| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07666149B2 |
Cassette of lancet cartridges for sampling blood
A cassette containing cartridges for sampling blood from a patient. The cassette includes a container for storing a plurality of cartridges and at least one cartridge in the container. The cartridge includes a cartridge case and a lancet. The lancet has a tip and is housed in the cartridge case. The lancet can be driven to extend the tip outside the cartridge case for lancing the skin of the patient to yield blood. The container has a compartment that contains at least one cartridge. A cartridge from the compartment can be loaded onto a glucometer that drives the lancet in the cartridge to lance the skin of a patient. |
| US07666148B1 |
Vaginal moisture screening enhancement
Apparatus for quick screening for vaginal moisture pH level and for amine associated with such moisture, comprising a manipulable element including a probe insertable into the vagina; a pH indicator on a first side of the element, the indicator characterized as producing a color which corresponds to pH level of vaginal moisture contacting the indicator; and a second indicator on a second side of the element, the second indicator elongated lengthwise of the element and being an amine indicator, the second indicator having an outer surface exposed to vaginal moisture, the surface presenting a sequence of crests for collection of moisture between crests in response to movement of the element in the vagina. |
| US07666145B2 |
Pulse wave transmission detection system
Provided is a pulse wave propagation detection system including an electrocardiographic signal detection unit, and an eyeground image detection unit for detecting an eyeground image in synchronization with an electrocardiographic signal detected through the detection unit, which system further includes a correlation unit for correlating a change in the diameter of an eyeground vein—which diameter is measured, at the optic papilla, by use of an eyeground image synchronized with an arbitrary electrocardiographic signal—with the state of pulse wave propagation through an intracerebral blood vessel or with the state of sclerosis of a capillary artery. |
| US07666144B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining cardiac output and left atrial pressure
Method and apparatus are introduced for determining proportional cardiac output (CO), absolute left atrial pressure (LAP), and/or other important hemodynamic variables from a contour of a circulatory pressure waveform or related signal. Certain embodiments of the invention provided herein include the mathematical analysis of a pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) waveform or a right ventricular pressure (RVP) waveform in order to determine beat-to-beat or time-averaged proportional CO, proportional pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), and/or LAP. The invention permits continuous and automatic monitoring of critical hemodynamic variables with a level of invasiveness suitable for routine clinical application. The invention may be utilized, for example, to continuously monitor critically ill patients with pulmonary artery catheters installed and chronically monitor heart failure patients instrumented with implanted devices for measuring RVP. |
| US07666141B2 |
Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus includes: a transmitting section for driving a probe transmitting an ultrasonic wave to a subject; a receiving section for amplifying a reflected echo, produced by getting the ultrasonic wave reflected by a tissue and received at the probe, to generate a received signal; an image processing section for generating a tomographic image of the subject based on the signal; a region setting section for setting an arbitrary range of the tomographic image as a region of interest; a motion information gathering section for getting the motion information of the subject at measuring points on the subject based on the signal; a property value calculating section for calculating the property values of target tissues of the subject, specified by the measuring points, by reference to the motion information; and a distribution plotting section, which gets the property measured values and plots a frequency distribution of the property values based on the property values of the target tissues located within the region of interest set by the setting section. |
| US07666139B2 |
Ultrasonic imaging apparatus and method
An ultrasonic imaging apparatus, including an ultrasonic probe including an ultrasonic vibration element configured to transmit and receive an ultrasonic wave in a scanning direction in an object in which a contrast media has been injected; a transmission unit configured to apply successive drive pulses to the probe so as to transmit respective ultrasonic signals in respective rate sections; a reception unit configured to receive reflected ultrasonic signals, including first reflected ultrasonic signals produced by a first drive pulse in a first rate section and reflected back to the probe in the first rate section and in a second rate section subsequent to the first rate section; an operation unit configured to perform an operation including at least one of addition and subtraction of at least two of the first ultrasonic signals received during different rate sections; and a signal processor configured to produce image data based on the result of the operation performed by the operation unit. Plural driving pulses having alternating polarity may be applied to the probe in a same scan direction. |
| US07666138B2 |
Ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus and ultrasonic transmitting and receiving method
An ultrasonic transmitting and receiving apparatus capable of obtaining high quality ultrasonic images with reduced effect of side lobes. The apparatus includes: an ultrasonic transducer array including ultrasonic transducers; a drive signal generating unit for generating drive signals for driving the ultrasonic transducers; a transmission control unit for controlling the drive signal generating unit such that ultrasonic waves transmitted from the ultrasonic transducers form at least one ultrasonic beam; a reception control unit for performing reception focusing processing on detection signals obtained based on the ultrasonic echoes to form a reception focal point thereby obtaining plural pieces of measurement data; a storage unit for storing plural different acoustic pressure intensity profiles; and an essential data calculating unit for calculating image data based on the plural pieces of measurement data and the plural different acoustic pressure intensity profiles. |
| US07666136B2 |
Retractor
A retractor for use in surgery, has arms (2, 4) pivotal into a V-shaped configuration. Blades (16) are carried by the arms via mounting portions (16a) which can slide along the arms to provide adjustment in position with the blades being locked in that position simply by skewing the mounting portions on the arms. |
| US07666135B2 |
Robotic endoscope
An endoscope is provided which comprises an elongated body adapted for insertion into a body lumen, and a plurality of electrically controlled actuators associated with the body which are controllable to impart an orientation to the body that is complimentary to the natural orientation of the lumen into which the endoscope is inserted. |
| US07666133B2 |
Apparatus and method for correcting urinary incontinence
An apparatus and a method for urine containment, storage, and release is provided for male and female patients suffering from incontinence. The device comprises a housing including a valve implanted generally in the bladder of a male or female patient. The device further comprises an access port connecting the housing and extending through the abdominal wall of the abdomen. The device replaces the functionality of the urethral valve and allows on demand drainage of the natural bladder which flows from the natural bladder into the urethra and exits the body. The access ports may provide a backup system for urine drainage as well as facilitate access to the gastro-intestinal region as well as the rest of the body. |
| US07666128B2 |
Board sport training apparatus
Disclosed herein is a portable apparatus for training a user in in increasing levels of skill, control and maneuverability of a board for a board sport. The portable apparatus comprises a foot placement mat and a support unit. The foot placement mat comprises multiple placement zones for indicating a first location for positioning a support unit and second locations for placing the user's feet. The support unit comprises laterally opposite support members and hand placement platforms. Each of the laterally opposite support members comprises an elongated section and a lower protruding section. The hand placement platforms are detachably attached to the elongated section or the lower protruding section of the laterally opposite support members for enabling placement of the user's hands in an elevated position or a lower position respectively. The support unit positioned on the foot placement mat enables the training of the user in increasing levels of skill, control and maneuverability of a board for a board sport. |
| US07666126B2 |
Balancing device and method
A balancing device to assist a patient in exercising and rehabilitating balance. The balancing device includes a stationary support structure including an overhead support and a plurality of upright supports, and a suspended platform hanging from the overhead support by first and second suspending members. The platform is stabilized by at least two elastic supports having a first end attached proximate a portion of the periphery of the platform on opposite sides of the bisecting pivot line, and a second end attached to one of the plurality of upright supports. The patients standing on the platform can practice balancing and adjustments in a pivoting motion, and/or in ether a longitudinal and/or lateral direction. |
| US07666125B2 |
Portable leg exercise device, and related methods
A portable leg exercise device is provided for permitting a user to perform both adductor thigh muscle movements and abductor thigh muscle movements. |
| US07666122B2 |
Elliptical exercise machine
An elliptical exercise machine features a pair of translating members to which a pair of foot members is axially secured. The foot members each pivots with respect to the associated translating member. The generated motion allows a user to lock a knee before beginning downward movement and allows a user to bend the same knee before beginning forward movement such that the motion is more natural for the user. |
| US07666120B2 |
Exercise apparatus with three dimensional motion
Exercise apparatus is provided having a link with a user-engagement surface guiding movement of the user in a natural biomechanical three dimensional human motion. |
| US07666118B1 |
Free-weight exercise monitoring and feedback system and method
An exercise data collection system and method of collection of data concerning the performance of weightlifters and the like which can be retrofitted for use with a power rack or half rack used by weightlifters and detached after use or alternatively set up in a freestanding arrangement, such as for use on a platform, in which by emitted electromagnetic radiation coupled detectors the movements of a barbell past such emitters is detected by the reflected emission and the speed of passage calculated by determining the interval between reflection of the detector beams between adjacent detectors, the height of such reflection beam being related to the portion of the musculature of the weightlifter that is undergoing extension or retraction during exercise. |
| US07666117B2 |
Power-transmission control mechanism for lawn mower
In a power-transmission control mechanism for controlling transmission of power from an internal combustion engine of a lawn mower to mowing blades, a controller for an electromagnetic clutch periodically repeats: reading detected engine rotational speed during a predetermined time, when an operating switch is turned on; comparing present engine rotational speed read in the present cycle with previous engine rotational speed read in the previous cycle; engaging the electromagnetic clutch when the present engine rotational speed is equal to or higher than the previous engine rotational speed; and disengaging the electromagnetic clutch when the present engine rotational speed N is lower than the previous engine rotational speed. Thus, the power of the engine is reliably transmitted to the mowing blades without occurrence of engine stall and without being influenced by the load following characteristic of the engine, the clutch, and load fluctuation. |
| US07666113B2 |
Control apparatus and method for automatic transmission
A control apparatus of an automatic transmission having first and second frictional engagement elements that achieve higher and lower speed gear stages respectively, includes a target value determination section setting a rotation speed difference between input and output sides of the frictional engagement element, a total torque capacity calculation section calculating a total torque capacity, a distribution ratio determination section setting a distribution ratio of the total torque capacity to the first and second frictional engagement elements, an individual torque capacity calculation section calculating individual torque capacities respectively required of the first and second frictional engagement elements, and an engagement control section controlling engagement conditions of the first and second frictional engagement elements in accordance with the individual torque capacity. The automatic transmission realizes a down-shift by changeover between first and second frictional engagement elements based on the individual torque capacity during a vehicle power-off travel. |
| US07666112B2 |
Electro-hydraulic control system with multiplexed trim valves for a transmission
An electro-hydraulic control system is provided, preferably for a countershaft transmission, that uses logic valves to multiplex trim systems to more than one torque-transmitting mechanism, thereby minimizing the number of required components. Additionally, the electro-hydraulic control system preferably has more than one failure mode so that the transmission operates at a respective predetermined speed ratio in the event of an interruption in electrical power. |
| US07666111B2 |
Bicycle rear derailleur
A bicycle rear derailleur includes a base portion, a coupling mechanism, a moveable member, a pivot shaft, a tension plate, a biasing spring and a guide plate. The base portion attaches to a bicycle frame. The coupling mechanism has first and second ends. The first end is coupled to the base portion and the second end is movable relative to the base portion. The movable member is coupled to the second end and the pivot shaft is coupled to the movable member. The tension plate is pivotally coupled to the movable member by the pivot shaft and supports a chain tensioning pulley. The biasing spring is operatively coupled to the movable member and the tension plate for biasing the tension plate in a chain tensioning direction. The guide plate is pivotally coupled to the pivot shaft in a non-biased manner and supports a chain guiding pulley. |
| US07666109B2 |
Integrated pole pad for sports support pole
The present invention is a sports support structure with an integrated pad. By ensuring that the protective pad is integrated with the structure, the present invention ensures theft padding is properly located around the support structure. The integrated pad and sports structure may be raised and lowered to a desired height with a handle attached to an elevator mechanism. |
| US07666106B1 |
Posture correcting tool for golf swing
A posture correcting tool surrounding a player while performing a swing practice having an adjustable freestanding body unit adapted to provide position feedback to a player relative to the player's sway during a golf swing, with two substantially vertical telescoping legs and a substantially horizontal buttocks bar slidably and moveably connected between the first and second telescoping legs, an adjustable freestanding head unit independent of the body unit and disposed opposite the adjustable freestanding body unit, having a telescoping substantially horizontal head bar connected to an adjustable substantially vertical head bar support that further engages a third weighted foot plate connected to the adjustable substantially vertical head bar support. |
| US07666105B2 |
Open sided billiard rack
A billiard rack and method using the rack defining V-shaped ball containment area having a pair of arms each having an outer and inner side, where said arms meet at an apex and have extremities away from the apex that create an arc of approximately 60 degrees, the inner side of each arm extending at least as far as a distance equal to five times the diameter of a standard billiard ball and the outer side or each arm extending at least as far as the distance equal to four times the diameter of a standard billiard ball that is accessible from the top. The radius of curvature of the apex preferably is 1⅛ inches and the distance between the ends of each inner side of each arm is 13⅝ inches and the outer side is 14⅛ inches. In a preferred method, the balls are racked by the user with two thumbs pressing against the balls and the rack is removed by forward movement away from the balls without disturbing the balls. |
| US07666104B2 |
Water ride attraction
A water ride attraction is disclosed which utilizes a containerless riding surface to eliminate disadvantageous boundary layer effects. A sheet flow of water is directed up the incline to produce a simulated wave. The configuration and contour of the riding surface and the various flow parameters can be widely varied to produce numerous desirable wave conditions. |
| US07666103B2 |
Amusement ride
An amusement ride (10) involving riders (17) being conveyed through the air. The amusement ride (10) comprises a tower (11) having a column (23), typically of a height of at least 30 meters. A hub structure (33) is supported on the column (23) for rotation with respect thereto and for displacement therealong. A first drive means (51) is provided for rotating the hub structure (33) with respect to the column (23). A second drive means (61) is provided for displacing the hub structure (33) along the column (23). Rider carriers (81) are suspended from the hub structure (33) to undergo motion in response to movement of the hub structure (33) with respect to the column (23), involving the riders (17) being conveyed along a path around the column (23), with the elevation of the riders changing during the ride through displacement of the hub structure (33) along the column (23). The amusement ride (10) is of a design which is conducive to construction on a large scale. |
| US07666102B2 |
Ball cage for a constant velocity universal joint and process of producing same
A ball cage for a constant velocity plunging joint which having an outer joint part with a internally cylindrical guiding face and an inner joint part with an outer spherical guiding face and torque transmitting balls held in the ball cage. The ball cage includes a plurality of circumferentially distributed windows (3) for receiving the torque transmitting balls, and defining a central window plane (M); an outer free face (10) and an outer spherical control face (9) for guiding the ball cage relative to the outer joint part; and an inner spherical control face (16) for guiding the ball cage relative to the inner joint part. The center of the outer spherical control face (9) and the center of the inner spherical control face (16) are positioned at an axial distance from the central window plane (M). The outer spherical (9) is hard-machined and the outer free face (10) is soft-machined. |
| US07666101B2 |
Yoke for universal joint
A yoke for universal joint includes a base portion and a pair of opposed side walls and is connected to one end of a rotating shaft having two planes parallel to each other. One end of the rotating shaft is inserted between the opposed side walls such that both planes oppose the respective opposed side walls and the lower surface is abutted on the base portion. Then, a fastening portion of the opposed side walls in the upper portions thereof is fastened by a bolt such that the rotating shaft is interposed and fixed. On the inner surfaces of the opposed side walls, the concave portion is formed under the fastening portion. The concave portion is pushed against the outer peripheral square portion of the rotating shaft in both sides of the fastening portion in the axial direction of the rotating shaft. |
| US07666097B2 |
Method for generating image animation effect
A method for generating an image in a virtual space seen from a predetermined viewpoint, has: judging whether to start a motion of a first object placed in the virtual space; if it is judged to start the motion of the first object, automatically controlling the motion of the first object in a predetermined moving direction; if it is judged to start the motion of the first object, locating a plurality of effect objects at a front side in the moving direction from a location of the first object; and making the plurality of effect objects sequentially not displayed in proximate order from the location of the first object at time that it is judged to start the motion of the first object. |
| US07666095B2 |
Securing contracts in a virtual world
The disclosure provides novel video game methods and systems for enforcing contracts within video game environments. Methods and systems of the invention include virtual and real world penalties and remedies for entities that breach contracts or other obligations undertaken in the virtual world. |
| US07666093B2 |
Gaming method and device involving progressive wagers
A method of gaming is disclosed wherein progressive award values may be increased in response to certain pre-established game outcomes, wager amounts or random events. The increased progressive award values may be based on a primary game or secondary game outcome. Another innovation is the resetting of progressive awards upon completion of a bonus event whether or not award actually won in said bonus event. Player tracking systems permit progressive award values to be linked to a particular player such that the progressive award values remain personal to the player. Re-setting increased progressive award values is also disclosed. |
| US07666091B2 |
Gaming machine with visual and audio indicia changed over time
A gaming system includes a plurality of linked gaming machines and a controller coupled to the gaming machines. The gaming machines are used for playing one or more wagering games having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome. Each gaming machine includes at least one wager-input device for receiving a first type of wager, which allows the player to play the wagering game, and the second type of wager, which allows the player to be eligible for a progressive jackpot. The controller determines a first cumulative value of the first type of wagers, a second cumulative value of the second type of wagers, and a distributable wager pool that is derived from a portion of the first cumulative value and a portion of the second cumulative value. The distributable wager pool can fund the progressive jackpot. |
| US07666089B2 |
Gaming device having accumulation game with changing selections
A gaming device having an accumulation game with changing selections. The gaming device generates or picks, one at a time, a plurality of selections. Each generated selection is accumulated or marked and then changed to another selection. The gaming device continues generating selections, accumulating the generated selections and changing the generated selections until at least one selection is generated and accumulated a designated number of times. When at least one selection is generated and accumulated the designated number of times, an award is provided to the player wherein the award is based on the selection which was generated and accumulated the designated number of times. |
| US07666088B2 |
Methods and apparatus for playing a gaming pool for a feature event bonus game
A bonus controller is provided for managing a feature event bonus game in a gaming system, having a processor and a memory, wherein the bonus controller is programmed to assign an entry to a player associated with a first gaming apparatus from a plurality of entries defining a gaming pool for the feature event when the player obtains a qualifying win at one of a number of casino games. The bonus controller is also programmed to determine an outcome of the feature event bonus game and determine if at least one winner exists based on the outcome as well as identify the winner of the feature event. |
| US07666078B2 |
Financial transaction printer with promotional printing capabilities
A method and apparatus for a vending promotional printer for use within a vending machine are disclosed. A vending promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to the customer based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the vending promotional printer directly or supplied by master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to a customer, the duration of play on a vending machine, a customer classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors. The vending promotional printer may further include the ability to store all of the coupons, trigger conditions, and related information resident in the vending promotional printer in a non-volatile fashion thus enabling a host system to download a promotional environment into the vending promotional printer which will run promotional campaigns on behalf of the hosting system. |
| US07666074B2 |
Meat processing
The present disclosure includes various method, device, and system embodiments for meat processing. One such method embodiment includes obtaining animal data for an animal selected to have a solution introduced into its circulatory system in a rinsing process and determining an insertion location based on the animal data. This method embodiment also includes establishing a fluid conduit from a reservoir through the insertion location into the circulatory system of the selected animal by inserting a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir through the insertion location. The method further includes activating flow of a solution from the reservoir through the fluid conduit to introduce the solution into the circulatory system of the animal. |
| US07666073B2 |
Closure clip with round bottom
A closure clip for products in bag or sausage form, the packaging cover material of which is formed from at least one packaging film, wherein the closure clip has a clip bottom and two straight clip legs which adjoin the clip bottom in the same direction and which diverge away from each other away from the clip bottom and the central longitudinal axes of which and the central longitudinal axis of the clip bottom lie in a common plane. It is further provided that the clip bottom has a rounding in the form of part of a circular arc. |
| US07666072B2 |
Device for tightening a tubular casing filled with a stuffed product
The invention relates to a device for tightening a tubular casing filled with a product by means of several pairs of displacers, wherein the mutually overlapping displacers of each pair encompass an opening, both displacers adjoining to the encompassed opening in two overlapping points per pair. The displacers are configured for a linear tightening movement depending on the varying size of the openings, the openings being located one behind the other in the axial direction of the tubular casing encompassing a passage. The openings are not congruent with the passage, the overlapping points being at a distance from the passage during the predominant part of the tightening movement. The invention allows the subdivision of the filled tubular casing into packaging units, thereby preventing or reducing the risk of damages to the tubular casing. |
| US07666064B2 |
Method for grinding semiconductor wafers
Semiconductor wafers are processed so as to remove material on one or both sides by means of at least one grinding tool, with coolant supplied into a contact region between the semiconductor wafer and the at least one grinding tool, characterized in that the coolant flow rate is set as a function of a grinding tooth height of the at least one grinding tool and this coolant flow rate is reduced as the grinding tooth height decreases. |
| US07666063B2 |
Rough polishing method of semiconductor wafer and polishing apparatus of semiconductor wafer
A rough-polishing method for conducting a rough polishing before mirror-finish polishing on a semiconductor wafer using a polishing apparatus includes a first polishing step for polishing the semiconductor wafer using slurry containing colloidal silica supplied by a slurry supplying unit and a second polishing step for polishing the semiconductor wafer using alkali solution provided by mixing deionized water supplied from a deionized-water supplying unit and alkali concentrate solution supplied by an alkali-concentrate-solution supplying unit. The pH value of the alkali solution and polishing time in the second polishing step are determined based on the load current value of the polishing table in the first polishing step. |
| US07666062B2 |
Grinding apparatus with magnetic bearings
A grinding wheel having a convex grinding surface is attached to a wheel spindle that is contactlessly supported by a casing through a controlled type axial magnetic bearing and controlled type radial magnetic bearings and that is rotated by an electric motor. A groove of a workpiece is ground by causing relative displacement of the casing. After the axial positioning of the casing is performed, the casing is radially displaced. Then, the groove is ground. The stiffness value of the axial magnetic bearing 6 is set to be lower than a normal value before the casing is radially displaced. After it is detected that the grinding surface of the grinding wheel touches the entire groove of the workpiece and that the grinding of the entire surface of the workpiece is started, the stiffness value is set back to the normal value. |
| US07666059B2 |
Method for molding lofted material with laminated support layer and garment made
A method for molding a lofted assembly having a lofted material and a laminated nylon support material the garment produced are provided. The method includes the steps of positioning a support fabric on a lofted material; laminating the support fabric to the lofted material to form a lofted assembly; positioning the lofted assembly in a molding apparatus having at least a first mold and a second mold, closing together the first mold and the second mold thereby sandwiching the lofted assembly therebetween and while maintaining a uniform preset gap between said first mold and the second mold so that the inherent loft characteristics of the lofted assembly are substantially preserved. |
| US07666049B2 |
Electrodeposition display panel manufacturing method, electrodeposition display panel, and electrodeposition display device
An electrodeposition display panel manufacturing method capable of manufacturing a highly reliable display panel in a short time and effectively, an electrodeposition display panel, and an electrodeposition display device are provided. Openings (5A), (5B) are provided in a rear substrate (2) of the cell. A nozzle (7A) to which an injector (8) is connected on the other side is inserted into the opening (5A), and a nozzle (7B) is inserted into the opening (5B). On the other end side of the nozzle (7B), a container for recovering a spilled display material (6) and a decompressor are arranged. While the display material (6) is pressure-injected from the opening (5A), evacuation and discharging air bubbles and the like are performed from the opening (5B). Thereby, the display material (6) is filled in the cell. |
| US07666047B2 |
Method for securing a metal noble tip to an electrode of a spark plug using a resistance and laser welding process
There is provided a method for producing a spark plug in which welding strength between a noble metal tip and an electrode joined by laser welding can be restrained from becoming weak.A noble metal tip (90) to be joined to a center electrode (2) or ground electrode of a spark plug to form a spark discharge gap is resistance-welded to each electrode containing no noble metal and then laser-welded. In the noble metal tip (90) exposed under a severe environment involving spark discharge, a molten portion (80) formed in such a manner that a portion of the noble metal tip (90) and a portion of the electrode are melted by laser welding and a non-molten portion (95) on the noble metal tip (90) side are apt to be peeled from each other in a boundary surface (83) between the molten portion (80) and the non-molten portion (95). The noble metal content in the molten portion (80) however becomes higher because a flange portion is formed in a bottom portion by pressing force applied on the noble metal tip (90) at the time of resistance welding and then irradiated with a laser beam. Accordingly, peeling can be prevented from occurring in the boundary surface (83). |
| US07666046B2 |
Rescue water craft
A rescue water craft comprising an elongated closed-loop tubular structure and a floor is described. The tubular structure has a mid portion and two end portions. Both end portions rise upwardly and outwardly from the mid portion at an angle comprised between 70 and 85 degrees. The floor partially runs along the mid portion. The floor is attached to and encircled by the tubular structure. Each of the two end portions defines an opening between the tubular structure and the floor. |
| US07666040B2 |
Watercraft swivel drives
Enhanced watercraft performance is provided by combinations of one or more inboard swivel propulsion drives and hull tunnels. A tunnel at the hull centerline with specific features provides performance advantages for a center swivel propulsion drive. Use of front propeller based traction propulsion is particularly advantageous in the swivel drive systems and allows the use of tunnels with improved tunnel conformations. Advantages of the traction swivel drive arrangements include minimization of hull space with smaller engine room volume, greater propulsion efficiency and improved watercraft handling. |
| US07666039B2 |
Outboard motor steering assembly with rudder reference sensor
An outboard motor having a steering control and a rudder reference sensor, both connectible to a computer-operated guidance system. The steering control utilizes a linear actuator connected through a linkage to the motor. The actuator utilizes a rack that moves along the axis about which the motor pivots from its use position to its storage position, thereby enabling the rudder position sensor to remain connected to the motor when the motor is pivoted from its use position to its storage position. The sensor can include a follower disposed in a sloping groove on the rack, a pin on the rack engaged in a helical groove on a cylinder, or an externally mounted sensor connected to the steering linkage through an auxiliary linkage. |
| US07666037B2 |
Series terminal, test plug and test terminal block
An electrical series terminal with a terminal housing, with two conductor connecting elements located in it, and with two current busses, first end regions of which are each assigned to a conductor connecting element and second end regions of which together form an elastic contact region for accommodating the contact plug of a test plug. In the electrical series terminal, when the test plug is inserted into the test opening, elastic contact legs of the second end regions are bent back relative to one another and which together form a second elastic contact region for holding the contact plug of a test plug. The second contact region in the insertion direction is located in front of the first contact region so that an inserted contact plug first makes contact with the second contact region and only upon further insertion with the first contact region. |
| US07666034B2 |
Stacked card connector with dual ejectors
A card connector (100) includes a first connector (10), a second connector (20), a first ejecting mechanism (6) and a second mechanism (5). The first connector defining a first receiving space (14) includes a first insulating housing (30) located in the receiving space and a plurality of first terminals (4) retained in the first insulating housing. The second connector is assembled with the first connector and includes a second insulating housing (22) equipped with the first insulating housing to define a second receiving space (220), and a plurality of second terminals (24) assembled with the second insulating housing and protruding into the second receiving space. The first insulating housing forms a base section (31) and a base seat (33) extending laterally from the base section, and the first ejecting mechanism and the second ejecting mechanism are mounted on the base seat. |
| US07666032B2 |
Shielded connector and method of manufacturing shielded connector
There is provided a method of manufacturing a shielded connector which includes: a terminal-attached wire; a housing containing the terminal of the terminal-attached wire; a shielded shell integrated to the housing; a knitted conductor mounted to the wire; and a shield ring interposing the knitted conductor between the shield ring and the shielded shell so that the knitted conductor is electrically connected to the shielded shell. The method includes: inserting, into the shielded shell, a single core having a stepped portion formed in a opposed drawing direction; bringing a contact portion formed at the shielded shell into contact with the core; covering the shield ring on the shielded shell via the knitted conductor; and calking the shield ring, the knitted conductor, and the shielded shell from outer side of the shield ring to form, on the shielded shell, a calk-deformed portion contained into the stepped portion of the core. |
| US07666031B2 |
Connector
A plug-side connector to be connected to a jack-side connector is provided that includes a conductive housing configured to surround an electromagnetically shielded projecting part of the jack-side connector upon the plug-side connector being connected to the jack-side connector; and a leaf spring member for a plug-side electromagnetic shield, the leaf spring member including multiple conductive leaf spring pieces arranged at a pitch enabling formation of the electromagnetic shield, the leaf spring member being provided to the housing so that the leaf spring pieces are arranged in a width direction of the housing on the interior side of the housing. The leaf spring pieces are configured to come into elastic contact with a surface of the projecting part of the jack-side connector upon the plug-side connector being connected to the jack-side connector. |
| US07666026B2 |
Electrical connector including a connector having a fit detection portion
An electrical connector includes a first connector including a first interlock terminal, a first connecting terminal, and a first interlock connector for holding the first interlock terminal, and a second connector including a second interlock terminal electrically connected to the first interlock terminal, and a second connecting terminal engaged with the first connecting terminal. The second connector further includes a second interlock connector engaged with the first interlock connector and holding the second interlock terminal, and a fit detecting portion movable in conjunction with the second interlock connector for detecting a fit state of the first connector and the second connector. |
| US07666024B2 |
Spring loaded parallel pad clamp
Disclosed herein is an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes an upper pad, a lower pad, a fastener, and a spring. The upper pad includes a first upper groove, a second upper groove, and an upper hole. The upper hole extends through the upper pad between the first upper groove and the second upper groove. The lower pad includes a first lower groove, a second lower groove, and an elongated hole. The elongated hole extends through the lower pad between the first lower groove and the second lower grove. The fastener extends through the upper hole and the elongated hole. The spring is between the fastener and the lower pad. The spring is configured to bias the upper pad and the lower pad towards each other. The lower pad is configured to be pivotable around the fastener, and relative to the upper pad, at the elongated hole. |
| US07666012B2 |
Separable loadbreak connector for making or breaking an energized connection in a power distribution network
Separable loadbreak connectors include an interference element spaced about the contact tube that is configured to engage a portion of a connector piston. |
| US07666011B2 |
Electrical connector socket with latch mechanism
An electrical connector for receiving a daughter card having a plurality of conductive surfaces is described. The electrical connector has a socket with an elongated slot for receiving the daughter card. The slot has electrical terminals for engaging the plurality of conductive surfaces on the daughter card and for electrically connecting the daughter card to the connector. A latch at each end of the elongated slot secures the daughter card to the connector. The latch includes a pair of inwardly directed opposing securing hooks and a pair of unlocking members. |
| US07666006B2 |
Electric connection box
An electric connection box includes an electronic circuit board having an electronic component, and a power circuit board having a power circuit, which are disposed upright in a casing. A vertically-extending component area for mounting a heat generating component is formed on the power circuit board, so as not to face the electronic circuit board. A partition wall for separating the component area from the electronic circuit board is provided in the casing, and thereby a first air passage for allowing air to flow vertically along the component area is formed in the casing. A first inlet port connected to the first air passage is formed on the casing, and a first outlet port connected to the first air passage and positioned above the first inlet port is formed on the casing. |
| US07666003B2 |
Contact device
A contact device is provided, the device having at least a first contact region for electrical connection to an electric line and at least a second contact region for electrical connection to a flexible printed circuit board other contact medium which may damaged by repeated soldering. The first contact region and the second contact region are electrically connected. Between the first contact region and the second contact region, a third region is provided which has a lower thermal conductivity per unit length than the first contact region and/or the second contact region. |
| US07666000B1 |
Burn-in socket with hybrid terminal assembly
A burn-in socket includes an insulative housing and a number of electrical terminal assemblies secured to the insulative housing. The terminal assembly includes a first contact and a second contact contacting with each other. The first and second contact each is provided with a mating end projecting beyond the insulative housing. The second contact includes a stem portion sliding along a slot in the connecting end of the first contact and a coiled spring. The coiled spring is connected with and surrounding the stem portion. |
| US07665988B2 |
Ascending/descending apparatus and complex sintering furnace using the same
Provided is a complex sintering furnace to sequentially perform a bake-out process and a sintering process for molding ceramic products. The complex sintering furnace includes: a support frame; a pair of furnace bodies supported on the top of the support frame and having a built-in heat insulator covered by a disc-shaped cover; a pair of rails arranged under the support frame in parallel in a length direction along arrangement of the furnace bodies; a rotating base horizontally transferred along the rails and rotatably connected to bottoms of the furnace bodies when the rotating base is vertically transferred directly under the bottoms of the furnace bodies, the rotating base including a separately rotating setter mounted the top thereof; and an ascending/descending apparatus mounted under the rotating bases and having a ball-screw type rotation shaft to vertically ascend/descend the rotating base at the same time of the separate rotation of the setters. Accordingly, the production efficiency of the ceramic products can be significantly improved by rapidly transferring to the post-processes and simultaneously performing the bake-out process and the sintering process. |
| US07665983B2 |
Microcontact printing
A microcontact printing tool having a print unit including a stamp head with a stamp and a wafer chuck for retaining a substrate. The stamp contained by the stamped head movable relative to the substrate by an actuator and a stage. A plurality of sensors detect the position of the stamp relative to substrate. A method of using the printing tool that includes a real-time feedback for consistent and accurate application of force during the printing of the substrate. The stamp head includes a pressure chamber carrying the stamp. The stamp backing is deflected prior to contact of the stamp with the substrate to form a minimum point and the stamp backing and the stamp is returned to a plane to create a printing propagation contact. An apparatus has a master backing and a stamping backing in close proximity and the stamp material drawn in through a vacuum. The stamp is separated from the master by use of a parting fluid. |
| US07665982B2 |
Twin-sheet thermoforming process and apparatus for insert inclusion
A twin-sheet thermoforming process and associated apparatus which enables placement of an insert between upper and lower sheets before the sheets are actually heated and formed is described herein. Since the insert is positioned before molding takes place, the insert does not cause the formed panels to rest and cool down before fusing is finally carried out to capture the insert and seal the panels to each other. Panel fusing may therefore be performed at an optimal temperature. |
| US07665980B2 |
Apparatus for molding
A rack and pinion centering device for stack molding has at least one attachment device comprising a base attached to a mold member and at least one releasable clamp member, an end of a rack of a centering device being interposed between the base and the releasable clamp member and being held in a longitudinal location relative to the base within a range of adjustment by the releasable clamp members, whereby the longitudinal location of the rack relative to the mold member is determined within the range of adjustment. The attachment device permitting machining of mold members for attachment of centering devices while a mold assembly is removed from the clamp unit of a molding machine. |
| US07665976B2 |
High pressure fuel pump for internal combustion engine
A high pressure fuel pump for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, a plunger slidably fitted in the cylinder and a seal mechanism for blocking fuel leakage from an end of a sliding portion between the cylinder and the plunger and also for preventing an lubricant for a driving mechanism of the plunger from entering into the cylinder from the end of the sliding portion of the cylinder and the plunger. A holder surrounding the end of the sliding portion of the cylinder and the plunger is provided. The seal mechanism comprises two mutually independent seal devices mounted with a specific spacing in a longitudinal direction from the end of the sliding portion of the cylinder and the plunger along a circumference of the plunger. The two seal devices are held on the circumference of the plunger by the holder surrounding the end of the sliding portion of the cylinder and the plunger while keeping the specific spacing. |
| US07665975B2 |
Seal section oil seal for submersible pump assembly
A seal section for location between a submersible rotary pump and motor has a primary mechanical seal and a secondary oil seal at the pump end of the seal section. The mechanical seal has rigid seal faces that slide in engagement with each other. The secondary seal has an inner portion that seals against the shaft of the seal section and an outer portion that seals against the housing. The seal section has a pressure equalizing device for equalizing pressure of motor lubricant with well bore pressure. |
| US07665970B2 |
Fan blade mounting system
A ceiling fan (10) is disclosed having a motor housing (11) which encases an electric motor (13). The motor includes a bottom mounting plate (14) that rotates and thereby drives an annular array of blade irons (16), each having a blade (17) mounted thereto in conventional fashion. Each blade iron is mounted for pivotal and radial movement relative to the bottom mounting plate. An annular balancing ring (28) causes pivotal and radial movement of other blade irons (36)in response to the radial movement of an off-balanced blade iron (35). |
| US07665968B2 |
Cooled rotor blade
A rotor blade is provided that includes a root and a hollow airfoil. The hollow airfoil has a cavity defined by a suction side wall, a pressure side wall, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a base, and a tip. An internal passage configuration is disposed within the cavity. The configuration includes a passage disposed adjacent the leading edge, and an axially extending passage disposed adjacent the tip. The first passage is connected to the second passage. The second passage includes an opening disposed at the trailing edge of the airfoil. A conduit is disposed within the root that is operable to permit airflow through the root and into the leading edge passage, wherein the conduit provides the primary path into the leading edge passage. |
| US07665955B2 |
Vortex cooled turbine blade outer air seal for a turbine engine
A cooling system for a turbine blade outer air seal that is positioned in close proximity to a tip of a rotatable turbine airfoil to seal the gap between the tip of the turbine blade and the blade ring carrier. The turbine blade outer air seal may be formed from a housing including a cooling fluid collection chamber and one or more vortex cooling channels in fluid communication with the cooling fluid collection chamber via one or more vortex channel feed holes. In one embodiment, a plurality of vortex cooling channels may extend from proximate to an upstream edge of an outer sealing plate of the outer air seal to a downstream edge of the outer sealing plate. During use, cooling fluids pass through the vortex channel feed holes and into the vortex cooling channels, in which vortices may be created. |
| US07665954B2 |
Hydrodynamic bearing runner for use in tilting pad thrust bearing assemblies for electric submersible pumps
An electrical submersible pump runner having a core layer and a wear layer affixed to the core layer. One embodiment of the invention provides an electrical submersible pump that includes a motor section and a centrifugal pump section. A seal section and rotary gas separator may also be included. The pump is powered by an electric cable that connects the pump, located in a bore hole, to a power source on the surface. A thrust runner coated with a wear layer (e.g., polymer) is provided in the motor and/or seal section to reduce bearing temperature, provide longer bearing life, reduce costs, and facilitate overhaul. The runner may also function as a rotating up-thrust bearing when the runner is coated with a wear layer on one side that is formed with a bearing geometry. In this case, the up-thrust bearing may be eliminated. |
| US07665953B2 |
Methods and system for recuperated cooling of integral turbine nozzle and shroud assemblies
A method for cooling a shroud segment of a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes providing a turbine shroud assembly including a shroud segment having an inner surface and a leading edge that is substantially perpendicular to the inner surface, and coupling a turbine nozzle to the turbine shroud segment such that a gap is defined between an aft edge of an outer band of the turbine nozzle and the leading edge. The method also includes directing cooling air into the gap, and directing the cooling air in the gap through at least one cooling hole extending between the leading edge and the inner surface. |
| US07665950B2 |
Transfer apparatus
A transfer apparatus includes a stationary base, a swivel rotatable around a vertical rotation axis, a linear movement mechanism supported by the swivel, a hand supported by the linear movement mechanism for transferring a work along a horizontal path, a driving power source in the stationary base, and a transmission shaft arranged along the rotation axis for transmitting driving force from the driving power source to the linear movement mechanism. The linear movement mechanism includes a driving mechanism and a guide rail for movably supporting the hand. The driving mechanism has a plurality of pulleys, including a driving pulley supported rotatably around a horizontal axis, and an output belt wound around the plurality of pulleys for reciprocal movement within a predetermined section extending parallel to the movement path. The hand is connected to the output belt via a connection member. |
| US07665949B2 |
Carton handling method and apparatus
An accessory for a forklift allows handling of cartoned goods a whole layer at a time and part of a layer. The head has a series of closely parked suction devices which are served by a common vacuum chamber. The head is carried by the forks and vacuum is supplied by a separate unit mounted on the forklift. In a modification, the head is carried on a sub assembly which allows the head to move to one side of the forklift. |
| US07665948B2 |
Anti-injury protection device for hydraulic loading platforms
An anti-injury protection device for hydraulic lifting platforms of good-lifts, air platforms and similar includes tetrahedral structures (1) that may be applied for protection of the edges of sharp boards (P) of good-lifts, air platforms and similar, from which telescopic structures (6) are projecting for the protection of the edges, and of light devices (7) which get automatically started when they get into contact with the surface of the plane to be protected; in the lower part of the structures (1), horizontally pivoted planes (4, 5) are provided, kept in resting position by magnets or other and which, once opened, add their own fluorescence to the intermittent danger light signal placed on top of the tetrahedron so as to attract and contemporarily call the attention for showing the obstacle and the dangerous area. |
| US07665940B2 |
Fastener assembly
A fastener coupler includes a first securing member configured to receive and retain a first fastener within a first inner cavity, wherein at least one passage is formed through the first securing member, and a setting indication material within at least a portion of the first inner cavity. The setting indication material is configured to extrude through the first passage when the first fastener is urged into the setting indication material in order to indicate that the first fastener is properly secured to the first securing member. |
| US07665939B1 |
Retractor anchor with top release
A retractor anchor for releasably engaging a track. The retractor anchor has a body member which is slidably receivable on the track, and a plunger, which is moveably connected to the body member. A release member is connected to the plunger for moving the plunger between an engaged position, wherein the plunger engages the track to restrain the body member from sliding with respect to the track, and a disengaged position, wherein the body member is slidable with respect to the track. A mounting member is connected to the body member for mountably receiving an attachment for rotation of the attachment around the release member. |
| US07665938B2 |
Coaxially mounted retracting guide and restraint for an air cargo system
An air cargo device for facilitating the movement and retention of unit load devices on an air cargo deck includes a base member on which are mounted a caster roller, a guide and a restraint. The guide and the restraint are coaxially mounted and together occupy one of three positions: both the guide and restraint being recessed; the guide raised with the restraint recessed, and both the guide and restraint being raised. One end of the base member is provided with retractable tension studs suitable for mating with a portion of a seat track, while the opposite end of the base member is provided with shoulder bolts for mating with a lock tray. This permits the device to bridge between the two types of cargo floor fixtures. |
| US07665937B2 |
Milling cutter
Milling cutter (1), which can rotate about a cutter longitudinal axis (A), comprises a sleeve-shaped shaft (2) provided with an inner lying chip evacuation channel (11), which is arranged, in essence, symmetric to the cutter longitudinal axis (A), and with a suction opening (12). The milling cutter also comprises a milling head (3, 3a, 3b, 3c), which is held coaxial to the cutter longitudinal axis (A) and to the shaft (2) while being held on said shaft and which comprises, as cutting edges (7, 9), a face cutting edge (7) and a peripheral cutting edge (9). At least one cutting edge (7, 9) forms a positive rake angle (′Ya,′Yr) on the periphery of the milling head (3, 3a, 3b, 3c). The milling cutter (1) is particularly suited for machining light metals, especially for circular milling. |
| US07665936B2 |
Wood drill bit
The invention concerns a wood drill bit with a cylindrical drilling head. The drilling head has at its end a centering tip which is disposed on the longitudinal axis of the drill bit and which projects in the drilling direction for centering the wood drill bit, at least two main cutters which are arranged diametrically and radially or substantially radially and have main cutting edges, and a pan-cylindrical guide bell. Adjoining each main cutter is a chip ejection space which is partially open towards the connecting portion. It is proposed inter alia that the main cutter extends with a radially inwardly disposed portion into the centering tip and the chip ejection space is enlarged into the centering tip by means of a pre-chip ejection groove. |
| US07665932B2 |
Method and device for the transportation of pulverulent filling material through a line
A method of transporting pulverulent filling material through at least one line. The method comprises opening a chamber-like line region located in the at least one line, introducing the pulverulent filling material into the chamber-like line region, closing the chamber-like line region, and pressing the pulverulent filling material out of the chamber-like line region and at least partially into the at least one line using at least one compressed air pulse. |
| US07665927B2 |
Bearing assembly for swivel joint
The present invention is an improved swivel joint for use as part of a cable-guided fishing assembly. The swivel joint contains a bearing assembly comprising a series of ball bearings partially encased by an inner and outer race. During a cable-guided fishing operation, the inner and outer race exert a shearing, rather than compression, force on the ball bearing due to the unique configuration of the bearing assembly. This unique configuration increases the strength of the bearing assembly, and the corresponding strength of the swivel joint, without necessitating an increase in the outer diameter of the swivel joint. |
| US07665924B2 |
Back plate and file cover for ring binder
On the one surface of a back plate suited to a length-and-width size of a ring binder, hooks serving as an engaging means are formed. The back plate is fixed to the spine surface of the file cover. When the ring binder is pressed against the back plate, the hooks are engaged with the ring binder so that the file cover is mounted on a booklet bound with the ring binder. |
| US07665918B2 |
Developing apparatus, developing method and storage medium
A developing apparatus includes, to process substrates each coated with a resist and processed by an exposure process by a developing process, includes: plural developing units each provided with a substrate holding device for stably pouring a developer onto the substrate, a first developer nozzle to be used in common by the plural developing units to pour the developer in a band-shaped flow onto the substrates held by each of the substrate holding devices, a nozzle driving mechanism for carrying the first developer nozzle from one to another of the developing units, and moving the first developer nozzle with one end of a band-shaped area into which the developer is to be poured through the first developer nozzle directed toward the center of the substrate in each of the developing units such that a part in a surface of the substrate onto which the developer is poured moves from a central part toward a peripheral part or from a peripheral part toward a central part in the surface of the substrate to coat the surface of the substrate entirely with a developer film, and second developer nozzles for pouring the developer into a circular area or a band-shaped area of a short length shorter than that of the band-shaped area into which the first developer nozzle pours the developer in a central part of the substrate on which the developer film has been formed by the first developer nozzle. The nozzles are used selectively for developing steps. |
| US07665909B2 |
System and method for implementing a high capacity unrepeatered optical communication system
A method of communicating an optical signal includes generating an optical signal at a bit rate of at least 2.5 Gb/s. The optical signal including at least thirty optical channels. In one particular embodiment, at least some of the thirty optical channels reside within a 1567-1620 nanometer wavelength range. The method also includes receiving the optical signal at a ROPA that includes a rare-earth doped optical fiber. In addition, the method includes introducing a pump signal to a communication span of the unrepeatered optical communication system. The pump signal operable to amplify the optical signal by Raman amplification within the communication span and including at least one pump signal wavelength operable to excite the rare-earth doped fiber. The method further includes receiving the optical signal after the optical signal has traversed at least 200 kilometers of the communication span. |
| US07665907B2 |
Optical connector assembly
The invention relates to an optical connector assembly for connecting optical waveguides to electro-optical components, in particular for producing multimedia connections in motor vehicles, for example in accordance with the MOST® standard. The connector assembly comprises a connector (12) having a mating connector receptacle (16) for receiving a complementary mating connector (112), the mating connector (112) for forming the mating connection with the connector (12), the optical waveguide (128), which is held at a contact end (138) by means of the mating connector (112) in order to establish an optical connection between the optical waveguide (128) and the electro-optical component (58) when the mating connection is formed between the connector (12) and the mating connector (112), and the electro-optical component (58), which is arranged on a rear side (22) of the connector (12) and has an optically active area (428) having a predetermined diameter for coupling optical signals in/out, the connector (12) having a connection element (68) for receiving the optical waveguide (128), an optical coupling element (28) being arranged in the connector (12) between the optical waveguide (128) and the electro-optical component (58) for transmitting light waves from the optical waveguide (128) to the electro-optical component (58), or vice versa, and the coupling element (28) comprising an essentially cylindrical optical waveguide section (318), which has a larger diameter than the optical waveguide (128). |
| US07665901B2 |
Protective fiber optic union adapters
Devices to enhance the reliability of optical networks and to reduce the cost of repair are disclosed in this invention. In particular, compact and inexpensive fiber optic union adapters with built-in protective isolation prevent the transfer of damage from one connectorized fiber optic cable to another. The fiber optic union includes a split sleeve with an interior channel and a fiber stub centrally located within the interior channel. The fiber stub makes direct optical contact with the cable endfaces to enable efficient optical transmission between interconnected cables while providing a low loss, low back reflection adiabatic transition between the waveguide cores of the two cables. |
| US07665900B2 |
Vehicle wheel bearing apparatus
A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member with double row outer raceway surfaces on its inner circumferential surface. An inner member includes a wheel hub and at least one inner ring. An outer joint member forms a constant velocity universal joint. The outer joint member has a cup-shaped mouth portion. A shoulder portion forms the bottom of the mouth portion. A shaft portion axially extends from the shoulder portion. The shaft is axially separably and torque transmittably inserted into the wheel hub with the shoulder abutted against the caulked portion to transmit torque. The inner ring is axially secured relative to the wheel hub by a caulked portion. The caulked portion is formed by plastically deforming, radially outwardly, the end portion of the cylindrical portion. The caulked portion has a flat surface formed by a cutting process that is adapted to surface contact the shoulder. The radially outermost end of the flat surface is arranged so that it does not abut against the shoulder. |
| US07665889B2 |
Quantitative calorimetry signal for sub-micron scale thermal analysis
The invention is a system and method for producing highly localized calorimetry data on a sample surface. The system is based on an SPM or other system with a probe and fine positioning capability. A heated probe is used to take a small sample (nano-sample) of a surface, and thereby make calorimetry measurements in a controlled manner. |
| US07665887B2 |
Nozzle device with flow restrictors used for multiphase fluid flow simulation in high temperature and pressurized mixing reactors
A mixing apparatus has a chamber, a shaft extending into the chamber, a motor drivingly interconnected to the shaft, a nozzle support affixed to the shaft and extending outwardly therefrom within the chamber, and a nozzle having an interior passageway affixed to the nozzle support such that the nozzle moves in the chamber as the motor drivingly rotates the shaft. The chamber has a multi-phase fluid therein. A flow restrictor is affixed to an inner wall of said chamber so as to extend inwardly therefor. The flow restrictor is a plurality of flat panels arranged in spaced relation around the interior of the chamber and within a liquid phase of the multi-phase fluid. |
| US07665886B2 |
Nozzle device used for multiphase fluid flow simulation in high temperature and pressurized mixing reactors
A mixing apparatus has a chamber, a shaft extending into the chamber, a motor drivingly interconnected to the shaft, a nozzle support affixed to the shaft and extending outwardly therefrom within the chamber, and a nozzle having an interior passageway affixed to the nozzle support such that the nozzle moves in the chamber as the motor drivingly rotates the shaft. The chamber has a multi-phase fluid therein. The nozzle moves through the fluid such that fluid is channeled through the interior passageway at a same rate that the nozzle moves through the fluid. Another nozzle can be affixed to the nozzle support diametrically opposite to the nozzle. |
| US07665876B2 |
Backlight unit
A backlight unit includes: light guide plate surrounded by main surfaces and end surfaces, one end surface facing a light source designated as entrance surface, one main surface designated as emitting surface; first prism sheet provided above the light guide plate, having first prism columns on a top surface and second prism columns on a bottom surface, each first prism column has first ridge line parallel or perpendicular to the entrance surface, each second prism column has second ridge line extending in a different direction from the first ridge line; second prism sheet provided above the first prism sheet, having third prism columns abutting each other on a top surface, each third prism column has third ridge line extending in a direction different from the first and second ridge lines; and reflection sheet facing the light guide plate below the light guide plate. |
| US07665873B2 |
Headlamp for vehicles
A headlamp for vehicles has at least one illumination device with one or more light-emitting diodes and with an optical system that is disposed in the light exit area and focuses the light of the light-emitting diodes for a forward lighting of the vehicle. At least one cooling body is provided for dissipating the heat output by the light-emitting diode, and the cooling body contains a number of cooling ribs. To configure the light cone, the cooling body is disposed in the optical axis of the light exit area of the light-emitting diodes between the light-emitting diodes and the optical system, at least the tip of a cooling rib of the cooling body is located at the focal point between the light-emitting diode and the optical system. |
| US07665870B2 |
Safety device for transporting oversized loads
One embodiment includes a method for improving driver safety in a highway vehicle that includes an oversized load that includes sizing at least one safety indicia illuminated by at least one EL lighting surface according to at least one government safety standard, affixing the at least one safety indicia to the front and to the rear of the highway vehicle and operating the vehicle on a highway. |
| US07665864B2 |
LED lamp assembly
An LED lamp assembly includes a central member and a plurality of lamps each having an LED module and a heat sink in thermal connection with the LED module. The central member has a plurality of inserting extrusions formed at a circumference thereof. The lamps each have a receiving tube projecting from an end thereof. The inserting extrusions are respectively inserted into the receiving tubes of the lamps to assemble the lamps onto the circumference of the central member. The lamps are tilted from the central portion along a radially outward direction. |
| US07665862B2 |
LED lighting fixture
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture for achieving a desired illumination pattern includes a support plate and a plurality of panels connected to the support plate. Each panel has an array of LEDs mounted to a planar surface thereof, and each of the panels is rotatable in at least two dimensions. |
| US07665856B2 |
Imaging device
To achieve both uniform illumination and a reduction in the LED light sources, after simplifying illumination control of the light sources. In an illumination unit 130, when arranging LED light sources in a linear arrangement on a light source base plate 160, installation thereof will be thinned out in the center, while providing the base plate left and right ends with LED light sources 160L1 and L2 and LED light sources 160R1 and R2. The light emitted by the LED light source 160L1 and the LED light source 160R1 will be reflected by a left inside wall face 131LS and a right inside wall face 131RS respectively, and directed onto the table upper face. The light emitted by the LED light source 160L2 and the LED light source 160R2 lying towards the center zone of the light source array where the light source placement has been thinned out will be reflected by a left outside wall face 171LS and a right outside wall face 171RS respectively, and directed onto the table upper face. |
| US07665852B2 |
Arrangement for and method of projecting an image with safety circuitry
Red, blue and green lasers respectively emit a plurality of red, blue and green laser beams having respective output powers. The beams are optically focused and collinearly arranged to form a composite beam which is swept by a pair of scan mirrors in a pattern of scan lines on a projection surface, each scan line having a number of pixels. A controller causes selected pixels to be illuminated, and rendered visible, by the composite beam to produce an image. A safety circuit detects a malfunction of at least one of the lasers and the scan mirrors, and deenergizes the at least one of the lasers and the scan mirrors upon detection of the malfunction. |
| US07665851B2 |
Projector having a color wheel including intermediate color filters
A color wheel (35) has equally arranged RGB primary color filters, and intermediate color filters each arranged between adjacent primary color filters. A time division driver (39) drives a spatial light modulator (31) by supplying color signals corresponding to color of the lights from the color wheel (35) to the spatial light modulator (31). The time division driver (39) controls the spatial light modulator (31) in accordance with display control instructed by a control unit (14). Since the intermediate color filters are arranged between the adjacent primary color filters, a projector engine (13) projects mixed color lights during color mixture terms where the primary color and the intermediate color are mixed, thus improves the color reproduction performance. |
| US07665850B2 |
Prism for high contrast projection
Prism elements having TIR surfaces placed in close proximity to the active area of a SLM device to separate unwanted off-state and/or flat-state light from the projection ON-light bundle. The TIR critical angle of these prisms is selected to affect either the off-state light or additionally, any portion of flat-state light reflected from the SLM. These TIR surfaces are placed to immediately reflect the unwanted light as it comes off the SLM, thereby preventing the contamination of light along the projection path, which tends to degrade the system contrast. To further improve the optical performance of the system, these TIR prisms can be attached directly to the SLM package, completely eliminating the package window. Also, these TIR prism can be coupled to DMDs having asymmetric mirrors, which tilt through a larger angle for the ON-light to provide high etendue and lumen output, but through near-zero degrees for the OFF-light, thereby improving the separation of any unwanted light from the off/flat states. |
| US07665848B2 |
Optimal dynamic techniques for custom-fit eye optics
A computer method for providing optimal dynamic techniques for custom-fit eye optics. The method includes steps of mounting pressure and motion sensors in a eye-enclosing device, transmitting data produced by said sensors during actual operation of said eye-enclosing device worn by a specific individual, receiving said sensor signals for subsequent analysis by a computer, creating a stress-and-motion map based on said sensor-based data, and creating a virtual optic (model) for optimal support and comfort based on step iv stress-and-motion map. |
| US07665846B2 |
Determining optimal positioning of ophthalmic devices by use of image processing and autofocusing techniques
A system or method of positioning an ophthalmic device relative to an eye is provided. The method first obtains a series of images of an eye. In these series of images, the distance between the ophthalmic device and the eye is varied while the region of the eye image remains substantially the same. It is possible then to process these images to determine the high frequency content associated with each image. By comparing the high frequency content associated with each image, it is possible to determine which image has the largest amount of high frequency content. The high frequency content is maximized when the image is the sharpest. An optimally focused image will have the largest amount of high frequency content. By examining the high frequency content associate with the series of images is impossible to adjust the relative position and distance between the eye and the ophthalmic device to the distance associated with the image having the largest amount of high frequency content (i.e., optimally focused). |
| US07665845B2 |
Portable high speed head mounted pupil dilation tracking system
A goggle based light-weight VOG system includes at least one digital camera connected to and powered by a laptop computer through a firewire connection and allows for high speed pupil dilation tracking. An EOG system may be incorporated directly into a goggle base. The digital camera may digitally center the pupil in both the X and Y directions. A calibration mechanism may be incorporated onto the goggle base. The VOG system may track and record head position and goggle slippage. An animated eye display may provide data in a more meaningful fashion. The VOG system may be a modular design whereby the same goggle frame or base is used to build a variety of digital camera VOG systems. |
| US07665842B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling peripheral image position for reducing progression of myopia
A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling optical aberrations to alter relative curvature of field by providing optical devices and methods comprising the repositioning of peripheral off-axis focal points relative to the retina to produce stimulus for influencing the progression of refractive error while simultaneously controlling the position of the central focal point near to the retina to provide clear central vision and simultaneously providing zones of controlled peripheral defocus and other optical aberrations to improve peripheral vision for select directions of gaze. |
| US07665841B2 |
Children's sunglasses
Sunglasses includes a frame portion having opposing inner and outer faces, opposed first and second sides, a nose bridge formed between the opposed first and second sides, and a lens opening between the nose bridge and each of the first and second sides. A lens-defining member, made of a flexible, thin, sun-protective, light-transmitting material, has an outer face applied to the inner face of the frame portion and an opposing inner face, and a side in juxtaposition to each of the first and second sides of the frame portion. Fasteners affix the lens-defining member to the frame portion, and first and second temples extend rearwardly of the frame portion at the first and second sides of the frame portion, respectively. |
| US07665839B1 |
Coupling device with breakaway and methods of using the same
A coupling device with a breakaway tab and methods of using the same for operably coupling an ornament to a side arm of an apparatus having ornamentation. The coupling device comprises an elongated body having openings at each end. One opening has been adapted to receive a screw of a side arm, the other to receive an ornamental fastener. A breakaway tab or non-threaded portion of the elongated stem is provided to manipulate the screw and coupling device so the coupling device may be inserted between a head of the screw and an inside surface of the side arm. After engaging the side arm by the screw, the breakaway tab or non-threaded portion of the elongated stem of the screw may be broken off at a breakaway and discarded. |
| US07665836B2 |
Method of drying printed media
A method of drying a printed media web in a printing system, the method including the steps of: passing a media web along a media path from a media cartridge, past a printhead, and over an opening; using at least one fan to force air past an heating element provided within a first chamber located on one side of the opening, the first chamber adapted to direct the heated air through the opening into a second drying chamber located on the other side of the opening; and, driving the printed media web along the media path such that the printed media web extends from the media path, via the opening, into the second drying chamber which receives subsequent portions of the printed media web as the media web is driven along the media path. |
| US07665833B2 |
Differential pressure valve unit
A differential pressure valve unit that is accommodated in a liquid cartridge main body having: a liquid containing portion containing liquid; and a liquid supply portion supplying the liquid in the liquid containing portion to the outside, the differential pressure value unit including: a membrane valve that is opened when a predetermined pressure difference between the liquid containing portion and the liquid supply portion occurs; and a first member that holds the membrane valve and forms a downstream pressure chamber together with the membrane valve, wherein, in the first member, an opposing surface forming the downstream pressure chamber and having a connection port connected to the liquid supply portion has a shape corresponding to a movable range of the membrane valve, and a groove portion is provided at the opposing surface in order to allow the liquid in the downstream pressure chamber to easily flow into the connection port. |
| US07665830B2 |
Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and image forming device
A liquid discharge head comprises a base member, a plurality of nozzles which discharge drops of a liquid, a plurality of liquid chambers which communicate with the plurality of nozzles respectively, and a plurality of piezoelectric elements generating a pressure to pressurize the liquid in each of the plurality of liquid chambers. In the liquid discharge head, a plurality of piezoelectric element members in which the plurality of piezoelectric elements are formed with grooves in columns by slot processing are arranged on the base member in rows along a direction of the columns of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. |
| US07665827B2 |
Liquid discharge recording head having an improved oxetane resin covering layer as part of a liquid flow path and liquid discharge apparatus
A liquid discharge recording head which discharges a liquid includes a substrate on which liquid-discharge-energy-generating elements are provided and which constitutes a part of a flow path for supplying the liquid; and a covering resin layer which is provided on the substrate, which constitutes a part of the flow path, and which includes orifices for discharging the liquid, wherein the covering resin layer is composed of an oxetane resin composition containing an oxetane compound having at least one oxetanyl group in its molecule and a photocationic polymerization initiator as essential components. |
| US07665826B2 |
Inkjet printing head and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed is an inkjet printing head which ejects ink in response to generation a bubble in the ink accompanying the action of heat from a heater, and which preferably allows ejection energy to be effectively used, and desired attachment accuracy of a movable valve to be secured and maintained. To this end, employed is a two-body structure formed of a substrate including the heater; and a valve retaining member having the movable valve. Then, the effective use of ejection energy is achieved by appropriately selecting the shape and dimensions of the movable valve. Furthermore, the desired attachment accuracy is secured and maintained by attaching the valve retaining member to the substrate by applying a photolithography process without using an adhesive agent. |
| US07665825B2 |
Ink jet recording head, ink jet recording apparatus, and method of manufacturing ink jet recording head
An ink jet recording head includes a first ink flow path array corresponding to a first recording element array, and a distance (La) between one end portion of an ink flow path and another end portion thereof across a first ink supply opening in the first ink flow path array is substantially equal to a distance (Lb) between one end portion of an ink flow path corresponding to a recording element located relatively far from a second supply opening and another end portion thereof across the second ink supply opening in a second ink flow path array. |
| US07665822B2 |
Ink jet recording apparatus
The present invention provides an ink jet recording apparatus having an ink jet recording head provided with a plurality of nozzles through which inks of a plurality of colors are ejected, a cap to be detachably brought into close contact with a nozzle face in which holes of the plurality of nozzles are formed, and ink-suction means which sucks an ink within the ink jet recording head by way of the cap. The apparatus is configured such that contact angles θa of the inks with respect to the nozzle face and contact angles θb of the inks with respect to the cap have a relation of θa>θb; and the angles θa are 50° or larger, and differences between the angles θa and the angles θb are 40° or larger. |
| US07665819B2 |
Method and apparatus for a printer cartridge tester
A handheld device for testing printer cartridges interfaces with a computer for processing of test results. Multiple testing devices may be coupled to the computer. In one embodiment, each testing device includes a base board and an adaptor board. The base board includes a host processor and a computer interface. The adaptor board comprises a cartridge-specific socket for retaining a printer cartridge to be tested and test circuitry. The adaptor boards may be interchanged. The device may obtain power from the computer interface. A computer program communicates with the test device and displays the results of the tests through execution of a suitable application or program. The application may present a pass/fail indication to a user and tally the number of passed/failed cartridges. The device for testing printer cartridges may include a sensor for detecting cartridge information and a computer program for altering the cartridge identification. |
| US07665818B2 |
Multipass image-forming device having large feed calibration
An image-forming device forms an image having improving image quality by conveying a sheet in a nonuniform conveyance, and reduces a processing load required for calibrating a conveying length for the recording medium. In an image-forming device, a process for acquiring a theoretical conveying length for conveying a recording medium (S404) and for calibrating the theoretical conveying length (S409) is only executed for a large feed used to convey the recording medium a second conveying length greater than a first conveying length (S405: YES) and not for small feeds used to convey the recording medium the first conveying length (S405: NO). Since calibration is performed on the second conveying length, which is greater than the first conveying length, this method reduces a decline in precision for the conveying length of the recording medium, even when reducing the number of calibrations. |
| US07665817B2 |
Double reflex printing
A registration system suited to use in an imaging system, such as an inkjet printer, includes a first measuring device, such as an encoder, which provides information for monitoring a speed of a moving image receiving surface of the imaging system, such as a paper web. A second measuring device, such as a second encoder or a tension measuring device, provides information for monitoring a tension in the image receiving surface. A control system determines an actuation time for one of two marking stations, based on the information from the first and second measuring devices. This enables a registration of images applied to the image receiving surface by the two marking stations to take into account both changes in speed of the web and changes in tension in the web. |
| US07665816B2 |
Image output device with an injector
The invention provides a semiconductor device of low power consumption and low cost. A semiconductor device 50 is basically constituted of a semiconductor substrate 1 and an external signal processing substrate 8. The semiconductor substrate 1 is provided with a memory unit 3, a data driver 4, an element array 2, a scanning circuit 35 and a clock generator 36. When successively outputting an identical data signal to the element array 2 over a plurality of times, the data signal retained in the memory unit 3 is utilized. |
| US07665811B2 |
Station for transporting and dispensing supplies
A station for transporting organized medical supplies and dispensing such supplies, the station having a plurality of configurations. In the dispensing configuration, the supplies located in the station can be easily accessed without the need to touch or otherwise manipulate the station. This touch-free access aids to prevent the transmission of pathogens. An upper panel with a number of compartments for medical supplies is connected to the station body to facilitate such touch-free access. The upper panel also supports a touch-free dispenser for hand sanitizer. The station can also be configured easily to a more compact configuration for transport. For example, the dispensing panel is moved from an upright dispensing position to a lowered horizontal position for transportation. Caster assemblies supporting the station enhance mobility for transportation. |
| US07665809B1 |
Mirrored dresser storage system
A storage system for storing jewelry, etc., is shown and described. In one embodiment, the storage system includes a dresser. A mirrored member is fixedly mounted above the dresser. At least one vertically-oriented panel is slidably mounted to the mirrored member. |
| US07665801B2 |
Structure of upper frame for supporting cabin of construction machinery
A structure of an upper frame for supporting a cabin of construction machinery, whereby, in the event of a rollover accident, an excessive vertical load or rearward load applied to a cabin structure is primarily dispersed by a reinforcing member of the cabin structure, and the dispersed load is supported by a separate cabin supporting structure, so that the plastic deformation of the cabin structure can be minimized. |
| US07665800B2 |
Truck box space frame
A truck box frame includes first and second laterally extending frame members and a frame side rail assembly. The frame side rail assembly includes first and second frame side rails. The first and second frame side rails generally extend between and are coupled to the first and second laterally extending frame members. The first and second laterally extending frame members are extendable laterally, creating a variable width truck box frame. The first and second frame side rails may be curved or swept so that the intermediate portions extend inwardly toward one another, forming a tapered portion of the frame side rail assembly. The length and curvature, or sweep, of the side frame rails may also be varied to create a variable length truck box frame. |
| US07665795B2 |
Side-under spoiler
A side-under spoiler insuring an excellent workability at the time of attaching a side-under spoiler to a lower side of a vehicle body via a bracket. A side-under spoiler 1 is supported by a vehicle body 2 via a bracket 3 provided at a lower side of the vehicle body 2. The side-under spoiler 1 includes a side-under spoiler body 7 supported at the lower part of the bracket 3 by supporting sections 5 of the bracket 3 elongated in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle body 2; attaching sections 6 for engaging the side-under spoiler body 7 with the supporting sections 7; and guides 7 fir the attaching section 6 to the supporting sections 5. |
| US07665788B2 |
Vehicles and trailers incorporating moveable load carrying platforms
A trailer is described, defining a floor extending from a first end, and comprising at least one first displaceable platform onto which goods can be loaded from the first end of the trailer. The first platform is supported such that it can be elevated when loaded and advanced away from the first end of the trailer when loaded. The first platform is preferably rolled forwards onto support tracks provided on the sidewalls of the trailer. The trailer may also include a load-carrying well with its own moveable cargo platform or platforms, and the first platform is loaded and moved up and over the well, thereby increasing the capacity of the trailer. Corresponding cargo-carrying vehicles, and loading methods are described and claimed. |
| US07665785B1 |
Column pipe catch tool
A catch tool for retrieval of a well column pipe having a pipe wall, the catch tool incorporating a fork having a pair of spaced tines; and a pair of clamping pivot arms connected operatively to the fork, the clamping arms being adapted for, upon the receipt by the tines of the pipe wall, grasping the pipe wall; the clamping arms having proximal and distal ends, the arms being adapted for pivoting movements between first and second positions, the arms' distal ends being displaced away from each other a distance less than the pipe wall's thickness dimension while in the first position, and being carried by the pipe wall to their second positions. |
| US07665783B2 |
Vacuum suction head, and vacuum suction device and table using the same
A vacuum suction head of the present invention can be applied to a large-sized liquid crystal display panel and can reliably suck an object to be sucked even if the object has undulation or flexure. The suction head has a shaft, which holds a suction pad, and gas is charged into and discharged from the suction pad through a suction hole. A casing holds the shaft through first and second springs so as to be movable in the axial direction. Since the suction pad is elastically supported by the springs, the suction pad can reliably suck the object to be sucked having undulation or flexure. The vacuum suction head can be used for a vacuum suction device and a working table. |
| US07665781B2 |
Portable animal waste pick up and storage apparatus
A portable apparatus for picking up and storing waste and, particularly animal waste, includes a container having each of a predetermined shape and a predetermined size, a bottom wall, and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and forming an open top end. An elongated member with a pointed lower edge is provided for securing the apparatus to a ground surface in a semi-permanent fashion. There is a pair of hooks for securing the handles of a grocery type bag positioned within an interior portion of the container. An optional liner storage member is attached to the exterior surface of the container. The invention also provides a device for picking up the animal waste which includes a cup-shaped member mounted at one end of an elongated member and a handle which is mounted at a distal end of the elongated member. |
| US07665777B2 |
Bumper beam for a motor vehicle
A bumper beam for mounting to a frame assembly of a motor vehicle at one end of the motor vehicle includes opposing end portions adapted to be mounted to the frame assembly of the motor vehicle and a centrally disposed intermediate portion extending between the end portions. The end portions and the intermediate portion define an upper wall, a lower wall, and a central wall between the upper and lower walls. The upper and lower walls each have an elongated arcuate flange that extends from a free end of a respective upper and lower wall along a length of the bumper beam. The arcuate flange of each of the upper and lower walls defines an outwardly facing concave surface and an inwardly facing convex surface. |
| US07665776B2 |
Handle for vehicle door
An handle assembly for a vehicle door and method of actuating a release mechanism, such as a door latch, are disclosed. The handle assembly may have a pull handle including a sliding leg, a pivot leg and a hand gripping portion extending between the sliding leg and the pivot leg, with the sliding leg adapted to guide the pull handle between a closed position and an open position, and with the pivot leg adapted to be secured for pivoting about a handle pivot axis about which the pull handle is pivotable. The handle assembly may also include a torque cable having a first end centered and rotatable about the handle pivot axis, and a second end adapted to operatively engage the release mechanism, with the first end rotationally fixed to the pivot leg. |
| US07665775B1 |
Locking window having a cam latch
A locking window that is selectively movable between a first closed position and a second open position and a window latch adapted to be attached to the window is disclosed. The window latch includes a cam latch, a housing including a support wall, a pivot fastener for attaching the cam latch to the housing, and a detent for retaining the cam latch in one of the open and the locked positions. |
| US07665772B2 |
Metallic cutting ring
The invention provides for a metallic cutting ring for a screw connection for sealingly connecting a tube to an attachment part, which metallic cutting ring has a tube abutment section and a cutting section which adjoins the tube abutment section in the axial direction. The cutting section having a stop which points radially outward from the outer periphery of the cutting ring and has a stop face, which runs transversely with respect to the cutting ring longitudinal axil, for the attachment part. The stop for the attachment part has an annular peripheral stop edge which projects beyond the stop face. |
| US07665770B2 |
All terrain vehicle
An all terrain vehicle includes a frame, an engine unit suspended from the frame, a fuel tank mounted on the frame, and a fuel pump disposed within the fuel tank. A protrusion protruding downward is provided on a bottom surface of the fuel tank and at a portion opposing a fuel suction vent of the fuel pump. The protrusion is arranged so that the protrusion opposes a throttle body connected to the engine unit. |
| US07665766B2 |
All terrain vehicle (ATV) safety attachment with gas tank holder
A Safety Attachment which does not allow the All Terrain Vehicles front end to lift off the ground more than a specified distance and eliminate a backwards overturn, when such vehicles are driven by one or more people up an incline of sufficient grade so as to cause the lighter-weighted front end of the vehicle to lift off the ground. There is also an adjustment on the safety attachment to give the invention further clearance from the ground to suit the more rugged terrain but enough clearance so the front end lifts up only within a safe determined distance. This invention, which consists of; 2 frames that are hinged together on the top and an adjustment on the bottom, one side attaches permanently to the back end of the ATV, the other side attaches to a removal safety device which is secured in place by locking pins and within this safety device a gasoline container can be housed. The main advantages of this Invention are; in the design of the safety device which limits how far the front end of the ATV can lift off the ground and also in the adjustability of the frame that attaches to the ATV. |
| US07665763B2 |
Inflator for an air-bag
An inflator for an air-bag comprises at least one gas bottle (1, 2) containing pressurized gas. The gas bottle is sealed by a rupturable foil (9). There is a support member (15) engaging the rupturable foil to maintain it in an unruptured state. The support member (15) is retained in an initial position by a part (23) of a piston element (20) which directly engages the support member (15). The piston element (20) is associated with a squib (11) to drive the piston element from an initial position to a release position in which the piston element no longer engages the support member (15). This permits the support member (15) to move to a position in which the foil (9) will rupture to permit gas to escape from the bottle. The preferred embodiment has two gas bottles each sealed by a respective foil each maintained by a support member which directly engages a single piston member. |
| US07665757B2 |
Airbag apparatus and motorcycle having the same
A technique is provided that is effective in easily draining liquid entering the interior of housing for housing a prefolded airbag of an airbag apparatus mounted to motorcycles. In a first form, an airbag apparatus mounted to a motorcycle has an opening at the bottom of a retainer, through which the water entering a retainer can be drained to the outside of retainer. |
| US07665756B2 |
Counterweighted gate
Dollies and methods of using dollies can include a platform configured to hold items for transport, a support frame adjacent the platform, an actuation mechanism coupled to the support frame, and a moveable gate coupled to the support frame and configured to be moved from a closed position to an open position in response to the triggering of the actuation mechanism by force applied by a user. The moveable gate can comprise a rotatable shaft disposed at an end of the moveable gate and extending within an opening, wherein the moveable gate is configured to move with the rotatable shaft as the shaft rotates within the opening, and at least one counterweight coupled to the moveable gate and positioned to assist in the movement of the gate to the open position in response to the triggering of the actuation mechanism. |
| US07665754B2 |
Propulsion unit for wheelchairs
A propulsion unit for a wheelchair wheel with a track. The propulsion unit comprising a body having a front portion, a rear portion and a handle, at least three rollers pivotally mounted to the body, front and rear friction elements positioned in the front and rear portions of the body respectively. When the handle is pressed forward the wheel is propelled forward and when the handle is pressed rearward the wheel is propelled rearward. |
| US07665753B2 |
Insert pin for leaf spring suspension
A leaf spring suspension includes a plurality of leaf springs fixedly secured together by a bolt in the form of a stack. A first leaf spring of the plurality of leaf springs has ends configured to be coupled to a vehicle frame. A pin extends through each leaf spring except for the first leaf spring to prevent splaying between the leaf springs during transverse loading of the suspension. |
| US07665749B2 |
Suspension assembly having an integrated stable storage platform
A suspension system for a vehicle is provided that allows for the vehicle body to be tilted wherein the tilt is controlled by the operator's legs in a manner that greatly enhances the stability of the vehicle while producing a fun vehicle to operate. Further, the bottom member of the suspension system is structured in a manner that provides storage capacity for installation of heavy items such as battery banks in order to preserve a lowered center of gravity for the vehicle. The tilting suspension may be used in the context of three-wheeled vehicle having a single rear drive tire and two forward wheels, but apply equally to a four wheeled vehicle as well as to water craft operating on pontoons or snow vehicles operating on skis. |
| US07665746B2 |
Method of mounting a king pin at an end of a hollow axle
A king pin is mounted in a hollow axle. An insert is force fit into each end of the hollow axle. The insert includes an aperture that aligns with an aperture in a wall of the hollow axle to provide a mount structure for the king pin. This mount structure thus provides a solid and reliable mount in a very simplified manner. The hollow axle and insert are also provided with draw key holes such that bolts may lock the king pin within the insert and the hollow axle. |
| US07665741B2 |
Laminate-type gasket
A metal laminate gasket includes a first metal substrate having a base portion and a folded portion, a second metal substrate laminated with the first metal plate, an intermediate plate disposed between the base portion and the second metal substrate, and a bead plate situated under the base portion. The bead plate includes a first full bead disposed around the first hole to project toward the base portion, and an outside portion disposed above the intermediate plate. The bead plate, first and second metal substrates and intermediate plate have first and second holes. The bead plate is formed to surround the first and second holes without extending to an entire area of the gasket. The total plate thickness of the first and second metal substrates, bead plate and intermediate plate at the full bead position is substantially same as that around the second hole. |
| US07665740B2 |
Sealing device for reciprocating shaft
A sealing device for a reciprocating shaft capable of providing sufficient pressure tightness to a main lip and preventing troublesomeness of an assembling operation. The sealing device, which is interposed between a shaft and an outer peripheral member, includes a washer, a main lip integrally bonded to a sealed space side of the washer and slidably brought into close contact with an outer peripheral surface of the shaft, an auxiliary lip integrally formed in an outer peripheral side thereof, a backup ring fitted between an atmosphere side of a slidable surface of the main lip and an inner peripheral portion of the washer, and bearing the main lip from the atmosphere side and the inner peripheral side, a dust lip integrally bonded to the atmosphere side of the washer and slidably brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and an outer peripheral lip integrally bonded to an outer peripheral portion of the washer and brought into close contact with the outer peripheral member. |
| US07665738B2 |
Self-tightening type sealing device
In a self-tightening type sealing device according to the present invention, not only a sealing member is tightened by an internal pressure, but also a tightening force imparting device which tightens the sealing member separately from the internal pressure is provided so as to be remotely operable by a controller. This construction remedies drawbacks involved in manual operation of the tightening force imparting device. |
| US07665736B1 |
Method of conducting a wagering game
The present invention discloses a method of conducting a game, such as a game of poker, conducted in stages with a game decision performed at each game stage. A game wager is received and a game stage is conducted. After a game stage, a player decision of placing a wager or folding is received. After at least one additional game stage, a second game decision is received from a player electing to defer of folding or placing a re-entry wager. A game outcome is determined and the game is resolved. |
| US07665733B1 |
Religious game
The religious game includes a game board with a playing path thereon, with the path having two phases. A series of question cards with correct responses on their backs is provided for each phase, with each card containing a series of questions, each question corresponding to one of the positions along that phase of the path. A repent area having a series of positions corresponding to the phase one positions is included on the board. The position marker of a player missing a question during phase one play is moved to the corresponding position of the repent area, and cannot return to the playing path until correctly answering a repent question. A missed question in phase two play initially results in a missed turn, with a second consecutive missed question resulting in a severe penalty by setting that player's marker back to an intermediate position in phase one. |
| US07665730B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same
A sheet processing apparatus including a cross-directionally moving device for moving a sheet in a direction crossing a sheet discharging direction, and a cross-side restricting member for receiving one side edge of the sheet moved in the crossing direction by the cross-directionally moving device, and restricting the movement of the sheet, wherein the cross-directionally moving device moves the next sheet from a position between the other side edge of the sheet received by the cross-side restricting member and the cross-side restricting member to the cross-side restricting member. |
| US07665724B2 |
Kicker
Various embodiments and methods relating to a kicker are disclosed. |
| US07665722B2 |
Method and apparatus for guiding sheets to a sheet processing machine, in particular a printing press
In a method and an apparatus for guiding sheets to a sheet processing machines, provision is made to reduce the adhesion forces between sheets following one another by the trailing edge of the respective first sheet of a sheet stream being lifted. The sheet is lifted using a blowing/suction nozzle or a suction nozzle. |
| US07665713B1 |
Sleeve valve for residential and commercial irrigation systems
A sleeve valve includes a rigid mandrel with a plurality of openings and a generally cylindrical elastomeric sleeve that surrounds the mandrel. A generally cylindrical rigid sleeve valve housing surrounds the elastomeric sleeve and defines a control chamber between the elastomeric sleeve and the sleeve valve housing. A pilot valve is mounted to the sleeve valve housing for supplying pressurized liquid to, and venting pressurized liquid from, the control chamber through a first passage formed in the sleeve valve housing. A filter screens debris from pressurized liquid entering an inlet end of the sleeve valve housing before it enters a second passage that communicates with the pilot valve. |
| US07665711B1 |
Ice cube extraction tray
An ice cube stacking tray having a cube retaining contour in its bottom surface that allows one-handed engagement of a cube to be positioned in a self-supporting upstanding position for easy one-hand retrieval. The tray has end extension flange recessed tri-lateral areas for receiving co-depending surface of vertically engaged corresponding tray. |
| US07665710B2 |
Contoured concrete form
The present invention relates to ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) building technology, offering an enhancement to existing practices by presenting a structure and method that enables concrete to be placed and shaped at any angle. In addition, the present invention provides a structure and method that offers aesthetic alternatives to flat surfaces characteristic of existing concrete forming building techniques. |
| US07665706B2 |
Suction-adhered device with suction power detection mechanism
A suction-adhered device includes a main body, suction cup units, and suction power detection units. The main body is provided with chambers. Each of the suction cup units includes a suction cup received in the chamber, and a safety lever projected from the upper side of the main body and movably connected to the suction cup with an elastic element mounted between them. Each of the suction power detection units includes a probe received in a long hole near the chamber to partially project from the long hole, and an indicating member visible via a window formed on a top of the main body above the long hole. When the suction cup is loosened from a mounting surface, the indicating member is turned by an elastic element to show a warning indicating zone thereof, so that a user may be timely warned to re-mount the main body. |
| US07665705B2 |
Picture frame positioner
An apparatus is provided including a main body portion, a first portion connected to the main body portion, and an extension portion connected to the first portion. The extension portion is comprised of an extension arm and a base. The base is configured to slide up and down the extension arm. The apparatus further includes a base engagement means, and a base release. The base engagement means does not allow the base to slide down the extension arm away from the first portion unless the base release has been activated. The base engagement means allows the base to slide up the extension arm toward the first portion regardless of whether the base release has been activated. The apparatus may be used to hang up a picture frame. |
| US07665703B2 |
Seat device for vehicle
A seat device for a vehicle comprises a lower rail fixed on the vehicle floor so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, an upper rail mounted to the lower rail so as to be slidable and supporting a seat body, a first lock mechanism for locking the upper rail at a first position to the lower rail and a second lock mechanism being locked for limiting the upper rail at a predetermined position so as not to move further back than the predetermined position when the upper rail is unlocked by means of the first lock mechanism, the second lock mechanism being unlocked when the upper rail is locked by means of the first lock mechanism. |
| US07665701B2 |
Wall-mount bracket
A mounting bracket for securing to an upright wall has an anchor plate formed with an upper horizontally throughgoing mounting hole and having a back face engageable with the wall, and a support plate fixed to and extending horizontally from the anchor plate below the upper mounting hole. The back face is formed between the upper mounting hole and an upper edge of the anchor plate with a bevel having a bevel face extending upward away from the wall. |
| US07665695B2 |
Unified attitude control for spacecraft transfer orbit operations
A method of controlling attitude of a spacecraft during a transfer orbit operation is provided. The method includes providing a slow spin rate, determining the attitude of the spacecraft using a unified sensor set, and controlling the attitude of the spacecraft using a unified control law. The use of a unified set of sensors and a unified control law reduces spacecraft complexity, cost, and weight. |
| US07665694B2 |
Dual action inlet door and method for use thereof
An inlet door assembly and method for reducing noise from an auxiliary power unit (APU) contained within an aircraft housing is provided. The inlet assembly includes an inlet duct, an actuator, and a door. The inlet duct is configured to extend from the auxiliary power unit to the aircraft housing and has a sidewall that defines a flow passage through which APU noise propagates. The actuator is disposed at least partially within the inlet duct. The door coupled to the actuator. The actuator is also configured to selectively rotate the door between at least a first position, in which at least a portion of the door deflects APU noise in a first direction, and a second position, in which at least a portion of the door deflects the APU noise in a second direction. |
| US07665689B2 |
Unconventional integrated propulsion systems and methods for blended wing body aircraft
Integrated propulsion systems and methods for blended wing aircraft are disclosed. In one embodiment, a propulsion system at least one engine operatively disposed within an engine flow duct having an engine inlet and an engine exhaust aperture, and at least one fan operatively disposed within a fan flow duct having a fan inlet and a fan exhaust aperture. The engine and fan rotational axes extending at least approximately along a lengthwise direction of the aircraft, the fan flow duct being separate from the engine flow duct. A transmission assembly is operatively coupled between the at least one engine and the at least one fan, the transmission assembly being configured to transmit a rotary output from the at least one engine to rotate the at least one fan. |
| US07665688B2 |
Convertible aerial vehicle with contra-rotating wing/rotors and twin tilting wing and propeller units
A micro aerial vehicle can be converted during flight between a fixed wing flight mode and a rotary wing flight mode. The canard design micro aerial vehicle includes a fuselage, two tiltable propellers and airfoils arranged at a forward portion of fuselage, a pair of coaxial drive shafts positioned aft of the tiltable propeller and airfoil arranged for contra-rotation, a stop rotor mechanism, and a pair of wing panels, each of the wing panels attached to one of the coaxial drive shafts. The wing panels act as contra-rotating rotor blades in the rotary wing flight mode, and act as fixed wing panels in the fixed wing mode. |
| US07665686B2 |
Dispenser
A dispenser is described for a roll of cling wrap wound on a paper core (the “wrap core’), The dispenser comprises a main paper core which fits in the wrap core in such a way that the wrap core can rotate thereabout. A handle portion in the form of a paper core is wrapped around the main core on one side of the wrap core and a stop member formed of the same paper core is wrapped around the end section. The wrap core is held in position between the handle section arid the stop member. When the cling wrap has been fully used, the user disposes of the dispenser. |
| US07665682B2 |
Crosswound bobbin and associated production method
An overend take-off crosswound bobbin and a method for its production are designed in such a way that the density of the finished crosswound bobbin is increased and the run-off characteristics during further processing are optimized. For this purpose, in one variant parallel windings are introduced at intervals. In another variant, when the bobbin diameter is small the yarn is wound on at a smaller pitch angle than for a larger diameter. Furthermore, a traversing stroke which is reduced by comparison with the bobbin width is displaced along the bobbin width. |
| US07665681B2 |
Fine grinding roller mill
A roller mill for pulverizing material and separating the pulverized material has a mill for crushing the material and a classifier disposed on the mill for separating the crushed material. The mill includes a grinding mechanism that has a plurality of grinding rolls and a grinding ring that coact to pulverize material within a mill housing, which defines a grinding chamber. The classifier is a centrifugal-type classifier having a motor-driven rotor disposed within a classifier housing, which define a classifying chamber. The rotor has a plurality of blades that extend outwardly from the rotor. As the rotor rotates within the classifying chamber, the blades separate fine sized particles from oversized particles by passing the finer sized particles through the blades, and contacting and propelling the oversized particles against the classifier housing. The oversize particles fall downward through an outer annular passage defined by a baffle and the mill housing back to the grinding mechanism. The baffle is disposed along the inner periphery of the mill housing spaced at a distance from the mill housing to provide an inner passage and an outer annular passage. The inner passage directs particle-laden air upward through the grinding chamber to the classifier. The goat annular passage receives and directs the oversized particles downward to the grinding mechanism of the mill through an opening at the bottom of the outer annular passage for directing the oversized particles to the grinding mechanism. |
| US07665679B2 |
Document management system and document destruction apparatus
A document management system comprises a document management apparatus that manages a document ID by associating the document ID with a storage time of the document, and checks the storage time in response to an inquiry about a permission of destroying the document and gives a permission of destroying the document when the storage time has expired, and a document destruction apparatus including a mode selection unit that selects one of a first destruction mode and a second destruction mode and an execution unit that destroys the document according to a destruction mode selected by the mode selection unit. The execution unit destroys the document without reading the document ID in the first destruction mode, and reads the document ID to inquire the permission of destroying the and destroys the document when the document management apparatus gives the permission of destroying the document in the second destruction mode. |
| US07665674B2 |
Structure for fixing reducer for sprinkler in side wall
The present invention relates to a structure for fixing a reducer for a sprinkler in a side wall, and more particularly, to a structure for fixing a reducer for a sprinkler for side wall construction, in which since the reducer can easily adjust a distance from the side wall in the horizontal direction, a connection work between the reducer and the sprinkler head for the side wall construction connected to the reducer can be conveniently performed. |
| US07665671B2 |
Thermostatic mixing valve
Thermostatic mixing valve has a valve body, a cold fluid inlet, a hot fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. Mixing chamber is located between the respective fluid inlets and the fluid outlet. Thermostatic element is located in or adjacent to the mixing chamber and is arranged to contact a piston at one end and via a mixing tube the valve body at the other end. Piston regulates flow through the fluid inlets into the mixing chamber. The piston is can move due to continued expansion of the thermostatic element after the piston has closed off the second fluid inlet. Valve body has an internal thread with which a thread on mixing tube permits adjustment of the relative position of the thermostatic element within the valve body and hence the set temperature of the thermostatic mixing valve. |
| US07665663B2 |
Method and apparatus for target discrimination within return signals
A template representing a desired target is applied to response signals from an area including a plurality of targets and illuminated by electromagnetic radiation. The response signals include poles or damped sinusoids representing resonances (e.g., resonant frequencies) distinctly associated with each of the targets within the area. An embodiment of the present invention utilizes pole or damped sinusoid frequencies of a desired target to construct the template or comb-like pattern that is compared to the mixture of pole frequencies within the response signals from the area. The comparison yields a resulting score that indicates the presence of the desired target within the area. |
| US07665662B2 |
Method and system for electronic reporting of institutional votes affecting corporate governance to a plan sponsor
A method, system and program product for the electronic delivery of reports of institutional votes affecting corporate governance to an institutional account holder, also referred to as a plan sponsor. An electronic template is provided to each institutional manager to declare a proxy voting position on each issue that can appear on a corporate proxy ballot. Subsequently, each institutional manager is presented with an electronic proxy ballot for each position in the corporation's stock. Each institutional manager is enabled to vote proxies using an electronic vote reporting platform. A plurality of voting results from the votes of the institutional managers is aggregated by the electronic vote reporting platform. An electronically-generated report for the aggregated voting results is then provided to the institutional account holder. A separate electronically-generated report for the voting results for each institutional manager over a selected period of time can also be provided to the institutional account holder. The electronically-generated reports can include a summary and/or detailed voting records across all managers or for each institutional manager over selected time periods. The user interface associated with the electronic vote reporting platform enables the plan sponsor to customize certain displays of voting results. |
| US07665659B2 |
Product display
A display includes a visual aspect and, in certain embodiments, a sampling aspect. The visual aspect displays items of visual interest to a consumer. Product samples are associated with the sampling aspect for dispensing to a consumer such that the consumer may sample the product. Upon depletion of the product samples, the display retains value as a visual display. |
| US07665656B2 |
Electronic fund transfer or transaction system
An electronic fund transfer (EFT) system capable of displaying a menu including one or more user-defined custom transactions associated with an identification card so that the user can select a desired transaction by a single selection or with limited inputs. The transactions may be defined by a user during a set-up/authorization operation and/or may be stored based on transactions performed by the user. Additionally, the transactions may be stored on the identification card, in a local memory of a transaction terminal and/or in a system memory of the EFT system. A single identification card may be used to enable the user to select from a plurality of financial accounts with different institutions. Another asset of an ATM system and method comprises a graphical user interface that enables a user to select a transaction type and the transaction parameters necessary to define that transaction from a single display. By use of a pointing device (and possibly other input devices), the user can select or change selections for the transaction type and/or transaction parameters. Preferably, the display is created using object-oriented programming and has a plurality of objects corresponding to the transaction type and transaction parameters. Using the pointing device, the user selects the transaction type. Once the transaction type is selected, the transaction parameters necessary to define the selected transaction type are selected. The ATM system may preselect transaction types and/or transaction parameters based on stored information relating to the user (such as a previous transaction or other information). If the selections are as the user desires them to be for the desired transaction, then the user can simply click on a command button (e.g. a button labeled “OK”) to cause the transaction to be executed. This potentially reduces the number of inputs or selections that a user must make to execute a desire transaction. |
| US07665652B2 |
Electronic devices including metallurgy structures for wire and solder bonding
Metallurgy structures for input/output pads of an electronic devices can be adapted to receive both solder and wire bonds. First and second metallurgy structures, for example, can be provided on respective first and second input/output pads of an electronic device such that the first and second common metallurgy structures have a shared structure adapted to receive both solder and wire bonds. A solder bond can thus be applied to the first metallurgy structure, and a wire bond can be applied to the second metallurgy structure. |
| US07665650B2 |
Friction stir joining method
In the friction stir joining apparatus of the present invention, a rotation control unit variably controls a rotational speed of a rotor; and a straight movement control unit controls a straight movement of the rotor so as to control a pressure applied by the rotor to the object. The tip portion of the rotating rotor is pressed against a workpiece, thus spot joining is executed. The apparatus can execute frictional stirring joining without practical trouble under simple control. |
| US07665648B2 |
Fabrication method and structure of PCB assembly, and tool for assembly thereof
A fabrication method and structure for a PCBA, and tool for assembly of the structure. The structure includes a circuit board, at least one first solder joint, a plurality of second solder joints, and an electronic device. The circuit board has a solder mask, having a plurality of openings exposing at least one first pad and a plurality of second pads arranged beyond the first pad, on a surface. The first solder joint has a maximum width J1 and electrically connects to the first pad. The second solder joints respectively have a maximum width J2 exceeding J1 and respectively electrically connect to the second pads. The electronic device has a plurality of third pads, arranged substantially corresponding to the openings, respectively electrically connecting to the first pad and second pads. |
| US07665643B2 |
Stapler with energy-save mechanism
A stapler includes a base having two frames on first end thereof and a magazine and an arm are respectively pivotably connected to the frames. A first link has a first end movably and pivotably connected with a slot defined in the arm and a second end of the first link is movably and pivotably connected to a first end of a second link. A hole is defined through the first link and located between the first and second ends of the first link. A pin extends the through hole and removably rested on the top of the frames. The second link is pivotably the frames at its mediate portion. The arm pivots the first link which pivots the second link so that the second end of the second link generates a significant force to the staples. |
| US07665636B2 |
Device for feeding fluids
The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing fluids, especially particulate matter, from a supply bin. The apparatus includes a plough that is movable at least partially in and out of the bin and which, when retracted, closes a matching aperture in the bin, whereby there is an adequate quantity of fluid above the plough. |
| US07665632B2 |
Nozzle flow splitter
A flow splitter for use with a dispensing nozzle. The dispensing nozzle dispenses a first fluid and a second fluid. The flow splitter may include an inner chamber for collecting the first fluid and an outer chamber for collecting the second fluid. The inner chamber may include an internal vent so as to vent air into the inner chamber. |
| US07665631B2 |
Double chamber variable condiment dispenser bottle
A dual chamber liquid condiment bottle utilizes a rotatable valve above each chamber to adjust the amount of liquid condiment released when squeezing the bottle. Each rotatable valve has a finger tab to adjust the amount of condiment released. Because condiments are often composed of different viscosities, such as mustard and ketchup, or oil and vinegar for salads, it is advantageous to have the adjustments for each chamber to release the desired ratio of the condiments when simultaneously dispensing them. |
| US07665630B2 |
Dispensing apparatus and method for semi-solid product
Dispensing apparatus is primarily intended for dispensing product from product containers (12) by extrusion. In controlling discharge of product a flexible tube (25) is connected to the container outlet and the tube is engageable with drive means (29, 31) for deforming the tube and controlling product discharged along the tube to an outlet nozzle (26). Usually there will be valves towards the entry (27) and exit (28) of the flexible tube and the drive means engages the tube between the spaced positions. |
| US07665628B1 |
Tissue box cover
A tissue box cover with an integral tissue lifting device is provided. The tissue box includes a bottom portion having a base and four side members defining an opening for receiving a tissue box. The base has a lifting device. The lifting device includes a plurality of piercing members coupled to the base, the piercing members adapted to puncture a hole in a bottom surface of the tissue box. The lifting device further includes a plurality of lifting members corresponding to the plurality of piercing members, each of the plurality of lifting members having a resilient member that biases tissues within the tissue box toward a top surface of the tissue box. The tissue box cover also includes a top portion adapted to repeatably, removably couple to the bottom portion of the tissue box. |
| US07665627B2 |
Cup shaped container
The present invention provides a cup shaped container that can be squashed to be compact by hand when disposing after use. The cup shaped container includes a skeletal member made from synthetic resin material and having a ring-like part at the upper end, a shallow saucer-like bottom part at the lower end and columnar parts for connecting the ring-like part and the bottom part, and a blank sheet attached to the skeletal member to wrap the periphery between the ring-like part at the upper end and the bottom part at the lower end of the skeletal member. Each columnar part has, on its inner surface, an indented part formed in the neighborhood of the middle of the columnar part, and protrusions and depressions of the indented part are formed at an equally spaced pitch in an up and down direction of the columnar part. |
| US07665618B2 |
Product dispenser track assembly
An improved gravity feed product dispenser track apparatus for products sold in containers having a truncated conical shape, such as a bell shape or an inverted bell shape used for certain popular yogurt products. The dispenser track assembly of the present disclosure aligns the products on a track with a front discharge portion and an exit ramp that tilts the lead product forward or rearward so that the inclined or declined front surface of the container is pivoted to a more vertical state to improve its visibility for customers. A plurality of pull through fingers is disposed near front discharge portion. These fingers maintain a lead container on the track while also allowing a customer to remove a container by pulling it through the opening between the fingers. |
| US07665615B2 |
Composite article having hydrophilic properties and method of manufacture
A composite article includes a base material and a porous membrane laminated with the base material. The porous membrane has hydrophobic properties and includes at least one of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, woven polytetrafluoroethylene, and non woven polytetrafluoroethylene. A coating layer is formed on at least a portion of the porous membrane. The coating layer has hydrophilic properties and includes at least one of an organofunctional siloxane and a polyether urethane polymer. |
| US07665614B2 |
Screening arrangement
A screening arrangement in a vibrating screen for screening of material, such as crushed stone, gravel or the like, the screening arrangement having one or more screening decks placed at different heights and provided with directing means, where the directing means are provided on the underside of at least one upper screening deck to direct the screened material upstream onto a screening deck located below the at least one upper screening deck. |
| US07665612B2 |
Multi-roll gift wrap ensemble
Disclosed herein is a gift wrap ensemble that includes a first end cap and a second end cap. Each of the first and second end caps includes a base member and a plurality of depressions extending therefrom. A plurality of gift wrap rolls are provided that form a chamber therebetween and that receive the depressions. A decorative item, such as a ribbon, bow, tissue paper and/or a gift tag, is positioned within the chamber. Packaging such as shrink wrap, a container, etc. encloses the decorative item within the chamber, and the decorative item is visually-perceptible from outside the packaging. |
| US07665611B2 |
Bottle comprising a temporal indicator
A bottle includes an indictor and a listing of times and/or days for administering pills. The indicator may be disposed on a cap or on the bottle. The strip is disposed opposite the indicator; on the bottle or the cap, respectively. The indicator and strip indicate a next prescribed time to take a pill or the last time a pill was taken. |
| US07665610B2 |
Child-resistant and senior-friendly blister card package
The present invention is a novel child-resistant senior-friendly blister card packaging that is cheap and easy to manufacture. The packaging requires a push-peel-push method for opening, which is cognitively and physically challenging for children and mentally impaired adults. Yet, competent adults can easily open the package, especially after reading instructions. More specifically, opening the package requires the user to: 1) Push through a aperture to create a pull tab; 2) Pull on the pull tab to remove a panel; and 3) Push the blister to force the contents through the blister's seal. Advantageously, the present invention is designed such that information such as instructions and product information can be easily printed directly on the packaging. Moreover, users may also record information directly on the packaging. Thus, the present invention not only provides child-resistant and senior-friendly features, but also provides convenience for viewing and recording information. |
| US07665608B2 |
Display package
The invention relates to a display and distribution packaging unit for fragile articles, especially for eggs, comprising a bottom part (2) which at least partially matches the outer contours of the articles housed within the unit and a cover part (3) comprising planar top- and side surfaces (10, 14, 15) for the provision of graphical information about the contents of the unit, where portions of the cover part (8) are furthermore shaped to reflect the shape of the eggs housed within the display and distribution package. The structure of the bottom and cover parts furthermore adds mechanical strength to the unit. |
| US07665607B1 |
Collectable item
A collectable item system for attachment to a container closure device and a method for distributing collectable items. The collectable item system includes a novelty object having a cavity area therein. A retainer is disposed in the cavity area of the novelty object and is fixedly attached to the novelty object. The retainer includes a pawl edge for engaging a detent area of a container closure device. |
| US07665592B2 |
Centrifugally assisted clutch
A friction clutch assembly connects driving and driven shafts and has a pressure plate axially moveable between an engaged position transmitting torque from the driving shaft to the driven shaft and a disengaged position. A cover is mounted on the flywheel and a spring is mounted on the cover. The spring urges the pressure plate into the engaged position and compression of the spring allows for movement of the pressure plate to the disengaged position. At least one lever assembly includes a housing mounted on the cover and a lever pivotable in the housing to apply an axial force urging the pressure plate to the engaged position. |
| US07665589B2 |
Transmission box for wheeled machine
A transmission box (3) for a wheeled machine having, within the box (3), a motor input shaft (4) driving a drive wheel to actuate at least one drive shaft of at least one wheel (2A, 2B) of the machine (1). A clutch mechanism is disposed between the drive wheel and the drive shaft of the wheels (2A, 2B) of the machine (1), this clutch mechanism being actuated by driving in rotation the drive wheel and axial movement of a member on the drive shaft of the wheels (2A, 2B) and deactuated by driving in rotation the drive shaft of the wheels (2A, 2B). The member which is axially movable in the drive shaft of the wheels carries ramps coacting with a member secured in rotation with the shaft. |
| US07665586B2 |
Crash box
A crash energy absorption member is provided which has excellent crash energy absorbing properties with the ability of repeated buckling in a stable manner, a high average load at the time of collapse, and the maximum load which is within a range which does not break other members.It is a crash energy absorption member which preferably has a transverse cross-sectional shape of an octagon and which is intended for absorbing impact energy by buckling in the lengthwise direction into a shape of bellows when it receives an impact load. With respect to at least one side forming the transverse cross-sectional shape, when the angle formed by the two sides which adjoin the opposing ends of the one side is α, the relationship between the length L1 of the one side and the distance L2 between the two furthest ends of the two sides interposing the one side satisfies the following equation: 0 |
| US07665585B2 |
Vehicle suspension system and method for operating
A vehicle suspension system includes a mechanical spring portion adapted to undergo suspension deflection, a spring seat contacting and supporting the mechanical spring portion, and a mechanical gear assembly which is operatively connected to the spring seat to control spring seat position and which is adapted to be driven by an electric motor. A method for operating a vehicle suspension system undergoing suspension deflection, wherein the vehicle suspension system includes a mechanical spring portion having a spring seat with a movable spring seat position, includes determining a frequency content of the suspension deflection. The method also includes electromechanically controlling the spring seat position in response to suspension deflection when the determined frequency content is in a low-frequency range below a wheel hop frequency. |
| US07665582B2 |
Elevator car with a working platform
The invention concerns an elevator system comprising an elevator car with a working platform arranged for carrying people or materials and which by means of the interaction between a gear wheel and gear rack can be moved along an elongated generally vertical mast constructed from a number of mast sections mounted on top of each other. To facilitate the erection, tearing down and anchoring of the mast to a nearby building structure, the moving unit comprises a passenger-carrying service and assembly platform, which, via a swing arm, is flexibly supported by the elevator car to allow a swivel action in a horizontal plane (C, D) relative to the elevator car. |
| US07665578B2 |
Device and procedure for providing a fine mist of oil
The invention relates to apparatus and a method for preparing a fine oil mist, in particular to be fed into tool lubrication ducts of a CNC machine tool.The apparatus is turned ON/OFF solely using the standardized machine commands M08 (“Cooling lubricant ON”) and M09 (“Cooling lubricant OFF”).The control/regulation of the tools' aerosol supplies then will be fully automatic. It involves—contrary to known quantitative regulations—a simple regulation by means of aerosol pressure values.When starting the apparatus or following a change of tools, all aerosol pumps are operating, including, where tools exhibit cross-sectionally large boreholes, an oil over-enriching pump.At least one aerosol pump operates when regulated within a range of supply pressures. When the upper pressure value of the supply pressure range is exceeded, the pump(s) shut(s) down until the aerosol supply has been exhausted and will turn ON again when the lower pressure value of the supply pressure range is crossed downward because of aerosol consumption. |
| US07665576B2 |
Movable safety barrier system
A movable safety barrier system includes a flexible barrier member having a barrier member length with first and second ends, and a width. The barrier member can have a construction that is flexible in both directions along the length and width of the barrier member. First and second end supports are provided which are capable of supporting respective first and second ends of the length of the barrier member when the barrier member is extended between the end supports. The end supports can allow the extended barrier member to move in a direction transverse to the width of the barrier member when desired. |
| US07665575B2 |
Shock absorbing fabric structures
A shock absorbing fabric structure is a one-piece webbing. The shocking absorbing fabric structure has a sheath and an elongation member inside of the sheath. The sheath and the elongation member are secured together at spaced apart connection locations and the elongation member is generally not secured to the sheath between the connection locations. Heat treatment shrinks the length of the elongation member. The sheath does not substantially shrink from heat treatment relative to the elongation member and gathers together in an accordion-like arrangement. A tensile load applied to the fabric structure stretches the elongation member and unfolds the gathered sheath. The sheath supports the tensile load when completely unfolded while the elongation member absorbs energy as it stretches or elongates. |
| US07665574B2 |
Soundproofing restraining system
Soundproofing, restraining systems including at least one transparent acrylic glass panel that contains at least one embedded metal cable. A layer of plastic is provided, at least partially, between the surface of the metal cable and the transparent acrylic glass matrix. The restraining systems can be used in particular as noise barriers. |
| US07665573B2 |
Vehicle's steering wheel rotation angle sensing device
Present invention of vehicle's steering wheel rotation angle sensing device comprises, rotor rotating connected with steering shaft transmitting manipulation power to vehicle's wheel; main gear rotating connected with said rotor; first rotation gear and second rotation gear rotating with said main gear; first magnetic body and second magnetic body rotated in same rotation ratio with first rotation gear and second rotation gear connected with them individually, formed in hexahedral shape in which upper surface is larger than opposite bottom surface; first sensor and second sensor sensing phase change caused by rotation of said first magnetic body and second magnetic body; PCB substrate comprising said first sensor and second sensor and various terminals and pins; housing.By present invention it is possible to prevent magnetic body from moving freely to vertical direction without using adhesive agent, and to manufacturing angle sensing device without process of attaching the magnetic body to rotation gear, so total cost and time for manufacturing it also can be diminished. |
| US07665572B2 |
Vehicle steering system
A vehicle steering system is provided which includes a variable angle ratio mechanism for changing an angle ratio of a steering angle of a steering member to a turning angle of a steering mechanism, the variable angle ratio mechanism including a first sun gear connected to a steering column, a second sun gear connected to the steering mechanism, and planetary gears each having a first toothed portion and a second toothed portion which are adapted to mesh with the first and second sun gears respectively, and are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a tooth face width direction, the first toothed portion and the second toothed portion being formed integrally through forging. |
| US07665571B2 |
Power steering system in low floor type small vehicle
A low floor type small vehicle includes an engine mounted on a vehicle body while being disposed on the rear side of a floor portion on which to mount the feet of a vehicle driver seated on a passengers' seat. An electric motor provides electric power for assisting the steering of a steering handle by the vehicle driver. A control unit for controlling the operation of the electric motor from external forces is protected by using a simple configuration. The control unit is disposed on the inner side of a dashboard. |
| US07665568B2 |
Vehicle having multiple-piece pivot shaft assembly
The present invention provides a vehicle including a frame, a rear wheel, a swingarm coupling the rear wheel to the frame, and a pivot shaft assembly rotatably coupling the swingarm to the frame. The pivot shaft assembly includes a first shaft having a non-circular outer surface engageable with a corresponding non-circular aperture in the frame. The pivot shaft assembly also includes a second shaft threaded to one end of the first shaft. The second shaft pivotably supports one side of the swingarm with respect to the frame. The pivot shaft assembly further includes a third shaft threaded to the other end of the first shaft. The third shaft pivotably supports the other side of the swingarm with respect to the frame. |
| US07665567B2 |
Shift actuator, vehicle, and method of integrating vehicle
A shift actuator comprises a drive shaft and a housing that rotatably supports the drive shaft. A shift position detecting apparatus detects a rotational position of the drive shaft. The drive shaft is connected to a shift mechanism by an operating lever and a shift rod. The operating lever and the housing are respectively formed with a through hole and a bottomed hole. The drive shaft can be temporarily secured in rotational position by inserting a lever positioning pin into the through hole and the bottomed hole. When secured, the shift position detecting apparatus can be attached to the housing and a length of the shift rod can be adjusted. |
| US07665566B2 |
Rough terrain vehicle with electric power steering system
To effectively cool an electric power steering system having an electric motor. A rough terrain vehicle includes an electric motor that is disposed substantially orthogonal to a steering shaft with an engine and an exhaust pipe that are disposed behind the steering shaft and under a seat. A forced air cooling fan is provided for cooling the electric motor. The forced air cooling fan is provided behind the electric motor and in front of the engine or exhaust pipe. |
| US07665563B2 |
Swing arm supporting structure for motorcycles
To restrain an increase in the numbers of components and process steps and achieve an easy mounting and dismounting of a pivot shaft. An arm supporting member includes a pair of left and right plate members, a middle cross pipe extending between the plate members and a center pivot plate mounted to the middle cross pipe. A pivot shaft is supported by the plate member and the center pivot plate, and a drive shaft is arranged between the plate member and the center pivot plate. The middle cross pipe is arranged above the pivot shaft on a front portion of a vehicle. The center pivot plate is provided with an upright wall as a receiving portion for aiding the positioning of the bearing member by receiving the bearing member, more specifically, the collar when assembling the swing arm to the center pivot plate and the plate member. |
| US07665560B2 |
Drivetrain for hybrid electric vehicle
A drivetrain for a hybrid electric vehicle having a rear wheel drive configuration and a four wheel drive configuration is disclosed. Certain of the mounting flanges and input/output couplings are replicated between a transmission, a transfer case and an electric drive unit. |
| US07665559B2 |
Inputs for optimizing performance in hybrid vehicles
A hybrid vehicle controller operates to use GPS navigation information to determine how much energy should be delivered from or sent to, the battery. The battery charge can be better managed by using knowledge of the future path of the vehicle. |
| US07665549B2 |
Entrainment fluid channeling device for a down-hole drill string
A fluid channeling device (10) is for a down-hole drill assembly (1) having a central axis (1c) and advanceable into a hole in a downward direction (D) along the axis (1c). The assembly (1) includes a drill member (2) with an inner surface (2a) bounding a central bore (2b) and an outer surface (2c). The channeling system includes at least one passage (12) provided within the drill member (2) so as to extend generally between the drill member inner (2a) and outer surfaces (2c). A generally annular channeling member (14) is disposeable about a portion of the drill member (2) and has at least one inlet port (20), at least one discharge port (16), and a passage (12) extending between the inlet (20) and discharge ports (16). The inlet port (20) is fluidly connectable with the drill member passage (12) to fluidly couple the central bore (2b) with the discharge port (16). The discharge port (16) is configured to direct fluid generally externally of the drill assembly (1) and generally in an upward direction (U) along the axis (1c). |
| US07665541B2 |
Electric power tool with cover
A cover which covers outer peripheries of fastening screws are disposed on an outer periphery of a hammer case. A stopper which detachably positions and fixes the cover to the outer periphery of the hammer case is disposed. |
| US07665538B2 |
Swellable polymeric materials
A seal comprising a polymeric material having a first swelling phase having a first swelling characteristic and a second swelling phase having a second swelling characteristic, the first swelling characteristic is greater than the second swelling characteristic is utilized to seal an upper portion from a lower portion of a wellbore. A wellbore seal tool is further described comprising a swellable layer, a supporting assembly disposed adjacent the swellable layer, and an inflatable bladder. |
| US07665534B2 |
Zone isolation assembly for isolating and testing fluid samples from a subsurface well
A zone isolation assembly (22) for a subsurface well (12) having a surface region (32), a first zone (26) and a second zone (28) includes a docking receiver (48) and a docking apparatus (50). The docking apparatus (50) is selectively moved relative to the docking receiver (48) between a disengaged position and an engaged position. In the disengaged position, the first zone (26) is in fluid communication with the second zone (28). In the engaged position, the first zone (26) is not in fluid communication with the second zone (28) during movement of a fluid between the first zone (26) and the surface region (32). The docking apparatus (50) can be maintained in the engaged position substantially by a force of gravity. The zone isolation assembly (22) can include a pump assembly (54) that pumps the fluid while the docking apparatus (50) is in the engaged position. The zone isolation assembly (22) can include a fluid collector (52) that collects the fluid when the docking apparatus (50) is in the engaged position. |
| US07665525B2 |
Reducing the energy requirements for the production of heavy oil
A method for generating a heated product stream downhole is provided wherein a fuel rich mixture is reacted downhole by contact with a catalyst to produce a partially reacted product stream, the fuel rich mixture comprising fuel and oxygen. The partially reacted product stream is brought into contact with an oxidant thereby igniting combustion upon contact producing a combustion product stream. The combustion product stream may be cooled by injecting a diluent flow such as water or CO2. The cooled combustion product stream may be into an oil bearing strata in order to reduce the energy requirements for the production of heavy oil. |
| US07665524B2 |
Liquid metal heat exchanger for efficient heating of soils and geologic formations
Apparatus for efficient heating of subterranean earth includes a well-casing that has an inner wall and an outer wall. A heater is disposed within the inner wall and is operable within a preselected operating temperature range. A heat transfer metal is disposed within the outer wall and without the inner wall, and is characterized by a melting point temperature lower than the preselected operating temperature range and a boiling point temperature higher than the preselected operating temperature range. |
| US07665519B2 |
System and method for downhole sampling or sensing of clean samples of component fluids of a multi-fluid mixture
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for downhole sampling or sensing of clean samples of component fluids of a multi-fluid mixture. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention provide for, amongst other things, separating downhole multi-fluid mixtures into an oil-based fluid, a water-based fluid and/or the like and sampling and/or sensing of the clean separated fluids. Such sampling or sensing may be provided by a downhole tool in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention and the downhole tool may be used for production logging, formation testing and/or the like. |
| US07665518B2 |
Method of using a charged chamber pressure transmitter for subsurface safety valves
A sensor and transmitter is employed with a pressurized chamber of a downhole tool to be able to tell at a glance when the tool is delivered for service that it is properly charged. The sensor and transmitter can be integrated within the tool so as to be protected from damage during run in. While in service the sensor and transmitter can monitor pressure in real time and include a capability to send surface signals for real time monitoring of chamber pressures corrected for the service depth, temperature and density of the hydraulic fluid, for example. The signal can be acoustic through the control line or the annulus or delivered through a fiber optic cable or signal wire run in the hydraulic control line, an auxiliary line or through the annulus. |
| US07665513B2 |
Heat exchanger structure of automatic transmission
A heat exchanger structure of an automatic transmission stabilizing a temperature of oil is provided. A heat exchanger structure of an automatic transmission includes an automatic transmission, a first heat exchanger provided on an upstream side and a second heat exchanger provided on a downstream side, each capable of cooling oil ejected from the automatic transmission, and a thermo valve capable of supplying oil subject to heat exchange by at least one of first and second heat exchangers to the automatic transmission. When a temperature of the oil is relatively low, the thermo valve supplies oil passed through the first heat exchanger to the automatic transmission and shuts off a flow of oil from the second heat exchanger to the automatic transmission. When a temperature of the oil is relatively high, the thermo valve supplies oil passed through first and second heat exchangers to the automatic transmission. |
| US07665511B2 |
Orientation insensitive thermosiphon capable of operation in upside down position
The invention provides a heat exchanger assembly having a housing which defines a boiling chamber extending along an axis between opposite ends. A plurality of first condensing tubes extend axially and downwardly in one direction at a first predetermined angle to and below the axis (A) from the housing and a plurality of second condensing tubes extend axially and upwardly in the opposite direction at the same predetermined angle to and above the axis (A) from the housing. The volume of refrigerant in the housing is greater than the volume of the second condensing tubes and the volume of the boiling chamber. |
| US07665507B2 |
Blind
A blind comprises a turnably supported pulley, a control member of which one end is connected to the pulley so as to permit the control member to be wound around and unwound from the pulley, an urging member which urges the pulley in the direction of winding the control member, a first clutch mechanism which is disposed between the rotation shaft and the pulley, and can selectively link the pulley and the rotation shaft with each other to transmit the rotation of the pulley to the rotation shaft or unlink the pulley and the rotation shaft from each other to interrupt the transmission of the rotation of the pulley to the rotation shaft, and a second clutch mechanism which can selectively link the rotation shaft and a fixed member with each other or unlink them from each other. |
| US07665504B2 |
Overhead door bracket
An overhead door bracket for attachment of the main arm of an overhead door opener to a metal overhead door for the purpose of opening and closing the door. The inventive bracket has a relatively wide mounting plate which spans the distance between the portions of the sheet metal doors having existing reinforcing backing strips for mounting of the hinges connecting the metal panels of the door. The inventive bracket has conventional connecting tabs spaced and extending outward to receive the lower end of the main arm of an opening system. The tabs have pin receiver bores for pivotally securing the main arm to the bracket by means of a pin. The bracket mounting plate has three spaced rows of mounting holes for mounting the bracket to the upper panel of a hinged door panel, the mounting holes being proximate the respective ends of the bracket. |
| US07665503B2 |
Ladder drum for venetian blind
A ladder drum is mounted in a head rail of a Venetian blind for securing a ladder cord thereto, and includes a drum body installed on a tilt bar of the blind. An upper portion of the drum body is formed into an open-topped recess, which has two sidewalls interconnected by an end wall. A holder set is provided in the recess, such that a clearance is existed between the holder set and each of the sidewalls and a limiting space between the holder set and the end wall for receiving a securing element therein. The securing element is a rectangular frame has a rear end turnably received in the limiting space and a front end releasably engaged with a front side of the holder set to thereby firmly press two free ends of the ladder cord in the drum body against the two sidewalls of the recess. |
| US07665501B2 |
Draw cord arrangement
A covering for an architectural opening includes a cord which forms a loop hanging from one of the two ends of the headrail by which it is mounted. The loop is used to open and close the material suspended from the headrail and in front of the architectural opening. The cord extends within the headrail between its two ends, and may be pulled from the end lacking the loop in order to move the loop from one side to the other. |
| US07665500B2 |
Temporary window covering
The invention is directed to a temporary window shade that may include an elongated cover having a top end and a bottom end, and that may be adapted to be oriented in a retracted position, an extended position, and a plurality of intermediate positions. The temporary window shade may also include a top rail that may be attached to the top end of the elongated cover, a cord having a first end that may be connected to the top rail, and a bottom rail that may be attached to the bottom end of the elongated cover. The bottom rail may have a slot disposed through a surface of the bottom rail, and the slot may be adapted to receive the cord. At least a portion of the slot may have a width less than the thickness of the cord such that the slot may engage the cord to support the weight of the bottom rail and an accumulated portion of the elongated cover when the cord is engaged by the at least a portion of the slot. |
| US07665487B2 |
Device for driving a rapier motion in a weaving machine
On the one hand, this invention relates to a method for manufacturing a toothed rack from an elastic material, the toothed rack being provided with teeth, the said toothed rack, in pre-stressed condition, being wrapped up in one or several layers of fiber reinforced synthetic cloth around at least part of the height of its lateral faces which are almost at right angles to the surface in which the teeth are situated and, on the other hand, a toothed rack manufactured according to this method. Furthermore, this invention relates to a rapier rod profile for a rapier weaving machine provided with a toothed rack according to the invention. |
| US07665485B2 |
Hatch for the opening and closing of pressurised pipes, in particular for the opening and closing of branch pipes for the introduction of pipe cleaning and inspection apparatus
A closing system for pressurized pipes, includes an annular supporting structure, designed to be secured to one end of the pipe, a closing hatch mounted on the annular support, and elements for locking the hatch including a locking ring inserted into an annular cavity in the support to lock the hatch, wherein the inside edge of the hatch is tapered to form an inclined wall for coupling to a corresponding inclined wall in the annular support. The collapsible ring includes a number of sectors, one of which is fixed and integral with the hatch, while the others are hinged to the adjacent sectors, so that they can rotate on a plane parallel with the hatch until they exit from the annular seating and allow the hatch to open. The hatch is opened and closed simply by rotating it around a hinge. |
| US07665473B1 |
Comb for applying a product on keratinous fibers, application set equipped therewith and use of said set
The invention concerns a comb (1) for applying a product on keratinous fibres, comprising and arrangement of teeth (2a, 3a) foe applying said product. The invention is characterized in that said arrangement of teeth is obtained by assembling at least two separate parts (2, 3). The invention also concerns an application set equipped with such comb (1), and its use for applying make-up on eyelashes or eyebrows. |
| US07665471B2 |
Tobacco cultivar AOB 171 and products therefrom
The present invention relates to a novel tobacco cultivar designated AOB 171, which has low to intermediate nicotine content. The invention provides seeds of the cultivar AOB 171, plants and parts thereof of the cultivar AOB 171, a tissue culture derived from the cultivar AOB 171, hybrids produced from cultivar AOB 171 and lines derived from cultivar AOB 171, as well as genetically modified forms of the foregoing plants and tissue culture. Also provided are methods of producing cultivar AOB 171 plants, cultivar AOB 171 hybrid plants, and tobacco lines derived from cultivar AOB 171. In addition, products produced from the plants of the present invention are provided. |
| US07665469B1 |
Cigarette and tobacco packing machine
This is a device to pack cigarettes into a standard cigarette pack. It is designed to be portable and is comprised of a series of wheels, which are located in the interior of the casing. A handle on the outside of the device rotates a wheel, which in turn rotates another wheel and allows the device to operate. |
| US07665467B2 |
Methods for treating eye conditions
Architectures and techniques for treating conditions of the eye, such as presbyopia, utilize sources of treatment energy, such as electromagnetic energy emitting devices, to implement non-corneal manipulations. According to these devices and methods, the sources of treatment energy are activated to direct energy onto parts of the eye, such as the conjunctiva and sclera, to treat presbyopia. The treatments can affect at least one property of the eye and enhance an accommodation of the eye. |
| US07665465B2 |
Headgear assembly for a respiratory support system
A respiratory support system having a patient interface attached to a headgear assembly for delivering a gas to a patient is disclosed. The headgear provides a rigid member and a pad held in place on the patient's head by straps. The rigid member functions to prevent creep of the straps, distribute the strapping forces, and minimized tangential strap forces that otherwise squeeze the sides of the patient's head. |
| US07665464B2 |
Respiratory mask
A respiratory mask having a flexible, mask seal portion for engagement with the face of a user, a gel forehead cushion and a rotatable elbow coupling having integral exhaust ports. The mask seal portion has a thin section which permits the mask to more easily adapt to the contour of the face of the user. The gel forehead cushion provides increased compliancy and resiliency to better adapt to multiple user physical profiles. The elbow coupling includes tapered through holes in a polycarbonate arc piece to provide a quiet passage of gas through the holes. |
| US07665460B2 |
Micro powered gas-forming device
A gas dispenser includes a reservoir for holding a liquid, and a chamber in communication with the reservoir. The chamber receives the liquid, and a micro power source generates energy for conversion of the liquid disposed in the chamber. A nozzle defining an orifice in selective communication with the chamber. The nozzle is used to release the converted liquid from the chamber through the orifice. |
| US07665459B2 |
Enclosed solar collector
A solar collector includes a plurality of elongated parabolic reflectors mounted within a glass-topped enclosure for pivotal movement such that each reflector is incrementally pivoted throughout the course of a day to remain substantially perpendicular to the sun. The incremental pivotal movement is caused by a motor energized from a solar switch having solar cells that also pivot throughout the day so that in one position of the switch, no electricity is being generated and transferred to the motor, but in a second position, the switch receives solar radiation and energizes the motor to again incrementally pivot each reflector along with the solar switch. The reflectors are therefore incrementally pivoted throughout the course of a day to follow the sun for optimal collection of solar radiation which is used to heat liquid carried by tubes positioned at the axis of generation of the parabolic reflectors and/or strips of solar cell material so that electricity can be generated alone, liquid heated alone, or liquid heated and electricity generated simultaneously. |
| US07665458B2 |
Overfire air tube damper for boiler and method for regulating overfire air
A damper and overfire air duct in a combustion system having a combustion structure defining a flue gas passage, the damper and overfire air duct including: an inlet to the overfire air duct and an outlet to the duct discharging overfire air into the flue gas passage, and the damper aligned with an axis of the overfire air duct, and having an open position axially distal to the inlet and a closed position at least partially in the inlet and duct, wherein the damper is movable axially between the open and closed positions. |
| US07665455B2 |
Compressed gas operated pistol
The trigger safety mechanism is a pivoted element (102) in which lower part there is a shaped fork (103) through of which linear guide (106) there is a guidance means (104); in which upper part there is an articulated transmission rod (101) that is supported by its other end on the hammer, being a separation space (100) between the hammer (6) and the operation end of the valve (12a) when the trigger (5) is in resting position; and in a point of the surface of the pivoted element (102) there is a rotation axis (107); so that when the trigger is moved to an active position, the guidance means passes through the interior of the linear guide so that the said pivoted element drags the rod, allowing the hammer (6) to impact the valve. |
| US07665454B1 |
Disc launching device
A game device adapted for use by a player to launch a disc or projectile. The holder has a pivot member with a rest position and a release position. Means are provided for biasing the pivot member to its rest position so as to at least partially retain the projectile in readiness for launching. A handle is attached to the holder for grasping by the player so as to launch the projectile. |
| US07665453B1 |
Disc launching device
A game device adapted for use by a player to launch a disc or projectile. The holder has a pivot member with a rest position and a release position. The pivot member is biased to its rest position so as to at least partially retain the projectile in readiness for launching. A handle is attached to the holder for grasping by the player so as to launch the projectile. |
| US07665449B2 |
V-type engine
In a V-type engine, throttle devices are disposed between front and rear cylinders disposed in a V-shape, and an air cleaner is disposed above the throttle device. A secondary air pipe is connected to a secondary air entrance portion formed in an outer peripheral wall surface of each of the cylinders. A secondary air on-off valve is disposed below the throttle device, and the secondary air on-off valve is provided so as to be substantially accommodated in a V-bank space between the cylinders. A secondary air inlet of the secondary air on-off valve is connected to the air cleaner by the secondary air source pipe extended upward, a secondary air pipe for each cylinder is connected to the secondary air outlet for each cylinder, and the secondary air outlet for each cylinder is formed in the secondary air on-off valve. |
| US07665447B2 |
Fuel vapor control devices
A fuel vapor control device include a fuel tank for storing fuel, a canister for adsorbing fuel vapor produced in the fuel tank, and an evaporation path communicating between the fuel tank and the canister. The tank has a resiliently deformable wall portion that can resiliently deform in response to an amount of the fuel vapor in the fuel tank, so that volume of the fuel tank can be varied. A pressure regulating valve can perform a relief function for opening the evaporation path during the expansion of volume of the fuel tank to a set volume. The pressure regulating valve closes the evaporation path if pressure inside the fuel tank is lower than the set value. On the other hand, the pressure regulating valve opens the evaporation path if the pressure inside the fuel tank is equal to or higher than the set value. |
| US07665446B2 |
Feed unit
In a feed unit for feeding fuel from a fuel container of a motor vehicle a surge part (1) has a base plate (9) and an adjoining tubular section (10). The base plate (9) is fabricated in one piece with a nozzle (15) and a mixer pipe (16) of a suction jet pump (8) and has receptacles (21, 13) for a fine filter (3) and for supporting rods (22) of a fuel pump (2). The feed unit is of particularly simple design as a result of this and can be fabricated in a cost-effective way. |
| US07665444B2 |
Apparatus system and method for measuring a normalized air-to-fuel ratio
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for measuring a normalized air-to-fuel ratio. A normalized air-to-fuel ratio is measured by providing an engine control module, providing a first wide-band oxygen sensor in fluid communication with an exhaust stream, adjusting the oxygen pumping current to achieve a stoichiometric balance, detecting the oxygen pumping current, converting the oxygen pumping current to an oxygen balance metric, and communicating the oxygen balance metric to the engine control module. In certain embodiments, the oxygen balance metric may be a volumetric oxygen percentage. In some embodiments, the present invention includes a first and second wide-band oxygen sensor upstream and downstream from an exhaust treatment module. |
| US07665440B2 |
Cylinder liners and methods for making cylinder liners
A method for making cylinder liners and cast engine blocks having cylinder liners having a strong mechanical bond with the engine block. The method includes providing a cast metallic cylinder liner having an outer surface of the cylinder liner. The surface of the cylinder liner is preferably machined to remove surface effects or defects present from the casting process. Grit particles are directed at the outer surface of the cylinder liner with a grit blasting device at a predetermined angle of contact at a sufficient velocity to form cavities on the outer surface. The cavities that are formed have a geometry capable of forming a mechanical bond with the casting material of the engine block. |
| US07665431B2 |
Drive piston assembly for a valve actuator assembly
A drive piston assembly is provided that is operable to selectively open a poppet valve. The drive piston assembly includes a cartridge defining a generally stepped bore. A drive piston is movable within the generally stepped bore and a boost sleeve is coaxially disposed with respect to the drive piston. A main fluid chamber is at least partially defined by the generally stepped bore, drive piston, and boost sleeve. First and second feedback chambers are at least partially defined by the drive piston and each are disposed at opposite ends of the drive piston. At least one of the drive piston and the boost sleeve is sufficiently configured to move within the generally stepped bore in response to fluid pressure within the main fluid chamber to selectively open the poppet valve. A valve actuator assembly and engine are also provided incorporating the disclosed drive piston assembly. |
| US07665430B2 |
Stratified scavenging two-stoke cycle engine
A stratified scavenging two-stroke cycle engine with the check valve for introducing scavenging air simplified in construction is provided. The gasket between the flange part forming an air supply chamber and a mixture passage at a side of the cylinder and the passage connecting member having an air flow passage and a mixture flow passage is composed to have an integral leaf valve for allowing air in the air flow passage in the passage connecting member to flow only toward the air supply chamber which is connected to the scavenging passages of the engine so that the gasket has a function as a seal member and that as a check valve. |
| US07665423B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing risk that a thrown toy will injure an animal
A method and apparatus for reducing the risk that a thrown toy will injure an animal. The apparatus consists of a toy which when thrown bounces erratically, which compressively elastically deforms, which includes a soft fabric outer surface that compresses to absorb blows, and which can withstand being bitten or chewed by a dog. |
| US07665416B2 |
Apparatus for generating excited and/or ionized particles in a plasma and a method for generating ionized particles
An apparatus is described for generating excited and/or ionized particles in a plasma with a generator for generating an electromagnetic wave and an excitation chamber with a plasma zone in which the excited and/or ionized particles are formed. At least one excitation chamber is arranged in an insulating material off-center relative to a ring-cylindrical outer conductor. |
| US07665413B2 |
Illuminated hub pointer
A pointer assembly includes the pointer and hub that are both illuminatable. The hub includes a main portion with a concave surface. A reflector is partially received within a slot through the concave surface and is supported on top of the hub. The reflector includes a reflective surface that directs light onto the concave surface. Light from a light source is directed by separate reflective surfaces on the pointer and the reflector to illuminate both the hub and the pointer. |
| US07665412B2 |
Reversible rally flag
A flag having a first panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, the first panel bearing a first indicia visible from the outer surface when the flag is turned outside-out, and from the inner surface when the flag is turned inside-out; and, a second panel having an outer surface and an inner surface, the second panel bearing a second indicia visible both from the outer surface when the flag is turned outside-out, and from the inner surface when the flag is turned inside-out; the first and second panels each having a perimeter, the perimeters of the first and second panels substantially secured to one another to form a pouch having a single opening to accommodate turning the flag inside-out. |
| US07665409B2 |
Planter with structural air manifold
A planter, in certain embodiments, includes a structural air manifold. The planter may include a hollow structural member configured to bear and/or distribute static and dynamic loads of the planter. The structural member may include a hollow interior having a first port and a second port. A plurality of individual planting units and a fan may be mounted to the structural member and coupled to the hollow interior at the first and second ports, respectively, via a conduit. The hollow interior may provide a path for forced airflow between the first and second ports to enable pneumatic operation of a feature of the agricultural seed planter. Further, each planting unit may include a seed meter pneumatically coupled to the fan. An orifice may be disposed in the first or second port to restrict the airflow through the port and to the seed meter. |
| US07665407B2 |
Cyclonic plasma pyrolysis/vitrification system
The present invention relates to a cyclonic plasma pyrolysis/vitrification system pyrolyzing and vitrifying waste materials into exhaust gas and slag using a plasma torch. The plasma torch circulates the exhaust gas in a main reactor with a maximum circulating power by strong plasma jet, and makes flyashes contained in the circulating exhaust gas to be melted after being adsorbed at the inner walls or in the melted materials of waste at the bottom of the main reactor by a centrifugal force. Accordingly, discharge of flyashes containing toxic materials to the outside is prevented, and pyrolysis and gasification of the waste materials are induced by circulating the exhaust gas rapidly. |
| US07665406B2 |
Apparatus and method for combustion
To enable a burnpot for a corn burning stove to be continuously operated, the burnpot has an openable bottom with at least a first and second position, one of said at least fist and second positions being substantially closed to enable a body of combustible fuel to burn on its upper surface, the other of said at least first and second positions providing an opening, burnpot side wall portions and a top of said burnpot being shaped so as to permit a solid clinker to drop out of the opening in the openable bottom when the openable bottom is in its second position. A combustion volume is provided between said openable bottom, said side surfaces and said top, said combustion volume having an upper portion and a lower portion whereby a fire on a combustion surface in said lower portion burns upwardly toward said upper portion so that byproducts of combustion build on the combustion surface to cause burning fuel to burn at a higher level; said higher level having a smaller cross sectional area than said lower portion whereby the byproducts of combustion may drop as a unit out of said opening. A combustion retention openable burnpot bottom to retain combustion in the burnpot when byproduct of combustion is removed through the openable bottom. |
| US07665398B2 |
Soft-frozen confection blending and dispensing freezer
A soft-serve confection freezer incorporates a set of modules in a circular array and separately replaceable in a magazine. Each module supports a container storing a dry food ingredient in solid particulate form, and has a motor driven product impeller for controlled discharge of particulates from the container to a blender assembly. The blender assembly has a housing and screw-type auger of cooperating configurations and which cooperate with a central passageway for frozen confection flowing from the freezer, to blend particulates from one or more containers into the confection and discharge into a customer's cup for immediate consumption. A further version incorporates a magazine for injection and blending of one or more flavored liquids into the frozen confection. Control panel selection of ingredients and flavors and dispensing by the operator according to the customer's order, or selection and dispensing by the customer himself/herself, is provided. Components are arranged to facilitate cleaning. |
| US07665396B1 |
Projectile launcher
An apparatus for launching a projectile, such as a paintball. The apparatus includes a body defining a combustion chamber and a bore. A front bolt is provided that moves between a first position and a second position in which at least a portion of the front bolt is disposed within the combustion chamber in the first position. A rear bolt is movable between a third position and a fourth position such that at least a portion of the rear bolt is disposed within the combustion chamber in the fourth position. A drive mechanism is provided to urge the rear bolt to the fourth position. The apparatus includes an igniter device adapted to ignite a combustible mixture within the combustion chamber to propel the projectile through the bore. A portion of the rear bolt is configured to actuate the igniter device when the rear bolt moves to the fourth position. Typically, the igniter device includes a plunger and a portion of the rear bolt axially moves the plunger when the rear bolt moves from the third position to the fourth position. |
| US07665393B2 |
Table saw guard
A table saw guard assembly for guarding a blade on a table saw is provided. The table saw guard assembly includes a support structure and a hood assembly including at least one of a front curtain, first side curtain, second side curtain and top curtain, wherein each of said curtains are independently moveable and/or removable from the hood assembly. Furthermore, a table saw guard assembly is provided including a quick release mechanism for connecting the hood assembly to the support structure. |
| US07665382B2 |
Bicycle shift control device
A bicycle shift control device is provided with a shift winding member, a winding pawl, a winding member return element, a gear shifting mechanism and a winding pawl biasing element. The winding member is movably arranged between a rest position and a shifting position. The winding pawl moves in response to movement of the winding member. The winding member return element biases the winding member to the rest position and to bias the winding pawl to a pawl engagement position when the winding member is moved from the rest position towards the shifting position. The gear shifting mechanism includes winding teeth that are engaged with the winding pawl. The winding pawl biasing element applies a biasing force to the winding pawl that urges the winding pawl to the pawl engagement position when the winding member is in the rest position. |
| US07665378B2 |
Electric power steering apparatus
An electric power steering apparatus includes a transmission mechanism for transmitting an output from an electric motor for steering assist to a steering mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a driving gear, an intermediate gear and a driven gear. An eccentric mechanism for eccentrically locating the intermediate gear is provided in order that a center axis of the intermediate gear is moved toward at least one of the axes of the driving gear and the driven gear while maintaining a parallel relation. The eccentric mechanism includes an intermediate-gear support shaft having a center axis. The intermediate-gear support shaft is supported by first and second circle holes in a manner to be rotatable about the center axis thereof for adjustment of a rotational position thereof, the first and second circle holes have their center axes aligned coaxially with each other. The intermediate gear is rotatably supported by an eccentric portion provided at an outer periphery of the intermediate-gear support shaft. The eccentric portion includes a cylindrical surface eccentric relative to the center axis of the intermediate-gear support shaft. |
| US07665375B2 |
Flow splitter for a solid particle counting system
A solid particle counting system for measuring solid particle number concentrations from engine or vehicle exhausts in real-time includes a flow splitter having an inlet, a sample outlet, and a by-pass outlet arranged such that a main flow enters the inlet and changes direction to exit the by-pass outlet. A sample flow from the main flow exits the sample outlet. The flow splitter further includes a guiding element arranged such that particles at a sampling location upstream of the main flow direction change are guided to the sample outlet. |
| US07665374B2 |
Surface-coated solid-phase microextraction device
The present application relates to a surface-coated SPME with an extracting tip that resists breaking during analysis. Rather than utilizing a hollow fiber tip, a resilient surface coated rod is utilized. Specifically, several grooves are machined into the tip of the SPME device, allowing an adsorbent material to be retained thereon. The resulting surface coated SPME device is more rugged in laboratory use and allows for testing of analytes in chemical environments that result in failures when using fiber tipped SPME devices. |
| US07665373B2 |
Torque measuring device with redundant torque transmission paths and fail-safe mechanism
A torque transferring and monitoring device includes a coupling having a hub portion, a first rim portion, a first set of spokes radially extending between the hub portion and the first rim portion, a second rim portion spaced apart from the first rim portion and a second set of spokes radially extending between the hub portion and the second rim portion. The second set of spokes are axially spaced apart from the first set of spokes. A plurality of pins are fixed to the first rim portion. Each pin has a portion positioned in an aperture formed in the second rim portion. The pin is clear of the second rim portion when the coupling is in an unloaded state. The pin engages the second rim portion to transfer load between the first and second rim portions when a torque exceeding a predetermined magnitude is transferred through the coupling. |
| US07665371B2 |
Device and method for measuring forces and moments
A device for measuring forces and moments acting on a body comprises a measuring structure (12) made up of one or more elements and provided with a plurality of connection elements or bindings (17, 18, 37) for connecting the elements of the structure (12) and/or a body (11) the stress of which one wishes to measure, such a structure (12) being statically determined or else statically non determined, such a structure (12) also being equipped with means for measuring (14), in one or more locations, the six stress magnitudes from which the force vector and moment vector acting on the body (11) can be worked out mathematically. |
| US07665370B2 |
Vibration-type measuring transducer having connecting lines secured pointwise to the transducer housing
The measuring transducer includes: a measuring tube vibrating, at least at times, during operation and serving for conveying a medium, wherein the measuring tube communicates with a pipeline via an inlet tube piece at an inlet end and an outlet tube piece at an outlet end; a counteroscillator, which is affixed to the measuring tube on the inlet end to form a first coupling zone and affixed to the measuring tube on the outlet end to form a second coupling zone; a sensor arrangement secured, at least in part, to the counteroscillator for registering oscillations at least of the measuring tube; an exciter mechanism secured, at least in part, to the counteroscillator for driving at least the measuring tube; a transducer housing affixed to the inlet tube piece and the outlet tube piece; and connection lines, especially connection lines for the exciter mechanism and/or for the sensor arrangement, of which connection lines at least one is secured at least sectionally along the counteroscillator and secured at least pointwise thereto, as well as to the transducer housing. The connection lines are routed essentially symmetrically with respect to a principal axis of inertia of the inner part formed by means of measuring tube and counteroscillator, especially mirror-symmetrically with respect to at least one principal axis of inertia of the counteroscillator, whereby an essentially symmetrical damping force per unit length can be assured in the measuring transducer. |
| US07665368B2 |
Flow meter
An electromagnetic flow meter for measuring flow rate of a fluid passing therethrough includes a conduit defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a measuring section positioned between the inlet and the outlet. The flow meter also includes a single coil for generating a magnetic field across the measuring section and electrodes for detecting induced electrical potential due to the fluid passage. The flow meter also includes means for conditioning the flow through the measuring section. The combination of the single coil and the flow conditioning means provides a flow meter with a desired level of accuracy. The single coil and the electrodes may be arranged so that the integral of a weight function, which defines the sensitivity of the flow meter to fluid velocity through different parts of the measuring section, over the first half of a measuring section closest to the coil is between 0.4 and 1.3 times the integral of the weight function over the other half of the measuring section. |
| US07665365B2 |
Pressure sensor and attachment structure of pressure sensor
A pressure sensor comprises: a case; a detection unit attached to one end of the case; a housing member coupled with the one end of the case, the housing member including a first connection member, a second connection member, a passage and a pressure introduction hole; and a diaphragm fixed to the housing member so as to cover the detection unit, wherein the passage connects the first connection member with the second connection member, the pressure introduction hole introduces a pressure of the cooling medium to the diaphragm, and the detection unit is capable of detecting the pressure of the cooling medium. |
| US07665362B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for non-disruptive and non-destructive inspection of metallurgical furnaces and similar vessels
Some embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and apparatus for more accurately determining the thickness of a refractory lining included in an operating metallurgical furnace. Specifically, in some embodiments a transient propagated stress wave is used to determine the condition of a refractory lining, and additionally, provide a systematic way to include the affect that temperature has on the velocity of a compressive wave through a heated refractory material and/or accretions. As identified in aspects of the present invention, and contrary to the common understanding in the art, the velocity of a stress wave, at each frequency and in a refractory material, is not necessarily constant over a temperature range. In accordance with aspects of some specific embodiments of the invention, a scaling factor α can be calculated for each refractory material to adjust for the presumed velocity of the stress wave through each refractory material. |
| US07665358B2 |
Self-calibrating liquid level transmitter
The present disclosure generally relates to a capacitance sensing apparatus equipped with self-calibrating capacity and method of use thereof. The disclosure contemplates the determination using a secondary means of precise fluid levels according to five possible embodiments, and the use of the determined fluid level to recalibrate the capacitance sensing apparatus along its continuous analog level, namely, a variation of the thickness of the insulation of a capacitance sensing apparatus, the variation of the surface geometry of the capacitance sensing apparatus, the use of a dual-probe sensor including a probe with a varied surface geometry, the use of an electromagnetic sensor adjoining the capacitance sensor, and the variation of the electromechanical sensor to serve as a capacitance sensing apparatus. The disclosure also contemplates methods for using the sensing apparatus previously disclosed to measure a fluid level using a self-calibrating capacitance sensing apparatus. Finally, the present disclosure contemplates the use of an improved mathematical method associated with a variability measurement, such as an exponential smoothing method, to determining locally discrete changes in the variability measurement of the capacitance in order to determine a fixed fluid level. |
| US07665356B2 |
Pressure interference testing for estimating hydraulic isolation
A cased hole pressure test tool is used to determine the integrity of cement between two points in a borehole in terms of permeability or transmissibility. The test tool drills at least one probe hole through the casing up to the cement. In one embodiment, two probes are set and the dissipation of a pressure pulse through the cement initiated by the first probe is observed by the second probe. In another embodiment, one probe hole is in hydraulic communication with the borehole fluid and a single offset probe is set in another probe hole. Fluid (water) is then added to the borehole to cause a pressure increase in the borehole fluid. Detection of the pressure increase through the cement by the offset probe is indicative of a loss of hydraulic isolation. Packers may be used to isolate the portion of the borehole under test. A mechanism for generating a pressure pulse of known magnitude is also described. |
| US07665355B2 |
Downhole seal assembly having embedded sensors and method for use of same
A downhole seal (50) includes an elastomeric element (98) operably to provide a seal between two downhole components. A strain sensor (102) is embedded in the elastomeric element (98). The strain sensor (102) has a mechanical flexibility that is substantially matched to the mechanical flexibility of the elastomeric element (98). The strain sensor (102) is operably connected to circuitry that is operable to identify changes in a property of the strain sensor (98) indicative of the strain being experienced by the strain sensor (98), which is representative of the strain experienced by the elastomeric element (98). |
| US07665353B2 |
Means for detecting loss of pneumatic pressure in tire and device for the purpose
An object of the present invention is to provide a device for detecting as to whether or not the heterogeneous tires are set on the right and left wheels, respectively, and accurately detecting the loss of the pneumatic pressure in the tire, even when heterogeneous tires are set on the right and the left wheels, respectively. This is a method for detecting as to whether or not the kinds of the tires set on a vehicle are different based on the rotational velocity of the wheels set on the vehicle, so that, when the pneumatic pressure of the tire set on said vehicle is normal, the velocity ratios of the right and left front wheels or the velocity ratios of the right and left rear wheels are obtained by each velocity region of the vehicle as described above, and comparison is made between the wheel velocity ratios of the right and left front wheels by each velocity region or between the wheel velocity ratios of the right and left rear wheels by each velocity region, thereby detecting that the heterogeneous tires are set between the right and left sides. Furthermore, the method for detecting loss of the pneumatic pressures of tires according to the present invention is designed to modify the threshold value for judging loss of the pneumatic pressures of the tires based on the results detected by the method for detecting the heterogeneous tires as described above. |
| US07665351B2 |
Air flow measuring device
An air flow measuring device includes a flow amount sensor for measuring a flow amount of air in a duct, and a tube body for defining a bypass passage in the duct. An upstream end surface of the tube body has an inlet of the bypass passage, and a downstream end surface thereof has an outlet of the bypass passage. An outer diameter of an outer peripheral surface of the tube body has a smallest dimension at the upstream end surface, and a largest dimension at the downstream end surface. Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface of the tube body has an upstream portion extending downstream from the upstream end surface in a predetermined range, and the upstream portion of the outer peripheral surface is a convex curve surface in which the outer diameter is increased by a ratio from the upstream end surface toward downstream. |
| US07665347B2 |
Liquid state detecting apparatus
A liquid state detecting apparatus including a detecting element which outputs a signal associated with a concentration of a particular component of a liquid contained in a liquid container; an abnormality determination unit which determines whether or not the liquid is in a particular abnormal state based on the output signal of the detecting element, a level detecting part which outputs a signal according to a level of the liquid contained in the liquid container; and a static state determination unit which determines whether or not the liquid in the liquid container is in a static state based on the output signal from the level detecting part, wherein the determination made by the static state determination unit is reflected in the determination made by the abnormality determination unit. |
| US07665346B1 |
Method and apparatus for detecting leaks in blister packs using vacuum and vision testing
A method and apparatus for detecting leaks in blister packages wherein a package is supported with a support chamber and a flexible and imperforate bladder is placed over the package after which at least a partial vacuum pressure is applied and a measure made to determine if any leakage is detected while an image of the bladder is detected, such as by a camera, with the image being used to provide a visual indication of the location of a failure in the blister package. |
| US07665343B2 |
Identification attachments for compression tools
An identification attachment is provided for a compression tool of the character having a pair of jawarms pivotally mounted between a pair of side plates by pivot pins having outer ends including pin retainers for maintaining the jawarms and side plates in assembled relationship. The jawarms have opposite sides, inner and outer edges and front and rear ends, respectively forwardly and rearwardly of the side plates, and the identification attachment is removably mountable on the tool independent of any mounting openings for the attachment extending through the jawarms. The attachment may, for example, interengage with opposite sides of a jawarm or be captured on the tool by the pin retainers or the side plates. |
| US07665341B2 |
Negative-angle press-working die
To enable formation at a negative angle with deep bending and forming a high-quality panel, a negative-angle press-working die includes an elevatable pad fixed to an upper die, a slide cam supported to be slidable laterally on the upper die or a lower die and having a bending blade, a rotary cam rotatable about a rotational center having a bending part which forms a negative-angle portion on a workpiece and a cam surface abutting on the slide cam, an elevatable slide body disposed under the pad so as to be rotatable together with the rotary cam and having a hold part provided at an upper portion on a bending part side of the rotary cam and constituting a part of a male die for workpiece forming, a drive unit that rotates the rotary cam to a workpiece working position, and a slide drive unit that slides the slide body in an up and down direction. |
| US07665338B2 |
Shot peening methods and units
The present invention provides a method of shot peening at least a portion of a rotary machine comprising a rotor. Shot peening is carried out with a rotor which is at least partly assembled. The method comprises: fixing a system for supporting at least one acoustic assembly to the machine; and shot peening at least one region of the machine using projectiles which are moved by the acoustic assembly. |
| US07665328B2 |
Method of producing hydrogen, and rendering a contaminated biomass inert
A method for rendering a contaminated biomass inert includes providing a first composition, providing a second composition, reacting the first and second compositions together to form an alkaline hydroxide, providing a contaminated biomass feedstock and reacting the alkaline hydroxide with the contaminated biomass feedstock to render the contaminated biomass feedstock inert and further producing hydrogen gas, and a byproduct that includes the first composition. |
| US07665325B2 |
Multi-fluid cooling system and method with freeze protection for cooling an electronic device
A multi-fluid cooling system and method for cooling an electronic device are provided which employ freeze protection when in a shipping state. The cooling system includes a coolant loop having an expansion tank containing first and second fluids, which are immiscible and of different densities, and the second fluid freezes at a lower temperature than the first. The coolant loop further includes a first valve for facilitating coupling of the first fluid into the coolant loop and a second valve for facilitating coupling of the second fluid into the coolant loop, the first and second valves being independently controllable. Control logic electronically controls actuation of the first and second valves to automatically pass the first fluid through the coolant loop when the system is in an operational state and to automatically maintain the second fluid in the coolant loop when the system is in a shipping state. |
| US07665324B2 |
Door duct assembly for refrigerator
The present invention relates to a door duct assembly for a refrigerator. In the present invention, the cold air delivered from a cold air duct of a refrigerator main body to a door 30 through a cold air communication portion 55 is discharged into a storage space through cold air vents 61 formed in a flow guide 60. The cold air communication portion 55 is formed in a door basket 40 or the flow guide 60. The door baskets 40 or the flow guide 60 is mounted on a door liner 33 defining a rear surface of the door 30. According to the present invention, there are advantages in that it is relatively easy to manufacture a door, the cold air flows uniformly in the door, the strength of the flow guide for defining a flow channel in the door is relatively increased, and dewdrops are prevented from being formed upstream of the flow channel. |
| US07665322B2 |
Method of reducing fluid emissions from a global spray cooling system
The present invention uses multiple global cooling chambers for providing liquid cooling to a plurality of electronic components. The global cooling chambers utilize a non-electrically conductive fluid which is in direct contact with the components to be cooled. The system provides very effective heat transfer rates, environmental isolation of the electronics components and can be deployed in a wide range of applications. Multiple global cooling chambers allows for the hot swapping of cards during operation of the system. Valves provide the ability to minimize the amount of interaction between the cooling fluid and air outside the chambers. |
| US07665316B2 |
Automatic icemaker
Disclosed is an automatic icemaker has a rotatably supported ice making portion having first and second ice making trays arranged in a back-to-back manner, a motor for rotating the ice making portion, a first and a second temperature detecting sensors for detecting the temperature of the first and second ice making tray or the temperature of ice within a compartment of the first and second ice making tray, and a signal processor for controlling the motor to turn over the ice making portion after the temperature of the first or second ice making tray, or the temperature of ice within a compartment of the first or second ice making tray, looking upward, detected by the first temperature detecting sensor or the second temperature detecting sensor has become stabilized in the vicinity of 0° C. |
| US07665314B2 |
Intermodal air compressor water separator and heat exchanger
A refrigerated container having an air compressor for maintaining a controlled atmosphere includes provisions for cooling the ambient air being drawn in by the air compressor to thereby prevent corrosion in the air compressor. A condensing line heat exchanger is connected between an inlet port and the compressor and is so disposed that the evaporator fan passes air thereover to provide cooling to the ambient air passing therethrough such that condensation forms within the tube. A water separator is included in the system to remove condensate and allow the drier air to pass to the compressor. The water separator is so constructed as to allow for the free flow of air therethrough with very little restriction. A drain fitting in the water separator is so constructed as to prevent spattering that might otherwise occur. |
| US07665313B2 |
Suspension tensioning arrangements
A tensioning arrangement for a suspension system comprising an elongate suspension member (2) for attachment to an element to be suspended under tension at a predetermined location relative to a support surface (10); the arrangement comprising a lever arm member (1) having a component (5) adapted to engage with and support said elongate suspension member remotely from said suspended element, wherein said lever arm member is formed with first (7) and second (6) bearing means adapted to bear respectively against first (9) and second (8) spaced-apart regions of said support surface and wherein at least said first bearing means incorporates an adjuster means (3) permitting the said arm member to be moved relative to said first region of said support surface, thereby to permit adjustment of tension in said suspension member. |
| US07665312B2 |
Method of using a system including an assembly exposed to a cryogenic region
A method can be used to perform an operation on a system that includes an assembly and a vessel that includes a wall and a thermal shield. The method can include breaking a thermal connection between the assembly and the thermal shield, separating the assembly and a surface within the vessel from each other, or any combination thereof. The method can also include changing a pressure with the vessel to be closer to atmospheric pressure, heating the assembly, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the method can be performed while keeping a cryogenic region substantially sealed, keeping a superconducting magnet energized, or a combination thereof. In a particular embodiment, the method can be used when servicing the assembly, such as a cryocooler. |
| US07665309B2 |
Secondary fuel delivery system
A secondary fuel delivery system for delivering a secondary stream of fuel and/or diluent to a secondary combustion zone located in the transition piece of a combustion engine, downstream of the engine primary combustion region is disclosed. The system includes a manifold formed integral to, and surrounding a portion of, the transition piece, a manifold inlet port, and a collection of injection nozzles. A flowsleeve augments fuel/diluent flow velocity and improves the system cooling effectiveness. Passive cooling elements, including effusion cooling holes located within the transition boundary and thermal-stress-dissipating gaps that resist thermal stress accumulation, provide supplemental heat dissipation in key areas. The system delivers a secondary fuel/diluent mixture to a secondary combustion zone located along the length of the transition piece, while reducing the impact of elevated vibration levels found within the transition piece and avoiding the heat dissipation difficulties often associated with traditional vibration reduction methods. |
| US07665307B2 |
Dual wall combustor liner
A combustor liner assembly includes an outer shell made of a ceramic composite and an inner heat shell that is supported within the outer shell. The inner heat shield defines a surface that is exposed to combustion gases. The inner heat shield is made of material that is compatible with the ceramic matrix composite and that provides favorable thermal gradient capability for a combustion chamber. |
| US07665306B2 |
Heat shields for use in combustors
A combustor includes an inner liner; an outer liner circumscribing the inner liner and forming a combustion chamber with the inner liner; a combustor dome coupled to the inner and outer liners; and a plurality of heat shields coupled to combustor dome. Each of the heat shields includes a heat shield plate defined by a first edge facing the inner liner and a second edge facing the outer liner; and a plurality of baffles extending from the heat shield plate. Each of the plurality of baffles includes two ribs and a connection portion connecting the two ribs to form a closed portion and an opposite open portion. The open portion of each of the plurality of baffles faces the first edge or the second edge. |
| US07665305B2 |
Valve assembly for modulating fuel flow to a gas turbine engine
A valve assembly is disclosed for modulating the flow of fuel to a fuel nozzle at a high frequency or in a stepped manner to actively control combustion in a gas turbine engine which includes a valve housing defining an inlet portion for receiving fuel from a fuel source at an initial flow rate and an outlet portion for delivering fuel to a fuel nozzle at the initial flow rate or a modulated flow rate depending upon a detected combustion condition, and a mechanism disposed within the valve housing for modulating the flow rate of fuel to the outlet portion in response to a detected combustion condition. |
| US07665304B2 |
Rankine cycle device having multiple turbo-generators
A method for generating power, comprising the steps of: a) providing a Rankine Cycle device that includes a plurality of turbo-generators, each including a turbine coupled with an electrical generator, and at least one of each of an evaporator, a condenser, and a refrigerant feed pump; b) disposing the one or more evaporators within an exhaust duct of a power plant of a marine vessel; c) operating the power plant; and d) selectively pumping refrigerant through the Rankine Cycle device. |
| US07665301B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine
In a method for operating an internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas energy of the internal combustion engine is increased when a variable that is characteristic of the compression of the compression device reaches a predefined value, the variable that is characteristic of the compression is the pressure ratio between the pressure downstream from the compressor and the pressure upstream from the turbine. |
| US07665296B2 |
Method and apparatus for using dual parallel NOx traps for diesel emissions reduction
A dual NOx trap system for reducing NOx emissions from an internal combustion engine. The system is plumbed and controlled such that the NOx adsorption time of a trap is decoupled from the NOx regeneration time. A trap is taken out of service for regeneration only for the minimum required regeneration time and then is placed back into service. Because regeneration times are short relative to adsorption times, during most of the working life of the assembly both of the traps are in service in NOx-trapping mode. Thus, higher NOx-trapping efficiencies are provided over most of the working life of the system because each unit volume of catalyst is in service for more than 50% of the time, permitting a smaller volume of catalyst for each trap than in a prior art system. Further, shorter off-line regeneration times result in reduced cooling of the traps during regeneration. |
| US07665294B2 |
Exhaust nozzle assembly
Apparatus including an exhaust nozzle assembly having a translatable structure operable to open and close a flow diverting port in an exhaust duct. The translatable structure includes a forward region partly defining a converging nozzle region. The translatable structure includes a rearward region partly defining a diverging nozzle region. The forward region and the rearward region join at an inner edge that partly defines a throat constriction. The translatable structure is translatable between a plurality of operational positions each associated with a longitudinal position of the throat constriction. In a first operational position, the flow diverting port is fully closed. In a second operational position, the flow diverting port is fully opened. In a first intermediate operational position, the flow diverting port is fully closed. In a second intermediate operational position, the flow diverting port is at least partly opened. The cross-sectional area of the exhaust duct may vary with the longitudinal position of the throat constriction. |
| US07665293B2 |
Low speed rotor shaft for a small twin spool gas turbine engine
An inner rotor shaft for use in a small twin spool gas turbine engine, the inner rotor shaft having a hollow middle section formed of a smaller diameter hollow section on a compressor end and a larger diameter hollow section on the turbine end of the shaft. Solid shaft end extend from the hollow section to form a forward solid shaft end to secure the fan rotor disk and an aft solid shaft end to secure the turbine rotor disk. A parabolic shaped transition section joins the forward shaft end to the smaller diameter hollow section, and a conical shaped transition section joins the aft shaft end to the larger diameter hollow section. A conical shaped transition piece joins the two hollow sections together to form an inner rotor shaft that can fit within a minimal space between the compressor rotor disk and the annular combustor assembly of the engine. The conical shaped transition section on the turbine end is so shaped in order to fit within a space formed inside the high pressure turbine rotor disk of the engine in order to minimize the axial spacing between the bearings that support the inner rotor shaft and raise the critical speed of the shaft to a safe level above the operating speed of the engine in order to make such a small twin spool gas turbine engine possible. |
| US07665288B2 |
Energy active composite yarn, methods for making the same and articles incorporating the same
Energy active composite yarns include at least one textile fiber member of either an elastic or inelastic material, and at least one functional substantially planar filament, which surrounds or covers the textile fiber member. The composite yarns can include an optional stress-bearing member, which also surrounds or covers the textile fiber member. The composite yarns may be multifunctional, meaning the functional substantially planar filament can exhibit combinations of electrical, optical, magnetic, mechanical, chemical, semiconductive, and/or thermal energy properties. |
| US07665287B2 |
Crank arm stop for a CAM reel
A pickup reel for a harvester which includes stops for preventing over-rotation of bat tubes. The pickup reel includes a main shaft and a plurality of reel arms which extend from the main shaft. A bat tube is engaged with an end of each of the reel arms. More specifically, the pickup reel includes a plurality of bat tubes, all of which are parallel to each other and parallel to the main shaft of the pickup reel. Each bat tube carries a plurality of tines and is supported by a plurality of reel arms which extend from the main shaft. Associated with each bat tube are a plurality of stops for defining the range of allowable rotation of the respective bat tube. By restricting the amount the bat tubes can rotate, crop does not tend to get wrapped around the bat tubes during operation of the harvester. |
| US07665283B2 |
Modular vehicle system having engine unit and mower unit for communication therewith
A modular vehicle system comprises an engine unit and an engine management controller associated with the engine unit. A throttle actuator is associated with the engine management controller to control a throttle setting of an engine unit. A mower unit is associated with mower electronics. A blade clutch actuator activates or deactivates a cutting blade of the mower unit. A transmission line supports communications between the engine management controller and the mower electronics to support remote control mowing or unmanned mowing activities. |
| US07665280B2 |
Automobile part shipping system and method
Plies of paperboard are laminated to form a paperboard laminate having a front and a back. An automobile part is placed on the front of the paperboard laminate leaving exposed the front of the paperboard laminate. The automobile part and the exposed paperboard laminate are shrink-wrapped with plastic shrink-wrap material. For automobile window glass, some of the front side plies of the paperboard laminate have been cut out to form a cavity in the configuration of the glass product being packaged. The glass product is disposed in the cavity and a glass product conforming reinforcing block is placed against the backside of the paperboard laminate during the shrink-wrap operation. For automobile fenders, hoods, the paperboard laminate need not be cut out and the sides of the paperboard laminate are folded upwardly to form a carton bottom to which a lid is affixed for shipping. |
| US07665279B2 |
Suture winding device and methods of use thereof
A suture winding device is provided that includes a holder and a base having a needle holder for receiving a needle with a quantity of attached suture attached thereto. A plurality of rods is disposed on the base that may be arranged in one or more arrays. The plurality of rods at contribute to the alignment of a retainer disposed on the base that includes first and second members that may be joined together using pressure and/or heat. Prior to joining the first and second members of the retainer, the base may be rotated to form loops of suture around the arrays of rods. |
| US07665276B2 |
Apparatus for sealing a package
The disclosure relates to an apparatus for sealing a package. The apparatus comprises a sealing unit and an abutment between which a number of material layers are disposed to be clamped and sealed and fused together, wherein the abutment is connected to at least one elongate element which extends in a direction from the abutment towards and past the sealing unit, the elongate elements, beyond the sealing unit are disposed to be connected to at least one first operating element, and an operating unit is disposed to apply a force between the sealing unit and the first operating element so that these are moved in a direction away from one another and so that the abutment and the sealing unit are moved in a direction towards one another. |
| US07665274B2 |
Device and method for gas filling of a duct in a container
The invention relates to a device for gas filling of a duct (7) in a container (1) of a collapsible type, said duct (7) being defined by a first and a second side wall (2) of the container (1), the side walls (2) being joined along a common connecting portion (4), and said duct (7) comprising an inlet (15) arranged in the first side wall (2). The device comprises an abutment (21) and a gas module (26) with an outlet (28), which is arranged in a surface of the gas module (26) facing the abutment (21), and a clamping means (29) arranged outside the outlet (28), which clamping means (29) is applicable to the abutment (21) for clamping the container (1), and which outlet (28), in connection with the clamping of the container (1), is applicable to said inlet (15) for supply of gas to the duct (7) of the container. The device is characterized by a groove (30) formed in said surface of the gas module (26), which groove surrounds the outlet (28) and is positioned radially inside said clamping means (29), said groove (30) being arranged to prevent, when supplying gas to the duct (7) intended to be filled with gas, build-up of a pressure above atmospheric on the side, facing the gas module, of said first side wall (2) surrounding said inlet (15). The invention also relates to a method for filling such a duct with gas. |
| US07665268B2 |
Floor panels with edge connectors
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling. |
| US07665266B2 |
Floor panels with edge connectors
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling. |
| US07665265B2 |
Floor panels with edge connectors
Floor covering, including hard floor panels which, at least at the edges of two opposite sides, are provided with coupling parts, cooperating which each other, substantially in the form of a tongue and a groove, wherein the coupling parts are provided with integrated mechanical locking elements which prevent the drifting apart of two coupled floor panels in a direction (R) perpendicular to the related edges and parallel to the underside of the coupled floor panels, and provide a snap-action coupling. |
| US07665263B2 |
Hardwood flooring system
An improved fabricated hardwood flooring product providing the advantage of a thick wood wear layer similar to a traditional ¾ inch solid wood floor with the dimensional stability characteristics of engineered wood floor products. |
| US07665262B2 |
Composite bevel siding
A plank is disclosed. The plank has a cellular thermoform plastic substrate, a groove formed in at least one planar surface of the cellular thermoform plastic substrate, and a fiber reinforced thermoset plastic backing on the at least one planar surface. The fiber reinforced thermoset plastic backing includes a fiber chord positioned in the groove, a fiber matt placed upon at least a portion of the one planar surface, and a cured strip thermoset resin on the one planar surface in which the fiber chord and the fiber matt are embedded. Planks for siding of buildings and a method of forming the plank are also disclosed. |
| US07665261B2 |
Shingle with a rendered shadow design
A laminated shingle has a rendered shadow design when placed with other similar shingles on a roof deck. The laminated shingle includes an overlay member and an underlay member fixedly attached to each other. The overlay member includes an upper or headlamp portion and a lower or exposed butt portion with one or more tabs separated by cutouts. The overlay member is also coated with a layer of relatively dark granules to form horizontally-oriented overlay shading areas on the upper and lower edges of the tabs. The underlay member is coated with a layer of relatively dark granules to form vertically and horizontally-oriented underlay shading areas. In one embodiment, one or both vertical edges of each tab are generally parallel to the vertically-oriented longitudinal axis of the vertically-oriented shading area to expose a portion of the shading area. |
| US07665251B1 |
Structural steel framed houses with gable end frames, intermediate frames, and wall and roof panels having perimeters of C-shaped steel channels
Steel frames formed of rolled steel I-beams are connected by steel framed wall panels spanned by steel studs, and covered by steel framed roof panels spanned by steel purlins, making a structural frame completely formed of steel components bolted together. All components are precut and predrilled before transport to a construction site. A crane is used to raise steel frames and steel framed roof panels into position for bolted assembly, reducing construction times to absolute minimums. Entire structure is virtually lightning-proof, wind-proof, and earthquake resistant. |
| US07665248B2 |
Roof anchor
A roof anchor includes a base member and a connector. The base member has an intermediate portion interconnecting a first end and a second end. The first end and the second end are proximate one another at an end opposite the intermediate portion. A first interruption is proximate the junction of the first end and the intermediate portion, and a second interruption is proximate the junction of the second end and the intermediate portion. The first and second interruptions assist in bending the first and second ends outward from one another and from the intermediate portion. The connector is operatively connected to the intermediate portion proximate an opposing end relative to the first end and the second end thereby extending outward from the first end and the second end. |
| US07665247B1 |
Gutter debris deflector having multiple slots
A gutter debris deflector for preventing debris, such as pine needles, access to a rain gutter attached to a residential home, such gutter debris deflector having an upper portion that is attached to the roof boards of the home and a lower portion that has an upper and a lower set of angular slots forming a plurality of angular rib members therebetween with a spacer portion therebetween, such deflector extending across the gutter to prevent debris from entering therein. |
| US07665246B1 |
Door and frame assembly, system and method for commercial coolers and freezers
A door and frame assembly useful for commercial coolers and heaters comprises a door frame having an upper horizontal member and opposing side members with an insulated door fitted in the door opening between the sides and with a discontinuous heating element extending at least along one, and preferably both, of the sides. |
| US07665242B2 |
Environmentally safe method for controlling or detecting insects
An environmentally safe method for controlling insects is provided, which prevents the invasion of social insects into areas where their presence is undesirable. A method for detecting the presence or appearance of social insects is also provided. Environmentally safe means adapted for controlling or detecting insects are disclosed. |
| US07665239B1 |
Canting, tilting and rotating vertical fore grip
Devices, systems and methods of canting, tilting, and rotating firearms such as rifles relative to fore grip. One version allows for a rocking and canting of the firearm by pivotally attaching an upper portion of expanded legs. Another version allows for a separate canting member to be clamped to both the upper portion of a vertical fore grip and to the lower mounting rail of the firearm. The canting member has portions that cant (move to the left or to the right) relative to one another. An operator can cant the firearm in a free-state or to fixed positions as desired. Another canting embodiment allows for an extra sleeve to compress the legs on the fore grip inward allowing the upper pivoted connection of the legs to move within the lower fore grip housing. Embodiments to allow the fore grip to rotate can also made part of the fore grip. |
| US07665238B2 |
Air freshener with holder
A device adapted to discharge a volatile material includes a display frame having a front face and a rear face and an opening disposed in the rear face. The device further includes a dispenser disposed within the display frame. The dispenser includes a blister that holds a volatile material and a permeable membrane that extends across an open end of the blister. The rear face includes an integral foot member connected to an upper portion of the display frame at a hinge and the integral foot member is actuable between first and second states about the hinge. Further, the permeable membrane is disposed adjacent the rear face and regulates release of the volatile material therethrough. |
| US07665232B2 |
Ball and socket 3D cushioning system
The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can form a lower side of an upper heel cup and the lower sliding surface can form an upper side of a lower heel cup, wherein the upper heel cup and the lower heel cup have corresponding substantially spherical shapes. Complex multi-dimensional sliding and cushioning movements between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are made possible by the corresponding three-dimensional shapes of the two substantially spherical surfaces. |
| US07665227B2 |
Fabric revitalizing method using low absorbency pads
A method of revitalizing a fabric comprises directing a flow of air through a chamber while tumbling the fabric to dehydrate the fabric; removing particulates from the air flowing through the chamber; directing a treatment fluid into the chamber and onto the fabric; and tumbling the fabric while at least intermittently contacting the fabric with a low absorbency textured surface. In another embodiment, a method comprises placing the fabric in a chamber having a low absorbency textured surface; extracting fluid from the fabric to dehydrate the fabric; inserting treatment fluid into the chamber to apply the treatment fluid to the fabric; and extracting fluid from the fabric to dehydrate the fabric. |
| US07665226B2 |
Method for drying under reduced pressure using microwaves
An apparatus and a method for drying under reduced pressure using microwaves. The apparatus comprises a chamber (13) for housing an object (11), a depressurizing pump (22) connected to the chamber (13) for depressurizing the inside of the chamber (13), a microwave irradiating device (12) for irradiating microwaves to the object (11) in the chamber (13), an airflow generating device for generating an airflow in the chamber (13) by introducing a gas from the outside to the inside of the chamber (13), and a control device (35) for controlling the above components. The object (11) in the chamber (13) is dried at temperatures below a deterioration temperature of the object (11) by intermittent irradiation of the microwaves under reduced pressure while the airflow is generated around the object (11). |
| US07665224B2 |
Method of measuring metal terminal and apparatus for measuring the same
An apparatus for measuring a metal terminal includes a crimping unit which crimps core wire crimping piece portions to a core wire of a sheathed electric wire to form a core wire crimping portion and crimps sheath crimping piece portions to a sheath portion of the sheathed electric wire to form a sheath crimping portion, a gripping member which grips the core wire crimping portion in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of a base plate portion of the metal terminal, and a measuring unit which measures a dimension of the core wire crimping portion and a dimension of the sheath crimping portion. A height of the sheath crimping portion is measured in a direction intersecting with or parallel to the direction of gripping of the core wire crimping portion in a state that the core wire crimping portion is gripped in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the base plate portion. |
| US07665222B2 |
Gauge for checking radial dimensions of mechanical pieces
A gauge (1) for checking radial dimensions of a workpiece (60), e.g. the diameter of a crankpin orbitally rotating during grinding operations, includes a casing, a V-shaped reference device (4) and a rod that can move within the casing (2) with respect to the reference device, an end of the rod projecting from the casing and carrying a feeler (20) for touching the surface of the workpiece to be checked and transmitting the movements of the feeler to a transducer (22). A sealing system for preventing coolant, dust or other foreign matter from getting inside the casing includes a pneumatic conduit (6) for allowing compressed air to be blown from inside the casing to outside, and an internal seal that—in the non-operative condition—seals the opening through which the rod projects from the casing. According to an advantageous embodiment, the seal is fastened into a bushing guiding the rod and cooperates with a surface of the rod in order to get the tightness. |
| US07665221B2 |
Method and apparatus for hole diameter profile measurement
A method and apparatus for measuring the bore diameter of a hole as a function of hole depth is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a diametric probe, for generating first measured bore diameter data along a diametric probe sensitive axis; a foot, for positioning the diametric probe sensitive axis in a plane parallel to the hole; a linear distance probe, coupled to the diametric probe, for generating first measured depth data describing the depth of the diametric probe sensitive axis within the hole; and a data acquisition system, for recording first measured bore diameter data from the diametric probe and first measured depth data from the linear distance probe of an insertion of the diametric probe into the hole. |
| US07665219B2 |
Signal transmission apparatus for a measurement probe
A measurement probe (12, 110, 250), such as a touch trigger or analogue probe, is described that comprises a deflectable stylus portion (14) and a wireless communications unit (18) for transmitting stylus deflection data to a remote probe interface (20, 104, 254). The wireless communications unit (18) is arranged to transmit digital data packets comprising stylus deflection data and a probe identity code. The wireless communications unit (18) allows said probe identity code to be set by a user. The measurement probe (12, 110, 250) may communicate with an associated probe interface (20, 104, 254) over a radio frequency (RF) spread spectrum link (106). |
| US07665216B2 |
Saw blade clamping assembly for reciprocating saw
The present invention generally provides a saw blade clamping assembly. The assembly has a main body, a clamping device, a rotating sleeve and a biasing device. The main body has a receiving slot for receiving a fixing end of a saw blade and an oblique and elongate hole communicating with the receiving slot. The clamping device has at least one clamping member passing through the oblique and elongate hole of the main body. The rotating sleeve encloses the main body and the clamping device. The biasing device is biased between the main body and the rotating sleeve. |
| US07665210B2 |
Method of manufacturing a combustion chamber for a water heater
A method of manufacturing a combustion chamber for use in a water heater is provided. A skirt is formed, and an edge portion of a plate is spot welded to the skirt. The edge portion of the plate is circumferentially welded to the skirt, thereby forming a seal between the plate and the skirt. |
| US07665205B2 |
Method of manufacturing a laminated leadframe
Disclosed are a method for manufacturing a laminated lead frame and a laminated lead frame manufactured thereby, wherein lead frame single plates to be laminated one on top of the other can be reliably bonded together with a relatively light load. Under the method for manufacturing a laminated lead frame by means of stacking and bonding lead frame single plates 10 and 11, each of which has been processed into a predetermined shape, a plurality of protuberance sections 12 are formed in at least one of mutually-opposing surfaces of the lead frame single plates 10 and 11 that vertically pair up with each other. The mutually-opposing lead frame single plates 11, 12 are bonded together via the protuberance sections 12. |
| US07665202B2 |
Method for making an acoustic transducer
The present invention relates to a process for producing a block of low-frequency piezoelectric composite material having rows of superposed ceramic posts embedded in a dielectric. This process includes the production of the block of composite material from two superposed identical half-blocks, produced by cutting into a single pre-machined piezoelectric ceramic block. According to the invention, the block of ceramic material thus constituted is then machined so as to form a structure comprising rows of aligned posts, each post being formed from two elementary posts facing each other in strict alignment. The ceramic structure thus produced is then integrated into an appropriate dielectric matrix. The block thus produced is intended to be used for manufacturing acoustic transducers from composite materials. The invention relates in particular to the field of sonar detectors designed to detect objects located at a relatively short distance from the detector. |
| US07665200B1 |
Multiple purpose CNC machine
A multiple purpose CNC machine that is mountable on a framed, mobile dolly. The machine includes: an open frame base Y-axis (200), a gantry X-axis (300), and a double angle plate (400) that provides mounting surfaces for tooling/instruments such as a Z axis module (500). The double angle plate also allows for mounting of a second Z axis module on the opposite face. The modular Z axis module includes a horizontally rigid counterweight assembly. The counterweight assembly facilitates the adding/subtracting of counterbalancing weights. The Y axis base includes provisions for placement of a tooling plate that is secured on precision machined pads of the Y axis base. The pads also include reference dowel pins. The CNC machine is multiple purpose and can be configured with a high-speed spindle or other material-removing tools, can be used with tooling such as in robotic applications, or can be used with a camera system such as for inspection tasks. The CNC machine can be configured with positioning control motors of either a closed loop servo system or an open loop stepper/linear motor system. |
| US07665199B2 |
Method of making a razor blade unit
A method of making a razor blade unit is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a plastic base member; providing a plastic upper member, the plastic upper member having a first surface and an opening in the first surface; securing a shaving aid member to the first surface of the upper member, the shaving aid completely surrounding the opening; inserting at least one razor blade between the plastic base member and the plastic upper member; and securing the plastic base member to the plastic upper member creating a plastic body having the at least one razor blade disposed in the plastic body. |
| US07665193B2 |
Metallic double-sided element and slide fastener
A metallic double-sided element comprising a coupling head includes: thin flat plate portions; coupling convex portions projecting at a central portion in the right-left direction of the thin flat plate portion; right and left raised portions which are raised in the front surface-rear surface direction from the thin flat plate portion disposed on the right and left sides of each of the coupling convex portions and integrated with the body portion; and a coupling concave portion which is formed surrounded by the coupling convex portion, the right and left raised portions and the body portion, wherein each of the right and left raised portions has a slope portion which is inclined from a front edge toward the body portion such that the slope portion rises thereof, part of each side face of the right and left slope portions is integrated with part of right and left side faces of the coupling convex portion in a face bonding manner. |
| US07665192B2 |
Reclosable fasteners or zippers for use with polymeric bags
A slider is adapted for use with a reclosable fastener for bags containing material. The reclosable fastener includes a first track and a second track. The first track includes a first profile, while the second track includes a second profile. The first and second profiles are releasably engageable to each other. At least one of the first and second profiles has an interior portion. The slider comprises a body that includes a top, a first side, a second side and a separation member on an underside of the top. The separation member is adapted to open and close the fastener and includes a slider finger that extends generally downwardly from the top. The slider finger extends into an interior portion of the first profile so as to assist in removing material trapped in the interior portion of the first profile when closing the reclosable fastener. |
| US07665190B2 |
Adjusting device for a goggle strap
An adjusting device for a goggle strap is disposed at both ends of the strap for quick connection to two connecting ends of the goggle body. The adjusting device comprises a body, a locking shaft, a cover and two push buttons. The strap is rolled around the locking shaft. When the cover is closed, a protruding strip of the strap is engaged by an engaging rib of the cover. When pressing the push buttons passed through both sides of the body, the cover is opened outward, so as to adjust the length of the strap again. |
| US07665187B1 |
Hinge apparatus and method
A hinge apparatus includes a first hinge section with a pair of oppositely positioned flange sections connected to the first hinge section. A second hinge section is provided with a pair of oppositely positioned flange sections connected to the second hinge section and a hinge device moveably connects the first hinge section and the second hinge section. |
| US07665184B2 |
Hinge assembly with rolling means
A hinge assembly (10) includes a shaft (20), a follower (22), a cam (30), a washer (50), a rolling means, and an urging means. The shaft has a securing portion (21) formed at one end thereof. The follower connects with the shaft. The cam essentially is in the shape of a cylinder, and includes a cam surface (32) and defines a cam hole (31) extending therethrough. The cam hole receives the shaft therethrough. The washer defines a center hole (52), and is located around the shaft. The rolling means is disposed between the washer and the cam. One end of the urging means abuts the shaft, and an opposite end of the urging means biases the washer. The cam surface of the cam is rotatably and movably engaged with the follower under force of the urging means. |
| US07665181B2 |
Re-circulating vacuum apparatus for cleaning fabric and other non-tensioned surfaces
An air re-circulating vacuum for cleaning loose fabric and other non-tensioned surfaces is disclosed. The vacuum has an air intake and an air exhaust located together inside an air space to create a turbulent flow to pull air and debris through an air flow space as the air flow space is pulled over the surface to be cleaned. The vacuum can be battery powered, or powered by plugging into a standard household current. |
| US07665180B2 |
Steam vacuum cleaner
A steam vacuum cleaner includes a main assembly functioning as a mopstick, and the main assembly has an exhaust duct with a built-in filter formed at a rear face thereof. |
| US07665176B2 |
Child's sized disposable article
A disposable child sized article is provided. The disposable child sized article is releasably carrying a benefit composition. An article of commerce comprising disposable child sized article is also provided. |
| US07665173B2 |
Automated cleaning system for structures
A washing system for an elevated surface has a) a housing having a liquid application cleaning system therein; b) a support element that supports and elevates the washing system; c) a rigid member extending from a surface of the housing that faces away from a surface to be cleaned so that the cable, when supporting the cleaning system against the surface to be cleaned and connected to the housing at a connection point, exerts a rotational force on the cleaning system in relation to the fixed fulcrum at the roof top; and d) weights provided at a distance and direction from the connection point fulcrum to at least in part counterbalance the rotational force. |
| US07665170B2 |
Device and method for coupling a vessel to a stationary object
The invention relates to a device for making a walkway from a vessel to an object which is more or less stationary relative to the vessel and has a gangplank attached to the vessel. The gangplank has a top surface and near the end of the gangplank a coupling element for enclosing a horizontal pipe attached to the stationary object. According to the invention, the coupling element is fitted below the top surface, and near the coupling element on the underside in the longitudinal direction of the gangplank the gangplank has a narrow supporting edge for supporting the gangplank on the pipe. The invention also comprises a method for the use of the device. |
| US07665169B2 |
Shoe insole
An insole providing cushioning and control of foot motion. The insole includes a stability cradle and a number of pods on the underside of the insole core or base. Some of the pods have different material properties selected to help control foot motion. |
| US07665165B2 |
Shaped exercise cushion
There is disclosed an exercise cushion (10) for at least partially supporting an individual on a substantially level support surface (8). The cushion 10 comprises a body configured to elevate a region extending from and including the head to the thoracic spine of the individual from the substantially level support surface (8). |
| US07665162B2 |
Kit and assembly useful for infants
A kit is provided for enabling the assembly of structures useful for infants, for example playpens and cribs. The kit includes a plurality of cross-members, bars and corner modules. Each bar is in the form of at least one upright having spacer elements at longitudinal ends thereof. The cross-members have a longitudinal open slot for engaging a plurality of such bars via their spacer elements received in the slot serially. Each corner module is adapted for clamping together at least two said cross-members, or for retaining the spacer elements within the slot. |
| US07665161B2 |
System and method for retractable furniture unit
A retractable bed is disclosed which can be automatically raised and lowered in a vertical fashion. The retractable bed includes a frame for holding a mattress; and means for raising and lowering said bed through vertical displacement, such as one or more motors. When the bed is in the lowered configuration it will come into contact with the floor thereby permitting a person to sleep on the bed. When the bed is in the raised configuration it will be near the ceiling thereby permitting a person to pass under the bed. The means for raising and lowering said bed, such as one or more motors, provides an automated and convenient way to take the bed down and to put it away. |
| US07665156B1 |
Hydration and motorcycle protection combination system
A hydration and motorcycle protection combination system for providing impact protection for a motorcycle rider and a liquid to be drank and keep the motorcycle rider hydrated includes a breast plate and a back plate positioned over a portion of a torso of a person to inhibit damage to a chest and back of the person when the breast plate and back plate are impacted. Each of a plurality of torso straps is coupled between the breast plate and the back plate to press the breast plate and the back plate against the torso to secure the back plate and the breast plate to the torso. A hydration assembly is coupled to the back plate. The hydration assembly contains a consumable liquid to be drunk by the person to keep the person hydrated. |
| US07665151B1 |
Garment with bib attachment
A garment with bib attachment consists of a garment body having a front, opposed first and second sides, an upper end, a neck-receiving opening formed in the upper end of the garment body, a first arm stall formed in the upper end of the garment body on a first side of the neck-receiving opening, and a second arm stall formed in the upper end of the garment body on a second side of the neck-receiving opening. First and second pockets are formed in the upper end of the garment body on either side of the neck-receiving opening. A bib is formed a first extension extending into the first pocket and a second extension extending into the second pocket. The first and second extensions are detachably secured to the garment within the first and second pockets, respectively, suspending the bib on the front of the garment body under the neck-receiving opening. |
| US07665150B2 |
Double-cuffed chemotherapy gloves
A disposable elastomeric glove has a secondary cuff disposed distally of a primary cuff on a wrist region of the glove. The secondary cuff may be grasped by an opposite hand to safely remove the glove with the primary cuff in place to protect the skin on the wrist from contaminants on the opposite hand. The secondary cuff approximates the design of the primary cuff such that the removal process is similar to that of a conventional glove. |
| US07665148B2 |
Minimally seamed fitted garment
Garments that utilize complex panel shapes to minimize the to number of panels used, the number of seams, and total seam length. Increasing the complexity of panel shapes tends to make the cutting of panels more difficult and often results in more wastage of material, but the reduction of the number of panels and reduction in the number of seams and total seam length will actually simplify garment production and result in improved garments. Simplifying garment production will in turn generally result in an increase in the rate of production. Reducing seam length and the number of seams also reduces the chances of seams wearing out or splitting. |
| US07669247B2 |
Content processing apparatus
A content processing apparatus includes an MCU. The MCU determines whether or not an audio file exists in a flash memory when a USB connection operation is detected. If the determination result is affirmative, the audio file recorded on the flash memory is erased, and a USB connection process is executed. That is, the audio file recorded on the flash memory is erased between a time when the USB connection operation is performed and a time when the USB connection is established. |
| US07669246B2 |
System and method for linking user accounts to business entitlement objects
A system comprises a business entitlement object, a primary account associated with a first user, wherein the primary account is linked to the business entitlement object, a secondary user condition defined by the first user, and a first secondary account, wherein a second user links the first secondary account to the business entitlement object according to the secondary user condition. |
| US07669245B2 |
User accessibility to electronic paper
A system and method helps to control “read” and/or “write” access to electronic paper (e-paper). Informational data may be on a restricted portion of e-paper material that is protected by a security methodology accessible to authorized entities. Some embodiments maintain a record of access activity regarding the restricted portion, and a record of access activity regarding use of an item or product or service related to the e-paper informational data. Some implementations include an authorization listing of a person or entity having a particular access privilege or a supervisory privilege to make authorization and data changes. Authorization records may involve an access privilege to receive a status output regarding prior access activity and/or current status. |
| US07669243B2 |
Method and system for detection and neutralization of buffer overflow attacks
A method for detecting a stack buffer overflow attack is provided that includes receiving a memory access request from a processor core of a system, and determining that the memory access request indicates a stack buffer overflow attack. The method may further include preventing completion of the memory access request and/or executing a security violation response. A system is also provided that includes a processor core coupled to a plurality of busses and an execution stack in a random access memory coupled to the plurality of busses. The system further includes a buffer overflow protection (BOP) logic coupled to the plurality of busses to receive memory access requests from the plurality of busses. The BOP logic is operable to detect a buffer overflow attack comprising a memory access request addressing the execution stack initiated by a program executing on the processor core. |
| US07669239B2 |
Secure network system and associated method of use
A network computer system for providing security that includes a monitoring function for the network computer system utilizing compartments that can be logical or separate physical hardware, at least one outside server for an untrusted computer network, e.g., global computer system, at least one proxy server, at least one inside server, wherein the at least one outside server is able to read and write software code to the at least one proxy server and the at least one proxy server is able to read and write software code to the at least one inside server, wherein the monitoring function can read and execute software code from the at least one outside server, the at least one proxy server and the at least one inside server. There is a top/down security function to prevent access to higher compartments. |
| US07669237B2 |
Enterprise-wide security system for computer devices
A system and method for securing data in mobile devices includes a computing node and a plurality of mobile devices. A node security program executed in the computing node interfaces with a device security program executed at a mobile device. The computing node is responsible for managing the security based on a node security profile interpreted by a node security program executed in the computing node. A device discovery method and arrangement also detects and locates various information about the mobile devices based on a scan profile. |
| US07669236B2 |
Determining whether to grant access to a passcode protected system
The security of an entity is protected by using passcodes. A passcode device generates a passcode. In an embodiment, the passcode is generated in response to receipt of user information. The passcode is received by another system, which authenticates the passcode by at least generating a passcode from a passcode generator, and comparing the generated passcode with the received passcode. The passcode is temporary. At a later use a different passcode is generated from a different passcode generator. |
| US07669235B2 |
Secure domain join for computing devices
A technique is provided for acquiring security domain access credentials on a computing device. The security domain access credentials are acquired by storing a persistent identity on the computing device, and deriving data that includes the security domain access credentials from the persistent identity. The derived data is transferred to a security domain to allow the computing device to join the security domain. |
| US07669233B2 |
Methods and systems for secure transmission of identification information over public networks
Methods and systems are provided for generating a party static token to be used in combination with a party dynamic token for identifying a party to a host system. Identification information that identifies the party to the host system is received. Such identification information includes a host dynamic token and a host static token. A false host dynamic token that differs from the host dynamic token is generated. The host dynamic token and the false host dynamic token are encrypted. In addition, information that uniquely identifies the party dynamic token is encrypted. The party static token is produced from a combination of the encrypted host dynamic token, the encrypted false host dynamic token, and the encrypted information that uniquely identifies the party dynamic token. |
| US07669232B2 |
Dynamic authentication in secured wireless networks
Systems and methods for authentication using paired dynamic secrets in secured wireless networks are provided. Each authenticated user is assigned a random secret generated so as to be unique to the user. The secret is associated with a wireless interface belonging to the user, so that no other wireless interface may use the same secret to access the network. The secret may be updated either periodically or at the request of a network administrator, and reauthentication of the wireless network may be required. |
| US07669229B2 |
Network protecting authentication proxy
It is convenient to allow access to a private network, such as a corporate intranet, or outward facing extranet application, from an external network, such as the Internet. Unfortunately, if an internal authentication system is used to control access from the external network, it may be attacked, such as by a malicious party intentionally attempting multiple invalid authentications to ultimately result in an attacked account being locked out. To circumvent this, an authentication front-end, proxy, wrapper, etc. may be employed which checks for lockout conditions prior to attempting to authenticate security credentials with the internal authentication system. |
| US07669225B2 |
Apparatus and method for assuring compliance with distribution and usage policy
A method and apparatus for providing multi-domain control over a digital data item via a first domain security policy assigned to the digital data item at a first domain, the data item being transferred from the first domain to a second domain, the second domain being autonomous from the first domain in respect of security policies. The method comprises assigning the security policy to the digital item within the first domain; transferring the digital items to the second domain together with data defining the first domain security policy; analyzing the first domain security policy within the second domain; and distributing and/or allowing usage of the digital items within the second domain in accordance with analyzed first domain security policy, and/or reporting breaches or attempted breaches of the policy. |
| US07669224B2 |
ONU and method for converting/combining frequency, and apparatus and method for converting/combining frequency in CATV headend system
Provided is an outdoor optical node unit (ONU) and method for converting/combining frequencies, and an apparatus and method for converting/combining frequencies in a cable television headend system. The optical node unit (ONU) includes: a downstream optic-to-electric converting unit for converting a downstream optic signal transferred through an optical cable network from a headend system to a downstream electric signal; a down frequency converting and combining unit for isolating the downstream electric signal to a broadcasting signal transmitted as a coaxial cable usable frequency band (In-Band signal) and a band signal higher than the coaxial cable usable frequency band (Super-Band (SB) signal), isolating each of channel signals in the SB signal, converting the isolated channel signals to downstream signals in a coaxial cable usable frequency band, and combining each of the frequency-converted downstream signals with the In-Band signal to generate a coaxial cable usable frequency band downstream signal; an up/down band isolating unit for outputting each of the coaxial cable usable frequency band downstream signals inputted from the down frequency converting and combining unit to a corresponding coaxial cable, or dividing an upstream signal transferred through a coaxial cable from each of subscriber's sub cells to a cable TV upstream frequency band signal and In-Band upstream channel band signal (IUC band signal) which is other upstream channel in a coaxial cable usable frequency band excepting the cable TV upstream frequency band, and outputting the cable TV upstream frequency band signal and the IUC band signal to an upstream frequency converting and combining unit; an upstream frequency converting and combining unit for converting the upstream signals which are the cable TV upstream frequency band signal and the IUC band signal inputted from the up/down band isolating unit to channels not overlapped in the coaxial cable usable frequency band, combining the converted channel signals to generate a coaxial cable usable frequency band upstream electric signal; an up electric-to-optic converting unit for receiving the optical cable usable frequency band upstream electric signal, converting the optical cable usable frequency band upstream electric signal to an upstream optical signal, and outputting the upstream optical signal to the headend system through an optical cable network; and a local oscillating unit for generating local oscillating signal for frequency-conversion, and providing the generated local oscillating signal to the down frequency converting and combining unit or the up frequency converting and combining unit. |
| US07669222B2 |
Virtual tuner management
Embodiments of virtual tuner management are described. A viewing system, for instance, may include a plurality of client devices that are configured to render content, such as television programs. The viewing system may pool the resources available from the client devices such that each client device is not limited to functionality that is provided locally by the client device. To manage content consumption in the viewing system, virtual tuners may be employed, each of which represent an ability of the viewing system to consume a single stream of content (e.g., a television program) provided by a content provider. |
| US07669220B2 |
Network bandwidth optimization by dynamic channel allocation
A method for increasing channel utilization in a video broadcast system includes receiving, at a head-end, a request for a video program from one of a plurality of subscriber stations. Determining whether the requested video program is associated with a first subset of channels representing broadcasted channels having a first subscriber viewership level greater than a threshold level, a second subset of channels representing broadcasted channels having a second subscriber viewership level less than the threshold level, and a third subset of channels representing on-demand channels having a third subscriber viewership. The first subset of broadcast channels is substantially continuously transmitted. The second subset of broadcast channels is transmitted based upon channel availability and programming assignments. The third subset of on-demand channels are transmitted from the head-end to at least one of the plurality of subscriber stations upon assigning video programming corresponding to the requesting subscriber station. |
| US07669219B2 |
Synchronized media experience
A synchronized media experience is described. A media server identifies a group of two or more remote media entertainment systems through which user-controlled play of media content may be presented. The server generates and transmits one or more synchronization commands to the remote media entertainment systems to synchronize presentation of a particular media content through the two or more remote media entertainment systems. A control command entered by a user of one of the remote media entertainment systems may be communicated to each of the two or more remote media entertainment systems to enable synchronized, user controlled presentation of the particular media content. |
| US07669217B2 |
AV stream reproducing apparatus, decoder switching method, method program, program storage medium, and integrated circuit
A decoder performance management portion manages performance of a plurality of decoders provided in an AV stream reproducing apparatus. A display portion changes, in accordance with an instruction from the user, an output state of an image display frame on a screen of an output portion, and notifies it to a decoder management portion. The decoder management portion controls a decoder switching portion so that decoders used for decoding AV streams acquired by a communication portion (106) and a TV receiving portion are switched as appropriate, based on the notification from the display changing portion. |
| US07669216B2 |
Broadcast receiving apparatus, broadcast receiving method and broadcast receiving system
According to one embodiment, a broadcast receiving apparatus is equipped with a server function so as to cause a client terminal to recognize the broadcast receiving apparatus as a server on a network and to select a channel for the broadcast receiving apparatus by way of a user operation. The broadcast receiving apparatus incorporate the image of the channel selected by the client terminal in the GUI image generated by the client terminal without transmitting the actual image of the channel on the network. |
| US07669215B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
An information processing apparatus which creates a predetermined piece of programming, including: a taste information acquiring module which acquires taste information showing user's tastes; a material information acquiring module which acquires a component configuring the piece of programming as material information; a construction information acquiring module which acquires construction information that describes a construction of the piece of programming and includes a motion of the component in the piece of programming; and a creating module which creates the piece of programming based on the taste information, the material information, and the construction information. |
| US07669211B2 |
Device for ejecting a disc form a disc player
A disk-chucking device comprises a pressing member including a circular groove which is provided around a circumference of the clamp member, and a clamping member mounted on a turning plate for clasping the circular groove of the pressing member. The turning plate provides a through hole at the center thereof which allows the pressing member passing through, and a plurality of first notch portions disposed along the circumference of the through hole. The turning plate is slidably connected to a mounting board through the clamping member. The turning plate can rotate with respect to the mounting board to move the pressing member vertically. Thus, the pressing member can be pressed onto and removed from a disk support of the displayer according to the rotation of the turning plate. The present disk-chucking device can chuck the disk securely regardless of the position of the disk player. |
| US07669204B2 |
Autonomic SMT System tuning
Methods, systems, and media are disclosed for autonomic system tuning of simultaneous multithreading (“SMT”). In one embodiment, the method for autonomic tuning of at least one SMT setting for an optimized processing, such as via throughput, latency, and power consumption, of a workload on a computer system includes calling, by a kernel, an SMT scheduler having at least one hook into a genetic library. Further, the method includes obtaining, by the SMT scheduler through the at least one hook, genetic data from the genetic library for the optimized processing of the workload. Further still, the method includes tuning, by the SMT scheduler and based on the obtaining, the at least one SMT setting for at least one cpu of the computer system. |
| US07669203B2 |
Virtual multithreading translation mechanism including retrofit capability
Method, apparatus and system embodiments provide support for multiple SoEMT software threads on multiple SMT logical thread contexts. A thread translation table maintains physical-to-virtual thread translation information in order to provide such information to structures within a processor that utilize virtual thread information. By associating a thread translation table with such structures, a processor that supports simultaneous multithreading (SMT) may be easily retrofitted to support switch-on-event multithreading on the SMT logical processors. |
| US07669201B2 |
System and method for common file installation
The invention provides a method and system for creating a single, common installation file for multiple target device types. In one approach, the method comprises providing a base engine, compiling the engine into an intermediate language code, and just-in-time compiling the intermediate code into executable code. The latter code is executed to gather the appropriate data sets and concatenate the data sets with the engine to form the installation file. The present invention also provides a method and system for utilizing the installation file to retrieve the appropriate data set(s) for the identified target device type, and to install the retrieved data set(s) onto the target device. |
| US07669184B2 |
Introspection support for local and anonymous classes
A technique in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention provides introspection support for anonymous and local classes. As a result of the technique, an enclosing class that defines a generic type variable that is not defined within a local or anonymous class that refers to the generic type variable can be determined. According to one embodiment of the invention, when a compiler determines that a particular class is a local or anonymous class, the compiler emits, into the particular class' binary class file, information that indicates which class encloses the particular class. In response to the invocation of a method (described herein) relative to a reflective proxy that corresponds to an enclosed class, information that identifies an enclosing class that encloses the enclosed class is returned. This is so even if the enclosed class is a local or anonymous class. |
| US07669183B2 |
System and method for manipulating a document object model
A system for manipulating a document object model is provided. The system comprises a collection of document object model behavior elements, and a collection of scripts for performing actions associated with the set of behavior elements. Each behavior element comprises a name following a predetermined naming convention, an event attribute for associating the behavior element to an event, and other attributes for describing features of the behavior element. Each script is associated with a behavior element. |
| US07669182B2 |
Method and system to maintain a hierarchy of instantiated application objects and process a failed process
A method maintains a hierarchy of application objects in a computer system. The method includes automatically detecting an exit of a child application object, the exit resulting from a failed process, the child application object launched by a parent application object. A grandchild application object is automatically terminated after the exit of the child application object, the grandchild application object launched by the child application object. Notwithstanding the exit of the child application object, the computer system, which maintains the hierarchy of application objects, the parent application object, and the grandchild application object, remains active. |
| US07669179B2 |
Facilitation of multi-project management using critical chain methodology
A method on a computer for providing critical chain-based project management across a plurality of projects is disclosed. The method includes generating a plurality of plans, each of the plurality of plans corresponding to one of the plurality of projects, wherein a project comprises at least one task. The method further includes generating buffers for each of the plurality of projects and reconciling project resources among the plurality of projects. The method further includes executing the plurality of project plans, including allowing a user to manage the buffers across the plurality of projects. The user is further provided with information associated with buffers for the plurality of projects, so as to evaluate the status of the plurality of projects. Additionally, the user is provided with task prioritization for any task of the plurality of projects, wherein task prioritization is calculated across the plurality of projects. |
| US07669178B2 |
System and method for interacting with computer programming languages at semantic level
The present invention relates to a system and method that models computer programming language concepts in a plurality of objects and enables a computer programmer to interact with multiple programming languages through one code model interface. This allows the computer programmer to identify objects or functionality available in an application without having to know or specify an underlying language that implements that object or functionality. The computer programmer can employ the code model to locate an object that implements a specific functionality and return a code model object that implements that functionality. The computer programmer may then interact with that code model object rather than having to interact with the computer programming language. |
| US07669172B2 |
Pattern creation method, mask manufacturing method and semiconductor device manufacturing method
A pattern creation method, including laying out data of a most extreme end pattern of integrated circuit patterns on a first layer and laying out data of the integrated circuit patterns excluding the most extreme end pattern on a second layer, extracting data of a first most proximate pattern being most proximate to the most extreme end pattern from the second layer and converting the extracted data to a third layer, generating data of a contacting pattern which contacts both the first most proximate pattern and the most extreme end pattern in a fourth layer, generating data of a non-overlapping pattern of the contacting pattern excluding overlapping portions with the most extreme end pattern and the first most proximate pattern in a fifth layer, extracting data of a second most proximate pattern being most proximate to the non-overlapping pattern and converting the extracted data to the first layer. |
| US07669169B2 |
Shape-based geometry engine to perform smoothing and other layout beautification operations
A shape-based layout beautification operation can be performed on an IC layout to correct layout imperfections. A shape is described by edges (and vertices) related according to specified properties. Each shape can be configured to match specific layout imperfection types. Corrective actions can then be associated with the shapes, advantageously enabling efficient formulation and precise application of those corrective actions. Corrective actions can include absolute, adaptive, or replacement-type modifications to the detected layout imperfections. A concurrent processing methodology can be used to minimize processing overhead during layout beautification, and the actions can also be incorporated into a lookup table to further reduce runtime. A layout beautification system can also be connected to a network across which shapes, actions, and IC layout data files can be accessed and retrieved. |
| US07669164B1 |
Hardware and software implementation of an electronic design in a programmable logic device
Implementing an electronic design having software-implemented blocks and hardware-implemented blocks. A specification of the electronic design is created in response to selection of blocks from a library, and at least one of the blocks is available for implementation in a selectable one of a software implementation for an embedded processor on a programmable logic device (PLD) and a hardware implementation on the PLD. A specification of each block in a first subset is obtained from the library and translated into an execution function of the software implementation of the block. Peripheral functions are generated for connections between blocks in the first subset and blocks in a second subset, which are designated for a hardware implementation on the PLD. A program is generated that invokes each peripheral function and each execution function in an order determined from the interconnections between the blocks. |
| US07669161B2 |
Minimizing effects of interconnect variations in integrated circuit designs
Roughly described, method and apparatus for laying out an integrated circuit, in which a subject interconnect has predetermined values for a plurality of variables affecting propagation delay of the subject interconnect. The value of an adjustment one of the variables is adjusted to minimize exposure of the propagation delay of the interconnect to process variations causing variations in the value of a subject fabrication variable, and a revised layout is developed in dependence upon the adjusted value for the adjustment variable. In an embodiment, the adjustment is made in dependence upon a pre-calculated “interconnect optimization database” indicating combinations of values for the plurality of variables which have been pre-determined to minimize exposure of interconnect propagation delay to process variations affecting the subject variable. Different databases, or different entries in the same database, can be provided for minimizing exposure of interconnect propagation delay to process variations affecting each subject variable of interest. |
| US07669158B2 |
Method and system for semiconductor design hierarchy analysis and transformation
A method and apparatus for partitioning of the input design into repeating patterns called template cores for the application of reticle enhancement methods, design verification for manufacturability and design corrections for optical and process effects is accomplished by hierarchy analysis to extract cell overlap information. Also hierarchy analysis is performed to extract hierarchy statistics. Finally template core candidates are identified. This allows to the design to be made amenable for design corrections or other analyses or modifications that are able to leverage the hierarchy of the design since the cell hierarchy could otherwise be very deep or cells could have significant overlap with each other. |
| US07669157B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing incremental compilation using top-down and bottom-up design approaches
A method for designing a system on a target device includes merging a netlist for a first partition of the system generated from a bottom-up design flow with a netlist for a second partition of the system from a top-down design flow to form a combined netlist, and performing fitting on the combined netlist. |
| US07669156B2 |
Method of identifying paths with delays dominated by a particular factor
A method of performing node-based static timing analysis on a digital network and a program storage device for implementing the method, wherein the method comprises partitioning timing delays in the digital network into portions attributable to a factor of interest and portions attributable to other factors; multiplying the timing delays by different weights based on the factor of interest to produce weighted timing delays; and using the multiplied timing delays to determine a relative impact of the factor of interest on the various paths in the digital network. The method further comprises setting arrival times of timing signals at digital network path start points to zero and identifying digital network paths whose timing delays are dominated by a particular factor of interest. The different weights comprise any of a positive weight, a negative weight, and a zero weight. |
| US07669155B2 |
Generic methodology to support chip level integration of IP core instance constraints in integrated circuits
A method and apparatus are provided for generating and using timing constraints templates for IP cores that can be instantiated in an integrated circuit design. The templates include a plurality of timing constraint statements for inputs and outputs of the respective IP core. At least one of the statements includes a configurable variable, wherein the timing constraints template is configurable through the variable for each of a plurality of instances of the IP core in the integrated circuit design. |
| US07669149B2 |
Matching user interface elements to screen reader functions
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for providing information to a screen reader. A method includes the actions of receiving at a client side information for representing a web page in a browser; setting focus initially on an element of the web page and presenting the web page to a user; and in response to a user command directing the focus to an element of the web page, determining whether the element is present in a functionality map, and if so, looking up the element in the functionality map, then processing the element as indicated by a corresponding entry point in the map, and if not, providing the focus and information related to web page elements associated with the focus to a placeholder control, and providing a screen reader with access to the placeholder control. |
| US07669148B2 |
System and methods for portable device for mixed media system
A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types, such as printed paper as a first medium and a digital photograph, digital movie, digital audio file, or web link as a second medium. Furthermore, the MMR system facilitates business methods that take advantage of the combination of a portable electronic device, such as a portable video player or a portable audio player, and a paper document for the portable electronic device to provide information. |
| US07669146B2 |
Information organization navigation
Systems and techniques for navigating an organization of information may be used for navigating program functions, file directories, Web-sites, or any other appropriate organization of information. In one implementation, a navigation technique includes generating a one-dimensional navigation structure for an organization of information, the navigation structure comprising a plurality of elements, each element representing a portion of information, and detecting a command indicating selection of one of the elements in the navigation structure. The technique also includes determining whether the selected element has at least one associated element and, if the selected element has at least one associated element, modifying the navigation structure by deleting the non-selected elements from the navigation structure and adding the elements associated with the selected element to the navigation structure. |
| US07669144B2 |
Method and arrangment for a primary actions menu including one menu item for applications on a handheld electronic device
A system and method is disclosed that provides for displaying on the screen of a handheld electronic device, an extended menu or a short menu, which is a subset of the corresponding extended menu. The system and method include an application displayed on a screen. If the application is currently running, and no menu is displayed, the user may initiate an ambiguous request. Various short menus, including those with solely one menu item, are provided with their respective menu items being dependent and adjustable based upon the position of a cursor on the display page, the currently opened application, and/or the previous selections. Further, a selection from the short menu is capable of displaying the extended menu corresponding thereto. |
| US07669141B1 |
Visual interface element transition effect
In an electronic interaction space, transitioning between a first and second screen layout includes determining a difference between the first and second screen layouts, wherein the first and second screen layouts include at least one pod each, and rendering the difference as a dynamic and intermediate screen layout that uses a representation of physical motion to present a gradual change. |
| US07669139B2 |
Pictorial-based user interface management of computer hardware components
An apparatus and program product utilize a displayed pictorial representation that depicts the actual physical configuration of a plurality of hardware components in a physical computer system to facilitate the collective management of the underlying hardware components. Typically, within such a pictorial representation, a selected status is displayed for multiple of such hardware components, thereby permitting hardware components sharing common attributes or characteristics to be identified in an efficient and intuitive manner, as well as to permit collective management operations to be performed on all selected hardware components. In addition, a pictorial representation may be dynamically generated to represent the physical configuration of a plurality of hardware components within a plurality of computers. In connection with such dynamic generation, the plurality of computers may be accessed to identify the plurality of hardware components that are resident in such computers. |
| US07669131B2 |
Image browsing apparatus and image browsing method
An image browsing apparatus has: a display unit for displaying image data; a reproducing unit for reproducing audio data; a detector for detecting a feature of the audio data reproduced by the reproducing unit; and a controller for, when predetermined audio data is reproduced by the reproducing unit, controlling an updating interval of the image data displayed to the display unit on the basis of the feature of the predetermined audio data detected by the detector. |
| US07669128B2 |
Methods of enhancing media content narrative
In a method of enhancing a viewer's experience of a video program, a plurality of selectable alternative video program scenes are provided for a video program being viewed on a display. The selectable alternative program versions are pre-rendered video scenes. A user is prompted to select at least one of the selectable alternative video program scenes for viewing. |
| US07669126B2 |
Playback device, and method of displaying manipulation menu in playback device
A plurality of identification miniature images for to-be-replayed objects is displayed simultaneously on a manipulating-function menu screen with taking one of the to-be-replayed objects corresponding to one of the identification miniature images in a predetermined position as a to-be-replayed object of interest. There are displayed a first group of a plurality of manipulating-function items for the respective to-be-replayed objects and a second group of a plurality of manipulating-function items related to a plurality of to-be-replayed objects. While any one of the manipulating-function items included in the first group is being selected, the identification miniature image corresponding to the to-be-replayed object of interest is displayed for differentiation from the other identification miniature images. |
| US07669122B2 |
Using input of rhyming characters for computer text entry of Chinese characters
As either regular entry or as an assist to the user of existing computer text entry systems, the invention makes possible an alternative method of Chinese character entry by entering a Chinese character assumed by the user to be a rhyme of the character the user desires to enter. Entry methods for such rhyme alternative entry include phonetic and non-phonetic entry of Chinese characters, including keyboard stroke-category input, and handwritten entry using an electronic surface. The invention is not only helpful for entry of difficult Chinese characters but provides an approach to the use of supplementing input methods for most if not all written languages. |
| US07669118B2 |
Method, system and program for providing page with plurality of code portions in browser markup language
Methods, systems and programs are disclosed for providing a page with a plurality of code portions. In accordance with one embodiment, a computer system is provided that includes a browser client and a page-generator server. The page-generator may provide an HTML-page with a plurality of Y-code portions in HTML by using a page description with X-code portions in XML. The generator may read a set of first data items from an interface and read the description that defines a table structure, references to the first data items, a set of second data items, and a presentation direction by which the first and second data items are to be consecutively presented by the browser. Further, the generator may provide the Y-code portions for the page by writing corresponding structure code to the page according to the table structure, by writing data code (a) corresponding to the first data items resolved from the references and (b) corresponding to the second data items, and by writing presentation direction code. Presentation directions may include horizontal and vertical presentation directions. |
| US07669114B2 |
Software architecture and system for performing validated clinical studies of pharmaceutical related products
Software, and a master system with hardware and connections, for validated drug clinical studies includes: creating data collection documents with unique identifiers; having operators complete security identification verification before proceeding; having secured operators fill out and sign specified data collection documents; creating permanent records of the preceding; tracking by unique identifiers in a local system; uploading to a central system; independently reviewing filled out signed data collection documents to accept or require clarifications; keeping permanent read only records of all originally filled out and signed documents; making document clarification requests; reviewing each response; assigning new unique identifier links to each version of every revision; iteratively repeating the above until the documents are clean, and storing and tracking every version of every document in the central system; providing a monitor query and document entry history of all changes to all documents to create a secured audit trail. |
| US07669111B1 |
Electronic text reading environment enhancement method and apparatus
An apparatus, method and article of manufacture of the present invention provide an enhanced user interface for a computer system that maximizes a reader's ability to rapidly comprehend a text. The invention provides simplified, interactive means for assigning values to parameters associated with the display of text, and for displaying the electronic text in accordance with the parameter values selected. The features of the present invention allow a user to optimize reading speed and comprehension depending on the user's personal characteristics, preferences, and abilities, as well as the characteristics of the text. In addition, the present invention provides an improved user interface for performing operations on sections of a text based on an outline of the text. |
| US07669107B2 |
Method and system for increasing parallelism of disk accesses when restoring data in a disk array system
In a disk array environment such as a Redundant Array of Independent Disks-6 (RAID-6) environment, the overall performance overhead associated with exposed mode operations such as resynchronization, rebuild and exposed mode read operations is reduced through increased parallelism. By selecting only subsets of the possible disks required to solve a parity stripe equation for a particular parity stripe, accesses to one or more disks in a disk array may be omitted, thus freeing the omitted disks to perform other disk accesses. In addition, disk accesses associated with different parity stripes may be overlapped such that the retrieval of data necessary for restoring data for one parity stripe is performed concurrently with the storage of restored data for another parity stripe. |
| US07669105B2 |
Generic maximum aposteriori probability decoder for use in software-defined radio systems
A reconfigurable maximum a-posteriori probability (MAP) calculation circuit that reuses the arithmetic logic unit (ALU) hardware to calculate forward state metrics (alpha values), backward state metrics (beta values), and extrinsic information (lambda values) for the trellis associated with the MAP algorithm. The alpha, beta and lambda calculations may be performed by the same ALU hardware for both binary code (i.e., WCDMA mode) and duo-binary code (i.e, WiBro mode). |
| US07669103B2 |
Encoded transmission
Significant improvement in Raptor codes and punctured LDPC codes are obtainable by use of the invention. In both a transmission scheme for Raptor-encoded or LDPC-encoded information, a dynamic adjustment approach is employed. A fraction of a codeword or information frame is transmitted. A feedback signal is sent from the receiver to the transmitter indicating either 1) successful decoding, or 2) failure to decode and/or a feedback signal indicative of a statistical measure of transmission channel quality. If decoding fails, a further portion of the codeword or frame is sent. The intensity and/or size of the fraction is adjusted based on the feedback signal. In one embodiment, a specific range for probabilities employed in the encoding process for Raptor codes provides the ability to increase transmission throughput. Further it has been found that the advantageous Raptor codes are useful in noise conditions where even the improved punctured LDPC codes of the invention begin to degrade. |
| US07669098B2 |
Method and apparatus for limiting power dissipation in test
An embodiment provides a system for testing a circuit. During operation, the system scans-in input values into a first set of flip-flops. The outputs of the first set of flip-flops are coupled with the inputs of a circuit under test, the outputs of the circuit are coupled with the inputs of a set of multiplexers, and the outputs of the set of multiplexers are coupled with the inputs of a second set of flip-flops. Next, the system configures the set of multiplexers using a segment-selection circuit, which causes the outputs of the circuit to be coupled with the inputs of the second set of flip-flops. The system then captures the circuit's output values using the second set of flip-flops. Next, the system scans-out the circuit's output values using the second set of flip-flops. Finally, the system determines whether the chip has a fault using the output values. |
| US07669096B2 |
Methods and apparatus for monitoring internal signals in an integrated circuit
Apparatus and methods are provided for debugging an integrated circuit. Local multiplexer circuits are provided near first and second circuit blocks in the integrated circuit. Each multiplexer circuit includes input nodes, a control node, and an output node. A first input node of the first multiplexer circuit is coupled to an internal node of the first circuit block, a first input node of the second multiplexer circuit is coupled to an internal node of the second circuit block, second input nodes of the first and second multiplexer circuits are coupled to logical 0, and the control signal nodes of the first and second multiplexer circuits are coupled to a control signal. An OR gate is provided that includes an input node coupled to the output node of the first multiplexer circuit, another input node coupled to the output node of the second multiplexer circuit, and an output node. The control signal is used to select the internal nodes of the first or second circuit blocks for monitoring at the output node of the OR gate. |
| US07669094B2 |
Semiconductor device and inspection method of semiconductor device and wireless chip
The invention provides an inspection method of a semiconductor device which receives a test program wirelessly. As an inspection method of the semiconductor device, a test program is transmitted as a communication signal for every test. By transmitting a test program as a communication signal wirelessly in the case of an operation test, test contents are changed as required. As a result, a test program can be easily changed and an inspection circuit or the like is not required. In this manner, manufacturing cost of a wireless chip can be reduced. |
| US07669081B2 |
Systems and methods for scheduling, processing, and monitoring tasks
A computer-implemented method for performing a process is provided. The method comprises: (a) receiving a request to perform a process, the process comprising a plurality of tasks and at least a scheduler rule; (b) receiving a plurality of checkpoints associated with the process, each checkpoint comprising checkpoint state data and at least a respective checkpoint rule governing execution of the process; (c) determining a first task of the plurality of tasks to be scheduled into a priority queue, in accordance with the scheduler rule; (d) determining the first checkpoint of the plurality of checkpoints that is to be the first checkpoint used in processing the first task, in accordance with the scheduler rule; (e) creating the checkpoint state data for the first checkpoint; (f) saving the checkpoint state data for the first checkpoint; (g) processing the first task in accordance with the checkpoint rule associated with the first checkpoint; (h) determining the next task in the plurality of tasks to perform, based on the checkpoint rule associated with the first checkpoint; (i) updating the saved checkpoint data for the first checkpoint with the data and state associated with the first task; and (j) repeating steps (c) through (i) for each subsequent task and checkpoint, in accordance with the respective scheduler and checkpoint rules, until a predetermined condition has been reached. |
| US07669080B2 |
Reducing likelihood of data loss during failovers in high-availability systems
A method, system, and computer program product for reducing likelihood of data loss during performance of failovers in a high-availability system comprising a primary system and a standby system are provided. The method, system, and computer program product provide for defining a halt duration, periodically determining a halt end time, halting data modifications at the primary system responsive to failure of data replication to the standby system, resuming data modifications at the primary system responsive to a last determined halt end time being reached or data replication to the standby system resuming, and responsive to the primary system failing prior to a previously determined halt end time, determining that a failover to the standby system will not result in data loss on the standby system with respect to the primary system. |
| US07669079B2 |
Method and device for switching over in a computer system having at least two execution units
A device and method for switching over in a computer system having at least two execution units are provided, in which switchover units are included which are designed in such a way that they switch between at least two operating modes, a first operating mode corresponding to a comparison mode and a second operating mode corresponding to a performance mode. A programmable interrupt controller is assigned to each execution unit, and a storage element is included, in which information is stored that describes at least parts of a configuration of at least one of these interrupt controllers. |
| US07669074B2 |
Method for fault handling in a co-operative workflow environment
Embodiments herein provide a fault-handling scheme based on forward recovery for cooperative workflow environments. The fault handling scheme relies on the correct placement of transaction scopes and their associated fault and compensation handlers for maintaining correct application semantics, a fault propagation scheme for forwarding faults to a workflow component that has the corresponding fault handler, and a distributed mechanism for collecting data of completed workflow components to facilitate recovering from faults. The fault handling scheme makes use of control flow messages to facilitate compensation of nested transaction scopes (residing in different components). The workflow components are also modified with additional code for aiding with fault propagation and fault recovery. |
| US07669066B2 |
Disk array system having plural disk drives that controls supplying of power to a disk drive having finished a destaging process on a disk drive by disk drive basis
A disk array system including at least one channel control portion, at least one disk control portion, a cache memory, a cache switch, a shared memory, a power unit, and a casing for storing the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch, the shared memory and the power unit, wherein: each of the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch and the shared memory includes a control board having a plurality of electronic circuits different in operating voltage, and a voltage converter for converting a single input voltage into voltages for operating the electronic circuits respectively; and the power unit supplies a voltage to the voltage converter provided in each of the channel control portion, the disk control portion, the cache memory, the cache switch and the shared memory. |
| US07669065B2 |
Power-off circuit
A power-off circuit includes a power unit (10), a power management unit (20), an integrated circuit chip (IC chip, 40), a switching apparatus (30), and a clamp circuit (70). The switching apparatus produces and transmits a power-off instruction to the power management unit. The power management unit produces and transmits a power-off notice to the IC chip in accordance with the power-off instruction. And the IC chip feeds back a power-off affirmation in accordance with the power-off notice to the clamp circuit. The clamp circuit receives the power-off affirmation and produces and transmits interrupted power-off signals to the power management unit, till the power management unit completely cuts off power supplied from the power unit to the IC chip. |
| US07669063B2 |
Method of power down control for a display device, and power down controller for implementing the method
A method of power down control (PDC) for a display device is to be implemented by a processor in a power down controller of the display device. The power down controller includes a main system, a main system power source, and a PDC power source. The method includes the steps of: (A) receiving power from the PDC power source, determining if the main system is to be activated, and proceeding to step (B) if affirmative; (B) turning on the main system power source, and activating the main system; (C) determining if operation in a power down mode is intended, and proceeding to step (D) if affirmative; and (D) turning off the main system power source to operate in the power down mode. Further, a state parameter is stored that allows the main system to be restored to the operating state prior to a power interruption. |
| US07669059B2 |
Method and apparatus for detection of hostile software
Methods and apparatuses are presented for detecting hostile software in a computer system involving storing a representation of configuration data associated with an operating system for the computer system obtained at a first time, comparing the stored representation of the configuration data obtained at the first time with a representation of the configuration data associated with the operating system for the computer system obtained at a second time, and if deviation is detected between the stored representation of the configuration data obtained at the first time and the representation of the configuration data obtained at the second time, automatically performing at least one remedial measure in response to the deviation detected. In one embodiment of the invention, the configuration data relates to identification of executable code installed in the computer system. The configuration data may be obtained from a registry key in a registry maintained by the operating system. |
| US07669058B2 |
Secure remote password validation
A method, system and apparatus for secure password validation can include a local authentication process configured for coupling both to local authentication data and to a remote authentication process. The system also can include a comparator disposed in the local authentication process and programmed to detect an extended password string in the local authentication data. Finally, the system can include a remote authentication handler disposed in the local authentication process and programmed to outsource password validation to the remote authentication process responsive to the comparator detecting an extended password string retrieved for a supplied user identifier. Preferably, the remote authentication handler can be a remote procedure call to the remote authentication process. |
| US07669057B2 |
Secure computer password system and method
An enhanced security method is provided for accessing information from a second computer using a password at a first computer. According to such method, a password used for accessing information is inputted to the first computer and stored on the first computer. Thereafter, the stored password is encoded using an encoding algorithm which is system specific to the first computer, and the encoded password is then transmitted to the second computer. The encoded password is used at the second computer to grant or deny access to the requested information, without the second computer having to decode the encoded password to obtain the password stored on the first computer. |
| US07669053B2 |
System and method for using acoustic digital signature generator as oracle
A hand-held sonic token can be used as a pseudorandom oracle for a requesting application, which can generate a challenge that is sent to the token. The user of the token decides whether to allow the token to function as an oracle, and if so, the user causes the token to digitally sign the challenge and send it back to the requesting application, for use of the digitally signed challenge as an encryption key. After encryption the requesting application deletes the signed challenge, with subsequent decryption essentially following the encryption process. |
| US07669050B2 |
Method to enable user mode process to operate in a privileged execution mode
A method to enable a user mode process to operate in a privileged execution mode is disclosed. Applicants' method provides an operating system comprising a privileged execution mode and a non-privileged execution mode, and a plurality of user mode strings operating in the non-privileged execution mode. The computing device receives a request from a first user mode string to operate in the privileged execution mode to perform one or more designated tasks. Applicants' method authorizes the first user mode string to operate in the privileged execution mode, and the first user mode string performs those one or more designated tasks using the privileged execution mode. Applicants' method continues to permit the first user mode string to operate in the privileged execution mode after completion of the one or more designated tasks. |
| US07669049B2 |
System and method for protecting privacy and anonymity of parties of network communications
A system and method is provided for handling network communications between a client and a target server on the Internet to protect the privacy and anonymity of the client.For a session between the client and the target server, a routing control server sets up a routing chain using a plurality of Web servers randomly selected from a pool of participating Web servers as routers for routing messages between the client and the target server. To prevent traffic analysis, an “onion encryption” scheme is applied to the messages as they are forwarded along the routing chain.A payment service cooperating with the routing control server allows a user to pay for the privacy protection service without revealing her real identity. |
| US07669045B2 |
System and method for aggregating shelf IDs in a fibre channel storage loop
A modular fiber channel information handling system includes a storage processor and multiple associated fiber channel data storage enclosures. The storage processor and the fiber channel data storage enclosures are connected by a fiber channel storage loop. The storage processor includes an identification engine operable to assign device addresses to the associated storage devices and an aggregation engine that is able to selectively aggregate the shelf IDs of data storage enclosures that have been selected to be aggregated. |
| US07669043B2 |
Memory parameter initialization based on a temperature acquired at startup
A method of initializing memory parameters of a main storage device at a time of starting an information processing apparatus includes acquiring a temperature at the time of starting the information processing apparatus; and initializing the memory parameters based on the temperature. |
| US07669042B2 |
Pipeline controller for context-based operation reconfigurable instruction set processor
An instruction execution pipeline for use in a data processor. The instruction execution pipeline comprises: 1) an instruction fetch stage; 2) a decode stage; 3) an execution stage; and 4) a write-back stage. The instruction pipeline repetitively executes a loop of instructions by fetching and decoding a first instruction associated with the loop during a first iteration of the loop, storing first decoded instruction information associated with the first instruction during the first iteration of the loop, and using the stored first decoded instruction information during at least a second iteration of the loop without further fetching and decoding of the first instruction during the at least a second iteration of the loop. |
| US07669040B2 |
Method and apparatus for executing a long transaction
A system that executes a long transaction in a system with limited transactional hardware resources. During operation, the system executes the long transaction in a non transactional mode, which does not use transactional hardware resources. The system defers stores generated during the long transaction so that the stores are not committed to the architectural state of a processor until the transaction is successfully completed. If the long transaction successfully completes, the system commits the long transaction, which involves performing multiple hardware transactions to commit the deferred stores to the architectural state of the processor. |
| US07669037B1 |
Method and apparatus for communication between a processor and hardware blocks in a programmable logic device
Method and apparatus for communication between hardware blocks and a processor in a programmable logic device is described. A shared memory is provided along with a memory controller for controlling access to the shared memory. An interface is configured to receive auxiliary instructions from the processor, select the hardware blocks for the requested tasks in response to the auxiliary instructions, notify the hardware blocks of those tasks, and arbitrate access to the memory controller among the hardware blocks. |
| US07669033B2 |
Pretranslating input/output buffers in environments with multiple page sizes
Pretranslating input/output buffers in environments with multiple page sizes that include determining a pretranslation page size for an input/output buffer under an operating system that supports more than one memory page size, identifying pretranslation page frame numbers for the buffer in dependence upon the pretranslation page size, pretranslating the pretranslation page frame numbers to physical page numbers, and storing the physical page numbers in association with the pretranslation page size. Typical embodiments also include accessing the buffer, including translating a virtual memory address in the buffer to a physical memory address in dependence upon the physical page numbers and the pretranslation page size and accessing the physical memory of the buffer at the physical memory address. |
| US07669030B2 |
System and method for finding kernel memory leaks
The invention provides a system and method for tracking memory information associated with dynamically loaded kernel modules with the help of a tracking system. The tracking system defines its own kernel memory allocation functions. Whenever, a dynamic kernel module is loaded/unloaded into/from the kernel space, these newly defined functions are called in response to kernel memory allocation/de-allocation requests from the kernel module. The newly defined functions are responsible for allocating and de-allocating kernel memory, as well as, keeping track of information relating to the kernel memory allocations/de-allocations. The tracked information may be used to identify the source of kernel memory leaks. |
| US07669029B1 |
Load balancing a data storage system
An apparatus and method for automatically load balancing one or more workload groups to a set of available physical resources of a data storage system, and generating a layout planning recommendation of the set of available physical resources that supports the one or more workload groups based on the load balancing. |
| US07669028B2 |
Optimizing data bandwidth across a variable asynchronous clock domain
Embodiments of the present invention optimize data bandwidth across an asynchronous buffer in a system with a variable clock domain. A move signal may be asserted to transfer data associated with a command into the asynchronous buffer. After the data has been moved into the buffer, an acknowledge signal may indicate that the transfer is complete. A launch signal may transfer the data in the asynchronous buffer to memory. Embodiments of the present invention allow the processing of a next command to begin at the earliest possible time while data associated with a previous command is being transferred into and out of the buffer, thereby increasing throughput and improving performance. |
| US07669027B2 |
Memory command delay balancing in a daisy-chained memory topology
A methodology for a daisy-chained memory topology wherein, in addition to the prediction of the timing of receipt of a response from a memory module (DIMM), the memory controller can effectively predict when a command sent by it will be executed by the addressee DIMM. By programming DIMM-specific command delay in the DIMM's command delay unit, the command delay balancing methodology according to the present disclosure “normalizes” or “synchronizes” the execution of the command signal across all DIMMs in the memory channel. With such ability to predict command execution timing, the memory controller can efficiently control power profile of all the DRAM devices (or memory modules) on a daisy-chained memory channel. A separate DIMM-specific response delay unit in the DIMM may also be programmed to provide DIMM-specific delay compensation in the response path, further allowing the memory controller to accurately ascertain the timing of receipt of a response thereat, and, hence, to better manage further processing of the response. |
| US07669024B2 |
Storage system with multiple copy targeting
A storage controller, cooperable with host computer apparatus, and a plurality of controlled storage apparatus, comprises a host write component operable to write a data object to a source data image at one of the plurality of controlled storage apparatus; a first copy component responsive to a first metadata state and operable to control copying of the data object to a first target data image at one of the plurality of controlled storage apparatus; a second copy component responsive to a second metadata state and operable to perform one of: controlling copying of the data object to a second target data image at one of the plurality of controlled storage apparatus; and causing the first copy component to perform copying of the second target data image to the first target data image. |
| US07669021B2 |
File system based offline disk management
Logically imaging a memory area or a portion thereof while the memory area is offline. For each partition of a selected volume of the memory area, the logical files are captured along with volume and partition information and stored in an image file to enable logical restoration of the captured image. |
| US07669019B2 |
Apparatus and method of mirroring data between nonvolatile memory and hard disk
This storage apparatus that provides to a host computer a logical device for storing data sent from the host computer includes a nonvolatile memory for storing the data, a disk-shaped memory device for storing the data, and a controller for controlling the nonvolatile memory and the disk-shaped memory device. The controller redundantly configures the logical device with the nonvolatile memory and the disk-shaped memory device. |
| US07669016B2 |
Memory control device and method for controlling the same
The present invention provides a storage control device which enables the time between failures to prolong as much as possible, though it uses HDD's whose mean time between failures is relatively short. The storage control device controls spindle motors in a manner that a spindle motor is rotated regarding the HDD of data which can access from a host computer and a spindle motor is stopped regarding the HDD of data which are clearly judged that a host computer does not access the data. Whether the host computers can access the HDD or not is judged by the fact that whether the memory region (internal logical volume) provided by the HDD is in mapped to the host logical volume or not which is recognized by the host computer and is able to access thereby. |
| US07669002B1 |
System and method for providing an application with memory access methods
A system for providing an application with a plurality of methods for accessing memory of a programmable logic controller includes an application, an interface for establishing communication between the application and a programmable logic controller, and a shared memory area initiated by the application or the programmable logic controller. The shared memory area includes an input memory and an output memory. The application is enabled by the interface to write to the input memory and to read from the output memory. |
| US07669000B2 |
Host bus adapter with multiple hosts
A multi-host host bus adapter (HBA) can be connected to multiple host devices to allow the multiple host devices to communicate on a SAN fabric. More specifically, the multi-host HBA provides an interface for multiple SAN hosts without necessitating an HBA on each host, eliminating the need for an on-board HBA on each SAN host. The multi-host HBA interfaces to memory in each SAN host to which it is connected using PCI-Express (or a similar protocol), and communicates with other devices on the SAN fabric using Fibre Channel ports. The multi-host HBA communicates by receiving a command from a connected host, forwarding the command to a processor in the multi-host HBA, and sending the command to a device on a SAN. When the multi-host HBA receives a response from the device on the SAN, the multi-host HBA associates the response with the process and sends the response to the host. |
| US07668990B2 |
Method of controlling a device to perform an activity-based or an experience-based operation
Activity-based or experienced-based operations are created and defined during an initialization or setup session for one or more system component, with minimum or no user interaction. The system components include legacy and/or non-legacy devices, which are configured and managed within a controlled environment, such as a home or business peer-to-peer or client-server network. During an initialization or setup session, relevant device information and device metadata are collected via a conventional or discovery protocol interface. For a legacy device that is not automatically discoverable, a user adds the legacy device to the controlled environment by inputting the device information. The device information can also be automatically collected from an accessible database. Once the device information has been collected, the system components are configured to support one or more activity-based or experienced-based operations. |
| US07668988B2 |
Data bus inversion detection mechanism
A bus inversion apparatus includes exclusive-OR gates and an inversion detector. The exclusive-OR gates are coupled to an instant data bus and a last data bus. The data buses have a corresponding plurality of bits, where the exclusive-OR gates perform a bitwise comparison of the data buses, and provide an exclusive-OR bus. The states of the exclusive-OR bus indicate whether corresponding bits of the data buses are different. The inversion detector counts the number of the corresponding bits that are different, and indicates that the instant data bus should be inverted. The inversion detector has a plurality of left shift circuits, each configured to perform a logical left shift of input bits as directed by the states of shift bits, where outputs of the each of the plurality of left shift circuits indicate a number of a subgroup of the corresponding bits that are different. |
| US07668985B2 |
Information processing apparatus with upgradeable modular components including processor, system memory, and hard disk drives
An information processing apparatus includes: a plurality of interfaces each of which supports any one of a plurality of types of devices; and a controller which controls devices. The interfaces and the controller are connected so as to link together in series. |
| US07668981B1 |
Storage paths
A method for controlling data traffic within a storage area network can be provided. The method can comprise analyzing data for a path in a storage area network to determine whether the path should be identified as a less preferred path, and controlling data traffic routing to avoid use of a path identified as a less preferred path. In some embodiments, the data can be obtained from a host bus adaptor in the path. In some embodiments, the controlling can comprise throttling traffic over a path identified as a less preferred path. |
| US07668980B2 |
Usage of persistent information unit pacing protocol in fibre channel communications
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a primary storage control unit receives an information unit from a remote host over a fiber channel connection, wherein persistent information unit pacing is implemented over the fiber channel connection. Information is maintained on how many large writes have been received at the primary storage control unit over at least one logical path established over the fiber channel connection between the primary storage control unit and the remote host, wherein a large write is an input/output (I/O) operation for which a number of data information units that are processed exceeds a default value of an information unit pacing credit. The primary storage control unit adjusts an information unit pacing parameter included in a response sent from the primary storage control unit to the remote host, wherein the adjusting is based at least on the information maintained on how many large writes have been received at the primary storage control unit over the at least one logical path. |
| US07668978B1 |
Method and system for storing frames in networks
Method and system for an adapter operationally coupled to a host system and a network is provided. The adapter includes an internal memory that can be configured in a first mode to operate as a dedicated random access memory used by a main processor of the adapter; or configured in a second mode to operate both as a random access memory used by the main processor and also used for storing information received from the network. The method includes enabling the second mode of the internal memory so that the internal memory is configured to operate both as random access memory for the main processor and for storing information received from the network. |
| US07668975B2 |
Communications system for implementation of synchronous, multichannel, galvanically isolated instrumentation devices
An apparatus and method for synchronous communications using a serial data stream employs a housing with a controller and a back plane. The housing accepts one or more modules for interconnection with the back plane. The back plane distributes power to the modules and provides a communication link from the controller to each module. Each communication link includes a data out line, a data in line and a clock line, where each clock line is derived from one clock source. |
| US07668968B1 |
Closed-loop voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) with sender-controlled bandwidth adjustments prior to onset of packet losses
A closed-loop voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) system has a local and a remote VOIP application. Each VOIP application monitors incoming packet arrival times and durations of audio data in the incoming packets to estimate bandwidth. The bandwidth estimates are forwarded to the other VOIP application. The forwarded bandwidth estimates are compared to a sending bandwidth. When the bandwidth estimate is above the sending bandwidth, compression and audio-frame decimation are reduced to improve voice quality. When the bandwidth estimate falls below the sending bandwidth, audio compression and decimation are increased to improve efficiency. Packet size can also be increased. Congestion estimates can also be sent with the audio data, causing packet transmission to pause until congestion ends. Incoming packet latencies are compared to a moving average to determine the congestion estimate, while bandwidth estimates are made by comparing packet audio duration to time between packet arrivals. |
| US07668963B1 |
News architecture for iTV
A method and system for acquiring and transforming existing news content for display on multiple platforms and architectures. In one embodiment, capture templates are created to harvest the news content from disparate content sources on multiple platforms. The news data is extracted from the content sources using the created capture templates and a normalized data stream is generated therefrom. The normalized data stream is provided for display on the different type of platforms and may be cached for later transmission upon request. |
| US07668961B2 |
Unilateral web services interaction contract
The present invention leverages a unilaterally-based interaction contract that enables applications to have a persistent state and ensures an exactly-once execution despite failures between and by communicating entities, permitting disparate software applications to be robustly supported in an environment where little is known about the implementation of the interaction contract. In one instance of the present invention, a web services interaction contract provides a communicating application with duplicate commit request elimination, persistent state transitions, and/or unique persistent reply requests. The present invention permits this interaction contract to be supported by, for example, a persistent application, a workflow, a transaction queue, a database, and a file system to facilitate in providing idempotent executions for requests from a communicating application. |
| US07668958B2 |
Method for discovery and routing using a priori knowledge in the form of application programme within mobile AD-HOC networks
A mobile ad-hoc network device includes application software. The device constructs its routing table, listing reachable devices with the same application software. The routing table knowledge is dynamic, as devices enter and leave the network or their parameters change. |
| US07668948B2 |
Staggered time zones
A method, apparatus, and system for staggering time zones. |
| US07668939B2 |
Routing of resource information in a network
A media server in a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) network includes a resource sharing service to govern the distribution of resource information regarding resources to rendering devices. In one case, the resource sharing service consults a criterion to determine whether an identified network device is authorized to receive resource information. In another case, the resource sharing service consults another criterion to determine whether a specified individual associated with the media server must consent to the transfer of the resource information in order for the transfer to occur. The resource information may include resource metadata that describes high level information regarding resources, as well as resource content. The media server includes various user interface presentations that allow the media server user to specify shared resources and distribution criteria. |
| US07668938B1 |
Method and system for dynamically purposing a computing device
A system and method for purposing a computing device is disclosed. A management controller system is used to copy a system image from a library of system images to a target partition of the computer to be repurposed. The system image may include a configured copy of an operating system and an application program. The system image may also include logic for generating and assigning a unique security identifier to the computer. The invention includes a managed node service for monitoring the status of the computer and for performing some of the necessary steps in purposing the computer. Additionally, the invention includes facilities for loading a default operating system on the computer when the computer is first connected to a network. |
| US07668934B2 |
Port type agnostic proxy support for web services intermediaries
Methods, systems, and products are disclosed in which port type agnostic proxy support for web services intermediaries is typically provided by receiving in a web services intermediary a request for execution of a web services operation, wherein the request includes parametric information from which an endpoint for a target service that supports the operation can be identified; identifying, in dependence upon the parametric data, the endpoint for a target service that supports the operation; creating a target service request for execution of the operation on the target service; and issuing the target service request to the target service. Exemplary embodiments typically also include the return path of request-response processing: receiving in the intermediary a response from the target service; creating in the intermediary, in dependence upon the response from the target service, a response from the intermediary; and returning the response from the intermediary to the requesting client. |
| US07668927B2 |
Deletion in data file forwarding framework
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for deletion in data file forwarding framework. A framework includes a network of interconnected computer system nodes in which data files are continuously forwarded from computer memory to computer memory without storing on any physical storage device in the network, a central server coupled to the network, and a deletion server coupled to the network. |
| US07668925B1 |
Method and apparatus for routing in SAS using logical zones
A method and apparatus are provided for routing in an SAS expander for logical zoning. Common SAS topology defined by the ANSI T10 specification only relates to physical topology with multiple end devices, as well as to expander devices and the broadcast handling mechanisms in such physical topologies. The present invention introduces the concept of virtual topologies that can be non-overlapping or overlapping subsets of the physical topology and the routing mechanism that handles the routing issues with the virtual topologies. |
| US07668923B2 |
Master-slave adapter
A system and method are provided in which communication adapters, which are used for the transfer of message packets from and amongst a plurality of data processing nodes, are provided with internal storage which is used to indicate the status of a particular adapter as a master, as a slave or as a backup up adapter. This information provides the adapters with the ability to be called into service to take over the operations of another adapter in the event of node or adapter failure. |
| US07668918B2 |
Utilizing instant messaging to effectuate structured communication
The present invention uses instant messaging to effectuate structured communication. A structured communication component is used in conjunction with an instant messaging component to allow an instant messaging user to quickly formulate a structured communication for transmission to one or more recipients. The recipients are presented with the structured communications such that they provide a structured response that is transmitted back to the sender. The responses from the various recipients can then be reviewed, such as in a desired report format, by the sender. |
| US07668913B1 |
Method and apparatus for generating a web site with dynamic content data from an external source integrated therein
A technique for generating a web site in accordance with received data entry by: determining at least one characteristic of at least one web site dimension of the web site based on the data entry; generating a multi-dimensional description of the web site based on the determined characteristics; retrieving web site data according to the generated multi-dimensional description of the web site; and generating the web site based upon the generated multi-dimensional description of the web site and the retrieved web site data. The web site data includes dynamic content data from an external data source, and the data entry may include a designation of such an external data source. |
| US07668911B2 |
Presence server, session control server, and packet relay system
The object of the invention is to make communication between users smoother utilizing terminal type information. To achieve the object, a terminal type is specified based upon information in login and information acquired by adding the information to presence information is notified. Besides, terminals of the same type are connected by an SIP server. The selection of the communication means of voice communications and a character chat when communication is started and the specification of a calling terminal at a partner terminal are enabled by adding terminal information to presence information and grasping mutual owned terminals. Detailed status can be grasped based upon presence information of the same name by grasping presence information and terminal information. Further, in the case of a terminal not provided with a presence function, an SIP server also identifies terminal type information by deputy and can also specify a calling terminal. |
| US07668909B2 |
Bulletin board management system and computer program
A site for communication and information sharing among members is provided by a bulletin board management system utilizing a computer network. When a change is made to contents of bulletin information, the system determines members who have already read the bulletin information before the change based on a result of monitoring. The system automatically sends an electronic mail urging these members to check the change in contents of the bulletin information and changes the status of these members from “already read” to “required to check the change.” Thus, the electronic mail urging members to check the change in contents is sent only to members who need to check, so failure of information transmission is prevented and information can be communicated to all members securely. |
| US07668908B2 |
System and method for generalized and distributed scalable eventing system
Event messages are received from a first source, each has a subscription based-sequence number and a time stamp. The order of events within the first event source are determined on the basis of the subscription based-sequence number. Additional event messages are received from a second source each having a subscription based-sequence number and a time stamp. The events from the second event source are ordered with respect to the first event source on the basis of the time stamp within each of the at least two event messages from the first event source and the another at least two event messages from the second event source. |
| US07668907B1 |
Method and system for selectively viewing participants of a multimedia network conference
In a network multimedia conference, a bridge service that functions as a proxy for a client to join the conference dynamically selects a video stream from multiple video streams originating from the other participants of the conference and sends the selected video stream to the client for viewing. The bridge service monitors conferencing events of each participant and updates conferencing activity state variables of the participant, such as whether the participant is being shown to the client, whether the participant is talking, how long the participant has been shown or not shown, etc. Periodically, a weight assigned to each of the participants is computed based on the state variables, and the video stream of the participant with the highest weight is then selected for viewing by the client. |
| US07668906B2 |
Wire protocol for a media server system
A wire protocol provides message formats for creating multiple network connections between a media server and a client. These multiple network connections may include a control link connection for passing control information and a data funnel connection for passing data of multiple media. The data funnel connection may be a multipoint-to-point connection that connects multiple data servers with the client. The protocol facilitates multiple requests being concurrently outstanding and asynchronous processing of requests. The protocol is designed to exist on top of a transport protocol layer. |
| US07668905B2 |
Method, system and computer program for providing web pages based on client state
The invention proposes a solution allowing a web application to generate a response page based on local information of a client. For this purpose, a front-end servlet (receiving a request from the browser of the client) verifies (318, 360) whether the local information is available on the server. If not, a wait page with a command for uploading the local information is generated and sent (321) to the client, so as to cause the client to transmit (327-342) the local information to a back-end servlet of the server. The wait page self-refreshes (348-357) after a predefined delay; in response thereto, the same front-end servlet verifies whether the local information is ready to use. If the uploading is still in progress, a wait page without the upload command (which self-refreshes after the same delay) is generated and sent (363) again. Once the uploading has been completed, the front-end servlet can generate and send (366-372) the desired response page based on the up-to-date local information of the client. |
| US07668903B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically delivering service profiles to clients
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates dynamic delivery of service profiles to a client. During operation, the system performs a discovery operation to allow the client to discover new services on a network. If a new service is discovered for which the client does not possess a service profile, the client to obtains the service profile from the new service and subsequently installs it, thereby enabling the client to interact with the new service. |
| US07668900B2 |
System and method for scheduling an event over a network
A method for scheduling an event over a network in a calendar of an invitee includes creating a schedule request that includes at least a set of details of the event and an identifier if the event creator. The schedule request is sent to a server in communication with the network. The server has access to the calendar of the invitee and a calendar for the event creator. Upon receipt of the schedule request, an event record is created at the server that includes at least the set of details for the event and a link to the invitee's calendar. The event is also added to the calendar of the invitee. The schedule request may be created using a link associated with the event. |
| US07668898B2 |
Calculating circuit and method for computing an N-th root and a reciprocal of a number
A calculating circuit and a method for generating an output signal representing an output number approximating an N-th root and/or a reciprocal of an input number represented by an input signal are described. The calculating circuit includes a subtractor circuit, an integrator circuit, and a multiplier circuit. The subtractor circuit responsive to a first signal and a feedback signal and configured for generating an error signal representing a difference between the first signal and the feedback signal. The integrator circuit responsive to the error signal and configured for computing the output signal. The multiplier circuit responsive to the output signal and configured for generating a feedback signal. The method for generating the output signal includes the following iterative steps: (i) generating an error signal at a j-th iteration, (ii) integrating the error signal for obtaining the output signal, (iii) generating the feedback signal and (iv) repeating steps (i) to (iii) as required to obtain the N-th root and reciprocal with a required accuracy. |
| US07668896B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method for performing floating point multiplication
The first and second n-bit significands are multiplied producing a pair of 2n-bit vectors, and half adder logic produces a corresponding plurality of carry and sum bits. A product exponent is checked for correspondence with a predetermined exponent value. A sum operation generates a first result equivalent to the addition of the pair of 2n-bit vectors. First adder logic uses corresponding m carry and sum bits, the least significant of them carry bits being replaced with the increment value prior to the first adder logic performing the first sum operation. Second adder logic performs a second sum operation and uses the corresponding m−1 carry and sum bits replacing the least significant m−1 carry bits with the rounding increment value prior to the second adder logic second sum operation. The n-bit result is derived from either the first rounded result, the second rounded result or a predetermined result value. |
| US07668895B2 |
Galois field computation
A method and device for computing the multiplicative inverse of element x in Galois field GF(p2m) is proposed. In particular, when p is a prime number and m is an integer, the inverse may be constructed based on the observation that xpm+1 is en element in sub-field GF(pm) and the inverse of xpm+1 can be carried out in the sub-field. The inverse of X may be obtained by multiplying x−1=(xpm+1)−1 by xpm. |
| US07668894B2 |
Computation of power functions using polynomial approximations
A power function is approximated over an applicable data interval with polynomials determined by means of a Chebyshev minimax approximation technique. In some cases, multiple polynomials may be used to approximate the function over respective ranges of the desirable interval, in a piecewise manner. The appropriate polynomial that approximates the power function over the range of interest is derived and stored. When the power function is to be applied to a particular data value, the data value is first evaluated to determine where it lies within the applicable interval. The constants for the polynomial associated with that range of the interval are then retrieved and used to calculate the power of that data value. |
| US07668893B2 |
Data generator having linear feedback shift registers for generating data pattern in forward and reverse orders
Some embodiments of the invention includes a data generator. The data generator includes a data generating circuit having a combination of linear feedback shift registers and shift registers for generating a pseudo-random data pattern in a first order. The data generator also includes a recovery circuit for allowing the data generating circuit to generate the pseudo-random data pattern in a second order. The second order is a reverse of the first order. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US07668889B2 |
Method and system to combine keyword and natural language search results
A search query is received from a single input field of a user interface. A keyword search is performed based on the search query to generate keyword search results. A natural language search is performed of a frequently-asked question (FAQ) database based on the search query to generate FAQ search results. The keyword search results and the FAQ search results are combined in a display page. |
| US07668886B2 |
Resume storage and retrieval system
A method of and apparatus for storage and retrieval of resumé images in a manner which preserves the appearance, organization, and information content of the original document. In addition, summaries or “outlines” of resumé images, broken down into multiple fields, are stored, and can be searched field by field. A user interface is provided which is based on a familiar paper-based method already in common use, thus reducing the training required to effectively use the system. |
| US07668883B2 |
System for secure erasing of files
The present invention is directed to a system and method for the secure and correct deletion of data files from a data storage that bypasses the file system of an operating system. A secure erase service receives a secure erase request from a system interceptor component, which has intercepted a system call from an application. The system call interceptor component communicates with the secure erase service via an interprocess communication module. The secure erase service receives the secure erase request from the interprocess communication module and communicates the secure erase request to a secure erase library. Using the file information contained in the secure erase request, the secure erase library queries the file system of the data storage device to determine the location of data blocks containing the to be deleted data. Once, the location of the data blocks has been determined, the secure erase library then instructs the device driver, via a virtual file system, to overwrite the data blocks storing the electronic file a predetermined number of times. |
| US07668878B2 |
Replicating data between heterogeneous data systems
A method and apparatus for replicating data between heterogeneous databases is provided. Data is replicated between two heterogeneous databases with the use of a volatile storage queue, enabling the rapid replication of data across databases provided by different vendors or operating on different platforms. According to one embodiment, an in-memory queue is used to queue change operations to be performed on a target data repository. The change operations may be operations that were applied to a source data repository. An apply process retrieves the change operations from in-memory queue and commits the change operations to persistent storage. When the change operations have been committed, the apply process notifies the source platform that the particular change operation has been stored. |
| US07668867B2 |
Array-based discovery of media items
A media discovery module (MDM) is described that facilitates a user's access to desired media items. The MDM presents a series of arrays of media items to the user. The user's selection within any array governs the composition of media items that are presented in a subsequent array. Different linking criteria can define the relationship among arrays. In one case, the MDM uses a time-based linking criterion, allowing a user to examine a media item at increasing levels of temporal granularity. In another case, the MDM uses a subject matter-based criterion, allowing a user to examine one or more media items at increasing levels of detail with respect to a subject matter index. The MDM can employ various tools to establish the relationship among media items, including image analysis tools, audio analysis tools, metadata analysis tools, and so on. |
| US07668862B2 |
System and method for controlling the use of a method in an object-oriented computing environment
A system and method for controlling the use by caller objects to a restricted method of a resource object in an object-oriented computing environment are provided in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The method is based on associating an access-token with a caller object which is to be allowed to access the restricted method and sharing this access-token with the resource object. When subsequent calls to the restricted method are made by a caller object, access is made contingent on the caller object providing the access-token as part of the call procedure. Where no access-token is provided, or an invalid access-token is provided, access to the method is denied or restricted. The method provides protection against innocently made wrong calls to a restricted method by a caller object, for example due to coding errors. The method also provides protection against maliciously made calls to a restricted method by caller objects that should not have access to it. |
| US07668859B2 |
Method and system for enhanced web searching
A system for user-directed acquisition over a wide area network includes a client computer, a database having information data relating to user-entered text of HTML pages, and a server computer having a program software stored on the storage device to receive a user-entered word data in a first language from the client, to receive a user-entered geographic search area data from said client, and wherein the program software is associated with software for generating a translation language pair data and for translating the word data in accordance with the language corresponding to the user entered geographic search area data, software for accessing said information data as a function of the translated word data, and software for transmitting the accessed information data to the client-computer. A method is also provided. |
| US07668858B2 |
Drag and drop technique for building queries
A method, system and computer program product for building a search query in a data processing system having a graphical user interface is provided. Responsive to user input, a graphical component representing a first system object is dropped onto a graphical component representing a query function. A set of attributes of the first system object is presented. Responsive to user selection, a search query is created from the selected set of attributes. |
| US07668855B2 |
Method and apparatus for definition, referencing and navigation across multiple perspectives of an organization
The invention provides a method and apparatus for generating and subsequently using a series of graphical perspectives of an organization. Each of the perspectives includes a series of defined elements which are identified as being part of the perspective. Each element is analyzed in each of the perspectives and those which are common to more than one perspective are identified as are those elements which are interconnected and hence refer to each other. A graphical display panel is generated for each perspective which identifies in a dynamic manner those elements which are so connected and said panel can be used a navigational tool in conjunction with a graphical user interface. |
| US07668853B2 |
Information storage and retrieval
An information retrieval system in which a set of distinct information items map to respective nodes in an array of nodes by mutual similarity of the information items, so that similar information items map to nodes at similar positions in the array of nodes; the system comprising: a user control for defining a search criterion for selecting information items; a detector for detecting those positions within the array of nodes corresponding to the selected information items; a graphical user interface for displaying a two-dimensional display array of display points representing those positions within the array of nodes corresponding to the selected information items; and a processor responsive to the selected information items, for providing a representation which is generally representative of the information content of the selected information items. |
| US07668852B2 |
Method for creating sketches of sets to permit comparison
Provided is a method for creating sketches of sets to permit comparing set members selected from a universe. The method includes selecting a size for the sketch and providing a randomizer. In addition, a set is provided as a subset of the universe. The set is processed with the randomizer to provide a new vector. The new vector is normalized to provide a value. Dividing each element of the new vector by the determined value results in the sketch. |
| US07668851B2 |
Lockless hash table lookups while performing key update on hash table element
A system, method and computer program product for moving a shared list element from a first list location to a second list location includes making the list element appear simultaneously in the first list and the second list under a first key associated with the first list, changing the first key associated with the first list to a second key associated with the second list, and making the list element appear only in the second list under the second key associated with the second list. |
| US07668850B1 |
Rule based navigation
A navigation system is used in combination with a data retrieval system to more effectively locate the correct answers or information in search content. The navigation system provides taxonomies that identify different information categories and sub-categories (facets). Classifiers automatically classify the search content by identifying the content corresponding with associated facets. The facets, in conjunction with the associated classifiers, provide robust classification and correlation between both structured and unstructured content. Rules can be used in conjunction with the facets and classifiers to automatically control different navigation operations. The navigation system can also leverage ontologies to dynamically create taxonomies and provides unique facet expansion and intra-document classification operations. |
| US07668847B2 |
Semi-structured data storage schema selection
In one aspect, this disclosure relates to a method and associated apparatus that allows a user to obtain a semi-structured data input and a workload input. An improved semi-structured data storage schema is selected for a relational schema in response to the semi-structured data input and the workload input. The semi-structured data is segmented based on the selected improved semi-structured data storage schema. In one aspect, the semi-structured data is XML data. |
| US07668846B1 |
Data reconstruction from shared update log
Updates to a plurality of data sets may be recorded in a shared update log. Whenever a server responsible for the plurality of data sets fails, other servers may reconstruct the data sets using the shared update log and redundant copies of the data sets. As part of the reconstruction process, the other servers reorganize (e.g., by sorting) the update records of sub-logs of the update log to group update records corresponding to the same data set together. The updates are applied to the redundant copies of the data set snapshots to reconstruct the data set. |
| US07668845B1 |
C-tree for multi-attribute indexing
An abstract indexing structure called a C-tree that it is an access method that exploits search space “containment” is described. The C-tree structure includes objects spaces that overlap, but search spaces that are disjoint. Every part of the search space is indexed by some node. Moreover, every object has a unique location in the index, despite the object space overlap. The C-tree is a tree of pages, typically disk based, like a B-tree, but it handles a greater variety of data, e.g., spatial data, temporal data, etc. In particular, it can handle the indexing of objects that have extents, not merely point data, and hence objects that can overlap. These objects can be indexed without remapping them to a higher dimensional point space. At least one particular aspect of the invention is premised on a notion of an object being contained in some kind of search space. |
| US07668840B2 |
System and method for configuring a parallel-processing database system
A system and method for configuring a plurality of processing nodes into a parallel-processing database system are described herein. Each of a plurality of processing nodes connected by a network receive software and one or more configuration files related to the intended function of the processing node. The software may include homogeneous agent software, one or more library dynamic-link libraries (DLL), and the like. The configuration file is used to configure the homogeneous agent to operate as the intended node in a global-results processing matrix, a general-purpose query processing matrix, or a index-base query processing matrix. Another node or nodes may be configured to convert query-based programming code to intermediary source code in a common programming language and then compile the intermediary source code into a dynamic link library (DLL) or other type of executable. The DLL is then distributed among the processing nodes of the processing matrix, whereupon various subsets of the processing nodes execute related portions of the DLL substantially in parallel to generate query results. |
| US07668826B2 |
Predicting apparatus, predicting method, and computer product
A structuring unit generates a combination pattern of the attribute values by combining an attribute value of the assessment target data with an attribute value indicating a unspecified value. A reconstructing unit searches data matching the combination pattern from the accumulation data, and generates subset data. An index setting unit sets an index indicating significance of relationship between the generated subset data with assessment data. An assessing unit selects subset data that becomes a basis of assessment, based on the set index, and performs an assessment on a prediction result based on the selected subset data. |
| US07668825B2 |
Search system and method
A search system and method are provided that uses taxonomies, entities, facets, and ontologies to provide a user with a more comprehensive set of search results in response to a query. The search system has an indexing engine that performs one or more indexing steps that permit the search engine to return a comprehensive set of search results. For example, the indexing engine may index a document according to a set of synsets so that the search engine may use the synsets, during retrieval of results to a query, to return a more comprehensive set of search results. |
| US07668820B2 |
Method for linking de-identified patients using encrypted and unencrypted demographic and healthcare information from multiple data sources
A longitudinal database of de-identified patient healthcare transaction data records linked by longitudinal linking tags (IDs) is provided. A new healthcare transaction data record, which may include alphanumeric identification code attributes, third party attributes and/or demographic attributes, is assigned an linking ID associated with a previous healthcare transaction data record based upon successful comparison of either a designated set of identification code attributes or a designated set of demographic attributes. The longitudinal data base is assembled by a matching process in which a new data record is compared level by level with previous healthcare transaction data records through a hierarchy of a first series of matching levels each defined by a designated set of alphanumeric identification code attributes and a second series of matching levels each defined by a designated set of attributes including demographic attributes and then assigned the ID associated with a successfully matched reference data record. |
| US07668816B2 |
Dynamically updated quick searches and strategies
In response to characters entered within a Find dialog box, a minifind window is dynamically updated to provide corresponding search strategies and quick matches from content search data that are being searched. The search strategies and quick matches that are listed are dynamically updated as the user inputs additional characters in the Find dialog box. At any time, the user can initiate a full text search to populate a search results pane, based upon the characters input, by selecting a Go control or pressing the Enter key. Alternatively, the user can select one of the quick matches or search strategies, to populate the search results pane with corresponding items obtained from the content search data, which are most likely to relate to the information desired by the user. This approach is applicable to finding information in almost any data accessed locally, or over a network. |
| US07668812B1 |
Filtering search results using annotations
A search engine system accepts queries that include query terms and labels applicable to certain documents. A domain filter is constructed that is used to filter search results to certain domains, where the domains are determined based on the labels included in the query. The filtered search results are processed to ensure that certain portions of the results are from domains included in the filter. The results are further processed to include the query labels with certain ones of the results. |
| US07668811B2 |
Updating prices of search results during a search for a travel related item
A method and apparatus are provided for a dynamic information connection engine. User actions are detected on at least one client system. In response, a determination is made whether the user is searching for supported information. When the user is searching for supported information, information is extracted electronically from third party web sites, direct supplier connections, and intermediate databases. Potential information suppliers are automatically selected in response to the detected user search. Queries are formulated from the user search and transferred to each selected supplier over a network coupling. The queries include a request for information. Responses are received from the suppliers, and the responses are used to generate a result list for the user. The result list includes information and query status information. Further, an electronic link may be provided to a web site of each supplier from which the information was derived. |
| US07668806B2 |
Processing queries against one or more markup language sources
Techniques are provided for processing a query, including receiving the query, where the query specifies certain operations to be performed, including (a) a first set of one or more operations that are to be performed on a markup language data source and (b) a second set of one or more operations that are to be performed on a second data source. Then it is determined that a first server that manages the markup language data source is capable of performing the first set of operations. A request is sent to the first server to perform the first set of operations. A response is received, where the response contains results of performing the first set of operations on the markup language data source. Finally, results are generated for the query based at least in part on the results of performing the first set of operations. |
| US07668804B1 |
Recommending statistical views using cost/benefit metrics
A workload to be handled by a database system can be identified. The workload can include at least one query that the database system is to handle. A set of at least one candidate statistical views (statviews) to be utilized when optimizing the workload can be enumerated. A benefit value and a cost value of the each of the enumerated candidate statistical views relative to the entire workload can be computed. The cost value can reflect a cost of constructing and collecting statistics on the associated statistical view. A set of the candidate views most beneficial for handling the workload can be determined based upon the computed benefit values and computed cost values. A generalization phase that augments the candidate view set with higher value candidate views for consideration during the recommendation phase. The optimum subset of views from the determined set of candidate views can be recommended, which can cause them to be constructed and utilized by a database optimizer. |
| US07668803B2 |
Data query cost estimation
A method for estimating a runtime of a query of a data repository may abstract, extract, or otherwise generate one or more parameters of the query. Thereafter, the abstracted parameters may be associated with one or more statistical query records. From these statistical query records, a query runtime may be estimated. Related apparatuses, computer program products, and computer systems are also described. |
| US07668801B1 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing queries under parametric aggregation constraints
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for optimizing queries. The present invention discloses an efficient method for providing answers to queries under parametric aggregation constraints. |
| US07668800B2 |
Database query generation for project task management system for managing project schedules over a network
A client-server based project schedule management system comprises multiple editors accessible through a web browser to perform various scheduling tasks by members of a project. Client-executable code is generated by the server for the client, which is passed to the client along with schedule-related information for populating the respective editors. The client executes the server-generated code to display the respective editor with pertinent information populated therein, and to manage and maintain any new or updated information in response to user interactions with the editor. Rows of tasks are represented by corresponding objects, where editor elements are object attributes which are directly accessible by the respective objects. Database queries are generated by the server based on constant strings containing placeholders which are replaced with information used by the query. |
| US07668798B2 |
System and method for accessing data in disparate information sources
The present invention relates to a system (10) for generating and maintaining virtual and physical metadata layers in a MetaBase metadata repository (110b) in order to simplify and optimize the retrieval of data from a plurality of disparate information sources (130a-130c). The system stores in a physical metadata layer of a MetaBase metadata repository a plurality of physical metadata elements, wherein each one of the physical metadata elements corresponds to the metadata elements in the plurality of information sources. Logical metadata elements are stored in the virtual metadata layer and are linked to the physical metadata elements in order to maintain the relationships therebetween. By maintaining the relationships between the physical metadata elements, users can initiate a data query request for data corresponding to a logical metadata element, and the system is configurated to retrieve the desired data from the relevant information sources, even in the event that relevant information sources maintain the data in fields having different data field names, that the information sources employ incompatible data formats, and that the relevant information sources employ different query languages. |
| US07668797B2 |
Active semiotic system for image and video understanding by robots and unmanned vehicles, methods and apparatus
An active semiotic system creates implicit symbols and their alphabets from features, structural combination of features, objects and patters, creates models with explicit structures that are labeled with the implicit symbols, and derive other models in the same format via diagrammatic- and graph transformations. The active semiotic system treats vision as a part of a larger system that converts visual information into special knowledge structures that drive a vision process, resolve ambiguity and uncertainty via feedback projections, and provide image understanding that is an interpretation of visual information in terms of corresponding knowledge models. Mechanisms of image understanding, including mid- and high-level vision, are presented as methods and algorithms of the active semiotic system, where they are special kinds of diagrammatic and graph transformations. Derived structures, and not a primary view, are the subject for recognition, and such recognition is not affected by local changes and appearances of the object from a set of similar views, thereby allowing a robot or unmanned vehicle to interpret images and video similar to human beings for better situation awareness and intelligent tactical behavior in real world situations. |
| US07668792B2 |
Portable terminal device with a display and focused-state determination means
A portable terminal device or cellular phone includes a target setting section, a display unit, a focused-state determination section, and a recognition section. The photography-target setting section sets normal photography mode for photographing an image, and OCR mode for photographing a character or bar code. The display unit displays a photographed image, and positioning of an image as a photography target. The focused-state determination section is activated, and determines a focused state of a character or bar code photographed in the OCR mode. The recognition section recognizes the photographed character or bar code, the result of which is displayed by the display unit. Press of a confirmation button initiates a process to communicate with a communications target corresponding to the recognized result. A linking section may link recognition results to form a continuous string. |
| US07668789B1 |
Comparing distributions of cases over groups of categories
A first distribution of cases over a first group of categories is received. A categorizer trained using a search-and-confirm technique classifies the cases into a second group of categories. A second distribution of the cases over the second group of categories is generated using results of the classifying. The first and second distributions are compared to identify differences between the first and second distributions. |
| US07668784B2 |
Printing of postal indicia and detection thereof
The invention provides a method of detection of an imprint of a postal indicium at a location on a mail piece. The method involves utilizing a sensor to scan along a band on the mail piece to detect a sequence of transitions between light and dark reflectance areas within a band extending across the said location. AN indication of the presence of the imprint of the postal indication is generated in response to detection of a transition succeeding a predetermined number of initial transitions at a start of the sequence of transitions.The invention also provides apparatus for imprinting postal indicia on mail pieces. The apparatus comprises a printer operable to print a postal indicium in a required location on the mail piece. A first sensor is provided that is responsive to reflectance transitions between light and dark along a band of the mail piece extending across the said location. The first sensor generates a sequence of first signals corresponding respectively to reflectance transitions along the said band. The apparatus further includes means operative in response to a first signal occurring after a predetermined number of said first signals at a start of said sequence to generate a second signal which is indicative of a postal indicium imprint on the mail piece. |
| US07668779B2 |
Method and system for tracking and verifying repair estimates, invoices, and billing exceptions
A method and system for tracking and verifying estimates, invoices, and billing exceptions for charges billed to a customer by a vendor is disclosed. The vendor submits an estimate via a billing verification system. The system generates an estimate record and facilitates customer review of the estimate. The system also receives an invoice for the completed repair from the vendor and generates an invoice record. Based on the estimate record and the invoice record, the system can perform an audit to compare the invoice to the estimate. The system also enables the customer to review the invoice via the billing verification system to identify billing exceptions associated with any disputed charges. A billing exception record is generated in the billing verification system for each of the billing exceptions. The vendor is then notified of the billing exceptions. The vendor reviews and responds to the billing exception records via the billing verification system. A billing exception response record is generated for each vendor response. The customer is then notified of the reviewed billing exception response records. |
| US07668772B1 |
Systems and methods for money fund banking with flexible interest allocation
This invention provides system and methods for managing accounts of clients at customer financial entities so that deposits of up to $100,000 or greater are insured, so that interest income earned on a portion of all of the account balances may be flexibly allocated according to customer instructions, and so that withdrawals are not limited. These objects are satisfied by holding client funds at interest-earning money market deposit accounts at one or more banks or savings institutions. More particularly, this invention provides methods for receiving client transaction information, determining a net transfer of funds into or out of each client account from transaction information, causing transfer of funds from the insured, interest-bearing deposit accounts to match the net transfer of funds into or out of each client account, and allocating interest earned by the deposit accounts to clients according to customer instructions. This invention also provides systems and software products implementing these methods. |
| US07668771B1 |
System and method for allocation to obtain zero activity in a selected aggregated account
A method, program product and system for managing a group of aggregated accounts, each aggregated account held in a different one of a plurality of deposit institutions, each of the aggregated accounts associated with at least one financial entity and holding funds of a plurality of clients of the at least one financial entity, each of the clients having a client asset balance in a respective client account associated with the at least one financial entity, the method comprising: (1) allocating fund deposits to and fund withdrawals from the aggregated accounts, the step of allocating comprising: (a) calculating an aggregated transaction amount based on a total net transaction from among the plurality of the client accounts during a period of time; (b) selecting at least one aggregated account from among the group of aggregated accounts in the different deposit institutions to which to deposit or to withdraw funds based, at least in part, so as to avoid withdrawing funds from or depositing funds to at least a different one of the aggregated accounts in the group; and (2) withdrawing funds from or depositing funds to the at least one of the aggregated accounts based on the allocation. |
| US07668754B1 |
Architecture for secure reverse mobile commerce
A secure m-commerce system and device. A consumer m-commerce device receives product data via a number of data input techniques. The product data is uploaded to a remote personal agent that requests bids from commercial partners to transact the list. When a bid is selected, the consumer transacts remotely to complete the purchase thereof. The system tracks geographically the device such that the consumer is alerted to a partner location, and may stop by the location for further information. The device may also output a store map to the consumer that locates all products on the shopping list. |
| US07668752B2 |
System and method for the distribution of software products
A system and method for selling software products over a network. The system includes a server computer with access to software products. The system is configured to allow a user to purchase a subscription for the periodic acquisition of selected software products. In one embodiment, as part of the subscription, the user pays an amount during selected billing intervals. In return, the system issues to the user a number of credits for downloading at no additional charge at least one of the software products during a credit interval, which may be equal in length to the billing interval. In one embodiment, the system debits a number of credits in response to fulfilling a user's purchase request. The system may be also configured to deduct credits that are not used within selected credit intervals. |
| US07668750B2 |
Securing RF transactions using a transactions counter
A system and method for securing a Radio Frequency (RF) transaction using a RF identification device (RFID) transaction device is provided. The RFID transaction device includes a transactions counter for tallying the number of transactions attempted or completed with the RFID transactions device. The counter may be incremented by any predetermined amount, which may be predefined for a particular transaction device counter. The counter value is provided to an account issuer for use in determining if the counter value has exceeded a predetermined value correlative to the maximum number of transactions which may be completed using a transaction device. |
| US07668739B2 |
Method and system for selecting items to replace insured items
A web-based method for identifying items to replace insured items includes receiving item specification information from at least one of a user, a manufacturer, a distributor, a system administrator, and an authorizing agent, and utilizing a server to compare the received specification information with pre-stored information. The method also includes selecting at least one item which matches the received specification information and downloading information to the user related to the item. |
| US07668735B2 |
Compensated electronic consults
The present invention relates to a system and method for providing health care information to health care providers and for obtaining information pertaining to the practice of a health care provider by providing incentives for provision of such information. |
| US07668734B2 |
Internet medical information system (IMED)
A system for creating, maintaining and selectively accessing medical histories. The system allows a patient and other selected parties to build a medical history, but importantly places the authority to grant access to the medical history solely in the hands of the patient. When the patient's medical history file is created, the patient also pre-authorizes selected parties, including government agencies such as FEMA to have access to at least part of the patient's history. Each selected party is associated with an access module that dictates the level of access the party has to the medical history. Primary care physicians are associated with a full access module, which allows full access to the patient's medical history. Dentists and pharmacies are associated with a limited access module, which limits the party's access to only pertinent portions of the patient's medical history. The present system also includes a fingerprint scanner and/or retina scanner that can be used to identify unconscious patients and patients without an I.D. card. |
| US07668733B2 |
Providing adaptive medical triage
A method of adaptively operating a medical triage system includes triaging a plurality of persons using a set of triage questions to select particular dispositions from a plurality of triage disposition. Triage-related data is acquired as a result of the triaging of the plurality of persons. The triage-related data is analyzed and the set of triage questions or the dispositions are modified based on the analysis of the triage-related data. |
| US07668731B2 |
Medication delivery system
A medication delivery system (20) having features of the present invention comprises a medical container (26) holding a prescribed medication (27) to be delivered to a patient, a tag 24 adapted to be worn by the patient, a handheld computing device (22), and an electronic medication delivery device (30). Data on the medication (27) is contained in a first label (28) on the medication container (27). The first label (28) also contains the instruction on how the medication is delivered to the patient, including the appropriate settings for an electronic medication delivery device for delivering the medication to the patient. Patient data is contained in a second label (29) on the tag (24) worn by the patient. The medication data, medication delivery instruction, and patient data are provided in machine readable formats. The handheld computing device (22) reads the medication data and the medication delivery instruction on the medication container (26) and the patient data on the patient tag (24). The handheld computing device (22) stores the information obtained and performs a matching check to confirm that the medication data matches with the patient data. Upon a confirmed match, it transmits the medication delivery instruction to the electronic medication delivery device (30), which downloads the instruction, programs the delivery device 30, and prompts an operator to begin delivering the medication (27) to the patient according to the downloaded instruction. |
| US07668723B2 |
Scalable lossless audio codec and authoring tool
An audio codec losslessly encodes audio data into a sequence of analysis windows in a scalable bitstream. This is suitably done by separating the audio data into MSB and LSB portions and encoding each with a different lossless algorithm. An authoring tool compares the buffered payload to an allowed payload for each window and selectively scales the losslessly encoded audio data, suitably the LSB portion, in the non-conforming windows to reduce the encoded payload, hence buffered payload. This approach satisfies the media bit rate and buffer capacity constraints without having to filter the original audio data, reencode or otherwise disrupt the lossless bitstream. |
| US07668722B2 |
Multi parametrisation based multi-channel reconstruction
A multi-channel synthesizer for generating at least three output channels using an input signal having at least one base channel, the base channel being derived from the original multi-channel signal, the input signal further including at least two different up-mixing parameters, and an up-mixer mode indication indicating, in a first state that a first up-mixing rule is to be performed, and, indicating, in a second state, that a different second up-mixing rule is to be performed, uses an up-mixer for up-mixing the at least one base channel using the at least two different up-mixing parameters based on the first or the second up-mixing rule in response to the up-mixer mode indication so that the at least three output channels are obtained. |
| US07668717B2 |
Speech synthesis method, speech synthesis system, and speech synthesis program
A speech synthesis system stores a group of speech units in a memory, selects a plurality of speech units from the group based on prosodic information of target speech, the speech units selected corresponding to each of segments which are obtained by segmenting a phoneme string of the target speech and minimizing distortion of synthetic speech generated from the speech units selected to the target speech, generates a new speech unit corresponding to the each of the segments, by fusing the speech units selected, to obtain a plurality of new speech units corresponding to the segments respectively, and generates synthetic speech by concatenating the new speech units. |
| US07668716B2 |
Incorporation of external knowledge in multimodal dialog systems
A device improves speech recognition accuracy by utilizing an external knowledge source. The device receives a speech recognition result from an automatic speech recognition (ASR) engine, the speech recognition result including a plurality of ordered interpretations, wherein each of the ordered interpretations includes a plurality of information items. The device analyzes and filters the plurality of interpretations using an external knowledge source to create a filtered plurality of ordered interpretations. The device stores the filtered plurality of ordered interpretations to a memory. The device transmits the filtered plurality of ordered interpretations to a dialog manager module to create a textual output. Alternatively, the dialog manager module retrieves the filtered plurality of ordered interpretations from a memory. |
| US07668714B1 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically providing comfort noise
A method and apparatus for dynamically enabling the activation and deactivation of comfort noise over a VoIP media path or channel are disclosed. The present method detects all sound levels in the media path and only activates the comfort noise in the absence of sound and when the background noise level or the telephone line noise level is low rather than only in the absence of speech. |