occur. The multiplicity of event sequences can be recorded, and a second program can be executed by a processor to: determine a plurality of clusters based on similarities between the event sequences in their entirety; and determine a plurality of signatures corresponding to the plurality of clusters. Each signature can be the longest common subsequence of all sequences in the respective cluster and thus representative of the cluster. In such method, each of the plurality of signatures can be a benchmark representative of acceptable behavior of the target program.
US08522055B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for validating a non-volatile memory (NVM) package for use in an electronic device before it is incorporated into the device. A NVM package may be validated by determining its power consumption profile, and if the profile meets predetermined criteria, that NVM package may be qualified for use in an electronic system. The power consumption profile may be obtained by issuing commands, such as read commands, to the NVM package to simultaneously access each die of the NVM package to invoke a maximum power consumption event. During this event, power consumption by the NVM package can be monitored and analyzed to determine whether the NVM package qualifies for use in an electronic device.
US08522052B1
In one embodiment of the present invention a secure cryptographic device is provided. The device includes a power supply interface, a cryptographic processing block coupled to the power supply interface, a random number generator, and a complex multiplication circuit. The complex multiplication circuit has an output coupled to the power supply interface for modulating a power variation waveform detectable on the power supply interface. The complex multiplication circuit also has a first input coupled to an output of the random number generator and a second input coupled to the power supply interface.
US08522044B2
A platform and method for secure handling of events in an isolated environment. A processor executing in isolated execution “IsoX” mode may leak data when an event occurs as a result of the event being handled in a traditional manner based on the exception vector. By defining a class of events to be handled in IsoX mode, and switching between a normal memory map and an IsoX memory map dynamically in response to receipt of an event of the class, data security may be maintained in the face of such events.
US08522042B2
A method of enforcing software license protection in a computer system comprising; morphing the data prior to distribution, resulting in morphed data; wherein morphing of data is accomplished by applying a reversible morphing algorithm to modify data, wherein said reversible morphing algorithm is uniquely seeded and/or controlled with control information.
US08522041B2
A system and method for efficiently performing a data encryption operation in an electronic system preferably includes a processor that may initially create an encryption structure in a memory device. The encryption structure may preferably include one or more command structures for performing data encryption or decryption operations. The processor may subsequently program local control registers of a DMA engine with selected encryption information in response to a data encryption or decryption requirement. The processor may then instruct the DMA engine to perform the required data encryption or decryption operation. Next, the DMA engine may responsively copy one or more of the command structures from the memory device into local command registers that are coupled to the DMA engine. The DMA engine may then reference the foregoing control registers and command registers to thereby efficiently perform one or more data encryption or decryption operations. During the data encryption or decryption operations, the DMA engine may preferably provide source data from the memory device to an encryption module for encrypting or decrypting. The DMA engine may then responsively store the encrypted or decrypted data back into the memory device as destination data that may be subsequently provided to any appropriate destination entity that is coupled to the electronic system.
US08522040B2
A protocol for anonymous access to a database where the different records have different access control permissions is described. The permissions can be attributes, roles or rights that an authorized user needs to have to access the record. The database provider does not learn which record the user accesses and which attributes or roles the user has when she accesses the database. The database provider publishes the encrypted database where each record is encrypted with a key that is derived from at least the index of the record, its access control attributes and a secret key of the database provider. The user obtains a credential from an issuer for each access control attribute (ACL) that is associated with the user. Then the user retrieves the key for a particular record from the database provider and uses this key to decrypt the encrypted record.
US08522036B2
The present invention proposes a solution to prevent a program flow in a processing unit from being modified with respect to an intended program flow, thereby ensuring that important steps such as verifying or authenticating are not bypassed. The invention is particularly aimed at security modules within receiver/decoders in a pay-TV system and involves performing a set of predetermined operations during the processing of entitlement management messages and/or entitlement control messages, said operations being redundant with respect to the normal processing of said messages while leading to the calculation of keys which can then be used to verify that the intended program flow has been respected.
US08522035B2
A certificate enrollment assistant module may be provided to inject a challenge password into a certificate signing request to be sent, to a Certificate Authority, from a computing device. The certificate enrollment assistant module, thereby, acts as a trusted proxy to assist the computing device in building a valid certificate signing request without the computing device having access to the challenge password.
US08522034B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for providing secure transmissions across a network comprising a transmitting device and a receiving device. At the transmitting device, a stream of watermark bits is generated. Next, a plurality of watermarks is generated, each of the plurality of watermarks comprising an index number and a portion of the stream of watermark bits. The watermarks are inserted into each header of a plurality of outgoing packets. At the receiving device, the plurality of outgoing packets are received and it is determined if a received packet is valid based on the watermark in the header of the received packet. The stream of watermark bits may be generated using a stream cipher such as RC4, a block cipher such as 3DES in CBC mode, or other equivalent pseudo-random stream generating techniques.
US08522032B2
A system to prevent audio watermark detection includes content having a video portion and an audio portion, the audio portion having a watermark, an audio/video separator configured to separate the video portion and the audio portion, and a random number generator configured to generate a random number corresponding to a shifted frequency. The system also includes a frequency shift element configured to apply the shifted frequency to the audio portion to alter a spectrum of the watermark so as to prevent detection of the watermark by a device seeking to recover the watermark. The system also includes an audio resampler configured to resample the audio portion to restore the audio portion to an original length, and an audio/video combiner configured to combine the video portion and the audio portion.
US08522024B2
The present invention provides an authentication method, an authentication system, and an authentication device, which is in information security field. The method includes that a service side receives a username and a first value from a client side, searches a seed of a dynamic password token, and generates a first dynamic password according to the first value and the seed, converts the first dynamic password to the first authentication password and the second authentication password, and sends the first authentication password to the user; the dynamic password token generates a second dynamic password and sends the first authentication password to a user; the dynamic password token generates a second dynamic password and converts the second dynamic password to a third authentication password and a fourth authentication password; the user compares the first authentication password and the third authentication password to determine that they are identical, so as to confirm that the user is legal or the transaction is permissible. The invention prevents malicious attack and operation of illegal users, which improves the security of information and property of the users.
US08522023B2
A middleware platform is executable by a computer to receive a request for a service, the service provided by a service application in communication with the middleware platform. The middleware platform determines, via a device adaptation component of the middleware platform, capabilities of a device subject to the request. The middleware platform selects an interface having a format that is compatible with the capabilities of the device, and provides the interface to the device in a format corresponding to the capabilities, accesses the service application responsive to the request, processes the request, and returns a response, via the interface, to the device responsive to the processing.
US08522008B2
Disclosed a portable security device and methods for secure user authentication. The security device stores operating system agents that enable communication with user devices that have different operating systems. The security device also stores user authentication data for accessing different Internet resources by the user devices. The security devices connects to the user device using an operating system agent corresponding to the operating system of the user device, and receives from the user device a request to access an Internet resource. The security device select user authentication data associated with the requested Internet resource, and obtains the requested Internet resource using the selected user authentication data.
US08522007B2
A dual cryptographic keying system. In particular implementations, a method includes responsive to an initial session key negotiation, storing security association information for a tunnel in a security association memory; responsive to a session key renegotiation, storing security association information for the tunnel in a cache; decrypting received packets associated with the tunnel conditionally using the security association information in the cache or the security association information in the security association memory; and upon an expiration condition, overwriting the security association information, for the tunnel, in the security association memory with the security association information, for the tunnel, copied from the cache.
US08522004B2
Methods and systems for trusted boot using an original design manufacturer secure partition using execute-in-place non-volatile memory (XIP NVM) can include forming a secure partition within the XIP NVM and loading an initial program load within the secure partition wherein the initial program load comprises computer instructions which when executed by a processor causes the processor to perform operations comprising a trusted boot. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08521998B2
A method and apparatus for tracking instructions in a processor. A completion unit in the processor receives an instruction group to add to a table to form a received instruction group. In response to receiving the received instruction group, the completion unit determines whether an entry is present that contains a previously stored instruction group in a first location and has space for storing the received instruction group. In response to the entry being present, the completion unit stores the received instruction group in a second location in the entry to form a stored instruction group.
US08521996B2
A microprocessor includes a pipeline of stages for processing instructions and first and second types of conditional branch instruction includable by a program. The microprocessor makes a prediction of conditional branch instructions of the first type and flushes the pipeline of instructions if the prediction is subsequently determined to be incorrect, thereby incurring a branch misprediction penalty related to processing of conditional branch instructions of the first type. The microprocessor always correctly resolves conditional branch instructions of the second type without making a prediction of conditional branch instructions of the second type, thereby avoiding ever incurring a branch misprediction penalty related to processing of conditional branch instructions of the second type.
US08521992B2
A method and information processing system manage load and store operations executed out-of-order. At least one of a load instruction and a store instruction is executed. A determination is made that an operand store compare hazard has been encountered. An entry within an operand store compare hazard prediction table is created based on the determination. The entry includes at least an instruction address of the instruction that has been executed and a hazard indicating flag associated with the instruction. The hazard indicating flag indicates that the instruction has encountered the operand store compare hazard. When a load instruction is associated with the hazard indicating flag the load instruction becomes dependent upon all store instructions associated with a substantially similar flag.
US08521991B2
A technique for selecting instructions for execution from an issue queue at multiple function units while reducing the chances of instruction collisions. In an embodiment, each function unit in a processor may include a selection logic circuit that selects a specific instruction from the issue queue for execution. In order to avoid instruction collision, a function unit may have a selection logic circuit that may select two instructions from an instruction queue: one according to a first selection technique and one according to a second selection technique. Then, by comparing the instruction selected by the first selection technique to the instruction selected by the selection logic circuit of another function unit, the instruction selected by the second technique may be used instead if there will be an instruction collision because the instruction selected by the first selection technique is the same as the instruction selected at a different function unit.
US08521985B2
There is provided a storage subsystem having a virtual volume and a page volume which has a page physical area allocated to the virtual volume. The storage subsystem divides an address space of the virtual volume into a plurality of pages, classifies each of the pages into one of a plurality of states including at least a first state and a second state, and further divide a page which is classified into the second state into a plurality of segments to managed the page classified into the second state. The first state is a state in which a page physical area is allocated to the page from the page volume, and the write data is stored in the page physical area. The second state is a state in which the predetermined pattern data and the segment are managed, in the memory, by correlating with each other.
US08521984B2
A physical storage area that is allocated to an unused area of a virtual volume is removed. A management unit sends a request to a server computer to make every piece of data stored in a first logical volume migrate to a second logical volume. The server reads all the data out of the first logical volume and writes the data in the second logical volume. A storage system that includes the first logical volume and the second logical volume allocates a physical storage area to an area of the second logical volume where the data is to be written, and writes the data in the allocated physical storage area. The storage system then deletes the first logical volume.
US08521981B2
Techniques are described for controlling availability of memory. As memory write operations are processed, the contents of memory targeted by the write operations are read and compared to the data to be written. The availability of the memory for subsequent write operations is controlled based on the outcomes of the comparing. How many concurrent write operations are being executed may vary according to the comparing. In one implementation, a pool of tokens is maintained based on the comparing. The tokens represent units of power. When write operations require more power, for example when they will alter the values of more cells in PCM memory, they draw (and eventually return) more tokens. The token pool can act as a memory-availability mechanism in that tokens must be obtained for a write operation to be executed. When and how many tokens are reserved or recycled can vary according to implementation.
US08521975B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for cooperative replication of multiple clusters. A copy request to copy a volume into a first cluster is received. A determination is made whether the first cluster is a family member of a cluster family. If the first cluster is a family member of the cluster family, a determination is made whether another family member already completed copying the volume. If another family member has not already copied the volume, the first cluster is designated to inherit the copy request. The copy request is executed and the volume is cooperative replicated into the cluster family. Cumulative consistency is achieved within the cluster family. The volume is shared within the cluster family so that all copies of the volume within the cluster family are consistent.
US08521973B2
A storage management device can receive a request for a modification history for a location within a data store, determine one or more times at which at least a portion of data stored at the location was modified, and transmit the one or more determined times.
US08521966B2
A method for enabling inter-process communication between a first application and a second application, the first application running within a first context and the second application running within a second context of a virtualization system is described. The method includes receiving a request to attach a shared region of memory to a memory allocation, identifying a list of one or more physical memory pages defining the shared region that corresponds to the handle, and mapping guest memory pages corresponding to the allocation to the physical memory pages. The request is received by a framework from the second application and includes a handle that uniquely identifies the shared region of memory as well as an identification of at least one guest memory page corresponding to the memory allocation. The framework is a component of a virtualization software, which executes in a context distinct from the context of the first application.
US08521965B2
A method and apparatus for accelerating transactional execution. Barriers associated with shared memory lines referenced by memory accesses within a transaction are only invoked/executed the first time the shared memory lines are accessed within a transaction. Hardware support, such as a transaction field/transaction bits, are provided to determine if an access is the first access to a shared memory line during a pendancy of a transaction. Additionally, in an aggressive operational mode version numbers representing versions of elements stored in shared memory lines are not stored and validated upon commitment to save on validation costs. Moreover, even in a cautious mode, that stores version numbers to enable validation, validation costs may not be incurred, if eviction of accessed shared memory lines do not occur during execution of the transaction.
US08521961B2
Mechanisms for generating checkpoints in a speculative versioning cache of a data processing system are provided. The mechanisms execute code within the data processing system, wherein the code accesses cache lines in the speculative versioning cache. The mechanisms further determine whether a first condition occurs indicating a need to generate a checkpoint in the speculative versioning cache. The checkpoint is a speculative cache line which is made non-speculative in response to a second condition occurring that requires a roll-back of changes to a cache line corresponding to the speculative cache line. The mechanisms also generate the checkpoint in the speculative versioning cache in response to a determination that the first condition has occurred.
