最新美国发明专利第2010-06-22期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US07741114B2	Antibodies for identifying and/or isolating at least one cell population Monoclonal antibodies, or fragments thereof, are used for isolating and/or identifying at least one cell population. The cell population can include any of the following types of cells: haematopoietic stem cells, neuronal stem cells, neuronal progenitor cells, mesenchymal stem cells and mesenchymal progenitor cells. The antibodies, or fragments thereof, bind to an antigen which is the same as that bound by an antibody which is produced by the hybridoma cell lines CUB1, CUB2, CUB3 and CUB4, which were deposited in the DSMZ under the numbers DSM ACC2569, DSM ACC2566 and DSM ACC2565, on 14 Aug. 2002, and DSM ACC2551, on 12 Jul. 2002.
US07741111B2	Pregnancy, up-regulated non-ubiquitous CaM kinase This invention relates generally to a novel CaM multi-functional protein kinase, which has been named Pregnancy Up-Regulated, Nonubiquitous CaM Kinase (PNCK), and to the nucleotide sequence encoding it. The kinase is temporally expressed during postnatal mammary development in a spatially heterogeneous manner in certain subsets of cells, and overexpressed in a subset of primary breast cancers. The invention further relates to an analysis of a correlation between carcinogenesis and postnatal development, particularly mammary development, especially associated with parity; as well as to methods of using the kinase, or gene encoding it, as markers, prognostic tools, screening tools and therapies, in vitro and in vivo that are based upon that correlation.
US07741110B2	Regulation of gene expression using single-chain, monomeric, ligand dependent polypeptide switches Single chain, monomeric polypeptide gene switches are provided. The gene switches include ligand binding domains and at least one functional domain. Preferred functional domains are DNA binding domains and transcriptional regulating domains. Methods of regulating gene function using the switches are also provided.
US07741109B2	Method for applying live bacteria liquid product An applicator for applying a liquid carrier having live bacteria suspended therein, which are in a dormant state, to a target host comprising a pump having inlet and discharge sides, with the inlet side of the pump being in fluid communication with the liquid carrier. A first fluid conduit extends from the discharge side of the pump to an air induction nozzle which is in communication with a source of air under pressure. A flow control is imposed in the first conduit for adjusting the amount of liquid carrier passing therethrough. The pump and the air supply for the air induction nozzle are operatively connected to a power supply. The pump, when activated, causes the liquid carrier to be pumped to the air induction nozzle wherein the liquid carrier is mixed with air to create small droplets thereof for spraying onto the target host.
US07741106B2	Sensors for biomolecular detection and cell classification A sensor device is provided for detecting an analyte in a sample in which an analyte is bound to a detection reagent to form a bound complex. The device comprises (a) a sample (5) comprising an ionic analyte and a detection reagent in a conductive fluid, wherein the detection reagent has a net charge different from the analyte; (b) a first permeable polymeric hydrogel plate (3) and a first spacer plate (8), which plates provide a compartment for the sample; (c) an anode (1) juxtaposed to the outside of the first hydrogel plate and not in contact with the sample; (d) a cathode (9) juxtaposed to the outside of the first spacer plate and not in contact with the sample; (e) a voltage generator (10) to apply an electric potential to the anode and cathode; and (f) a detector (11). The bound complex formed from the analyte and detection reagent is detected by the detector because the bound complex has a charge that causes it to migrate in a direction opposite from that of the unbound analyte when the electric potential is applied.
US07741101B2	Escherichia strain capable of converting XMP to GMP and maintaining the inactivated state of gene(s) associated with GMP degradation and methods of using the same Provided are mutant strains derived from Escherichia sp. GPU1114 (Accession No. KCCM-10536), having cumulative inactivation of deoD, aphA, appA, and hprt genes, and methods of using the same.
US07741100B2	Method for highly expressing recombinant glucose dehydrogenase derived from filamentous fungi The present invention provides a method for highly expressing a recombinant FAD-GDH protein derived from filamentous fungi, protein obtained by the method, and a regent for measuring glucose using the protein. According to the invention, the FAD-GDH can be highly expressed by altering DNA sequence coding for a signal peptide of FAD-GDH gene isolated from Aspergillus oryzae. FAD-GDH can be stably produced by adjusting pH of 7.1 to 7.3 during culture production.
US07741099B2	Adenoviral vectors and uses thereof The present invention relates to recombinant adenoviral vectors based on adenoviruses that encounter pre-existing immunity in a minority of the human population and which harbor a chimeric capsid. The chimeric capsid comprises fiber proteins that have at least the knob domain of a human adenovirus that binds to the Coxsackievirus and Adenovirus Receptor (CAR) and a hexon protein from an adenovirus serotype that encounters pre-existing immunity in a low percentage of the human population.
US07741096B2	Crystal structure of hepatocyte growth factor activator complexed with Kunitz domain inhibitor The present disclosure provides crystals of and structural coordinates of Hepatocyte growth factor activator with and without bound pseudo-substrate or inhibitor. In a specific embodiment, a crystal structure of activated HGFA complexed with a Kunitz domain inhibitor is provided. The crystals and crystal structures are useful, for example, in the design and synthesis of inhibitors of HGFA.
US07741092B2	Amylases, nucleic acids encoding them and methods for making and using them In one aspect, the invention is directed to polypeptides having an amylase activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and methods for making and using these polynucleotides and polypeptides. The polypeptides of the invention can be used as amylases to catalyze the hydrolysis of starch into sugars.
US07741088B2	Immobilized microbial nitrilase for production of glycolic acid The present invention is directed to a process for improving the specific activity of a dehydrated enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity for hydrolysis of glycolonitrile to glycolic acid upon rehydration. In particular, a process is provided comprising pretreating an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity with glutaraldehyde, immobilizing the gutaraldehyde-preteated enzyme catalyst and chemically cross-linking the enzyme catalyst prior to dehydration. Upon rehydration, the enzyme catalyst exhibits improved specific nitrilase activity as compared to enzyme catalysts having nitrilase activity that are dehydrated and rehydrated without the processing described herein.
US07741086B2	Histone demethylation mediated by the nuclear amine oxidase homolog LSD1 LSD1, a homolog of nuclear amine oxidases, functions as a histone demethylase and transcriptional co-repressor. LSD1 specifically demethylates histone H3 lysine 4, which is linked to active transcription. Lysine demethylation occurs via an oxidation reaction that generates formaldehyde. Importantly, RNAi inhibition of LSD1 causes an increase in H3 lysine 4 methylation and concomitant de-repression of target genes, suggesting that LSD1 represses transcription via histone demethylation. The results thus identify a histone demethylase conserved from S. pombe to human and reveal dynamic regulation of histone methylation by both histone methylases and demethylases.
US07741085B2	Compound WS727713 The present invention relates to a compound WS727713, useful as a modulator of melanocortin receptors, and a process for its production by culturing in a culture medium the actinomycetes strain of the genus Pseudonocardia, deposit number FERM BP-7570 and recovering the compound.
US07741084B2	Ethanol production using xylitol synthesis mutant of xylose-utilizing zymomonas Production of ethanol using a strain of xylose-utilizing Zymomonas with a genetic modification of the glucose-fructose oxidoreductase gene was found to be improved due to greatly reduced production of xylitol, a detrimental by-product of xylose metabolism synthesized during fermentation.
US07741083B2	Process for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide A process is provided for producing glycolic acid from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide. More specifically, heat-treated formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide are reacted to produce glycolonitrile having low concentrations of impurities. The glycolonitrile is subsequently converted to an aqueous solution of ammonium glycolate using an enzyme catalyst having nitrilase activity derived from Acidovorax facilis 72W (ATCC 57746). Glycolic acid is recovered in the form of the acid or salt from the aqueous ammonium glycolate solution using a variety of methods described herein.
US07741077B2	Method for the generation of genetically modified vertebrate precursor lymphocytes and use thereof for the production of heterologous binding proteins The present invention generally relates to the fields of genetic engineering and antibody production. In particular, it relates to the generation of genetically modified vertebrate precursor lymphocytes that have the potential to differentiate into more mature lymphoid lineage cells, and to the use thereof for the production of any heterologous antibody or binding protein.
US07741070B2	Gene targets for enhanced carotenoid production The present invention provides engineered cells and methods for utilizing same. Methods of enhanced carotenoid synthesis utilizing cells genetically disrupted for a yjiD, hnr or yjfP gene, or further disrupted for a gdhA, gpmB, aceE, ppc, talB or fdhF gene, or any combination thereof, or cells inhibited for their expression, activity or function are disclosed. Additionally, methods of enhanced carotenoid synthesis utilizing cells genetically disrupted for gdhA, aceE, fdhF, yjiD, hnr or yjfP gene expression or any combination thereof and ackA, appY, aspC, clp, clpP, clpXP, crcB, csdA, cyaA, evgS, fdhA, fdhD, feoB, funA, glnE, glxR, gntK, hycI, lipB, lysU, modA, moeA, nadA, nuoC, nuoK, pflB, pitA, pst, pstC, pta, p-yjiD, sohA, stpA, yagR, yaiD, ybaS, ycfZ, ydeN, yebB, yedN, yfcC, ygjP, yibD, yjfP, yjhH, or yliE gene expression, or a combination thereof or cells inhibited for their expression, activity or function are disclosed. Methods of enhanced carotenoid synthesis utilizing cells genetically engineered to overexpress dxs, idi, ispFD, yjiD, rpoS, torC, appY, ydgK, yeiA, yedR, tort, arcB, yggT, purDH, yfjN or a combination thereof, or further disrupted for the above-referenced genes are disclosed. Methods for identifying genes involved in optimized production of a carotenoid, and cells disrupted for, or inhibited for the expression, activity or function of genes thus identified are described.
US07741066B2	Phosphorylated p68 RNA helicase as a marker for cancer and cancer metastasis A method for determining the presence of cancer cells in a tissue sample or cell sample by detecting the presence of phosphorylated p68 RNA helicase in the sample. Further, a method for determining the presence of metastatic cancer cells in a tissue sample or cell sample by detecting the level of phosphorylated P68 RNA helicase in the sample such that a greater level of the phosphorylated protein in the sample as compared to non-metastatic cells is an indication of the metastatic cancer cells in the sample.
US07741065B2	Non-invasive marker for liver function and disease A monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof, capable of specifically binding to at least one epitope of sH2a and/or being elicited by at least one epitope, and assays, kits, and methods of use thereof diagnosing liver disease or condition, detecting liver function and assessing the efficacy of therapy to a liver disease.
US07741057B2	Method for screening for compounds using MHC class II invariant chain polypeptide and macrophage migration inhibitory factor Methods and compositions for using the MHC class II invariant chain polypeptide, Ii (also known as CD74), as a receptor for macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), are disclosed. These include methods and compositions for using this receptor, as well as agonists and antagonists of MIF which bind to this receptor, or which otherwise modulate the interaction of MIF with CD74 or the consequences of such interaction, in treatment of conditions characterized by locally or systemically altered MIF levels, particularly inflammatory conditions and cancer.
US07741054B2	High throughput prion assays The invention is directed to a method for performing a high throughput test to determine the presence of PrPsc in a tissue sample taken post mortem from brain, the test comprising the workflow of (A) sample preparation, (B) sample treatment, (C) sample analysis, (D) controls, and (E) classifying the results of the analysis as positive or negative. The invention is further directed to preparing a treated biological sample suspected of containing PrPsc such that it is suitable for specific detection of PrPsc, if present, the method comprising the steps of (a) homogenizing the sample; followed by (b) digesting the sample proteolytically by adding to the homogenate Proteinase K and incubating the sample; followed by (c) adding a peptidic protease inhibitor to the incubated mixture of step (b), thereby obtaining a treated biological sample suitable for specific detection of PrPsc, if present. The invention further provides a conditioned microwell plate. In addition, the invention provides a soluble fusion protein comprising one or more epitopes of prion protein as well as a carrier polypeptide.
US07741052B2	Method of assessing the risk of atherosclerosis A method for aiding in the determination of whether a living or deceased human is afflicted with or will likely have atherosclerosis respectfully, the method comprising determining the level of SPRR3 protein in a intimae or body fluid sample by using molecular localization analysis technique comparing the determined level of SPRR3 protein in the biological sample obtained from said individual with a range of SPRR3 levels previously defined as characteristic for humans having atherosclerosis, concluding from the comparison that the person is likely suffering from atherosclerosis when a SPRR3 level is in the range previously defined as characteristic for the presence of atherosclerosis as an indication that the individual is suffering from or has suffered from atherosclerosis.
US07741051B2	Soluble ectodomain fragments of MET and uses thereof The invention relates a fragment derived from the MET ectodomain which the inventors have found is capable, in monomer form, of binding to HGF/SF either in the presence or absence of heparin. The availability of soluble, monomeric forms of the MET receptor enabled studies of its solution properties and HGF/SF binding and provides an assay comprising the steps of (a) providing a MET ectodomain fragment; (b) providing an agent; and (c) determining the extent to which the agent interacts with said fragment.
US07741049B2	Analysis of agonist-activity and antagonist-activity to cytokinin receptor The present invention provides a method for analyzing agonist-activity to a cytokinin receptor, which comprises (1) bringing an examinee substance into contact with a transformed cell into which DNA coding the cytokinin receptor is introduced and (2) measuring the existence or the quantity of intracellular signal transduction from the cytokinin receptor expressed in the transformed cell, and, a method for analyzing antagonist-activity to a cytokinin receptor, which comprises (1) bringing an examinee substance and a substance having agonist-activity to the cytokinin receptor into contact with a transformed cell into which DNA coding the cytokinin receptor is introduced and (2) measuring the existence or the quantity of intracellular signal transduction from the cytokinin receptor expressed in the transformed cell, and the like.
US07741048B2	MN/CA IX and cancer prognosis Herein disclosed are methods that are prognostic for neoplastic/preneoplastic disease in a subject vertebrate, wherein said disease is associated with a tissue that normally expresses MN, but which MN expression is lost or diminished upon carcinogenesis. Exemplary of the types of preneoplastic/neoplastic diseases subject to the prognostic methods of this invention are those of gastric mucosa, gallbladder, biliary ducts, and ductal cells of duodenal glands. An exemplary prognostic method comprises comparing the level of MN gene expression product in a tissue sample from the affected subject, with the average MN gene expression product level found in analogous preneoplastic/neoplastic tissue samples; an above average MN gene expression product level indicates poorer prognosis for the subject. MN gene expression products useful in the prognostic methods include MN protein, MN polypeptide, and/or MN nucleic acids.
US07741047B2	Method for treating autoimmune diseases and screening method for preventive or therapeutic agent for the same The present invention is directed to a method for treating autoimmune diseases comprising administering RBAp48 production suppressor or inhibitor; a screening method for a preventive or therapeutic agent for autoimmune diseases comprising determining RBAp48 production suppressing effect or inhibitory effect of a sample; a diagnosis agent or a diagnosing kit for autoimmune diseases containing a reagent for measuring RBAp48 level in gland tissue; and a diagnosis method for autoimmune diseases comprising measuring RBAp48 level in gland tissue.
US07741046B2	Sequential analysis of biological samples Methods for probing multiple targets in a biological sample are provided. The methods include the steps of providing a biological sample containing multiple targets adhered to a solid support, binding at least one fluorescent probe to one or more target present in the sample, and observing a signal from the fluorescent probe. The method further includes the steps of oxidizing the bound fluorescent probe with a solution containing an oxidizing agent that substantially inactivates the fluorescent probe, binding at least one fluorescent probe to one or more target present in the sample, and observing a signal from the fluorescent probe. The methods disclosed herein also provide for multiple iterations of binding, observing, and oxidizing for deriving information about multiple targets in a single sample. An associated kit is also provided.
US07741043B2	Control of TGFβ signaling by km23 superfamily members Methods of identifying therapeutic agents that inhibit, potentiate or mimic the ability of a km23 polypeptide mutant form, or a nucleic acid encoding the mutant form to modulate the signal transduction activity of a growth factor or cytokine are provided. The methods involve treating a cell with a candidate compound so as to alter at least one cell process associated with the TGFβ signaling pathway, and measuring the effect of the candidate on the cell. Further provided are cell and non-cell based methods of screening for a therapeutic agent that inhibits or stimulates the interaction of an altered form of wild-type km23 with a specific binding protein, such as the dynein intermediate chain (DIC), Smad2 or RI and RII TGFβ receptors. These methods involve determining the inhibition or stimulation of a therapeutic candidate on the interaction of the specific binding protein with the km23 altered form. The km23 mutant/altered forms of the methods of the present invention indicate an increased risk of ovarian cancer.
US07741042B2	Method for preparing a DNA chip and use thereof The present invention relates to a method for producing a DNA chip, which comprises the steps of: (a) cloning a probe, where a linker is coupled to one or both ends of an oligonucleotide to be integrated on a slide, into a vector; (b) transforming host cells with the vector; (c) culturing the transformed host cells, to recover the probe where the linker is coupled to one or both ends of the oligonucleotides; and (d) integrating the recovered double-helical probes on a slide. Also, the present invention relates to a DNA chip for HPV diagnosis produced by the method, and a method for diagnosing the presence or genotype of HPV using the DNA chip.
US07741039B2	Postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome virus from pigs The cloning of a novel PCVII viral genome is described as is expression of proteins derived from the PCVII genome. These proteins can be used in vaccine compositions for the prevention and treatment of PCVII infections, as well as in diagnostic methods for determining the presence of PCVII infections in a vertebrate subject. Polynucleotides derived from the viral genome can be used as diagnostic primers and probes.
US07741034B2	Detection and diagnosis of smoking related cancers Gene probes for specific regions of chromosome 3 (3p21.3) and chromosome 10 (10q22) have been found to be tools for the diagnosis and prognosis of smoking related cancers such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For example, these probes can be used with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and used to stratify smokers into high and low risk groups, as well as determine a patients susceptibility to the development of smoking related cancers.
US07741030B2	Methods for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis Analysis is made on the DNA methylation of the region (including a promoter region) upstream from the translation initiation point of a rheumatoid arthritis-associated gene DR3 in human genome. As a result, it is found out that an allele-specific methylation occurs in a CpG sequence located about −380 to −180 bp upstream from translation initiation point (ATG) of the gene DR3. It is further found out that the CpG sequences downstream therefrom of the genes DR3 originating in healthy subjects are all in the unmethylated state, while methylated and unmethylated sequences are both observed in the genes DR3 originating in RA patients.
US07741025B2	Method of diagnosing lung cancer using BGS42 The present invention provides novel polynucleotides encoding BGS-42 polypeptides, fragments and homologues thereof. Also provided are vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant and synthetic methods for producing said polypeptides. The invention further relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods for applying these novel BGS-42 polypeptides to the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of various diseases and/or disorders related to these polypeptides. The invention further relates to screening methods for identifying agonists and antagonists of the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention.
US07741017B2	Silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material and image formation method using the same, silver halide emulsion, reducing compound having group adsorptive to silver halide and method for producing the same The present invention relates to a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material wherein at least one of light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layers includes a silver halide emulsion having a silver chloride content of at least 95 mol % and a silver iodide content of 0.05 mol % to 0.75 mol % and/or a silver bromide content of 0.05 mol % to 4.00 mol % and further at least one compound represented by the following formula (I): X-(L)n-Y Formula (I) wherein X represents a group adsorptive to a silver halide, L represents a divalent connecting group comprising one of an atom and an atomic group including at least one of a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, a sulfur atom and an oxygen atom, Y denotes a reducible group and n denotes an integer of 0 or 1.
US07741015B2	Patterning process and resist composition A pattern is formed by applying a positive resist composition comprising a polymer comprising 7-oxanorbornane ring-bearing recurring units and acid labile group-bearing recurring units and an acid generator onto a substrate to form a resist film, heat treating and exposing the resist film to radiation, heat treating and developing the resist film with a developer, and causing the resist film to crosslink and cure with the aid of acid and/or heat. A second resist pattern is then formed in the space area of the first resist pattern. The double patterning process reduces the pitch between patterns to one half.
US07741014B2	Patterning and alteration of molecules A series of methods, compositions, and articles for patterning a surface with multiple, aligned layers of molecules, by exposing the molecules to electromagnetic radiation is provided. In certain embodiments, a single photomask acts as an area-selective filter for light at multiple wavelengths. A single set of exposures of multiple wavelengths through this photomask may make it possible to fabricate a pattern comprising discontinuous multiple regions, where the regions differ from each other in at least one chemical and/or physical property, without acts of alignment between the exposures. In certain embodiments, the surface includes molecules attached thereto that can be photocleaved upon exposure to a certain wavelength of radiation, thereby altering the chemical composition on at least a portion of the surface.
US07741006B2	Laser patterning method for fabricating disc stamper A method for fabricating a disc stamper is provided. First, a substrate is provided. Next, a layer of a coatable inorganic material is coated on the substrate, wherein the coatable inorganic material is an oxide, in which the chemical element constitution is more than one element selected from the group consisting of Te, Al, Zr, and Ti. Next, a laser beam is utilized to perform direct write on the layer of the coatable inorganic material to form a relief pattern. Thereafter, a metal layer is electroplated on the relief pattern. Next, the metal layer is separated from the relief pattern. The layer of the coatable inorganic material is utilized to form the relief pattern, so that it is more compatibility to equipment apparatus and lower cost in contrast with sputtered PTM process.
US07740995B2	Azo compound, colored curable composition, color filter and manufacturing method therefor A pyrimidine azo compound represented by the following formula (I), or a tautomer thereof: wherein in formula (I), R1 represents a heterocyclic group, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryloxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group, an alkylsulphonyl group, an arylsulphonyl group, or a sulfamoyl group; and R3 and R4, R5 and R6; and R7 and R8 may be mutually bonded to form a 5-, 6-, or 7-membered ring.
US07740994B2	Method for selecting photomask substrate, method for manufacturing photomask, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for selecting a photomask substrate, including dividing a chip area scheduled to be arranged on the photomask substrate regarding a specific transfer pattern layer into a management pattern area in which an element pattern changed in shape by birefringence of the photomask substrate is arranged, and an area other than the management pattern area, setting a standard value of a size of birefringence of an area in which the management pattern area of the photomask substrate is arranged, inspecting the size of the birefringence of each of a plurality of photomask substrate candidates, and selecting a photomask substrate, in which the size of the birefringence satisfies the standard value, as a photomask substrate of the specific transfer pattern layer from the plurality of photomask substrate candidates.
US07740992B2	Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and exposure mask An exposure apparatus to be used with an exposure mask having an elastically deformable holding member and a light blocking film provided on the holding member and being formed with an opening pattern. For exposure, the mask is flexed, to be brought into contact with an object to be exposed. The apparatus includes a distance detecting device for detecting a distance between the exposure mask and the object to be exposed. The distance detecting device is adapted to detect the distance between the exposure mask and the object to be exposed before the exposure mask is flexed. The apparatus also includes a distance controlling device for controlling the distance between the exposure mask before the mask is flexed and the object to be exposed, on the basis of a signal from the distance detecting device.
US07740990B2	Separator material for solid polymer fuel cell and process for producing the same A separator material suitable for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell and a method of producing the same. The separator material exhibiting gas impermeability, strength, dimensional stability during long-term use, and only a small degree of dissolution of organic substances which hinder the cell reaction. The separator material includes a graphite/cured resin molded product produced by binding a graphite powder using a mixed resin prepared by mixing an epoxy resin with a specific epoxy equivalent and a phenolic resin with a specific hydroxyl equivalent at a specific equivalent ratio and adding an imidazole compound without an amino group as a curing accelerator. The graphite/cured resin molded product has, when immersed in hot water at 90° C., a water absorption elongation percentage after 500 hours of immersion of a specific value or less and an amount of ammonium ions dissolved and an amount of TOC dissolved after 50 hours of immersion of specific values or less. The method of producing the separator material includes preforming a molding powder obtained by grinding a kneaded product of a mixed resin and a graphite powder to prepare a preform, and thermocompression-molding the preform in a mold.
US07740986B2	Battery having electrolyte with organoborate additive The battery has an electrolyte that includes an organoborate additive and one or more salts in a solvent. The organoborate additive can be present in a concentration less than 0.2 M or less than 0.05 M. A molar ratio of the organoborate additive:one or more salts is in a range of 4:1 to 400:1. In some instances, the solvent includes one or more organic solvents.
US07740985B2	Lithium-ion battery A lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode that has a current collector and a first active material and a negative electrode that has a current collector, a second active material, and a third active material. The second active material includes a lithium titanate material and the third active material is a material that can be one or more of the following: LiMn2O4, LixVO2 where x is between 0.05 and 0.4, LiMxMn(2−x)O4 where M is a metal and x is less than or equal to 1, V6O13, V2O5, V3O8, MoO3, TiS2, WO2, MoO2, RuO2, and combinations thereof. The third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.
US07740983B2	Alkaline storage cell An alkaline storage cell has a negative electrode containing hydrogen-storing alloy powder, additive powder containing metal zinc or zinc compound, and a binding agent for binding particles of the powders. The hydrogen-storing alloy powder has a composition expressed by a general expression: Ln1-xMgx(Ni1-yTy)z, where Ln represents at least one element chosen from a group consisting of the lanthanoids, Ca, Sr, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr and Hf, T represents at least one element chosen from a group consisting of V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Mn, Fe, Co, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P and B, and x, y and z represent numerical values which meet 0
US07740980B2	Electrode including a multi-region current collector An electrochemical cell is provided that includes a current collector plate and a pellet. The current collector plate includes a circumferential outer peripheral wall and an inner wall coupled thereto, where the circumferential outer peripheral wall defines a cavity and has a height, and the inner wall extends across and physically separates the cavity into at least two regions and has a height that is less than the height of the circumferential outer peripheral wall. The pellet comprises active powder material and is disposed in the cavity and circumferentially surrounded by and in contact with the circumferential outer peripheral wall of the current collector plate. The pellet includes a first portion and second portion, where the first portion is disposed in a first region of the at least two regions and the second portion is disposed in a second region of the at least two regions.
US07740976B2	Fluid manager having a chassis-mounted actuator and a battery including the same A fluid consuming battery (10) is provided with a fluid regulating system (50) for regulating fluid entry into the battery. The battery (10) includes a fluid consuming cell (20) having a cell housing with fluid entry ports for the passage of a fluid into the cell housing. A first fluid consuming electrode and a second electrode are disposed within the cell housing. The fluid regulating system (50) includes a valve having a moving plate (66) disposed adjacent to a fixed plate (62). The moving plate and fixed plate both have fluid entry ports (68, 64) that align in an open valve position and are misaligned in a closed valve position. The fluid regulating system (50) also includes an actuator that may include one or more shape memory alloy (SMA) components (82a, 82b) for moving the moving plate (66) relative to the fixed plate (62) to open and close the valve.
US07740973B2	Modular electrochemical power system Electrochemical power systems of modular design are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrochemical power system is provided comprising a container, at least one container reactant port, at least one container electrical power output port, module mounting hardware within the container, and a set of fuel cell modules within the container. Each of the fuel cell modules is mounted within the container via the module mounting hardware. Each of the fuel cell modules comprises at least one modular reactant port and at least one modular electrical power output port. The fuel cell modules and the module mounting hardware are configured to (i) place the modular reactant ports in communication with the container reactant port, (ii) place the modular electrical power output port in communication with the container electrical power output port, and (iii) permit replacement of a single fuel cell module substantially free of interference with remaining modules of the set of fuel cell modules.
US07740956B2	Organic electroluminescent device An organic electroluminescent device comprising: a pair of electrodes; and at least one organic layer between the pair of electrodes, the at least one organic layer between the pair of electrodes, the at least one organic layer including a luminescent layer, wherein the luminescent layer contains at least one electron injection/transport compound, at least one hole injection/transport compound, and at least one green or blue phosphorescent compound; and the electron injection/transport compound and the hole injection/transport compound each has a minimum triplet exciton energy value which is equal to or more than that of the green or blue phosphorescent compound.
US07740955B2	Organic electroluminescent device and display The present invention relates to an organic electroluminescent element and a display device exhibiting high emission efficiency and long life. The organic electroluminescent element contains a pair of electrodes having therebetween at least one constituting layer containing a phosphorescent light emitting layer, wherein one of the constituting layer contains a compound represented by Formula (1): wherein Z1 represents an aromatic heterocylic ring which may have a substituent; Z2 represents an aromatic heterocylic ring or an aromatic hydrocarbon ring both of which may have a substituent; Z3 represents a divalent linking group or a single bond; and R101 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent.
US07740952B2	Composition comprising biopolymer Disclosed is a composition comprises or is produced from a biopolymer, an olefin copolymer, and an optional polymer wherein the biopolymer comprises repeat units derived from a glycoside. Also disclosed is an article comprising or produced from the composition.
US07740949B2	Water-based adhesive for polarizing element and polarizer obtained with the same A water-based adhesive for polarizing elements which comprises a polyvinyl alcohol resin, a resin having a maleic anhydride skeleton in the structure, and a crosslinking agent in a weight proportion of 100/(1-1,000)/(0.5-5,000). It is easy to handle because it is of the water-based one-pack type. The adhesive has sufficient adhesion strength even in a high-temperature high-humidity atmosphere. The adhesive contains boron in a high concentration and is effective also in the bonding of polarizing elements, for which conventional adhesives have been insufficient in adhesion strength.
US07740947B2	Particulate metal alloy coating for providing corrosion protection Coatings containing particulate metal alloy are disclosed. The coatings provide corrosion protection to a substrate, such as a metal substrate. The coatings contain zinc-metal-containing alloy in flake form, most particularly an alloy flake of zinc and aluminum. The coating can be from compositions that are water-based or solvent-based. The compositions for providing the coating may also contain a substituent such as a water-reducible organofunctional silane, or a hexavalent-chromium-providing substance, or a titanate polymer, or a silica substance constituent. the coating may desirably be topcoated.
US07740945B2	Brightness enhancement film A brightness enhancement film is provided, which comprises a substrate with a light diffusion layer having a convex-concave structure on one side of the substrate. The brightness enhancement film of the present invention can be used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) as a light diffusion brightness enhancement film.
US07740944B2	Multilayer coating The present invention relates to a multilayer coating in which a plurality of photocurable resin cured films are layered on a substrate, wherein at least two adjacent layers comprise the same hindered phenol-type antioxidant.The multilayer coating can be applied onto a substrate, such as glass fibers, vinyl chloride sheets, polycarbonate sheets, glass plates, polyethylene films, wood, acrylic sheets, metal plates, and the like.
US07740943B2	Molded composite article and process for producing the same In a molded composite article formed by directly bonding a resin member comprising a polyamide-series resin to a resin member comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane-series resin, the polyamide-series resin comprises a polyamide block copolymer containing (A) a polyether segment having at least one terminal imino group. The polyamide-series resin may comprise a polyamide-series resin having a free amino group in a concentration of not less than about 10 mmol/kg. The molded composite article is producible, for example, by heating at least one of the polyamide-series resin and the thermoplastic polyurethane-series resin to bond the former to the latter. Thus obtained molded composite article is suitable for a member of a shoe and an industrial roll. In such a process, the polyamide-series resin member and the thermoplastic polyurethane-series resin member both of which are different in nature from each other can be directly and firmly bonded together.
US07740942B2	Opto-electronic devices containing sulfonated copolymers The invention provides an opto-electronic device comprising at least one sulfonated aromatic condensation copolymer or at least one phosphonated aromatic condensation copolymer. The at least one sulfonated aromatic condensation copolymer is selected from sulfonated polyarylethers, sulfonated polyimides, sulfonated polyphenylene oxides, sulfonated polyarylenes, sulfonated polyphosphazenes, and the at least one phosphonated aromatic condensation copolymer is selected from phosphonated polyarylethers, phosphonated polyimides, phosphonated polyphenylene oxides, phosphonated polyarylenes, phosphonated polyphosphazenes and combinations thereof. The sulfonated polyarylether is a sulfonated polyarylether block copolymer having sulfonated polyaryletherketone blocks, sulfonated polyethersulfone blocks, or combinations thereof.
US07740940B2	Coated substrates, organometallic films and methods for applying organometallic films to substrates A coated article comprising a substrate having a plastic surface and adhered thereto an organometallic film in which the metal has f electron orbitals or is niobium is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for applying organometallic films to substrates and the organometallic films themselves.
US07740938B2	Production of spherical polyamide particles Spherical polyamide particles having a mean particle size of less than 1 mm, notably less than 100 μm, are produced by dispersing the polyamide monomers in an inert liquid and then polymerizing same.
US07740936B2	Adhesion assisting agent fitted metal foil, and printed wiring board using thereof Provided is an adhesion assisting agent fitted metal foil, comprising an adhesion assisting agent layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 10 μm on a metal whose surface has a ten-point average roughness Rz of 2.0 μm or less, wherein the adhesion assisting agent layer is formed from an adhesion assisting agent composition comprising: (A) an epoxy resin selected from the group consisting of a novolak epoxy resin and an aralkyl epoxy resin; and (C) an epoxy resin curing agent.
US07740932B2	Hybrid fiberglass composite structures and methods of forming the same Hybrid fiberglass composite structures and methods for forming the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a hybrid fiberglass composite structure includes a first laminate substrate and a second opposing laminate substrate. At least one of the first laminate substrate and the second laminate substrate includes at least one polymer fiber layer and at least one glass fiber layer. A cellular core structure is interposed between the first laminate substrate and the second laminate substrate and fixedly coupled to the first laminate substrate and the second laminate substrate.
US07740929B2	Hard wood strand products A strand lumber or board product based on eucalypt species and an iso-cyanate binder such as PMDI.
US07740928B2	Peel and stick stretch wrap A paper or plastic surface material of appropriate thickness and stiffness which can be coated with or laminated to asphaltic or non-asphaltic adhesives. The surface material can have a plurality of individual slits formed in substantially parallel spaced rows extending transversely from one end to the opposing end of the surface material. The flexible surface material is expandable by extending the opposing ends of the surface material whereby the slits form an array of openings. The length, width and spacing of the cuts can be varied to achieve desired stretch ratios. The surface material can be easily stored in the non-expandable position and easily expanded to be stretchable and conformable around windows, skylights or other suitable uses.
US07740926B2	Oxygen-scavenging containers A container providing effective oxygen-scavenging functionality, while having high L* color or low darkness. The container has at least one wall, wherein the wall comprises a populated area, and wherein the populated area comprises a film-forming polymer; and a population of particles comprising an effective amount of oxygen-scavenging particles, wherein the number of oxygen scavenging particles does not exceed a concentration of about (1×107 particles÷T) per cubic centimeter of polymer wherein T is the thickness of the populated area in mils; and wherein the change in the transmission Hunter L* of said wall is less than about 0.4 per mil of the container wall when compared to a control that does not contain oxygen-scavenging particles.
US07740916B2	Method for the protection of extreme ultraviolet lithography optics A coating for the protection of optical surfaces exposed to a high energy erosive plasma. A gas that can be decomposed by the high energy plasma, such as the xenon plasma used for extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL), is injected into the EUVL machine. The decomposition products coat the optical surfaces with a protective coating maintained at less than about 100 Å thick by periodic injections of the gas. Gases that can be used include hydrocarbon gases, particularly methane, PH3 and H2S. The use of PH3 and H2S is particularly advantageous since films of the plasma-induced decomposition products S and P cannot grow to greater than 10 Å thick in a vacuum atmosphere such as found in an EUVL machine.
US07740915B2	Process for coating a substrate with a coating including a fluoropolymer, thermoplastic polymer, and filler A process for coating a substrate with a coating comprising sequential steps of coating the substrate with mixtures of powders of fluoropolymers, thermoplastic polymers, perfluoropolymers and inorganic fillers of certain particle sizes. The coated substrate has the property of strongly adhering to a topcoat comprising a perfluoropolymer.
US07740912B2	Method of forming multi-layer coatings on automobile bodies without a primer bake This invention relates to a method for forming a multi-layer coating on a vehicle body, comprised of applying primer coating, base coating, and clear coat layers in a wet-on-wet-on-wet manner, and simultaneously curing the applied three layers together in a single baking step. The primer layer comprises a film-forming binder (a) a caprolactone-modified linear acrylic polymer; and (b) an aminoplast resin crosslinking agent, wherein the composition is essentially free of crosslinked nonaqueous dispersion resin particles or crosslinked microgel resin particles or both. The resulting multi-layered coating film has excellent aesthetic appearance, strike-in resistance, chipping resistance, sag resistance, and film build even when formed in a three wet layered application method.
US07740909B2	Method of rational large volume CVD production The present invention relates to a method to rationally coat cutting tool inserts comprising a substrate and a coating deposited using a CVD and/or MTCVD method. According to the invention the inserts are positioned on a net with a surface roughness, Ra, of the wires between 2 and 50 μm.
US07740908B2	Method for forming a film by spin coating It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a solid substrate used for sensors having a film with a small film thickness distribution, and a solid surface used for sensors having a film with a small film thickness distribution. The present invention provides a method for producing a solid substrate for sensors that has a coating on the surface using spin coating, wherein a substrate to be coated is rotated in an atmosphere in which the vapor pressure of coating solvent is 50% to 100% with respect to the saturation vapor pressure so as to form a thin film of a coating solution on said substrate to be coated.
US07740907B2	Fiber reinforced resin assembly An uncured fiber reinforced assembly that includes a reinforcement layer containing a fibrous material and at least one highly reactive curing agent. A matrix film layer is applied to the reinforcement layer so that it does not substantially impregnate the reinforcement layer. The matrix film layer includes at least one uncured epoxy resin and at least one latent epoxy curing agent. The assembly is designed for use in making snowboards and skis.
US07740906B2	Wood preservatives A method for preserving wood by contacting wood with a composition comprising an aqueous polymer dispersion, at least one surfactant, and a wood preservative.
US07740905B2	Nozzle arrangement and method for cold gas spraying The invention relates to a method of, and a nozzle arrangement for, spraying cold gas. The nozzle arrangement has a first nozzle and a second nozzle, which is arranged within the first nozzle. The first nozzle is fed a gas which optionally contains particles. The second nozzle is fed a particle-containing gas. The particles are applied to a surface of the substrate by means of the gases.
US07740904B2	High performance materials for optical sensors for hydrocarbons environment This invention belongs to the field of optical chemical sensors. Specifically, it relates to sensors based on the absorbance and emission of light by an indicator molecule where the optical properties of the indicator molecule change in response to a particular analyte. These indicator molecules are immobilized in a transparent substance that is exposed to light, where the substance is typically a solid such as a sol-gel or a polymer. More specifically, it is a new process for manufacturing a material (a medium or matrix) to hold or encapsulate sensing molecules. This new material has an improved resistance to exposure to hydrocarbons. These materials are used to immobilize colorimetric and/or fluorescence indicators in a matrix that repels hydrocarbons in general and non-polar hydrocarbons (i.e. aromatics hydrocarbons) in particular.
US07740902B2	Method for making oxygen-reducing catalyst layers Methods are provided for making oxygen-reducing catalyst layers, which include simultaneous or sequential stops of physical vapor depositing an oxygen-reducing catalytic material onto a substrate, the catalytic material comprising a transition metal that is substantially free of platinum; and thermally treating the catalytic material. At least one of the physical vapor deposition and the thermal treatment is performed in a processing environment comprising a nitrogen-containing gas.
US07740900B2	Method of preparing a light-absorbing coating A method of preparing a light-absorbing layer applied to a lamp vessel of an electric lamp. At least a part of the lamp vessel is provided with a light-absorbing coating which has stabilized pigments incorporated in a sol-gel matrix. In order to stabilize the pigments, an aminosilane is added.
US07740899B2	Electronic device having lead and cadmium free electronic overglaze applied thereto The present invention provides an electronic device having a lead-free and cadmium-free glass composition applied thereto and fired to form an acid resistant overglaze, and a method of overglazing an electronic device using the lead-free and cadmium-free glass composition. The lead-free and cadmium-free glass composition fuses at low firing temperatures and is particularly suitable for use in thick film pastes. The glass composition forms predominantly bismuth titanate and/or zinc titanate crystals upon firing. Preferably, glass compositions include by weight from about 11% to about 52% SiO2, from 3.4% to about 40% TiO2, up to about 75% Bi2O3, up to about 40% by weight ZnO, where the sum of Bi2O3 and ZnO comprises from about 15% to about 85% of the glass composition by weight.
US07740898B2	Method for manufacturing electroluminescence device An electroluminescence device includes a tubular first electrode, an electroluminescence layer formed on an inner surface of the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on an inner surface of the electroluminescence layer. A method for manufacturing the electroluminescence device includes: conducting an electroluminescence layer forming liquid into and out of the inside of the first electrode, thereby forming a liquid film of the electroluminescence layer forming liquid on the inner surface of the first electrode; and forming the electroluminescence layer by drying the liquid film of the electroluminescence layer forming liquid formed on the inner surface of the first electrode. This facilitates modification of the size or the shape of the electroluminescence device and thus improves productivity for manufacturing the electroluminescence device.
US07740890B2	Procedure of fumigation with a high concentration of pure phosphine free from ammonia at low temperature for the control of pests in fruits without damaging its quality A procedure to control pests in fruits without damaging the quality of the fruit by exposing the fruit to a high phosphine concentration at low temperature during an extended period of time.
US07740889B2	Bacteriocins and novel bacterial strains Novel bacteriocins produced by novel bacterial strains are used for at least reducing the levels of colonization by at least one target bacteria in animals, especially poultry.
US07740888B2	Extracts of passion fruit and uses thereof An extract of passion fruit is prepared. The extract has the effect of lowering blood pressure and serum nitric oxide levels in mammals. The extract also provides a hepatoprotective effect, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in mammals. A novel compound was identified in the extract and given the name edulilic acid.
US07740886B1	Bedsore treatment ointment A bedsore treatment ointment comprises a mixture including aloe vera, arnica, eucalyptus oil, pine oil, methyl salicylate, phenol, and lanolin. The mixture is positioned on bedsores for the treatment thereof.
US07740885B2	Nutraceutical and pharmaceutical compositions and their uses The invention relates to organic chemistry area and more particularly to the polyunsaturated fatty acids area. The invention specifically relates to nutraceutical or pharmaceutical compositions rich in unsaturated fatty acids, characterized in that they contain free or combined alpha-linolenic acid, associated with fatty acids having five and six double-bonds, admixed with a diluent or vehicle suitable for oral administration. These compositions are used for preventing or treating human or animal cardio-vascular diseases, at a dose ranging from 800 to 1.000 mg of a-linolenic acid, from 80 to 120 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and from 800 to 1.000 mg of docosahexaenoic acid.
US07740882B2	Enhanced oral and transcompartmental delivery of therapeutic or diagnostic agents The invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions and methods for delivery of a therapeutic or diagnostic agent from one bodily compartment to one or more other bodily compartment by administering one of the following conjugates: a polymer having multiple functional groups at least one of which is covalently bound to a therapeutic or diagnostic agent, and at least one cell uptake promoter covalently bound to the therapeutic or diagnostic agent; or a polymer and at least one cell uptake promoter bound thereto; the polymer further comprising multiple functional groups at least one of which is covalently bound a therapeutic or diagnostic agent.
US07740879B2	Abuse resistant transdermal drug delivery patch A transdermal drug delivery patch has an excipient matrix containing an agonist for administration across the skin of a user, with the matrix further containing a plurality of spaced apart hollow cilia filled with an antagonist, whereby if an abuser attempts to physically remove the agonist the cilia will break releasing the antagonist, or if the abuser attempts to use a solvent to remove the agonist the cilia will dissolve releasing the antagonist, thereby blocking the effect the abuser is attempting to attain by concentrating the agonist for oral ingestion or by hypodermic needle injection.
US07740878B2	Use of betaine to enhance exercise performance The present invention is directed to the use of betaine or its physiologically acceptable salt for enhancing endurance during exercise, enhancing muscle mass and reducing muscle soreness and muscle fatigue. It is also directed to the use of betaine or its physiologically acceptable salt for enhancing the flavor of a food or beverage.
US07740865B2	Circovirus sequences associated with piglet weight loss disease (PWD) The genome sequences and the nucleotide sequences coding for the PWD circovirus polypeptides, such as the circovirus structural and non-structural polypeptides, vectors including the sequences, and cells and animals transformed by the vectors are provided. Methods for detecting the nucleic acids or polypeptides, and kits for diagnosing infection by a PWD circovirus, also are provided. Method for selecting compounds capable of modulating the viral infection are further provided. Pharmaceutical, including vaccine, compositions for preventing and/or treating viral infections caused by PWD circovirus and the use of vectors for preventing and/or treating diseases also are provided.
US07740864B2	Vaccines for diseases of fish Fish are immunized by a mass vaccination method, such as by immersion in water containing an attenuated strain of a pathogenic bacterium that does not effectively cause disease in fish when the non-attenuated pathogenic bacterium is exposed to the fish by immersion. An illustrative example of the method is for immunizing against coldwater disease caused by Flavobacterium psychrophilum, which may be attenuated by serial passage in media containing increasing amounts of an antibiotic, such as rifampicin.
US07740856B2	Effect of BST2 on inflammation The application disclose a method of preventing immune cells from binding to other cells, which includes contacting the immune cells and the other cells with a composition comprising Bst2 antagonist.
US07740853B2	Fcepsilon-pe chimeric protein for targeted treatment of allergy responses a method for its production and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same The present invention generally relates to a new approach for the therapy of allergic responses, based on targeted elimination of cells expressing the FcεRI receptor by a chimeric cytotoxin Fc2′-3-PE40. A sequence encoding amino acids 301-437 of the Fc region of the mouse IgE molecule was genetically fused to PE40′—a truncated form of PE lacking the cell binding domain. The chimeric protein, produced in E. coli, specifically and efficiently kills mouse mast cell lines expressing the FcεRI receptor, as well as primary mast cells derived from bone marrow. The present invention provides a chimeric protein for targeted elimination of FcεRI expressing cells especially useful for the therapy of allergic responses. The said chimeric protein is comprised of a cell targeting moiety for FcεRI expressing cells and a cell killing moiety. The preferred killing moiety is the bacterial toxin Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE). This Pseudomonas exotoxin is a product of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The present invention also relates to a method for the preparation of said protein. This chimeric protein is prepared by genetically fusing the Fc region of the mouse IgE molecule to PE40, a truncated form of PE lacking the cell binding domain. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, for the treatment of allergic diseases and for the treatment of hyperplasias and malignancies, comprising as an active ingredient the above mentioned chimeric protein and a conventional adjuvant product.
US07740852B2	Binding molecules capable of neutralizing rabies virus and uses thereof Provided are binding molecules that specifically bind to rabies virus and are capable of neutralizing the virus. Further provided are nucleic acid molecules encoding the binding molecules, compositions comprising the binding molecules and methods of identifying or producing the binding molecules. The binding molecules can be used in the diagnosis, prophylaxis and/or treatment of a condition resulting from rabies virus. In certain embodiments, they can be used in the post-exposure prophylaxis of rabies.
US07740850B2	PDGFRβ-specific antibodies The invention is directed to novel PDGFRβ-specific antagonists. The antagonists include antibodies, which can be bispecific. The antibodies are used to reduce or inhibit tumor growth and or to treat an angiogenic disease. The invention also includes combinations of PDGFRβ-specific antagonists with VEGFR antagonists for such treatments. The antagonists can further be administered in combination with other anti-angiogenic or anti-neoplastic drugs.
US07740846B2	Inhibitors of angiopoietin-like 4 protein, combinations, and their use Modulators of angiopoietin-like 4 protein are provided along with methods for their use in the treatment of diseases and pathological conditions. Combinations of ANGPTL4 antagonists and other therapeutics, e.g., anti-cancer agents, and methods of their use in the treatment of mammals susceptible to or diagnosed with cancer, or with relapse tumor growth or relapse cancer cell growth are also provided.
US07740843B2	Human monoclonal antibodies against human IL-4 Antibodies which are specific for human interleukin-4 and their use in the treatment of IL-4 and/or IgE mediated diseases.
US07740841B1	Therapeutic method for reducing angiogenesis A method of controlling or treating an angiogenic dependent condition in a mammal, preferably in a human by administering an anti-angiogenic molecule such as an angiogenesis growth factor antagonist, and a chemotherapeutic agent in amounts and frequencies effective, in combination, to produce a regression or arrest of said condition while minimizing or preventing significant toxicity of the chemotherapeutic agent. Also a kit for controlling or treating an angiogenic dependent condition in a mammal, preferably in a human, comprising an anti-angiogenic molecule, such as an angiogenesis growth factor antagonist, and a chemotherapeutic agent in amounts effective, in combination, to produce a regression or arrest of said condition while minimizing or preventing significant toxicity of the chemotherapeutic agent.
US07740838B2	Bacterial composition and its use The subject of the present invention is a bacterial composition having immunomodulation properties comprising at least one strain selected from the group consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus PTA-4797, Lactobacillus plantarum PTA-4799, Lactobacillus salivarius PTA-4800, Lactobacillus paracasei PTA-4798, Bifidobacterium bifidum PTA-4801 and Bifidobacterium lactis PTA-4802. An other subject of the invention is an immunomodulation method comprising the step of using the at least one strain selected from the preceding group.
US07740836B2	Methods and compositions for recovering or improving visual function There are disclosed methods and compositions for recovering or improving visual function in a mammal, by means of adeno-associated viral vectors suitable for gene delivery to mammalian retina.
US07740833B2	Therapeutic uses of chemokine variants Variants of homodimer-forming chemokines, such as human CCL2, having a single amino acid substitution in the dimerization interface that alters the pattern of hydrogen bonds and acting as an obligate monomer, can antagonize natural chemokines and have anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. These variants can be used as active ingredient in pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune, or infectious diseases.
US07740832B1	Cosmetic composition comprising at least a tacky polymer and at least a fixing polymer The invention concerns a cosmetic composition for keratinous fibers such as hair comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least a tacky polymer with glass transition temperature (Tg) less than 20° C. and at least a fixing polymer with glass transition temperature higher than 15° C. The invention also concerns a method for treating keratinous fibers such as hair, in particular a method for setting and/or maintaining hairstyle, using said composition and the use of said composition in or for making a cosmetic hairstyling formulation.
US07740829B2	Synthesis gas production and use Synthesis gas is produced according to this invention using a combination of steam reforming and oxidation chemistry. The process incorporates the use of solids to heat the hydrocarbon feed, and to cool the gas product. According to the invention, heat can be conserved by directionally reversing the flow of feed and product gases at intermittent intervals.
US07740827B2	Ruthenium oxide catalysts for conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide The present invention relates generally to catalysts comprising ruthenium oxide and to processes for catalyzing the oxidation and conversion of sulfur dioxide (SO2) to sulfur trioxide (SO3) using such catalysts. SO2 at low concentrations in process gas streams can be effectively oxidized to SO3 at relatively low temperatures using the ruthenium oxide catalysts of the present invention. In one application, the ruthenium oxide catalysts are used in the final contact stage for conversion of SO2 to SO3 in multiple stage catalytic converters used in sulfuric acid manufacture.
US07740825B2	Method for forming a carbon nanotube aggregate A carbon nanotube aggregate and a method for forming a carbon nanotube aggregate are provided. The carbon nanotube aggregate can be formed by treating carbon nanotubes with fluorine gas and sintering the resulting fluorinated carbon nanotubes. A carbon nanotube aggregate can be formed which does not contain a binder or resin matrix.
US07740819B2	Process for purification of exhaust gases and catalyst used for purification of exhaust gases in this process The present invention has an object to more enhance the efficiency of the purification of the CO-containing exhaust gases with a catalytic-component-supporting type catalyst, particularly, to enable both achievement of high purification efficiency and long-term stable maintenance of high purification efficiency without increasing the quantity of the catalytic component as supported. As a means of achieving this object, a process for purification of exhaust gases, according to the present invention, is a process for purification of exhaust gases to remove CO therefrom, and is characterized by comprising the step of bringing the exhaust gases into contact with a catalyst layer at a temperature of 250 to 600° C., a pressure drop of not more than 100 mmH2O, and a linear velocity of 0.5 to 10 m/s, wherein the catalyst layer includes a honeycomb-structural catalyst having an opening size of 1.0 to 3.0 mm, an opening ratio of 60 to 80%, and an inner wall thickness of less than 2 mm.
US07740815B2	Method of treating a gas stream A method of treating a gas stream containing silane or other silicon-containing gas is described, in which the gas stream is conveyed to a liquid ring pump or screw-mechanism pump, to which are also supplied an oxidant for oxidising the silicon-containing gas within the pump, and a liquid for forming a liquid ring or intermittent flushing within the pump. A liquid stream containing said liquid and a by-product of the oxidation of the silicon-containing gas is exhaust from the pump.
US07740814B2	Composite materials and method of its manufacture A novel solution route has been developed that after heat-treatment to 500-600° C. under inert atmosphere, yields highly porous composites of nano-sized metal (Ni) particle inclusions in ceramics (Al2O3). Metal loadings could be made from <1% to >95% Ni. The metal inclusion sizes in the Ni—Al2O3 system with the 10 atom % Ni sample were 4-7 nm, while for the 75 atom % Ni sample they were 5-8 nm. It was shown that the 10 atom % Ni sample could be used as a catalyst for the conversion of CO2 and CH4 in the temperature range 550-700° C., while higher temperatures led to growth of the Ni particles and carbon poisoning over time. The solution routes could also be deposited as thin dense films containing <10 nm Ni particles. Such films with high Ni-particle loadings deposited on aluminium substrates have shown very good solar heat absorber proficiency and provide good substrates for carbon tube growth.
US07740811B2	Hydrogen generator having double burners and method of operating the same A hydrogen generator having double burners and a method of operating the samewhere the hydrogen generator includes a housing, a barrier wall to divide a space in the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, a fuel reformer installed in the first chamber, a first burner installed in the first chamber to heat a fuel reformer, a shift reactor installed in the second chamber, a second burner mounted in the barrier wall to heat the shift reactor, and a first igniter and a second igniter respectively ignite the first burner and the second burner.
US07740810B2	Photocatalyst protection An air treatment system includes a filter and heating element, a plasma device, and a photocatalyst and UV light that cooperate to purify an air stream flowing through the air treatment system and protect the photocatalyst from passivating effects of certain contaminants. The air treatment system operates in two different modes. In the first mode, the air treatment system primarily draws air from and returns air to a space, and the heating element and plasma device are selectively shut off. In the second mode, the air treatment system regenerates the filter using the heating element to selectively heat the filter and release adsorbed contaminants. The plasma device is selectively turned on and chemically transforms the released contaminants into solid contaminant products. The solid contaminant products are deposited on a biased electrode of the plasma device. The UV light is turned off to ensure that the photocatalyst is inoperable during the release and transformation of the contaminants. Once deposited, the essentially immobile and inert solid contaminant products are unlikely to damage the photocatalyst.
US07740808B2	Process and apparatus for producing olefin polymers The present invention concerns a process and an apparatus for continuous polymerisation of olefin monomers. In particular, the present invention concerns a process and an apparatus for continuous polymerisation olefin monomers like ethylene and other monomers, wherein an olefin monomer is polymerised in slurry phase in an inert hydrocarbon diluent in at least one loop reactor. According to the invention, a polymer slurry is continuously withdrawn from the loop reactor and concentrated. The concentrated slurry is conducted to a flash unit in order to remove the remaining fluid phase, and gas obtained is compressed in a flash gas compressor before it is being fed to a distillation section. By means of the present invention it is possible reduce the size of the flash gas compressor and the capacity of the distillation sections. This significantly reduces investment cost for a continuously operated polymerization apparatus.
US07740804B2	Spectroscopic sample holder Some embodiments of the present invention provide a sample holder that is suitable for collection and spectroscopic measurement of a blood sample. In some embodiments, the sample holder is provided with an optical chamber that is specifically designed to spread blood into a thin film, thereby reducing the average attenuation of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) due to scattering of EMR by the red blood cells in a blood sample, without having to hemolyze the red blood cells using sound waves or reagents. The inlet of some embodiments of the sample holder is a piece of capillary tube, and in other embodiments, the inlet is configured to engage a syringe. In some embodiments, the inlet of the sample holder can accommodate adaptors with different configurations, thereby allowing the sample holder to receive blood from any source, for example a pin prick or a syringe.
US07740802B2	Sterilization challenge specimen holder A sterilization challenge specimen holder is used with a test indicator to challenge sterilization on a consistent basis. The holder includes a body having an internal chamber region. A cap is sealable on the holder. A plug is positioned in the body. The plug has a wall having a spiral formed groove therein in communication with the internal chamber region. An opening provides for a single flow path for communication between the environs and the internal chamber via the groove.
US07740797B2	Photo-shaping method, photo-shaping system, and photo-shaping program In photo-shaping a target object executed by a photo-shaping machine (10) along with a computing device (1), a first path (P1) is generated as a light beam irradiation path on the basis of contour data of each section sliced at a specified pitch of three-dimensional CAD model data of the target object desired to be formed, and the first parameter data. A second path (P2) is generated as a removal processing path on the basis of the three-dimensional CAD model data, the second parameter data, and removing timing data showing a timing of executing the removal process. Driving programs (P3) are generated for executing the photo-shaping process including the light beam irradiation and the removal process, on the basis of the first path data, second path data and removing timing data, thereby performing the photo-shaping and removal process according to the driving programs.
US07740795B2	Porous metallic scaffold for tissue ingrowth The invention relates to implantable medical devices, particularly, to porous structures for such devices. In one aspect, the invention provides a porous metal scaffold comprising a porous metal network having pores defined by metal webs, the metal webs covered with at least one layer of metal particles bonded to the metal webs. In other aspects, the invention provides methods of forming porous scaffolds. In one such aspect, the method includes providing a polymer foam; forming a skin of biocompatible metal on the polymer foam by low temperature arc vapor deposition; and heating the polymer foam and the metal skin above the decomposition temperature of the polymer foam in an inert gas atmosphere; thereby the polymer foam decomposes producing a green metal foam. In yet other aspects, the invention provides methods of improving stability of porous scaffolds.
US07740794B1	Methods of making a polymer and ceramic composite A method of forming a polymer/ceramic composite for use in various purposes. For example, the polymer/ceramic composite may be used in orthopedic procedures for replacing bone material, forming an implant, providing an anchor or other appropriate uses. The polymer/ceramic composite may also include selected characteristics such as a hardness, a strength, a bioabsorbability, a biocompatibility or other appropriate characteristics.
US07740793B2	Expandable fluoropolymer device for delivery of therapeutic agents and method of making A method of making a radially expandable fluid delivery device includes providing a tube of biocompatible fluoropolymer material with a predetermined porosity based on an extrusion and expansion forming process, applying a radial expansion force to the tube expanding the tube to a predetermined diameter dimension, and removing the radial expansion force. The tube is radially inelastic while sufficiently pliable to be collapsible and inflatable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration upon introduction of an inflation force, such that the expanded configuration occurs upon inflation to the predetermined diameter dimension. The fluid delivery device is constructed of a microporous, biocompatible fluoropolymer material having a microstructure that can provide a controlled, uniform, low-velocity fluid distribution through the walls of the fluid delivery device to effectively deliver fluid to the treatment site without damaging tissue proximate the walls of the device.
US07740790B2	Method of making liquid crystal polymer films A method of making a thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film includes continuously heat treating of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film 2 while the latter is jointed to a sheet-like support member 4, and subsequently separating the heat-treated thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film 2 from the support member 4. The continuous heat treatment of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film 2 then jointed to the support member 4 is carried out for a predetermined heating time within the range of 5 to 60 seconds at a predetermined heating temperature T° C. equal to or higher than the melting point Tm° C. of the thermotropic liquid crystal polymer film less 15° C. (i.e., Tm−15° C.), but lower than the melting point Tm° C. (thus, Tm−15° C.≦T° C.
US07740784B2	Apparatus and method for in-mold-decoration An apparatus for in-mold-decoration includes a male mold, a female mold comprising a surface facing the male mold, a foil, a press member, and a supporting member. The surface of the female mold defines a cavity. The foil is applied to the surface of the female mold. The press member is positioned between the male mold and the female mold, and capable of hermetically pressing the foil on the surface of the female mold. The supporting member is movably mounted to the surface of the female mold to prop up the foil toward the male mold before the press member presses the foil on the surface of the female mold.
US07740782B2	Molded sportsball without molding mark and manufacturing method thereof A sportsball includes a ball carcass having an air cavity therein, wherein the ball carcass includes two ball shells, each of the ball shells having an outer surface, a plurality of channels indented on the outer surface to form a plurality of panel contours thereon, and a contouring edge defining a starting point at one of the channels to continuously extend from the channel to another the adjacent channel until the contouring edge is extended back to the starting point, wherein the two ball shells are integrally bonded with each other to form the ball carcass that the contouring edges of the ball shells are alignedly linked to form a common edge of the ball carcass, such that the common edge of the ball carcass, which is a molding line thereof, also forms as the channels of the ball carcass to invisible the molding line thereat.
US07740781B2	Paste extruded insulator with air channels The invention provides an insulated wire having a conductor and an insulator of paste extruded PTFE fine powder around the conductor. The paste extruded insulator has at least one closed continuous longitudinal air channel spaced apart from the conductor. The invention further provides a process for forming an insulator around a conductor by paste extruding lubricated PTFE fine powder in an extrusion device comprising a die, mandrel, and at least one channel-forming member. The die and mandrel form a converging chamber leading to an extrusion orifice and the channel-forming member is positioned in the orifice. The mandrel has a central bore for supplying the conductor. Lubricated PTFE fine powder is forced through the chamber and out of the exit of the orifice as a lubricated green extrudate around the conductor forming an insulator with at least one closed longitudinal air channel spaced apart from the conductor.
US07740775B2	Method for the production of particles A process for preparing particles of a substance comprising contacting a first formulation including a first substance with a first solvent stream and a second solvent stream, thereby causing formation of particles of the first substance, wherein both the first and second solvent streams are in a non-supercritical state, and subjecting the resultant mixture to a separation process which causes separation of the first substance from the first and second solvent streams.
US07740770B2	Resin molded article and method for producing the same The present invention provides for a resin molded article comprising a liquid crystalline polymer and a fibrous filler, the article having a surface with difference of 0.4 μm or smaller in a surface roughness expressed by Ra value measured before and after repeating 30 times the operation of pasting and peeling a tape having an adhesive power of 4.0 N/mm. The resin molded article is excellent in mechanical strength when used in an electric/electronic component or in an optical apparatus.
US07740769B2	Liquid crystal compound, liquid crystal composition, and liquid crystal display device The invention is to provide such a liquid crystal compound that has general properties required for a liquid crystal compound, stability to heat, light and the like, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a negatively large dielectric anisotropy, a wide temperature range of a nematic phase, and favorable compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, and a liquid crystal composition containing the compound. The invention provides a compound represented by Formula (1), wherein Ra and Rb are hydrogen or an alkyl having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; ring A1 is 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, pyridine-2,5-diyl, pyridazine-3,6-diyl, decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl, or naphthalene-2,6-diyl; Z1 is a single bond or an alkylene having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; Y1 is hydrogen, halogen, —CN, —CF3, —CHF2, —CH2F, —OCF3, —OCHF2, or —OCH2F; and m is 1, 2, or 3.
US07740764B1	Fluid conditioning system and process of conditioning fluid A process of conditioning a fluid includes passing the fluid through a magnetic field. A fluid conditioning system includes a conduit adapted to allow fluid to pass from a pre-conditioned volume to a post-conditioned volume, and a magnet assembly including at least one magnet disposed such that magnetic field produced by the at least one magnet penetrates the conduit. The conduit is formed from a material that allows the magnetic field produced by the at least one magnet to have a magnetic effect on molecules of the fluid as the fluid passes through the conduit.
US07740763B2	Capillary-channeled polymeric fiber as solid phase extraction media Solid phase extraction devices including a plurality of packed nominally aligned capillary-channeled polymeric fibers for use as stationary phase materials are disclosed. A plurality of fibers are packed together in a casing so as to provide good flow characteristics through the fibers and high surface area contact between a sample and the fibers. Different polymer compositions of the fibers permit the “chemical tuning” of the extraction process. The fibers can be physically or chemically derivatized to target specific analytes for separation from a test sample. Use of the fibers allows a wide range of liquid flow rates with very low backpressures. The fibers are easily packed into a micropipette tip or a conduit for use with a fluid flow device such as an aspirator or a pump. The devices can be used for isolation and pre-concentration of analytes from samples, for instance for proteins from buffer solutions or extraction of pollutants from remote locations.
US07740758B2	Separating agent including polysaccharide derivative having a polycyclic structure The present invention provides a separating agent for enantiomeric isomers, which has an excellent ability to identify asymmetry. That is, the present invention relates to a separating agent for enantiomeric isomers which includes as an effective component a polysaccharide derivative having a bicyclic or more structure having an aromatic, alicyclic, or heterocyclic ring.
US07740753B2	Ultraviolet radiation water treatment system A water treatment system that performs a water purifying treatment by use of ultraviolet radiation, comprises a front stage ultraviolet radiation device for radiating ultraviolet light in a front stage process in a water purifying treatment process, a rear stage ultraviolet radiation device for radiating ultraviolet light in a rear stage process, and a controller for controlling these ultraviolet radiation devices.
US07740751B2	Process for heating a stream for a hydrocarbon conversion process One exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be a hydrocarbon conversion process. The process may include passing a hydrocarbon stream through at least one heater including at least one burner, a radiant section, and a convection section. Generally, the stream passes through the radiant section and then through the convection section before exiting the heater. Desirably, the hydrocarbon stream includes, in percent or parts by weight based on the total weight of hydrocarbons in the stream: C4 or less: less than about 0.5%, sulfur or sulfur containing compounds: less than about 1 ppm, and nitrogen or nitrogen containing compounds: less than about 1 ppm. Preferably, the sulfur or sulfur containing compounds and the nitrogen or nitrogen containing compounds are measured as, respectively, elemental sulfur or nitrogen.
US07740749B2	Gas drive electrolytic cell The present invention is directed to an electrolytic cell that is completely sealed during the electrolysis operation during production of oxidant. Gasses generated within the electrolysis operation, primarily hydrogen that is liberated at the cathode surface, increase the pressure within the cell, and the gas pressure is ultimately utilized to expel the oxidant from the cell chamber.
US07740748B2	Electrophoresis system and method Electrophoresis systems and methods comprise an electrophoresis device, wherein the electrophoresis device comprises a loading channel, an injection channel, and a separation channel. The loading channel is in fluid communication with a first and second sample port. The injection channel is connected to the loading channel to form a first intersection. The separation channel is connected to the injection channel to form a second intersection and in fluid communication with a first and second reservoir, and wherein the injection channel is in fluid communication with a third reservoir. The electrophoresis system further comprises electrodes coupled to the first sample port and the third reservoir, and the first reservoir and the second reservoir, respectively, that are adapted to move the sample into the loading channel towards the third reservoir and form a sample plug in the second intersection, and to further move the sample plug into the separation channel towards the second reservoir.
US07740746B2	Disposable electrochemical sensor strip A disposable electrochemical sensor strip is provided. The sensor strip includes an isolating sheet having at least a through hole, at least a conductive raw material mounted in the through hole, a metal film covered on the conductive raw material to form an electrode which comprises an electrode working surface for processing an electrode action, and an electrode connecting surface, at least a printed conductive film mounted on the isolating sheet and having a connecting terminal for being electrically connected to the electrode connecting surface, and a signal output terminal for outputting a measured signal produced by the electrode action.
US07740745B2	Non-carbon anodes with active coatings A cell for electrowinning aluminium from alumina, comprises: a metal-based anode having an electrochemically active outer part comprising a layer that contains predominantly cobalt oxide CoO; and a fluoride-containing molten electrolyte in which the active anode surface is immersed. The electrolyte is at a temperature below 950° C., in particular in the range from 910° to 940° C. The electrolyte consists of: 6.5 to 11 weight. % dissolved alumina; 35 to 44 weight % aluminium fluoride; 38 to 46 weight % sodium fluoride; 2 to 15 weight % potassium fluoride; 0 to 5 weight % calcium fluoride; and 0 to 5 weight % in total of one or more further constituents.
US07740738B2	Inductively coupled antenna and plasma processing apparatus using the same An inductively coupled antenna for installation on a reaction chamber of an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) processing apparatus and for connection to a radio frequency (RF) power source to induce an electric field for ionizing a reactant gas injected into the reaction chamber and for generating plasma includes a coil having a plurality of turns including an outermost turn and a plurality of inner turns, wherein a current flowing through the outermost turn is larger than a current flowing through the plurality of inner turns. The outermost turn and the inner turns are connected to the RF power supply in parallel and the inner turns are connected to each other in series. The inductively coupled antenna further includes a conductive metal tube that has a cooling path and a conductive metal strip that is electrically and thermally connected to a lower portion of the metal tube.
US07740735B2	Tools and methods for disuniting semiconductor wafers A tool and method for disuniting two wafers, wherein at least one of the wafers is used in fabricating substrates for microelectronics, optoelectronics, or optics. The method includes the steps of temporarily affixing two gripper members to respective opposite faces of the wafers; and sufficiently displacing one of the gripper members relative to the other for inducing controlled flexing in at least one of the members and for exerting a force close to one edge of the wafers to assist in disuniting the wafers. If desired, the bonding energy between two wafers can be determined by measuring the force exerted during the displacement step or measuring the separation of the wafers while performing the disuniting operation.
US07740734B2	Low shrinkage epoxy-cationic curable compositions The present invention relates to compositions comprising an epoxy resin; a reagent selected from the group of cationic compounds or compounds which are capable to form cationic compounds or mixtures of those; at least one compound with two aromatic rings and at least one central cyclic oxygen bridged ring and the use of such compositions in adhesives, sealants and coatings.
US07740733B2	Optical adhesive composition and method for bonding optical component Disclosed is an easy to use optical adhesive composition which has lower refractive index than the conventional optical adhesive compositions while having low viscosity, fast curability and excellent heat resistance. Also disclosed are a method for bonding an optical component using such an optical adhesive composition which enables to reduce transmission loss, and an optical device. Specifically disclosed are an optical adhesive composition characterized by comprising at least one acrylate compound represented by the general formula (I) and a photopolymerization initiator, a method for bonding an optical component using such an optical adhesive composition, and an optical device. Tf-(O)a—(CH2)b—(CF2)m—(CH2)b—(O)a-Tf (I) wherein a's are the same represent 0 or 1, b's are the same represent 0 or 1, m represents an integer of 4 to 12, and Tf's are the same and represent a glycidyl group or CH2═CH—C(O)—.
US07740731B2	Method and apparatus for manufacturing a pipe from pipe segments A method for assembling a corrugated double-walled pipe section from pipe segments, having the steps of: providing an inner wall segment which is curved in circumferential direction and straight in longitudinal direction, providing an outer wall segment which is curved in circumferential direction and corrugated in longitudinal direction, connecting the inner wall segment to the concave side of said corrugated outer wall segment, providing a longitudinal profile at the longitudinally extending edges of the wall segment so as to provide a pipe segment, and connecting the adjoining longitudinal profiles of at least two of the pipe segments to each other.
US07740721B2	Copper alloy sputtering target process for producing the same and semiconductor element wiring Provided is a copper alloy sputtering target containing 0.01 to (less than) 0.5 wt % of at least 1 element selected from Al or Sn, and containing Mn or Si in a total amount of 0.25 wtppm or less. The above copper alloy sputtering target allows the formation of a wiring material for a semiconductor element, in particular, a seed layer being stable, uniform and free from the occurrence of coagulation during electrolytic copper plating and exhibits excellent sputtering film formation characteristics. A semiconductor element wiring formed with this target is also provided.
US07740720B2	Platinum-palladium alloy An alloy for use in jewelry applications is provided that has a composition comprising about 45 to about 55 platinum by weight and about 55 to about 45 percent palladium by weight. The alloy possesses favorable characteristics as compared to pure platinum and pure palladium. Due to these characteristics, the alloy is attractive for use in jewelry applications.
US07740717B2	Tantalum sputtering target and method for preparation thereof Provided is a tantalum sputtering target having a crystal structure in which the (222) orientation is preferential from a position 10% of the target thickness toward the center face of the target, and a manufacturing method of a tantalum sputtering target, including the steps of forging and recrystallization annealing, and thereafter rolling, a tantalum ingot or billet having been subject to melting and casting, and forming a crystal structure in which the (222) orientation is preferential from a position of 10% of the target thickness toward the center face of the target. As a result, evenness (uniformity) of the film is enhanced, and quality of the sputter deposition is improved.
US07740712B2	Unit for washing containers A unit for washing containers comprises a conveying device for supporting and advancing in an orderly manner said containers to a grasping, moving and washing device; the grasping, moving and washing device comprises at least a conveyor provided with a grasping arrangement for grasping in succession groups of said containers from said conveying device at a first operating position and at least a bank of nozzles for dispensing and diffusing washing liquid substances inside the containers; the unit further comprises a moving actuating arrangement for moving with reciprocating motion in relation to each other said conveyor and the bank of nozzles for causing the insertion of the nozzles inside the groups of said containers at a second operating position.
US07740709B2	Apparatus for stripping photoresist and method thereof An apparatus for removing a photoresist from a substrate which includes a stripping bath chamber, a conveying unit conveying a substrate containing a photoresist through the stripping bath chamber, a photoresist stripper material supplying unit positioned to dispense the photoresist stripper material to the substrate while the substrate is disposed in the stripping bath chamber, an antifoaming agent supplying unit disposed in the stripping bath chamber dispensing an antifoaming agent toward the photoresist stripper material in the stripping bath chamber, an antifoaming agent storing unit communicating with the antifoaming agent supplying unit supplying the antifoaming agent thereto, and a stripper storing unit operatively connected to the stripper supplying unit supplying stored photoresist stripper material thereto.
US07740704B2	High rate atomic layer deposition apparatus and method of using A processing system for performing atomic layer deposition (ALD) including a process chamber, a substrate holder provided within the process chamber, and a gas injection system configured to supply a first process gas and a second process gas to the process chamber. The gas injection system is configured to introduce the first process gas and the second process gas to the processing chamber at a first location and a second location, wherein at least one of the first process gas and the second process gas is alternatingly and sequentially introduced between the first location and the second location.
US07740703B2	Semiconductor film formation device A semiconductor film formation device has: a reaction vessel that includes a gas flow path to allow source gas to pass through and a substrate mount site provided in the gas flow path to mount a substrate; a temperature control means that is disposed opposite to the substrate mount site and close to the reaction vessel to control the internal temperature of the reaction vessel; and a thermal conductivity adjusting member that is disposed between the reaction vessel and the temperature control means. The thermal conductivity adjusting member has a section with a thermal conductivity different from the other section along the gas flow path.
US07740700B2	Cementitious veneer and laminate material A cementitious veneer and laminate composition is provided. The cementitious laminate composition includes a substrate, a primer layer applied to the substrate, the primer layer comprising a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol catalyst, Portland cement, and sand; and a cementitious veneer layer applied to the primer layer, the veneer layer comprising a mixture of magnesium sulfate, filler, magnesium oxide, gypsum cement, and polyvinyl alcohol catalyst. The polyvinyl alcohol catalyst comprises a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol fibers dissolved in water and mixed with butylene carbonate. The veneer layer is applied to the substrate and primer layer by means including spraying and manual spreading. The veneer layer can be ornamentally manipulated either before or after curing of the veneer layer. The veneer composition can be formed into laminated tiles or panels for use in building applications.
US07740692B2	Wood preservative composition A wood preservative composition resulting from admixing components comprising: at least one preservative metal; a quaternary ammonium compound; at least 2 amine compounds; a pH reducing agent, and water, wherein the pH of the composition is from about 7.1 to less than 8.5. Surprisingly, this combination of materials results in a stable solution that can contain a moldicide yet have a commercially acceptable shelf life.
US07740690B2	Methods and systems for purifying gases The present invention relates to methods and systems for purifying gases, such as for example semiconductor process gases. The invention more particularly relates to fluid purification methods and systems having improved heat transfer capabilities and controls such that the purified fluid produced from the process contains reduced impurity levels and/or exhibits more uniform concentrations within the final product. In another aspect of the invention, the activation time for adsorbent beds used in such processes and systems can be reduced.
US07740686B2	Modular ductwork decontamination assembly A modular ductwork assembly decontaminates an air stream circulating within an heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The assembly includes (a) an ionizing module for removing particulates from the air stream, (b) a sterilization module for neutralizing airborne pathogens present in the air stream, (c) an ozone treatment module for neutralizing odoriferous constituents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the air stream, optionally (d) baffles for slowing and disrupting the flow rate and promoting turbulence in the air stream traveling through the modules and optionally (e) a fan module for directing a treated air stream. Each of the modules is arranged substantially adjacent to at least one of the other modules.
US07740684B2	Methods for recovering metals from automobile scrap and electronic waste A method of recovering the metal from automobile scrap and electronic waste. It includes separating the automobile scrap and the electronic waste to provide some metal pieces, washing and/or shredding and/or selecting said metal pieces to provide some groups of metal pieces having the same metal element, making a full-elemental analysis, comparing the weight of different metal pieces having the same metal element and attaining different combinations of value, weighted averaging the combination of value to calculate the full-elemental weighted average according to the different combinations of value, comparing the different full-elemental weighted averaging to different composite material, and finding a optimal set or some optimal sets, further disposing metal pieces according to the optimal set, and manufacturing alloy. Present invention has a lot of advantages, such as reducing pollution and cost, and processing more waste.
US07740680B2	Agricultural Composition Agricultural compositions which comprises (i) a water-soluble salt of calcium and (ii) an auxin mimic that is an aryl substituted urea, for administering calcium to plants. The compositions particularly include diphenylurea as the auxin mimic. Also formulations containing the compositions and methods of their uses are included.
US07740678B2	High capacity filter A filter element has first and second subelements providing increased media providing improved performance and packaging options. The first and second subelements provide first and second flow paths in parallel with each other along designated flow path portions.
US07740673B2	Thermally stable diamond polycrystalline diamond constructions Thermally stable diamond constructions comprise a diamond body having a plurality of bonded diamond crystals, a plurality of interstitial regions disposed among the crystals, and a substrate attached to the body. The body includes a working surface and a side surface extending away from the working surface to the substrate. The body comprises a first region adjacent the side surface that is substantially free of a catalyst material and that extends a partial depth into the diamond body. The first region can further extend to at least a portion of the working surface and a partial depth therefrom into the diamond body. The diamond body can be formed from natural diamond grains and/or a mixture of natural and synthetic diamond grains. A surface of the diamond body is treated to provide the first region, and before treatment is finished to an approximate final dimension.
US07740669B2	Reformer for fuel cell system, fabrication method therefor, and fuel cell system comprising the same A reformer for a fuel cell system, a fabrication method thereof, and a fuel cell system are provided. The reformer includes a plurality of reaction substrates. The reaction substrates each have a reaction substrate body provided with a flow channel with micropores formed on the surface of the flow channel. In addition, a catalyst layer may be formed within the flow channel of the reaction substrate body. Since the reformer for a fuel cell system suggested in the present invention includes reaction substrates having micropores formed in the flow channel, it has a high specific surface area and high catalyst activity. Moreover, since the catalyst layer is formed by a deposition method, the reformer can be of a small proportion, occupying little space in the fuel cell system.
US07740666B2	Process for dyeing a textile web In a process for dyeing a textile web having a first face and a second face opposite the first face, a solvent-based dye having at least one component that has a thermal conductivity substantially greater than that of the solvent is applied to the textile web. The web is then moved, in an open configuration thereof, over a contact surface of an ultrasonic vibration system with the textile web in direct contact with the contact surface of the ultrasonic vibration system. The ultrasonic vibration system is operated to impart ultrasonic energy to the textile web at the contact surface of the ultrasonic vibration system. In one embodiment, the dye is applied to the first face of the web and the web is then moved over the contact surface of the ultrasonic vibration system with the second face of the web in direct contact with the contact surface.
US07740665B2	Single component hair coloring composition By combining a hydrogen peroxide liberating complex with hair coloring dyes, a highly effective hair coloring composition is obtained which comprises a stable dry powder composition which can be stored in a single container. When use is desired, the stable dry powder composition of the present invention is mixed with water, activating the liberation of hydrogen peroxide and allowing the desired hair coloring effect to be achieved. In addition to providing a single stable dry powder formulation, the composition of the present invention is capable of achieving a wide array of shades and coloring effects.
US07740663B2	Anhydrous compositions in paste form for bleaching keratin fibers The present disclosure relates to an anhydrous composition in paste form for bleaching keratin fibers, comprising at least one peroxygenated salt, at least one alkaline agent, and at least one complex of hydrogen peroxide and of at least one polymer comprising, as a monomer, at least one vinyl heterocyclic monomer. This disclosure also related to the use and preparation of said composition.
US07740662B2	Mobile/fixed prosthetic knee systems A prosthetic knee system includes a tibial tray, a non-rotating tibial insert, and a rotating tibial insert. The non-rotating tibial insert and the rotating tibial insert are selectively couplable to the tibial tray such that a fixed or a mobile orthopaedic prosthesis may be configured. In some embodiments, the tibial tray may be a fixed or mobile tibial tray. Additionally, in some embodiments, the prosthetic knee system may include a femoral component.
US07740661B2	Radial head implant apparatuses and methods Radial head implant apparatuses and methods are provided in accordance with the subject matter disclosed herein wherein a shaft and a head portion can be axially movable within a stem portion. In one embodiment, a radial head implant can include a head portion for articular engagement with a humerus bone, a stem portion for engagement with a radius bone, and a shaft for engagement with the stem portion. The head portion can include an upper surface for engaging the humerus bone. The stem portion can have an axial opening for receiving at least a portion of the shaft, and a collar can be disposed around the stem portion at a proximal end thereof. An upper portion of the shaft can be configured for engaging the head portion, while a lower portion of the shaft can be elongated and cylindrical for axially fitting into and moving within the axial opening of the stem portion. Other embodiments are also disclosed for axial movement for a radial head implant. Various structures are disclosed for locking the shaft in position within the stem portion.
US07740660B2	Methods for treating defects and injuries of an intervertebral disc A method for treating a herniated spinal disc between opposing vertebral bodies having a damaged outer annulus and an inner nucleus pulposus comprises the steps of: providing access to the nucleus pulposus through the annulus; removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus to create an intradiscal space; applying a first distraction force on the opposing vertebral bodies from within the intradiscal space; applying a second distraction force on the opposing vertebral bodies externally of the intradiscal space; and introducing a curable biomaterial through the annulus access directly into the intradiscal space. The first distraction force is applied within the disc space to distract the anterior aspect of the intradiscal space, while the second distraction force is applied exterior to the disc to act on the posterior aspect of the vertebral bodies. The first distraction force is applied prior to the application of the second distraction force and then removed. The second distraction force is maintained during the introduction of the biomaterial into the intradiscal space.
US07740659B2	Insert for nucleus implant Methods and devices are provided for replacing a nucleus of a spinal disc, and in particular for preventing nucleus disc replacement expulsion. The nucleus of a spinal disc can be removed from the annulus by forming a small opening in the annulus. Once the nucleus is removed, one or more insert devices can be implanted within the annulus of a spinal disc and they can be mated to one or both endplates of the adjacent vertebrae. The insert(s) is configured to interact with a nucleus disc replacement implant to prevent expulsion of the implant from the annulus.
US07740654B2	Helical stent design An expandable tubular reinforcing member used for body lumens such as blood vessels, the reinforcing member being formed of a continuous elongated helical element comprised of spaced undulating portions forming end loop portions and including a plurality of curvilinear connector elements extending between and interconnecting at least some of the adjacent undulating portions of the helical element over its length.
US07740653B1	Single-piece endoprosthesis with high expansion ratios and atraumatic ends A new endoluminal prosthesis for use in sealing a vascular graft to corporeal lumen provides for a flattened bulbous tail at the end of each cell of the prosthesis. The flattened bulbous tails reduce the amount of wear between the prosthesis and the softer material of the vascular grafts or corporeal lumen walls. A method of manufacturing a stent from a flat sheet of material is also included.
US07740652B2	Catheter An implantable medical endoprosthesis delivery system includes a sheath, a catheter at least partially surrounded by the sheath, and a bumper disposed between the sheath and the catheter. The bumper has at least some freedom of movement with respect to the catheter, and the sheath, catheter, and bumper are configured so that an implantable medical endoprosthesis can be disposed between the sheath and the catheter.
US07740651B2	Vacuum assisted treatment of the skin An apparatus for treating skin includes a chamber defined by a surface and a rim extending from the surface. A source of vacuum is capable of removing air from inside the chamber so that air outside the chamber flows into the chamber. Impedance of the air flowing between the rim of the chamber positioned adjacent the skin surface causes the pressure inside the chamber to decrease relative to ambient. A pressure sensor can determine when the pressure inside the chamber decreases to a threshold value. A controller can receive a signal from the pressure sensor when the threshold value is reached, which causes the rate of removal of the air from inside the chamber by the source of vacuum to be increased. The rim of the chamber forms a substantially fluid tight seal with the skin. The skin is drawn toward an inner surface of the chamber.
US07740645B2	Apparatus and method for treating soft tissue injuries An apparatus and method is provided for treating injured muscles before, during, and/or after physical activity. Practicing the method of the present involves pressing a plurality of pressure applicators against the skin proximate to a muscle for a sustained period of time. The pressure applicators pressed against the body can be either pins, support members, and/or any combination thereof. The support members may be secured to the therapeutic surface of a therapeutic body as to create an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. In such an apparatus, the base of pressure applicator is secured to the therapeutic surface such that the distal end of the pressure applicator extends away from the therapeutic surface.
US07740637B2	Apparatus and method for deployment of a therapeutic device using a catheter The apparatus for deployment of an intravascular therapeutic device, includes an elongated, flexible pusher member and a therapeutic device connected to a severable portion of a first connector member mounted to the flexible pusher member with an elongated second connector member connected to the therapeutic device. The first connector member or second connector member may be capable of being broken by heat, and a heat source is provided for heating and breaking the first connector member or the second connector member to release the therapeutic device.
US07740631B2	Devices and methods for tissue modification Methods and apparatus are provided for selective surgical removal of tissue. In one variation, tissue may be ablated, resected, removed, or otherwise remodeled by standard small endoscopic tools delivered into the epidural space through an epidural needle. The sharp tip of the needle in the epidural space, can be converted to a blunt tipped instrument for further safe advancement. The current invention includes specific tools that enable safe tissue modification in the epidural space, including a barrier that separates the area where tissue modification will take place from adjacent vulnerable neural and vascular structures. A nerve stimulator may be provided to reduce a risk of inadvertent neural abrasion.
US07740626B2	Laser induced liquid jet generating apparatus The laser induced liquid jet generating apparatus irradiates a laser beam on a liquid in a main body, guides the generated liquid jet into a catheter via a nozzle, and generates a flow in the direction opposite the liquid jet. Even by the use of a catheter having a small outside diameter, therefore, the apparatus is enabled to effect powerful laser irradiation without being thermally affected by the laser beam and consequently shatter thrombus, for example, and recover by aspiration the shattered thrombus through the distal end of the catheter.
US07740623B2	Devices and methods for interstitial injection of biologic agents into tissue The current invention discloses a method for treating infracted/ischemic injury to a myocardium by injecting a substance into the myocardium. The injected substance helps to prevent negative adaptive remodeling by providing mechanical reinforcement or mechanical reinforcement combined with biological therapy. A number of substances for injection are disclosed, including multi component substances such as platelet gel, and other substances. The substances disclosed may contain additives to augment/enhance the desired effects of the injection. The invention also discloses devices used to inject the substances. The devices can include means for ensuring needles do not penetrate beyond a desired depth into the myocardium. The devices can also include needles having multiple lumens such that the components of the platelet gel will be combined at the injection site and begin polymerization in the myocardium.
US07740616B2	Implantable catheter and method of using same A catheter for implantation into a patient having a catheter tube having a distal end, a means for trimming the distal end of the catheter tube after subcutaneous insertion of the tip of the catheter lumen into a desired position within the patient to form a trimmed end portion, and a means for selectively positioning each respective lumen of the trimmed end portion of the catheter tube into fluid communication with the respective first end of one attachment tube. The attachment tube is select fluid communication with a desired medical device.
US07740609B2	Balloon catheter A catheter assembly may comprise a guide catheter, a balloon catheter with a steering balloon and a stabilizing balloon and a guide wire. The stabilizing balloon secures the balloon catheter to the guide catheter while the steering balloon secures the catheter assembly to the vessel wall. In another embodiment, the balloon catheter has three balloons engaged to the exterior surface, a steering balloon, a stabilizing balloon and an anchoring balloon.
US07740608B2	Locking drainage catheter with rotatable lever handle and release tool A catheter kit including a drainage catheter hub having a rotatable lever handle adapted to secure a suture thread to maintain the anchor configuration of the distal end of the catheter to secure the position of the catheter within the patient's body. The rotatable lever handle has a released position for allowing movement of the suture and a secured position for preventing movement of the suture. A rotatable lever handle adapted to secure the proximal portion of the suture that may otherwise remain loose during the procedure. The rotatable lever handle and associated rotatable barrel can be depressed relative to hub body in a locked configuration to prevent inadvertent rotational movement of the rotatable lever handle and a release slot or release button that can be actuated by the practitioner with a release tool to allow for rotational movement of the rotatable lever handle.
US07740602B2	Ankle foot orthotic brace An ankle foot orthotic foot brace device includes a primary elongated resistance member attached to and extending from a base disposable under a user's foot. The primary resistance member includes means for attachment to the user's leg, and is deflectable through a deflection range and resilient or elastic to provide an initial resistant force to pivoting of the user's foot with respect to user's leg. A secondary elongated resistance member is engagable by the primary resistance member within a subsequent or distal portion of the deflection range of the primary resistance member. Also included is means for intercoupling the secondary resistance member to the primary resistance member during the subsequent portion of the deflection range of the primary resistance member.
US07740600B2	Apparatus and method for inhibiting pain signals transmitted during a skin related medical treatment An apparatus adapted to inhibit pain signals generated by pain receptors in the skin during a skin related medical treatment such as an injection. An evacuation chamber is provided with an essentially rigid interface element larger than a threshold surface area through which a medical treatment can be administered to a selected skin region, one or more walls which are placeable in the vicinity of the skin region, an interior defined by the walls and by the interface element, and an opening at the bottom of the interior which is sealable by the skin region. A device generates a vacuum within the evacuation chamber interior to a level greater than the threshold vacuum level suitable for drawing the skin region through the opening towards, and in a compressing relation against, the interface element, to inhibit the transmission of a pain signal generated by pain receptors located within the skin region.
US07740598B2	Coaxial cannula provided with a sealing element The invention relates to a coaxial cannula for extracting samples from tissue comprising a biopsy needle unit provided with a space for sample extraction and a sample separation unit which coaxially encompasses the biopsy needle on an external wall and is longitudinally movable. The inventive coaxial cannula comprises a sealing element which is arranged on the proximal end thereof and closes the space between the internal wall of the coaxial cannula and the external walls of the sample separation unit. The sealing element opens an air outlet when the biopsy needle unit is inserted, and prevents air intake when the biopsy needle unit is positioned and vacuum is produced in the internal chamber of the biopsy needle.
US07740597B2	Biopsy device with sample tube A biopsy device is provided. The biopsy device includes cutter and a sample tube advancable through the hollow cutter to retrieve a tissue sample severed by the cutter. A vacuum source can be provided in communication with the sample tube. The sample tube can be releasably attached to the biopsy device.
US07740595B2	Tissue and fluid sampling device An instrument for removing a tissue sample from a subject comprises a plurality of tissue sampling devices having respective chambers, the tissue sampling devices being radially disposed along a length of the instrument such that upon insertion of the instrument into the subject one or more samples are extracted and isolated in the respective chambers of the sampling devices at the site at which removal occurs.
US07740593B2	Guide block for biopsy or surgical devices One embodiment having features of the invention is directed to a guide block for an MRI device which has a block body with a proximal face, a distal face, and four parallel passageways extending between the two faces. The first passageway is centrally disposed, the second passageway is disposed vertical or horizontal to the first, the third passageway is located diagonal to the first and has a longitudinal opening in fluid communication with the first passageway, and the fourth passageway is diagonal to the first and in an opposite side of the body from the third passageway. In an alternative embodiment the guide block has at least one passageway that is not parallel to the longitudinal axis.
US07740592B2	Method and apparatus for objective electrophysiological assessment of visual function For electrophysiological assessment of visual function, a head mounted stereo display (eg virtual reality goggles) for displaying a stimulus is used to generate a retinal or cortical response. In particular, a method for objective electrophysiological assessment of visual function of at least one eye of a subject includes presenting a visual stimulus to at least one eye of the subject, recording at least one of a retinal response and a cortical response generated as a result of the presenting, analyzing said response and, as a result of said analysing, forming a map of the visual function of the at least one eye of the subject. The invention also relates to a system for such electrophysiological assessment.
US07740591B1	Apparatus and method for monitoring pressure related changes in the extra-thoracic arterial circulatory system A method and apparatus for monitoring changes in the intra-thoracic pressure of a patient due to the patient's respiratory activity or volumetric changes in the extra-thoracic arterial circulatory system due to cardiac function based on the changes in pressure in the patient's extra-thoracic arterial circulatory system as measured by a plethysmography sensor, such as an photoplethysmograph. A frequency spectrum is generated for the plethysmograph signal and the frequencies of interest is isolated from the frequency spectrum by setting appropriate cutoff frequencies for the frequency spectrum. This isolated frequency is used to filter the plethysmograph signal to provide a signal indicative of the patient's respiratory activity or cardiac function. For corrections for breathing frequency roll-off and deviations of the I:E ratio from 1:1.
US07740589B2	Method and apparatus for training adjustment in sports, in particular in running sports A method and apparatus are used for training adjustment in sports, particularly in running sports, in which light is radiated into the body tissue of a test person by at least one light source, the light intensity reflected in the body tissue is measured via at least one light sensor, a temporally oscillating measurement quantity is derived from the measured light intensity via an evaluator, a minima in the time curve of the measurement quantity are determined, and a performance rating from which the current metabolic state of the test person can be read out is generated via analysis of a plurality of temporally successive minima and displayed.
US07740587B2	Flywheel vibrator The present invention is directed to an imaging tool to introduce a vibrational force into an object. The imaging tool includes a pair of flywheels that are driven by a motor in opposing rotational paths so as to introduce a harmonic mechanical excitation to the object. The imaging tool is constructed to be of handheld size so as to be suitable for ultrasound and is RF-compatible with MR scanners.
US07740586B2	Ultrasonic signal processor for a hand held ultrasonic diagnostic instrument A hand held ultrasonic instrument is provided in a portable unit which performs both B mode and Doppler imaging. The instrument includes a transducer array mounted in a hand-held enclosure, with an integrated circuit transceiver connected to the elements of the array for the reception of echo signals. A digital signal processing circuit performs both B mode and Doppler signal processing such as filtering, detection and Doppler estimation, as well as advanced functions such as assembly of multiple zone focused scanlines, synthetic aperture formation, depth dependent filtering, speckle reduction, flash suppression, and frame averaging.
US07740585B2	Quantitative optoacoustic tomography with enhanced contrast Provided herein is an optoacoustic imaging system configured to produce images of one or more objects in a body using at least a maximum angular amplitude probability algorithm to reconstruct the optoacoustic images of the body. In addition the optoacoustic imaging system may be configured to produce 3D maps from the reconstructed optoacoustic images of the body. Also, provided is a method for diagnosing a pathophysiological condition characterized by abnormal optical properties of tissues in a body from maps so produced.
US07740582B2	Ultrasonic operating apparatus An ultrasonic operating apparatus of the present invention includes an apparatus main body having a vibration driving circuit for generating a driving signal to apply ultrasonic vibrations to a vibration generating portion of a hand piece and having a control portion for generating the driving signal and for systematically controlling the apparatus. An operating and display panel and a water supply pump are arranged to an outer surface of the apparatus main body, and the driving signal is supplied to the hand piece via a connector. Until a user carries out a correct processing routine, the control portion does not perform the above control operation even though the user may execute another control operation. Further, the control portion controls an operation so that an incorrect processing routine is notified to the user on the operating and display panel.
US07740578B2	Direct reading endoscopic measuring instrument and method The invention relates to a direct reading endoscopic measuring instrument and, more specifically, to a manually operated measuring instrument that is placed in close proximity to an internal anatomical feature and a related method for operation of the measuring instrument. The direct reading endoscopic measuring instrument includes a distal reticule that is passed through an endoscope in a folded position. When extended past the distal end of the endoscope proximate to an anatomical structure to be measured, a remote actuator unfolds the reticule along an axis perpendicular to the endoscope. Graduations on the reticule can be observed to directly measure the size of the anatomical structure.
US07740577B2	Repairing method for endoscope and endoscope infrared heating system A repairing method for an endoscope includes inserting into a cylindrical heating element a repair part of at least one endoscope having a resin material applied on an outer peripheral surface of the endoscope, causing the heating element to generate heat by supplying power to the heating element in order to radiate infrared rays from the heating element toward the center of the cylinder, and drying/hardening the resin material in the repair part by using the infrared rays radiated from the heating element.
US07740575B2	Fluid pressure generating means A fluid pressure generating means (10) for a heart assist device having blood pumping means. The pressure generating means (10) includes a housing (11), defining an interior volume (18), and having a substantially rigid first housing portion (12), a substantially rigid second housing portion (14), a flexible third housing portion (16) extending between the first (12) and second (14) housing portions and an inlet/outlet port (15) adapted for fluid communication with the blood pumping means. The pressure generating means (10) also includes a fluid filling the housing and a motor (20) disposed within the housing (11) and connected between the first (12) and second (14) housing portions. Actuation of the motor (20) moves the first (12) and second (14) housing portions relative to one another to generate fluid pressure changes at the inlet/outlet port (15). A related heart assist device and method for the treatment of congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia and like conditions are also disclosed.
US07740574B2	Electromagnetic treatment induction apparatus and method for using same A lightweight inductive apparatus is integrated into at least one therapeutic device (Step 101). Miniaturized circuitry containing logic for a mathematical model having at least one waveform parameter used to configure at least one waveform to be coupled to a target pathway structure such as molecules, cells, tissues, and organs, is attached to the coil by at least one wire (Step 102). The configured waveform satisfies a SNR or Power SNR model so that for a given and known target pathway structure it is possible to choose at least one waveform parameter so that a waveform is detectable in the target pathway structure above its background activity (Step 103). A repetitive electromagnetic signal can be generated for example inductively, from said configured at least one waveform (Step 104). The electromagnetic signal is coupled to a target pathway structure by output of the inductive apparatus (Step 105).
US07740570B2	Aquatic exercise device An elastomeric band exercise device is modified by adding a cushion to the band to permit it to be comfortably stepped on with a bare foot without discomfort. The modification is particularly advantageous when the device is used in performing aquatic exercises. Each handle has a waterproof friction grip covering a steel weight bar. The handle is connected to the band by a retainer ball in the end of the band and a washer inserted between the ball and a throat in the handle through which the band is extended.
US07740566B2	Hip assist walker A wheeled walker for training an individual to walk by enabling hip flexion. The walker is equipped with a pulley located between two anchors points to which the ends of an elastic cord are attached a middle portion of the elastic cord runs over the pulley. A first harness for receiving a foot of the user is slidingly coupled to the segment of the elastic cord located between the first anchor point and the pulley. A similar harness for receiving the other foot of the user is slidingly coupled to the segment of the elastic cord located between the second anchor point and the pulley.
US07740565B2	Compact driving and resistance device for stationary bikes A driving and resistance device for stationary bikes includes a frame including two boards between which a flywheel is located, a shaft extends through the flywheel and the two boards. A driving wheel is mounted to the shaft and drives the flywheel. The driving unit includes a first belt, a second belt, an idle wheel unit, an intermediate wheel unit and a passive wheel, the passive wheel is connected to a sleeve which is secured to the shaft. The driving wheel is driven by rotating the cranks on two ends of the shaft and the first belt, the intermediate wheel unit, the second belt, the passive wheel, the sleeve and the flywheel are driven in sequence. Because the driving wheel and the flywheel share the same shaft so that the driving and resistance device is compact.
US07740560B2	Stationary child exercise apparatus with bouncing pad The invention is directed to a stationary exercise apparatus for small children. The apparatus includes an activity table adapted for receiving one or more children's activity items, one or more legs, a seat supported by the legs, and a resilient support surface suspended generally horizontally from at least one of the legs. The seat has a pair of leg openings that allow the child to touch the resilient support surface with its legs, and the resilient support surface has a resiliency that allows the child to bounce vertically by pushing its legs downwardly against the resilient support surface. Furthermore, the distance between the resilient support surface and the seat can be increased or decreased to account for the height of the child placed within the apparatus by moving the resilient support surface, and a tension element of the resilient support surface can be adjusted to account for the child's strength.
US07740557B2	Hydraulic control apparatus and hydraulic control method for automatic transmission A hydraulic control apparatus of an automatic transmission estimates the possibility of there being a demand for a shift into a gear lower than the current gear during a power-off downshift operation. If there is a possibility that there will be a demand for a shift into the next gear during the shift, the hydraulic control apparatus starts an operation for supplying an apply preparation hydraulic pressure in preparation for the shift into that next gear.
US07740554B2	Motorcycle chain guide A chain guide for guiding a chain traveling around a sprocket supported on a frame of a motorcycle is disclosed. Typically, the chain guide includes a plastic chain guide support having a substantially U-Shaped body with a channel formed along an inner surface of the body. The body typically includes an outer surface and a ridge structure protruding outward from the outer surface so as to reinforce the chain guide support. The body of the plastic chain guide support is generally configured with at least one mounting hole sized to receive a fastener for securing the chain guide to the frame of the motorcycle. Typically the plastic chain guide support further is configured to house a chain guide insert in at least a portion of the channel.
US07740552B2	Inflatable play ball A play ball comprising an outer casing having a vent and a balloon is provided. The outer casing is substantially non-porous. An uninflated balloon is inserted into the outer casing through an opening. During inflation of the balloon, air from within the outer casing is vented.
US07740551B2	Bladder The invention relates to a bladder for an inflatable ball including structure for receiving an electronic device therein. The structure facilitates at least one of cushioning, positioning, locating, and supporting the electronic device. The structure cushions reaction forces arising from a foot strike to the bladder and/or provides a restoring force to the electronic device subsequent to a foot strike to maintain the device in its predetermined position.
US07740550B1	Tennis throw trainer A training device that will train a player to throw the ball to the correct height and angle for a serve is provided. The device includes a pole that adjusts from about four feet to twelve feet in height to suit a player's need. The pole is supported by a base and includes an upper toss hoop at the top of the pole and a lower guide hoop at the bottom of the pole for receiving and locating the position of the tossed tennis ball. In one embodiment the lower guide hoop includes or is replaced by a basket for retrieving the tossed practice balls. The base legs and upper and lower hoops fold away for easy storage and transport.
US07740541B2	Drive shaft having a heat shield sleeve A drive shaft is provided with a sleeve enclosing at least sections thereof. The sleeve is fixed to the drive shaft in order that it may rotate with the drive shaft. The sleeve forms a heat shield with heat-reflecting and/or heat-insulating properties. This serves to effectively reduce the heat input into the drive shaft. In contrast to conventional heat shield plates, the problem of fixing is eliminated. Moreover, a heat shield sleeve according to the invention can also still be fitted in situations wherein the space is too restricted for a heat shield plate. In addition a savings in weight and material also results.
US07740538B2	Matching bonusing method using a player tracking card Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a bonus award to a gaming player for using a player tracking account associated with a gaming establishment. Provision of a bonus award is based on the access to a player tracking account. Specifically, once a gaming system detects that a gaming player has accessed a player tracking account associated with the gaming establishment, the gaming system can determine whether the player accessed the player tracking account in a manner meeting one or more bonus award criteria. For instance, the bonus award criteria can include accessing a player tracking account within a limited period of time allotted for awarding the bonus award, accessing a player tracking account according to a specified sequence with respect to accesses by other gaming players, or some other criterion. If the player accessed the player tracking account in a manner meeting the bonus award criterion or criteria, then a bonus award is provided to the gaming player for using the player tracking account.
US07740537B2	System and method for applying lottery multipliers In accordance with some embodiments, methods, computer readable media and apparatus are provided for processing lottery ticket sales. In one example, a request by a player is received to purchase a set of play indicia for a lottery game and to purchase eligibility for a multiplier for the lottery game. The multiplier may be applied to a winning set of play indicia at a predetermined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined specific redemption value, and the multiplier may be applied to a winning set of play indicia at a randomly determined magnitude if the winning set of play indicia corresponds to a predetermined range of redemption values.
US07740535B2	Roulette gaming machine A roulette gaming machine includes: a roulette wheel on which marks are placed; a lottery unit for drawing a win mark; a bet area display unit for displaying a bet areas formed based on the same marks as the marks placed on the roulette wheel; a selection unit for selecting a bet area displayed on the bet area display unit; a bet unit for betting a game value on the bet area; a history storage unit for storing a lottery results as history data; a search condition selection unit for selecting a search condition concerning the win frequency of each mark; a search unit for searching the history data; and a conditional bet unit for betting a game value on the bet area corresponding to a search result of the search unit.
US07740527B1	Poultry stunner A system and method for stunning live poultry is presented. In one aspect, the system presented has a poultry stunner defining a partially enclosed passageway and at least one first conduit in fluid communication with the fluid source, configured to direct a first stream of fluid into at least a portion of the at least partially enclosed passageway. In one aspect, the system also can have at least one second conduit in fluid communication with the fluid source, configured to direct a second stream of fluid into at least a portion of the at least partially enclosed passageway. In one aspect, the system comprises an electrical power source coupled to at least one of the first conduit(s) and/or at least one of the second conduit(s). Thus, an electric circuit is formed between the first and second streams of fluid via any of the live poultry that come into contact with the first and second streams of fluid.
US07740521B2	Polishing head, polishing apparatus and polishing method for semiconductor wafer The present invention provides a polishing head 1 comprising a carrier 3, a guide ring 4, a dress ring 5, and a head body 2, wherein the head body 2 is rotatable, and holds the carrier 3, the guide ring 4, and the dress ring 5; the head body 2 has a reversed-bowl shape and has a hollow 8; the dress ring, and at least the guide ring or the carrier are held by being coupled to a lower brim of the head body via a diaphragm 6; the hollow of the head body is sealed. During polishing, the pressure of the sealed hollow is adjusted with a pressure regulating mechanism 9 communicating with the hollow, thereby elastically deforming the diaphragm. As a result, a wafer W can be polished while the wafer and the dress ring are pressed with a given pressing force against a polishing pad 11 on a turn table 12 with rotating the wafer held by the carrier and the dress ring. Consequently, there is provided a polishing head or the like with which excessive polishing in the outer periphery of a semiconductor wafer can be prevented and generation of impressions or scratches in the edge portion of the wafer can be prevented effectively.
US07740520B2	Apparatus for processing chamfering of eyeglass lens An apparatus for processing a chamfering of an eyeglass lens, including means for inputting a width of the chamfering and a range of the chamfering from a periphery of a lens shape at at least one position adjacent to a nose or far away from the nose, arithmetic control means for obtaining a trace for the chamfering on a refractive surface of the eyeglass lens and obtaining the position of the edge end of the eyeglass lens after the processing of the chamfering, and means for displaying the trace of the chamfering by overlapping the lens shape.
US07740518B2	Jousting toy A jousting element for use in a game. The jousting element has a body which is arranged around a cylindrically aligned vertical axis. The body is configured to rotate about the vertical axis and to be carried above a playing surface. A traveling component connected to the body enables the body of the jousting element to be carried above the playing surface along multiple directions of travel. Attached to the body is a first playing component. The first playing component enables the jousting element to engage a second jousting element.
US07740514B2	LED illumination device with layered phosphor pattern A method of applying at least two phosphors to an LED, wherein a first phosphor material having a lower absorption, shorter luminescence decay time, and/or lower thermal quenching than a second phosphor material is positioned closer to the LED than the second phosphor. Such an arrangement provides a light emitting device with improved lumen output and color stability over a range of drive currents.
US07740513B2	Method and device for manufacturing a noble metal armored electrode for a sparking plug Method and device for manufacturing a noble meal reinforced electrode for a spark plug. A base electrode element (1) is formed and positioned in a retaining attachment (2). A noble metal piece (3) is arranged by a suitable attachment (4) on the front side of the base electrode element (1), and pressed into the front side of the noble metal base element (1) by a press attachment, in particular a die (6), while the arrangement composed of the base electrode element (1) and noble metal piece (3) is preferably heated by an electric current. After cooling, subsequent pressing can be carried out, by which the noble metal piece (3) is pressed flat. It is also possible to weld together the noble metal piece (3) and the tip (7) of the base electrode element.
US07740512B1	Method and apparatus for catching waves utilizing a disengageable surfboard A disengageable surfboard that starts out as a long, paddle-sized board that a surfer uses, either in the standard prone position or standing with a paddle, to enter the surf. Once the surfer has used the board to catch a wave, he or she quickly releases the back portion of the board, typically made of a soft foam, through a quick move of his or her foot, leaving the surfer with a smaller, higher performance surfboard that would have been initially difficult for the surfer to catch without the extra length afforded through the disengaged piece.
US07740505B2	Adapter for a consumer electronic device with an information function An adapter for removably mounting an electronic image device performing a first informational function to an appliance performing a cycle of operation on a consumer article. The adapter has a main body adapted to removably couple the electronic device to the appliance. The adapter provides a first mechanical support service between the appliance and the electronic device when the adapter is coupled to the appliance and the electronic device is coupled to the adapter and a second mechanical support service to the electronic device when the adapter and the electronic device are removed from the appliance as well as providing a second informational function.
US07740503B1	Current non-interruption bulb socket of lamp string A lamp string includes first and second wires and a number of lighting units each including a socket receiving a bulb in electrical connection with the wires. The socket includes a husk, which is coupled to the wires and defines a cavity that receives and retains the bulb in such a way to establish electrical connections respectively between first and second contacts of the bulb and the first and second wires, and a plug, which is removably received in the cavity between the bulb and the husk and forms a bore that receives a current bypass device therein. The current bypass device has first and second conductors that are respectively set in electrical connection with the first and second wires. The bore has only an open end to ensure properly installing the current bypass device in the plug.
US07740501B2	Hybrid cable for conveying data and power Hybrid cables for conveying data and conducting operating power to electrically powered devices and a vehicle utilizing such cables are disclosed.
US07740499B1	Electrical connector including a bayonet locking device An electrical connector for a helmet-mounted night vision system, or other electronic device, is provided. The electrical connector includes a plug assembly and a receptacle assembly each including a body having a revolved surface and an electrical contact. A protrusion extends from the revolved surface of either the plug assembly or the receptacle assembly and a cam surface is defined along the revolved surface of the other of the plug assembly and the receptacle assembly. Upon engagement between the assemblies, the revolved surfaces of the assemblies are positioned to face each other and upon rotation of the assemblies with respect to one another the protrusion is positioned to move along the cam surface causing the electrical contact of the plug assembly to bear against the electrical contact of the receptacle assembly thereby establishing a connection between the plug assembly and the receptacle assembly.
US07740496B2	Hinge structure with electrical connector A hinge structure with an electrical connector is connected to a first body of an electronic device through a support frame. A pivot portion of the hinge structure is connected to a second body of the electronic device and includes a rotating shaft connected to the support frame, such that the first body is capable of rotating relative to the second body. The electrical connector is a power input connector disposed on the support frame, such that a power line is inserted in the power input connector to electrically connect to the electronic device.
US07740492B2	Portable computer universal serial bus device with an extendable connector secured by multiple locking mechanisms An apparatus for use within an electrical devices is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a casing having an upper body and a lower body, the casing including a tab disposed on a surface thereof and an adjustable base having a plurality of tab cavities adjacent to the tab. The tab engagingly couples to one of the plurality of tab cavities to secure the adjustable base. The apparatus also includes a connector system coupled to the adjustable base.
US07740490B1	Connector with storage function A connector with storage function includes a housing, a seat body, a terminal group, a storage module, and a cover. The housing has a receptacle at a front end, and an opening at a rear end. The seat body is disposed in the housing, and includes a block. The block has a supporting portion and a plurality of slots. The terminal group is disposed on the supporting portion and in the slot. The terminal group further includes a hollow opening at a rear end. The storage module electrically connects with the terminal group, and has a printed circuit board disposed thereon. The printed circuit board electrically connects with a storage unit. The cover has a first cover and a second cover and is disposed in the hollow opening of the seat body. The connector not only stores data required by electronic product, but also increases storage capacity of the electronic product.
US07740489B2	Connector assembly having a compressive coupling member A connector assembly includes a housing, a contact and a compressive coupling member. The housing has a mating interface and a mounting interface on opposing sides of the housing. The mounting interface is configured to engage a first substrate when the housing is mounted to the first substrate. The mating interface is configured to mate with a mating connector that is mounted to a second substrate. The housing is configured to engage and interconnect the substrates in a parallel arrangement. The contact extends between and protrudes from the interfaces of the housing and is configured to provide an electrical connection between the substrates. The compressive coupling member is configured to extend through the substrates and the housing in a direction transverse to the interfaces. The coupling member is configured to apply a compressive force to the housing to secure the housing with the mating connector to electrically and mechanically interconnect the substrates.
US07740488B2	Interposer assembly and method An interposer assembly for forming electrical connections between contact pads on opposed substrates includes a top plate, a bottom plate, a lateral shift interface between the plates and a plurality of electrical circuit paths extending between contact surfaces at the top of the top plate and at the bottom of the bottom plate. The circuit paths maintain electrical connections between opposed pairs of pads on the substrates despite misalignment of the substrates or lateral shifting of the plates at the interface because of forces exerted on the substrates. The plates are secured together to permit limited lateral movement at the interface. The assembly may have a circuit board plate between the top and bottom plates and two lateral shift interfaces. The contacts may have very small and high contact pressure shear-formed contact tips.
US07740484B1	Rotatable receptacle A rotatable receptacle includes a rotary member, a power cord and a fixing stand. The rotary member is fixed by the fixing stand. The fixing stand is electrically connected to the rotary member and the power cord. The rotary member includes multiple conductor terminals, which are arranged at different rotating tracks. The fixing stand includes multiple conductor slices. The conductor slices have respective ring-shape contact regions of different size. When the rotary member is rotated with respect to the fixing stand, the conductor terminals of the rotary member are continuously electrically with corresponding ring-shape contact regions of the fixing stand.
US07740483B2	Portable demonstration apparatus and method for the comparison of lubricants and/or lubricant additives A portable apparatus and method for demonstrating different characteristics of different fluids that includes different fluid sumps or chambers for receiving samples of the different fluids. A test shaft having different portions that are immersed in the different fluid samples in the chambers is driven by an electric drive motor at a substantially constant speed while substantially the same amount of friction or force is applied to the different portions of the test shaft at different times to increase the resistance presented to the drive motor. The additional amount of current drawn or power absorbed by the motor or strain induced in the motor drive shaft during the application of such friction or force to the different portions of the test shaft is monitored and compared to provide a comparison of the friction or power loss characteristics of the different fluid samples.
US07740479B2	Activating brush tip applicators for dental bleaching compositions A brush tipped applicator includes an applicator tip having a body defining an external surface and an internal conduit. The applicator tip body can have a proximal end defining a proximal opening of the internal conduit and a distal end. The proximal end of the applicator tip body can have a first fastener that is configured for being coupled to a fastener (i.e., second fastener) of a member containing the dental bleaching composition such that the internal conduit of the applicator tip body is capable of being fluidly coupled with the dental bleaching composition. Additionally, the brush tip includes at least one filament disposed on the external surface of the applicator tip body. A dental bleach activator disposed within the filament in an amount sufficient for activating the dental bleaching composition for whitening the teeth.
US07740472B2	Method and device for flowing a liquid on a surface A device for flowing a liquid on a surface comprises: a flow path. A first port supplies the liquid to one end of the flow path and applies a first port pressure for retaining the liquid when the flow path is remote from the surface. A second port receives the liquid from the other end of the flow path and applies a second port pressure such that the difference between the first and second negative port pressures is oriented to promote flow of the liquid from the first port to the second port via the flow path in response to the flow path being located proximal to the surface and the liquid in the device contacting the surface. The first and second port pressures are such that the liquid is drawn towards at least the second port in response to withdrawal of the flow path from the surface. Such devices may employ microfluidic technology and find application in surface patterning.
US07740470B2	Processes and apparatus for making transversely drawn films with substantially uniaxial character A stretcher for substantially uniaxially orienting a film includes a plurality of gripping members to hold opposing edge portions of the film, paths along which the gripping members travel to stretch the film in a stretching region, and a drive mechanism to convey the film and gripping members along a machine direction. At least a portion of the paths in the stretching region define diverging, curvilinear courses disposed in-plane. The paths are configured such that during the stretching an extent of uniaxial character, U, is between zero and unity and a minimum value of an extent of uniaxial character, U, is at least 0.70 over a final portion of the stretching after achieving a TDDR of 2.5. U is defined as U=(1/MDDR−1)/(TDDR1/2−1), wherein TDDR is greater than 4 at an end of the stretching region.
US07740460B2	Controlled-clearance sealing compressor devices A controlled-clearance sealing compressor device that provides precision rotor centering directly with respect to the stator housing, vane centering with respect to rotor (not the stator) and the dynamic balance design of the gliders required for practical single and dual vane devices. The devices uses roller bearings to control the radial position of the vane and control rods or pins are used to control axial positioning of the vane, its ‘centralization’ with respect to the rotor and the endplates. The positive displacement rotary vane compressors and vacuum pumps have friction reduction, efficiency enhancement and exceedingly long operating life as a result of the non-contact gas sealing of the process gas within the rotary vane compressors and vacuum pumps. In an embodiment the positive displacement compressing device is used in transportation vehicles.
US07740459B2	Micropump having a pump diaphragm and a polysilicon layer A method for producing a micromechanical component, preferably for fluidic applications having cavities. The component is constructed from two functional layers, the two functional layers being patterned differently using micromechanical methods. A first etch stop layer having a first pattern is applied to a base plate. A first functional layer is applied to the first etch stop layer and to the first contact surfaces of the base plate. A second etch stop layer, having a second pattern, is applied to first functional layer. A second functional layer is applied to the second etch stop layer and to the second contact surfaces of the first functional layer. An etching mask is applied to the second functional layer. The second and the first functional layer are patterned as sacrificial layers by the use of the first and the second etch stop layer by etching methods and/or by using the first and the second etch stop layer. By supplementing patterning of the base plate, additional movable fluidic elements may be implemented, using the method. The method is preferably used for producing a micropump having an epitactic polysilicon layer as the pump diaphragm.
US07740458B2	Transfer case pump bracket The transfer case pump bracket for use with a fluid pump in a transfer case of a vehicle is at least partially received within a pump cavity between the transfer case and the fluid pump. The transfer case pump bracket comprises a base member and one or more support members extending from the base member. The base member is configured to be positioned between the fluid pump and the transfer case when the fluid pump is assembled to the transfer case with the support members being adapted to be received within an indent portion of the pump cavity to at least partially inhibit the fluid pump from contacting the transfer case proximate the indent portion of the pump cavity.
US07740456B2	Suction silencer and compressor therewith A suction silencer in a compressor is disclosed, including a lower shell having an opened top, that draws refrigerant, and an upper shell fixed to the top of the lower shell to form an inside space that reduces noise of drawn refrigerant, and that discharges refrigerant in a direction different from a flow direction of the refrigerant introduced into the lower shell, thereby simplifying a structure to permit easy assembly.
US07740454B2	Thermal actuation pump A simple structured thermal actuation pump for reducing energy loss is provided. The thermal actuation pump includes: a first chamber having at least one working fluid inlet and at least one working fluid outlet; a second chamber having at least one working fluid inlet and at least one working fluid outlet; and a thermoelectric element arranged between the first chamber and the second chamber and including one side being cooled and the other side being heated according to a direction of current for changing inside pressures of the first chamber and the second chamber.
US07740448B2	Pitch control battery backup methods and system A method for controlling a pitch control system of a wind turbine includes providing a charged backup battery configured to supply no energy to a DC link when full AC input power is available, wherein the DC link includes a DC link capacitor. The method further includes using energy stored in the DC link capacitor to operate a pitch control system during a loss or dip of AC input power, and maintaining charge on the DC link capacitor using the charged backup battery as voltage across the DC link capacitor drops during the operation of the pitch control system.
US07740442B2	Methods and system for cooling integral turbine nozzle and shroud assemblies A method for cooling a shroud segment of a gas turbine engine includes providing a turbine shroud assembly including a shroud segment having a leading edge defining a forward face. A turbine nozzle is coupled to the turbine shroud assembly such that a gap is defined between an aft face of an outer band of the turbine nozzle and the forward face, wherein a lip formed on the aft face is positioned radially inwardly with respect to the gap and extends substantially axially downstream from the gap. Cooling air is directed into the gap. Cooling air exiting the gap impinges against the lip to facilitate film cooling the shroud segment.
US07740441B1	Small gas turbine engine with unmixed exhaust A small twin spool gas turbine engine with a bearing support arrangement in which the bearings are dampened by O-rings secured between the bearing races and the support structure, the bearings are arranged in series so that a cooling air can be passed through the bearings to prevent overheating, and the bearings are dry lubricated. The aft end of the engine includes high speed and low speed ball bearings supported with preload springs to add additional damping capability. The end bearing support assemblies form a cooling air path for the cooling fluid to flow through a passage within one of the guide vanes, through the bearings and a hole in the low pressure turbine rotor disk and out the exhaust of the engine. A snorkel tube extends into the bypass air channel drawing air for the bearings, and has a slanted opening preventing dirt particulates from entering the bearing cooling passage.
US07740440B2	Continuous breakdown hoists A breakdown hoist has a secondary stage that permits continuous operation. The breakdown hoist may be run with the secondary stage disabled. In some embodiments a primary and secondary stage can discharge lumber simultaneously onto two conveyors. Providing two conveyors can increase surge capacity.
US07740437B2	Processing system with increased cassette storage capacity A system for processing semiconductor substrates includes a front-end with at least two vertical levels of input/output ports for transferring substrate cassettes into or out of the housing of the processing system. The front-end also includes at least one level of storage positions, e.g., two levels of storage positions, which can be disposed between the two vertical levels of the input/output ports. The two vertical levels of storage positions can each be provided with two storage positions and each of two levels of input/output ports can be provided with accommodations for two cassettes, allowing for a total of eight cassettes to be accommodated at the front-end of the processing system. Inside the housing of the processing system, interior storage positions can be provided adjacent a wafer handling chamber and spaced apart from a cassette store having rotary platforms for housing cassettes. A single cassette handler can be used to access cassettes at each of the input/output ports and the interior storage positions.
US07740436B2	Clinch nut A metal clinch fastener has portions thereof selectively hardened to enable use of the fastener with metal members of differing hardness values. The selective hardening of the fastener enables mounting with application of required forces for piercing and/or plastic deformation of the metal member without undesirable deformation or distortion of the fastener. The screw thread region or zone of the fastener has a relatively lesser hardness suitable and may be pre-threaded or later threaded by engagement with a thread forming screw.
US07740433B2	Waterproof structure for portion where members are tightened with screw A waterproof structure for a tightening section where a first member (1) having a screw hole (1a) with a bottom and a second member (2) having a screw insertion hole (2a) are fastened with a screw (4) that is inserted into the screw insertion hole (2a) and screwed to the screw hole (1a). The screw (4) is a flat head screw, and an annular groove (3b) is formed in the outer surface of a spacer (3) having an insertion hole where recessed circular conical surface (3a) is formed. The spacer (3) is fitted in the screw insertion hole (2a) to be in surface contact with a circular conical surface of a head of the flat head screw. The annular groove (3b) is coaxial with the recessed circular conical surface (3a). An O-ring (5) is installed in the annular groove (3b), and the flat head screw (4) is tightened with the spacer (3) placed between first member and the second member, causing the O-ring (5) to be pressed between an inner surface of the annular groove (3b) and a surface of the screw insertion hole of the second member (2). The waterproof structure can be repeatedly used without damaging the members and does not enlarge a necessary space.
US07740432B2	Article installation device An article-attaching device includes a casing and a holding member fitted into the casing. The holding member has engageable portions configured to be engageable with a hook of an article. The holding member includes a frame portion fitted to the casing and a pair of torsionally-deformable members extending downward from opposed portions of the frame portion. The torsionally-deformable members have engageable portions and a hook receiver under the engageable portions. A hook passes between the engageable portions from inside of the frame portion, causing the respective torsionally-deformable members to be elastically spread and be torsionally deformed, followed by entering the receiver to be prevented from coming out thereof.
US07740429B2	Double locking apparatus for use with a roll-off container transport vehicle A redundant locking device is disclosed with two adjacently positioned latching arms each including an L-shaped hook portion selectively engageable with the container for securing it to a trailer or truck transport apparatus. The two latching arms are positively driven by a powering means such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder which urges both latching arms toward the engaged position for securement of the container. Powering is provided through a lateral link member which is movably secured such as by a universally flexible ball and socket joint with respect to each latching arm for powering movement thereof responsive to activation of the driving air cylinder. The locking device can be secured to the side of a transport vehicle with the cylinder located between the retracted position of the arms or beneath the vehicle with the arms along the side of the vehicle and the drive cylinder positioned therebeneath.
US07740427B2	Drill plate with a clamping attachment in a base body A drilling tool cuffing insert adapted to be clamped in a rotatably driven drilling tool base body, the base body having a mounting groove formed in an end thereof defined by a pair of clamping jaws, each of the jaws having a bore therethrough, one of the bores being threaded, the bores for receiving a mounting screw for clamping said cuffing insert in the mounting groove, each of the jaws having a centering face, the cuffing insert comprising a plate-shaped cuffing element having a first end, a second opposite end, and a bore therethrough for receiving the mounting screw, the first end of the cuffing element having a pair of mutually opposing cuffing edges, the element having a chip face extending from each cuffing edge to the second end of the element, each of the chip faces having a centering fin with a centering face thereon, the cuffing element centering faces adapted to engage with the centering faces on the jaws of the base body to center the cuffing insert in the base body.
US07740425B2	Smart accessories for power tools Accessories for power tools and combinations are provided. An accessory for a power tool may include a body including a connecting portion for connecting the accessory to the power tool and a communication member positioned on the body for communicating with the power tool. The accessory may be capable of communicating with a power tool and an inventory system via the communication member. A combination may include a power tool including a housing and a motor supported by the housing, and a power tool accessory connectable to the power tool and driveable by the motor, the power tool accessory may communicate with the power tool for affecting operation of the power tool. A combination may include an indication device operable to indicate operation characteristics of the power tool to a user. The communication member may be operable to communicate with the indication device.
US07740413B1	Detectable warning system with field thermoplastic application A detectable warning system, for tactilely signaling the presence of a terrain transition to a pedestrian, using a plurality of detectable warning domes that are arranged in a grid within a warning dome tiles. The warning dome tiles comprises heat resistant detectable warning domes and connecting surface. A base layer sheet of thermoplastic is applied and adhered to the pavement surface prior to the application of the detectable warning tiles. A top layer of thermoplastic is applied and adhered to, and conformed to the warning domes. The detectable warning domes protrude from the pavement surface in an evenly spaced pattern that is detectable by the pedestrian using a cane or other guidance instrument.
US07740412B2	Method of cleaning using a device with a liquid reservoir and replaceable non-woven pad A method of cleaning is disclosed. The method includes providing a cleaning tool having a handle having a top and bottom and an opening allowing access into the bottom from the top and a cleaning pad support pivotally attached to the handle portion. The method further includes the steps of placing a cleaning pad onto the cleaning pad support, inserting a fluid dispenser into the fluid dispenser cradle, positioning the cleaning pad onto a surface to be cleaned and moving the cleaning pad on the surface to be cleaned. Liquid may be selectively applied to either the surface to be cleaned or the cleaning implement.
US07740411B2	Verification of prescription information with double side extended tab label and method of forming same A method of forming an extended tab label is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a paper supply to a printer, the paper supply having an adhesive covering at least a portion thereof. Inputting patient-specific information through a computer to the printer. Printing the patient-specific information on the paper supply, where the paper supply containing patient-specific information thereon forms a label having a length greater than a circumference of a container accepting the label.
US07740409B2	Multi-port optical connection terminal An optical device includes at least one optical fiber cable receiving area for receiving at least one optical fiber cable, the receiving area being sized to receive a covering for covering at least a portion of the transition area, and at least one optical fiber cable transition portion disposed at the receiving area, the optical fiber cable transition portion being responsive to and supporting the covering when pressure from the covering is applied to the transition area and the covering and said transition area together form a buffer zone associated with at least a portion of the cable receiving area. Methods include providing a multi-port optical connection terminal having a stub cable port; connecting a stub cable assembly including a stub cable to the stub cable port; and forming a sloped buffer zone between the stub cable port and the stub cable to relieve stress in the stub cable.
US07740407B2	Hydrodynamic bearing type rotary device and recording and reproduction apparatus including the same To prevent air from being trapped inside a bearing and causing the bearing to have oil film rupture and NRRO to deteriorate. In a hydrodynamic bearing, a first lubricant reservoir is provided in a gap between a lower surface of a hub and a sleeve, and a second lubricant reservoir is provided in a gap between an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve and an inner peripheral surface of the hub or an inner peripheral surface of a stopper member fixed to the hub. If air enters inside such a hydrodynamic bearing, the air has to be discharged. For this purpose, the relationship in widths of the radial bearing gap, the maximum gap of the first lubricant reservoir under the lower surface of the hub and the maximum gap of the second lubricant reservoir on the sleeve outer peripheral surface, or the relationship in magnitudes of capillary forces thereof is adjusted. The principle that air tends to move toward the portion having smaller capillary pressure is utilized to make it difficult for the air to be trapped inside the bearing and to smoothly discharge the air from a gas-liquid interface of the second lubricant reservoir.
US07740404B2	X-ray film holder for use with dental simulation models An x-ray film holder is provided to attach to a dental simulation model and to support an x-ray film. The x-ray film holder includes a base with a releasable contact fastener for attaching the dental simulation model thereto. The x-ray film holder also includes a support member to releasably hold an x-ray film. The support member can be configured as an adjustable support member for accommodating x-ray films of various film thicknesses.
US07740401B2	Food mixing machine and agitator therefor A food mixer (10) includes a rotatable shaft (18) which is connected to the shaft (21) of an agitator (20). The agitator (20) includes an upper disk (23) attached to the shaft (21) and a lower disk (28). Slat walls (27, 29) extend from the upper disk (23) to the lower disk (22) and slat walls (27, 29) are curved so as to together forming a parabolic ring. A central blade (33) extends from the upper disk (23) to the lower disk (28) between the slat walls (27, 29). Both the upper and lower disks (23, 28) are circular and are curved upwardly in one direction and curved downwardly in a direction transverse to the one direction.
US07740400B2	Control drip mixer attachment A control drip mixer attachment is in combination with a hub type food mixer. The control drip mixer attachment includes a container with a side wall and a bottom wall forming an interior of the container. A shaft is connected to the container, with the shaft being adapted and arranged to be removably inserted into a hub section of the mixer. An outlet opening is in fluid communication with the interior of the container near the bottom wall and is located vertically above the bowl of the mixer.
US07740396B2	Arrangement for improving the operational performance of cement mixing truck A system and method are provided for improving the operational performance of a moving cement mixer vehicle with a rotatable mixing drum by automatically stopping the rotation of the mixing drum at select moments. The system may include a sensor adapted to deliver a signal indicative of an operational parameter, such as steering angle of the vehicle, and a processing unit adapted to receive the signal from the sensor and deliver a control signal based on the signal for stopping rotation of the mixing drum.
US07740395B2	Illuminated air treatment device A light and air freshener in combination. The air freshener has one or more reservoirs which may be refilled or replaced. The light illuminates the reservoirs, to provide an aesthetically pleasing effect. The light may be specular and aimed towards a space between plural reservoirs. This arrangement provides the benefit that surface near the air freshener may be illuminated in an aesthetically pleasing manner while providing the functionality of a night light.
US07740391B2	Backlight module A backlight module has a light guide plate and a plurality of light sources. The light guide plate includes a light exit surface, a plurality of light entrance surfaces round the light exit surface, and a plurality of light guide portions disposed on the bottom surface opposite to the light exit surface. The light guide portions corresponding to the same imaginary circle center constitute a concentric arc-shaped light guide portion set. The imaginary circle center of each light guide portion set is located at the outer side of the light entrance surfaces. Light rays projected to one of the light entrance surfaces from the imaginary circle center of each light guide portion set are guided to a light exit surface by the light guide portion set. The wavelength of the light ray projected by each light source is not equal to that of the light projected by another light source.
US07740390B2	Segmented light guide An exemplary embodiment of a segmented light guide includes a light channeling layer having at least one slit dividing the light channeling layer into a plurality of segments, and at least one LED associated with the light channeling layer. The slit substantially prevents light from migrating in the segmented light guide between adjacent segments that are divided by the slit.
US07740389B2	Liquid crystal display with light guide plate and light source disposed above the light guide plate A liquid crystal display (200) includes a transparent substrate (25), a light guide plate (28) disposed under the substrate, and a light source (29) disposed above the light guide plate at a thin side of the substrate. The light guide plate includes a top surface (280). An area of the top surface corresponding to the light source defines a light incident area, and another area of the top surface corresponding to the substrate defines a light emitting area.
US07740388B2	Optical plate and backlight module using the same An exemplary optical plate includes a plurality of transparent plate units. The transparent plate unit includes a first surface, a second surface, a plurality of conical frustum protrusions, a diffusion layer and a lamp-receiving portion. The second surface is opposite to the first surface. The conical frustum protrusions are formed at the first surface. Each conical frustum protrusion comprises two conical frustums. The diffusion layer is formed at the second surface. The lamp-receiving portion is defined in one of the first surface and the second surface. A backlight module using the optical plate is also provided.
US07740385B2	Projector device A projector device-of the present invention includes a light blocking mechanism for blocking leak light from a lamp unit. The light blocking mechanism includes a first light blocking member having a plurality of first light blocking plates arranged therein at certain pitches, and a second light blocking member having a plurality of second light blocking plates arranged therein at certain pitches. The first light blocking plates and the second light blocking plates each define a gap providing an air flow passage. A flat inclined part of each second light blocking plate extends in an inverted direction to a flat inclined part of each first light blocking plate, with a predetermined angle of inclination, so that the first light blocking plates and the second light blocking plates block the light emitted from the lamp unit toward a vent of a casing in all orientations.
US07740384B2	Lighting fixture with adjustable reflector A lighting assembly comprising a socket member having a substantially tubular wall defining a cavity therein and a reflector having a first substantially tubular section telescopically received within the socket member side wall. The reflector includes first and second recesses in the first tubular section wherein the first recess is located at a first distance from an end of the first tubular section and the second recess is located at a second distance, greater than the first distance, from an end of the first tubular section. The lighting assembly includes a resilient or spring-biased member, such as a leaf spring, coupled to the socket member extending into the cavity wherein the socket member and reflector are adapted to be coupled together at first and second different positions with the first resilient member being receivable in the first recess in the first position and the first resilient member being receivable in the second recess in the second position.
US07740383B2	Two-layered optical plate including skewed micro-depression matrix An exemplary optical plate includes a transparent layer and a light diffusion layer. The transparent layer includes a light input interface, a light output surface opposite to the light input interface, and a plurality of micro-depressions formed on the light output surface. The micro-depressions are arranged along a plurality of imaginary, separate, circular arcs. Each micro-depression has at least three side surfaces connected to each other, and a transverse width of each side surface increases along a direction away from the light diffusion layer. The light diffusion layer is integrally formed in immediate contact with the light input interface of the transparent layer, and free of air or gas pockets trapped in an interface therebetween. The light diffusion layer includes a transparent matrix resin and a plurality of diffusion particles dispersed in the transparent matrix resin.
US07740379B2	Illumination module and projection apparatus An illumination module including a first light-emitting element, a first heat dissipation element, a first heat conducting unit, a second light-emitting element, a second heat dissipation element, and a second heat conducting unit is provided. The first light-emitting element is capable of emitting a first color light beam. The first heat conducting unit is connected between the first light-emitting element and the first heat dissipation element. The second light-emitting element is capable of emitting a second color light beam. The second heat conducting unit is connected between the second light-emitting element and the second heat dissipation element. The first heat dissipation element and the second heat dissipation element are disposed separately. The first heat conducting unit and the second heat conducting unit are also disposed separately. The heat dissipation characteristic of the illumination module is better. A projection apparatus having the illumination module is also provided.
US07740376B2	Flexible light emitting module A flexible light emitting module includes: a flexible substrate; and a flexible multi-layer structure formed on the flexible substrate, and including a plurality of light emitting bare chips that are disposed on the same level and that cooperatively define a spacing thereamong, a dielectric material that fills the spacing and that cooperates with the bare chips to form a light emitting layer, and first and second conductive layers sandwiching and adapted to connect the light emitting layer to a power source.
US07740370B2	Modular storage container A modular storage container adapted to hold cosmetics or other small items in a stylish and sleek way is provided. The modular storage container can include a base unit having a first side and a second side, one of a mirror and magnifying device being arranged on the first side of the base unit, an illumination assembly for illuminating the mirror, and a removable cover. The removable cover can be adapted to secure to the first side of the base unit and to protect one of the mirror and magnifying device in a first secured position of the cover. The second side of the base unit is capable of being secured to one or more of a plurality of modular storage units in a stacked relationship. The second side of the base unit can be capable of being secured to the cover in a second secured position of the cover. The first side of the base unit can be adapted to secure to a first end of the cover and the second side of the base unit can be adapted to secure to a second end of the cover.
US07740367B2	Detachable pool light A swimming pool light assembly for connecting a light to a side wall of a pool where a pool light niche is not provided, said assembly can have an interchangeable light, a watertight connector comprising a first end and a second end operable to deliver at least one of power and control signals to said light through said first end, and a cable with a first end connected to said connector for providing at least one of power from a power source and a control signal from a controller to said light, wherein said light is operable for connecting and disconnecting from said watertight connector while both said connector and said light are submerged in water.
US07740361B2	Alignment optimization in image display systems employing multi-camera image acquisition The present invention relates to projection systems where one or more projectors are utilized to project a video, a still image, or combinations thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods of calibrating and operating such systems. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of operating an image display system is provided. According to the method, one or more image sensors acquire respective overlapping portions I1, I2 of a projected image. Screen position coordinates for image fiducials in the first and second portions I1, I2 of the projected image are identified and used to establish first and second sets of distance metrics D1, D2 for the first and second portions of the projected image. A global point set is constructed from the first and second sets of distance metrics D1, D2. Global points within a region where the first and second portions I1, I2 of the projected image overlap are derived from only one of the first and second sets of distance metrics D1, D2. In this manner, a first subset G1 of the global point set will comprise fiducial positions derived from only one of the first and second sets of distance metrics D1, D2 and a second subset G2 of the global point set will comprise fiducial positions derived from the other of the first and second sets of distance metrics D1, D2. Alignment of the first and second subsets G1, G2 of the global point set is optimized by adjusting fiducial positions in the global point set in a manner that at least partially accounts for differences between local positional data derived from the first and second sets of distance metrics D1, D2 and global positional data of the fiducial positions in the global point set. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US07740353B2	Wearable high resolution audio visual interface An adjustable visual optical element is provided, which may be supported, for example, by an eyeglass. The optical element is preferably adjustable in each of the X, Y, and Z axes to allow the wearer to optimize projection of the optical element. A view axis of the display is preferably also angularly adjustable with respect to a wearer's straight ahead normal line of sight. Source electronics may be carried onboard the eyeglasses, or may be connectable to the eyeglasses via either a hardwire, optical guide, or radiofrequency link.
US07740349B2	Printer and printing method A printer includes a holding unit, a printer head, a movement controller and a printing controller. The holding unit is configured to hold a print substrate having a surface to be printed. The printer head is configured to eject ink from a plurality of ejection nozzles to the surface. The movement controller is configured to move the holding unit and the printer head relative to each other. The printing controller is configured to control ejection of the ink from the printer head according to a surface curvature of the surface and a relative position of the holding unit and the printer head.
US07740347B2	Ink usage tracking in a cartridge for a mobile device A replaceable print cartridge for installation in a mobile device, the print cartridge comprising: a printhead; at least one ink reservoir; storage means configured to store information indicative of an amount of printing that can be achieved by the cartridge based on the amount of ink in the at least one ink reservoir; and an information changing mechanism for changing a value of the information.
US07740342B2	Unit cell for a thermal inkjet printhead A unit cell for a thermal inkjet printhead includes a substrate portion that defines an ink supply passage, Drive circuitry and interconnect layers are positioned on the substrate portion. A nozzle plate defining a nozzle is provided. Side walls depend from the nozzle plate and are positioned on the substrate portion to define an ink chamber. A heater element is connected to the drive circuitry and is positioned intermediate the nozzle plate and the substrate portion. The heater element is suspended in the ink chamber in alignment with the nozzle and is shaped to be symmetrical about two planes that intersect along an axis extending through a center of the nozzle.
US07740337B2	Pagewidth inkjet printhead incorporating power and data transmission film positioning protuberances A pagewidth inkjet printhead is provided which comprises an elongate ink distribution assembly connectable to an ink supply. A printhead chip is mounted to the ink distribution assembly to receive ink from the ink distribution assembly and a plurality of positioning protuberances protrude from the ink distribution assembly. A power and data transmission film is positioned about the ink distribution assembly using the plurality of positioning protuberances. At least one power busbar is positioned about the ink distribution assembly also using the plurality of positioning protuberances. The positioning protuberances may protrude from an outer surface of the ink distribution assembly and the power and data transmission film can be a tape automated bonding (TAB) strip interconnecting the at least one power busbar and the printhead chip.
US07740335B2	Liquid ejection apparatus and maintenance method of liquid ejection head A liquid ejection apparatus includes a plurality of liquid ejection heads, a plurality of elastic wiper blades for rubbing the nozzle formed surfaces of the liquid ejection heads, a blade cleaner for removing liquid adhered to the wiper blade, a cleaning unit for removing liquid adhered to the wiper blades, a wiper blade moving unit for respectively and independently moving the plurality of wiper blades between a rubbing position and a retreating position, and a control unit that controls the wiper blade moving unit so that the cleaning unit can make the blade cleaner and the moved wiper blades rub with each other. Herein, it is possible to maintain cleaning performance, preventing contamination of a wiper blade caused by liquid splashed from a neighboring wiper blade.
US07740329B2	Server rack assembly A server rack assembly for supporting a receiving bracket accommodating a plurality of electronic components, includes a base, a pair of rails mounted on the base, and at least one pair of securing brackets. The base spacedly protrudes two pairs of opposite stands. At lease one first positioning hole is defined in each stand. Each rail spans between the respective stands and is mounted thereon. One of the securing brackets is securely mounted on a rear end of one of the rails, and the other securing bracket is slidably attached to a front end of the rail. Each securing bracket protrudes at least one positioning member for inserting in the at least one first positioning hole. A sliding member attached to each securing bracket elastically abuts against one corresponding stand for preventing the positioning member being disengaged from the positioning hole of the stand.
US07740328B2	Ball bearing slide assembly A ball bearing slide assembly includes a first slide, a second slide slidably receiving the first slide, a slide-aiding member, and a positioning member slidably attached to the second slide. The slide-aiding member is slidably sandwiched between the first slide and the second slide. The slide-aiding member includes two arms each having a plurality of ball bearings installed therein for facilitating the sliding movement of the first slide relative to the second slide. The slide-aiding member defines a latching slot therein. The positioning member includes a positioning portion engagable in the latching slot of the slide-aiding member for fixing the slide-aiding member to the second slide.
US07740326B2	Core-less crawler track and rubber projections therefore The present invention provides a crawler in which, due to alteration of a shape of rubber projections which mesh with a sprocket, even when earth, sand and the like has been deposited at an inner peripheral surface of the crawler, damage to the concerned rubber projections will not be incurred. It is a core-less crawler track at an inner peripheral surface of which rubber projections for driving are formed with a certain pitch. In side view, the rubber projections form a substantially triangular shape provided with a drive side inclination surface Pa and a brake side inclination surface Pb. The inclination surfaces of this rubber projection are divided into the drive side inclination surface Pa and the brake side inclination surface Pb. Steps D are formed at both the inclination surfaces. Base side (bottom step) inclination angles X are set with an inclination angle XB of a brake side inclination surface Pba larger than an inclination angle XA of a drive side inclination surface Paa, and top side (top step) inclination angles Y are set with an inclination angle YA of a drive side inclination surface Pab larger than an inclination angle YB of a brake side inclination surface Pbb.
US07740322B2	School bus seat with energy absorber A school bus seat comprises a pin having a cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon and an octagon. First and second brackets include an aperture selected correspondingly from the group consisting of a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon and an octagon. First and second supports include an aperture selected correspondingly from the group consisting of a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon and an octagon. The apertures in the brackets and supports are formed in a fiber reinforced polymer such that the apertures are devoid of knit lines. The pins reside in the apertures of the supports and brackets inhibiting rotation of the brackets with respect to the supports. A seat back is secured to the brackets.
US07740321B2	Suspended pixelated seating structure A suspended pixelated seating structure provides ergonomic, adaptable seating support. The suspended pixelated seating structure includes multiple cooperative layers to maximize global comfort and support while enhancing adaptation to localized variations in a load, such as in the load applied when a person sits in a chair. The cooperative layers each use independent elements such as pixels, springs, support rails, and other elements to provide this adaptable comfort and support. The suspended pixelated seating structure also uses aligned material to provide a flexible yet durable suspended seating structure. Accordingly, the suspended pixelated seating structure provides maximum comfort for a wide range of body shapes and sizes.
US07740320B2	Chair having grooves in each arm for receiving a sheet of fabric as a seat A chair is presented that includes a pair of chair arms, two pairs of chair legs, and a sheet of fabric. Each chair arm has a concave shape and a concave groove extending along the entire length of a concave surface of the chair arm. Each pair of chair legs is affixed to a bottom surface of each chair arm opposite the groove. The sheet of fabric has a pair of flexible rods. Each rod is affixed to the fabric and is substantially parallel to one another. The sheet of fabric is affixed to the chair by threading each of the rods through a different one of the corresponding grooves.
US07740318B2	Baby head sleeping support system for car seat A padded strap is attached to both sides of a child car seat using two sets of hook and loop type fasteners, and alternatively, through use of two rotating discs. A child car seat head support system is thereby provided, which holds a baby's head in a comfortable, upright position while sleeping in a forward facing car seat. Stabilized support is accomplished using the padded strap to gently hold the child's head in an upright position against the back of the child's car seat. The support mechanism prevents the child's head from falling forward or “rolling” to the left or right side while the child is asleep. In an alternative embodiment, the padded strap is attached at both free ends to a tension strap with two sets of fasteners, respectively; thereby forming a single, circular strap, operable for placement over the top of the car seat. The circular strap is held in position by the tension force applied by the elastic material of the padded strap, and the resulting friction applied between the circular strap and the outside of the car seat. The circumference of the circular strap may be adjusted with the two sets of fasteners, preferably hook and loop type, to accommodate various car seats, strollers, booster seats, and the like.
US07740316B2	Integrated car seat with lengthwise adjustment mechanism In the integrated car seat with a lengthwise adjustment mechanism having two pairs of rails, with a bottom support frame having two front pivotal supports, two rear pivotal supports and two side parts carried on the pivotal supports, with a seat back connected to the side parts by a seat back joint and with a seat belt buckle, the side part is configured in the shape of a shell on the seat side that is turned away from the buckle, the side part having a bottom and a perimeter profile rim. The side part turned away from the buckle is open toward the outside, the outside preferably meaning the outboard side of the seat.
US07740311B2	Car seat In a front part inside a seat cushion are arranged a catching member extending in a widthwise direction of the seat cushion and movable up and down, and inertial force transmission means for moving the catching member upward by the inertial force that acts on an inertial mass at the time of rapid deceleration. When a passenger sits on the seat cushion, the catching member moves down so as not to deteriorate the seat comfort, and at the time of rapid deceleration, the catching member moves up and stops the passenger's hips from moving forward. Thus it is reliably prevented that the passenger moves forward, without deteriorating the seat comfort, and the design is simple, lightweight, and low-cost.
US07740308B2	Portable stool The present invention provides a telescoping leg with a seat configured to collapsibly nest there within during a stowed mode and configured to be extracted and provide a seating surface atop the telescoping leg for supporting a person during a deployed mode. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a portable stool is provided comprising a leg and a seat configured to collapse and nest within the leg during a stowed mode, the seat configured to be extracted from the leg for providing a seating surface atop the leg for supporting a person during a deployed mode. The present invention can be compacted to a small size so that is can be easily carried in a purse, bag, or pocket.
US07740305B2	Corner cap assembly for van-style truck body An enclosed freight body of a van-style cargo vehicle for transporting cargo comprises a side wall assembly, an end wall assembly and a roof assembly, and a multi-piece corner cap assembly interconnecting converging portions of the side wall assembly, the end wall assembly and the roof assembly together. The multi-piece corner cap assembly includes a rigid reinforcing member structurally interconnecting the side wall assembly and the end wall assembly, and a protective cover member attached to each of the side wall assembly, the end wall assembly and the roof assembly so as to cover the rigid reinforcing member from outside of the freight body. Also, the protective cover member is made of a flexible impact resistant material, while the rigid reinforcing member is made of a high stiffness and high strength material. The multi-piece corner cap system provides a combination of stiffness, strength, impact resistance and cost effectiveness.
US07740304B1	Umbrella semi-trailer drag reducer The Umbrella Semi-Trailer Drag Reducer is a device that reduces tractor-trailer aerodynamic drag, saving energy and reducing fuel consumption. The design includes a number of features similar to an umbrella, including flexible skin, metal ribs, quick-acting deployment, and compact stowage. The Umbrella Semi-Trailer Drag Reducer is designed to minimize installed cost, be robust and vandal resistant, and reduce the time needed for deployment to only a few seconds. The design includes two independent, paraboloid, mirrored halves, one mounted to each door. The bottom of each mirrored half is open, with a profile similar to one quadrant of an umbrella. Wide-throw hinges accommodate the collapsed stowed drag reducer. Turnbuckles maintain taught skin. The design allows easy retrofit for most existing semi-trailers. The drag reducer is mounted high above the road surface, with no part protruding beyond the top or sides of the semi-trailer.
US07740303B2	Mini skirt aerodynamic fairing device for reducing the aerodynamic drag of ground vehicles A device for the reduction of aerodynamic drag and for improved performance and stability of ground vehicles by reducing the mass and velocity of the flow passing under a vehicle is described. The device is particularly suited for a tractor-trailer truck system that includes a motorized lead vehicle pulling one or more non-motorized vehicles. The device is designed to control the flow from entering the undercarriage region from the side of a trailer of a tractor-trailer truck system.
US07740300B2	2-sided golf cart enclosure with magnetic door An improved portable golf cart enclosure design featuring a top and two sides that wrap around a typical golf cart to protect occupants from wind, rain and cold. The improved enclosure features a roll-on and roll-up design that improves the installation and removal task over traditional golf cart enclosures. Finally, this invention improves ingress and egress through a horizontal swing away magnetic door design.
US07740297B2	Hanger saver A garment hanger carrier comprising an elongated body having a top and bottom and two sides, a channel provided proximate the bottom of the body and extending from side to side for receiving the garment hangers, a rail disposed proximate the bottom of the body and extending from side to side thereof below the channel for supporting the garment hangers and a carrying device for suspending the garment hanger carrier from a rail, rod or bracket wherein the garment hanger carrier may be used to carry and support a plurality of garment hangers.
US07740296B2	Gutter cleaning apparatus A gutter cleaning apparatus includes a pair of opposing reverse curved blades biased open and connected together at upper edges by spring hinges. A fixed blade attaches to an extendible pole. A movable blade includes a lever arm fixed to an end of a rope that extends down the axis of the pole to the user's hand. During operation, the end of the pole with the attached apparatus is lifted over the gutter; the blades are lowered into the gutter sidewalls, and slid along the gutter trough to pile up debris. The apparatus, with open blades, is lifted over the pile and lowered into the debris. The rope is then pulled taut to close the blades and grasp the debris. The apparatus and debris are lifted from the gutter. Tension on the rope is slackened to release the debris that falls to the ground for collection and disposal.
US07740295B2	System and method for connecting attachments to a vehicle The present invention is directed to a system and method for connecting attachments to a vehicle including in a first embodiment a bumper guard that provides a barrier of protection for vehicle bumpers. The bumper guard includes two pieces, a first piece or bumper guard locator and a second piece or bottom piece. The first piece is attached to a vehicle through the lower holes in a license plate and is secured or locked in place using a locking mechanism. The second piece attaches, or depends from the first piece and is dimensioned and configured to rest over a bumper of the vehicle. The second piece is removably connected to the first piece and may be replaced when damaged or worn. Alternatively, in a second embodiment of the invention, the second piece may be a different component such as a “tailgating platform tray”, or other component module that attaches to a “T” locking system. The bumper guard or platform tray can be easily attached to the vehicle, stored and removed.
US07740290B2	Electronic device An electronic device includes a first housing, a first lock mechanism disposed in the first housing, a second housing, and a second lock mechanism disposed at the second housing. The first housing has a first surface. The second housing pivoted to the first housing is suitable for rotating relatively to the first housing. The second housing has a second surface and a third surface which are respectively disposed at the two opposite sides of the second housing. When the second surface is closed to the first surface and a first portion of the second slider is protruded from the second surface, the first portion is locked with the first lock mechanism. When the third surface is closed to the first surface and a second portion of the second slider is protruded from the third surface, the second portion is locked with the first lock mechanism.
US07740289B2	Housing of foldable electronic device An exemplary housing of a foldable electronic device includes a first cover, a second cover, and a button disposed on the second cover. The first cover includes a lock receiving portion. The button includes a main body, a lock portion, and a resilient portion. The lock portion is configured for engaging with the lock receiving portion. The lock portion and the resilient portion connect with the main body. The main body includes a contact portion and a pivot portion. The contact portion and the pivot portion are separated from each other at a predetermined distance. The main body is rotatably disposed on the second cover by the pivot portion. The resilient portion is located on another end opposite to the pivot portion.
US07740281B2	Method and system for producing certified documents and the like A system for generating secure documents includes a station for generating a plain document and a security image generator that generates a security image. The security image is then incorporated into the plain document. Each security image consists of a plurality of secure elements, each secure element being defined by two sets of parallel lines. Each secure element defines an alphanumeric character or other unique image that is visible under certain conditions, i.e., when inspected through a viewer. The technique can also be used to provide security images on a web page as a means of indicating that the web page is genuine.
US07740277B2	Motor vehicle, in particular a cabriolet, having a rollover protection device arrange behind the seats A motor vehicle, in particular cabriolet, has a rollover protection device disposed behind the seats. The rollover protection device has a supporting frame, which extends in a vehicle transverse direction and which is fastened to the adjoining vehicle supporting structure, and at least one rollover protection cassette which contains a deployable rollover body. The supporting frame contains lateral upright column sections, a transversely running connecting profile and support elements which are connected to the column sections. Here, it is important that the at least one rollover protection cassette or a housing thereof is a constituent supporting part of the multi-part supporting frame which extends in the vehicle transverse direction.
US07740273B2	Temperature-compensated airbag inflator Airbag inflator system includes an inflatable airbag, a housing and a gas generating system arranged in the housing for generating gas. The gas generating system provides variable amounts of gas to the airbag as a function of temperature. A nozzle may be arranged between the gas generating system and an interior of the airbag, the nozzle being varied as a function of temperature. The housing may be movably arranged relative to a fixed base and mounted to vary its relation to the base. To this end, elastic or temperature-deformable supports may be used to support the housing on the base. When the housing defines a chamber containing generated gas, the properties of a conduit between the chamber and the interior of the airbag can be varied as function of the pressure in the chamber.
US07740272B2	Airbag apparatus for small vehicles An airbag apparatus for a small vehicle for preventing an airbag from being inflated uselessly even when a rider is moved significantly on the vehicle. A first airbag module includes impact sensors, an electronic control unit for generating an output signal when an impact force is determined to be excessive from detection signals supplied from the impact sensors, an inflator which is activated by the output signal from the electronic control unit and an airbag which is inflated by gas generated from the inflator that is mounted on a small vehicle. A second airbag module includes an inflator and a wearing type airbag which is inflated by gas generated by the inflator that is mounted on a rider. The electronic control unit and the inflator of the second airbag module are connected by couplers that can input the output signal from the electronic control unit to the second airbag module.
US07740270B2	Curtain air bag apparatus A curtain air bag apparatus for protecting an occupant in a vehicle upon a vehicle collision, has an air bag body inflating and deploying in a curtain-like shape in a side surface of a vehicle interior with a high pressure gas jetted and introduced into the air bag body by an inflator. The air bag body has a main inflation chamber and a sub-inflation chamber which are defined by a partition portion formed by bonding inside surfaces of the air bag body, and a gas flow regulation passage formed as a partly non-bonding portion of the partition portion. The main and sub-inflation chambers are respectively located at an upper side and a lower side of the air bag body and communicate with each other through the gas flow regulation passage.
US07740266B2	Spring and pendulum system for shock attenuation in trailer hitches A system is described for attenuating intermittent forces at the interconnection between a towing vehicle and a trailer. The system includes a linear rocking member suspended between the towing vehicle and the trailer, a shock absorber between the linear rocking member and the vehicle, and a pendulum having a fulcrum connected to the vehicle and a swinging component rotationally connected to the linear rocking member, and a fastening device connecting the linear rocking member to the trailer to be towed.
US07740262B2	Easy riding bicycle A bicycle frame may include handlebars having a rise and range of handlebar angle adjustment and a seat tube mounted at an angle a fixed distance rearward of the bottom bracket. The combination of the handlebar rise, the fixed distance and seat tube angle, as well as the ranges of handlebar angle and saddle height adjustments, result in the handlebar angle and saddle height being sufficiently adjustable so that almost all riders can comfortably sit upright on the saddle using substantially the same leg extension to place a foot flat on the ground when stopped and while pedaling.
US07740259B2	Movable step for a materials handling vehicle A materials handling vehicle is provided comprising a frame including an operator compartment having at least one entrance and a floorboard. The vehicle further comprises at least one step capable of being positioned across the entrance a spaced distance from the floorboard such that an operator may stand on the step when the step is positioned across the entrance to gain access to an elevated storage location.
US07740258B2	Air cylinder pull handle release A trailer slider assembly includes a handle that moves a trailer slider locking mechanism between an unlocked position and a locked position. A suspension side rail has a retaining feature that holds the handle in the unlocked position. A release mechanism releases the handle from the retaining feature in response to a release of a parking brake. This prevents a vehicle from driving off with the trailer slider locking mechanism in the unlocked position.
US07740253B2	Vehicle steer axle assembly In one aspect, a vehicle steer axle has a horizontal axle member that has a steering axis male feature integrally formed on an end, wherein a vehicle steering knuckle, which forms a vehicle steering axis female feature, is directly rotatably coupled to the vehicle steer axle. In another aspect, a vehicle steering knuckle has a horizontal steering knuckle member that has a steering axis male feature integrally formed on an end, wherein the vehicle steering knuckle is directly rotatably coupled to a vehicle steer axle, which forms a vehicle steering axis female feature. Neither of these aspects utilize a separable kingpin.
US07740251B2	Hand truck for appliances The hand truck for appliances is a device for moving a water heater and other appliances. The hand truck includes a main frame having a pair of wheels mounted on a lower end rearward of the main frame, and a support plate also mounted on the lower end and projecting forward from the main frame. The support plate has a front edge and a rear edge, with the rear edge being contoured to be received within a water heater drain pan, with the rear edge being positioned adjacent and contiguous to the inner wall of the water heater drain pan. This allows the water heater to be carried on the hand truck for appliances, supported by the support plate, in order to be placed directly into the water heater drain pan.
US07740247B2	Compound sliding seal unit suitable for atmosphere to vacuum applications The present invention is a compound sliding seal unit of markedly reduced size and height dimensions which is employed as a discrete assembly for both the passage across and the at-will height adjustment of a mounted, rotatable shaft which extends from the atmospheric environment portion into the vacuum environmental portion of an ion implanter apparatus. The extended, rotatable shaft is typically fashioned as either a rotatable hollow tube or conduit (suitable for the passage of electrical components) and/or as a rotatable support suitable for the mounting of a pivotal scanning radial arm translation system. The manner of construction and the substantially reduced height dimensions of the compound sliding seal unit permits on-demand changes of height for the mounted, rotatable shaft which extends from the atmospheric environment and extends through the compound unit into the confined and limited spatial volume of a vacuum environment within a conventional ion implantation apparatus. The compound unit also allows the user to maintain a high vacuum within the vacuum environment despite the fact that the height of the feed-through member can be raised and lowered repeatedly at will. Its compact size frees space which can be used to extend the vacuum chamber for purposes such as a deep Faraday cup for beam measurement.
US07740246B1	Novelty golfing device having magnetic projectile A game system that uses a swinging launcher to strike and propel a magnetic projectile. The magnetic projectile is propelled toward a primary target. If struck, the magnetic projectile clings to the primary target with magnetic attraction. Optional obstacles may be provided to make the striking of the primary target more difficult and the game more challenging. A tee is provided for placement of the magnetic projectile. The swinging launcher is spring loaded. The swinging launcher has a striking head that contacts the magnetic projectile on the tee when the spring loaded striking head is cocked and released. The striking head hits and separates the magnetic projectile from the tee thereby propelling the magnetic projectile toward the target.
US07740241B2	Sheet transporting device, and automatic document feeder and image forming apparatus provided with the same A sheet transporting device including: a sheet feeding section that feeds plural sheets to a transporting path; three or more roller pairs that are arranged along the transporting path; a double feed detecting section that detects a length of a double feed portion when sheets are fed in an overlapped manner; a selecting section that selects two of the three or more roller pairs based on the length of the double feed portion; and a transport control section that can change a transporting speed of at least one of the selected roller pairs, wherein the selecting section selects two roller pairs that have a space between which the double feed portion can be positioned, and the transport control section controls the transporting speeds of the selected roller pairs such that the speeds differ from each other to separate the delaying sheet from the preceding sheet.
US07740239B2	Sheet processing apparatus A sheet processing apparatus of the invention includes a standby tray on which a sheet discharged from an image forming apparatus is placed, a processing tray on which the sheet dropped from the standby tray is received and placed, and a post-processing mechanism to perform a post-processing on the sheet placed on the processing tray, and further, an electricity removing brush is attached integrally to a rotation shaft disposed in a direction orthogonal to a transport direction of the sheet at a height position between the standby tray and the processing tray. The electricity removing brush comes in contact with a lowermost surface of the sheet placed on the standby tray or an uppermost surface of the sheet placed on the processing tray by rotation of the rotation shaft, and removes the electricity of the sheet.
US07740237B2	Sheet post-processing apparatus A post-processing apparatus that is set beside an image forming apparatus and applies staple processing to sheets subjected to image formation and folds the sheets to manufacture a booklet includes a hooking control mechanism that is provided on the opposite side of center folding rollers across a sheet bundle and pushes the sheet bundle in a stapler direction to prevent a bent staple from hooking on an edge of an anvil.
US07740235B2	Mount for equipment for conveying persons A mount having an insulation body is arranged between a bearer and an elevator drive, wherein a fastening connects the elevator drive with the bearer. Plugs are embedded in the insulation body, wherein the plugs distributed in a grid-like manner in rows and columns over the insulation body. The plugs, which can be broken out, enable a uniform spring deflection in the case of different loading. The insulation body required for the respective application can be produced by breaking out the appropriate number of plugs.
US07740232B2	Winch bar with offset handle A winch bar for use together with a strap winch to tighten a load-securing strap for a flatbed truck or trailer. In addition to an offset angle, the winch bar also includes one or more compensating angles establishing an obstacle clearance area defined by a laterally offset portion of the winch bar.
US07740225B1	Self adjusting solenoid driver and method A fluid dispenser having a dispensing valve movable between open and closed positions for controlling the flow of the fluid from the fluid dispenser. A solenoid is operatively connected to the dispensing valve and is capable of moving the dispensing valve between the open and closed positions. The fluid dispenser further includes a power supply having a voltage and a driver circuit electrically connected to the solenoid and the power supply. The driver circuit provides an output signal to the solenoid having a time variable component, for example, a peak current duration, determined as a function of the voltage of the power supply. Thus, the driver circuit automatically adjusts to, and can be used with, power supplies of different voltages. The invention further includes a method by which the driver circuit provides the output signal as a function of the power supply voltage.
US07740223B2	Mechanical climbing aid of the cam type A climbing cam having opposed asymmetrically sized cam members to eliminate the interference that limits the expansion range of climbing aids of the cam type. An optional cam member provides an opposing force to assist in maintaining the placement of the cam in the rock.
US07740222B2	Electronic device with a hanging mechanism A hanging electronic device, for hanging on a H thickness wall, comprises a main body and an adjustable hanging mechanism. The adjustable hanging mechanism for mounting the main body on the wall comprises: at least one cantilever bar and an elastic member. The cantilever bar has a first rod, a second rod, a third rod and an elastic member. The first rod has a rotation axis for the cantilever bar to rotate on the main body, and the second rod is coupled to the first rod. The third rod coupled to the second rod is substantially parallel to the first rod. The elastic member is coupled to the first rod. When the cantilever bar rotates relatively to the main body with a rotation angle α, the third rod is firmly against the wall.
US07740207B2	Aircraft flight control systems and methods An aircraft flight control system advantageously is provided with a control rod which is spline-connected to a bearing assembly so as to permit simultaneous independent longitudinal and rotational movements of the control rod while isolating such movements from one another (e.g., so as to allow operative interconnection to an aircraft's aileron and elevator control surfaces). Thus, the control rod is moveable in longitudinal and rotational directions relative to a longitudinal axis of the control rod in response to pitch and roll command inputs, respectively. The control rod is splined operatively to the bearing assembly so as to allow for independent simultaneous longitudinal and rotational movements of the control rod relative to the longitudinal axis thereof to thereby allow the command inputs to be transferred to the aircraft's respective flight control surfaces.
US07740204B1	Propulsion system An extraterrestrial vehicle propulsion system uses a frusto-conical body member that is spun at high speeds by a drive member. A battery, which is rechargeable by a solar cell array, provides power to the drive member.
US07740200B2	Aircraft engine assembly An engine assembly for aircraft including a turbojet, an attachment strut, and a plurality of engine mounts interposed between the attachment strut and the turbojet. Each of the engine mounts is attached to a fan casing of the turbojet.
US07740198B2	Straw chopper A straw chopper includes a pair of shafts supported in a chopping chamber for rotation about respective longitudinal axes extending generally in a forward working direction of the chopper. Chopping blades are supported on each shaft, offset in a direction of the longitudinal axes in relation to the chopping blades of the other shaft so that the shafts can be positioned with a sweep area of the blades overlapping one another. The shafts are rotated in a common direction of rotation such that the blades of one of the shafts are displaced in an opposite direction to the blades of the other one of the shafts at the overlap of the sweep areas. Each chopping blade includes an impeller surface sloped forwardly into a direction of rotation so as to generate a rearward thrust of air in the chopping chamber in the longitudinal direction of the axes from the inlet to the outlet of the chamber as the shafts are rotated.
US07740197B1	Garbage disposal guard An embodiment of a garbage disposal guard is comprised of a cylindrical sleeve having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the throat of a garbage disposal; a lip extending outward from the cylindrical sleeve, a lip having an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the throat of the garbage disposal; and bars extending between points on the inside diameter of the cylindrical sleeve that form a grate.
US07740192B2	Rotating bi-directional pneumatic gun A rotating bi-directional pneumatic gun has a body and a guiding tube mounted rotatably in the body. The guiding tube has an outer surface, a front notch, a rear notch, a front groove and a rear groove. The front notch and the rear notch are defined longitudinally in the outer surface of the guiding tube and are kept from communicating with each other. The front groove and the rear groove communicate respectively with the front notch and the rear notch and each have multiple inclined bores extending respectively toward the front end and the rear end of the barrel. Rotating the guiding tube can change the direction of air flow of the pneumatic gun, and the rotating bi-directional pneumatic gun is convenient to operate and easy to assemble.
US07740191B2	Shower device and shower booth A shower device includes: a driving unit including a housing and a core allowed to reciprocate by water which is introduced into the housing; a shower part allowed to swing; a water guide channel introducing water which is introduced into the housing to the shower part; and a power transmission part transmitting a motion of the core to the shower part. The shower part sprinkles water while swinging when water is introduced into the housing.
US07740190B2	Boom breakaway assembly A boom breakaway assembly for a spray boom used by a vehicle. The boom breakaway assembly includes a reciprocating system having a first position and a second position, a retention system, and a bias system. In the first position, the bias system applies a maximum effective bias rate to the reciprocating system and the retention system applies a holding force upon the spray boom to maintain the spray boom in a desired outward position. In the second position, the bias system applies a minimal effective bias rate to the reciprocating system and the retention system reduces or disengages the holding force upon the spray boom, thereby allowing the spray boom to move from the outward position to a breakaway position when the spray boom encounters an obstacle. The bias system returns the reciprocating system to the first position once the spray boom clears the obstacle.
US07740188B2	Method of generation of pressure pulsations and apparatus for implementation of this method An acoustic generator of pressure pulsations includes a cylindrical waveguide which is caused to vibrate at a low amplitude by an electromechanical transducer. The vibration of the cylindrical waveguide creates low amplitude pressure pulsations in an acoustic chamber containing stationary pressure fluid. A mechanical amplifier, which is part of the acoustic chamber, amplifies the low amplitude pressure pulsations generated by the cylindrical waveguide.
US07740187B2	Internal combustion engine fuel injector An internal combustion engine fuel injector (1) has a rod (10) movable along an axis (3) to open/close a nozzle, and a servovalve (7) having a control chamber (23) with a discharge passage (26, 48) which is opened/closed by a shutter (17) movable axially under the control of an electro-actuator; the servovalve also has a fixed axial rod (33) having an outer lateral surface (34) through which the discharge passage (26, 48) comes out; the shutter (17) is fitted to the axial rod (33) to slide axially in substantially fluidtight manner, and, when closing the discharge passage (26, 48), is subjected to substantially zero resultant axial pressure by the fuel; and a calibrated portion (42, 52) of the discharge passage (26, 48) is formed close to the outlet of the discharge passage to produce swirl and/or cavitation in the fuel outflow near to the closing area between the shutter (17) and the axial rod (33).
US07740186B2	Drenching shower head An improved shower head having multiple modes of operation. The shower head may include a first turbine and turbine, each disposed within a unique flow channel. The first and second turbines may interrupt water flow through their respective flow channels, thereby providing at least one pulsating water spray emanating from the shower head. The shower head may include a third flow channel having no turbine disposed therein, such that water flowing through the third flow channel is not interrupted and thus emitted from the shower head as a drenching spray.
US07740182B2	Method and system for controlled release of hot water from a fixture A valve assembly for a water circulation system includes a bypass valve with an inlet and an outlet that permits recirculating flow of water from a hot water line of the water circulation system. The valve assembly also includes a shut-off valve with a valve body having a hot water inlet and a hot water outlet configured to be coupled to a fixture of the water circulation system. The shut-off valve is located proximate the fixture and operating in an open position allowing water to flow to the hot water outlet and a closed position restricting water from flowing to the hot water outlet. The shut-off valve is configured to move automatically from the open position to the closed position in a controlled manner to limit discharge, from the hot water outlet, of water having a temperature below a desired level.
US07740180B2	Method for making smart cards capable of operating with and without contact The invention concerns a method for making smart cards capable of operating with or without contact called mixed cards and contactless smart cards. In order to avoid the risk of deteriorating the antenna the method consists in producing an antenna comprising at least two turns, on a support sheet, said antenna having its turns located outside the connecting pads, and in providing an insulating bridge so as to connect each of the antenna ends to a connection pad respectively.
US07740175B2	Point-of-sale (POS) based laser scanning system providing six-sided 360 degree omni-directional bar code symbol scanning coverage at a POS station The laser scanning system includes a laser scanning plane generation mechanism disposed within a housing mounted in or on a countertop at the POS station. The mechanism generates first and second pluralities of laser scanning planes which (i) intersect within predetermined scan regions contained within a 3-D scanning volume defined outside of the housing, and (ii) generate a plurality of groups of intersecting laser scanning planes within the 3-D scanning volume. The plurality of groups of intersecting laser scanning planes form a complex omni\-directional 3-D laser scanning pattern within the 3-D scanning volume capable of scanning a bar code symbol located on the surface of any object including a six-sided rectangular box-shaped object, presented within the 3-D scanning volume at any orientation and from any direction at the POS station so as to provide six-sided 360-degree omni-directional bar code symbol scanning coverage at the POS station.
US07740172B1	Methods and systems for managing price and inventory adjustments Systems and methods for automating the price adjustments for items in a network-based environment are described in this application. The price adjustment can consider both the price information and non-price information of an item. The price information can include the price of the item charged by a single seller or a group of sellers, as well as a customer's reaction to that price. The non-price information can contain any criteria other than the price of the item, including actual or anticipated inventory levels, initial cost, product life cycle, future demand, etc. The systems and methods can then adjust the price of the item for sale on an automated, or even semi-automated, basis without the need for manual intervention. The systems and methods could also contain a feedback mechanism that tracks the price adjustment and the conditions for making that adjustment, thereby aiding the formulation of pricing strategies for the item.
US07740171B2	Payment program for use in point-of-sale transactions In some embodiments, the present application relates to card-free programs provided by a merchant to a customer, whereby the customer has access to functions such as payment options and/or loyalty program benefits without needing to present a physical card at a point of sale. For example, a customer may make a card-free purchase of goods or services from a merchant, whereby the customer need not present a card such as a debit card, credit card, loyalty card, or other physical tender to make a purchase. Further, the customer need not provide biometric data or otherwise use an electronic device or identifier to make a purchase. Alternatively or additionally, the customer may access a loyalty program without needing to provide a physical card or data associated with a card.
US07740170B2	System for packaging, processing, activating, and deactivating multiple individual transaction cards as a singular unit A transaction card processing and activation system comprising the identification of a unique identifier corresponding to an aggregate of transaction cards of affiliated or non-affiliated card issuers and the activation of each transaction card corresponding to the unique identifier of the aggregate irrespective of the number, types, or card issuers of the transaction cards. Additionally, the present invention allows a point of sale entity to initiate the activation of each of the multiple, disparate transaction cards in the aggregate by merely processing the unique identifier associated with the aggregate.
US07740165B2	Magnetic mail notification apparatus Magnetic mail notification apparatus. Apparatus for use with a mailbox having a door pivotably attached to a mail receptacle includes an indicator assembly including an indicator arm positionable in one position when the door is closed, and a magnetic coupling between the door and the indicator arm, the magnetic coupling displacing the indicator arm to another position when the door is opened. Another apparatus includes the indicator arm positionable in one position when the door is closed and in another position when the door is opened, and a magnet holding the indicator arm in the first position until the door is opened, and causing the indicator arm to displace to the second position when the door is opened. Another apparatus includes a base assembly securable to the mail receptacle, an indicator assembly pivotably attached to the base assembly, and a magnetic coupling between the base assembly and the indicator arm.
US07740163B2	Push lock An end closure design for a paperboard container having four or more end panels that form the end closure hingedly joined respectively to four side panels connected to each other by parallel, spaced apart fold lines. Each of the hinged end panels has a straight free edge parallel the hinged edge and each free edge has two spaced apart notches of the same shape and size cut therein, each positioned the same distance from the parallel, spaced apart fold lines such that when the panels are folded over, a notch from each end panel interlocks with a notch from an adjacent end panel. An opposing two of the hinged end panels also include two diagonal score lines, each extending from an interior edge of the notches to the interior corner formed by the fold lines between the end closure panel and its respective side panel. To form the end closure, the end closure panels without the diagonal score lines are folded inwardly, then the end closure panels with the diagonal score lines are folded inwardly. Pressure is applied (by pushing) to the central portion of the two panels with score lines between the score lines to cause adjacent and overlapping notches to interlock to form the end closure. The resulting container has an end with a central open area and four interlocked notches at the open area's corners.
US07740159B2	Pneumatically powered surgical cutting and fastening instrument with a variable control of the actuating rate of firing with mechanical power assist A surgical instrument that includes a distal member configured to receive a pneumatically operated tool assembly therein. The instrument may also include pneumatically powered drive member configured to generate at least one actuation motion upon receipt of at least one pneumatic signal from a source of pneumatic power fluidically coupled thereto. A drive shaft assembly communicates with the pneumatically powered drive member for transmitting the actuation motions to the distally mounted pneumatically operated tool. The device further includes a power assist member that communicates with the drive shaft assembly for transmitting additional manually generated actuation motions to the drive shaft assembly.
US07740158B2	Manual dispenser and note paper roll A manual dispenser for severing a segment of paper from a note paper roll comprised of a narrow elongate sheet of paper helically wound upon itself, with one surface of the sheet having one or more strips of low-tack pressure adhesive extending longitudinally thereof. In one embodiment, the manual dispenser includes a tear bar that that is manually engagable with one side of the roll.
US07740157B2	Coordinated latching mechanism for car top carrier A cargo box has a bottom portion and a lid. The lid is hinged to the bottom to allow opening on one or more sides. Operation of opening and closing multiple latches is coordinated by an external handle and internal bar assembly.
US07740153B2	Dispensing container for two beverages A serving container for selectively dispensing one of two beverages includes a container body having an upper open mouth at the top and a vertically disposed partition to divide the container body into a pair of laterally disposed left and right compartments to hold two different beverages. The partition has a horizontally disposed sealing edge at the top between the compartments. A removable cover has a cooperating sealing surface adapted to engage the edge of the partition to form a seal that prevents mixing of the contents of the compartments when the cover is secured to the mouth of the container. A pair of selectively operable left and right valves are mounted in the cover to permit a beverage held in a selected storage compartment of the container to flow into either of two separate transfer chambers when a corresponding one of the valves is in an open position. From the transfer chambers the beverages flow through a pair of separate forwardly and upwardly extending passages that terminate in separate outlet nozzles located on the front of the cover above the rim of the container or if desired on a front portion of the container body below the cover.
US07740150B2	Holster for hot melt dispensing handgun A holster is provided for use with a hot melt dispensing handgun having a nozzle, with the holster including a body defining a cavity and further including a nozzle garage. The body is operable for receiving at least a portion of a handgun within the cavity and for supporting the handgun when the handgun is inactive. The nozzle garage has a housing defining a hollow interior communicating with the cavity and also includes a heating element. The nozzle garage is operable for receiving at least a portion of a nozzle within the hollow interior and for heating the nozzle of the handgun when the handgun is inactive.
US07740143B2	Portable sports equipment rack A portable sports equipment rack is provided with two relatively foldable sections. Each section has a top wall and a bottom wall below the top wall. End walls and a rear wall hold the top and bottom walls vertically spaced. Along the front edge of at least one of the bottom walls are located a number of handle receiving structures. At least one hinge joins adjacent end edges of the bottom walls. When the portable sports equipment rack is suspended, chiefly by its ends, the weight of the rack will tend to keep it in an open deployed configuration. The sections can be folded against one another, and held together by a latch. A handle on one of the top walls facilitates carrying of the rack when it is folded. A further embodiment of the sports equipment rack is formed from an assembly of modules, each containing a top wall, bottom wall, sidewalls, rear wall, and handle receiving structures.
US07740138B2	Stackable container apparatus and methods A stackable container assembly includes a lid portion having first raised members projecting outwardly from an upper surface, at least some of the first raised members cooperatively forming first receiving areas, and a base portion coupleable to the lid portion and forming a containment space. The base portion includes second raised members projecting outwardly from a lower surface, at least some of the second raised members cooperatively forming second receiving areas being adapted to fittingly receive first raised members of a like container assembly positioned below the lower surface. And, the first receiving areas are adapted to fittingly receive second raised members of another like container assembly positioned above the upper surface.
US07740130B2	Digital processor sensor loop detector and method A digital processor for use in a conveyor belt rip detector, which provides excitation signals at a selected frequency to inverted and noninverted sensor loops on a conveyor belt and then, detects corresponding received signals from the sensor loops. The digital processor then performs FFTs on the corresponding received signals to provide respective received signal frequency spectrums. Next magnitude and phase values of the selected frequency in the respective received signal frequency spectrums are used to determine a qualitative state of the sensor loops. The selected frequency has a lowest detected ambient noise level, and the magnitude value is a normalized magnitude value.
US07740127B2	Bulk material handling system A bulk material handling accessory such as a conveyor belt cleaner for use in connection with a bulk material handling system. The bulk material handling accessory includes a main frame, a scraping member including an arm and a scraper blade pivotally attached to the main frame, and a damper mechanism coupled at one end to the main frame and at another end to the scraping member. A mounting mechanism is attached to the main frame for providing linear and rotational movement of the main frame and the associated scraping member and damper mechanism. The damper mechanism includes a damper having a piston and a housing having a fluid chamber. The viscosity of the fluid within the fluid chamber is selectively changeable to change the damping characteristics of the damper mechanism to accommodate changes in operating conditions.
US07740123B2	Packaging and supply device for grouping product items A packaging device for grouping product items, especially semi-soft tissue paper packs (7), to a bundle of layered rows (L1, L2, L3) of said product items (7) having a supply line (1) including a main conveyor belt (5) constituently carrying and supplying a stream of product items (7) in a defined orientation along an infeed main path (6) to a transfer position (18), an elevator means (2) having a plurality of stack-forming receptacles (23) each receiving a grouped row (L1, L2, L3) of a specified number of said product items (7) in a chopped manner from the transfer position of said supply line (1) at an input end of the elevator means (2), wherein the elevator means (2) is adapted to successively displace the stacked grouped rows of product items (7) in a side-by-side relationship orthogonally to the infeed main path (6) to an output end of the elevator means (2), and an outfeed unit (3) engaging with the elevator means (2), commonly removing a specified number stacked grouped rows (L1, L2, L3) of said product items (7) in the side-by-side relationship from the output end of the elevator means (2) to form said bundle of product items (7).
US07740117B2	Neutral section insulator In a neutral section (1) for use with an overhead railway conductor line, which neutral section (1) is disposed between the ends of the conductor line when in use and comprises an insulator (10) to isolate the ends of the conductor line from each other, the neutral axis of the neutral section (1) being such that when the neutral section (1) is in use the neutral axis is aligned closely with the neutral axis of the conductors on its either side and the height of the insulator (10) is chosen so that the stiffness and the dynamic mass of the neutral section (1) closely match those of the conductors on its either side in both the vertical and horizontal planes.
US07740112B2	Elevator operation control device for selecting an operation control profile In an elevator operation control device, a plurality of operation control profiles for prescribing values regarding operation of an elevator, for example, a speed of a car are registered in an operation control device body. The operation control device body collects values such as the activation frequency of the car and the like as information on a condition of use of the elevator. The operation control device body also selects one of the operation control profiles in accordance with the information on the condition of use, and controls the operation of the elevator based on the selected operation control profile.
US07740108B2	Expandable sawhorse-type support for work pieces including sheet material An apparatus and method, for supporting a work piece, utilize an expandable articulated support frame having a plurality of telescopic columns arranged in rows and interconnected by a plurality of connecting rods pivotably connected to each other and the telescopic columns at intersections thereof, with upper ends of the telescopic columns being adapted for supporting the work piece thereupon.
US07740107B2	Maintenance platform A maintenance platform for suspension on support cables, in particular for maintaining rotor blades of wind turbines, wherein the maintenance platform is formed by at least two sub-platforms defining a working plane, wherein said sub-platforms are swivably connected to each other by a swivel joint with a swivel axis substantially perpendicular to the working plane.
US07740106B2	Mobile mount for attachment of a fall arrest system A mobile mount for attachment of a fall arrest system is provided for example for aircraft and includes a base carried on ground wheels and a support which is adjustable in height upstanding from the base and an arm cantilevered over the base. At least one receptacle is mounted on the arm of the support at a position located over the base for attachment to a personal fall arrest system including a harness for one or more persons, with the receptacle, base and support being designed and arranged to receive a loading from the personal fall arrest system sufficient to accommodate a fall of the person from the elevated structure.
US07740100B2	Cover structure for buggy vehicle A body cover being formed by joining together a plurality of cover members including a maintenance cover which is detachably disposed on the side of the power unit. A pedal which is actuated by an individual operating the vehicle wherein the overall body frame is covered without modifying the structure and arrangement of the pedal. A suspension system wherein a swing arm type or an independent suspension type may be used in the vehicle. A light structure for a tail light wherein attaching lighting components such as a light emitting section are attached to a substrate formed in part of a lid of a utility box attached to a rear part of a vehicle. The lighting components such as the substrate are directly assembled in the concave section, and a lens is attached to the concave section by welding.
US07740099B2	Enhanced control of a transporter A transporter that includes a platform for supporting a load and at least one primary ground-contacting element. The transporter includes an actuator for applying torque to the at least one primary ground-contacting element for propelling the transporter with respect to a surface. The transporter also includes a controller for controlling the actuator, the controller includes an input for receiving specification by a user of a desired direction of travel based on a position of a member with respect to a fiducial axis, a differentiator for calculating a rate of change of the position of the member with respect to the fiducial axis, and a processor for generating a yaw command signal based at least on the position of the member and the rate of change of the position of the member which is weighted based on the level of experience of the user.
US07740098B2	Method for determining a triggering decision for means of restraint of a motor vehicle A method for determining a triggering decision for restraint device of a motor vehicle, in response to a preceding skidding maneuver. A yaw rate, a first driving dynamics parameter set and a context parameter set are made available. The triggering decision being determined using the yaw rate, the first vehicle parameter set and the context parameter set.
US07740097B2	Hood airbag device for use in a vehicle A vehicle hood airbag device in which an in-hood reinforcement (28) is arranged in a hood width direction at a rear end portion of an inner hood panel (20). The in-hood reinforcement (28) has longitudinal opposite end portions coupled to left and right hood hinge reinforcements (40) that are disposed on the respective lateral sides of the inner hood-panel (20) to increase the rigidity of the inner hood panel (20). Further, by fixing the airbag case (46) to the in-hood reinforcement (28), the rigidity of the inner hood panel (20) is further increased.
US07740096B2	Device for adjusting seat components A device for adjusting seat components as a function of a signal from a video sensor system. Furthermore, a safety belt is adjusted as well as a function of the signal. This adjustment is carried out as a function of the occupant class, the occupant volume, the occupant pose, and the head position.
US07740095B2	Vehicle including frame, swing arm and side-supported damper A motorcycle includes rear side frame portions disposed rearward of an engine and swing arms that swing relative to the rear side frame portions 11A. An oil damper provides damping force to the swing arm and extends in a vertical direction. The rear side frame portions have damper supporting sections that support lateral sides of the oil damper.
US07740088B1	Ultrasonic rotary-hammer drill A mechanism for drilling or coring by a combination of sonic hammering and rotation. The drill includes a hammering section with a set of preload weights mounted atop a hammering actuator and an axial passage through the hammering section. In addition, a rotary section includes a motor coupled to a drive shaft that traverses the axial passage through the hammering section. A drill bit is coupled to the drive shaft for drilling by a combination of sonic hammering and rotation. The drill bit includes a fluted shaft leading to a distal crown cutter with teeth. The bit penetrates sampled media by repeated hammering action. In addition, the bit is rotated. As it rotates the fluted bit carries powdered cuttings helically upward along the side of the bit to the surface.
US07740087B2	Hand power tool with at least one handle A hand power tool has a housing; at least one handle having at least one gripping part; at least one elastic, vibration-damping element; a mounting part mounted on the elastic element; the gripping part being mounted on the housing through the elastic element and through the mounting element; and at least one movable safety element through which the gripping part is connected with the mounting part.
US07740078B2	Method and device to clamp control lines to tubulars The invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a control line to a tubular string. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a guide boom pivotable around a location adjacent the string and with a guide member at an end thereof to guide the control line. The apparatus further includes a clamp boom that is independently pivotable and includes a clamp housing at an end thereof for clamping the control line against the tubular string. The guide boom and the clamp boom each have a center line which is substantially aligned with the center line of the tubing string permitting the control line to be aligned adjacent the tubular string prior to clamping.
US07740075B2	Pressure relief actuated valves An embodiment of a valve that is operable from one position to another position upon relief of an applied pressure includes a housing having a bore; a valve member disposed with the housing, wherein the valve member is actuated to one position in response to a certain applied pressure and actuates toward another position upon relief of the certain applied pressure; and a relief system relieving the pressure applied to the valve member when the applied pressure falls below a selected pressure level.
US07740069B2	Process for two-step fracturing of subsurface formations A process for in situ production of shale oil comprises fracturing the target zone 10 of an shale oil formation using a two step approach. First, an initial set of fractures 18 is developed in the formation by using high pressure gas pulses. Second, a secondary set of fractures 28 extending and further fracturing the initial set of fractures 18 is created using a modified ANFO mix 22 wherein rubber particles acting as solid fuel are blended in with ammonium nitrate and fuel oil. The solid fuel enhances the fracturing characteristics of ANFO while minimizing its crushing and compacting tendencies. Hot high pour point oil is then injected into the formation and forced into the receptor well 16 where it is pumped to the surface. By circulating oil in the formation at carefully controlled temperatures, kerogen can be decomposed at the optimum rate to maximize the amount of oil recovered and yield high quality shale oil. High pour point oil reaching cooler extremities of the fractured formation will solidify creating an impermeable perimeter barrier 34 around the target zone 10.
US07740068B2	Silicate-based wellbore fluid and methods for stabilizing unconsolidated formations A method for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore that includes injecting an alkali silicate into the wellbore; injecting a solid micronized silicate-precipitating agent into the wellbore; and allowing the alkali silicate and the solid micronized silicate-precipitating agent to react to form a silicate gel is disclosed.
US07740067B2	Method to control the physical interface between two or more fluids A method of servicing a wellbore comprising preparing a liquid plug, allowing the liquid plug to polymerize into a highly deformable elastic plug, and placing the highly deformable elastic plug into a wellbore. A method of servicing a wellbore comprising preparing a liquid plug, allowing the liquid plug to polymerize into a highly deformable elastic plug, combining the highly deformable elastic plug with at least one conventional plug to form plug combination, and placing the plug combination into a wellbore. A method of servicing a wellbore comprising preparing a liquid plug, allowing the liquid plug to polymerize into a highly deformable elastic plug, placing the highly deformable elastic plug into a wellbore, and deforming the highly deformable elastic plug.
US07740065B2	Process to upgrade whole crude oil by hot pressurized water and recovery fluid A process for upgrading whole crude oil utilizing a recovery fluid, depressurizing an extracted whole crude oil/recovery fluid mixture in a step-wise fashion, and subsequently contacting at least a portion of the whole crude oil with supercritical water fluid to produce high value crude oil having low sulfur, low nitrogen, and low metallic impurities for use as hydrocarbon feedstock.
US07740064B2	System, method, and apparatus for downhole submersible pump having fiber optic communications A downhole submersible pump system, method, and apparatus utilizes fiber optic sensors and distributed temperature sensors below the submersible pump to monitor pump discharge pressure and temperature, intake pressure and temperature, and motor temperature. In addition, distributed temperature sensors are used below the pump to monitor the perforations within the well bore.
US07740059B1	Well casing perforator A well casing perforator for efficiently recovering available water in a previously drilled well by perforating the well casing. The well casing perforator generally includes a frame adapted to be inserted within a well casing and move in a direction parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the well casing, at least one perforator pivotally connected to the frame and including a plurality of spikes extending therefrom for engagement with the well casing and at least one spring to impart a bias force upon the perforator so that the spikes automatically grab the well casing and rotate through the well casing with a change in directional movement of the frame.
US07740057B2	Single shell-pass or multiple shell-pass shell-and-tube heat exchanger with helical baffles The present invention provides a single shell-pass shell-and-tube heat exchanger with helical baffles, where within a single pitch, the helical baffles are separated into inner and outer parts along the radial direction of the shell. In the central portion of the inner space of the shell, an inner non-continuous helical form is employed; in other portion outside the central portion, doughnut shaped helical baffles with continuous curved surfaces are arranged to form an outer continuous helical baffle, and the outer helical baffles are arranged to surround the inner helical baffles. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a multiple shell-pass shell-and-tube heat exchanger with helical baffles, in which complete continuous helical baffles are provided in shell-sides other than the inner shell-pass, while non-continuous helical baffles or other flow guide means are employed in the inner shell-pass. The present invention makes flow patterns of fluids on the shell side more desirable, leading to a reduced flow pressure drop, and mitigate fouling, thus the heat transfer rate is improved and the service life of the heat exchanger is increased. The present invention also provides two methods for manufacture of continuous helical baffles, which ensure the concentricity of the tube bundle holes on each continuous helical baffle so as to facilitate installation of heat exchange tube bundles.
US07740051B2	Method and apparatus for detecting crater end of continuously cast product, and method for producing continuously cast product A method for detecting a crater end of a continuously cast product including installing an ultrasonic shear wave sensor for transmitting an ultrasonic shear wave to a cast product and receiving the transmitted ultrasonic longitudinal wave and an ultrasonic longitudinal wave sensor for transmitting an ultrasonic longitudinal wave to the cast product and receiving the transmitted ultrasonic longitudinal wave at the same position in a continuous casting machine or at positions apart from each other in a casting direction, but at the same position in a transverse direction of the cast product, detecting based on variations of an ultrasonic signal received by the ultrasonic shear wave sensor that the crater end of the cast product is matched with the installed position of the ultrasonic shear wave sensor, calibrating a calculation formula for determining the crater end and determining the crater end.
US07740049B2	Mold device and method of manufacturing cylinder block A method of manufacturing a cylinder block using a die apparatus wherein a columnar hole includes a bore in the cylinder block. The method includes the steps of abutting first and second split cores against an upper surface of a distal end core, the upper surface being located opposite the inner core, and introducing a molten metal into a cavity. An inner core is withdrawn to move the first and second split cores toward an axis. The first and second split cores are released from a formed product made of solidified molten metal. The split cores are removed from the formed product to form the bore, and an inner surface of the bore is cut.
US07740041B2	Adhesive tape-supplying device and tape-winding apparatus utilizing same The present invention is to provide a tape-winding apparatus utilizing an adhesive tape-supplying device. The tape winding apparatus provides a smooth and a good appearance winding of the adhesive tape, which has a high extensibility and high adherence, around an object such as an electrical wire without stretch of the adhesive tape and difficulty of winding off the adhesive tape. The adhesive tape-supplying device includes an axle for rotatably supporting an adhesive tape reel; a rotating disk having the axle at the center thereof; a one-way bearing projecting near from an outer circumference of the rotating disk; and rotating means for rotating the one-way bearing and the rotating disk. The adhesive tape-supplying device includes a guide member disposed near the outer circumference of the rotating disk for accepting the adhesive tape from the one-way bearing.
US07740037B2	Runflat tire A runflat tire having an improved ride comfort performance without impairing the runflat durability, and comprising a carcass 6 and sidewall-reinforcing rubber layers 9 having a crescent-shaped cross section disposed axially inward of carcass 6 in sidewall portion 3, wherein each sidewall-reinforcing rubber layer 9 comprises at least a radially outermost first rubber portion 9a and a second rubber portion 9b which is contiguous to the first rubber portion 9a and extends toward a bead portion 4, and the second rubber portion 9b has a complex modulus E2 of at least 1.1 times the complex modulus E1 of the first rubber portion 9a.
US07740036B2	Pressurized wheel hub system A system for pressurizing wheel hub formed from an air-tight sealing arrangement located on each end of a wheel hub to form a closed air system in the interior of the wheel hub. The closed air system fluidly coupled to a DC power air compressor or pressurized air tank for receiving pressurized air. A pressure gauge provides a visual indication of the air pressure in the closed air system whereby a breached seal condition within the wheel hub can be detected.
US07740034B2	Light duty tire with silica-rich polyisoprene rubber based intermediate transition layer This invention relates to a light duty tire (e.g. passenger tire or light duty truck tire) designed for a load bearing capacity of a maximum of 3,500 pounds (1587 kg) with a tread of a cap/base construction with at least one underlying silica-rich, cis 1,4-polyisoprene rubber based intermediate transition rubber layer to promote a reduced internal heat generation for the light duty tire and to therefore promote a light load carrying light duty tire which is more durable for the long haul. Such light duty tire tread is intended for use with light loads in which internal heat may be generated within the tire, including the tire tread, during use.
US07740033B2	Debris splitting grinder Embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus which includes an apparatus body, a splitter for splitter relatively larger pieces of material into relatively smaller pieces of material coupled with the apparatus body, and a grinder for grinding the relatively smaller pieces of material also coupled with the apparatus body. A power source may be adapted to provide power to both the grinder and the splitter. The grinding can be accomplished with minimal repositioning of the relatively smaller pieces once split. The splitting, then the grinding can be accomplished with little to no translational movement within a job site of a nearby piece of equipment adapted for picking up first the relatively larger pieces then the relatively smaller pieces.
US07740025B2	Method and apparatus for preventing drain line clogging over an extended time using liquid or solid biocides An improved method and apparatus to prevent clogging of condensate drain lines with a biocide delivery system that prevents the growth of bioorganic growth in the liquid trap using time release biocide tablets or liquid biocide. When using solid biocide tablets erosion and dissolution of the tables is reduced. When using liquid biocides, combination of initial release followed by gradual release of residual liquid biocide in the drain water is attainable. Drain line are promoted from clogging while being installed anywhere on the drain line upstream of the liquid trap. The apparatus can also be incorporated with a liquid trap, allowing placement anywhere in the drain line.
US07740020B2	Expanded PTFE articles and method of making same Unique PTFE structures comprising islands of PTFE attached to an underlying expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) structure and to methods of making such structures is disclosed. The ePTFE material may or may not have been exposed to amorphous locking temperatures. These unique structures exhibit islands of PTFE attached to and raised above the expanded PTFE structures.
US07740014B2	Nasal devices A nasal delivery device for and a method of delivering a substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, the delivery device including: a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of a subject; a substance supply unit for supplying a substance for delivery through the nosepiece; and a delivery prevention mechanism for preventing delivery of a substance through the nosepiece until the nosepiece is properly fitted to the nostril of the subject.
US07740003B2	Valvetrain control systems for internal combustion engines with different intake and exhaust leading modes A valve control system for an internal combustion engine includes a valve actuation system. The valve actuation system actuates at least one of an intake valve and an exhaust valve between N open lift modes via lift control valves. The control module enables transitioning of at least one of the intake valve and the exhaust valve between the N open lift modes. The control module defines M valve leading modes that indicate whether the intake valve transitions between the N open lift modes before, during the same time period, or after the exhaust valve. The control module selectively transitions the intake valve and the exhaust valve based on a current one of the M valve leading modes. N and M are integers greater than one.
US07740001B2	Fuel injection system A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine is provided for providing an injection event including a first stage and a second stage via a single nozzle. The nozzle is connected by its inlet port to a source of variable fuel pressure and it includes a needle valve for performing the first stage of injection, and a poppet valve for performing the second stage of injection. The first and second stages of injection are selectable by controlling the fuel pressure in the inlet port which is common for both the needle valve and the poppet valve.
US07740000B2	Method and apparatus for injecting fuel into a compression-ignition engine A method to manage and control engine operation includes injecting an initial mass of fuel into a combustion chamber to form a combustion charge, monitoring combustion and injecting a main mass of fuel into the combustion chamber substantially coincident with a start of combustion of the combustion charge.
US07739998B2	Engine having axially opposed cylinders This invention relates to an engine (5) having axially opposed cylinders (C). The engine (5) has a first cylinder (C) having a first cylinder opening and a first cylinder head (H), a first piston (10) that reciprocates in the first cylinder opening, a second cylinder (C) having a second cylinder opening and a second cylinder head (H), and a second piston (30) that reciprocates in the second cylinder opening. The first cylinder opening and the second cylinder opening are in facing relationship such that the first cylinder and the second cylinder are axially opposed. The first piston (10) and the second piston (30) are connected such that the first piston (10) moves toward the first cylinder head (H) when the second piston (30) moves away from the second cylinder head (H) and such that the first piston (10) moves away from the first cylinder head (H) when the second piston (30) moves toward from the second cylinder head (H).
US07739996B2	Portable gas powered internal combustion engine arrangement A gas powered internal combustion engine in which the gas is provided from pressurized liquid gas in an LPG container and in which the LPG container is rigidly mounted adjacent to the internal combustion engine at a preselected angle to be in conductive heat transfer relationship to the internal combustion engine and in vibration receiving relationship to the internal combustion engine whereby the liquefied gas in the LPG container is heated and the effective surface area thereof is increased.
US07739985B2	Internal combustion water injection engine An internal combustion system and a water injection nozzle to position a water mist within an internal chamber of an internal combustion engine. In one form, the apical cone of the injection is altered with respect to the position of the piston within the interior chamber. In another form, the air fuel mixture is charged at an opposing charge to the water mist to create a water droplet gaseous fuel mixture for combustion within the anterior chamber.
US07739984B2	Containment systems and components for animal husbandry: cage racks Provided are animal containment systems and components, including single-use animal containment cages and modular rack units. Also provided are methods for assembling and using components of the animal containment systems.
US07739983B2	Freestanding pet barrier A self-supporting pet barrier comprising a front panel and two side panels, each panel having floor-contacting surfaces preferably to which a friction reducing substance has been applied is disclosed. The front and side panels preferably are attached so that the side panels can be positioned from generally perpendicularly to the front panel in use to a folded position adjacent said front panel for storage or travel. A generally triangular stabilizing leg may protrude forward from the plane of the front panel and can be attached in either the side panel or front panel.
US07739977B1	Vehicle visual indicator A visual indicator device for use on a vehicle that includes a bed and a tailgate that engages with the bed and that may assume open and closed positions relative to the bed. The visual indicator device is for determining, from the cab of the vehicle via a rearview mirror, the status of the position of the tailgate. The visual indicator device includes a support mechanism including a first mechanism mounted to the bed and a second mechanism mounted to the tailgate, an actuation pin mechanism that intercouples the first and second mechanisms, and an indicator flag supported by the first mechanism and responsive to the position of the actuation pin mechanism so that the indicator flag has an indicating position when the tailgate is disengaged from the bed so that the actuation pin mechanism is out of engagement with the indicator flag, and has a rest position when the tailgate is engages with the bed whereby the actuation pin mechanism is in engagement with the indicator flag.
US07739974B1	Submersible object with antifouling paint configuration Antifouling materials are used to provide first and second layers or coatings on a submersible object. The first and second layers are visually distinct from each other, such as being made of two distinct colors, so that the ablation of an outer layer will be evident when an inner layer is exposed to show a different color in the regions of ablation. The materials for the first and second layers can be chemically active to cause the antifouling nature of the materials or can be electrically conductive to permit their use in the creation of either chlorine bubbles on the wetted surface or a change in ionic characteristic of water in contact with the wetted surface.
US07739973B2	Masthead control system A masthead control system and method are provided for a sailing vessel to reduce the number of cables running inside the mast to a single coaxial cable carrying power, control and data signals, and VHF radio signals. The coaxial cable connects an antenna directly to a VHF radio communications device such that radio communications are always available in case of emergency. The system comprises an instrumentation center that connects to the masthead; at least one masthead device that connects to the instrumentation center; and a cable, such as a coaxial cable, that connects the instrumentation center to an interface unit located in the hull. The cable carries power, at least one radio frequency signal, and at least one data or control signal between the instrumentation center and the interface unit.
US07739972B2	Method and apparatus for producing a sewn product The present invention relates to a simple and inexpensive method for producing a mattress panel or quilt having corners which deviate from an orthogonal pattern. The method renders a material having two stitched seams between two sewn products that are arranged adjacently. The two stitched seams are created by a sewing device, which moves transversely to the conveying direction of the material. The material is cut between said seams by a sewing unit, located within the sewing device. Prior to or during the stitching of the seams, another device removes a sub-area comprising both sewn products, resulting in a mattress panel or quilt with corners deviating from an orthogonal pattern.
US07739968B2	System, apparatus and method for combustion of metals and other fuels A system, apparatus and method for the combustion of metals and other fuels are provided. The system can include: a fuel combustion apparatus including a combustor having a combustion chamber for burning ground particles from a fuel charge, and a fuel supply apparatus for supplying the ground particles of fuel from the fuel charge to the combustor. The fuel supply system can include a fuel charge holder assembly to house and store the fuel charge, a grinder assembly including a grinder housed within the charge holder assembly and configured to pulverize the fuel charge to produce a combustible fuel to be consumed in the combustion chamber, and a fuel charge linear feed assembly including a piston in contact with the fuel charge within the charge holder assembly to selectively bias the fuel charge into the grinder to thereby a control consumption rate of the fuel charge. Exhaust from the combustion chamber can be used in the incineration of radioactive, chemical and mixed hazardous materials, and in the propulsion of a vehicle in both an air or water environment.
US07739967B2	Pulverized solid fuel nozzle assembly A pulverized solid fuel nozzle assembly 34 includes a fuel feed pipe 38 and a nozzle tip 36 pivotally secured relative to the fuel feed pipe 38. The fuel feed pipe 38 includes a generally cylindrical shell 99 having a round outlet end 102 and a bulbous protrusion 106 disposed around a perimeter of the round outlet end 102. The nozzle tip 36 includes an inner shell 40 having a round inlet end 108 arranged in concentric relationship with the round outlet end 102 of the generally cylindrical shell 99. The round inlet end 108 is disposed around the bulbous protrusion 106 for forming a seal between the inner shell 40 and the fuel feed pipe 38. The nozzle tip 36 also includes an outer shell 39 arranged in coaxial relationship with the inner shell 40, and an annular air channel 42 disposed between the inner and outer shells 40, 39. The nozzle tip 36 is pivotable about at least one axis 52, 250 for directing a stream of pulverized solid fuel from the inner shell 40.
US07739965B2	Automatically interlocking pallets, and shipping and storage systems employing the same Shipping and storage containers, racks, and pallets including automatic interlocking mechanisms are provided. An embodiment of the automatically locking pallet includes a pallet frame including a forklift tine opening, a pallet platform, a locking component movable into and out of a locking arrangement with an interface fitting of a storage assembly when the automatically locking pallet and the storage assembly are stacked, and an actuator operatively connected to the locking component. The actuator may be activated by a forklift tine entering the forklift tine opening to move the locking component out of the locking arrangement.
US07739964B2	Boat storage and container unit The boat storage container unit is adapted to be supported on a boat. The boat storage container unit has a support unit and a container sized and shaped to store fishing tackle, tools and the like and adapted to slide onto the support unit. The support unit has a vertical support member, an attachment device for attaching the vertical support member to a boat, a base and a connection device at one end of the base to pivotally connect the base to the vertical support member. The connection device is adapted to permit the base to be moveable from a vertical position to a retainable horizontal position. A top surface of the base and a bottom surface of the container have inter-engaging means to permit the container to slide onto and be retainer on the base.
US07739959B2	Over/under monorail system for longwall mining operations An over/under monorail system for longwall mining operations can have a single overhead rail mounted trolley system with a pair of over/under mounted trolleys. Upper trolleys can be carried by the overhead rail, and can typically carry hydraulic pipes. A lower rail can be carried by the upper trolleys, and lower trolleys can be carried by the lower rail. The lower trolleys can typically carry electric cables. Some trolleys can be adapted to carry both flexible hydraulic hoses and electric cables, and such trolleys can be carried by either the upper or lower rails, depending upon the design of the overall system.
US07739957B2	Hybrid gas generator An inflator 10 of the present invention contains: a housing 12, a cold gas chamber 16 within the housing 12 for storage of a stored gas supply, a pyrotechnic chamber 18 within the housing 12, a pyrotechnic charge 20 within the pyrotechnic chamber 18, a wall 22 adjoining the cold gas and the pyrotechnic chambers 16, 18, a first orifice 24 defined in the wall 22 for passage of gas between the chambers, and a perforated flexible member 28 contained within the cold gas chamber 16, wherein the flexible member 28 is fixed about the orifice 24 for modulation or controlled variation of gas flow through the orifice 24.
US07739954B2	Connector block with shock tube retention means and flexible and resilient closure member A connector block for retaining at least one shock tube in signal transfer relationship with a detonator. The connector block comprises a housing (2, 21) having a bore (4, 23) formed therein for receiving a detonator (6, 36) provided with a percussion-actuation end (7, 25), a shock tube retention means (8, 28) defining with the housing a slot (9, 29) for receiving therein at least one shock tube (10, 30) and holding the at least one shock tube in signal transfer relationship with the percussion-actuation end of the detonator present in the bore, the slot having an entrance (12, 32) for allowing insertion of the at least one shock tube into the slot, and a flexible and resilient closure member (11, 31) or an inflexible closure member (50) pivotable on a sprung hinge (51) extending partially or fully into the entrance. The closure member and the shock tube retention means resiliently flex to allow entry of the at least one shock tube through the entrance and into the slot, the closure member flexing through a distance at least 30% the diameter of the shock tube.
US07739953B1	Integrated thin film explosive micro-detonator A method of making a thin film explosive detonator includes forming a substrate layer; depositing a metal layer in situ on the substrate layer; and reacting the metal layer to form a primary explosive layer. The method and apparatus formed thereby integrates fabrication of a micro-detonator in a monolithic MEMS structure using “in-situ” production of the explosive material within the apparatus, in sizes with linear dimensions below about 1 mm. The method is applicable to high-volume low-cost manufacturing of MEMS safety-and-arming devices. The apparatus can be initiated either electrically or mechanically at either a single point or multiple points, using energies of less than about 1 mJ.
US07739950B2	Method for manufacturing ceramic electronic component and gravure printing method A method for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component includes first and second gravure-printing steps in which conductive paste and step-reducing ceramic paste are printed on a composite sheet including a ceramic green sheet. A first print mark is printed before the second gravure-printing step is performed, and the position of the first print mark is determined and compared with a desired position of the first print mark before the second gravure-printing step. Then, the second gravure-printing step is performed such that a second print mark is printed at a suitable position with respect to the position of the first print mark.
US07739949B2	Method and device for cutting and coring materials in a hydrocutting apparatus A method and device for coring and cutting food products such as peppers in a hydrocutter. The preferred embodiment of the invention includes an outer rim, which is configured for placement within a hydrocutter. This rim has a first end and a second end and defines a passageway there through. A coring cutter is suspended in a generally centrally located position within this passageway. This coring cutter includes pairs of peaks and troughs which are positioned so as to impact the item being processed prior to the other portions of the coring cutter and by so doing enable the device to be cut with decreased amounts of force and water pressure upon the device. Thus preserving fragile structures such as a pepper.
US07739948B2	Simplified device to quickly cook food A device to bake farinaceous foods such as cakes, cookies, breads, pies, and pizzas more rapidly and flavorfully, with retention of desire food textures and reduced risk of burning by the use of intermittent application of radiant energy. The preferred embodiment rotates farinaceous ingredients in front of a radiant heat source. The preferred embodiment may control oven temperatures by regulating the amount of outside cool air fan forced into the oven cavity.
US07739947B2	Apparatus for preparing meals An apparatus (10) for preparing meals, which is suitable in particular for use on board a commercial aircraft, includes a meal preparation unit (12) and a supply unit (14). The supply unit (12) includes a fuel cell system (16) having a fuel cell (18) and is equipped to supply the meal preparation unit (12) with water produced by the fuel cell (18).
US07739936B2	Paper punch A paper punch 100, 200 is disclosed as including a button 110, a die 104, and a die holder 106, 210 with an upper jaw 114, 208 and a lower jaw 116 which are spaced apart from each other, in which the button 110 is operable to move the die 104 relative to the die holder 106, 210 to punch at least a piece of paper out from a sheet of paper 117 received within the paper punch 117, and the die holder 106, 210 includes a wheel 120, 202 for limiting the extent of relative movement between the upper jaw 114, 208 and the lower jaw 116.
US07739933B2	Bottle trimmer and method A method of cutting or trimming a plastic body ejected from a blow mold that is especially suitable for high-output production lines. A log conveyor is continuously moved along a path. The body to be trimmed is placed between holders carried by the conveyor and trimmed by rotating the holders as the conveyor moves past a trim knife extending along the path.
US07739931B2	Tool bit with multiple cutting tips A tool bit suited to use in a machining apparatus for lathing of photoreceptor blanks includes a cutting portion which defines a plurality of projections. During lathing, the projections extend into the blank successively greater distances. When the blank is rotated, each projection cuts a successively radially inward portion of the workpiece. The resulting swarf is thinner and generally easier to handle than for a tool with a single cutting edge, thereby enabling vacuum suction of the swarf.
US07739926B2	Method and apparatus for v-bank filter bed scanning Embodiments of the invention generally related to a method and apparatus for scanning a v-bank filter. In one embodiment, a method for testing a v-bank filter includes providing an aerosol challenge to an upstream side of a v-bank filter, scanning a downstream side of the v-bank filter with a probe having one or more rectangular sample ports, and providing samples taken through the probe during scanning to a test instrument. In yet another embodiment, a probe for scanning a v-bank filter is provided that includes a body having a plurality of rectangular sample ports. Each sample port is tapered to a port configured to connect to a sample tube. The long sides of the rectangular sample ports are arranged in a stacked parallel orientation.
US07739924B2	Sensor assembly having a flow head A flow head for a gas sensor having a sensing element is provided. The flow head includes a body at least partially defining a cavity in thermal communication with the sensing element. The body includes an inlet port located within an annular surface of the body and an outlet port located within the annular surface of the body. The body also includes an inlet passage offset from and parallel to the cavity, wherein the inlet passage configures the inlet port and the cavity to be in fluid communication with one another. The body further includes an outlet passage offset from and parallel to the cavity, wherein the outlet passage configures the outlet port and the cavity to be in fluid communication with one another.
US07739921B1	Parameter measurement/control for fluid distribution systems A flow measurement system uses conduits adapted to be coupled to and throughout a liquid or gaseous fluid flow distribution system. Each conduit is instrumented to measure parameters associated with the liquid or gaseous fluid moving therethrough, and wireless transmit a unique code and data indicative of the parameters so-measured. A remotely-located receiver and output device(s) may be used to provide the data and unique code associated with each of the conduits in a human-discernable format. Each conduit may also receive data resulting in adjustment of fluid flow through the conduit.
US07739920B2	Coriolis flowmeter having a fixing member with non-parallel inlet and outlet portions A first inlet portion, a second inlet portion, a first outlet portion, and a second outlet portion are fixed to a fixing member, and a connecting tube portion is provided between the first outlet portion and the second inlet portion. Further, the first inlet portion and the second inlet portion 6 are arranged in a non-parallel state such that the distance between the two increases as they depart from the fixing member. The first outlet portion and the second outlet portion are similarly arranged in a non-parallel state, the first inlet portion and the second inlet portion and the first outlet portion and the second outlet portion being arranged symmetrically. Further, the first outlet portion, the second inlet portion, and the connecting tube portion are arranged such that their three tube axes are in a straight line.
US07739916B2	Gas pressure sensor with temperature compensation A pressure sensor for sensing a fluid pressure comprising: a first chamber including a first conductive membrane, wherein a fluid is sealed within the first chamber at a reference pressure such that the first conductive membrane deflects from pressure differences between the reference and the fluid pressure; a second chamber including a second conductive membrane sealed from the fluid pressure, wherein the second membrane deflects in response to a change in temperature which the pressure sensor is exposed thereto; and a circuit in electrical communication with the first and second conductive membrane, the circuit being configured to obtain a first and second signal from the first and second conductive membranes respectively, the first and second signals being indicative of the deflection of the first and second conductive membranes, wherein the circuit adjusts the first signal by the second signal to generate an output signal indicative of the fluid pressure.
US07739912B2	Ultrasonic fingerprint scanning utilizing a plane wave The invention may be embodied as a fingerprint scanner having an ultrasonic wave detector, a platen, an ultrasonic wave generator located between the detector and the platen. The invention may be embodied as a method of scanning a finger. One such method includes providing a platen, a detector and a generator, the generator being placed between the platen and the detector. A finger may be provided on the platen, and an ultrasound wave pulse may be sent from the generator toward the finger. The wave pulse may be reflected from the finger, and received at the detector. The received wave pulse may be used to produce an image of the finger.
US07739910B2	System and method for carrying out protocol-based isometric exercise regimen A system, and method for isometric exercise that safely reduces resting blood pressure and increases overall cardiovascular health. An apparatus includes a handle or grip configured to provide natural resistance to force and maximize user comfort and the system includes squeezing the handle or grip of the apparatus with a force that is less than the maximum squeeze force of the user, thereby reducing blood flow through contracting arm muscles and safely increasing blood pressure during exercise. Resting blood pressure is reduced through regular use of the system. The method includes measuring and recording the maximum squeeze force of a user, calculating a fractional force using the duration of exercise or a desired fractional force percentage, and alternately inducing the user to apply the fractional force for a calculated time and inducing the user to apply a lesser fractional force or no force for a calculated time.
US07739900B2	Method for testing the leakage rate of vacuum encapsulated devices The present invention is directed to a method for testing the leakage rate of an encapsulated device comprising the step: bombing the device with a neon and/or argon atmosphere using a bombing pressure of at least more than environmental pressure and measuring the quality factor before and after bombing. Preferably, the bombing time is about 10 to 100 hours, and the bombing pressure is 1.5 to 100 bar, more preferably 1.5 to 5 bar and most preferably about 4 bar. With this test, the leakage rate of fine leaks of the device may be determined.
US07739897B2	System for detecting failures in fuel systems A diagnostic system and method for detecting failures in a fuel system of a vehicle includes a fuel level monitoring module that determines a first change in a first fuel level of a first fuel tank based on data received from a first fuel level sensor and determines a second change in a second fuel level of a second fuel tank based on data received from a second fuel level sensor. A sensor diagnosing module evaluates operation of the second fuel level sensor based on the first change in the first fuel level.
US07739896B2	Self-calibration of scale factor for dual resonator class II coriolis vibratory gyros The method and apparatus in one embodiment may have: operating one of two resonators of a class II coriolis vibratory gyro in a closed loop mode and another of the two resonators in an open loop whole angle mode; sensing an angular rate by each of the two resonators; calibrating the scale factor of the closed loop resonator to yield the same integrated whole angle as measured by the open loop resonator; reversing operation of the two resonators such that the one of two resonators is operated in an open loop mode and the another of the two resonators in a closed loop whole angle mode; and alternately proceeding between open and closed loop operation of the two resonators, thereby self-calibrating scale factors respectively of the two resonators.
US07739894B2	Die cushion controller Provided is a die cushion controller that controls an ascending/descending speed of a die cushion based on a predetermined pressure pattern 56. The pressure pattern 56 has a low pressure target value PL which is first followed by an increased cushion pressure, a high pressure target value PH corresponding to a requisite cushion pressure for retaining a workpiece, and a complementary target value PC which is followed by the cushion pressure at a substantially linear increase rate for a predetermined period of time T2 until the cushion pressure exceeds the low pressure target value PL and reaches the high pressure target value PH. The cushion pressure overshooting the low pressure target value PL continues to follow the complementary target value PC, so that an overshooting amount occurring at a time point at which the cushion pressure reaches the high pressure target value PH can be reduced. As a result, pressure variation in the cushion pressure can be suppressed.
US07739889B2	Circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like A circular knitting machine for hosiery or the like, which comprises at least one needle cylinder which has a vertical axis and on the lateral surface of which there are axial slots. Each of these axial slots accommodates a needle (106) and an actuation element (110) for the needle (106) which can engage, with one of its ends, the needle (106) arranged in the same axial slot. The needle (106) or the actuation element (110) is provided with a fixed heel (103a), which protrudes radially from the axial slot, and a movable heel (104a) which can be extracted radially on command from the axial slot. Actuation cams are arranged around the needle cylinder and can be engaged by the fixed heels (103a) and by the movable heels (104a) in the extracted position. The machine can perform the usual knitting of known types of machine despite having an actuation cam set which has an extremely small number of actuation cams which can move for activation or deactivation, or none at all.
US07739888B2	Method and equipment to change the knitting density in the production of warp fabrics and tubular articles by Raschel loom and obtained products The invention relates to a method and related equipment for manufacturing shaped fabrics or anatomically shaped tubular hosiery and knitwear items, obtained with Raschel looms having preferably two parallel needle beds and automatic latch needles. During the knitting process, by gradually varying the height of the needle bed and of the sinking plane lying above with respect to the needles sliding in the same bed, knitting density can also be suitably changed. As a consequence, concerned anatomic parts such as the bodice and ankles of a pair of tights or a stockings as well as the waist and sleeves of a sweater can be shaped with higher accuracy and effectiveness.
US07739886B2	Knitwear having open part in body tubular part, and method of knitting the same A method of knitting a knitwear having an open part with a desired shape in which overlapping state of the open part is freely designed; the method comprising the steps of (a) to (f): a) a body is knitted by return knitting up to a joining starting location with a open part as a turn back position, wherein a right and left bodies are abutted at an overlapping portion of the open part, and a boundary of the front and back knitted is positioned on the needle bed on which the back body is assigned; b) rotating the body so that one of the boundaries is positioned between the front and back needle beds; c) joining the body and one of the left and right sleeve tubular parts (sleeve) to form one tubular part at one of the boundaries of the body and a joining side boundary of the sleeve; d) rotating the tubular part formed in step c so that the other boundary of the body is positioned between the front and back needle beds; e) joining the body and the other sleeve to form one tubular part at the other boundary of the body and a joining side boundary of the sleeve; and f) knitting the tubular part formed in step e by return knitting towards shoulder parts with the open part as a turn-back position.
US07739884B2	Control method of refrigerator An ice maker and method for making ice are disclosed. The ice maker includes a compartment, an ice-making tray disposed in the compartment to receive and make ice, and a fan installed on the ice-making tray to make ambient air pass along the surface of the ice-making tray. The method includes selectively supplying chilled air to a compartment according to conditions of the compartment, continuously blowing chilled air in the compartment to an ice-making tray disposed in the compartment regardless of the conditions of the compartment, and distributing blown air on a surface of the ice-making tray uniformly.
US07739883B2	Computer cooling apparatus An apparatus for cooling an electronic device that includes a fluid heat exchanger, a chiller, and a pump. The fluid heat exchanger transfers heat from a hot portion of the surface of the electronic device to a fluid and has a body through which the fluid may be circulated. The body has a protrusion having a first surface that may be thermally coupled to the hot portion such that the surface of the body is sufficiently distant from the surface of the electronic device that sufficient ambient air may circulate therebetween so as to substantially prevent condensation from forming on the surface of the electronic device and from forming on and dripping from the heat exchanger when the fluid is cooled to at least the dew point of the ambient air and circulated through the body. A heat-conducting path is provided from the first surface to a region of the body that is thermally coupled to the fluid when the fluid is circulated through the body. The chiller circulates the fluid through a chiller and the fluid heat exchanger.
US07739880B2	Compressor and air conditioner There is provided a compressor and an air conditioner capable of preventing a piston from being locked to a cylinder by iced matters. A compressor operation control section 18 of a control unit 20 stops the piston 2 in a high-temperature region HR of comparatively high temperatures where frost or ice of an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 1 is less easily generated. As a result, generation of iced matters between the high-temperature region HR of the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder 1 and the piston 2 is prevented, so that a lock of the piston 2 due to iced matters can be prevented.
US07739876B2	Socket enabled current delivery to a thermoelectric cooler to cool an in-substrate voltage regulator An apparatus including a socket having a socket body and a cavity within the socket body. The apparatus further including a thermoelectric cooler coupled to an in-substrate voltage regulator positioned within the cavity. A method including coupling a thermoelectric cooler to an in-substrate voltage regulator positioned within a cavity of a socket and electrically coupling the thermoelectric cooler to the socket using a contact of the socket. A system including an electronic appliance having a processor including an in-substrate voltage regulator positioned within a cavity of a socket coupled to the processor. The system further including a thermoelectric cooler positioned within the cavity and coupled to the in-substrate voltage regulator.
US07739875B2	Syngas power systems and method for use thereof In one embodiment, a power system comprises: a first compressor unit, a syngas generator in fluid communication with a fuel stream and the first compressor unit, a syngas expander unit configured to directly receive the first syngas stream from the syngas generator, a first steam generator, a water gas shift reactor, and a carbon dioxide removal unit. The first compressor unit is configured to compress an air stream and form a first pressurized stream, while the syngas generator is configured to generate a first syngas stream. The syngas expander is configured to reduce the pressure of the first syngas stream. The first steam generator is configured to cool the second syngas stream. The carbon dioxide removal unit configured to remove carbon dioxide from the converted syngas stream.
US07739874B2	Power generation The combustor (5) of a gas turbine (7) is supplied with coal bed methane (51), oxygen (53) and a part of the flue gas (55), predominantly CO2, produced from the gas turbine (7) and sent through a heat recovery steam generator (27), all under pressure. The heat recovery steam generator (27) receives the hot flue gas and generates steam (57) for driving a steam turbine (29). The other part of the flue gas stream that passes through the heat recovery steam generator (27) is supplied to a suitable underground storage region (3).
US07739872B2	Cooled dual wall liner closeout An example exhaust duct assembly includes a front liner, an intermediate liner and a rear liner. Each of the front, intermediate and rear liners include an inner liner exposed to combustion gases and an outer liner spaced radially apart from the inner liner. An air passage defined between the inner liner and the outer liner provides cooling air utilized for insulating an inner surface of the exhaust duct assembly. A closeout member is provided between the inner and outer liner and defines a portion of an air passage between the closeout member and the inner liner. Air flowing through the air passage is injected into a joint to provide cooling. The closeout member includes a horizontal leg that is bendable in a radial direction to accommodate relative movement between the inner liner and the outer liner.
US07739869B2	Diesel particulate filter performance using sonic particle agglomeration A method and system for improving the performance of diesel particulate filters. Before entering the filter, the exhaust gas is subjected to sonic waves to agglomerate the particles.
US07739868B2	Deterioration diagnostic system of exhaust gas purifying catalyst A deterioration diagnostic system of an exhaust gas purifying catalyst includes: an upstream side switching frequency calculator calculating the number of times of switching on the upstream side; a reference value calculator calculating a downstream side rich/lean determination level having a first width; a downstream side rich/lean determination level adjuster setting the first width to a second larger width when the number of times of switching on the upstream side is smaller than a predetermined value; a downstream side switching frequency calculator calculating the number of times of switching on the downstream side; a frequency ratio calculator calculating a frequency ratio between the number of times of switching on the downstream side and the number of times of switching on the upstream side; and a deterioration determiner determining the deterioration of the exhaust gas purifying catalyst when the frequency ratio is larger than a predetermined value.
US07739867B2	Compact, low pressure-drop shock-driven combustor A system for efficiently creating cyclic detonations is provided. The system includes at least a first initiator chamber configured to generate an initial wave, at least one main chamber coupled to the first initiator chamber. The main chamber is configured to generate a main wave and to output products of supersonic combustion. The products are generated within the main chamber. The main chamber is configured to enable the main wave to travel upstream and downstream within the main chamber when the first initiator chamber is located outside the main chamber. The system further includes an initial connection section located between the first initiator chamber and the main chamber that enhances a combustion process via shock focusing and shock reflection.
US07739866B2	Turbofan case and method of making A casing for a gas turbine includes a construction providing improved structural efficiency. Improved load paths and means for transmitting loads in the engine case are disclosed.
US07739865B2	Gas turbine engine inlet with noise reduction features A gas turbine engine comprising a fan section, a compressor, a combustor and a turbine, includes a nacelle having an inner nacelle surface defining an inlet duct designed to reduce an inlet duct area of the inlet duct to increase acoustic attenuation. The gas turbine engine also includes a spinner, disposed forward of the fan section, that includes features to increase acoustic attenuation. In one embodiment of the present invention, the nacelle includes a nacelle contoured surface protruding radially inward from the inner nacelle surface to reduce the inlet duct area. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the spinner includes a spinner contoured surface for reducing the inlet duct area. In other embodiments, the nacelle and/or the spinner include an inflatable bladder, a SMA actuator, a fluidic actuator, or a combination thereof, selectively activated to increase acoustic attenuation during certain conditions of an aircraft.
US07739857B2	Packages, packaging systems, methods for packaging and apparatus for packaging The present invention relates to the use of vacuum packaging and vacuum packaging techniques. Embodiments of the present invention include bales and packages comprising a sealed chamber having an internal volume at a pressure less than ambient atmospheric pressure. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the internal volume of the package comprises a bulk material, a bulk fiber material, fibers or fibrous materials. Also disclosed are methods for packaging, packaging systems and apparatus for packaging.
US07739856B2	Packaging machine with gluing station and folding station An apparatus for forming an end closure structure of a carton. The end closure structure is formed from minor end flaps and major end flaps. The apparatus includes a carton conveyor for transferring the carton in a flow direction along a carton conveyor path, a major end flap retaining guide assembly for retaining the major end flaps in an outwardly upright position, a minor end flap retaining guide assembly for retaining the minor end flaps in an inwardly folded position, and a gluing station for applying adhesive to the major and minor end flaps.
US07739852B2	Back plate bracketing system A bracketing system is provided having two brackets joined by a flexible adhesive material that allows bridging or backing members of variable lengths and widths to be mounted between vertical studs to enhance stability of the wall construction. A wall construction assembly according to an embodiment of the invention comprises two vertical studs and a bridge backing member mounted there between by a bracketing system, which includes a left bracket and a right bracket connected by a flexible adhesive material. Because the bridge backing member can be adjustably sized to be secured on the brackets, it can be sized to fit between studs regardless of any variation in the spacing of the studs. This obviates the need to prefabricate bridge backing members to fit between variably spaced studs. The bridge backing member can be mounted flush with the stud to eliminate unevenness in the wall structure. Bridge or backing members of various widths and lengths can be mounted to the bracketing system.
US07739849B2	Floorboards, flooring systems and methods for manufacturing and installation thereof Floorboards with a format corresponding to a traditional parquet block for laying of mechanically joined floating flooring. Rectangular floorboards include a surface layer and a core with two long sides and two short sides, for making a floating flooring, which floorboards are mechanically lockable and which along their four sides have pairs of opposing connectors for locking similar, adjoining floorboards to each other both vertically and horizontally wherein the long sides have a length not exceeding 80 cm and the short sides have a width not exceeding 10 cm.
US07739848B2	Roofing panel interlock system An insulated building panel includes a male connector configuration as well as a female connector configuration that are both formed of generally bent surfaces. The male connector as well as the female connector extends outwardly from the side faces of an insulating foam core so that the foam is protected from damage. The male connector is formed by bending the metal edge into a generally U shaped configuration with the outer edge of the U bent downwardly towards the interior of the panel. The female connector is bent back almost towards itself and terminates in a curvilinear gutter portion. The female portion includes a detent edge that defines a shallow receptacle into which a male detent edge is inserted so as to lock the male and female connectors in a nested position, thereby securing two panels together.
US07739847B2	Wind resistant siding panel An improved siding panel has a fastening hem that includes an engagement member structured to extend outwardly from a building when the siding panel is mounted to the building. The engagement member is generally trapezoid-shaped in cross section and includes a first leg, a second leg, and an apex portion disposed therebetween, with spaced elongated openings being formed in the apex portion. The siding panel is cooperable with a fastener having an elongated shank and a head to mount the siding panel to the building. The siding panel is mounted to the building by receiving the shank through one of the openings. During certain wind loading, the apex portion is engageable with the head, which thereby deflects the first and second legs from a relaxed position to a deflected position where the edges of the opening can engage the shank of the fastener to provide a greater resistance to wind loading.
US07739846B2	Insulating concrete form block including foam panel having inner row projections alternatingly flush with and set back from inner edge and different in size from outer row projections An insulating concrete block adapted to be interlocked with other insulating concrete blocks to form an insulating concrete form for casting concrete. The insulating concrete block including a first foam panel and a second foam panel supported in a spaced apart, parallel relationship to form a concrete receiving cavity. Each of the first panel and the second panel having a top end, a bottom end, a first end, and a second end. The top end and the bottom end of each of the first and second panels having an outside row of a plurality of projections and an inside row of a plurality of projections. The projections of the outside row being spaced apart to define a plurality of recesses and the projections of the inside row being spaced apart to define a plurality of recesses with the projections of the outside row being adjacent to the recesses of the inside row and the recesses of the outside row being adjacent projections of the inside row. At least some of the projections of the inner row are set back from an inner edge of the panel such that when one panel is interconnected with a like panel a plurality of spaced apart recesses are formed along an inner face defined by the interconnected panels.
US07739845B2	Insulated building block An insulated building block having a three-section configuration wherein a first cementitious segment containing the internal core hole of the block is interlocked with second cementitious segment by a serpentine configured insulated insert. The insulation insert is operatively arranged to have multiple lips that mate with various indented ledges on each of the other segments in a location proximate to the surface of the cementitious segments. The insulating insert is also configured with wedge holes that accommodate wedges which press into the installation to maintain continuity of the block. The insulation insert has groves that in combination with the other segments form a trough in fluid communication with weep holes which extend through the insulation insert which allows for condensation and seepage of water to drain from the block.
US07739843B2	Pre-stressed concrete tower for wind power generators A pre-stressed segmented concrete tower for wind power generators is described, and a method for its fabrication, wherein in a pyramidal structure is formed by prefabricated segments, the structure comprising three rounded walls formed with semi-circular segments, and three flat walls, formed with flat segments between the semi-circular walls. One standard curved mold is used for the semi-circular walls, and the flat walls are fabricated horizontally, over templates.
US07739841B1	Framing in a building assembly The invention relates to framing for a ready to assemble building, which employs a novel connector for connection of a column to a rafter (“knee connector”) or a rafter to another rafter (“peak connector”). The connector includes a hub comprising multiple substantially planar hub portions. The hub portions include a first hub portion, a second hub portion integrally connected to the first hub portion so as to define an acute angle with respect thereto, and at least one other hub portion integrally connected between the first and second hub portions. The connector further includes first and second legs comprised of elongated plates. The first leg perpendicularly extends outwardly from the first hub portion, and the second leg perpendicularly extends outwardly from the second hub portion. Each leg has a plurality of holes therethrough for alignment with corresponding holes in a structural member, preferably light gauge C-channel. Suitable fasteners are receivable through holes in a leg as aligned with corresponding holes in a structural member.
US07739840B1	Roof hip and ridge anchor device A device for roof structures having a ridge or hip defined by the planes of two roof decks, disposed at an angle with respect to each other defining a longitudinal joint. A longitudinally extending cover with at least one coextensive channel defined by a bottom, two spacer walls and two lateral walls are mounted over the ridge or hip. The channel(s) increases the effective contact area to enhance the gripping action of the adhesive compound. From the longitudinal bends of the cover wall extend two perpendicularly extending walls with distal ends that continue with longitudinally coextensive flanges. The longitudinal flanges extend at an angle to be cooperatively and rigidly mounted over the roof decks with mechanical fasteners. An adhesive compound is positioned in the channel and over the cover. The adhesive is pressed so that part of it protrudes through the through openings positioned along the bottom, spacer and lateral walls that define the channel thereby creating a mechanical anchorage with the device. Tile accessories are placed over the cover and in contact with the adhesive compound to secure them to the device.
US07739839B1	Down spout safety edge system An elbow is positionable at the lower end of a down spout. A protective strip fabricated of an elastomeric material is positioned over the bottom of the elbow. The strip is fabricated to include an elongated member in a generally C-shaped cross sectional configuration. The elongated member covers a portion of the bottom of the elbow. The protective strip is fabricated to also include an elongated component in a generally C-shaped cross sectional configuration. The elongated component fabricated of a metallic material and is totally encased within the elastomeric material. The component is adapted to be crimped onto the bottom of the elbow.
US07739836B2	Vehicle door with selective full open positions An apparatus is provided for establishing at least two open access door positions relative to an opening of a compartment. The apparatus includes a position defining member having at least one engagement element, and a stop member. The position defining member is adapted to be coupled to the compartment. A housing member is adapted to be coupled to the access door for movement therewith, and has an opening for translatable receipt of the position defining member. The housing member further includes an engagement element operable to engage the at least one engagement element of the position defining member to establish a first open access door position. The stop member contacting the housing member establishes a second open access door position approximately perpendicular to the compartment.
US07739831B2	Thermal actuated plant protection device with internal air-flow control mechanism A plant protection device having a ventilation opening shield that may be protectedly positioned between a housing and a mounting socket. A temperature sensitive actuator may be provided in the socket and the shield may pivotally move about the socket between a position impeding airflow through the ventilation opening and a position facilitating airflow through the ventilation opening. Various embodiments and features are disclosed including a reinforced housing, multi-part housing construction, and a shield mounting structure provided through the shield, among other features.
US07739828B2	Modular apparatus for protecting against insect attacks Apparatus and method for protecting against and stopping an attack by stinging flying insects. The apparatus is modular and activated by an operator of a mobile conveyance turned victim of an insect attack. A tank contains an insect killing solution, and the tank is fluidly connected by a hose with a delivery system that is characterized by a plurality of spray nozzles. In response to an attack by stinging flying insects, an operator activates an electric pump that delivers the solution from the tank to the delivery system under pressure via the hose. The pump, hose and delivery system are incorporated into the tank, with the hose and delivery system disposed in channels on the surface of the tank, in order to create a modular assembly that may be mounted to the mobile conveyance.
US07739827B2	Fishing rod holder A holder for a rod and reel combination as may be used for ice fishing is disclosed. The holder has an elongated arm pivotally supported on a wall, pail or fixture mounting bracket for adjustable movement in a horizontal plane; and a tubular sleeve is pivotally attached to the arm for removably receiving and holding a rod and its reel in such an orientation that the rod points downwardly for selective positioning over an ice fishing hole. An alarm finger movable between a restrained or cocked position and a tripped position for actuating an audible alarm is attached to the arm. A fishing line engagement member is operatively associated with the alarm finger in such a way that when a fish strikes and pulls the line, the alarm finger is released from its cocked position and moves to its tripped position to actuate the alarm.
US07739825B2	Illuminated sighting device An illuminated sighting device includes an elongate light collector having one end defining a sight point that faces rearwardly for viewing by a user. The light collector is formed such that light can be gathered along its length and transmitted to the one end. The light collector further includes a curved transition section optically coupled with the sight point. The curved transition section has a radius of curvature that is sufficiently large to substantially reduce or eliminate light loss from the curved section and thereby increase a brightness of the sight point.
US07739822B1	Method and device for mounting an accessory to a firearm A device and method of using the device to attach an accessory to a firearm. The device is a longitudinally elongated, rigid, two-piece clamping coupling forming a longitudinally extending channel with a longitudinally extending seam and a longitudinally extending lateral gap in the coupling between the pieces. A set of longitudinally spaced clamping screws operably engaging both pieces of the coupling and extending laterally across the seam for laterally repositioning the pieces relative to one another to effect compressive clamping when rotated. A longitudinally extending receiving track is formed in at least one of the pieces.
US07739818B2	Illuminated sign insert There is provided a sign insert that can house the inner components of a sign. The insert can be easily inserted into and removed from signs so that either of the sign housing or the sign insert with inner components can be salvaged and reused if the other becomes inoperable.
US07739815B2	Ripper excavation tool A ripper tooth for use mounted on an excavation tool having a tool body mounted for rotation on an excavation machine arm, the ripper tooth being mounted to the tool body for ripping engagement with a substrate. The ripper tooth has first and at least second portions, each with a tip disposed for ripping engagement with the substrate. The first and second portions are laterally spaced apart generally along the axis of rotation of the tool relative to the arm, and the first and second portions are angularly spaced apart generally in a direction of substrate ripping motion. The first portion is disposed on a first axis and the second portion is disposed on a second axis, the first and second axes being different. Ripper excavation tools with one or more ripper teeth of the disclosure mounted to the tool body are also described.
US07739811B2	Method and installation for rehabilitating a ballast bed In a method of rehabilitating a ballast bed of a track by excavating contaminated ballast and conveying the excavated contaminated ballast by a first conveyor band unit to a screening unit for cleaning the excavated contaminated ballast, the ballast bed is rehabilitated selectively, in dependence on the degree of contamination of the ballast, in a first or second operating stage. The first operating stage comprises the steps of excavating an upper layer of the ballast by a first excavating device which precedes a second excavating device, in an operating direction, and conducting the excavated upper ballast layer to the first conveyor band unit while, at the same time, the remainder of the ballast is excavated by the second excavating device and is conducted to a second conveyor band unit for disposal. The second operating stage comprises the steps of excavating the ballast solely by the second excavating device and deflecting the excavated ballast to the first conveyor band unit for cleaning while the first excavating device is inoperative.
US07739808B2	Genie disposable slipper The Genie disposable pedicure slipper is formed from a single piece of material that consist of polyurethane foam fabric. The pedicure slipper is intended to be worn as slipper on the users foot. The sole of the slipper is designed to conform to the outline of the human foot. The bottom surface structure is designed to give support, comfort and rest for the users foot. There are two strap portions of the sheet material. One of the strap portions comes from the heel of the sole and is cut to form an appendage. The other strap portion comes from the toe of the sole and has a slit. The two straps when folded over serve as a buckle by inserting the appendage into the slit.
US07739803B2	Surveying system The present invention provides a surveying system, which comprises a surveying device 1 provided with a function for tracking a target 13, and a remote control device 16 for remotely controlling the surveying device on a target side, said surveying device comprises a measuring unit 21, an image pickup unit 23, a first radio unit 33, and a first control arithmetic unit 29, said remote control device comprises a second radio unit 37, a second control arithmetic unit 35, a second display unit 18 and a second operation input unit 20, said first control arithmetic unit transmits measurement data of the measuring unit to the remote control device via the first radio unit when a detection result is within the tracking range based on the detection result of a reflection light from the target, and transmits an image data taken by the image pickup unit via the first radio unit when the detection result is out of the tracking range, said second control arithmetic unit receives the measurement data and the image data via the second radio unit, and the measurement data or the image data are displayed on the second display unit.
US07739800B2	Combination blower, trimmer and edger for tending vegetation An engine is connected to the upper end of a drive shaft housing and a work head with a string trimmer or blower or both is operatively connected to the lower end of the drive shaft housing and is rotatably driven by an engine rotating a drive shaft inside the drive shaft housing and connected to the working head. The drive shaft housing is rigidly connected to the working head and may be rotated about its longitudinal axis relative to the engine in any desired amount of rotation, but the preferred degree of rotation is 135° to move the working head from a trimming position with the rotating trimmer string in a horizontal position to an edging position with the rotating trimmer string in a vertical position and with the working head being displaced to the operator's right side for better viewing and control and operator comfort. In one embodiment, a gear driven crank handle is rigidly connected to the drive shaft housing and is itself rotated 135° as the drive shaft housing is rotated 135° to place the handle in a position that is comfortable to use. Further, the amount of air flowing through the blower is regulated by an air outlet regulating valve and a separate air intake regulating valve.
US07739797B2	Shaving razor A shaving razor having a housing. The housing includes a plurality of shaving blades and a separate trimming blade. The trimming blade has a trimming blade edge. A trimming blade alignment member is provided on the housing for aligning the trimming blade edge which is visually concealed by said housing on a user's skin for accurate shaving.
US07739791B2	Method of producing an overmolded electronic module with a flexible circuit pigtail A method of producing an overmolded electronic assembly including a circuit board and a flexible circuit interconnect by fixturing the assembly in a mold cavity such that a portion of the flexible circuit protrudes from the mold, and providing a compressible elastomeric interface between the mold and the flexible circuit to seal off the mold cavity and protect the flexible circuit from damage due to the clamping force of the mold. The portion of the flexible circuit within the mold cavity is pre-coated with a material that ensures good adhesion with the molding compound, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the portion of the flexible circuit that protrudes from the mold protects the flexible circuit from damage due to thermal conduction from the mold and mold compound.
US07739790B2	Electron-emitting device manufacturing method, electron source manufacturing method, image-forming apparatus manufacturing method, and information displaying and playing apparatus manufacturing method Provided is an electron-emitting device using a carbon fiber as an electronic member. A carbon fiber through which a cathode electrode and a control electrode are short-circuited is removed to obtain an electron-emitting device having a uniform electron emission characteristic. A first electrode including a plurality of fibers each containing carbon and a second electrode are prepared. Then, a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode with a state where a potential of the first electrode becomes higher than a potential of the second electrode to remove a carbon fiber through which the first electrode and the second electrode are short-circuited.
US07739785B2	Method of manufacturing a head gimbal assembly Embodiments of the present invention provide a head gimbal assembly manufacturing method which can attach another magnetic head slider to a suspension to be reused without addition of solder. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a head gimbal assembly (HGA) is attached to a jig. Both sides of a portion close to the rear end of a magnetic head slider are gripped with hot tweezers heated at about 200° C. They are heated for about four seconds while applying force in a direction of peeling off the magnetic head slider from gimbals, thus removing the magnetic head slider from the gimbals. When another magnetic head slider is attached to the suspension, an adhesive adhered to the gimbals is removed and another adhesive is applied to the gimbals. The back of another magnetic head slider is pressed to the adhesive, whereby the magnetic head slider is fixed to the gimbals. Next, the solder fillet left on the gimbals is irradiated with laser beams to be melted and joined to an electric terminal.
US07739782B2	Method of installing blind fastener A blind fastener (11) for installation in a thermoplastic workpiece, which blind fastener has a leading end face (21) which is substantially flat and non-abrasive and without drilling teeth, so that when the leading end face of the fastener is held in contact with the near face of the thermoplastic workpiece (22) and heat and pressure are applied to the contacted area of the workpiece by means of the leading end of the fastener, the fastener progressively forms a hole through the thermoplastic workpiece in which hole it can then be installed.
US07739777B2	Method of manufacturing a liquid transporting apparatus A method of manufacturing an ink-jet head according to the present invention includes a step of providing a vibration plate in which grooves associated with respective pressure chambers are formed on a surface of the vibration plate, and a piezoelectric layer forming step of forming a piezoelectric layer by depositing particles of a piezoelectric material on the surface of the vibration plate on an opposite side of a channel unit. Since grooves corresponding to the grooves in the vibration plate are formed also in the piezoelectric layer, it is possible to reduce a cross talk between operating sections of the piezoelectric layer. Further, chip and crack is hardly developed in the piezoelectric layer.
US07739773B2	Portable blower A portable blower having a motor unit that includes a drive motor disposed in an engine housing. The blower has a blower unit that is provided with a blower housing that is separate from the engine housing. The blower unit includes an axial fan that is driven by the drive motor via a drive shaft. During operation the axial fan conveys operating air in the direction of the axis of rotation of the axial fan through a blower tube disposed downstream of the axial fan. An ergonomic operation and a good operating result can be achieved if the motor unit includes a guide tube on which is secured at least one handle. The engine housing is disposed at one end of the guide tube and the blower unit is disposed at the other end of the guide tube. The drive shaft extends through the guide tube. The length of the guide tube between the engine housing and the blower unit corresponds to at least half of the length of the blower tube.
US07739772B2	Upright vacuum cleaner There is provided an upright vacuum cleaner that can be conveniently and stably operated. In the upright vacuum cleaner, an intake nozzle is provided to suck air, dust, and other material, a body is extended upward from the intake nozzle in a rotatable relationship with the intake nozzle, a dust collector is installed in the body to remove the dust and other material from the air, and a cord reel is installed on one side of the body to accommodate a power cord.
US07739770B2	Handy mop Disclosed is a handy mop including a mop body for collecting dust and a handle to which the mop body is to be attached. The mop body is provided with two gaps (b) extending in parallel for attachment of the handle thereto. The handle is provided with an attachment portion and a gripper extending rearwardly upwardly from a root end of the attachment portion. The attachment portion is bifurcated at the root end to provide two insert plates, which are flat and level, and are to be inserted into the gaps (b) of the mop body for use.
US07739768B2	Squeegee device and system with integrated sponge elements A device with a squeegee configuration and an absorbent material positioned between protruding squeegee walls for treating a working surface with wiping edges of the squeegee configuration and the absorbent material is disclosed. A device, in accordance with the invention, comprises a curved squeegee and means for coupling the curved squeegee to a spray nozzle for wiping the working surface with edges of the curved squeegee and spray the working surface with the spray nozzle. A system, in accordance with the invention, comprises a vacuum source, a liquid source and an applicator head with squeegees and apertures wherein a portion the apertures are configured to couple the vacuum source and draw a vacuum on a working surface and a second portion of the apertures are configured to couple to the liquid source and deliver a liquid to the working surface.
US07739766B2	Method for erecting a stay A stay comprises an inclined casing and a bundle of substantially parallel taut reinforcements lodged in the casing and individually anchored in a first and a second anchoring region. According to the invention, the casing and some of the reinforcements are installed by applying substantially uniform tension values to the reinforcements, then several iterations of the following steps are formed: compacting the installed reinforcements, at least at one end of the casing; slipping a further group of reinforcements along inside the casing, in a space left available by the compacted reinforcements; and tensioning each reinforcement of the further group between the first and second anchoring regions so that all the installed reinforcements exhibit substantially uniform tension values.
US07739763B2	Inflatable bed having air chambers inflatable individually by an electric air pump unit An inflatable bed includes a bedstead assembly, a mattress assembly, and an electrical air pump unit. The mattress assembly is disposed on and above the bedstead assembly, and includes a top sheet, a bottom sheet disposed under the top sheet, and a plurality of surrounding sheets interconnecting the top and bottom sheets to form a plurality of air chambers, which are not in fluid communication with each other. Each of the air chambers is defined among the top sheet, the bottom sheet, and a respective one of the surrounding sheets. The electrical air pump unit is disposed on the bedstead assembly, and is operable to inflate the air chambers individually so that air pressures in the air chambers may be different.
US07739762B2	Surgery table apparatus A surgery table utilizing first and second sections which are hingedly attached to one another. First and second sections are also connected to supports apart from the hinged portion. An elevator moves one of the sections upwardly and downwardly at the support. The resultant position of the frame formed by the first and second sections may take the configuration of a flat surface or an upwardly or downwardly oriented “vee”.
US07739758B2	Support PAD for a patient transfer mattress A support pad includes a recess in an upper surface for receiving an inflatable transfer mattress. The recess may extend to a depth such that an upper surface of the transfer mattress is flush with the upper surface of the support pad when the transfer mattress is deflated. Alternatively, the recess may be adapted for receipt of a transfer mattress having an accessory on an upper surface of the mattress such that an upper surface of the accessory is flush with the upper surface of the pad. The support pad may include side and end portions to form an overlay adapted for placement on an underlying support member having larger dimensions than the transfer mattress. The support pad may also be sectioned to include one or more detachably connected portions to facilitate sliding removal of a transfer mattress from the recess of the support pad.
US07739757B2	Shower base with flow enhancing covered drain A shower enclosure base has a flow enhancing flush-mounted drain cover that conceals the drain opening and provides a flat stepping surface. Drain flow is achieved through a narrow peripheral passage between the drain cover and the drain well in which it is seated. Despite the reduced flow area of passage, flow enhancing features of the drain cover serve to improve the flow rate through the drain. These features are radially converging ribs at the underside of the drain cover that interrupt the natural tendency for drain water to form a vortex as it passes into and through a circular drain opening. The drain cover can be removably secured to the base by suction cups that attach to the drain well.
US07739756B2	Spa with integrated step A spa having an integrated step is shown; the spa comprises a base, a wall extending upwardly from the base to define an enclosure, a recess and a bottom portion of the exterior wall and a sliding step mounted in the recess, the step being moveable between a storage position inside the spa and an extended position wherein the step may be used to access the interior of the spa.
US07739748B2	Temperature altering garment and methods of use thereon Human clothing has inner and outer flexible layers that define a space sufficiently large to position a thermal transfer element in any of multiple, non-overlapping positions. The space and the thermal transfer element preferably have cooperating sides of a hook-and-loop attachment. All suitable items of clothing are contemplated, but especially a shirt, jacket or pants that appear to others as a substantially normal garment. Each space has one or more openings, in either the inner or outer layers, and preferably at the shoulders or sides of the torso, or at the pocket areas of pants. The spaces are preferably large, not only relative to the size of a corresponding thermal transfer element, but also to the size of the garment. Thermal transfer elements are preferably disposed in pouches having a thermal insulation on that side, and have only a very thin, thermally transmissive, fabric on the other side.
US07743425B2	Security restrictions on binary behaviors A security model restricts binary behaviors on a machine based on identified security zones. Binary behaviors can be attached to an element of a document, web-page, or email message. The binary behavior potentially threatens security on the local machine. A security manager intercepts download requests and/or execution requests, identifies a security zone for the requested binary behavior, and restricts access based on the security zone. The binary behavior can identify a security zone according to the related URL. In one example, all binary behaviors associated with a security zone are handled identically. In another example, a list of permissible binary behaviors is associated with a security zone such that only specified binary behaviors are granted access. In still another example, a list of impermissible binary behaviors is associated with a security zone such that binary behaviors that are found in the list cannot initiate access.
US07743423B2	Security requirement determination All execution paths of one or more assemblies in managed code are simulated to find the permissions for each execution path. The managed code can correspond to a managed shared library or a managed application. Each call in each execution path has a corresponding permissions set. When the library or application has permissions to execute that are not less than the required permission sets for the execution paths, any dynamic execution of the library or application will not trigger a security exception The simulated execution provides a tool that can be used to ensure that code being written will not exceed a maximum security permission for the code. A permission set can be determined by the tool for each assembly corresponding to an application and for each entry point corresponding to a shared library.
US07743421B2	Communication network security risk exposure management systems and methods Communication network security risk exposure management systems and methods are disclosed. Risks to a communication network are determined by analyzing assets of the communication network and vulnerabilities affecting the assets. Assets may include physical assets such as equipment or logical assets such as software or data. Risk analysis may be adapted to assess risks to a particular feature of a communication network by analyzing assets of the communication network which are associated with that feature and one or more of vulnerabilities which affect the feature and vulnerabilities which affect the assets associated with the feature. A feature may be an asset itself or a function or service offered in the network and supported by particular assets, for example.
US07743420B2	Dynamic learning method and adaptive normal behavior profile (NBP) architecture for providing fast protection of enterprise applications A dynamic learning method and an adaptive normal behavior profile (NBP) architecture for providing fast protection of enterprise applications are disclosed. The adaptive NBP architecture includes a plurality of profile items. Each profile item includes a plurality of profile properties holding the descriptive values of the respective item. An application-level security system can identify and prevent attacks targeted at enterprise applications by matching application events against at least a single profile item in the adaptive NBP.
US07743419B1	Method and system for detection and prediction of computer virus-related epidemics A system, method and computer program product for detection of epidemics caused by malware programs or computer viruses. Detection of local and global epidemics is performed automatically. A source of an epidemic is calculated and analyzed based on collected statistics. A spread of the epidemic is predicted and an accurate prognosis referring to the time frame and to geographical areas of the epidemic spread is made. The prognosis is made based on a calculated value of “connection strength” coefficient. The connection strength coefficient reflects a volume of information exchange (i.e., a number and a quality of connection channels) between the countries. An epidemic is detected in its infancy and its spread is monitored in time and propagation across different countries. Then, effective security and protection measures can be invoked in a timely manner.
US07743418B2	Identifying malware that employs stealth techniques A method, software system, and computer-readable medium are provided for determining whether a malware that implements stealth techniques is resident on a computer. In one exemplary embodiment, a method is provided that obtains a first set of data that describes the processes that are reported as being active on the computer in a non-interrupt environment. Then, the method causes program execution to be interrupted at runtime so that an analysis of the active processes on the computer may be performed. After program execution is interrupted, a second set data that describes the processes that are reported as being active on the computer in a interrupt environment is obtained. By performing a comparison between the first and second sets of data, a determination may be made regarding whether the collected data contains inconsistencies that are characteristic of malware.
US07743417B2	Data storage device with code scanning capability A disk drive according to the invention has a processor for executing a program for identifying harmful computer code (HCC). A communication protocol with the host computer according to the invention provides means for the host to control the HCC detection process, receive information about the HCC detection from the disk drive and preferably for the HCC detection program to be transmitted to the disk drive. In a preferred embodiment a disk drive has a scanning program for scanning data for harmful computer code (HCC) using a set of HCC signatures. In one embodiment, the disk drive has means for communicating with a controlling host computer which implements the HCC protocol and a user computer which does not implement the HCC protocol, to allow the user computer to be protected from HCC in a transparent way.
US07743412B1	Computer system identification A computer system includes an interface and a processor. The interface is adapted to receive a request from another computer system for identification of the first computer system. The adapter also furnishes a hash value that identifies the first computer system to the other computer system. The processor is coupled to the interface and is adapted to encrypt an identifier that identifies the first computer system with a key associated with the other computer system to provide the hash value.
US07743411B2	Method and apparatus for voice over internet protocol telephony using a virtual private network A system and method are disclosed for extending communications over the Internet by associating a telephone number with, for example a remote virtual private network (VPN) client IP address. A call can be received to the telephone number and an invite signal is provided to the remote VPN client utilizing the IP address. When the VPN client is able, a VPN can be established and the call can be routed to a phone associated with the remote VPN client IP address.
US07743408B2	Secure association and management frame verification Network devices access a communications network and engage in secure associations with one or more network access points upon authenticating the access points and upon verifying the discovery information that is broadcast by the access point. Once a secure association is created, management frames that are subsequently transmitted between the network devices and the access points and that are used to control the secure association are verified to further enhance the security of the communications network.
US07743399B1	Network-based service to provide on-demand video summaries of television programs A network-based device allows customers to receive television programming and to view summaries of the programming. A method of providing the summaries comprises: dividing a received program into program segments each identified by index marks, summarizing each program segment into summary segments identified by similar index marks, generating metadata files for delimiting a beginning and an end of summary segments and program segments, storing the summary segments and accessing the summary segments to supply the summary segments in lieu of program segments upon demand.
US07743385B2	System and method for simplification of data structure in wireless communications System and method for data simplification in wireless communications are enabled by an application developer toolkit used to convert complex service messages to a simplified data structure for storing information associated with a remote service that utilizes complex data structures for conveying the information to devices that access the remote service. The application developer toolkit also outputs maps for converting the complex service messages to simplified wireless messages in a format of the simplified data structure, and maps simplified wireless messages to complex service messages. A proxy located in a communications path between the wireless device and the remote service uses the maps to convert complex service messages to simplified service messages, and vice versa.
US07743377B2	Cooperative threading in a managed code execution environment A runtime execution environment may manage resources executing cooperative threading on a single physical thread. One example can scan eligible activation records linked to threads on a method process and can execute one of the activation records. This example can create a new activation record for a new method invoked for the executed activation record and link the new activation record to the executed activation record. Further, this example can loop back to re-start the method.
US07743376B2	Method and apparatus for managing tasks in a multiprocessor system In a multiprocessor system, a task control processor may be placed in the path connecting each execution processor to a system bus. Such task control processors may detect the completion of a first task on an associated execution processor and, responsively, generate commands to lead to the initiation of a second task on the same, or another, execution processor. Such task completion detection and task initiation by the task control processors removes, from a central processor or the execution processors, the burden of performing such tasks, thereby improving the efficiency of the entire system.
US07743372B2	Dynamic cluster code updating in logical partitions A first logical partition in a first processing complex of a server cluster is operated at a first level of a software code. Software code in a second logical partition in the same processing complex is updated to a second level. Processing operations are assumed by the second logical partition operating at the second level of software code. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07743363B2	Extensible meta-data Meta-data of compiled code may have a corresponding description of the schema for meta-data, to allow for deviations from a schema standard.
US07743362B2	Automatic generation of application domain specific graphical programs System and method for generating an application domain specific graphical program. A graphical user interface (GUI) for specifying functionality of a graphical program in an application domain is displayed, where the GUI corresponds specifically to the application domain. User input to the GUI specifying the functionality of the graphical program is received, and the graphical program generated in response, where the graphical program is executable to perform the specified functionality, and comprises multiple interconnected graphical program nodes that visually represent the graphical program functionality. The GUI includes graphical interface elements operable to indicate and/or specify, e.g., via user input, respective attributes of the graphical program such as timing, triggering, analog and/or digital input/output (I/O), resource allocation, processing option, inclusion of one or more external files, and one or more target devices, among others, and may determine the graphical interface elements based on the specified one or more target devices.
US07743359B2	Apparatus and method for photomask design An apparatus and method of synthesizing a photolithographic data set includes using a first computational model to calculate a first figure-of-merit for the photolithographic data set; changing a first part of the photolithographic data set to increase the first figure-of-merit; and then using a second computational model to calculate a second figure-of-merit of the photolithographic data set; and changing a second part of the photolithographic data set to increase the second figure-of-merit. The second computational model enables figure-of-merit calculations to be executed at a significantly faster execution rate than the first computational model.
US07743356B2	Method of disposing dummy pattern A method of disposing a dummy pattern includes the steps of obtaining an inter-wiring parasitic capacity and a wiring total parasitic capacity for each wiring using wiring layout data and initial dummy pattern layout data; creating a first data base based on the inter-wiring parasitic capacity; creating a second data base based on the wiring total parasitic capacity; performing dynamic and static simulations for creating a third data base storing the results of the dynamic and static simulations, the result of the dynamic simulation being information about the first wiring, and the result of the static simulation being information about the second wiring; and performing an additional insertion of dummy pattern near a third wiring, the third wiring being determined to be a wiring which is capable of be affected by voltage noise based on the data in the third data base.
US07743353B2	Enhanced verification by closely coupling a structural overapproximation algorithm and a structural satisfiability solver A method, system and computer program product for performing verification are disclosed. A first abstraction of an initial design netlist containing a first target is created and designated as a current abstraction, and the current abstraction is unfolded by a selectable depth. A composite target is verified using a satisfiability solver, and in response to determining that the verifying step has hit the composite target, a counterexample to is examined to identify one or more reasons for the first target to be asserted. One or more refinement pairs are built by examining the counterexample, and a second abstraction is built by composing the refinement pairs. One or more learned clauses and one or more invariants to the second abstraction and the second abstraction is chosen as the current abstraction. The current abstraction is verified with the satisfiability solver.
US07743351B2	Checking the robustness of a model of a physical system The invention provides a system and a method for verifying the robustness of a model of a physical system, the method comprising the following steps: defining a first model of the physical system comprising a set of components and at least one input interface for inserting input values, said first model being defined in a formal language describing the behavior and the function of each of said components; defining in the formal language a determined property that must be satisfied by the model of the physical system; defining in the formal language a second model corresponding to the first model and enriched by a fault injection mechanism; and using formal proof means to search automatically for a combination of injected faults and/or input values that causes said determined property to fail.
US07743350B2	Verifying one or more properties of a design using SAT-based BMC In one embodiment, a method for satisfiability (SAT)-based bounded model checking (BMC) includes isolating information learned from a first iteration of an SAT-based BMC process and applying the isolated information from the first iteration of the SAT-based BMC process to a second iteration of the SAT-based BMC process subsequent to the first iteration.
US07743346B2	System for managing the navigational usability of an interactive map A graphical user interface for graphically managing the navigational usability of an interactive map is described. In one embodiment, the graphical user interface includes a layer hierarchy having a first layer and a second layer. The graphical user interface also includes a first display range bar associated with the first layer and configured to show a range of map scales at which the first layer is displayed in the digitized map. In addition, the graphical user interface includes a second display range bar associated with the second layer and configured to show a range of map scales at which the second layer is displayed in the digitized map.
US07743343B2	Combined representation of a hierarchical data item collection A hierarchical system is used to store data items easily capable of thumbnail representation (such as images). Such a hierarchical system may allow a folder (or other grouping) to contain both data items and sub-folders. The display of such a folder uses two display areas. In one display area, sub-folders are displayed using a list view, where text is the primary method for the display of the sub-folders which are contained in the folder. In the other display area, a grid view is used to display the data items. Thumbnail images are the primary components of the grid view. Functionality available to a user will change based on whether the user is browsing the list view or the grid view.
US07743337B1	Electronic map apparatus and electronic map display method In an electronic map apparatus, an electronic map is displayed in accordance with map data read out from a DVD-ROM. Then, distance display circles which have a common center located at a point on the electronic map and each interconnect points on the electronic map at equal geographical distances from the point are drawn.As a result, it is possible to know an approximate geographical distance to a destination intuitively and easily in the electronic map apparatus which is typically used for car navigation.
US07743334B2	Dynamically configuring a web page An approach to dynamically adding and removing items from a web-application list module is provided. The approach includes configuring a web page without changing to another web page, and operating a configuration program in a web browser. A user may change various user elements in a web page without accessing an edit page or refreshing the web page. The changes are incorporated while the user continues to interact with the web page. The changed information is stored and may be associated to the user's computer or the user using cookies.
US07743333B2	Suspending a result set and continuing from a suspended result set for scrollable cursors A system, method, computer program and system for suspending a result set and continuing from a suspended result set for a scrollable cursor is disclosed. The rows from a row source corresponding to the scrollable cursor result set are suspended into storage so that when a fetch is requested the data can be sent (continued) from the suspended storage and does not depend on the original scrollable cursor row source or session to be available.
US07743331B1	Viewing and modifying content slide navigation properties A system displays a set of content slides on a graphical user interface. The system identifies navigation paths between content slides in the set of content slides, each navigation path indicating a destination content slide to be displayed after a source content slide upon user selection of a navigation choice during a presentation sequence of the content slides. For each identified navigation path, the system displays a visualization of that navigation path on the graphical user interface between the source content slide and the destination content slide associated with that navigation path. The system allows a user of the graphical user interface to alter a navigation path between content slides to change the association of that navigation path between at least one of the source content slide and the destination content slide to modify the presentation sequence of the content slides.
US07743330B1	Method and apparatus for placing virtual objects A method and an apparatus are used to place virtual objects in video programs. Programs are selected and virtual object locations are defined in the selected programs. The available virtual objects available are categorized and the categories are correlated to subscriber information. When a frame of a program includes a virtual object location, a default or an alternate virtual object is displayed. The virtual object location may change over space or time. The virtual object may be interactive, and may be used to link a subscriber to a remote location, such as an Internet web site. An operations center or a cable headend may generate a group assignment plan that assigns the subscribers' terminals to groups, based on factors such as area of dominant influence and household income. A placement plan may instruct the television terminals to display the desired virtual object. The television terminals may record which virtual objects were displayed, and may report this information to the cable headends and the operations center. The reported information is used to generate billing for commercial advertisers, and to analyze viewer watching habits. The invention uses upstream data reception hardware, databases and processing hardware and software, and corresponding features in the televisions to accomplish these functions.
US07743329B2	Incorporating interactive media into a playlist Incorporating interactive media into a playlist allows for media, operable to play automatically without a prompt after being loaded, to be loaded into a playlist and played from the playlist without overlapping playback with other media in the playlist. Incorporating interactive media into a playlist involves employing a playlist, a media wrapper, a media control, and a media player to preroll media, immediately stop playing the prerolled media while other media is playing, signal that media has finished playing in order to seamlessly begin playing the next media in the playlist.
US07743327B2	Table of contents extraction with improved robustness In a method for identifying a table of contents in a document (10), text fragments are extracted (12) from the document. There are identified (20, 30, 34, 38): (i) a substantially contiguous group of text fragments as table of content entries and (ii) a different group of text fragments as linked text fragments linked with corresponding table of content entries. During the identifying, a number of text fragments that are candidates for identification as linked text fragments is reduced based on at least one reduction criterion (130). The identified table of contents entries and linked text fragments (110) are validated based on at least one validation criterion (162) related to distribution of the linked text fragments.
US07743324B1	System and method of formatting text according to phrasing A text formatting system parses text and reformats it to establish optimal spacing for readability and reader comprehension. It also reduces the incidence of rivers and therefore enhances the aesthetic quality of the formatted text. The formatting applied to the text by the present invention is based on structure rules that determine key parameters of page layout including for example column width, font, font size, color, leading and kerning.
US07743318B2	Order independent batched updates on a text buffer The embodiments contemplate a system and method for the application of concurrent edits to the same version of a text. The concurrent edits may occur simultaneously or near simultaneously through collaborative editing schemes, where more than one user, processor, or agent applies edits to the version of the text. The application of the concurrent edits includes modifying or transforming the edits to account for changes made to the version of the text and applying the modified edits to the most recent version of the text. As edits may change the positioning of the text, an evaluation of the changes in the positioning of the text may be part of the modification.
US07743317B2	Automated document formatting tool A formatting tool enables “smart” copy and paste functions. The “smart” copy and paste functions can be invoked in a context-sensitive manner, depending on the conditions under which the copy and paste functions are implemented. The present invention will automatically include in a selection a paragraph marker at the end of a selected paragraph, if every other textual character in the paragraph has been selected. The present invention will discard a paragraph mark that is included in pasted text if the pasted text is pasted into the middle of another paragraph, indicating that the user prefers the formatting of the pasted-into paragraph. The present invention also reduces inconsistencies in formatting styles that may exist between source and target documents automatically redefining a style in the target document to conform to a corresponding style in the source document. The present invention also automatically adjusts paragraph spacing, in response to text being pasted into a target document. In response to various scenarios, the present invention will determine the most likely paragraph spacing intended by the user and will apply the most probable paragraph spacing to the pasted paragraph. The present invention also automatically adjusts list, table, and spreadsheet formatting, in response to such document elements being pasted into a differently-formatted target document. Finally, the present invention provides a convenient recovery dialog that may be invoked to alter any automatically-implemented formatting decisions.
US07743314B2	Method and apparatus for a data-dependent noise predictive viterbi An improved Viterbi detector is disclosed in which each branch metric is calculated based on noise statistics that depend on the signal hypothesis corresponding to the branch. Also disclosed is a method of reducing the complexity of the branch metric calculations by clustering branches corresponding to signals with similar signal-dependent noise statistics. A feature of this architecture is that the branch metrics (and their corresponding square difference operators) are clustered into multiple groups, where all the members of each group draw input from a single, shared noise predictive filter corresponding to the group. In recording technologies as practiced today, physical imperfections in the representation of recorded user data in the recording medium itself are becoming the dominate source of noise in the read back data. This noise is highly dependent on what was (intended to be) written in the medium. The disclosed Viterbi detector exploits this statistical dependence of the noise on the signal.
US07743313B2	System for impulse noise and radio frequency interference detection A system for processing a data signal (such as an ADSL or VDSL signal) includes a first decoder unit, such as a convolutional decoder or a QAM decoder, for receiving the data signal, decoding the second level of encoding and outputting a decoded signal and a first error indication signal indicative of errors in the decoded signal. A redundancy decoder employs the decoded signal and the first error indication signal (or transformed versions thereof) to perform redundancy decoding.
US07743312B2	Method for puncturing low density parity check code A method is provided for puncturing a low density parity check (LDPC) code decoded by a parity check matrix that is expressed by a factor graph including a check node and a bit node, being connected to each other at an edge, and includes a parity part having a dual diagonal matrix with a single 3-weight column and the remaining columns being 2-weight columns. The method includes generating a puncturing pattern such that bits of the LDPC code are punctured in an order of a bit mapped to a column with a higher weight from among the columns constituting the parity part; and puncturing the LDPC code according to the generated puncturing pattern.
US07743310B2	Communication apparatus, communication system, communication method, and communication control program A generation device generates a frame to be transmitted to a destination communication apparatus. The frame includes a first separation field, a first MAC protocol data unit (MPDU) following the first separation field, a second separation field following the first MPDU, a third separation field following the second separation field, and a third MPDU following the third separation field. The second separation field includes length information set to a value of zero to indicate no second MPDU directly follows the second separation field. The first MPDU includes a first MAC header, a first data field, and a first frame check sequence (FCS). The first FCS is for detecting an error occurred in at least the first data field. The third MPDU includes a third MAC header, a third data field, and a third FCS. The third FCS is for detecting an error occurred in at least the third data field.
US07743307B2	Defect information managing method, information recording and/or reproducing apparatus, and information reproducing apparatus In order to select the latest defect management information, the latest selection information first is selected by searching a plurality of selection information areas for a currently active selection information area in which the latest selection information is recorded and subsequently the latest defect management information is obtained by searching a plurality of defect management areas for a currently active defect management area in which the latest defect management information is recorded. If there is no unused defect management area in which defect management information can be alternatively recorded in lieu of the currently active defect management area, recording operation is limited.
US07743305B2	Test apparatus, and electronic device A test apparatus that tests a device under test is provided. The test apparatus includes: a main memory that stores a test data row for testing the device under test; a cache memory that caches the test data row read from the main memory; a pattern generation control section that reads each test data which is not aligned in units of word being a data transfer unit of the main memory and writes the same to cache entries different from each other in the cache memory for each test data; and a pattern generating section that sequentially reads the test data stored of each cache entry in the cache memory and generates a test pattern for testing the device under test.
US07743299B2	Dynamically reconfigurable shared scan-in test architecture A low overhead dynamically reconfigurable shared scan-in test architecture is provided. This test architecture advantageously allows for changing scan inputs during the scan operation on a per shift basis. The flexibility of reconfiguring the scan input to scan chain mapping every shift cycle can advantageously reduce both test data volume and test application time.
US07743296B1	Logic analyzer systems and methods for programmable logic devices A method of programming a programmable logic device (PLD), in accordance with an embodiment, includes receiving trigger unit information of a logic analyzer via a software interface for monitoring internal PLD signals and providing trigger unit output signals based on the internal PLD signals for the corresponding trigger units; and receiving trigger expression information of the logic analyzer via the software interface as a text string of logic operators and operands, wherein the operands represent the trigger unit output signals. The method may further include generating configuration data based on the trigger unit information and the trigger expression information; and providing the configuration data to the PLD, wherein a trigger expression based on the trigger expression information is stored within memory of the PLD.

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