Document Document Title
US07763227B2 Process for the manufacture of carbon disulphide
A process for the manufacture of carbon disulfide comprising the following steps: (a) reacting carbon monoxide with hydrogen sulfide to form carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen; (b) contacting the carbonyl sulfide formed in step (a) with a catalyst effective for disproportionating carbonyl sulfide into carbon disulfide and carbon dioxide.
US07763226B2 Method of manufacturing an aluminum nitride powder
An aluminum nitride-based ceramic sintered body is provided, which is manufactured by sintering an aluminum nitride powder comprising aluminum nitride as a main component, carbon in an amount of 0.1 wt % or more to 1.0 wt % or less, and containing oxygen in an amount that is not greater than 0.7 wt %, wherein carbon and oxygen are dissolved in grains of the aluminum nitride powder. The a-axis length of the lattice constant of the aluminum nitride is in a range of 3.1120 Å or more to 3.1200 Å or less, and the a c-axis length of the lattice constant is in a range of 4.9810 Å or more to 4.9900 Å or less. The volume resistivity of the aluminum nitride-based ceramic sintered body at 500° C. is 109 Ω·cm or more.
US07763223B2 Method for manufacturing porous silica crystal
In a synthetic method for porous silica crystals through a hydrothermal reaction, a method for synthesizing porous silica crystals with a size of 0.5 mm or larger in high reproducibility and efficiency is provided using a method for manufacturing the porous silica crystals, wherein a high concentration area with silicon is formed as a partial area inside a hydrothermal synthesis vessel, and at least a part of a surface-smoothed bulk material is present in the high concentration area with silicon to perform the hydrothermal reaction, the bulk material comprising a compound containing both silicon and oxygen as a supply source for a part or a whole of the structure composition elements of the porous silica crystals.
US07763221B2 Process for complete utilisation of olivine constituents
A novel process for complete utilization of olivine is based on purification of brine by oxidation and precipitation of iron and nickel compounds.
US07763216B2 Chemical reactor and fuel cell system
A chemical reactor includes a first reaction section which has a first flow path and causes a first reaction in the first flow path. A heating section heats the first reaction section. A second reaction section has a second flow path and causes a second reaction in the second flow path by heat of the heating section transmitted via the first reaction section.
US07763214B2 Reducing agent forming device and exhaust gas control system using the same
A reforming device includes a reforming part that subjects a hydrocarbon-based raw material to be reformed to a reforming reaction to form a reducing agent to be supplied to a reducing catalyst for reducing nitrogen oxide selectively. The reforming part has a reforming reaction region through which the raw material to be reformed passes and is reacted with supplied hydrogen atoms supplied so as to be reformed to the reducing agent. For example, a hydrogen permeable membrane having a first surface and a second surface may be provided in the reforming part to permeate hydrogen atoms from the first surface to the second surface and to produce the hydrogen atoms on the second surface. The reforming device can be suitably used for an exhaust gas control system for cleaning exhaust gas, for example.
US07763207B2 Throughflow device for measuring platelet function of primary hemostasis, aggregation and/or coagulation and/or viscosity of blood
The invention relates to a throughflow device for measuring platelet function of primary hemostasis, aggregation and/or coagulation and/or viscosity of the blood. A reservoir (8), from which blood can be taken for measurement and transported through an aperture (7), is arranged in a housing (2). A stirring device (10,11,12,13) is provided in the reservoir (8) and can be moved in such a way that a stirrer part (11) of the stirring device (10,11,12,13) mixes the blood which is located in the storage chamber (8) during measurement and maintains it in a state of motion.
US07763203B2 Method of manufacturing microneedle structures using photolithography
A method for manufacturing microneedle structures is disclosed using soft lithography and photolithography, in which micromold structures made of a photoresist material or PDMS are created. The micromold manufacturing occurs quite quickly, using inexpensive materials and processes. Once the molds are available, using moldable materials such as polymers, microneedle arrays can be molded or embossed in relatively fast procedures. In some cases a sacrificial layer is provided between the forming micromold and its substrate layer, for ease of separation. The microneedles themselves can be solid projections, hollow “microtubes,” or shallow “microcups.” Electrodes can be formed on the microneedle arrays, including individual electrodes per hollow microtube.
US07763200B2 Method and associated mold process for creating a collapsible cargo carrying enclosure
A mold process for creating a collapsible cargo carrying enclosure including a plurality of panels, each exhibiting a specified two-dimensional shape and thickness and which are interconnected along adjoining edges. Each of the panels exhibits a structural substrate and upon positioning within a mold cavity, is over molded with a plasticized material. The structural substrate typically includes a network of elongated and interconnecting bamboo, steel or aluminum members, the plasticized material further including a powder impression material filling said mold within which an aggregate is entrained including at least one of glass, pebbles/rocks, ceramics, steel rerods and wood. Upon curing and removing the panels from each associated mold cavity, the panels are interconnected together and collapsible in a stacked manner to provide the advantages of lightweight and ease of shipment. The assembled container further defines a waterproof and floatable/towable cargo holding enclosure, such as for use offshore offloading and transport of cargo shipments.
US07763197B2 Rigid plastic glass run channel
A process for the production of a glass run channel is provided wherein the glass run channel has a S-shaped core of a polymeric material, onto which glass and/or frame sealing components are co-extruded. Preferably, a slip agent coating is applied shortly after the sealing components are added so that a completely polymeric glass run channel is produced in a single operation. The polymeric glass run channel is lighter, less expensive and more easily recycled than the prior art glass run channels.
US07763195B2 Injection molding method with surface modification
A molded article includes thermoplastic resin, and an organic material different from the thermoplastic resin inside said molded article, the organic material being located on and near a surface of said molded article.
US07763190B2 Low-cost tough decorative printable film products having holographic-type images
Tough decorative printable film products having holographic-type images are provided that are low in cost. These film products include a relatively high temperature film that is made by continuous extrusion of the film resin onto a master film having pre-etched holographic-type imaging in order to provide a high-temperature primary film with conforming holographic imaging. This primary film provides a tough holographic-type image that is readily secured to any number of products to impart a holographic character to them. For example, this primary film is suitable for use on the surface of recreational sportsboards. When desired, sublimation printing can be used to impart indicia, text, images and colors, alone or in combination, to the primary film.
US07763189B2 Dielectric composition with reduced resistance
This invention provides a dielectric composition comprising a dielectric which is fireable in air at a temperature in the range of about 450° C. to about 550° C. and a conductive oxide selected from the group consisting of antimony-doped tin oxide, tin-doped indium oxide, a transition metal oxide which has mixed valence states or will form mixed valence states after firing in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature in the range of about 450° C. to about 550° C. and normally conducting precious metal oxides such as ruthenium dioxide, wherein the amount of conductive oxide present is from about 0.25 wt % to about 25 wt % of the total weight of dielectric and conductive oxide. This dielectric composition has reduced electrical resistance and is useful in electron field emission devices to eliminate charging of the dielectric in the vicinity of the electron emitter and the effect of static charge induced field emission.
US07763187B1 Carbon nanotubes-reinforced conductive silver ink
Conductive silver ink is reinforced using carbon nanotubes. Carbon nanomaterials are stabilized and uniformly dispersed in a solvent and mechanically mixed with conductive silver ink. The reinforcement material bridges the gap between separated silver flakes in the conductive silver ink. The carbon nanotubes reinforced conductive silver ink exhibits superior performance over unreinforced silver ink in its mechanical, electrical and thermal properties without significantly greater weight.
US07763186B2 Preparation and purification of ionic liquids and precursors
Substantially pure ionic liquids and ionic liquid precursors were prepared. The substantially pure ionic liquid precursors were used to prepare substantially pure ionic liquids.
US07763185B2 Overvoltage protection materials and process for preparing same
The invention provides a process for preparing an overvoltage protection material comprising: (i) preparing a mixture comprising a polymer binder precursor and a conductive material; and (ii) heating the mixture to cause reaction of the polymer binder precursor and generate a polymer matrix having conductive material dispersed therein, wherein the polymer binder precursor is chosen such that substantially no solvent is generated during the reaction.
US07763184B2 Light stabilizing liquid matter containing 2- (2-hydroxy-3-α-cumyl-5-tert-octylphenyl) -2h-benzotriazole
A light stabilizing liquid matter, that can be added to a composition to be stabilized and that has a storage stability high enough for storage before being added to the composition, includes a product formed by mixing: (A) 2-(2-hydroxy-3-α-cumyl-5-tert-octylphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole with (B) at least one benzotriazole compound other than 2-(2-hydroxy-3-α-cumyl-5-tert-octylphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole plus a hindered amine compound, or with (B′) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a benzotriazole compound other than 2-(2-hydroxy-3-α-cumyl-5-tert-octylphenyl)-2H-benzotriazole, and a hindered amine compound, and (C) an anti-oxidant including at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a phosphite compound and a phenolic compound.
US07763182B2 Liquid crystalline composition with improved adhesivity, liquid crystal film comprising the composition, and liquid crystal display device equipped with the film
The present invention provides a liquid crystal film with improved adhesivity to a tacky adhesive or an adhesive, formed from a liquid crystalline composition comprising a specific (meth)acrylic compound having an oxetane group and a liquid crystalline compound having an oxetane group.
US07763178B2 Biodegradable surface layer film for pools or spas to prevent evaporation and heat loss
The present invention relates to swimming pools and other pools of standing water, and in particular to a dispensing unit that distributes a chemical solution that reduces evaporation and heat loss by forming a film or monomolecular layer over the surface or substantial surface area of the swimming pool or water pond.
US07763169B2 Magnetic separation device
A magnetic separation device, comprising: a separator, including a top base and a bottom base; at least a groove set, each composed of two arc-like grooves having curvatures opposite to each other; at least a magnetic member, being movably fitted inside the two arc-like grooves of the at least one groove set; and at least a test tube slot, each being formed at the outer rim of a base selected from the group consisting of the top and the bottom base of the separator; wherein the top and the bottom bases are assembled by means of a pivotal axis piecing through about at the center of the top and the bottom bases for enabling the two bases to rotate relative to each other; and one of the two arc-like groove is formed on the top base at a surface thereof facing toward the bottom base while forming another arc-like groove on the bottom base at a surface thereof facing toward the top base. With the aforesaid device, the magnetic member can be driven to slide inside the groove set while the top and the bottom bases are driven to rotate relative to each other, thereby, the magnetic member can be moved between two positions whereas one is near the test tube slot and the other is away from the same.
US07763164B1 Gasoline sulfur reduction in FCCU cracking
This invention focuses on the specialized catalyst and/or additive for lower FCCU gasoline and diesel blendstock component sulfur content. This invention utilizes a specified ratio of the transition metal oxides of cobalt and molybdenum to accomplish gasoline and diesel blendstock sulfur reduction. This is accomplished by minimizing sulfur compound formation in the FCCU riser. The cobalt and molybdenum oxides in the presence of H2S from cracked organic sulfur compounds are converted to metal sulfides. A portion of the overall sulfur reduction in the gasoline and diesel blendstock occurs emitted NOx also is reduced.
US07763160B2 Systems and methods of producing a crude product
Contact of a crude feed with one or more catalysts produces a total product that includes a crude product. The crude feed has a residue content of at least 0.2 grams of residue per gram of crude feed. The one or more catalysts include a transition metal sulfide catalyst. The crude product is a liquid mixture at 25° C. and 0.101 MPa. One or more properties of the crude product may be changed by at least 10% relative to the respective properties of the crude feed.
US07763155B2 Electro-osmotic pulse (EOP) system for de-watering around manmade structures and method of use therefor
An Electro-Osmotic Pulse (EOP) system is used to dewater structure, both natural and manmade. Preferably, the system employs durable, dimensionally stable anodes affixed to structure in a configuration designed to maximize electrical contact with the structure and minimize electrode gas generation. The anodes and cathodes are attached to a DC power supply that provides a voltage potential between them. DC power is cycled until the structure has been sufficiently treated. Select embodiments employ perforated metal pipes as cathodes for the purpose of transport and drainage of fluids. In select embodiments of the present invention, the cathodes are connected to variable resistors designed to reduce opportunity for corrosion of buried metal objects in the vicinity of the EOP system. Select embodiments employ a pre-specified pulse train of DC voltage pulses to migrate water from under a crawl space while moving available cations in the soil. Select embodiments also protect large structures such as concrete dams.
US07763152B2 Ion exchange membrane electrolyzer
There is provided an ion exchange membrane electrolyzer, wherein at least one electrode is energized by coming into contact with plate spring bodies formed on the electrode side of an electrode holding member forming a space with an electrode chamber partition bonded to a plate-like electrode chamber partition by a strip-like bonded portion, the electrode has a connected portion extending from a plane parallel to the ion exchange membrane toward the electrode holding member side in a direction perpendicular to the electrode plane, the connected portion is provided with an engaging opening extending in a direction perpendicular to the electrode plane, and the engaging opening engages with an engaging member, permitting the electrode to move in a direction perpendicular to the electrode plane within the displacement range of the plate spring bodies.
US07763147B1 Arc suppression plate for a plasma processing chamber
A plasma processing chamber configured to generate a plasma is provided. The plasma processing chamber includes a substrate support assembly which includes a substrate support that is capable of supporting a substrate. The plasma processing chamber further includes a plate having a bottom surface and a top surface, and the plate is coupled to the plasma processing chamber. The plate further includes a plurality of countersunk regions for receiving a corresponding plurality of fasteners that enable coupling of the plate to the plasma processing chamber, and the plate has a lip that surrounds an outer region of the plate near the top surface of the plate. The substrate support is configured to be connected to the top surface of the plate. The plasma processing chamber further includes an isolation plate that surrounds the outer region of the plate, and the isolation plate includes a plurality of nipples and each of the plurality of nipples is configured to mate with the plurality of countersunk regions in the plate. The isolation plate is configured to fit in the lip of the plate that surrounds the outer region of the plate.
US07763146B2 Disassembly method and reuse method of substrate mounting member
An electrostatic chuck and a base member are separated from each other while heating up a substrate mounting member to a thermal decomposition temperature within a range from a thermal decomposition starting temperature to a thermal decomposition ending temperature and then softening and decomposing an organic adhesive layer.
US07763144B2 Device and method for the detachment of a tube blank from a support core
The invention relates to a method and a device for the removal of a tube blank (3) located on a support core (2). The tube blank (3) is detached from the support core (2) by means of the introduction of a medium through a device (10), whereby a detachment may be alternatively or additionally achieved by the application of a vacuum to a sleeve (4) enclosing the tube blank (3).
US07763141B2 Method for joining adhesive tape to semiconductor wafer, method for separating protective tape from semiconductor wafer, and apparatuses using the methods
An annular convex portion is formed along an outer periphery of a back face of a wafer so as to surround a ground area in the back face. The annular convex portion is suction held by a holding table while being brought into close contact with the holding table, and fluid is supplied into a space defined between the back face of the wafer and the holding table. In this state, a separating adhesive tape is supplied toward a surface of a protective tape, and then a joining roller moves from a first end to a second end of the wafer while pressing the adhesive tape against the wafer. Then, a guide member moves from the first end to the second end of the wafer to guide the adhesive tape joined to the protective tape in a reverse direction.
US07763140B2 Method of forming multiwell filtration plates
A method of forming a multiwell filtration plate comprising of first gluing a filter to a major surface of a multiwell plate so as to close off one entrance to the wells of the plate. The filter is then heat sealed so as to collapse the pores of the filter in the area between the wells so as to prevent lateral migration of fluid from one well to another.
US07763139B2 Device transferring method, and device arraying method
A method of selectively transferring devices arrayed on a first substrate to a second substrate on which an adhesive resin layer is previously formed is provided. The method includes steps of selectively heating the adhesive resin layer on the second substrate by laser irradiation from the back surface side of the second substrate, and curing the selectively heated portions of the adhesive resin layer, thereby adhesively bonding those to be transferred of the devices to the second substrate. At this time, portions, corresponding to the devices, of the adhesive layer are heated directly or indirectly via the devices or wiring portions by laser irradiation from the back surface side of the substrate. The heated portions of the adhesive resin layer selectively exhibit the adhesive forces. The heated portions of the adhesive layer are then cured, so that only the devices to be transferred are selectively transferred to the second substrate. As a result, only the devices to be transferred can be done so with certainty, efficiency, and accuracy without exerting adverse effect on other parts.
US07763138B2 Auto lamination cassette apparatus and process
In one embodiment of the disclosure, an apparatus is provided for preparing a cassette spool. The apparatus includes: a supply reel for supplying and unrolling tape material on original backing paper; at least one cutting member for cutting unrolled tape material while on original backing paper; at least one removing member for removing uncut unrolled tape material from original backing paper; an identification member for identifying on unrolled original backing paper a start of unrolled cut tape material; and a cassette spool for rolling up unrolled cut tape material on original backing paper. In further embodiments, methods are provided for preparing a cassette spool with cut tape material on original backing paper.
US07763137B2 Pressure shell, high-pressure tank provided with the pressure shell, manufacturing method of the high-pressure tank and manufacturing apparatus of the high-pressure tank
The present invention provides a pressure shell formed by winding reinforcement fibers with resin material for hardening on an outer surface of a hollow tank base body, a high-pressure tank having the pressure shell, a manufacturing method of the high-pressure tank, and an apparatus for manufacturing the high-pressure tank. The pressure shell adopts the laminated structure in which a large number of fiber layers each formed by winding the reinforcement fibers around the tank base body are laminated. In a state the inside of the high-pressure tank is emptied, a compressive stress is applied to a lower fiber layer and a tensile stress is applied to an upper fiber layer. Particularly, in winding the reinforcement fibers around the tank base body, the reinforcement fibers are wound while filling fluid for pressure regulation in the tank base body, regulating a pressure applied to the fluid for pressure regulation, and adjusting a tension applied to the reinforcement fibers.
US07763134B1 Facer for insulation boards and other construction boards
The subject invention relates to a facer which is comprised of a breathable film and a glass-mat, wherein the breathable film and the glass mat are bonded together with an adhesive, wherein the breathable film is comprised of a breathable polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, nylons, polyesters, and thermoplastic elastomers, and wherein the facer is water resistant. The facers of this invention can be employed in manufacturing construction board, such as polyisocyanurate boards, polystyrene boards, or gypsum boards. The present invention accordingly more specifically discloses a construction board which is comprised of a rigid sheet and a facer, wherein the facer is bonded to at least one side of said rigid sheet, wherein the rigid sheet is comprised of a member selected from the group consisting of gypsum, blown polystyrene, and polyisocyanurate, wherein the facer is comprised of a breathable polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, nylons, polyesters, and thermoplastic elastomers, wherein the breathable polymeric material is bonded to another substrate, such as a glass-mat with an adhesive, and wherein the facer is water resistant.
US07763133B2 Transportation of liquid products
A method of transporting a liquid product down a vertical conduit having an inlet provided at the top of the conduit and an outlet provided at the bottom of the conduit, which method comprises feeding the liquid product into the inlet of the conduit and contacting the liquid product with means for dissipating potential energy released by the liquid product as it is transported down the conduit so that turbulence in the liquid product at the outlet of the conduit is reduced.
US07763130B2 Thermal process to improve metallurgical characteristics
A thermal process for treating a metal to improve at least one structural characteristic of the metal comprising: placing a metal with a metal temperature within a thermal control apparatus, introducing a cryogenic material to decrease the metal temperature, while preventing over-stressing of the metal, to a first target temperature ranging from −120 degrees Fahrenheit to −380 degrees Fahrenheit at a first temperature rate, ranging from degrees Fahrenheit per minute to 20 degrees Fahrenheit per minute, stopping the introduction of cryogenic material once the first target temperature is reached, and increasing the chamber temperature to a second target temperature ranging from 0 degrees Fahrenheit to 1400, and increasing the metal temperature to the second target temperature at a second temperature rate ranging from 0.25 degrees Fahrenheit per minute to 20 degrees Fahrenheit per minute, resulting in a treated metal without fractures.
US07763128B2 Process for manufacturing structural components by machining plates
The present invention includes a process for manufacturing metal sheets or plates and a machined metal part as well as machined products, structural components and their uses in various applications. Manufacture of a metal sheet or plate by a process of the present invention comprises casting of a rolling ingot, optionally followed by homogenization, one or more hot or cold rolling operations, optionally separated by one or more re-heating operations, to obtain a sheet, or plate and optionally one or more sheet or plate cutting or finishing operations. The sheet is pre-machined on one or both sides so as to obtain a pre-machined stock, and subjected to solution heat treatment, quenching treatment, and optionally, one or more of the following steps: controlled stretching, aging treatment, and/or cutting.
US07763127B2 Method for producing a titanium-base alloy having an oxide dispersion therein
A metallic article is prepared by first furnishing at least one nonmetallic precursor compound, wherein all of the nonmetallic precursor compounds collectively containing the constituent elements of the metallic article in their respective constituent-element proportions. The constituent elements together form a titanium-base alloy having a stable-oxide-forming additive element therein, such as magnesium, calcium, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium, and mixtures thereof. The stable-oxide-forming additive element forms a stable oxide in a titanium-based alloy. At least one additive element is present at a level greater than its room-temperature solid solubility limit in the titanium-base alloy. The precursor compounds are chemically reduced to produce an alloy material, without melting the alloy material. The alloy material may be consolidated. The alloy material, or consolidated metallic article, is thereafter desirably exposed to an oxygen-containing environment at a temperature greater than room temperature.
US07763120B2 Method of production of grain-oriented electrical steel sheet
The present invention provides a method of production of grain-oriented electrical steel sheet greatly reducing the Watt loss of the grain-oriented electrical steel sheet and making the magnetostriction as small as possible, that is, a method of production of grain-oriented electrical steel sheet with small magnetostriction by improving the magnetic properties by irradiation by a finely focused laser beam comprising using a power modulated laser controlled in maximum power density to 1×102 to 1×104 W/mm2 to optimize the amount of strain given by laser irradiation in both the sheet width direction and rolling direction and, in particular, to make the modulation duty 70% to less than 100%.
US07763113B2 Photocatalyst material and method for preparation thereof
The present invention provides a photocatalyst material, which can comprise a photocatalyst with an excellent adherence to a substrate and a high photocatalytic activity, and a production method thereof. The photocatalyst material (20) obtained by reacting crystal nuclei with a sol solution containing an organic metallic compound or the like and then carrying out gelation, solidification and heat treatment has a structure where more than one basic structures (10) are fixed to the surface of the substrate (1). The basic structure consists of abase portion (2) comprising crystal nuclei fixed to the surface of the substrate (1) and a photocatalyst crystalline body (3), which connects to and is extended from the base portion (2) and has a columnar structure having a hollow portion (5) formed therein. A cylindrical substrate may be used for the substrate (1). The above photocatalytic activity is further enhanced by the formation of an interior-exposing structure (8) in a shell portion (4).
US07763112B2 Methods and systems for co-crystal synthesis
The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses for the production or formation of co-crystals. The methods and apparatuses can be used to grind two or more co-crystal components resulting in the formation of co-crystals. The resultant co-crystals can have several uses as disclosed herein.
US07763105B2 Adjustable air filter for computer and assembly using the same
An adjustable air filter for a computer, includes a bracket, a plurality of frames with air filter units set therein rotatably mounted to the bracket, a first transmission bar connected with each of the frames, a second transmission bar rotatably mounted to the bracket and connected with the first transmission bar, and a driver fixed to the bracket with a shaft retractably extending therefrom. The first transmission bar drives the frames to rotate when the first transmission bar is moved. The second transmission bar drives the first transmission bar to move when the second transmission bar is rotated. The shaft of the driver is connected with the second transmission bar. The driver drives the shaft to extend out or draw back according to the temperature in the computer to drive the second transmission bar to rotate.
US07763102B2 Pressure swing adsorption modules with integrated features
A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) including a first PSA module having a first manifold, a second manifold, and a plurality of pressure vessels extending between the first manifold and the second manifold. The unit further includes at least one support member attached to one of the manifolds and configured to provide rigidity thereto. The support member is preferably made of a material different from the manifold to which it is attached. The PSA unit can also include a structure for clamping the plurality of pressure vessels between the first manifold and the second manifold without imposing a bending moment to the vessels.
US07763101B2 Water-flowing mechanism of wet type electrostatic precipitator
The present invention provides a water-flowing mechanism in a wet type electrostatic precipitator that can stably and quickly form a water film on a dust-collecting plate even at the beginning of the operation and that has an excellent adjusting function of a supplying flow-rate of washing liquid. The present invention includes a dust-collecting plate, a washing liquid supplying source to wet the dust-collecting plate, and a cylindrical member that is opened according to the shape of the upper end face of the dust-collecting plate and into which the washing liquid supplying source is inserted, wherein the horizontal cross-section of the dust-collecting plate is formed in a corrugated shape, and the lower opening of the cylindrical member is formed in a corrugated shape according to the dust-collecting plate.
US07763100B2 Vacuum pressure swing adsorption process and enhanced oxygen recovery
Novel polybed VPSA process and system to achieve enhanced O2 recovery are disclosed. The VPSA process comprises using three or more adsorber beds; providing a continuous feed supply gas using a single feed blower to one bed, wherein at any instant during the process, two beds are in an evacuation step and only one bed is in a feed mode; and purging the adsorber beds using two purge gases of different purity. The VPSA cycle may further comprise utilizing a storage device (e.g., a packed or empty equalization tank) to capture void gases during co-current depressurization step of the VPSA cycle, which is used at a later stage for purging and repressurization of the bed. In addition, the VPSA process employs a single feed compressor and two vacuum pumps at 100% utilization. Furthermore, the use of the storage device minimizes the use of product quality gas for purging. About 10-20% improvement in O2 productivity is realized in the new VPSA process.
US07763098B2 Rapid cycle syngas pressure swing adsorption system
Embodiments of a rapid cycle PSA apparatus are described that are useful for producing a hydrogen enriched product gas comprising not more than about 50 ppm carbon monoxide by volume and with a hydrogen gas recovery of at least about 70% by adsorptive separation from a syngas feed gas mixture comprising at least about 50 percent hydrogen and at least about 1 percent carbon monoxide by volume. One disclosed embodiment of a rapid cycle PSA apparatus comprised at least 3 adsorber elements each having at least one thin adsorbent sheet material which comprises at least one adsorbent material therein, and a bed size factor less than about 4.0 seconds. Embodiments of a rapid cycle PSA process also are described that utilize disclosed embodiments of the rapid-cycle PSA device.
US07763092B2 Filter for an air bag gas generator
A filter for a gas generator in which the manufacture is simple, which has an adequate filter performance and cooling performance and, furthermore, which has high reliability with little damage caused in actuation of the gas generator, is provided. The filter for an air bag gas generator comprises a first layer formed from helically wound wire rods having a cross-sectional area of 0.03 to 0.8 mm2, in such a way that the pitch angle of wire rods vertically superposed in the radial direction is symmetrical, and a second layer that exists on the outer side of the first layer in the radial direction and is formed to have a finer filter particle size than the first layer using a wire rod narrower than the wire rod that forms the first layer.
US07763091B1 Distributed vacuum debris collector
A dust collector has a vacuum coupling for connection to a vacuum source such as a portable vacuum cleaner or other suitable source. A vacuum reservoir is formed from a chamber between nested interlocking receptacles. A variable density pattern of inlet holes through one interlocking container into the vacuum reservoir provides better flow and capture of debris, while multiple inlets within the vacuum reservoir provide even and consistent suction. A variety of inlet geometries are presented that are suitable to a variety of purposes.
US07763078B2 Spinal device including lateral approach
Embodiments of the invention include devices and methods for implanting a vertebral body spacer. A lateral surgical approach is contemplated with some disclosed procedures. Instruments of some embodiments are insertable into a disc space to achieve distraction, to determine a desired disc space height, and to select a corresponding implant.
US07763069B2 Accommodating intraocular lens with outer support structure
An intraocular lens for insertion into the capsular bag of an eye contains an optic, an outer periphery, and an outer support structure. The optic has a periphery and centered about an optical axis. The outer periphery is disposed about the optic and configured to engage an equatorial region of the capsular bag of an eye. The outer support structure is disposed along the periphery and spaced from the optic with voids outer support structure and the optic. The intraocular lens further comprises a first intermediate member and a weakened region disposed along the outer periphery between the outer support structure and the first intermediate member. The first intermediate member operably couples the optic and the outer support structure. The weakened region is attached to, and configured to provide relative motion between, the outer support structure and the first intermediate member in response to the ciliary muscle of the eye.
US07763068B2 Stent
A stent shaped as a three-dimensional body which is formed by interlaced threads (1) arranged in multistart turns of a helical line. The threads (1) are arranged in at least two groups (2 and 3) of the helical turns featuring opposite senses of helix. The stent ends are established by sections (5) where the turns of one helical line merge into those of the other helical line, said sections appearing as a single length of the thread (1).
US07763065B2 Balloon expandable crush-recoverable stent device
An intraluminal, balloon expandable stent for implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The present invention provides a lumen support stent with an unobstructed through-lumen for use in a blood vessel. A constraining mechanism is provided for securely maintaining the stent in the collapsed condition during delivery. The stent is preferably formed with a series of interconnected slide and lock mechanisms for permitting movement from a collapsed condition to an expanded condition and inhibiting radial recoil from the expanded condition. The stent may be formed from a shape memory alloy for providing crush-recovery after deployment.
US07763063B2 Self-aligning stent graft delivery system, kit, and method
A delivery system and kit for endovascularly delivering a prosthesis along a guidewire to an curved implantation site includes a control handle having a handle body with a prosthesis movement control assembly movably disposed thereto. A proximal end of a catheter is connected to the control handle. A prosthesis delivery assembly is movably disposed in the catheter. The delivery assembly has a guidewire lumen slidably receiving therein the guidewire and having a curved distal end orienting the delivery assembly when passing through a curved vessel portion. A method for automatic endovascular alignment of the prosthesis includes loading it in the distal delivery assembly, positioning the guidewire into the curved implantation site, and threading the guidewire lumen over the guidewire with the delivery assembly and into the implantation site to at least approximately align the curved distal portion to a curve of the curved implantation site and, thereby, orient the prosthesis.
US07763061B2 Thermal coverings
A thermal covering that comprises a thermoregulatory substrate is provided. The thermoregulatory substrate contains an exothermic coating formed from an oxidizable metal. The exothermic coating is generally free of moisture prior to activation. Exposure of the exothermic coating to oxygen and moisture activates an exothermic reaction to generate heat, such heat being transferable to a patient or user through an outer surface defined by the thermal covering.
US07763058B2 Device and method for photodynamic therapy of the nasopharyngeal cavity
A device/system and method for the delivery of light to the nasopharyngeal cavity in a controlled and reproducible manner using at least one optical fiber having a linear diffusing tip, a spherical diffusing tip, or a bare cut end is disclosed. A positioning device may have one or two flexible guide tubes that are attached to a preformed shaped base that is introduced into the nasopharyngeal cavity to guide and position the optical fibers and/or detector(s). The optical fibers are enclosed within shielding tubes which are inserted into the guide tubes. The optical fibers may be further moved within the shielding tube so as to adjust the amount of output light. Also included within the guide tube is a light detector that monitors, detects, and measures the delivery of fluence rates to pre-determined locations in the nasopharyngeal cavity. The detector may also be enclosed within a separate tube within the guide tube. The inventive device/system also has a means of shielding pre-selected areas of the nasopharyngeal cavity or adjacent tissues from the light delivered by the optical fibers. The system of the present invention uses a control unit and preselected treatment parameters to monitor, regulate, and display laser output and fluence rates at preselected locations in the nasopharyngeal cavity during PDT treatment.
US07763053B2 Implant for correction of spinal deformity
A device for correction of a spinal deformity. In one embodiment, the device includes a cable having a first end portion, and an opposite, second end portion attachable to a vertebra, and means for adjusting the tension of the cable so as to impose a corrective displacement on the vertebra.
US07763047B2 Pedicle screw connector apparatus and method
A low-profile rod connector is disclosed that includes two substantially conical surfaces that allows two rods to be secured together. The device is easily manipulated and occupies very little space. The connector allows for the rods to be oriented at a number of different positions prior to securing the rods in a final orientation. Medical implants utilizing the present invention include surgical implants for spine stabilization. One particular application comprises securing the shaft of a pedicle screw to a spinal rod. In such application, since the connector is relatively small, displacement and disruption to nearby tissue is minimized. The connector also has application to external fixation systems which are conducted exterior of the skin surface, as well as other mechanical devices.
US07763040B2 Tissue connector apparatus and methods
A tissue connector assembly comprising a clip movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration and a mechanical restraining device attached to the clip for restraining the clip in its open configuration. A needle may be releasably attached to the clip. A method for connecting tissues is also disclosed. The method includes inserting a clip through tissue with the clip being biased in an open position by a restraining device secured to the clip, and removing the restraining device from the clip.
US07763039B2 Articulating blunt dissector/gastric band application device
A single handed articulating blunt dissector/gastric band application device includes a support shaft connecting a handle at a first end of the device to an articulating assembly at a second end of the device. The handle includes an actuation mechanism linked to the articulating assembly for controlling movement thereof. The second end includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes a blunt distal tip shaped and dimensioned for dissecting tissue without unduly causing trauma to the tissue. The second end also includes a suture grasping notch shaped and dimensioned for engaging and pulling a gastric band.
US07763038B2 Suture needle retention device
An improved suture needle retention device suitably adapted to be removably attached to the end of a surgical instrument for convenient placement proximate to the surgical field yet out of the way of the surgeon, said device having a needle pervious retention member to accept the sharp end of a suture needle, with said retention member encased by a needle impervious protective sheathing to prevent inadvertent pass-through of the suture needle.
US07763036B2 Endoscopic instrument with secondary vacuum source
An endoscopic instrument to be used with an endoscope. The instrument includes an elongated tube having a distal end and a proximal end, an end effector attached to the distal end of the elongated tube, and a handle attached to the proximal end. The handle includes a mechanism for attaching the instrument to a first vacuum source. The handle further includes a second vacuum source integral with the handle for amplifying the first vacuum source, whereby the first and second vacuum sources combine to operate the end effector.
US07763035B2 Image guided spinal surgery guide, system and method for use thereof
A guide is disclosed for use in performing spinal surgery to prepare across a spinal disc and adjacent vertebrae an implantation space. The guide is associated with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing an energy-detecting array to track positions of the guide in three dimensional space relative to a known reference point. The guide comprises a body for providing protected access to prepare across the spinal disc and into the adjacent vertebrae the implantation space. The body has a passage adapted to receive a bone removal device for forming the implantation space through the body. At least one electrically energizable energy emitter array is attached to the body for use in identifying the location of the guide relative to the adjacent vertebrae. A system and method for using the guide in spinal surgery are also disclosed.
US07763029B2 Drill-tap-screw drill guide
A surgical drill guide for use with a bone plate having fastener holes oriented at predetermined angles with respect to the plate, the surgical drill guide having at least one alignment drill guiding barrel that is aligned with the respective fastener holes in the bone plate for drilling the holes at the desired range of angles permitted by the plate hole.
US07763027B2 Extramedullary fluoroscopic alignment guide
An extramedullary fluoroscopic alignment guide is disclosed, along with a surgical method employing such an alignment guide. The extramedullary alignment guide includes both radiolucent and radiopaque material. The invention is useful in performing surgery on bones, for example, in performing surgery on the knee joint. The radiolucent material provides a support structure for the radiopaque material. The radiopaque material provides a radiopaque instrument reference that is sized, shaped and positioned so that the surgeon can simultaneously fluoroscopically view the patient's bone and the radiopaque instrument reference. The radiopaque instrument reference may be aligned with landmarks on the bone or other fluoroscopically viewable references, such as the mechanical or anatomic axis. The alignment guide can also include cutting guide surfaces.
US07763025B2 Spinal fusion kit for guiding instrumentation through soft tissue to a point on the spine
Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.
US07763020B2 Bone fixated, articulated joint load control device
A load control device can be attached to bones on either side of an articulated joint in order to control the forces and loads experienced by the joint. The device comprises an apparatus for controlling the load on articular cartilage of a human or animal joint and includes: a first fixation assembly for attachment to a first bone; a second fixation assembly for attachment to a second bone; a link assembly coupled to the first fixation assembly by a first pivot and coupled to the second fixation assembly by a second pivot, the first and second fixation assembly thereby each being angularly displaceable relative to the link assembly. The apparatus enables a clinician to effectively control the environment of cartilage in a joint during a treatment episode.
US07763018B2 Cool-tip thermocouple including two-piece hub
An ablation electrode system includes a handle assembly; a needle electrode assembly supported in and extending from the handle assembly. The needle electrode assembly includes an outer tube having at least a conductive distal tip and defining a cavity therein; and an inner tube disposed at least partially within the cavity of the outer tube and defining a lumen therein. The ablation electrode assembly includes a hub assembly fluidly connected to the needle electrode assembly. The hub assembly defines a first chamber and a second chamber; wherein the proximal end portion of the inner tube is in fluid communication with the first chamber and the proximal end portion of the outer tube is in fluid communication with the second chamber. The ablation electrode assembly includes a first fluid conduit fluidly connected to the first chamber; and a second fluid conduit fluidly connected to the second chamber.
US07763017B2 Selective photocoagulation apparatus
A method of scanning a laser beam across a set of cells includes during a first interval, scanning a laser beam across a set of cells; and during a second interval, deflecting the laser beam away from the set of cells. The first interval is selected to cause microcavitation in at least a portion of the cells from the set of cells.
US07763009B1 Tri-functional cannula for retinal endovascular surgery
A tri-functional cannula combines the functions of tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) solution delivery, illumination and venous pressure measurement. The cannula utilizes a tapered hollow-core optical fiber having an inlet for tPA solution, an attached fiber optic splitter configured to receive illumination light from an optical source such and a LED. A window in the cannula transmits the light to and from a central retinal vein. The return light is coupled to an optical detector to measure the pressure within the vein and determine whether an occlusion has been removed.
US07763006B2 Intravascular line and port cleaning methods, methods of administering an agent intravascularly, methods of obtaining/testing blood, and devices for performing such methods
An intravascular port access device includes a first component having a chamber configured to attach reversibly to an intravenous line port. A second component reversibly attaches to the first component and contains a disinfecting agent and an applicator material. The second component is configured to be reversibly received over external surfaces of the intravenous line port. A method of cleansing an intravenous line port includes providing a port cleaning device having a first component with a chamber containing a first cleaning agent. A second component includes a second cleaning agent. A third component has a microbiocidal agent and is reversibly attached to the first component. The second component is removed from the device, the external surfaces of the port are contacted with the second cleaning agent, the first cleaning agent is ejected from the chamber into the port, and the third component is used to cap the port.
US07763005B2 Method for using a pump set having secure loading features
A method of using a pump set on a pump to deliver a supply of liquid to a patient. The pumping apparatus has a control system for controlling operation of the pump. An electromagnetic radiation source is controlled by the control system to emit an electromagnetic radiation signal in a direction for striking a safety interlock device associated with the pump set. The safety interlock device affects the direction of the electromagnetic radiation. An electromagnetic radiation detector is operatively connected to the control system for receiving the electromagnetic radiation signal when the direction is affected by the safety interlock device, and provides an indication to the control system that the pump set conduit is properly positioned in the pump. The pump is controlled to pump liquid in the pump set only when electromagnetic radiation emitted from the first source is detected by the first detector.
US07763001B2 Absorbent article
An absorbent article includes a fluid permeable top sheet, a fluid impermeable back sheet, and an absorbent body disposed therebetween, and in addition is provided with an evagination means extending in a longitudinal direction between the top sheet and the back sheet. The top sheet has a first attachment region attached to the evagination means, second attachment regions attached to the vicinity of both side edges of the absorbent article, and an unattached region positioned between the regions. In the unattached region, many inflected creases, in particular, diagonally directed creases directed from the first attachment region towards both side edges are generated.
US07762998B2 Implantable device fastening system and methods of use
A surgical fastening system for implantable devices is disclosed. The implantable device may contain a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, may have a housing fitted over or around it which contains a plurality of fasteners in pre-deployment position, or may be a part of a two-part system into which it fits. Accordingly, the present invention also encompasses a deployment system or tool that optionally positions the implantable device, and which causes the fasteners to move into post-deployment position. The fasteners may be staples, metal loops, coils, springs or hooks formed of biocompatible materials, including shape memory alloys such as NiTi.
US07762996B2 Method and apparatus for diagnostic and therapeutic agent delivery
Method and apparatus for diagnostic and therapeutic agent delivery is provided by the present invention. In one embodiment a method for injecting an agent into the body of a patient is provided. This method includes: covering an injection structure having a piercing tip with a coating that contains a first agent; urging the piercing tip of the injection structure into a first target located in the body of the patient; and, maintaining the injection structure in the first target location for a predetermined amount of time. In so doing the agent may be conveniently and accurately delivered to the target site. In another embodiment of the present invention a drug delivery device is provided. This drug delivery device includes a catheter having a proximate end and a distal end and an injection structure coupled to the distal end of the catheter. In this embodiment the catheter is covered with a coating that contains an agent. This coating is adapted to release the agent into the body of a patient after the coating enters the body of the patient; again to conveniently and accurately deliver the agent to the target site.
US07762994B2 Needle mounting system and a method for mounting a needle assembly
A needle mounting system and methods for mounting a needle assembly on a needle mount are disclosed. The needle mounting system includes a needle hub having protrusions extending radially inward. A needle mount has a plurality of slots to receive the protrusions. The slots have a first portion that defines a passageway substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the needle mount and a second portion substantially perpendicular to the axis. The needle hub and mount provide a method wherein a needle assembly may be mounted on an injection device without completely rotating the needle hub relative to the needle mount.
US07762985B2 Balloon catheter for treating hardened lesions
The present invention provides apparatus and methods for treating vascular conditions, and in particular, hardened or fibrous material in a stenosis. In a first embodiment, the apparatus comprises a catheter having proximal and distal regions and a plurality of balloons segments disposed on the distal region at intervals about a circumference of the catheter. A first set of opposing balloon segments are configured to be inflated at substantially the same time to apply a first pressure on the vascular condition, and then a second set of opposing balloon segments are configured to be inflated at substantially the same time to apply a second pressure on the vascular condition. The plurality of balloon segments may be formed by taking one length of balloon material and affixing the material to an outer surface of the catheter at a plurality of segment dividing locations to separate adjacent balloon segments, or alternatively, by providing multiple separate balloon materials.
US07762983B2 Medical device for distributing at least one fluid
The medical device for distributing fluid comprises: a syringe (12) for distributing a contrast product; an actuator (28) which is suitable for acting on the syringe in order to ensure that the contrast product flows at a pressure greater than 30 bar; an injection outlet (14) for injecting the contrast product towards the body of a patient, and being connected to the syringe (12); it further comprises: an inflation outlet (16) for a balloon; a distributor (32) which is connected at the outlet of the syringe (12) and which is suitable for selectively connecting the same syringe (12) to the injection outlet (14) or to the inflation outlet (16); and means (20; 22) for controlling the distributor (32) between a first state which connects the syringe to the injection outlet (14) and a second state which connects the syringe (12) to the inflation outlet (16).
US07762975B2 Device for guiding the leg during a hip operation, particularly during an endoprosthesis implantation
Leg-holding traction device (57), especially for hip operations, comprising a rail (31), that contains a circular arc-shaped guide, and is rotatable about a turning axis (71) running perpendicular to the circular arc-shaped guide, and a leg holder (75) that is adjustably supported on the rail (31).
US07762974B2 Ankle brace with mechanical advantage closure system
An orthopedic ankle orthosis having a closure unit with a pull system that provides a mechanical advantage for applying user-desired forces to the ankle joint structures and yet permits the ankle joint to move within a range of motion during activity by the user. The method of using the orthopedic ankle orthosis includes placing the orthosis over a user's ankle, wrapping the lateral and medial body members of the orthosis around the user's ankle, and pulling the elongated pull member to apply user-defined forces to the ankle joint structures.
US07762973B2 Spacer element for prosthetic and orthotic devices
An orthotic or prosthetic spacer element including a ventilated and compressible core having first and second opposed surfaces, and a discrete and continuous web-like silicone-based frictional layer secured to the core first surface. The frictional layer and the core first surface have a plurality of coinciding apertures formed in a pattern. The spacer element may include a foam layer secured to the core second surface such that the foam layer and the core have different rigidities. A layer of hook-receivable material may be directly or indirectly secured to the second core surface.
US07762970B2 Orthopaedic cast with outrigger attachment
A cast for use in limiting movement of the hand to promote healing of an injured body part includes a water hardenable orthopaedic blank for mounting on the forearm, preferably with a thumb hole, and an outrigger, also impregnated with water hardenable material, secured to the blank for holding the thumb or fingers against movement. This construction minimizes irritation of the web between the thumb and forefinger and reduces discomfort and trauma caused by chafing and pressure.
US07762967B2 Chest compression apparatus
A chest compression apparatus and method of use providing an air flow generator component, a pulse frequency control component having a fan blade valve for producing a wave form, a multi-port air chamber and a patient vest. A vest with a sizing feature is also disclosed. The apparatus can be used to apply sharp compression pulses to the thorax via the inflatable vest worn by the patient.
US07762961B2 Pressure generating unit
The invention relates to pressure generating units, in particular to pressure generating unit arranged in the hand piece of a vacuum biopsy device in the form of a sirynge (2). In said units, air intake is open by a piston when said piston (5) is in the rear position thereof in the space of a vacuumed cylinder (11) which is switched for generating a superpressure, thereby initiating the outflow of a tissue liquid by the air introduced into the space of the vacuumed cylinder. For this purpose, the space of the vacuumed cylinder is connected to the space of an atmosphere pressure cylinder (12) arranged behind the piston, by means of a connection line (15), and an absorbing element (14) is placed on the piston axis.
US07762959B2 Tissue removal device
In a tissue removal device for receiving and removing body tissue from an interior portion of a body in a minimally invasive surgical procedure, the tissue removal device including a tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end and defining a lumen therethrough, a bag support structure configured and dimensioned to be receivable within the lumen of the tubular body, wherein the bag support structure has a first configuration for positioning within the lumen of the tubular body and a second configuration for opening a bag operatively coupled thereto, and a bag operatively coupled to the bag support structure, the bag including a first end portion defining an open end.
US07762958B1 Method and apparatus for determining injection depth and tissue type
A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining injection depth and/or tissue type based on the heat dissipation characteristics of body tissue.
US07762957B2 Method for measuring pancreatic metabolism
Disclosed is a method for measuring pancreatic metabolism, which is characterized by the fact that the increase in 13CO2 in the exhaled breath is determined prior to and following the intravenous application of secretin as well as prior to and following the oral application of a 13C triglyceride.
US07762955B2 Method of mounting a transducer to a driveshaft
A method of mounting a transducer to a driveshaft which eliminates the need for a transducer housing, the improved method directly attaches the transducer to a rigid distal tip of a driveshaft which is part of a rotatable imaging core of a catheter assembly. The method contemplates heat treating the distal tip of the driveshaft to make it rigid, machining the distal tip to be dimensioned to hold the transducer, and attaching the transducer to the distal tip by clamping, crimping, or an adhesive.
US07762953B2 Systems and methods for non-invasive physiological monitoring of non-human animals
This invention provides monitoring garments for non-invasively monitoring physiological parameters in un-restrained and/or restrained animals, such as monkeys, rabbits, dogs, horses, and the like. The invention also includes methods and systems for collecting and processing monitoring data and methods for recognizing apneas and other respiratory events, periods of restfulness and wakefulness, stereotypical behavior and other indicators of dysphoric states, periods of emesis, and occurrence of barking and coughing.
US07762952B2 Method, medium, and apparatus for portably measuring calorie consumption
A measuring device for use in measuring calorie consumption includes a pulse input unit which detects a first heart rate of the user at a first point in an exercise period and a second heart rate of the user at a second point of the exercise period other than the first point, the pulse input unit not detecting a third heart rate between the first and second heart rates; and a controller which receives the detected first and second heart rates and calculates calories consumed using the detected first heart rate, the detected second heart rate, an at rest heart rate of the user, and one or more of an age of the user, gender of the user, weight of the user, height of the user, and an at rest heart rate of the user. The measuring device is usable in a portable device, such as a portable digital audio and/or video reproducing apparatus.
US07762949B2 Endoscope with open channels
An endoscope with a flexible elongate insertion shaft, an illumination guide extending longitudinally through the insertion shaft, and an image guide extending longitudinally through the insertion shaft. The insertion shaft is formed along an outer surface with at least one longitudinally extending channel longitudinally traversable by an elongate endoscopic instrument. The channel having a longitudinally extending slot so that the channel is open to the ambient environment along at least a portion of its length.
US07762947B2 Capsule endoscope and capsule endoscope system
A capsule endoscope, which is inserted into a subject and picking up an image inside the subject, includes an illuminating unit that illuminates an interior surface of the subject with illuminating light; an imaging unit that generates an electronic signal corresponding to incident light and outputs the electronic signal generated; a noise canceller that eliminates noise charges which are caused by dark current and accumulated in the imaging unit; and a timing controller that controls driving timing of the noise canceller so that the driving timing lays within a period after the imaging unit finishes an output operation of the electronic signals and before the illuminating unit starts to emit the illuminating light.
US07762944B2 Detachable porous vaginal mold
A detachable vaginal mold is provided. The detachable vaginal mold includes a main body, a minor part, and a jointing design formed between the main body and the minor part for connecting the main body to the minor part. The jointing design is one selected from a group consisting of a dentation design, a mortise design, a screw design, a mitre design, a fastener design, and a combination thereof.
US07762939B2 Method of making fan-folded web of pressure-sensitive labels
A label product in web form has alternating, oppositely indented creases in the liner of the product to produce a fan-folded stack having alternating, reversely folded plies. Each crease is substantially, if not entirely, perforation-free to maximize the strength of the liner at the fold lines. The product is preferably produced on a narrow web press in a creasing station that includes a stack of rolls wherein a first die roll is on the bottom of the stack, a second die roll is on the top of the stack, and a pair of base rolls are located in the middle of the stack between the die rolls. A blade on each die roll cooperates with a cushion on the corresponding base roll to produce a crease during every other rotation of the die roll, each of the base rolls having a smaller circumference than its corresponding die roll.
US07762936B2 Stretching and conditioning apparatus
An apparatus for stretching at least the hamstring muscle of a user's leg is provided having a first support member for supporting the back of the leg of the user at or near the knee at least at the commencement of stretching and a second support member for engaging the back of the lower leg portion of the user during stretching. This first support member is disposed in front of the user during stretching of the hamstring muscle of the user's leg and the second support member is displaceable generally in a direction to stretch the hamstring muscle of the user's leg. An actuator operable by the user during use of the apparatus can be used for displacing at least the second support member generally in a direction to cause stretching of at least the hamstring muscle of the user's leg.
US07762933B1 Weight-adjustable kettle-shaped dumbbell
A weight-adjustable kettle-shaped dumbbell includes a body. The inner bottom of the body is hollow. With a selector unit, the body is able to hang a desired number of weight pieces for changing the weight of the dumbbell. The selector unit links a cable member to move upward or downward with an operating member for changing the inner and outer positions of specific selection boards in the body so as to attach relative weight pieces to the body. The kettle-shaped dumbbell of the present invention is adjustable in weight for the user's demand.
US07762929B1 Golf swing exercise device
The disclosed device is directed toward a golf swing exercise device comprising a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The body includes a resistance section between the first and second ends. A first coupling element is coupled to the body proximate the first end. A second coupling element is coupled to the body proximate the second end. The first coupling element and the second coupling element are configured to rotatably couple the body to a golf club shaft.
US07762928B2 Artificial rock climbing systems and methods adapted for water environment
Improved climbing structures, systems, and methods for use on an artificial rock climbing arrangement which includes a generally rigid framework removably attached to a support surface located adjacent a body of water. The framework makes use of assist shocks in combination with actuators in order to provide an automated (motorized) easy-up vertical climbing wall. A panel structure is mounted on the framework for defining a climbing surface, the panel surface carrying a plurality of climbing holds. A hinged adjustable support bar is secured between the framework and the support surface for maintaining the framework and the climbing surface in a substantially vertical orientation when a climber scales the climbing surface. The hinged adjustable support bar is diagonally mounted with telescoping and threaded ends.
US07762923B2 Shift assisted braking for a power machine or vehicle
A shift assisted brake control system for a power machine or vehicle is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments, the shift assisted brake control system employs a shift assisted brake sequence. In illustrated embodiments, the shift assisted brake sequence shifts an operating speed of a hydrostatic transmission or motor from a high speed to a low speed upon activation of a brake switch or device. This reduces impact or wear to the brake mechanism. In illustrated embodiments, the transmission or motor remains at the low speed for a pause period and following the pause period, the transmission or motor is shifted to the high speed.
US07762922B2 Method for operating a parallel hybrid drive train of a vehicle
A method is described for operating a parallel hybrid device train (1) of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine (2), an electric engine (3) and an output (5) wherein the electric engine (3) is disposed in the power train between the output (5) and the internal combustion engine (2) and both between the internal combustion engine (2) and the electric engine (3) and between the electric engine (3) and the output (5) is respectively provided a frictionally engaged shifting element (7, 8). In addition, a nominal output torque abutting on the output (5) can be adjusted according to the transmitting capacity of the first shifting element (8) located between the electric engine (3) and the output (5). According to the invention, the transmitting capacity of the first shifting element (8) is adjusted under control according to the nominal input torque required so that the first shifting element (8) has a transmitting capacity needed for producing the nominal output torque on the output (5). Furthermore, an input rotational speed of the electric engine (3) is adjusted under regulation during a starting process of the internal combustion engine (2) in order to keep the first shifting element in slip operation at least during the starting process of the internal combustion engine (2) and to produce the nominal output torque on the output (5).
US07762915B2 Belt-type continuously variable transmission
In a continuously variable transmission, a primary pulley includes a first fixed sheave coupled with an input rotation shaft, and a first movable sheave configured to move on the input rotation shaft in an axial direction of the primary pulley; and a secondary pulley includes a second fixed sheave, and a second movable sheave. At least one of the primary and secondary pulleys further includes an axially fixed wall configured to rotate together with the corresponding rotation shaft; and a movable cylinder configured to move together with the corresponding movable sheave, cooperating with the fixed wall to define a cylinder chamber of the corresponding pulley, and having a cylindrically-shaped opening axially outside of the cylinder chamber, the movable cylinder being laid out to permit the opening to axially overlap with at least a portion of a bearing which rotatably supports the corresponding rotation shaft.
US07762910B2 Dual core golf ball having negative-hardness-gradient thermoplastic inner core and steep negative-hardness-gradient outer core layer
A golf ball comprising a thermoplastic inner core layer that has a geometric center hardness greater than its surface hardness to define a first “negative” hardness gradient. An outer core layer is disposed about the inner core and is formed from a substantially homogenous thermoset composition, typically rubber, and has an inner surface hardness greater than its outer surface hardness to also define a “negative” hardness gradient. An inner cover layer is disposed about the outer core layer and an outer cover layer is disposed about the inner cover layer. The “negative” hardness gradient of the inner core is typically −1 to −5 Shore C and the “negative” hardness gradient of the core layer is typically at least −7 Shore C. The difference between the inner core surface hardness and the outer core inner surface hardness, Δh, should be at least −3 Shore C.
US07762909B2 Hollow metal golf club head and method for manufacturing the same
A hollow metal golf club head having a shell structure comprises a crown portion having a thickness gradually decreasing from the front edge toward the rear end of the head. A method of manufacturing the head comprises: making a face plate having an upper turnback which defines a front zone of the crown portion; making a crown plate which defines a back zone of the crown portion; making a hollow main shell having a front opening, a top opening and an in-between lateral frame defining a middle zone of the crown portion; and welding the face and crown plats to the main shell to cover the openings.
US07762908B2 Al2O3 material used in a golf club head
Golf club heads having an Al2O3 material impact surface are described. All or a portion of the head may be made of an Al2O3 material, or the Al2O3 material may be in the form of a sheet or insert and applied to a golf club face. Embodiments of this disclosure have an enhanced coefficient of restitution value in the context of collision with a golf ball.
US07762906B2 Golf club head with a low density bore-through hosel
A golf club including a head, a bore-through hosel insert, and a shaft is disclosed and claimed. The head includes a passage in which the bore-through hosel insert is positioned and retained. The bore-through hosel insert has a specific gravity much lower than the club head specific gravity. This allows mass that would necessarily have been located in the hosel in the heel of the club head to be relocated to more beneficial areas of the club. This allows the club designer to, for example, increase the overall size of the club head, expand the sweet spot, enhance the moment of inertia, and/or optimize the club head center of gravity location.
US07762902B2 Rotary game table
A rotary game table includes a combination game table, two side support members, and at least one cross member. The combination game table includes a pool table surface formed on one side and an air powered hockey table surface formed on the opposite side. The at least one cross member is terminated on each end by a single side support member. The combination game table is pivotally retained by a side support member on each end thereof. To pivotally constrain the combination game table, at least one locking pin device is used; in a second embodiment at least two pivotal support arms; and in a fourth embodiment a pair of support latches. A third embodiment includes at least one side support member configured to retain a plurality of game accessories. A gaming table may be substituted for the air hockey table.
US07762893B2 Storage medium having game program stored thereon and game apparatus
When a player is controlling a first object with a pointing device, an in-operation flag indicating that the player is controlling the first object with the pointing device is set as “ON”. When the in-operation flag is set as “ON” and a second object is within a predetermined distance from an input position of the pointing device, the second object is selected. When the in-operation flag is set as “OFF”, that is, when the player stops controlling the first object, the first object is caused to perform a process for exerting an effect on the second object having been selected.
US07762890B2 Game device, game processing method and recording medium having a program recorded thereon
An object of this invention is to provide a game device that can add much to the production of the game. The invention is a game device for displaying a game image which expresses a virtual three-dimensional space, which is characterized in that it displays the first action scene between the first player character and the first enemy character and the second action scene between the second player character and the second enemy character based on the predetermined camera angle to project the first player character and the first enemy character related to the predetermined command which is given to the first player character by the player.
US07762889B2 Table game system
A table game system comprises a plurality of playing cards and a card shooter apparatus. The cards include an ultraviolet-ray reaction code comprising at least two sets of code elements that are arranged along one side of a face of the card. The code represents at least the number of a card. The card shooter apparatus includes a card housing for containing the cards, a card guide unit that guides cards pulled out one by one from the card housing, one or more card detecting sensors that detect the existence or non-existence of a card pulled out along a card guiding direction of the card guide unit, and one or more black light sensors that read the ultraviolet-ray reaction code from the card guided by the card guide unit.
US07762886B2 Method and apparatus for enhancing a wagering experience using a wagering terminal adaptable to a self-service mode
A method and apparatus for use in a wagering environment are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a wagering terminal including a processor, a memory, a primary display, and a secondary display. The primary display is configured for displaying visual messages. These visual messages are displayed as part of a graphical user interface and include at least one wagering transaction message. The secondary display is configured for displaying additional visual messages associated with the visual messages of the primary display. These additional visual messages are displayed as part of an additional graphical user interface. The wagering terminal may further include a proximity detector configured for detecting the presence of a gaming patron, a user identification unit configured for sampling a unique physical attribute of a user, and an image capture unit configured for capturing at least one image in a vicinity of the wagering terminal.
US07762885B2 Prize redemption system for games executed over a wide area network
A game redemption system is provided by allowing a game to be played in exchange for a monetary input and awarding either prize credits or one or more merchandise prizes based on an event that is associated with play of the game. Either a video selection interface screen or a prize-selection mechanism that is associated with the game redemption system can be used for redeeming the prize credits or the one or more merchandise prizes.
US07762880B2 Video poker game with a bet doubling option
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium for implementing a video poker game allowing a player to double (or increase) his or her initial bet. After the initial deal, the player can decide to double the initial bet before drawing new cards. Both the initial bet and optional doubled bet are paid to the player.
US07762877B2 Tailing re-thresher rasp bar and rotor housing
A re-threshing apparatus and method for a combine harvester includes a rotor having threshing elements mounted thereon extending substantially radially. The rotor is rotationally mounted within a housing at least partially surrounding the rotor. The housing includes an inlet and an outlet. The housing has a wall portion with rasp bars extending toward the rotor. The wall portion is substantially solid, i.e., material re-threshed by the rasp bars remains within the housing until it moves through the housing outlet. The rotor and the housing are configured for tailings to be flung tangentially into the housing against the rasp bars and re-threshed between the threshing elements and the rasp bars within the housing.
US07762875B2 Blower controller for elevator system
An elevator system includes a mode switch configured to select one of a plurality of operation modes based on a state of the elevator cage, and a blower controller configured to control a blower to adjust pressure inside an elevator cage according to the selected operation mode.
US07762872B2 Superhard cutters and associated methods
A cutting device comprises a base having a solidified organic material layer disposed thereon. A plurality of individual polycrystalline cutting elements are secured in the solidified organic material layer. Each of the plurality of individual polycrystalline cutting elements has a substantially matching geometric configuration.
US07762865B2 Crib mobile with animated characters
A crib mobile comprises a base assembly, a support bar mounted on the base assembly, and a body assembly mounted on the support bar, The body assembly includes a motor for rotating a support frame. The support frame has a clover-leaf configuration comprising a plurality of contiguous lobes each having a circularly opening. A plurality of character elements are mounted on each of the lobes and are rotatable thereabout. The character elements simulate the appearance of an animal figure and may include peripheral portions which are pivotally attached to the character element and are rotatable relative to one another. Each of the character elements includes a musical instrument and a movable member for simulating the playing of the musical instrument in response to gravitational forces acting upon the movable member during rotation of the support frame. The base assembly produces preprogrammed music during the simulated playing of the musical instruments.
US07762863B1 Plush characters
There are illustrated and claimed three versions of toy characters that are programmed to go through various sequences of movements such as sitting, lying down, rotating on a support accomplished by the movements of the body and leg assemblies as determined by a microprocessor. The three characters include various rib and block assemblies to provide for the desired programmed movements.
US07762861B2 Method and apparatus for mounting a light sleeve
One embodiment relates to a method of sealing a gap formed between each end cap of a fluorescent bulb and a protective sleeve, where the fluorescent bulb is disposed within the protective sleeve to form a bulb and sleeve assembly with the gap defined between an external surface of the end caps and an internal surface of the protective sleeve. The method comprises rotating the bulb and sleeve assembly and injecting a sealant in the gap associated with each end cap as the bulb and sleeve assembly rotate to provide a continuous bead of sealant between the end caps and the protective sleeve.
US07762859B2 Propulsion system for boat
A propulsion system for a boat includes propellers arranged to be rotated by an engine, a transmission mechanism arranged to transmit driving force of the engine to the propellers such that a speed of the driving force of the engine is changed at least with a gear reduction ratio for low speed and high speed, and a control unit arranged to output a signal to control a gear shift in the transmission mechanism on the basis of an amount of lever opening, which is based on operation of a control lever section, and speed of the engine, and the control unit being arranged to detect cavitation generated in conjunction with rotation of the propellers on the basis of a gear shift control map. The control unit is arranged to control output of a signal to the transmission mechanism for changing a reduction gear to that for high speed when cavitation is detected.
US07762858B2 Propulsion system for boat
A propulsion system for a boat includes propellers rotated by an engine, a transmission mechanism arranged to transmit a driving force of the engine to the propellers in a state that the driving force of the engine is changed to at least one of a gear reduction ratio for low speed and a gear reduction ratio for high speed, and a control unit arranged to output a signal to control a gear shift in the transmission mechanism on the basis of a throttle valve opening of the engine and a speed of the engine and arranged to detect cavitation generated in conjunction with rotation of the propellers on the basis of a gear shift control map. The control unit is arranged to control the output of a signal to the transmission mechanism to change the high speed reduction gear ratio when cavitation is detected. The propulsion system achieves both acceleration and maximum speed at performance levels desired by an operator of a boat.
US07762857B2 Power connectors with contact-retention features
A power receptacle contact may include first and second contact beams that deflect independently of one another during mating of the power receptacle contact with a complementary blade contact. Each beam may extend from abutting respective body portions. The power receptacle contact may include a first clip that extends from the first contact beam. The first clip may define a blade receiving area between the first and second contact beams. A power connector may include a housing and a contact received in the housing. The contact may includes first and second protrusions that prevent the contact from moving in a first direction relative to the housing and in a second direction opposite the first direction.
US07762856B2 Push on terminal assembly
A terminal assembly includes a terminal and a barrel. The terminal has a coupling portion that fastens to a conductor, a mating portion with compression tabs arranged to form a channel, and an interlocking member on at least one of the compression tabs. The barrel is separate from the terminal and has a bore formed therethrough configured to receive the compression tabs of the mating portion. The barrel includes an interlocking member corresponding to the interlocking member of the at least one compression tab.
US07762853B2 Injection molded terminal block
A terminal block for a telecommunication cable, which includes a substrate, an insulated electrical contact and a housing, which surrounds the substrate. The substrate has a front side and a back side, and includes a plurality of openings extending from the front side to the back side of the substrate and adapted to receive an insulated electrical contact. An insulated electrical contact is positioned within each of the plurality of openings. A housing surrounds the substrate and forms a plurality of sockets, and wherein each socket is adapted to receive an electrical connector.
US07762843B2 Shieldless, high-speed, low-cross-talk electrical connector
An electrical connector may include a first connector with electrically-conductive contacts. The contacts may have blade-shaped mating ends, and may be arranged in a centerline. The electrical connector may include a second connector with electrically-conductive receptacle contacts, which may also be arranged in a centerline. The connectors may be mated such that the mating portion of a first contact in the second connector may physically contact of a corresponding blade-shaped mating end of a contact in the first connector.
US07762838B2 Safety module electrical distribution system
A wiring module that can be installed in an electrical junction box and can receive a removable electrical outlet module, a removable electrical switch module, or other types of electrical functional modules. The wiring module and the removable electrical outlet and switch modules may include connectors having a mechanical portion and an electrical portion. The electrical connector portions may be configured so as not to be exposed to user contact when the mechanical connector portions are at least partially engaged.
US07762837B2 Male medical device electrical connector with engineered friction fit
A male connector, including: a body having a proximal end and a distal end; and an elastomeric member disposed around an outer surface of the distal end of the body, wherein the distal end of the body is configured to be received into a female connector interface in a medical device, and wherein the proximal end of the body is configured to receive an electronic block connector therein.
US07762831B2 Protection system and socket thereof
A socket, comprising at least two insertion holes and a clasp device rotatably fastened on the socket. The clasp device comprises a clasp body, a cover, a bottom plate, and a connection body. The cover is positioned relative to the bottom plate, and the connection body is positioned between the cover and the bottom plate, wherein the cover, the bottom plate and the connection body define a receiving cavity.
US07762828B2 Electrical connector with sliding connection
An electrical connector with sliding connection has a main body and a mated device, which both can electrically and mechanically connect together. The main body has a concave room. The concave room has an electrical connector that can slide back and forth by elasticity and outer forces. The mated device has a mated connector compared to the electrical connector. When connecting the electrical connector with the sliding connection, the present invention can transversely connect the electrical connector and the mated connector, and then by vertically sliding clamp the main body and the mated device. The electrical connector will follow the sliding motion.
US07762823B2 Socket connector having pickup cap removed by operation of lever thereof
An socket connector includes an electrical connector and a pick up cap installed on the electrical connector and can be separated from the connector, the electrical connector includes a base receiving a plurality of contacts, a cover covered and may slid slightly on the base. a lever received between a head of the base and the cover for driving the cover slid slightly compared to the base. Two side walls of the base at least having one pair of ejecting platforms, the pick up cap having ejecting blocks equipping with said ejecting platforms, said cover having notch for receiving said ejecting platforms and ejecting blocks, by means of lever driving, leading the ejecting block of the pick up cap moving up along the ejecting platform until said pick up cap automatic separated from the connector.
US07762812B2 Medical handset and exchangeable nozzle for the same
The present invention relates to a medical handset with a nozzle having at least one nozzle line for supplying a medically active medium, such as for example an air-powder mixture and/or a fluid, in particular for the prophylactic treatment of teeth, wherein the handset has a head part with a connecting part on the head for the exchangeable connection of the handset to the nozzle, wherein at least one supply line of the handset is connected to the at least one nozzle line of the nozzle by producing a sealing-tight interference fit of a sealing face on the nozzle with a sealing face on the handle, in particular in that a tongue-and-groove connection is produced between the nozzle and the connecting part, e.g. in that a T-groove on the nozzle is inserted into a T-tongue on the handle, the axis of insertion lying roughly at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handset.
US07762809B2 Heat treatment apparatus
Disclosed is a heat treatment apparatus which includes a processing vessel having a furnace throat at its bottom and adapted to accommodate process objects therein to perform a heat treatment to the process objects under reduced pressure, the processing vessel having a vessel main body made of quartz, a metallic lid adapted to support thereon a holder for holding a plurality of process objects so as to load and unload the holder into and from the processing vessel and to close and open the furnace throat, and an annular sealing member disposed on the lid to seal a gap between the lid and the furnace throat. A contact-preventing member is disposed between the lid and the furnace throat to prevent contact of the lid with the furnace throat due to squashing of the sealing member that would otherwise occur when an internal pressure of the processing vessel is reduced.
US07762805B2 Injection moulding machine having a plurality of de-moulding directions
An injection moulding device for producing an injection moulding has a first (16a, 16b) and a second (14) mould plate which can be moved relative to each other in the closing direction. Furthermore, the injection moulding device comprises a mechanism (17a, 17b) for repositioning at least one (16a, 16b) of the mould plates in such a way that at least two different de-moulding directions (R1, R2) in relation to the injection moulding can be implemented.
US07762800B2 Apparatus for making a spunbond web
An apparatus for making a spunbond web has a deposition surface, a spinneret above the surface for producing filaments that move downward along a path toward the surface, and a cooling chamber below the spinneret. Cool process air is supplied to the chamber to cool the filaments as they pass downward through the chamber. A laterally closed stretching unit downstream of the cooling chamber has laterally closed side walls that have portions that diverges downward. A connecting region between the stretching unit and the cooling chamber substantially excludes access of air from outside to the filaments as they pass from the cooling chamber to the stretching unit so that the filaments drop from the stretching unit onto the deposition surface.
US07762799B2 Oil-cooled screw compressor
In an oil-cooled screw compressor comprising, a compressor body including a pair of a male rotor and a female rotor, a motor including a stator and a motor rotor connected to one of the male and female rotors, and an oil separator container for gathering the oil from a mixture of the gaseous manner and oil to restrain the oil from proceeding with the compressed gaseous matter after the mixture of the gaseous manner and oil is discharged from the pair of male and female rotors, a rotational axis of the motor rotor and the rotational axis of the one of the male and female rotors are coaxial with respect to each other.
US07762789B2 Compressor with flow control sensor
A compressor discharges a flow of compressed fluid at a predetermined temperature. The compressor includes a sensor positioned to measure a first temperature indicative of the temperature of the compressed fluid, a coolant source, a cooler positioned to receive a first flow of coolant from the coolant source and discharge a flow of cooled coolant, and a valve positioned to receive the flow of cooled coolant and a second flow of coolant from the coolant source. The valve is configured to discharge a coolant flow to the compressor and the coolant flow has a ratio of cooled coolant to second flow of coolant that is variable in response to the first temperature.
US07762787B2 Engine driven working machine
In an engine drive washing machine, a discharge switch 10 is provided in a jet gun 5. When the switch 10 is turned off, an engine 1 is stopped. When the switch 10 is turned on, the engine 1 is started up to drive a pump 2. When an outlet pressure of the pump 2 is not lower than a predetermined value, a water-discharge valve in the gun 5 is opened to cause the water to be discharged. When the switch 10 is not turned off for a long time, the engine 1 is stopped. When an operator takes up the gun 5 to start the operation, the engine 1 is started up. The engine-drive type of washing machine is provided with a battery 13 for a starter motor, and the battery 13 is charged by a generator function of a starter-motor generator 3 during the operation of the engine 1.
US07762785B2 Main rotor blade with integral tip section
A main rotor blade assembly having a blade skin bonded to a main spar and a tip spar.
US07762784B2 Insertable impingement rib
An insertable impingement rib assembly inside of a turbine vane. The turbine vane has an airfoil portion with a leading edge and a trailing edge. The turbine vane has an inner diameter platform and an outer diameter platform. A guide channel is located in the airfoil portion of the turbine vane. The guide channel has an insertion point, a leading edge guide rail rib, a trailing edge guide rail rib, and a plurality of apertures therethrough. An impingement rib is insertable into the guide channel.
US07762783B2 Turbine blade apparatus
A gas turbine airfoil is disclosed. The gas turbine airfoil includes a root section, a separate extension section attached to the root section, and a joint disposed between the root section and the extension section, the joint including at least one of a mechanical interlock and a metallurgical bond.
US07762781B1 Composite blade and platform assembly
A turbine blade and platform assembly in which the platform is a separate piece that is secured to the blade through shear pins that extend along slots formed between opposed abutting parts of the blade and the platform. Because the platform is detached from the blade, the blade can be made of a single crystal superalloy with a reduction in casting defects. The platform has one or more airfoil shaped openings or slots on the outer surface in which a blade is inserted. The shear pins are inserted to secure the platform to the blade. In another embodiment, the blade root is inserted into an opening formed in the rotor disk, and shear pins are inserted into slots formed in the root and the disk opening in order to secure the blade to the rotor disk. With this embodiment, the blade can be made of a ceramic material because only compressive forces are formed to hold the blade in place.
US07762780B2 Blade assembly in a combustion turbo-machine providing reduced concentration of mechanical stress and a seal between adjacent assemblies
A blade assembly 100 (FIG. 5) configuration that includes a means for distributing mechanical stress (e.g., a stress dissipater 54) is provided. The stress dissipater is configured to reduce the concentration of a peak mechanical stress without compromising the effectiveness of a seal between adjacent rotating blade assemblies.
US07762778B2 Fan impeller
A fan impeller having fan blades, a base plate, a support ring and fasteners to releasably hold the fan blades between the base plate and the support ring. The base a plate includes channels each having two or more sockets that receive and releasably seat at least a portion of the fan blade. The position of the fan blade relative the axis of rotation of the impeller can be selected from the two or more sockets. The support ring includes grooves in which at least a portion of the fan blade releasably seats to hold the fan blades static relative the base plate and the support ring. The fasteners can extend between the base plate and the support ring to releasably hold the two or more blades.
US07762775B1 Turbine airfoil with cooled thin trailing edge
A turbine airfoil used in a gas turbine engine in which the airfoil is cooled by passing cooling air through the airfoil. The trailing edge of the airfoil is cooled by a row of metering and diffusion cooling holes connected to a cooling air supply channel arranged along the trailing edge region of the airfoil. Each metering and diffusion cooling holes includes a metering section having a constant area extending along the section, and a diffusion section that is convergent in the airfoil streamwise direction while divergent in the airfoil spanwise direction. The streamwise convergent shape allows for the airfoil trailing edge to be thin, while the divergent spanwise shape allows for the area ratio fro the inlet to the outlet to be from around 5 to 15 such that the cooling flow rate is high and the cooling air is diffused.
US07762774B2 Cooling arrangement for a tapered turbine blade
A cooling arrangement (11) for a highly tapered gas turbine blade (10). The cooling arrangement (11) includes a pair of parallel triple-pass serpentine cooling circuits (80,82) formed in an inner radial portion (50) of the blade, and a respective pair of single radial channel cooling circuits (84,86) formed in an outer radial portion (52) of the blade (10), with each single radial channel receiving the cooling fluid discharged from a respective one of the triple-pass serpentine cooling circuit. The cooling arrangement advantageously provides a higher degree of cooling to the most highly stressed radially inner portion of the blade, while providing a lower degree of cooling to the less highly stressed radially outer portion of the blade. The cooling arrangement can be implemented with known casting techniques, thereby facilitating its use on highly tapered, highly twisted Row 4 industrial gas turbine blades that could not be cooled with prior art cooling arrangements.
US07762768B2 Mechanical support of a ceramic gas turbine vane ring
An assembly for mounting a ceramic turbine vane ring onto a turbine support casing comprises a first metal clamping ring and a second metal clamping ring. The first metal clamping ring is configured to engage with a first side of a tab member of the ceramic turbine vane ring. The second metal clamping ring is configured to engage with a second side of the tab member such that the tab member is disposed between the first and second metal clamping rings.
US07762765B2 Fan with attachment hooks
A device for cooling a pet includes a fan with a housing. A motor coupled with a blade positioned in the housing. The motor is electrically coupled with a power source to energize the motor to rotate the blade. At least one member is coupled with the housing. The at least one member includes a cut-out to couple the member with an animal crate to mount the fan on the crate for cooling a pet inside of the crate.
US07762763B2 Vacuum pump
A vacuum pump (100) comprises a first set (106) of turbo-molecular stages, a molecular drag stage (112), a first inlet (120) through which fluid can pass through the first set (106) of stages and the molecular drag stage (112) towards a pump outlet (116), second and third sets (108, 110) of turbo-molecular stages located between the first set (106) and the molecular drag stage (112), a second inlet (122), the second and third sets (108, 110) being arranged such that fluid entering the pump through the second inlet (122) is separated into two streams each flowing through a respective one of the second and third sets (108, 110), and conduit means (126) for conveying fluid passing through the first set (106) and one of the second and third sets (108, 110) towards the outlet (116).
US07762762B2 Rolling fluid machine especially with a liquid spraying at the output
A rolling fluid machine especially with a liquid spraying at the output, comprising a chamber (1) where at least a part of its inner surface has a rotary shape and the chamber (1) is provided with at least one inlet (2) of fluid and at least one outlet (3) of fluid. In the chamber (1) there is a rolling rotor (4) installed in a manner enabling rolling and swinging. In the chamber (1) the space (5) bellow the rotor (4) and the space (6) above the rotor (4) is interconnected by at least one additional channel (7).
US07762759B2 Feeder device for bars and relative feeding method
Device and method to pick up and remove from a bundle one or more bars in order to arrange them for use in an operating machine. The device comprises first magnetic means to separate from the bundle an end segment of a plurality of bars and to arrange at least the end segments of plurality bars on a plane distanced with respect to the bundle. The device comprises second magnetic means to pick up, from the first magnetic means, at least one bar at a time from the plurality of bars and to unload the at least one bar in a desired release position.
US07762754B2 Storage apparatus for transported object
A storage apparatus (1) stores a transported object (220) from a transporting carriage (110), which travels along a track (120) installed on or near a ceiling (210) while gripping the transported object. The storage apparatus is provided with a rack portion (30), on which the transported object is put; and a support member (10), whose upper end is supported by the track or ceiling and whose lower end supports the rack portion. The support member selectively has one of first and second shapes. The first shape allows the transporting carriage to put the transported object onto the rack portion at the predetermined position. The second shape allows the rack portion to move away from a position below the track.
US07762748B2 Drill
A plurality of cutting oil feed holes extend from the proximal side towards the distal side are provided in a drill body located on a reference line that extends towards a circumferential central portion of an outer circumferential surface of the drill body split by a chip discharge groove from an axis in a cross section orthogonal to the axis. A cutting oil feed hole that is located on the radial outermost side is used as a first cutting oil feed hole, and a cutting oil feed hole that is on the radial innermost side is used as a second cutting oil feed hole. Two or more openings of the cutting oil feed holes are provided in one cutting edge as the plurality of cutting oil feed holes are formed in the vicinity of the intersection ridgeline portion between the distal flank face and the second thinned face.
US07762747B2 Cermet insert and cutting tool
One aspect of this titanium carbonitride-based cermet insert has a microstructure including 75 to 90 area % of a hard phase and the balance as a binding phase, wherein the hard phase includes a first hard phase in which a core-having structure includes a TiCN phase and a peripheral portion includes a (Ti,W,Ta/Nb)CN phase, a second hard phase including a (Ti,W,Ta/Nb)CN phase, and a third hard phase including a TiCN phase, and the binding phase contains 18 to 33% of Co, 20 to 35% of Ni, 5% or less of Ti and Ta and/or Nb, and 40 to 60 mass % of W. In another aspect of this cermet insert, a total of an amount of Ti converted as carbonitride, an amount of Ta and/or Nb converted as carbide, and an amount of W converted as carbide is 70 to 95 mass %, an amount of W converted as carbide is 20 to 35 mass %, and Co and Ni are 5 to 30 mass %, this cermet insert has a microstructure including a hard phase containing (Ti,W,Ta/Nb)CN and a binding phase containing, as main components thereof, W and Co and/or Ni, and 40 to 65 mass % of the W is contained in the hard phase. This cutting tool includes a holder and the cermet insert described above held and fixed by the holder.
US07762746B2 Silt fencing system
A transportable and reusable silt fencing system for use at a construction site to prevent sediment and soil erosion comprises tension rods, a male section, a female section, and a fencing material having sleeve supports for the rods to slide in and support the fencing material. The tension rods are collapsible. The rods collapse when a truck drives over the fence, but re-assume their original form once the truck has passed. If a fence longer than the fencing section is required, additional fencing sections may be attached by connecting a male section of one fence section with the female section of another fence section.
US07762744B2 Method and vessel for removing offshore structures
A method and vessel for removing or installing an offshore jacket structure in a body of water, the vessel having a generally planar main buoyancy section having the outline of a delta with an extension at the apex and auxiliary buoyancy sections extending transversely of the main buoyancy section at the ends of the base of the delta. The bottom parts of the auxiliary buoyancy sections have a rounded outer surface and contain heavy fixed ballast. The vessel may be rotated as it is brought close to the jacket structure with the auxiliary sections straddling the jacket structure. The vessel is rotated towards the jacket structure while its rounded bottom portion rolls on the seabed. Once the jacket structure is connected securely to the vessel, the vessel is rotated back to the initial position de-ballasting the auxiliary sections before it is brought to the surface.
US07762743B2 Distributed temperature sensing in a remotely operated vehicle umbilical fiber optic cable
Methods and apparatus for monitoring a remotely operated vehicle umbilical condition in real time allowing for improving of power delivery as well as early detection of threats to integrity of the umbilical. The umbilical may include an optical fiber. Processing equipment may enable distributed temperature sensing along the optical fiber.
US07762742B1 Residential flood control unit
The present invention comprises an apparatus that is designed to hold back flood waters via a series of interconnected long flexible tubular units. Each unit is connected to each other via a sleeve and has a weighted flap portion for additional anchoring. Each unit has its own fill tube and drain plug and is designed to retain water or other liquid to provide an impervious water barrier when in deployment.
US07762741B1 Flow control system for a detention pond
An application for a flow control system includes a movable riser in fluid communication and slideably engaged with a stationary riser, the stationary riser being in fluid communication with a drainage system. The movable riser is made buoyant by one or more attached floats such that, when the liquid level around the flow control system increases to a pre-determined level above a top rim of the movable riser, the movable riser lifts due to the buoyancy of the float(s), thereby maintaining the pre-determined displacement as the water level continues to rise.
US07762740B1 Fluid distribution system
By providing an easily transported, filler component system, leaching field forming elements for establishing a series of flexible design passageways into which the desired fill material is placed, a highly effective, easily installed, competitively priced with enhanced biological habitat underground fluid distribution system is achieved. In accordance with the present invention, the desired passageways are quickly and efficiently created by employing pre-folded cardboard panels, or other pervious materials, placing the materials in an excavated location or site in cooperating relationship with each other for creating the desired leaching fields. In the preferred embodiment, two, substantially identical, pre-folded cardboard panels are employed and are positioned in juxtaposed, cooperating, spaced, facing relationship with each other, establishing a central passageway therebetween.
US07762738B2 Arrangement for fixing components detachably to a ceiling or wall
The component (X) is connected to a seat housing (1) and the retaining bolt with the ceiling (or wall) Y. The seat housing (1) has an opening for receiving a plug-in element (4). A part of the retaining bolt with a recess projects into the seat housing. A connecting element is provided in the plug-in element (4) (or in the seat housing), which, when the plug-in element is inserted into the seat housing, engages the recess of the retaining bolt. In the inserted state, the plug-in element (4) is held in position in the seat housing (1) by a detachable lock-in connection. When the lock-in connection is released, an opening spring pushes the plug-in element into the open position. An insert arrangement which encircles the retaining bolt (and if required, a vibration-damping ring) is provided for fixing the retaining bolt in the ceiling.
US07762737B2 System and method for stowage compartment pivot assembly
A pivot system for a stowage compartment system for a mobile platform (for example, commercial aircraft) is provided. The pivot system includes a first fitting that defines a raceway and an engagement feature and a second fitting. The second fitting includes a hub for engagement with the raceway and a mating engagement feature to secure the first fitting within the second fitting. The second fitting also includes a guide that directs the first fitting into the second fitting to couple the first fitting to the second fitting.
US07762732B2 Light quantity control device
A light quantity control device includes: a bottom board having an opening; a first blade, a supporting blade and a second blade linearly moving in opposing directions and controlling light quantity passing through the opening; and a driving lever connected to the set of blades and driving the set of blades by rotation of the driving lever. The driving lever rotates within degrees centering on a phantom line A passing through a rotational center of the driving lever and being parallel with the moving directions of the blades.
US07762731B2 Environmentally sealed enclosure
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods and apparatus for providing reliable sealed enclosures for surveillance cameras that are capable of protecting an internal surveillance camera and related electronics from harsh external environmental conditions without using adhesives using a unique a sealing gasket that is sandwiched between upper and lower housing parts of a camera enclosure. The unique sealing gasket includes a flexible portion corresponding to the surfaces of the housing parts to be engaged that is generally perpendicularly attached to a front panel. The front panel has a central viewing pane, and a peripheral flexible sealing surface. A unique aspect of the sealing member of embodiments of the present invention is the inclusion of the front panel, viewing pane and upper/lower housing seal in a single member.
US07762730B2 Bi-directional optical module and a method for assembling the same
A bi-directional optical subassembly (BOSA) is disclosed. The BOSA of the present invention provides first and second optical devices, a WDM filter and the body that is configured to secure two optical devices and to install the WDM filter. The body has a cylindrical shape with a large bore, a small bore and a joint bore connecting two bores. The WDM filter is attached to the tapered surface of the joint bore.
US07762727B2 Active optical cable with integrated control features
An active cable that is configured to communicate over much of its length using one or more optical fibers, and that includes an integrated electrical connector at least one end. The active cable can include a circuit disposed in the integrated cable, the circuit configured to provide pre-emphasis of the second electrical signal. The pre-emphasis can be accomplished by either boosting high frequency content or removing low frequency content from the first or second electrical signals. The active cable can also include circuitry configured to provide equalization of the first electrical signal within the integrated cable. The preemphasis and/or equalization can be fixed, adjustable, or adaptable. The preemphasis and/or equalization can be host selectable via a serial interface of the integrated cable, which can include I2C.
US07762726B2 Hardened fiber optic connection system
A fiber optic connector and a fiber optic adapter are disclosed that are manually connectable and disconnectable with each other by a slideable latching means. The fiber optic connector includes an end defining a plug portion. The plug portion holds a ferrule and also directly engages a port on the fiber optic adapter. The plug portion includes a protrusion which also forms a latch catch. The port of the fiber optic adapter includes a flexible retention latch within a slot. The slot engages the protrusion and thus rotationally aligns the fiber optic connector and adapter. The flexible retention latch snaps into and out of the latch catch when the plug portion of the fiber optic connector is slid into and out of the port of the fiber optic adapter thus providing the slideable latching means. Angled retaining surfaces are provided on the retention latch and the latch catch that engage each other. Angles defining the angled retaining surfaces are chosen to provide desired holding and release characteristics. A sealing means and a threaded connection means are also provided between the fiber optic adapter and connector.
US07762721B2 On chip temperature measuring and monitoring method
A device temperature measurement circuit, an integrated circuit (IC) including a device temperature measurement circuit, a method of characterizing device temperature and a method of monitoring temperature. The circuit includes a constant current source and a clamping device. The clamping device selectively shunts current from the constant current source or allows the current to flow through a PN junction, which may be the body to source/drain junction of a field effect transistor (FET). Voltage measurements are taken directly from the PN junction. Junction temperature is determined from measured junction voltage.
US07762718B2 Condensation detector utilizing a wet bulb and dry bulb temperature differential
Apparatus, systems and methods for coordinated detecting condensation utilizing a wet bulb and dry bulb temperature differential are disclosed. According to exemplary embodiments, a condensation detector may include; a first temperature sensor which generates a first temperature signal corresponding to a temperature measured at the first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor which generates a second temperature signal corresponding to a temperature measured at the second temperature sensor, a connector having a first end connected to the first temperature sensor, and a detector which receives the first and the second temperature signals and determines the presence of condensation at a second end of the connector based on differences between the first and second temperature signals.
US07762714B2 Method and system for administering micro-ingredient feed additives to animal feed rations
A system and method are provided for administering micro-ingredient feed additives or supplements to feed rations. The amount of each particular micro-ingredient to be delivered to a feed ration may be determined by a bulk density measurement. Alternatively, bulk density measurement may be used in combination with existing weight measurement and volumetric metering methods for multiple micro-ingredients. Delivery by bulk density requires determination of a bulk density value along with use of a dispensing device that dispenses a calculated amount of the micro-ingredient ration. The dispensing calculation may be achieved by analysis of delivery time, pulse count, or some other quantitative measure such as magnitude. Use of bulk density as a measurement technique eliminates the requirement for use of scales in the micro-ingredient delivery system.
US07762713B2 Food waste disposal system
The present invention provides a food waste disposal system including a housing with a food waste introduction opening and a door receiving depression, the door for covering the food waste introduction opening, a prefabricated mixing basin disposed inside the housing and composed of a box-shaped upper body, a hemispherical lower body, and a rotational shaft axially installed on a horizontal central line of the prefabricated mixing basin, a plurality of prefabricated mixing wings engaged with the rotational shaft for cutting food waste into small pieces and agitating the food waste in the prefabricated mixing basin, a geared driving motor for driving the rotational shaft, in which a touch screen panel installed on an upper surface of the housing and a personal computer incorporate PLC Ethernet cards respectively therein so as to allow the food waste disposal system to be controlled from a distance using the computer, which is networked.
US07762711B2 Lamp
A lamp has a socket and a holder having a plug and a lens. The plug has a top surface, a light emitting diode (LED) mount and an LED. The LED mount is formed centrally on the top surface of the plug. The LED is mounted in the LED mount of the holder. The lens is mounted around the LED mount and has at least one auxiliary lens and a holding lens. Each auxiliary lens has an annulus and multiple decorative protrusions. The holding lens is mounted through the annulus of the auxiliary lens. Therefore, the holding lens and at least one auxiliary lens are manufactured individually to reduce manufacturing costs and complexity and attain easily adaptable designs.
US07762709B2 Backlight module
A backlight module including a back bezel, a frame, and a backlight source is provided. The back bezel has a bottom carrier and a side wall extending upward from an edge of the bottom carrier so as to define a containing space. The side wall has a through hole and a reverse bending structure. The reverse bending structure is bent downward into the containing space for shielding a portion of the through hole. Parts of the region of the back bezel are covered with the frame and a portion of the frame extends from the containing space into the through hole and covers the reverse bending structure. The backlight source is disposed in the containing space located over the back bezel and the frame.
US07762706B2 Planar light source
A planar light source has a light emitting source, and a light guide plate for receiving light beams emitted from the light emitting source at a front side thereof and changing direction of the light beams, discharging the light beams from an upper surface thereof. A first anisotropic diffusion surface is formed on a lower surface of the light guide plate, and a reflection member is provided on the first anisotropic diffusion surface. The first anisotropic diffusion surface is hologram diffusion surface or a hairline diffusion surface.
US07762703B2 Heads-up display, motor vehicle and method of operating a heads-up display
A heads-up display comprises a monochrome display device for generating an image and an optical device for generating a virtual image from the image of the display device. The monochrome display device comprises a display and a backlight for illuminating the display from its backside. The backlight comprises a first light source emitting light of a first color, a second light source emitting light of a second color, a first light guide coupled to the first light source, and a second light guide coupled to the second light source. The first and second light guides are disposed in such close juxtaposition behind the display so that they illuminate together the entire backside of the display and illuminate a first region of the display associated with the first light guide with the first color and a second region of the display associated with the second light guide with the second color.
US07762701B2 Rear-loaded light emitting diode module for automotive rear combination lamps
A rear-loading LED module for a rear combination lamp is disclosed. One or more LEDs are mounted on a printed circuit board that electrically powers and mechanically holds them outside a faceted, parabolic reflector. Light emitted from the LEDs enters a light propagation region, formed between the reflective adjacent faces of two nested cylinders. The cylinders extend from the LEDs, outside the reflector, longitudinally through a hole at the vertex of the reflector, to the focus of the reflector. In some applications, the light propagation region may act as a beam homogenizer, so that light exiting the light propagation region may have roughly uniform intensity. Light from the light propagation region strikes an outwardly-flared reflector that directs it largely transversely onto the parabolic reflector. The parabolic reflector collimates the light and directs it longitudinally, through a transparent cover and out of the lamp. The parabolic reflector may have facets that angularly divert portions of the reflected light to form a desired two-dimensional angular distribution for the exiting beam.
US07762700B2 Rear-loaded light emitting diode module for automotive rear combination lamps
A rear-loading LED module for a rear combination lamp is disclosed. One or more LEDs are mounted on a printed circuit board that mechanically holds them at the focus of a faceted, parabolic reflector. Light from the LEDs diverges transversely and horizontally, and is collimated by the reflector, and the reflected collimated light is directed in a generally longitudinal direction out of the rear combination lamp, toward the viewer. The LED module itself is generally longitudinally oriented, and is insertable longitudinally into the interior of the reflector from a hole at the vertex of the reflector. The printed circuit board, an optional thermal pad adjacent to the printed circuit board, and a thermally conductive layer adjacent to the optional thermal pad are all generally planar layers, are all generally parallel to each other, and may optionally all have the same footprint. Together, the printed circuit board, the thermal pad and the thermally conductive layer may all form a generally planar ledge.
US07762699B2 Motor vehicle headlight
A motor vehicle headlight (80) comprises at least two modules (70) for light production, the radiation characteristics of at least one of the modules (70) being adjustable in a reference system associated with the headlight. Preferably, modules (70) of the headlight (80) have different radiation characteristics and the irradiation characteristics of at least two of the modules (70) overlap to form an adjustable radiation characteristic of the headlight (80).
US07762697B2 Vehicle lamp
A light-emitting element is disposed to face the front side such that an end point of a rectangular or square light-emitting chip corresponding to the vehicle's own lane is positioned at a rear focal point of a convex lens. An additional lens is disposed to surround the convex lens. The additional lens includes an incident surface, a reflection surface, and an emitting surface. The additional lens is divided into a-plurality of fan-shaped areas in a circumferential direction with respect to an optical axis Ax. The division is performed for each angular range where a corner point of the light-emitting chip, which is positioned at an uppermost end of an image of the light-emitting chip formed on the reflection surface by the light emitted from the light-emitting element, becomes the same corner point.
US07762691B2 Luminaire having a contoured surface that redirects received light
A luminaire for illuminating a target area, the luminaire including a reflective surface, where the reflective surface receives a light from outside of the luminaire and redirects the light toward the target area away from a viewing angle of the luminaire.
US07762688B2 Luminaire comprising a spotlight and adjustable holding device for a spotlight
The invention relates to a lamp (1) comprising a projector (3) and an adjustable holding device (5), by means of which the projector (3) is joined to a base part (2) of the lamp (1). The holding device (5) is provided with an elongate support element (6), a holding element (7) at least for part of the projector (3), a joint (8) between the support element (6) and the holding element (7), and a clamping device (9) for locking the joint (8). The joint (8) and the clamping device (9) are disposed in a projector housing (11). In order to ensure that the projector (3) is easy to handle for adjustment purposes, a removing mechanism (41), with the aid of which the clamping force of the clamping device (9) can be reduced or canceled, is arranged in the projector housing (11). Said removing mechanism (41) is accessible from outside the projector housing (11) in order to be manually manipulated while being provided with a manually actuated actuating element (42) which is located at a distance next to a supporting element (49) that is fixed to the housing. The actuating element (42) can be moved towards the supporting element (49) by having two fingers of an operator's hand engage over both elements (42, 49).
US07762682B2 Container device
The container device contains a base member, a circuit member housed inside the base member, and an illuminative member and a storage member, both on top of the base member. The storage member is for holding seasoning or fragrance. The illuminative member has a transparent hollow casing filled with a fluid of appropriate viscosity. The circuit member contains at least a light generating element and a switch element that is turned on and off by touching or shaking the container device. When the container device is touched by hand or shook, the switch element is turned on and the light generating elements are lit to provide illumination through the transparent illuminative member.
US07762680B1 Shoe light attachment
The shoe light attachment of the present invention includes a harness disposed and fitted to the dimensions of a shoe upper portion. The harness further includes an integrated mounting panel substantially disposed over a shoes laces and having a plurality of receiving sockets formed therein for receiving a light device. The light device includes engagement extensions for selectively moving the light device to varying positions along the mounting panel for proper alignment and orientation of the light device. The harness further includes an oversized switch means to actuate the light device by a foot tap. The harness further includes an elongate ridged member having a first end attached to the mounting panel bottom surface and a second end capable of flexing somewhat stiffly outwardly so as to facilitate the second end being positionable and secured under a shoes laces. The shoe light attachment is secured to a users shoe by the elongate ridged member and straps that extend from the harness around the heel of the shoe.
US07762679B2 Discharge tube, ferrule, lighting device, display device and television receiver
A ferrule includes a body having a cylindrical shape. Elastic gripping portions are arranged on the body so as to bulge radially inwardly. The elastic gripping portions can have elastic contact with the outer circumferential surface of a glass tube. The body of the ferrule is mounted to the glass tube via the elastic gripping portions capable of elastic and radial deformation. Thereby, the variations in outer diameter of the glass tube can be absorbed, and therefore the dimensional control with high precision is not required for glass tubes at the time of manufacturing. This leads to cost reduction.
US07762674B2 Projection-type display device
A projection-type display device includes a housing, at least a part of which has a hollow wall, and a light source, a light valve, a projection optical system, a reflection mirror, and a screen all disposed in a single, common housing space in the housing. In addition, a first air guide path, provided between the light source and the hollow wall, guides hot air generated by the light source directly to the hollow wall.
US07762669B2 Display device for improving an image resolution of projection-type display device
A system for improving the resolution of a display device by using human visual characteristics wherein an image can be displayed at a more improved resolution than an actual physical resolution, thereby achieving the same effect as that where the resolution is physically improved. An image signal corresponding to one frame is separated into a first image signal and a second image signal, and a first image and a second image are formed based on the first image signal and the second image signal. The first image and the second image are respectively displayed at a first location and a second location. As a result, a viewer can view the image with an improved resolution.
US07762666B2 Device for measuring and correcting aberration of an eye
A device and method for measuring and correcting eye aberrations integrate wavefront sensing, wavefront aberration correction and optometric testing into one another and configure the optical paths of wavefront sensing and optometric testing as aplanatic structures, such that under optometric testing conditions both wavefront sensing and aberration correction can be performed simultaneously, and final optometric testing is conducted on wavefront aberration-corrected optometric parameters to verify if the wavefront aberration-corrected optometric parameters fall within normal visual range, thus ensuring the accuracy and high repetition of the measured optometric parameters.
US07762665B2 Method and apparatus for communication between humans and devices
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for improving communications between humans and devices. The invention provides a method of modulating operation of a device, comprising: providing an attentive user interface for obtaining information about an attentive state of a user; and modulating operation of a device on the basis of the obtained information, wherein the operation that is modulated is initiated by the device. Preferably, the information about the user's attentive state is eye contact of the user with the device that is sensed by the attentive user interface.
US07762662B1 Colored and ring-patterned contact lenses
Structures of contact lenses, methods and systems for making such contact lenses where the contact lenses have an opaque ring pattern.
US07762658B2 Ink jet printer
An ink jet head of an ink jet printer comprises an ink jet nozzle ejecting ultraviolet curing ink, a pair of ultraviolet LEDs provided on both sides of the ink jet nozzle in the moving direction for emitting ultraviolet light in order to cure the ultraviolet curing ink.
US07762655B2 Printer ink delivery system
A solid ink delivery system with discrimination feature for identifying the presence of improper ink sticks for use in solid ink printers for delivering ink to media to form an image thereon is provided. The ink delivery system includes a proper ink stick having a first feature on the stick. The ink delivery system also includes a frame and a guide connected to the frame. The guide guides the sticks in a prescribed path and cooperates with the first feature of the proper ink sticks. The ink delivery system also includes a sensor for sensing the presence of a target surface of a stick at a first position with respect to the frame. The guide cooperates with the first feature of the proper ink sticks to position the target surface of the proper ink sticks in the first position. The guide cooperates with the improper ink sticks to position the target surface of the improper ink sticks spaced from the first position so that proper ink sticks may be distinguished from improper ink sticks.
US07762653B2 Tube and method of using the same
A tube for supplying a fluid therethrough having a base wall and an enlarged wall is provided. The base wall is outside a first closed line segment which defines an inside of the inner surface of the tube and is inside a second closed line segment which is similar to the first closed line segment and encloses the first closed line segment with a gravity center of the second closed line segment coincident with a gravity center of the first closed line segment. And the enlarged wall is outside the second closed line segment and is inside a third closed line segment which encloses the second closed line segment, wherein either the third closed line segment is dissimilar to the second closed line segment or a gravity center of the third closed line segment is different from that of the second closed line segment.
US07762651B2 Printing device fluid reservoir
A fluid reservoir for use in a printing device includes a housing that, at least partially, forms at least one chamber therein. The chamber is configured to hold a fluid. A bubble port leads through housing into a first region of chamber and fluidically couples chamber to atmospheric gas external to housing. A bubble director arranged within chamber is configured to direct at least one bubble of gas from first region to a second region of chamber. The bubble is formed within fluid within first region upon gas entering chamber through bubble port.
US07762650B2 Method of manufacturing ink jet head and ink jet head
To provide an ink jet head having a good stability of ejection and a method of manufacturing the ink jet head, a method of manufacturing an ink jet head that includes a cavity and a nozzle connected to the cavity and ejects fluid contained in the cavity from an ejection opening that is an opening provided on a side of the nozzle opposite to the cavity An inside-nozzle lyophobic film is formed in the vicinity of the ejection opening and on the inside wall of the nozzle, the inside-nozzle lyophobic film providing a large difference between an advancing contact angle and a receding contact angle for the liquid to be ejected.
US07762644B2 Drawing system, liquid material drawing method, color filter manufacturing method, and organic EL element manufacturing method
A drawing system for discharging a liquid material from a plurality of nozzles to a plurality of pixel regions on a substrate includes a memory unit, an arrangement information generation unit and a droplet discharge device. The memory unit is configured to store at least nozzle information in which the nozzles are ranked according to discharge characteristics and first arrangement information that indicates an arrangement of each of the nozzles with respect to each of the pixel regions in the relative movement. The arrangement information generation unit is configured to generate second arrangement information in which the first arrangement information is corrected based on the nozzle information. The droplet discharge device is configured to select one of the first arrangement information and the second arrangement information and to discharge droplets of the liquid material on each of the pixel regions from the nozzles according to the selected arrangement information.
US07762642B2 Media advance calibration
A method of calibrating a media advance in a printer includes providing a mask to specify a printing configuration of a calibration target; forming a media feed calibration target on the print media by: i. printing the calibration target, ii. advancing the print media, iii. printing the calibration target; iv. advancing the print media by the previous media advance amount plus an offset amount, and v. repeating steps iii. and iv. until the media feed calibration target is complete; measuring the optical reflectance of the media feed calibration target as a function of position along the media feed calibration target; identifying a position along the media feed calibration target corresponding to the location at which a maximum in the optical reflectance occurs; and comparing the location at which a maximum in the optical reflectance occurs to a predetermined location of the media feed calibration target to calibrate media advance.
US07762641B2 Ink injection method and apparatus
An ink injection method includes the steps of: storing vibration region information of a stage to which a head for injecting ink is mounted; changing coordinates of the stage by deducting the coordinates as much as the vibration region in a direction opposite to a pattern printing direction on the basis of coordinates at which pattern printing starts; moving the stage in the pattern printing direction after the stage is moved to the changed coordinates; deducting the changed coordinates from current coordinates of the stage to calculate a moving distance of the moving stage; and controlling the head to inject ink in correspondence to the pattern in case the moving distance of the stage is corresponding to the vibration region. This method prevents erroneous pattern printing due to initial vibration caused by movement of the stage when ink is injected for printing the pattern.
US07762640B2 Ink jet printing apparatus and ink jet printing method
One pixel is sub-divided on the basis of ejection ports. Pixel patterns are provided at respective quantization levels, each of which are defined using dots having different sizes. Image data is processed using a pixel pattern selected according to the type of printing medium and image quality to be achieved, and printing is performed using the image data. Only ejection ports ejecting ink droplets in the same size are driven at the same timing for ejection.
US07762639B2 Inkjet printer having printhead with multiple controllers
An inkjet printer is provided having a printhead having inkjet nozzles and a plurality of controllers configured to process print data for printing and to output the processed data to the printhead. The plurality of controllers are connected to a common input of the printhead.
US07762636B2 Container storage assembly
A container storage assembly including a frame, a first container support coupled to the frame and having a lower container support surface and an upper container support surface, and a second container support coupled to the frame and having a lower container support surface. The assembly further includes a third container support having an upper container support surface. The third container support is coupled to the frame between the first and the second container supports. The lower container support surfaces of the first container support and the second container support define a first plane, and the upper container support surfaces of the first container support and the third container support define a second plane that is above the first plane.
US07762633B2 Brake control system
A motor vehicle has an inclinometer to determine the steepness of the slope upon which the vehicle stands, brakes and a driver brake pedal for generating a braking effort in the brakes. The brakes are also controlled by a brake hydraulic control unit and an electronic control unit. The brake hydraulic control unit is arranged to control the release of the braking effort generated to stop the vehicle on a slope by the brake pedal at a release rate which varies as a function of the steepness of the slope determined by the inclinometer following operation of the brake pedal to release the brakes. The vehicle thus achieves controlled descent of a hill after a stationary position. Such a brake control system is particularly advantageous to a motor vehicle having a hill descent mode.
US07762629B2 Seating or reclining furniture
This invention relates to seating or reclining furniture. A back rest or arm rest is disposed for adjustment on the seating and/or reclining surface. The back rest or arm rest may be positioned in different areas of the circumference of the furniture (e.g., sofa) and can bend along the adjustment path so that they can adapt to the shape of the circumference, i.e., the contour of the circumference of the seating and/or reclining surface.
US07762628B2 Lounge chair cover
The present invention provides a lounge chair cover comprising a substantially-rectangular, typically absorbent, textile sheet and adjustable fasteners at the four corners of the textile sheet.
US07762626B2 Pedicure chair with flip-up tray
A spa chair having an apparatus for extending and retracting a tray from the spa chair is disclosed along with a method for utilizing the spa chair in one or more manicure and/or pedicure procedures. A pivoting mechanism coupled to the tray includes first attaching members for attaching the pivoting mechanism to the spa chair and a second attaching member for attaching the pivoting member to a tray. The pivoting mechanism also includes a shaft retained by the first attaching members and a spring for biasing a shaft and second attaching member in a particular direction. The pivoting mechanism is operable to lockingly secure the tray in at least one of an extended or retracted position.
US07762619B2 Sequential crash hinges in automotive frame rails
A lower frame rail member forms a part of an automotive front end structure and incorporates first and second bending hinges to provide sequential and alternating bending of the lower frame rail to manage crash forces in the event of a frontal or offset crash event. The first bending hinge is formed by a structural thinning pocket located on the outboard side of the lower frame rail forwardly of the engine mounting bracket. The second bending hinge is formed by V-necking the inboard side of the lower frame rail rearwardly of the engine mounting bracket. The first bending hinge affects an outboard buckling of the frame rail after the front horn section crushes rearwardly into the lower frame rail to induce an inboard movement thereof, while the second bending hinge affects an inboard buckling of the frame rail to induce an outboard movement thereof rearwardly of the engine mounting bracket.
US07762617B2 Trailer and trailer body construction and extruded panel for same
A trailer includes a chassis and a body connected to the chassis. The body includes an open-top cargo-retaining space adapted to carry a bulk commodity payload. An axle subassembly is connected to the chassis and includes at least one set of left and right wheel and tire assemblies to rollably support the chassis. A landing gear assembly is connected to one or both of the chassis and body and includes legs that are selectively deployed to support a forward end of the trailer. A kingpin is located at the forward end of the trailer and is adapted for connection to a fifth-wheel of an associated vehicle used to pull the trailer. The body includes left and right bottom rails and left and right top rails spaced vertically above the left and right bottom rails, respectively. A horizontal floor extends between the left and right bottom rails. The floor includes a plurality of abutted one-piece extruded panels that each extend horizontally between and contact the left bottom rail and the right bottom rail. Each of the extruded panels includes spaced-apart inner and outer walls interconnected by spaced-apart first and second end walls. The inner and outer walls are also interconnected by at least one web that spans a space between the inner and outer walls so as to define at least two hollow cores in the extruded panel. A left vertical sidewall is connected to and extends between the left bottom rail and the left top rail. A right vertical sidewall is connected to and extends between the right bottom rail and the right top rail.
US07762616B2 Cross-member for a trailer frame and a trailer frame incorporating the same
A cross-member for a trailer frame and a frame incorporating the same. The cross-member extends between longitudinally aligned rails designed to pivotally support a dumping body thereon. The cross-member includes a cylindrical tube having a wall defining a bore therethrough. A planar member is received within the bore and is axially aligned therewith. The tube includes one or more axially aligned openings proximate a central region thereof. The planar member is disposed intermediate the openings and is aligned axially with the openings. The cross-member is substantially rigid under tension and at least a portion thereof is flexible under torsion.
US07762615B2 Vehicle air dam system
An air dam is made of flexible cells installed adjacent to one another so that the air darn is capable of installation in many deflecting configurations on a vehicle and can also deflect under impact. The air dam system may be capable of being deployed at higher speeds while being stowed under the frame of the truck when the truck is operating on rough road surfaces to reduce the potential for air dam damage. The air dam system can be actuated pneumatically and when deployed tends to reduce aerodynamic drag by altering the path of airflow under and/or immediately around a vehicle. Other methods of actuation such as hydraulic or mechanical components may also be used with the air dam system. Alternatively, the air dam cells may be stationary and include an inflated bladder and/or flexible sleeve mounted adjacent to one another on an air dam frame.
US07762612B2 Convertible roof that latches to an upper transverse frame part of the windshield frame
A convertible vehicle according to the present invention includes a vehicle body with a windshield frame with an upper transverse frame part. A convertible roof for the vehicle has a front end. At least one hook part is disposed in the upper transverse frame part and is linearly movable in the upper transverse frame part.
US07762611B2 Convertible roof for a passenger vehicle
An assembly includes a roof having front and rear roof parts, a motion system, and a coupling rod. The motion system includes front and rear guide rods, a spring, and a guide rod mechanism to move the roof between closed and opened positions. The front guide rod is fixed to the front roof part and is pivotably supportable on a bearing. The rear guide rod is fixed to the rear roof part and is pivotably supportable on a bearing. The coupling rod is articulately connected to the front guide rod and to the rear roof part. The spring is articulately connected to the front guide rod and to the guide rod mechanism which is articulately connected to the rear guide rod such that the spring is biased to open the roof when the roof is closed and is biased to close the roof when the roof is opened.
US07762610B2 Convertible top
A convertible top can be displaced between a closed position and a put-away position. The convertible top contains a flexible convertible top cloth, rear side regions of which each have at least one folding device acting on them, impressing at least one defined fold in each case on the convertible top cloth during the transfer from the closed position into the put-away position. Each folding device has at least one linear, rod-shaped folding mechanism which, during the transfer of the convertible top into the put-away position, prevents a folding of the convertible top cloth transversely with respect to its longitudinal direction.
US07762609B2 Straddle-type vehicle
A straddle-type vehicle that ensures visibility of a flasher lamp while decreasing the possibility of damage due to a fall. A body cowl is formed with a groove that extends longitudinally of. A flasher lamp is outwardly convex in a vehicle width direction and is accommodated in the groove. An outer end of the flasher lamp is positioned inwardly of a side end portion of the body cowl in the vehicle width direction.
US07762608B2 Vehicle with a trunk
A motor vehicle includes a trunk, in which the trunk has a body cutout opening which can be closed off by a two-part trunk lid which is composed of an upper trunk lid and a lower trunk lid. The upper trunk lid can be pivoted downward by an angle from, in each case, one closed position into, in each case, one open position. The lower trunk lid has at least one pivot lever, which is arranged such that it can be pivoted by way of a pivot axle formed on a lower body section. In the open position of the lower trunk lid, the pivot lever is in engagement with the lower body section.
US07762604B1 Vehicle seating arrangement
A vehicle seating arrangement adapted for use in connection with a vehicle having an increased cargo and/or passenger carrying capacity is provided. The vehicle seating arrangement comprises a front or first row seat coupled to a vehicle body, a second row seat and a rear or third row seat coupled to the vehicle body. The second row seat includes a seat cushion for supporting a seat occupant and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. The seat cushion is pivotally coupled to the vehicle body. The seat back has one of a first striker and a first latch mechanism and the vehicle body has the other of the first striker and the first latch mechanism. The third row seat includes a seat cushion affixed to the vehicle body for supporting a seat occupant, and a seat back pivotally coupled to the seat cushion. The seat back has one of a second striker and a second latch mechanism and the vehicle body has the other of the second striker and the second latch mechanism.
US07762598B2 Device for handling rod-shaped objects
To improve the handling, such as the gripping and displacement, of essentially rod-shaped objects, especially bars of articles that are stacked into one another in such a way that they can be separated, such as plastic cups, the present invention proposes a device with a plurality of first holding rods with essentially hook-like end pieces for extending under the rod-shaped objects. The device according to the present invention is characterized in that the end pieces can be moved under the objects and for releasing same by a motion into a plane extending at right angles to the direction of extension of the first holding rods.
US07762597B2 Snow removal tool
A manual snow removal tool used for the pushing and pulling of snow. The configuration of the tool allows the user to move snow by pushing the snow using a pushing blade or by pulling the snow using a pulling blade depending on the orientation of the snow removal tool. The snow removal tool may also incorporate fulcrum skids to allow the tool to remove snow more easily from rough surfaces. The fulcrum skids allow the user to raise and lower the scraping edge of the snow plow over the surface being scraped. The fulcrum skids move more easily across rough surfaces than the scraping edge of a regular plow or shovel. The snow removal tool may also have non-abrasive ends attached to the pushing and pulling blades so that it may be used on sensitive surfaces such as the painted finish on an automobile.
US07762590B2 Individualized security document
The present invention relates to an individualized security document such as a passport, savings book or bankbook or the like which has a number of pages which are joined together by means of a fixing or adhesive. Incorporated into the security document by means of the fixing or adhesive is a transfer film which is provided with security elements and which has a base film and a decorative layer arrangement having the security elements. The decorative layer arrangement can be transferred onto the associated page of the security document. At the same time the base film is detached from the decorative layer arrangement and can be cut out of the security document.
US07762586B2 Motorcycle frame neck cover
A motorcycle frame neck cover includes a lower semi-tubular portion that substantially surrounds an outer visible half of a motorcycle frame leg and an upper portion that substantially covers a planar outer surface of a generally rectangular tubular frame member that mounts the front fork of the motorcycle. One or more resilient strips are mounted to an outer surface of the upper cover portion in an area of potential contact by a front fork shroud.
US07762583B2 Seat sensor system
A seat sensor system comprises at least one seat sensor for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy and for generating a output signal indicative of said status and a control unit for communicating with said at least one seat sensor. According to the invention the seat sensor comprises a self-powered transmitter associated with a seat for transmitting a data signal containing said output signal and the control unit comprises an receiver module for receiving said data signal from said self-powered transmitter.
US07762582B2 Vehicle component control based on occupant morphology
Method for vehicle component control based on occupancy of the vehicle includes determining at least one morphological characteristic of the occupant, classifying the occupant based only on the determined morphological characteristic(s) to provide an identification of the occupant, and adjusting a component of the vehicle based on the identification. Morphological characteristics include weight of the occupant and height of the occupant. The morphological characteristics can be determined using only sensors arranged in a seat on which the occupant is seated. Classification of the occupant can include generating a table of classifications for different determinations of the morphological characteristic, either individually or combinations of two or more morphological characteristics, so that an identification is provided based on each determination, detection or measurement of the morphological characteristic(s).
US07762579B2 Ejection mitigation device
An airbag system for protecting a passenger in a motor vehicle including one or more ejection mitigation devices configured to substantially cover the inside of the front and/or rear window of the motor vehicle. Moreover, the one or more ejection mitigation devices may be attached to a driver's side inflatable airbag and a passenger's side inflatable airbag, wherein the ejection mitigation device is configured to be deployed by the inflation of the driver's and passenger's side inflatable airbags.
US07762577B2 Occupant leg protecting device for vehicle
An active knee bolster (28) and a knee bolster (42), whose accommodated positions are different, are mounted within an instrument panel (18) along a curved configuration of a wall portion (24) of the instrument panel (18) which, in a vehicle transverse direction, is convex and concave in a vehicle body longitudinal direction. At a time of a vehicle body collision, a main body (30) of the active knee bolster (28) moves from an accommodated position to a leg restraining position, and a leg restraining position of the active knee bolster (28) and a leg restraining position of the fixed-type knee bolster (42) become equal positions in the vehicle body longitudinal direction. In accordance with this invention, legs of an occupant can be reliably protected, and degrees of freedom in designing a vehicle interior wall such as the instrument panel or the like are improved.
US07762576B2 Structure of driver's airbag cushion of vehicle
A structure for a driver's airbag cushion of a vehicle is provided to protect the driver's lower body as well as the driver's upper body and head, without mounting a knee airbag at the lower portion of the crash pad. The structure may include a blocking member that extends from a rear upper end of an airbag cushion to a front end of the airbag cushion and divides the interior of the airbag cushion into a face chamber defined by a front upper space of the airbag cushion and a pelvis chamber defined by a lower space thereof, the blocking member blocks the face and pelvis chambers, a temporary blocking member provided at a predetermined portion of the blocking member to control fluid-communication between the face chamber and the pelvis chamber when a tensile force is applied thereto, and/or a tensile force-providing member that applies tensile force to the temporary blocking member so that the pelvis chamber may be communicated with the face chamber by releasing the temporary blocking member when the pelvis chamber substantially expands.
US07762572B2 Alpine ski binding having release logic for inhibiting anterior cruciate ligament injury
An alpine ski binding system for releasably securing a ski boot to a ski. The binding system includes a secondary toe release that provides an attenuated release threshold under lateral shear loading conditions that can cause anterior cruciate ligament injuries. The secondary toe release responds to a trigger that senses the lateral shear loads applied to the inside (medial) afterbody of the ski and triggers the secondary toe release to release the boot at an attenuated release torque. Lateral shear loads applied to the ski along the leading (medial) forebody and along the entire outside (lateral side) of the ski substantially do not cause the trigger to trip.
US07762570B2 Self-locking mechanism
A self-locking mechanism includes a first body member that rotates relative to a second body member, a lock lever rotatably coupled to the first body member and a biasing element that biases the rotation of the lock lever in a latching direction. The lock lever includes a cam portion that includes a cam surface configured to interface with a latch element on the second body member. The cam surface slidably engages the latch element and is configured so that the sliding engagement between the cam surface and the latch element causes the body members to be drawn together when the lock lever is rotated in the latching direction.
US07762567B2 Steering system and method for steering a vehicle
A steering system disengages a wheel assembly of a vehicle in response to an event while driving. The steering system includes a suspension knuckle, a tie rod, and a puller. The puller includes a connector that removably engages the suspension knuckle and the tie rod to interconnect the suspension knuckle and the tie rod. The puller is operable to move the connector to disconnect the connector from at least one of the suspension knuckle and the tie rod in response to the event. The vehicle is operated along a longitudinal axis while driving and a moment of the vehicle about the longitudinal axis is sensed. If the moment exceeds the threshold, the puller is energized to disconnect the suspension knuckle from the tie rod.
US07762565B2 Multi-component container system and method for manufacturing the same
An improved multi-modular waste container formed at least in part from molded structural-foam. Per conventional waste containers, the improved waste container includes a housing for receiving trash, which will preferably be disposed upon one or more casters. One or more lids are hingeingly engaged to the top perimeter of the housing to provided selective access to the trash receptacle. Detachably fastenable slots may be affixed to opposed sides of the housing to facilitate engagement with and emptying by front-loading garbage trucks. The improved waste containers are substantially lighter, easier to maintain, stronger, chemical and corrosion resistant and possess substantially greater sound deadening characteristics than prior art waste containers fabricated from metal. The container housings are further preferably configured to be stacked within one another to facilitate shipping and handling thereof.
US07762561B2 Dive caddy
The Dive Caddy is a two wheeled land vehicle with it's primary purpose being to transport scuba diving equipment across tough terrain such as sandy beaches, rocky trails, and other hard to traverse, or reach scuba diving, or free diving locations. It is different than other prior carts in as that it has a breaking system for traveling down hills, And can be fitted with an auxiliary battery powered booster motor to traverse uphill, or help bring itself out of hard to exit situations, and also has a bench seat to stage a completed scuba unit for the diver to sit on while dawning his equipment. Another new feature of the Dive Caddy is that it has the ability to change tires for different types of terrain, be it sandy beaches, rocky hills, or mud, the Dive Caddy can adapt to them all.
US07762558B2 Device for sealing a rotating shaft penetrating a housing wall
A device for sealing a rotating shaft that penetrates a stationary housing wall has a sealing ring fastened to the housing wall and arranged between the housing wall and a shaft. The sealing ring has sealing oil supply bores supplying sealing oil into a sealing gap formed between an inner wall surface of the sealing ring and an outer wall surface of the shaft. The inner wall surface has pocket-shaped recesses where the sealing oil supply bores open. The pocket-shaped recesses extend in the circumferential direction of the sealing ring. The inner wall of the sealing ring has at least one circumferential boundary stay that delimits and seals the pocket-shaped recesses in an axial direction of the sealing ring toward the first or second housing side. The inner wall surface of the sealing ring has a circumferential groove that connects the pocket-shaped recesses to one another.
US07762549B2 Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a feeding section configured to feed a recording sheet, a first conveyance roller which conveys the recording sheet fed from the feeding section to a recording area and conveys the recording sheet during a recording operation, a recording section configured to record an image on the recording sheet at the recording area downstream from the first conveyance roller in the direction of feeding the recording sheet, a conveyance rate detection unit configured to detect the conveyance rate of the recording sheet conveyed by the first conveyance roller, a recording sheet end detection unit disposed downstream from the first conveyance roller and detects the end part of the recording sheet, and a correction unit configured to correct the conveyance rate of the recording sheet conveyed by the first conveyance roller based on a result detected by the conveyance rate detection unit.
US07762548B2 Conveyance apparatus, control method therefor, and printing apparatus
A conveyance apparatus increases the conveyance precision of a conveyance unit. The conveyance apparatus has first and second conveyance rollers. The conveyance apparatus includes a DC motor serving as a driving source for the conveyance rollers, a first encoder which outputs a first pulse signal in accordance with rotation of the first conveyance roller, a second encoder which outputs a second pulse signal in accordance with rotation of the second conveyance roller, and a control unit having a first mode in which the DC motor is controlled based on first information about the first pulse signal when executing a conveyance operation to convey a sheet by using the first and second conveyance rollers, and a second mode in which the DC motor is controlled based on second information about the second pulse signal when executing a conveyance operation to convey a sheet by using the second conveyance roller.
US07762546B2 Sheet conveying device and image recording apparatus including the sheet conveying device
A sheet conveying device including: (a) a sheet discharger configured to discharge a sheet in a discharging direction; (b) a tray configured to receive the sheet discharged by the sheet discharger; (c) a stopper protruding upwardly from the tray; and (d) a guide provided by an upper surface of the tray and located on an upstream side of the stopper in the discharging direction, and configured to warp the discharged sheet such that the warped sheet has a downwardly convex shape in its cross section that is perpendicular to the discharging direction, for thereby allowing a leading end of the warped sheet to pass over the stopper and to be positioned on a downstream side of the stopper in the discharging direction.
US07762542B2 Paper feeder and bookbinding apparatus equipped with the same
Tray means for stacking sheets, pickup means for separating and for conveying sheets into a single sheet on the tray means, and sheet conveyance means for conveying a sheet separated by the pickup means to a predetermined processing position are provided. Projecting guide means project from a sheet support surface of the tray means into a notched opening of the sheet is provided; and an oblique surface is formed to prevent a trailing side edge of the opening from catching on a leading side edge of the opening of a lower sheet when feeding an uppermost sheet to the projecting guide means. This makes it possible to feed only the uppermost sheet downstream without an opening edge formed in the uppermost sheet from interfering with an opening edge of a lower sheet.
US07762540B2 Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the same
When a sheet bundle is being conveyed by any one pair of plural pairs of rollers independently movable toward and away from the bundle sheet, before the bound portion of the sheet bundle passes the pair of rollers, the pair of rollers on the downstream side nearest to the bound portion are separated from the sheet bundle, and the pairs of rollers more downstream than that pair convey the sheet bundle. Thereby, it happens less often that the pairs of rollers gather the air collected between adjacent ones of the sheets of the sheet bundle to the bound portion to thereby cause a slack to the sheets, and the occurrence of wrinkles or twists in the sheet bundle can be reduced. Also, the pair of rollers are separated from the sheet bundle before the bound portion passes the pair of rollers, whereby it happens less often that the pair of rollers are damaged by the bound portion, and the sheet bundle can be conveyed smoothly.
US07762534B2 Method and apparatus for supporting turbine components for manufacture
A method enables a blade assembly to be secured for manufacture. The blade assembly includes an airfoil, a dovetail, and a platform extending therebetween. The method includes providing a fixture including at least one platform support assembly and at least one dovetail clamp assembly coupled to the fixture, wherein the platform support assembly includes a support member, a lever arm, and a biasing mechanism, locating the blade assembly within the fixture using a locator, positioning the platform support assembly against the blade assembly platform, and retaining the blade assembly in alignment with respect to the fixture using the at least one dovetail clamp assembly.
US07762529B1 Universal gooseneck trailer ball decoupling tool
An universal tool for unlatching a locking pin on a gooseneck ball hitch comprises an arm supported on a support leg.
US07762526B2 Pendulum valve having independently and rapidly controllable theta-and z-axis motion
A Pendulum Valve having Independently and Rapidly Controllable Theta- and Z-axis Motion. The valve actuator used in the present invention provides the benefit of wide open unrestricted flow of a pendulum valve coupled with the high-resolution and wide dynamic range flow throttling of a ball or butterfly valve. The actuator mechanism will include motor drives and associated control system so that the drives are closely coupled to give highly controlled motion. The drive assembly introduces a concentric shaft arrangement that, when coupled with the highly controllable motor drives, exploits a cam-follower arrangement to make the relative rotation between the two concentric shafts result in highly controlled theta and z-axis motion. Finally, the plate to seal spacing afforded is greater than previously possible with prior valve actuator mechanisms, thereby substantially reducing flow turbulence through the valve as the valve plate eclipses the valve ports.
US07762523B2 Miniaturized double latching solenoid valve
A valve includes a generally elongate pintle; a spacer having a rounded surface that bears against the pintle; a bulbous tip fixed to the spacer; and a hollow, generally cylindrical collar fixed to the pintle, the collar enclosing the spacer and the tip and including an opening through which a portion of the tip extends, the opening in the collar and interior of the collar being of a size such that the tip floats therein.
US07762518B2 Support structure for liquid crystal television receiver and support structure for display device
A support structure for supporting a display device includes a base member mounted on a rear surface of the display device, a support member rotatably mounted on the base member that supports the display device in a state in which a lower surface of the display device is in contact with a setting plane and the support member is opened by a predetermined angle with respect to the base member, and a protruded portion formed integrally with an outer surface of the support member and extending in a widthwise direction of the support member, the protruded portion restricting rotation of the support member beyond a supporting position thereof by contact of the protruded portion with the base member when the display device is tilted.
US07762516B2 Wall hanging display apparatus
A wall hanging display apparatus including a wall side attachment member that is fixed to a wall; and a apparatus side attachment member that is fixed to the display apparatus and is connected to the wall side attachment member, is characterized by a structure in which only one of the wall side attachment member and only one of the apparatus side attachment member are used for hanging the display apparatus on the wall.
US07762507B2 Hanger for gypsum board walls
The instant invention relates to a novel powerful wall hanger for supporting different objects. Particularly, the invention concerns a hanger that is used in gypsum board and similar walls and that's provides a stable and safe holder of variable weights.
US07762505B2 Fixing device for fixing cameras and other optical equipment to stands or for connection to other accessories
A fixing device for fixing cameras and other optical devices to stands or for connecting them to other accessories, includes an adapter journal joined to the camera or other optical devices and a receiving device connected to the stand or other accessories and which is provided with an opening for receiving the adapter journal, and a rotatable locking device. The opening is configured as an insert opening on a part which can be displaced axially in an outward manner by means of housing part of the receiving device such that the adapter journal can be inserted radially into the insert opening.
US07762498B1 Enhanced high-efficiency spacecraft propulsion system
A high-efficiency spacecraft propulsion system, including includes electric pumps inserted in the oxidizer and fuel lines that increase liquid apogee engine (“LAE”) operating pressure and reduce tank-operating pressure. An on-board computer generates pump drive signals, in response to measured oxidizer and fuel line pressures, that are input to the pump controller electronics. The controller electronics provides current drives to the pump motors. The system uses an LAE that can operate at higher thrust chamber pressures (e.g., 500 psia) than standard LAEs, where pump-fed rocket motors have integrated turbopumps that are fuel operated. The turbopump increases LAE complexity and cost, reduces fuel efficiency, and is not compatible with active thrust and mixture ratio control.
US07762496B2 Overhead flight crew rest
The present disclosure relates to an aircraft having a fuselage. The fuselage may have a plurality of frame members, a cabin formed within the fuselage, a floor defining a portion of the cabin, a center section of seats disposed on the floor, a crown positioned above a center section of seats, and a crew rest module. The crew rest module may have an entrance module defined by at least two entrance module peripheral walls and having a seating area, and a bunk module being separate from the seating area and being defined by at least three bunk module peripheral walls. The entrance module peripheral walls and the bunk module peripheral walls may be sized to fit through a passenger door of a substantially assembled aircraft.
US07762494B2 Image generating apparatus
An image generating apparatus capable of stably taking up an ink sheet on a take-up bobbin with proper tensile force by performing proper torque control on the take-up bobbin is obtained. This image generating apparatus comprises a driving source transporting an ink sheet of an ink sheet cartridge and a take-up reel transmitting the driving force of the driving source to a take-up bobbin of the ink sheet cartridge and taking up the ink sheet on the take-up bobbin, while the take-up reel includes a reel member, integrally provided with a plurality of fragment portions concentrically with the rotation axis thereof, engaging with the take-up bobbin, a driving-side gear member fitted with the outer peripheral surfaces of the fragment portions of the reel member and a spring member press-fitted with the inner peripheral surfaces of the fragment portions of the reel member thereby bringing the fragment portions into pressure contact with the driving-side gear member.
US07762492B2 Handle cover dispenser
Disclosed herein is a device for dispensing and collecting handle or armature cover material or covers for use, by way of example, with door handles, knobs, and the like. In one embodiment, the device is an automated handle cover dispenser that can include a dual use handle cover refill cartridge for both supplying and collecting handle cover material, or alternatively, a plurality of reels or cartridges (e.g., a supply reel and a take-up reel). The material, when supplied, at least partially covers a handle (e.g., door handle) during use by a consumer. This maintains sanitary integrity of the handle, so as to protect a consumer or other individual from touching an otherwise dirty or unsanitary handle. The dispenser can include at least one cutter for cutting at least one side of the handle cover material so as to facilitate supply, and in particular, collection of the handle cover material. Supply and take-up of the handle cover material can be accomplished by winding and unwinding of the handle cover material within the handle cover refill cartridge(s) (or reel(s) as the case may be). In one embodiment, the handle cover material overlays at least a portion of a handle (which can comprise one or more pieces or sections), door handle, knob, or the like. The dispenser unit can compliment or replace (and thus serve as a retrofit) current lockable or non-lockable door armatures.
US07762491B2 Band-winding method
In a process for winding a continuously supplied band (5) onto a bobbin (2), with the bobbin (2) being rotated and the band (5) being reciprocated along the entire length of the bobbin (2) at a winding angle (α) by means of a cross-winding device (4), each time the bobbin diameter has increased by a particular value, the winding ratio, i.e., the ratio between the number of bobbin rotations and the reciprocating motion (to-and-fro stroke) of the cross-winding device is stepwisely changed such that the winding ratio will change in essentially integral steps.
US07762485B2 Swinging paper chip distributing mechanism at paper outlet of shredder
A shredder holds a cutting blade assembly including a motor and a gear box inside its case and has a trash bin for collecting paper chips underneath the cutting blade assembly. A swinging board is provided in the vicinity of the paper outlet of the case. The swinging board is connected to a transmission axis via a shaft. One end of the transmission axis has a passive gear for receiving the rotating power from the cutting blade assembly via gears. As the transmission axis turns, the swinging board is driven by the shaft to perform a reciprocal motion so that the paper chips falling from the blades are evenly distributed over the trash bin. Paper chips accumulate in an even way to maximize the space in the trash bin. This prevents the formation of chip mountain and thus the problem of paper jams.
US07762483B2 Air vortex mill for mill drying a flowable product and method for using the mill
An air vortex mill (1) mill dries a flowable product in a gas-/air flow-through grinding chamber (3) with several grinding stages arranged in the grinding chamber. The grinding stages are formed by a rotor (4) with a multitude of grinding plates (9) and a stator housing. A device (12, 13) delivers preferably heated carrier gases, as a device (6, 15, 16, 18) delivers the product into the grinding chamber (3). In order to improve the product delivery to the mill (1), one component of the delivery device is a supply line (6) which encircles at least part the circumference of the grinding chamber (3). The supply line (6) is equipped with an inflow (15) for the product to be treated and a plurality of outlet apertures (18) distributed over the circumference of the grinding chamber, for delivering the product into the grinding chamber.
US07762477B2 Polymeric bodied fuel injector with a seat and elastomeric seal molded to a polymeric support member
A fuel injector is described that includes a polymeric housing, pole piece, filter assembly, coil assembly, spring member, armature assembly and metering assembly. The polymeric housing has a passageway extending between an inlet and an outlet along a longitudinal axis. The pole piece is disposed in the passageway, the pole piece having a through opening. The filter assembly has a portion disposed in the through opening of the pole piece. The coil assembly is disposed in the polymeric housing to surround the pole piece. The spring member is disposed partly in the pole piece and including a spring portion contiguous with the portion of the filter assembly. The armature assembly is disposed in the passageway in a first position having a first portion confronting the pole piece and in a second position having a closure member contiguous to an end face of the pole piece. The metering assembly is secured to the polymeric housing proximate the outlet. The metering assembly has a seat secured to a polymeric support member. The seat has a sealing member disposed between the seat and the polymeric support member. A method of sealing a fuel injector is described.
US07762473B2 Machine-readable code format
Disclosed is a machine readable cord of a set of printed markings, wherein each printed marking of the set has a predetermined height on a substrate and represents a predetermined date value, wherein printed markings having a same predetermined height represent a same data value, and wherein printed markings representing different data values have different heights. Also disclosed is a system for embedding and recovering information on a substrate, including an image forming device containing at least one marking material, wherein the image forming device receives data, corresponding to the information, for forming machine readable code in accordance with claim 1 on an image receiving substrate, and forms an image including the machine readable code on the image receiving substrate with the at least one marking material, and a document reading device comprising a reader that detects the differences in height among the different printed markings of the machine readable code.
US07762471B2 Proximity payment card with cost-effective connection between user-actuatable input switch and RFID IC
An identification token includes a body and an RFID IC embedded in the body. The RFID IC includes a first terminal and a second terminal. An antenna is also embedded in the body and is coupled between the terminals of the RFID IC to form two connections between the RFID IC and the antenna. A user-actuatable switch is supported by the body and has two different states. The switch is coupled to at least one of the terminals of the RFID IC. The connections between the RFID IC and the antenna are uninterrupted when the switch is in either state. The switch is not coupled to the RFID IC by any terminal other than the two terminals by which the antenna is coupled to the RFID IC.
US07762469B2 Short-range wireless communication apparatus and cellular phone terminal
There is provided a short-range wireless communication apparatus and a cellular phone terminal that can surely and immediately notify a user of the optimum distance between a contactless IC card reader/writer and a contactless IC card not through an MPU or a CPU and if the contactless IC card function is locked, surely notify the user as such. In an RFID card, a magnetic field strength/brightness conversion section adjusts the brightness of two LEDs in accordance with the detected magnetic field strength of a carrier wave. A blink generation circuit detects whether the RFID card is in a communication state and blinks the LEDs if so. A function combining section combines the functions to indicate the magnetic field strength and the communication state with the brightness and blinking of the LEDs. An LED with another color illuminates only when an RFID function LSI is in a lock state.
US07762468B2 Readers to analyze security features on objects
The present invention provides readers to analyze emerging security or authentication feature for physical objects (e.g., identification documents, product packaging, banknotes, etc.). One claim recites a reader including: an excitation source to excite an object with first non-visible light, the object comprising first indicia provided with a first ink or dye and second indicia provided with a second ink or dye, the second ink or dye comprising an emission decay time that is relatively longer than an emission decay time of the first ink or dye, the first indicia and the second indicia collectively conveying a first machine readable feature when illuminated with the first non-visible light, with the second indicia individually conveying a second machine readable feature after emissions attributable to the first indicia fall to a first level; and a code reader to read at least the second machine readable feature after emissions attributable to the first ink or dye fall to the first level and before emissions attributable to the second ink or dye fall to a second level. Other claims and combinations are provided as well.
US07762466B2 Two position zoom lens assembly for an imaging-based bar code reader
An imaging-based bar code reader including: an imaging system for imaging a target bar code within a field of view of the imaging system and projecting light from the field of view onto a sensor array, the imaging system generating image frames of the field of view of the imaging system; the imaging systems including an imaging lens assembly having a plurality of lens and a selection drive mechanism to select between a first optical zoom position defining a first focal length and a first field of view for imaging a target bar code at a close range and a second optical zoom position defining a second focal length and a second field of view for imaging a target bar code at a far range, the second focal length being greater than the first focal length.
US07762463B2 MEMS-based security system
Embodiments of the invention is directed to a portable identification object (e.g., ID card), an object recognition system (e.g., card reader system), and a method of identity verification or authentication utilizing the portable identification object and the object recognition system. Illustratively, the ID Card incorporates an optical MEMS that, in a passive aspect, exhibits amplitude modulation, wavelength selectivity and/or optical phase modulation with respect to an input signal provided by the card reader system; and, in an active aspect, exhibits amplitude modulation, wavelength selectivity and/or optical phase modulation with respect to an input signal provided by the card reader system based on specific stimulation of the MEMS. MEMS stimulation may be activated by the card reader system in response to a selective user input (e.g., PIN) and algorithmic processing provided by the card reader system. Resultant signals produced by the MEMS ID card and read by the card reader are compared to results stored in a database. An identity or authentication determination can then be made based on the validity of the comparison.
US07762462B2 Electronic information display system employing a plurality of electronic-ink display labels associated with a plurality of manufactured items for displaying information which changes as the manufactured items move through wholesale/retail distribution channels
An electronic information display system for installation across wholesale/distribution channels. The system includes a plurality of electronic-ink display labels, associated with a plurality of manufactured items. One or more activation modules are provided across the wholesale/retail distribution channels, for transmitting electromagnetic data signals to the electronic-ink display labels and providing instructions to the updateable electronic-ink display labels. Each electronic-ink display label employs an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The electronic-ink display label includes an integrated circuit structure having a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, and a programmed processor in communication with storage element. A signal receiving structure receives electromagnetic signals from the activation module, using the antenna structure. The electronic-ink display label displays graphical indicia representing information which changes as the associated manufactured item moves through the wholesale/retail distribution channels.
US07762459B2 Integration framework
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for real-time data transfer between sensor or actuator devices and higher-level applications.In one aspect, an integration engine receives a set of rules from an external application and receives item data including item identifiers from one or more tag readers, each item identifier being read from a digital tag bound to a physical item. The integration engine uses the rules and item data to determine in real time which subset of the item data to furnish to the external application.In another aspect, the integration engine receives from the external application configuration data for controlling an actuator device. The integration engine converts the configuration data to a format compatible with the actuator device; and furnishes the converted configuration data in real time to the actuator device.
US07762458B2 Media enabled shopping system user interface
A media enhanced shopping cart system comprises a shopping cart comprising a frame, a basket, a handle, a base tray, a plurality of wheels, a read component for performing a proximity scan of the shopping cart, a locationing component for determining a location of the shopping cart within a store based on the scan, and a display component for displaying at least one advertisement for a product based on the location of the shopping cart within the store, wherein the locationing component is further operable to determine a location of the product within the store relative to the shopping cart based on the scan, and wherein the display component is further operable to display an indication of the location of the advertised product relative to the location of the shopping cart.
US07762457B2 System and method for dynamic fob synchronization and personalization
A system generally for personalizing and synchronizing fob data in the context of a distributed transaction system is disclosed. A dynamic fob synchronization system may comprise point of service (POS) devices configured with transponder-readers to initiate a transaction in conjunction with a fob, an enterprise data collection unit, and a fob object database update system. An exemplary dynamic synchronization system (DSS) may comprise various fob POS devices, a secure support client server, a fob object database update system (FODUS), one or more enterprise data synchronization interfaces (EDSI), an update logic system, one or more enterprise data collection units (EDCUs), and one or more fob POS devices configured to interoperably accept and interface with fobs. In an exemplary embodiment, DSS may comprise a personalization system and an account maintenance system configured to communicate with FODUS. Personalization of multi-function fobs may be accomplished using a security server configured to generate and/or retrieve cryptographic key information from multiple enterprise key systems during the final phase of the fob issuance process.
US07762455B2 Method for maintaining a customer account
A customer is provided a telephone number to which a calling party incurs a charge to be connected. An account balance, which reflects funds deposited into the customer's account but not yet used by the customer, is increased in proportion to the incurred charge. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US07762450B2 Pizza carton with curved top
A carton for holding a food product. The carton has a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The front and back panels each have a curved edge at an end of the carton.
US07762446B2 Method and device for transferring a solder deposit configuration
Method and device for transferring a solder deposit configuration having multiple solder deposits onto a terminal surface configuration of a contact surface of a substrate (36) using a removal of multiple solder deposits from a solder deposit reservoir (25) accommodated in a solder deposit receptacle unit (11) via an isolation unit (12), which is implemented like a template and is situated above the solder deposit reservoir, to implement the solder deposit configuration implemented corresponding to the terminal surface configuration, and using a subsequent transfer of the solder deposit configuration onto the terminal surface configuration of the substrate, the solder deposit reservoir being impinged by partial vacuum through template openings (15) of the isolation unit to transfer the solder deposits from the solder deposit reservoir into the isolation unit, the solder deposit reservoir (25) being ventilated via a floor wall (20) situated diametrically opposite the isolation unit during the partial vacuum impingement (27) by the isolation unit (12).
US07762445B2 Electrosurgical stapling apparatus
An electrosurgical stapling apparatus is provided which uses thermogenic energy as well as surgical fasteners or staples for strengthening tissue, providing hemostasis, tissue joining or welding. The thermogenic energy also strengthens tissue in proximity to a staple line and knife cut line and provides hemostasis along the staple and cut lines formed by the staples and a knife blade during surgical stapling. The use of thermogenic energy provides short-term hemostasis and sealing, and reduces or prevents staple line and cut line bleeding, while the stapling features provide short and long-term tissue strength and hemostasis. The stapling apparatus further substantially reduces or prevents knife cut line bleeding by energizing a knife blade for cauterizing tissue while it is being cut. In one embodiment, energy is applied to the anvil to energize the staples as they make contact with the anvil.
US07762441B1 Carrying device
A carrying device is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the carrying device includes a main strap unit having a first loop strap segment and a first shoulder strap segment extending from the first loop strap segment. An attachment strap unit having a second loop strap segment and a second shoulder strap segment extending from the second loop strap segment is detachably carried by the first shoulder strap segment of the main strap unit. An apparatus and a method of carrying a snowboard are also disclosed.
US07762439B2 Variable tip nozzle and cap assembly for dispensing pouch
A variable tip nozzle and cap assembly is disclosed for a dispensing pouch which contains a confectionery, the assembly including threaded portions of different diameters which receive decorating tips for application of the confectionery as a decoration to cakes and cookies, for example.
US07762438B2 Dispensing closure with latch back
A closure body has a closure deck with a dispensing orifice. A lower peripheral skirt depends from the closure deck and is configured to be mounted on a container. A closure cap has an upper wall and a wall flange which depends from the upper wall. A hinge structure joins the wall flange to the lower peripheral skirt. A latch recess is defined within the lower peripheral skirt. A latch protrusion is located on the wall flange of the cap and positioned respectively positioned above the latch recess when closure cap is in a closed position. The latch protrusion and the latch recess define interfitting mating formations which engage to secure the cap to the closure body when the closure cap is in an open position.
US07762435B2 Dispensing apparatus
A process for the manufacture of dispensing apparatus includes moulding a first component including a tubular outlet and moulding a second component about the first component. The first component is moulded in a first material and the second component is moulded in a second material, where the first material comprises a less rigid material than the second material. The first component is moulded with the tubular outlet in an open configuration and the moulding of the second component compresses the tubular outlet to a closed configuration. The tubular outlet is elastically deformable, by the application of pressure to the tubular outlet, from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
US07762434B2 Refillable material transfer system
such as fluids and liquids, includes a material containment vessel with an upper region incorporating a motive force and a bottom region with a material ingress and egress opening. A diconical or other shaped force transfer device is located in the material containment area. The force transfer device is an energy transducer when the material containment is filled with highly viscous materials, such as adhesives, sealants, mastics or lubricating greases. The force transfer device serves as an integral part of a level indicator for both viscous fluids and lower viscosity liquids. The viscous material itself forms a seal between the interface region of the force transfer device and the inside wall of the fluid vessel. Vertical stabilizing elements may extend outward from the force transfer device.
US07762431B1 Refrigerated liquid product dispenser
A refrigerated liquid dispenser is disclosed. The dispenser has a pump configured for being in fluid communication with a source of a liquid product; a dispensing faucet configured for being in fluid communication with the pump, the dispensing faucet including a cold maintenance device located near the distal end of the dispensing faucet and an insulator device disposed adjacent to the cold maintenance device. The cold maintenance device has a distal end that projects beyond a lower surface of the insulator device. The dispenser also includes a dispensing tower for enclosing the dispensing faucet; and an auxiliary cooling circuit configured to direct cool airflow toward the dispensing faucet, the auxiliary cooling circuit having a passageway that is at least partially located within the dispensing tower and the passageway is configured to deliver cool airflow through the passageway onto the dispensing faucet, to shield the dispensing faucet from ambient temperature, thereby maintaining the dispensing faucet and the passageway at a cool temperature to avoid contamination of the liquid. The dispenser also includes a controller operatively coupled with the pump and the dispensing faucet to control the operation of the refrigerated liquid dispenser.
US07762429B2 Portable water cooler for use with bagged fluids and bagged fluids for use therewith
A portable water cooler is designed to accept the placement of bagged fluid therein, leading to the connection of the bag of fluid to a fluid flow pathway, thereby allowing the fluid to be dispensed in a manner such that the fluid is segregated from the internal surfaces of the cooler. The portable water cooler generally includes an internal spike and external spigot through which fluid may flow. Systems and methods for dispensing bagged fluid from such a cooler, including various multi-bag systems and methods allowing for improved thermal control of fluids being dispensed, as well as increased selection of fluids dispensed from the same portable water cooler provide a high level of convenience.
US07762428B2 Emptying device
For bubble free emptying of pasteous substances from drum-shaped containers these are pumped out through a drum follower plate placed onto the paste. In a refinement, the drum follower plate is provided hollow with a lower grid plate and before the beginning of the pumping out process through evacuation of the hollow intermediary space air, possibly present under the drum follower plate, is sucked from there into the intermediary space, so that the pump scooping from below the grid plate only feeds pasteous material right from the beginning.
US07762423B2 Flow control element for use with leak-proof cup assemblies
There is provided a flow control element for use with a drinking cup cap having a first mating member in fluid communication with a spout aperture. The flow control element has a first stack and a first valve. The first stack has an upper portion that can be positioned to be removably sealed in or with the cap. The first valve is defined in a sidewall of the first stack and is configured to provide selective fluid communication with the spout aperture.
US07762421B2 Easy-open sealed container
An easy-open sealed container satisfying requests of perfectivity of sealing and readiness of unsealing is provided. The container includes a plastic pack container, a flange portion surrounding an opening of the plastic pack container, a seal film bonded onto an upper surface of the flange portion to thereby seal the pack container, and a peeling film bonded onto a lower surface of the flange portion. The flange portion includes a broken portion including a cut-off line and a connection part formed in a part or a whole of the flange portion. The peeling film includes a peeling-start portion extruding outward or inward of the flange portion.
US07762420B2 Pressure cooker
The pressure cooker has a pot (2) with a base and a side wall and an upper rim (6). A lid (3) can be connected to the pot (2) in a sealed manner along the abovementioned upper rim (6). In the presence of a predetermined positive pressure, a locking device (12) connects the lid (3) to the pot in a non-releasable manner in conjunction with a pressure element (11) arranged on the lid (3). The locking device (12), in a fitting (5) of the lid (3), has a rocker (12a) which is mounted in a movable manner and, for control purposes and in order to lock the lid (3), interacts with the pot (2) and the abovementioned pressure element (11). Locking takes place automatically when the pressure cooker is closed and the locking means can be produced in a reliable and cost-effective manner.
US07762409B2 Apparatuses for holding hangers
A clothes hanger support apparatus from which clothes hangers may be suspended is described. The support apparatus is comprised of a clamp having members that are pivotally coupled on their bottom ends and have flanges extending inward from their top ends. When the apparatus is in the closed position, the flanges rest on the top of the horizontal moldings of a doorframe or window frame. Cords are attached to the members and pull the members together using the weight of a hanger bar that is attached to the cords.
US07762407B2 Display device and blank therefor
A display device which includes an elongate strip of sheet material having a plurality of product carrying pockets each pocket being provided with a pair of laterally spaced front sections in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of an adjacent rear section of the elongate strip, each front section being attached to the rear section at its upper edge respectively, by way of upper bridge portions, further attachment between a further section of the rear section and the front sections is provided by a lower bridge portion intermediate the front sections and which is attached adjacent the lower edges thereof.
US07762404B2 Device for performing the purifying separation of crystals out of their suspension in a contaminated crystal melt
An apparatus for separating crystals from their suspension in contaminated crystal melt with purification, in which a hydraulic wash column has distributor aids in a distributor space.
US07762398B2 Hanger label
Hanger labels that include a first label segment, a second label segment, and a hanger are described. The hanger may include a hook, a first connection connecting the hook to the first label segment, and a second connection connecting the hook to the second label segment. Alternatively, the hanger may include a strap connecting first and second label segments. Containers including such hanger labels are also described.
US07762396B1 Cup carrier
A cup carrier for holding beverage cups within a range of shapes and sizes is provided. The carrier has a cup-holding socket that has stabilizing shoulders and stabilizing walls extending inwardly and downwardly therefrom. The stabilizing walls include an upper portion having a relatively shallow angle and lower portions having a steeper angle. This extends the stabilizing wall further into an upper region of the socket, thereby enabling the stabilizing wall to contact smaller diameter cups at a higher point in order to increase stability. The upper portion contacts larger cups inserted into the socket. Because the upper portion initially has a relatively shallow angle, it exerts a desirable gripping force on the cups when it is deflected outwardly by the cup's sidewall. The carrier also includes a stepped center cavity for increased strength and rigidity.
US07762394B2 Cartons with dispensing features
Cartons have dispensers that allow ease of access to articles accommodated within the cartons. A carton has a back panel, a top panel, a front panel, a bottom panel, a first end panel, a second end panel, and a dispenser/stand pattern disposed in the top panel and the front panel and defining a dispenser/stand. The carton is capable of being placed in a dispensing configuration in which the dispenser/stand provides a dispenser opening and supports the carton in an inclined position. The dispenser/stand is connected to the front panel when the dispenser/stand supports the carton in an inclined position.
US07762390B2 Wire-hook connector and conveyor or belt end provided therewith
Wire-hook connectors with a series of individual wire hooks that are not connected to one another, are arranged spaced apart by pair and parallel to one another, and are held only on strip-like carrier material, which is a film, fabric or shaped plastic part, in corresponding openings. The wire hooks are fabricated of, for example, round or flat steel wire, each of which has two hook legs that are unequal in length and that run at an angle to one another on either side of the buckling area formed thereby. The hook legs have hook tips at ends thereof that are bent towards one another, whereby a wire hook is arranged centrally between a mutually adjacent pair of mutually parallel wire hooks, with mirror symmetry with respect to the plane formed by the angle bisectors thereof.
US07762385B2 Conveyor-technology device
The invention relates to a method as well as to a conveyor-technology device for processing printed products. The conveyor-technology device includes a guide and conveyor which may be moved along the guide, for conveying printed products which are fed by way of feeders. The guide is curved in several spatial directions. The conveyor-technology device includes a holding device which serve for the temporary fixing of printed products in a manner such that these at least in regions may be conveyed against gravitational force.
US07762383B2 Freeze dryer
A freeze dryer comprises a chamber having a rectangular slot through which vials are inserted into the chamber. An assembly for loading and/or unloading the chamber comprises a transfer bar extending across the slot. The bar is pivotally attached at each end to first and second flat springs, each spring being wound on a respective rotatably mounted spool located proximate the slot. Drive means are provided for synchronously rotating the spools to effect movement of the bar into or out from the chamber and for selectively rotating the spools to raise or lower the bar.
US07762382B2 Method and a system for transferring of items
Method and system for transferring items (2) from an inlet flow or a bulk of items at a first area to a second area, from which the items are transferred in an orderly flow of items, whereby a plurality of gripping means (18) are used for transferring said items and whereby said method comprises the steps of moving at least one of said plurality of gripping means (18) towards at least part of said first area or vice versa, engaging one of said items by said at least one of said plurality of gripping means (18), moving said engaged item away from said first area, or vice versa, placing said engaged item at a selected position, and whereby said item is moved away from said second area in an orderly flow with at least one further item handled by another of said plurality of gripping means.
US07762377B2 Transport car for metal coils
A transfer car in a conveyance system for metal coils, having a support saddle, a chassis that can be moved along a conveyance path by a drive and a mechanism for raising and lowering the support saddle along a linear vertical guide on a plate-like base frame. A steel slab is used as the plate-like base frame, on which a scissor unit is mounted for the purpose of linear vertical guidance and so as to not take on any lifting forces. Two lifting cylinders are installed some distance apart as the drive and act directly on the support saddle to provide the sole lifting forces to raise and lower the support saddle.
US07762376B2 Elevator with two elevator cars which are disposed one above the other in a shaft
An elevator has at least two elevator cars, which are disposed one above the other in a shaft, which cars are vertically movable and which each have a drive, a counterweight and a traction device, wherein one drive is fixed at a first shaft wall and a second drive is fixed at an opposite second shaft wall and each drive has at least one drive pulley. At least one first deflecting roller is associated with each drive and is positioned the shaft wall that is opposite the drive and above the counterweight associated with the drive. The traction device is led from the counterweight over the deflecting roller to the drive pulley and from there to the elevator car.
US07762367B2 Straddle-type vehicle
A motorcycle that ensures engine cooling efficiency while suppressing radiator exposure has a head pipe and left and right downtubes extending downward from the head pipe. A radiator catches traveling wind from forwardly of the motorcycle. A louver provided on the radiator includes baffle plates that lead traveling wind to the radiator. The radiator has an overlapping portion between the downtubes that overlaps the downtubes as viewed from laterally of the motorcycle.
US07762366B2 Axle drive unit for a hybrid electric vehicle
A drive unit for a hybrid electric motor vehicle includes an engine, an electric machine including a rotor, a layshaft gearset including an input driveably connected to the engine and an output, for transmitting power between the input and the output and producing a first speed differential that causes a speed of the input to exceed a speed of the output, first and second driveshafts, a differential mechanism driveably connected to the output, for transmitting power between the output and the driveshafts, and a planetary gear unit driveably connected to the output and the rotor, for transmitting power between the rotor and the output and producing a second speed differential that causes a speed of the rotor to exceed the speed of the output.
US07762362B2 Climbing with dry adhesives
A bio-inspired device is provided designed to scale smooth vertical surfaces using anisotropic frictional materials. The device draws its inspiration from geckos and other climbing lizards and employs similar compliance and force control strategies to climb (or hang onto) smooth vertical surfaces including glass, tile and plastic panels. Foremost among the design features embodied in the device are multiple levels of compliance, at length scales ranging from centimeters to micrometers, to allow the device to conform to surfaces and maintain large real areas of contact so that adhesive forces can support it. Structures within the feet ensure even stress distributions over each toe and facilitate engagement and disengagement of the adhesive materials. A force control strategy works in conjunction with the anisotropic adhesive materials to obtain sufficient levels of friction and adhesion for climbing with low attachment and detachment forces.
US07762361B2 Omni-directional aircraft and ordinance handling vehicle
A powered omni-directional aircraft and ordinance handling vehicle which, in one embodiment, includes a circular frame and two drive wheels capable of independent powered forward and rearward rotation about a horizontal axis. The drive wheels are adapted to allow the vehicle to spin in place about a vertical axis which intersects the horizontal axis midway between the drive wheels and which is generally centered in the circular frame. A turret is rotatively mounted to the frame such that it is capable of rotation about the vertical axis, and an articulated ordinance handling arm is mounted to the turret. A castor is mounted to the frame for supporting the frame on the ground. A control system enables the vehicle to rotate in place to change headings while maintaining ordinance carried by the arm motionless with respect to the ground and to perform repetitive precise multi-axis motion control of the vehicle.
US07762360B2 Vehicle calibration and trajectory control system
A method and system are described for calibrating speed controls for a vehicle having a pair of drive means on opposite sides of the vehicle driven by independent speed controls and where relative speed of the drive means is used to direct the vehicle. In one aspect, angular motion of the vehicle is detected using at least one of a gyroscopic angular sensor and a pair of accelerometers to determine a rate of yaw; a speed control output for controlling the relative speed is adjusted so that the rate of yaw is lower than a threshold when speed control inputs for controlling the relative speed are equal; and one or more speed control adjustment parameters are determined and stored for use during operation for controlling the relative speed of the drive means. A microcontroller may be used to receive sensor outputs (e.g. from the gyroscope and/or accelerometers) and speed control inputs and to determine the speed control adjustment. During operation, the microcontroller may control the relative speed, applying the speed control adjustment(s) to speed control inputs.
US07762357B2 Dual gradient drilling method and apparatus with an adjustable centrifuge
A system for controlling drilling mud density in drilling operations that combines a base fluid of lesser/greater density than the drilling fluid required at the drill bit to drill the borehole to produce a combination return mud in a riser. Concentric tubular members are disclosed, wherein one tubular member, such as the drill string, is utilized to inject the drilling fluid into the wellbore. Another tubular member carries the combination fluid to the surface for separation by a centrifuge system. By combining appropriate quantities of drilling mud with another fluid, the density of the combination fluid carrying drill cuttings to the surface can be regulated. During separation by the centrifuge, a weir plate having an adjustable height is utilized in the centrifuge to regulate the separation of the base fluid from the drilling fluid, producing a high density fluid and a low density fluid. The adjustable centrifuge permits the densities of the two fluids to be readily altered as desired for well drilling operations.
US07762355B2 Rotary drag bit and methods therefor
A rotary drag bit includes a primary cutter row comprising at least one primary cutter, and at least two additional cutters configured relative to one another. In one embodiment, the cutters are backup cutters of a backup cutter group located in respective first and second trailing cutter rows, oriented relative to one another, and positioned to substantially follow the at least one primary cutter. The rotary drag bit life is extended by the backup cutter group, making the bit more durable and extending the life of the cutters. In other of the embodiments, the cutters are configured to selectively engage a subterranean formation material being drilled, providing improved bit life and reduced stress upon the cutters. Still other embodiments of rotary drag bits include backup cutter configurations having different backrake angles and siderake angles, including methods therefor.
US07762351B2 Exposed hollow carrier perforation gun and charge holder
The perforation gun is comprised of a tubular carrier, a charge holder, a plurality of sealed charges, and a detonating cord. The tubular carrier has a length and a plurality of openings. The charge holder has a length and is comprised of a plurality of mounting locations which are each capable of receiving one of the sealed charges. The charge holder is capable of being secured within the carrier. The detonating cord is coupled to at least one sealed charge. In the mounted position and when the charge holder is secured within the carrier, the charges are aligned with the openings in the carrier such that, upon detonation, charge blasts emitted from the charges exit though the carrier openings and perforate a well casing and cement. In one aspect of the invention, the carrier openings are spirally arranged and spaced along the length of the carrier. In still another aspect of the invention, the openings are vertically arranged and spaced along the length of the carrier. In still another aspect of the invention, the carrier is closed at the top and bottom. In still another aspect of the invention, the carrier is capable of capturing debris created by a charge blast emitted from the sealed charges.
US07762350B2 Impulse generator and impulse tool with impulse generator
The invention relates to an impulse generator (2) for a rock breaking tool, which comprises a propulsion chamber (6) for receiving a pressurizeable liquid volume (8), and an in the propulsion chamber (6) received impulse piston (10), where the impulse piston (10) is arranged for transfer of pressure peaks in the liquid volume (8) into impulses in the tool (12), whereby transfer of energy from a propulsion mechanism (14) into impulses in the tool (12) is effected by volume reduction of the propulsion chamber (6), whereby the impulse piston (10) is driven forward by a pressure peak in the propulsion chamber (6). The invention also relates to a hydraulic impulse tool comprising an impulse generator (2).
US07762346B2 Method and system for collaring
The present invention relates to a method for controlling drilling parameters during an initial phase of rock drilling with a drilling machine. In accordance with the invention the percussion pressure and feed pressure of the drilling machine are controlled as continuously increasing functions during the initial phase. The present invention also relates to such a system.
US07762345B2 Conservation tillage implement, system and method
A conservation tillage implement having three or more rows of individual coulter wheel assemblies laterally spaced apart and removably mounted on a cultivator frame, a coulter wheel assembly in a given row being staggered with respect to the coulter wheel assemblies in a longitudinally adjacent row. The coulter wheel assemblies may be laterally adjustable and may be mounted to the cultivator frame using a mounting means that permits rotation about a vertical axis. The coulter wheel assemblies may comprise a coil spring having a horizontal spring axis to permit upward deflection in response to impact with an obstacle. Leveling attachments may optionally be mounted to the cultivator frame, along with additional field working tools. The implement is used in the management of crop residue as part of a minimum tillage strategy. The implement is particularly resistant to plugging and can be operated at high speeds without undue damage upon impact with obstacles. Advantageously, the implement can be operated in standing water, as found in the growing of rice.
US07762344B2 Swellable packer construction for continuous or segmented tubing
A swellable packer construction for continuous or segmented tubing. A method of constructing a swellable packer on a continuous tubular string includes the steps of: attaching a swellable seal material to the tubular string to thereby form the packer; and then wrapping the tubular string with the packer on a spool. A swellable packer includes a tubular body portion for incorporation into a tubular string, and a seal material wrapped about the body portion, the seal material being swellable in response to contact with a fluid. A method of constructing a swellable packer for a tubular string includes the steps of: wrapping a seal material about a tubular body portion to thereby form the packer; and then swelling the seal material in response to contact with a fluid. A continuous tubular string includes a seal material attached to a body portion of the tubular string to thereby form a swellable packer; and the packer wrapped with the tubular string on a spool.
US07762342B2 Apparatus for providing a temporary degradable barrier in a flow pathway
A flow conduit may have at least one orifice is in the vicinity of a flow source. The source is at least partially covered (and flow blocked by) an optional temporary coating or barrier. The flow pathway between the orifice and the source is temporarily blocked with a degradable material or barrier. The material disintegrates (e.g. under the influence of time or temperature) to optionally produce a product that removes the temporary coating in the area adjacent the barrier. The method is useful in one non-limiting context of recovering hydrocarbons where the flow conduit is the casing or liner of the well and the flow source is a subterranean reservoir where the temporary coating is a filter cake.
US07762341B2 Flow control device utilizing a reactive media
An apparatus for controlling a flow of a fluid into a wellbore tubular includes a flow path associated with a production control device; an occlusion member positioned along the flow path that selectively occludes the flow path, and a reactive media disposed along the flow path that change a pressure differential across at least a portion of the flow path by interacting with a selected fluid. The reactive media may be a water swellable material or an oil swellable material. The reactive media may be selected or formulated to change a parameter related to the flow path. Illustrative parameters include, but are not limited to, (i) permeability, (ii) tortuosity, (iii) turbulence, (iv) viscosity, and (v) cross-sectional flow area.
US07762339B2 Apparatus and method for controlling the speed of a pump in a well
A controller for controlling the pump unit of an oil well includes a sensor having a first and second probe for placement in the flow of oil from the well bore. Each of the probes contains a heater. A constant power source is selectively connected to one of the heaters. Each of the probes also includes a linear RTD at each of their tips respectively for generating a signal indicative of the temperature measured at each of the first and second probes. A control unit receives signals from the RTD's and determines a flow rate therefrom. A pump control signal is generated in response to the flow rate, wherein the pump control signal continuously varies a predetermined parameter for controlling the flow rate of a pumping unit during operation of the pumping unit.
US07762338B2 Orientation-less ultra-slim well and completion system
An assembly for landing a tubing hanger in a subsea well includes a riser extending from a subsea wellhead assembly to a vessel at the surface of the sea. A tubing hanger having a string of tubing suspended therefrom is lowered through the riser with a string of conduit, and the tubing hanger lands within the subsea wellhead assembly. A sensor is positioned adjacent the subsea wellhead assembly to monitor the axial position of the tubing hanger within the subsea wellhead assembly. The sensor also communicates the axial position of the tubing hanger to the surface. A locking mechanism is carried by the tubing hanger and is selectively operable to lock the tubing hanger in place relative to the subsea wellhead assembly when the tubing hanger reaches a predetermined axial location.
US07762335B2 Switching apparatus between independent control systems for a subsurface safety valve
A system is provided for switching between redundant control systems for a subsurface safety valve (SSV) while being able to isolate the closure spring from hydrostatic pressure in the control line of the system that is not being used. There are two control lines that connect to discrete operating pistons that are both coupled to the flow tube. Each operating piston is connected to a control rod with the control rods terminating near opposed ends of a pivoting member. Pushing down on one rod pushes up on the other rod so that the other rod is held supported and the hydrostatic pressure in its associated control line doesn't affect the force needed by the closure spring to close the SSV. Releasing control line pressure puts the system in neutral to allow either of the systems to be reselected.
US07762333B2 Hydraulically openable ported sub
A ported sub comprising: a tubular body including a wall and ends formed for installation in a wellbore tubular string; a first port through the wall; a second port through the wall; a first hydraulically openable sliding sleeve for the controlling the open and closed condition of the first port; a second hydraulically openable sliding sleeve for the controlling the open and closed condition of the second port; a first pressure release connection for securing the first hydraulically openable sliding sleeve in a position on the tubular body and being releasable by application of a selected hydraulic pressure to the first hydraulically openable sliding sleeve; and a second pressure release connection for securing the second hydraulically openable sliding sleeve in a position on the tubular body and being releasable by application of hydraulic pressure at least substantially similar to the selected hydraulic pressure to the second hydraulically openable sliding sleeve, the first pressure release connection including a first type of pressure release mechanism and the second pressure release connection including a second type of pressure release mechanism different than the first type of pressure release mechanism. A tubing string and method may employ the ported sub.
US07762328B2 Formation testing and sampling tool including a coring device
A sampling tool for retrieving one or more samples from a wellbore drilled in a subterranean formation includes a coring device retrieving a core from a wellbore wall, wellbore isolation devices that isolate an annular region proximate to the coring device; and a flow device that flows fluid out of the isolated region. During operation, the sampling tool is positioned adjacent a formation of interest. The isolation device is activated to isolate an annular region proximate to the sampling tool. Decentralizing arms can be used to position the coring device next to the wellbore wall. Thereafter, the flow device flows fluid out of the isolated annular region. When the isolated region includes mostly formation fluid, the coring device is activated to retrieve a core from a wall of the wellbore in the isolated annular region and store it in formation fluid.
US07762327B2 Acoustically measuring annulus probe depth
A casing annulus is remediated by inserting a hose into a casing annulus, the hose having a nozzle on its lower end. An acoustic signal is directed into the annulus. A sensor in the hose receives the acoustic signal and transmits data from the sensor to the surface. The data represents the acoustic signal arrival time to the sensor, and an analyzer estimates the sensor depth based on the data. The hose is inserted from a reel into a wellhead above the annulus. An electrical transducer mechanically coupled to the hose creates the acoustic signal. The signal is propagated along the hose and transferred to the fluid in the annulus, where it then propagates further into the annulus. The transducer can be installed on a hose roller along which the hose is fed into the wellhead.
US07762324B2 Bypass crossover sub selector for multi-zone fracturing processes
Fracturing tools for fracturing multiple zones of a wellbore are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the fracturing tools comprise two or more crossover subs coupled together and having a crossover sub window alignment assembly operatively associated with either an isolation sleeve disposed within the bores of the crossover sub-assemblies or with the crossover sub assemblies themselves. Actuation of the crossover sub window alignment assembly opens and closes the windows of each of the crossover sub-assemblies so that different crossover sub-assemblies can be activated to fracture various wellbore locations.
US07762323B2 Composite cement retainer
A downhole plug that can include a body and an element system disposed about the body. The plug can further include a first and second back-up ring member having two or more tapered wedges. The tapered wedges can be at least partially separated by two or more converging grooves. First and second cones can be disposed adjacent the first and second back-up ring members.
US07762322B2 Swellable packer with variable quantity feed-throughs for lines
A swellable packer with variable quantity feed-throughs for lines. A packer assembly for use in a subterranean well includes a generally tubular swellable seal element having an outer generally cylindrical surface, one or more cavities extending longitudinally through the seal element, and one or more longitudinally extending splits in the seal element between the outer surface and each of the cavities. One or more elongated plugs are positioned within at least one of the cavities. A method of sealing a fluid passage in a subterranean well includes the steps of: inserting one or more elongated plugs in one or more cavities which extend longitudinally through a swellable seal element of a packer assembly; and installing the packer assembly in the well. The installing step includes removing a selected number of the plugs from the cavities, and replacing the selected number of the plugs with a corresponding number of lines.
US07762321B2 Hydraulic oil well pumping apparatus
A hydraulic oil well pumping arrangement employs a compensating type hydraulic pump, a directional valving arrangement and a proportioning valving arrangement. When the directional valve is energized, oil is directed to the rod end of the hydraulic cylinder. The rod or piston part of the hydraulic cylinder will then elevate until a first limit switch is actuated which then will de-energize the directional valve and send a current signal to the proportional valve. This current signal to the proportional valve forces it to open to a point at which the cylinder rod would extend at the desired velocity until it reaches a second limit switch. The second limit switch is near the bottom (for example, 1 foot, or 0.30 meters) of travel of the rod or piston. The current signal to the proportional valve is then decreased, creating a choking arrangement that forces the cylinder rod to decelerate. The cylinder rod then reaches another limit switch. Upon reaching the third limit switch, the signal is removed from the proportional valve so that it closes. This halts a draining of fluid from the hydraulic cylinder. At the same time, a voltage signal is sent to the directional valve opening it so that pump flow again travels from the pump to the hydraulic cylinder and once again elevates the rod and the connected pumping string or sucker rod.
US07762320B2 Heat exchanger system and method of use thereof and well drilling equipment comprising same
A bearing cooling system comprises a bearing assembly, a heat exchanger, a coolant flow circuit apparatus and a lubricant flow circuit apparatus. The bearing assembly is configured for being removably seated within a well drilling head housing and for having a stripper rubber assembly attached thereto. The bearing assembly includes bearings and a lubricant flow path configured for allowing lubricant to be circulated through the bearings. The heat exchanger has a lubricant core portion and a coolant core portion, which are jointly configured for allowing heat transfer between respective fluids of the core portions. The coolant flow circuit apparatus is coupled to the coolant core portion and is configured for circulating coolant through the coolant core portion. The lubricant flow circuit apparatus is coupled to the lubricant core portion and lubricant flow path, and is configured for circulating lubricant through the coolant core portion and the lubricant flow path.
US07762317B2 Heat exchangers with novel ball joints and assemblies and processes using such heat exchangers
What is disclosed herein deals with low to medium pressure, high temperature, all ceramic, air-to-air, indirect heat exchangers, novel ball joints, high load-bearing ceramic tube sheets, and tube seal extenders for ceramic tubes that are useful in such heat exchangers. Also disclosed are new and novel systems used in new and novel industrial processes such as chemical processing, sludge destruction and the production of particulates such as, for example, carbon black. Systems utilizing several heat exchangers are also disclosed.
US07762310B2 Cladding superplastic alloys
A method of producing a clad sheet article having superplastic properties, and the resulting clad sheet article. The method involves producing a cladding layer onto at least one rolling face of a core ingot made of a metal having superplastic properties, preferably by co-casting, to form a clad ingot and then rolling said clad ingot to produce a sheet article. The core ingot includes an element that diffuses from an interior of the ingot to a surface at superplastic forming temperatures thereby deteriorating surface properties of the ingot. The cladding layer is provided with an element (dopant) that reacts with the element of the core to reduce the ability of the element to diffuse through the cladding layer.
US07762308B2 Cast parts with improved surface properties and methods for their production
Techniques for forming cast parts for medical devices suitable for contact with internal regions of patients are described herein. Such parts can be small in scale (e.g., having a major axis less than 0.3 inches, and/or a minor axis less than about 0.08 inches), and can be formed from metals that have a high melting point and high reactivity with environmental components or mold surfaces, such as stainless steel and titanium alloys. Such techniques can include injecting molten metal into the sprue of a mold tree such that the side runners are backfilled after the molten metal impacts a closed end of the sprue. Side runners can be oriented in particular directions and positions to promote backfilling. As well, flask temperatures and the use of surfactants can also promote cast part formation, hindering the formation of surface defects.
US07762304B2 Device for detecting an obstacle and limiting the force of an apron in a goods-handling door
The invention relates to a device for detecting an obstacle and limiting the force from the primary edge or sill nosing (10) of a flexible apron or curtain (5) in a goods-handling door (1) when the latter comes into contact with an obstacle (14) as it is being closed. The inventive device comprises safety cells (21, 22) which are positioned and fixed close to each guiding device (8) such as to emit a beam F that is directed along a vertical axis outside of the guide (15) so that the beam is interrupted upon deformation of the flexible curtain or apron (5).
US07762302B2 Label printer
There is provided a label printer 10 that performs printing on a label L including a front-part label area L1 located at the front side in the feed-out direction and a rear-part label area L2 which is connected thereto. The label printer 10 comprises a printing unit 12 that performs printing on the label L, a sticking unit 14 that sticks the label L to an object W while holding the label L and a turn-over device 15 that turns over the front-part label area L1 to the rear face side of the rear-part label area L2. The sticking unit 14 is arranged so as to stick the label L to the object W after the front-part label area L1 is turned over and attached to the rear-part label area L2 by the turn-over device 15.
US07762301B2 Device for the precise positional joining of two material webs
In an arrangement for a position accurate joining of a first material web, which comprises elements in a section length separated by separating locations, with a second material web which is provided with marks arranged at a predetermined distance from each other corresponding to the section length—except for a possibly certain deviation, the arrangement includes a first device by which the two material webs are joined, a transport device by which the two material webs are moved stepwise by the predetermined distance, and a second device by which an element applied to the first material web when, after movement of the two material webs by a section length, the length of the material web between the first device and the second device corresponds to a predetermined multiple of the section length plus an offset, which is adjustable by an offset device, and a transport device by which the two material webs can be moved section-stepwise, wherein a sensor is provided by which the difference is determined and the offset is adjusted depending on the difference.
US07762300B2 Apparatus for manufacturing reclosable bags utilizing zipper tape material
A reclosable zipper strip is dispensed through a feeding mechanism and, when an optical sensor detects one of the splotch seal portions of the zipper strip, a desired length of zipper strip is advanced over an elevator platform. A knife is then signaled to descend and sever the advanced portion of zipper strip, which is thus deposited onto the elevator platform. As the selected portion of the zipper strip is being positioned and deposited onto the elevator, the web of flexible film is being positioned above the platform. A sealing head is then positioned over the web of flexible film, while at the same time the elevator platform is driven upwardly so that the zipper strip portion positioned thereon comes into contact with the web of flexible film. The heat passing through the web of flexible film creates an airtight seal of the zipper strip to the web.
US07762297B2 Heavy duty pneumatic tire
It aims to provide a heavy duty pneumatic tire with block patterns and capable of improving deflected wear resisting performances without sacrificing wet grip performances or on-snow performances and that can particularly be favorably used for all seasons. The present invention comprises block patterns employing at least three types of blocks 4 comprised of central blocks 4C delimited by the central longitudinal groove 2M, the intermediate longitudinal grooves 2M, and the central lateral grooves 3C, intermediate blocks 4M delimited by the intermediate longitudinal grooves 2M, the outer longitudinal grooves 2S and the intermediate lateral grooves 3M, and outer blocks 4S that are delimited by outer longitudinal grooves 2S, outer lateral grooves 3S that extend from this outer longitudinal grooves 2S to the tread ends E, and wherein longitudinal length ratios (L4/W4) of blocks 4, groove width ratios of longitudinal grooves and lateral grooves (w2/w3), maximum widths of blocks, minimum widths of blocks and ratios thereof (W4max/W4min), and circumferential edge components and tire axial edge components and ratios thereof (EC/EL) at respective stages of wear are defined to be within specified ranges.
US07762289B2 Method and related system of filling therapeutic gas cylinders
A method and related system of filling therapeutic gas cylinders. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a method comprising determining, by a cylinder fill device, a rated pressure of a therapeutic gas cylinder, and filling the cylinder with the cylinder fill device substantially to the rated pressure.
US07762279B2 Threaded coupling with flow shutoff
A thread to connect coupling comprising a female coupling half and a male coupling half is disclosed and claimed wherein the male coupling half includes a recess in the exterior of the male body which extends circumferentially therearound. The female coupling half includes a valve, a female body, and a female body extension affixed to the female body. The female body further includes a sliding sleeve movable with respect to the valve between a first position abutting and closing the valve and a second position opening the valve. The male body interengages the sliding sleeve and moves therewith during coupling and uncoupling. During uncoupling, the sliding sleeve is reliably positioned sealingly against the valve because the sliding sleeve is interlocked with the male body such that as the male body is withdrawn from the female body the sliding sleeve comes with the male body. Separation of the coupling halves requires that an outer sleeve release a second set of detents which acts as a permissive to uncoupling. The coupling halves may not be separated by vibrating the threaded surfaces of the respective coupling halves apart.
US07762276B2 Check valve
A check valve for a fluid handling system is disclosed, the check valve having a main body with a poppet valve disposed therein and a spring urging the poppet valve into abutment with an inner surface of the main body, wherein the check valve facilitates a flow of fluid in one direction and militates against the flow of fluid in an opposite direction.
US07762272B2 Gaseous fuel vehicle and automatic vent system
A vehicle (1) equipped with a tank (2) for storage of a fluid under pressure on the vehicle, the tank being connected to at least one vent channel (3 and 33), the vent channel leading to a discharge orifice (34), the vent channel being connected to the tank by means of at least one safety valve, wherein in that the safety valve is a thermal release valve (5), normally closed and capable of opening spontaneously under the effect of a rise in temperature, the safety valve being installed in a predefined zone of the vehicle and the discharge orifice being remote from the predefined zone.
US07762271B2 Material delivery support device for boom and method of use
A material delivery support device is provided for supporting a tubular delivery system from an outermost end of an extendable boom arm. The material delivery support device includes a rigid support arrangement having an upper rigid portion attached to the outermost end of the boom arm, and a lower rigid portion secured to the tubular material delivery system below the upper rigid portion. A flexible support assembly extends between the upper and lower rigid portions and surrounds the tubular material delivery system. The tubular material delivery system is substantially supported from the upper rigid portion of the rigid support arrangement.
US07762267B2 Filter element
The aim of the invention is to obtain filter tows or filtering materials for manufacturing filters for smoking products which make it possible to prevent or at least reduce health risks due to the release of the filter components and external contamination of cigarettes by filter components. According to the invention, a filter element is manufactured of starch and/or a mixture of a starch-based polymer and eventually incorporated activated-carbon layers and provided with pores and/or channels. The filter particles eventually adherent to such filtering materials or released during cigarette smoking can be dissolved in a corresponding moisture-containing environment. They do not come into consideration for health-damaging effects.
US07762265B2 Apparatus for controlling distribution of tobacco strip
An apparatus is configured to control the distribution of tobacco strip in a charger of a tobacco packing press. The apparatus includes a housing. A plurality of ducts extend from the housing to the charger. Each duct is configured to direct a portion of the air flow from the housing to the charger. A plurality of nozzles are spaced around the perimeter of the charger. Each nozzle is connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of ducts. Each duct may include a flow controller that is selectively openable and closable to direct the portion of the air flow around a perimeter of the charger to distribute the tobacco strip in the charger. A method of controlling distribution of tobacco strip in a charger of a tobacco packing press includes providing an air flow and selectively directing portions of the air flow around a perimeter of the charger to distribute the tobacco strip in the charger.
US07762263B2 Device and method for opening an airway
A device and a method for creating and/or maintaining an obstruction free upper airway. The device is configured to fit under the chin of a subject adjacent to the subject's neck at an external location corresponding approximately with the subject's internal soft tissue associated with the neck's anterior triangle. The device is capable of exerting negative pressure on the surface of a subject's neck, displacing the soft tissue forward and enlarging the airway.
US07762262B1 Disposable prophylactic garment for restricting sexually transmitted diseases for men
A garment includes a bifurcated body having front and rear sections wherein the front section is provided with a sheath oriented about a genital region and includes a ribbed outer surface. The rear section is provided with a plurality of apertures and is oriented about a buttock region respectively. The ribbed outer surface includes a plurality of protrusions. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for fastening the garment about the user's waist. A condom is positionable about a user's penis wherein a proximal end portion of the condom is engageable about the ribbed outer surface of the sheath, defining a frictional contact area for assisting to maintain the condom positioned about the penis during sexual activities.
US07762259B2 Mask with integral cushion and forehead piece
A respiratory mask has an adjustable forehead support member that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. The forehead support member may be adjusted by rotating a forehead pad about an off-center bore or by bending an angular adjustment beam. The mask has a mask cushion with an accordionate membrane having at least two hinged portions. The mask may be constructed with a mask frame, the mask cushion, and the forehead support member molded as one piece.
US07762254B2 Mask mounting mechanism
A mask mounting mechanism for use in connection with a patient interface device having a mask and a mask attachment assembly with at least one strap for retaining the mask in a sealed position on a user's face. The mask mounting mechanism includes a button element extending from the mask, and the button element includes a shaft and a cap having a diameter greater than the diameter of the shaft. A clip element includes a clip element arm and a buckle. A second end of the arm includes an orifice extending therethrough. The buckle is attached to a first end of the clip element arm for engaging the strap of the mask attachment assembly. The clip element is engageable with a button element by engaging the orifice of the clip element arm over the cap and adjacent the shaft of the button element.
US07762253B2 Multiple lumen monitored drug delivery nasal cannula system
A multiple lumen nasal cannula that can be used to delivery two separate supplies of gases to a patient. The multiple lumen nasal cannula includes a first lumen for delivering a first gas and a second lumen for delivering a second gas. The first lumen includes support structure that reduces the tendency of the cannula to kink and lock the delivery of gas to a patient. The cannula assembly includes a mixing chamber positioned near the patient such that the two supplies of gas are not mixed until a location approximate to delivery to the patient. The nasal cannula assembly includes a connecting device that allows the two separate supplies of gas to be correctly delivered to the two different lumens of the nasal cannula.
US07762251B2 Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air
A method of humidifying a gas that includes supplying a gas to a surface of a humidification material that readily absorbs moisture and readily releases moisture when exposed to a dry environment and generating turbulence in the gas as it posses over the surface of the humidification material.
US07762246B2 Adjustable feed tube
A paintball gun preferably includes an adjustable, clamping feed tube. The feed tube can, for instance, include a lever for closing and opening a clamp, thereby tightening or loosening a receiving end of a feed tube to secure or release a hopper neck. The feed tube also preferably includes a finger adjustable nut for adjusting the size of the receiving end to accommodate differently sized hopper necks.
US07762241B2 Evaporative emission management for vehicles
Evaporative emissions management for a vehicle having a fuel tank and a low-vacuum internal combustion engine, including hybrid electric vehicles, include first and second canisters with the second canister disposed between the first canister and atmosphere. A refueling valve routes fuel vapors from the fuel storage tank through the first canister, and to the second canister when the first canister becomes saturated, during refueling. Other than during refueling, the refueling valve is closed to route fuel vapors around the first canister and directly into the second canister. First and second purge valves are controlled during canister regeneration or purging so air from atmosphere is routed primarily through the second canister to the engine to purge the second canister before the purge valves are operated to route air from atmosphere through both the second and first canisters to purge the first canister.
US07762239B2 V-type engine with valley-mounted fuel pump
A V-type engine with an engine block face extending upward on at least one end of the valley includes a plurality of fasteners having a first threaded portion engaging the face of the engine block and a second threaded portion extending through the face into the valley and through corresponding apertures in a fuel pump housing mounting flange of a fuel pump disposed within the valley to secure the fuel pump directly to the engine block face without an adapter plate. The second threaded portion of each fastener engages a complementarily threaded spacer with a proximate end securing the flange of the fuel pump housing to the back of the engine block face and extending into the valley along substantially the entire length of the fuel pump housing to a distal end shaped to facilitate engagement with a fastening tool.
US07762238B2 Sleeve metered unit pump and fuel injection system using the same
Pressurized injector actuation fluid, such as oil or fuel, is supplied to high pressure common rail by a fixed displacement fluid pump. Variable delivery from the pump is achieved by an improved sleeve metering approach. The sleeve surrounds the reciprocating piston and is manipulated to control venting of pumped fluid through vent ports in the piston. The sleeve is moved by preferably being the armature of a solenoid assembly. The varying of current to the solenoid coil alters the axial position of the sleeve relative to the piston to vary the effective pumping stroke of the piston.
US07762225B2 Valve train of an internal combustion engine comprising at least one camshaft
The invention relates to valve train of an international combustion engine, which comprise axially displaceable cam elements. The inventive valve train is characterized in that one cam element comprises at least two cams which in turn comprise at least two cam tracks. The first cam and the at least second cam of a cam element differ in at least one cam track.
US07762218B2 Internal combustion engine using combustible gases produced by the electrolysis of water, and vehicle comprising same
An engine system comprising an electrolysis apparatus interconnected to an internal combustion engine. The electrolysis apparatus cleaves water into a mixture of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The mixture of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas is input into, and fuels, the internal combustion engine. A vehicle comprising the engine system.
US07762216B1 Wood fired hot water heating system
A hot water heating system is provided for heating water that is utilized to heat a structure such as a tobacco barn. The hot water heating system includes a base and a vessel, movably mounted on the base, for holding water supported on the base. The vessel is movable back and forth on the base between a heating position and a loading position. In the heating position, the vessel overlies a fire chamber. When the vessel moves to the loading position, the fire chamber is open at the top so as to permit solid fuel, such as wood, to be loaded through the open top of the fire chamber.
US07762215B2 Universal retractable zip clip
A clip configuration including a contoured case forming a support opening for a movable clasp element defining a universal clip. A winding mechanism within the casing includes a spring urged spool having a retractable cord which extends with an attachment ring positioned on its free end.
US07762213B2 Self-cleaning litter box
A self-cleaning litter box is disclosed which provides various advantages over the prior art. In particular, in one embodiment, the self-cleaning litter box is configured to use a cartridge which may include a litter compartment and a waste compartment. In another embodiment, the cartridge may be non-compartmentalized. The cartridge may be disposable, thus eliminating the need for the user to clean the litter tray and handle heavy litter containers. In other embodiments, the system includes a rake assembly configured with a drive assembly that is protected from contamination. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the self-cleaning litter box is configured to be used with all types of litter including crystal type litter.
US07762212B2 Self-cleaning animal watering device
A self-cleaning, low-maintenance, water-saving automated animal watering device (10) is provided which includes a watering tank (12) moveable between a lower, water-full condition and an upper, water-low condition. Preferably, one end of the tank (12) is pivotally supported by a pivot shaft (64), while the other end of the tank is biased upwardly via a lower lift spring (72). The device (10) also has a water fill assembly (16) operably coupled with tank (12) to selectively fill the tank (12) when needed, and a drain valve assembly (18) also coupled with tank (12) in order to completely drain the tank (12) on a periodic basis. A control assembly (20) is coupled with at least the tank (12) and drain valve assembly (18), and is operable to actuate the drain valve assembly (18) after a predetermined number of movements of the tank (12) between the elevated and lowered positions thereof.
US07762205B1 Transport and use of prefabricated components in shoreline and floating structures
Novel prefabricated structural components such as precast concrete boxes having forms including rectangular parallelepipeds and hexagonal cylinders are disclosed which can be assembled together and/or with structural shapes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,697,736 and 6,491,473 to form waterfront structures such as seawalls, levees and breakwaters. Novel methods of waterborne transport and installation of the boxes and arrays thereof are disclosed, including modular vessels having bow and stern sections which can be connected directly together or mounted to a mid-section containing assemblies of such boxes, other structural elements or other vessels such as floating drydocks. Modular vessels can be assembled with any or all of the bow, midship and stern sections comprising honeycomb arrays of vertically-oriented hexagonal boxes.
US07762198B2 Fixture with means to adapt the positions of loading ledges
A fixture to be used for formation of unit loads of one or more packages on loading ledges is shown. The fixture can adapt the positions of the loading ledges depending on the size and form of the unit loads to be formed. The fixture has a rectangular frame formed of two parallel long struts and two short struts between the ends of the long struts. A number of further intermediate short struts may be arranged between the long struts to stabilize the frame. Four transversal bars are arranged moveable on the long struts. On each transversal bar, two cups are received, of which at least one cup is received moveable on the transversal bar. The cups are to receive the loading ledges.
US07762188B2 Reimageable printing member
A reimageable printing member such as for use in flexography, includes a layer having a multiplicity of holes, wherein the holes include therein a dimension change material and a printing material upon the dimension change material. Thus, the holes house vertically expandable units, the top portion of which is capable of protruding out of an opening of the hole at a top surface of the layer. Each of the holes may be individually addressed to provide a stimulus that initiates a change in dimension in the dimension change material. In this manner, selected ones of the units may be made to print a corresponding portion of an image on an image receiving substrate brought into contact with the printing member.
US07762187B2 Device and method for removing the jacket from cliché rollers in printing machines
Device for the substitution of a cliché-jacket from a cliché cylinder in a printing machine or the like wherein said cylinder (1) is connected to a motor (3) driving it into rotation about its longitudinal axis and is provided with radial holes connected with an air inlet (7), the latter being apt to be connected with a compressed air supply (6) by means of a delivery means (8), device characterized in that it comprises automatic means sensing the position of said air inlet (7) relative to said delivery means (8) and automatic means for positioning said air inlet (7) and said delivery means in a reciprocal coupling position, said automatic sensing and positioning means being connected to a programmable electronic unit (E) which, when said air inlet (7) and said delivery means (8) are coaxial, drives said coupling and switches on an on-off valve (60) which, on a side, is connected to said compressed air supply (6) and, on the other side, is connected to said delivery means (8).
US07762182B2 Tilting handle for pans
A tilting handle for pans is integral with a supporting extension, to which is rotatably coupled a projection rotatable about a horizontal axis, the two sides of the supporting extension and rotary projection including slots therein mutually facing swinging pins arranged along a cross axis of the handle are engaged, the handle including a swinging lever which may swing against an urging spring and comprises a detent tooth engageable with a detent step of the supporting extension.
US07762177B2 Hydraulic cylinder unit
A hydraulic cylinder unit is provided with a rod seal and/or piston seal which has a surface that deviates from the vertical circular cylindrical surface of the piston head throughhole through which the piston rod passes or the vertical circular cylindrical surface of the cylinder interior while forming respective converging gaps with regard to the rod surface and the interior surface of the cylinder, respectively.
US07762176B2 Radial piston pump with a roller plunger
A radial piston pump has a pump housing (1) and at least one pump unit (2) with a pump piston (3) and a cylinder (4) wherein the pump piston (3) can be mounted such that it can be moved backwards and forth, wherein the pump unit (2) can be driven by means of a camshaft (5) mounted in the pump housing (1); and a roller plunger (6) is arranged between the camshaft (5) and the pump unit (2), consisting of a plunger (7) and a roller (8), wherein the plunger has a guide area (9) which is used to guide it a first slot-shaped guide groove (10) of the cylinder insert (4). The roller plunger (6) is thus reliably prevented from rotating inside the cylinder insert (4). The radial piston pumps are particularly suited for high rotational speeds occurring in high-pressure fuel pumps.
US07762173B2 Electromagnetic missile launcher
A technique for launching a missile that avoids some of the costs and disadvantages for doing so in the prior art. In particular, the illustrative embodiment of the present invention uses an electromagnetic catapult to throw the missile clear of the launch platform—with sufficient velocity to attain aerodynamic flight—before the missile's engine is ignited.
US07762172B2 Wireless perforating gun
A loading tube for installation in the body of a perforating gun is disclosed. The loading tube holds a plurality of shaped charges whose detonation is electrically initiated, and the loading tube, when installed in the body, comprises at least a portion of the electrical circuit used to initiate detonation the shaped charge. In one embodiment, the loading tube comprises the hot portion of the electrical circuit, the body comprises the ground portion of the electrical circuit and the loading tube and the body are insulated from one another. Alternatively, the loading tube may comprise two distinct portions of conductive material which are electrically isolated from one another where the two portions of conductive material comprise the hot and ground portions of the electrical circuit. Additionally, a loading tube according to the present invention may comprise a conductor which is disposed in the loading tube near the outer surface of the loading tube and which is insulated from the loading tube. A system is disclosed comprising a loading tube having the aforesaid characteristics and a method is provided which utilizes the loading tube as a portion of the electrical circuit to initiate detonation of the charges.
US07762171B2 Tip holder
A rotating shaft (23) is inserted through an axial center of a cutter wheel tip for scribing a brittle object. The rotating shaft (23) is integrally provided with the cutter wheel tip. The rotating shaft (23) is inserted into supporting holes (14) provided in side walls (11) of a tip holder (11) so as to be supported. A groove (13) is formed in an upper portion of each supporting hole (14) along an axial direction of the supporting hole (14).
US07762170B2 Heat-effect reduceable finishing unit and image forming system using the same
A perforator configured to perforate a sheet includes a first frame and a blade. The first frame includes a first main face having a first hole, and is provided under a transport path of the sheet. The blade is moved into the first hole to perforate the sheet transported in the transport path. A bending strength of the first main face in a vertical direction with respect to the transport path of the sheet is smaller than a bending strength of the first main face in a parallel direction with respect to the transport path of the sheet.
US07762169B2 Food chopper
A food chopping or slicing device preferably includes three primary components, including a lid, a blade tray, and a food reservoir. The lid and the food reservoir are pivotally connected to one another, with the blade tray being removably mounted within an upper rim of the reservoir. In some embodiments a reservoir bottom is removable and the device includes orthogonal volumetric markings.
US07762163B1 Combination pliers and spudding tool
A combination tool that includes opposing jaws and handles that function as conventional pliers and wherein the handles are configured to be abutted with one another to form a spudding tool having a generally circular cross section and wherein at least one ridge extending from one of the handles cooperatively seats within at least one groove in the opposing handle when the handles are abutted with one another.
US07762162B2 Locking pliers with CAM
A pair of locking pliers having an adjusting device that utilizes a cam assembly. The pliers, preferably, include a trolley disposed in a first handle member that defines a channel. The trolley is structured to be coupled to a link assembly wherein the position of the link assembly relative to the distal end of the first handle member affects the spacing of the pliers' jaws. The cam assembly is, preferably, a planar disk-like body having a radially extending handle and, preferably, a plurality of flats about the circumference. The cam assembly is disposed, preferably, in the plane defined by the first handle member and the second handle assembly. The cam is coupled to the first handle member at the distal end of the handle portion and its' axis extends generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the first handle member and the second handle assembly. At this location, the cam plurality of flats are structured to engage the trolley/cam follower as the cam handle extends beyond the first handle member distal end. Rotation of the cam causes the trolley, and therefore link assembly, to move relative to the distal end of the first handle member.
US07762159B2 Steering switch for vehicle
Rotary support bodies which support both ends of a rod penetrating a manipulating knob body are formed by joining a first rotary support member which is arranged at one side of the manipulating knob body and supports one end of the rod and a second rotary support member which is arranged at another side of the manipulating knob body and supports another end of the rod, and one end of the rod is fixed to the second rotary support member, and another end of the rod is engaged with the first rotary support member. Accordingly, a manipulating knob can be mounted on a casing in a state the manipulating knob is mounted on the rotary support body.
US07762157B2 Bicycle shift operating device with a multi-direction operating member
A shift operating device for a bicycle comprises a mounting member structured to be mounted to the bicycle, a cable coupling member coupled to the mounting member for moving a cable in a cable pulling direction and a cable releasing direction, a positioning unit that selectively maintains the cable coupling member in a plurality of operating positions, and an input member that moves in a first direction and in a second direction different from the first direction, and an action member rotatably coupled to the mounting member and separate from the input member. The action member rotates to transmit movement of the first operating member to the positioning unit such that the cable coupling member moves from an origin operating position toward a destination operating position when the first operating member moves in either of both the first direction and the second direction.
US07762153B2 Method and systems for measuring blade deformation in turbines
A method for determining the radial deformation of a blade in a turbine that includes: 1) taking an initial measurement of the blade with one or more proximity sensors disposed around the circumference of a stage of blades; 2) after the initial measurement, taking a second measurement of the blade with the one or more proximity sensors; 3) making a determination of the radial deformation of the blade by comparing the initial measurement to the second measurement. The initial measurement and the second measurement may be taken while the turbine is operating.
US07762151B2 Load detection device
A load detection device includes a piezoelectric body unit adapted to be deformed by receiving an electric voltage, the piezoelectric body unit generating an electric charge by receiving an external load, a drive portion applying the electric voltage to the piezoelectric body unit for vibrating thereof, a detection portion detecting the electric charge generated at the piezoelectric body unit, and an adjusting member adjusting a pressure applied to at least one pressure sensing surface provided at the piezoelectric body unit to restrain the vibration of the piezoelectric body unit.
US07762150B2 Load detecting device for vehicle seat
A load detecting device for a vehicle seat includes a supporting base adapted to be mounted on a floor of the vehicle, a plurality of load sensors arranged along a forward and backward direction of a seat for the vehicle on the supporting base, the load sensors including a load input portion, a deflection portion deflecting by a load and a deflection gauge measuring an amount of deflection, the load sensors detecting the load based on the amount of deflection measured by the deflection gauge, a connecting member connecting the load input portions, a seat supporting member connected to the connecting member and adapted to support the seat for the vehicle, the seat supporting member transmitting load to the connecting member, and a stopper preventing deformation of the connecting member in a vertical direction of the seat when load which exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the connecting member.
US07762149B2 Passenger discriminating apparatus employing two load sensors
A passenger discriminating apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of load sensors for measuring a load of a passenger, which is applied to a passenger seat disposed within a vehicle, and a pair of dummy sensors configured to support the load of the passenger seat and not having a load sensing function. The type of the passenger is discriminated by comparing a sum of values in which the load values measured by the plurality of load sensors, respectively, are multiplied by a load weight of the load sensors and a reference value. Accordingly, the passenger discriminating apparatus can save the prime cost, reduce its weight, and secure an equivalent or more performance.
US07762140B2 Combined fluid pressure and temperature sensor apparatus
A combined fluid pressure transducer and temperature sensor (10) has a housing (12) containing a variable capacitor (14) having a rigid substrate (14a) and attached flexible diaphragm (14b) in sealed, spaced apart relation. The capacitor is mounted in the housing so that the outer face surface of the diaphragm is exposed to a fluid pressure chamber (12k). A temperature responsive sensor element (28) is disposed on the outer face surface of the diaphragm and covered by a thin protective layer. A fluid flow diffuser (30) is disposed in the fluid pressure port (12b) for directing fluid flow across the temperature sensor.
US07762136B2 Ultrasound systems and method for measuring weld penetration depth in real time and off line
Disclosed are systems and methods that permit both real-time, and off-line, measurement of weld penetration depth. Exemplary systems and methods comprise an ultrasound source, such as a pulsed Nd:Yag laser, that simultaneously generates longitudinal and shear waves that radiate adjacent one side of a weld joining two specimens. An ultrasonic sensor, such as an electro-magnetic acoustic transducer or a piezo-electric transducer, capable of detecting shear and/or longitudinal waves, is disposed on an opposite side of the weld from the source. A signal processor is coupled to the sensor that processes time of flight signals for selected longitudinal or shear waves transmitted across the weld seam. The signal processor implements an algorithm that computes the weld penetration depth from the time of flight signals.
US07762135B2 Compensated measurement of angular displacement
There is disclosed methods and apparatus for compensated measurement of angular displacement within an instrument (600), such as a total station. Improved and compensated measurement of angular displacement is obtained by using a combination of e.g. an angular resolver (145) and an inertial sensor (645). A compensated angular position measurement is produced by combining at least portions of the output signals obtained from the angular resolver and the inertial sensor, respectively.
US07762134B2 Dynamic quantity sensor
A dynamic quantity sensor includes a base, a sensor chip made of a rectangular board having a corner portion, and a bump. The sensor chip includes a detector, and a plurality of pads. The detector has a movable part, which is displaceable when a dynamic quantity is applied thereto, and detects the dynamic quantity based on a capacitance variation in accordance with a displacement of the movable part. The bump connects the plurality of pads of the sensor chip and the base. The corner portion of the sensor chip is released from the base such that the plurality of pads of the sensor chip is arranged at a location a predetermined distance from the corner portion of the sensor chip.
US07762130B2 Sampling chamber for a single phase fluid sampling apparatus
An apparatus (300) for obtaining a fluid sample in a subterranean well includes a housing (302) having a sample chamber (314) defined therein. The sample chamber (314) is selectively in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing (302) and is operable to receive the fluid sample therefrom. A debris trap piston (318) is slidably disposed within the housing (302). The debris trap piston (318) includes a debris chamber (326). Responsive to the fluid sample entering the sample chamber (314), the debris trap piston (318) receives a first portion of the fluid sample in the debris chamber (326) then displaces relative to the housing (302) to expand the sample chamber (314).
US07762127B2 Method for determining the composition of a fuel mixture
The invention concerns a method for determining the composition of a fuel mixture from a first and at least a second fuel for operating a combustion engine, whereby the fuel mixtures of different compositions require various air/fuel ratios to achieve a stoichiometric combustion. Thereby it is provided that the air volume that has been delivered to the combustion engine, the fuel quantity that has been delivered and the oxygen content in the exhaust gas of the combustion engine are determined during one or several stationary operating phases of the combustion engine during one or several measuring phases, and in that the composition of the fuel mixture is determined from these values. The procedure allows an accurate and reliable determination of the composition of a fuel mixture for combustion engines that are operated in flex-fuel-mode.
US07762124B2 Sensor for detecting substance in liquid
A sensor for detecting a substance in liquid includes a sensing oscillation circuit and a reference oscillation circuit. The sensing oscillation circuit includes a sensing SAW element in which a reaction film arranged so as to cover at least one IDT and to react with a substance in liquid is disposed and a first amplifier circuit. The reference oscillation circuit includes a reference SAW element and a second amplifier circuit. The reference SAW element includes at least one IDT and no reaction film. The oscillation frequency of the sensing oscillation circuit and the oscillation frequency of the reference oscillation circuit are separated by at least about 200×k2 (ppm), where k2(%) is the electromechanical coupling coefficient of a piezoelectric substrate used in each of the sensing SAW element and the reference SAW element.
US07762115B2 Loft and lie adjustment tool for golf clubs
A golf club adjustment tool for adjusting at least one of loft angle or lie angle of a golf club. The golf club adjustment tool includes a body having a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion. A first end of a first lever is attached to the second clamping portion. A second lever may be removably mated with the body.
US07762110B2 Steering lock unit
A steering lock unit in which it is possible to place priority on the operating speed or the extracting force of the lock member according to the engagement state of the lock member in the movable member. In a steering lock unit (10) including a transmission mechanism which transmits a power of an electric motor (22) to the lock shaft (30) which holds and releases engagement with a steering shaft. The transmission mechanism includes: a shaft portion (24a) which is adapted to rotate in response to operation of the electric motor (22); and a winder (26) which engages with the shaft portion (24a) and transmits the operation of the electric motor (22) to the lock shaft (30). When releasing the engagement of the lock shaft (30) with the steering shaft, the shaft portion (24a) and the winder (26) integrally rotate in a normal state, while the winder (26) moves in an axial direction with respect to the shaft portion (24a) in a case in which a pull-out force of the lock shaft, greater than a predetermined quantity, is necessary.
US07762109B2 Drum for laundry washing machines
Front-loading laundry washing machines or the like comprises a cylindrical perforated strip for letting through the water flow, at least one crusher, a rear drum closing disk, and means for joining the disk to the strip in the area of the end of the crusher nearest to the disk. The joining means comprise a rear joining support, a stop opposite the joining support on the other side of the disk, and pressure means which join the stop to the rear joining support, with the disk and part of the end of the crusher lying there between. The stop is concave and its edges are at least in part in contact with the end of the crusher.
US07762106B2 Internally guided needle
For longitudinal shifting, a needle in accordance with the invention is provided with a longitudinal slit 14 that is disposed to accommodate a bearing element (19), for example, having the form of a strip (20). Whereas known needles are set in a guide channel and thus are held or guided between two guide flanks, the needle in accordance with the invention extends around a strip (20) and is guided on said strip. Thus, the needle is guided on two surfaces of the guide element (19) and the strip (20), respectively, said surfaces facing away from each other. The support section (4) and the bearing element (19) form a highly precise positioning or guide device.
US07762103B2 Absorption cooling system
The invention provides an absorption cooling system of the type including a liquid absorbent that remains in the liquid phase throughout the operation cycle, and a refrigerant having both a liquid phase and a vapor phase in the cycle, the basic system being powered by heat extracted from a hot fluid and powered auxiliary components, the system including the five basic components of a generator, an economizer, a condenser, an evaporator and an absorber, and further including a fluid circuit for the rich solution including a circulation pump, a fluid circuit for the lean solution, and for the refrigerant gas extracted from the liquid absorbent and replaced therein, partial circuits for hot fluid and for a cooling fluid, a jet mixer operating to mix saturated refrigerant gas with the lean solution to re-form the rich solution, the improvement comprising installing means for increasing the pressure of the saturated refrigerant gas flowing from the evaporator to the jet mixer.
US07762100B2 Refrigerator
A refrigerator is provided that includes a fan that blows cool air generated by an evaporator to a freezing chamber or a refrigerating chamber; a scroll guide that discharges cool air discharged from the fan in two directions; a guide pipeline formed at the scroll guide in two directions, that guides cool air discharged from the scroll guide; and a cool air duct connected to the guide pipeline, that supplies cool air to the freezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber. An optimum scroll guide that can be applicable even when a plurality of cool air ducts are implemented is provided, thereby reducing a flow loss of cool air discharged from the fan and decreasing power consumption.
US07762099B2 Refrigeration apparatus
A first and a second expansion and compression machine (30, 40) having different volume ratios (Vc/Ve) are connected in parallel to a refrigerant circuit (10) of a refrigeration apparatus. Expanders (31, 41) of the expansion and compression machines (30, 40) are connected in parallel. Compressors (32, 42) of the expansion and compression machines (30, 40) are also connected in parallel. Upon variation in the operating condition of the refrigeration apparatus, the ratio of rotation speed between the expansion and compression machines (30, 40) is controlled by a controller (60). This, as a result, allows the refrigeration apparatus to operate at a COP close to an ideal condition.
US07762093B2 Method for controlling variable capacity compressor of air conditioner
A variable capacity air conditioner compressor is controlled by setting a car target indoor temperature; sensing car indoor and outdoor temperatures and solar radiation with sensors at predetermined car positions; calculating a vent target discharge temperature using the target temperature, sensed car temperatures and solar radiation; calculating a target evaporator temperature and blower voltage based on target discharge temperature; calculating a control duty based on the target evaporator temperature; calculating target evaporator temperature and blower voltage change rates; determining whether or not the compressor conies under a sudden variable condition based on the control duty, and target evaporator temperature and blower voltage change rates; and setting a control duty change rate maximum value to an accelerative slew rate greater than and equal to a basic slew rate when sudden and not sudden variable conditions are respectively determined.
US07762089B2 Refrigerant charging system and method using vapor-phase refrigerant
A refrigerant charging system and method for charging a refrigeration system with a vapor-phase refrigerant includes a refrigerant source, an input line, a sensor and a pressure regulator. The input line connects the refrigerant source to the refrigeration system. One or more valves are disposed between the refrigerant source and refrigeration system to regulate the pressure of the refrigerant being introduced into the refrigeration system, and the sensor measures the pressure of the refrigerant entering the refrigeration system. A pressure regulator can also be used to regulator the flow of refrigerant. Once the pressure of the refrigerant reaches a predetermined pressure, the refrigeration system is fully charged, and the transfer of refrigerant to the refrigeration system is stopped. The system and method are used to charge the refrigeration system of, e.g., an automotive vehicle, and the refrigeration is carbon dioxide.
US07762088B2 Apparatus and method for dispensing discrete amounts of viscous material
Apparatus and methods for dispensing small amounts of a viscous material onto a workpiece. The narrow-profile dispensing apparatus includes a fluid chamber, a nozzle, and a valve seat disk representing individual components that are removable from a main body of the dispensing apparatus for cleaning and/or replacement. The nozzle is coupled with the fluid chamber by a heat transfer body that may be cooled by, for example, a cooling fluid routed through an air pathway defined in the heat transfer body. The main body of the dispensing apparatus may be cooled by air exhausted from an air cavity of a pneumatic actuator regulating the movement of a needle to control the flow of viscous material in the dispensing apparatus.
US07762084B2 System and method for controlling the working line position in a gas turbine engine compressor
A system for actively controlling the working line location within a low pressure compressor. The system includes a plurality of variable inlet guide vanes that are adjusted to maintain the working line at a constant level as the low pressure compressor rotates at a constant speed.
US07762081B2 Compressor inlet guide vane de-ice control system and method
A system and method are provided for effectively removing ice that may have formed on gas turbine engine compressor inlet guide vanes and/or preventing, or at least inhibiting, reformation of ice on gas turbine engine compressor inlet guide vanes after the ice has been removed. A determination is made as to whether actual inlet guide vane position differs from the commanded inlet guide vane position by a predetermined amount. If so, then the inlet guide vanes are repeatedly commanded to move in at least two predetermined directions to remove ice that may have formed on the inlet guide vanes.
US07762079B2 Procedure for controlling the useful life of the gas turbines of a plant
A method for controlling the useful life of gas turbines of a production plant includes a) creating a succession of gas generator groups of gas turbines to be subjected to maintenance, b) substituting a first gas generator group of gas turbines of the succession with an auxiliary gas generator group, c) inspecting the first substituted gas generator group of gas turbines, d) substituting a second gas generator group of gas turbines of the succession with the first verified gas generator group of gas turbines, e) inspecting the second substituted gas generator group of gas turbines, and f) repeating steps b), c) d) and e) for all the gas generator groups of gas turbines of the succession.
US07762078B2 Nozzle with temperature-responsive throat diameter
Nozzles that offer shape variability to maintain or purposely change the pressure drop across the throat are obtained by constructing the nozzles with components that change their shape, angle, or curvature in response to temperature changes that occur during the flow of combustion products through the nozzle. The temperature change may be the gradual heating of the nozzle wall from hot combustion gases, and the shape change may result in a decrease in the throat diameter or an expansion of the throat diameter. A decrease in throat diameter will be useful when the depletion of propellant as burning proceeds causes a drop in the pressure or flow rate of the combustion gas and there is a need to compensate for this drop to maintain the pressure drop across the throat. An increase in throat diameter will be useful when an initial high thrust is no longer needed and depletion of the fuel by itself is insufficient to lower the thrust to its desired reduced level. An example of a temperature-responsive material is a shape memory alloy; other examples are presented as well.
US07762075B2 Combustion liner stop in a gas turbine
A liner stop for retaining a liner within a sleeve of a combustion system, includes: a female component including a saddle, the female component adapted for coupling to one of the liner and the sleeve; a male component including a tab for insertion into the saddle, the male component adapted for coupling to an opposite one of the liner and the sleeve; and an insert adapted for being attached to the tab and ensuring dampening of vibration when the tab is disposed within the saddle. A method and a system are also disclosed.
US07762071B2 Injection device for combustion chambers of liquid-fueled rocket engines
An injection device including at least one injection plate adjacent a combustion space of a combustion chamber, and at least one first injection nozzle including a first entry bore having a first discharge into the combustion chamber, and a first orifice bore, having a cross-sectional dimension less than or equal to the first entry bore, coaxially arranged with the first entry bore and remote from the first discharge. At least one second injection nozzle includes a second entry bore having a second discharge into the combustion chamber, and a second orifice bore, having a cross-sectional dimension less than or equal to the second entry bore, coaxially arranged with the second entry bore and remote from the second discharge. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US07762068B2 Control apparatus for internal combustion engine with supercharger
An air flow amount passing through a centrifugal compressor is acquired on the basis of outputs of an air flow meter. A surge limit compressor rotation speed is acquired on the basis of the obtained air flow amount passing through the compressor. A current compressor rotation speed (turbo rotation speed) is acquired by a turbo rotation speed sensor. A rotation speed of the compressor is controlled on the basis of the surge limit compressor rotation speed and the current compressor rotation speed. More specifically, while being limited so as to be equal or less than the surge limit compressor rotation speed, a target compressor rotation speed is controlled so as to be a value according to the operating conditions, such as accelerator opening and engine speed, of an internal combustion engine. In addition, the surge of the compressor is judged on the basis of the surge limit compressor rotation speed and the current compressor rotation speed.
US07762067B2 Turbocharger with sliding piston assembly
A turbocharger having a turbine housing defining a chamber for receiving exhaust gas, and a nozzle leading from the chamber. Exhaust gas flows from the nozzle through a turbine wheel in the chamber and changes direction from a radially inward direction in the nozzle to an axial direction downstream of the turbine wheel. A divider in the nozzle divides the nozzle into first-stage and second-stage nozzles. The divider has an upstream surface to guide exhaust gas through the first-stage nozzle and an opposite downstream surface to guide exhaust gas flowing through the second-stage nozzle. An axially slidable tubular piston, disposed in the turbine housing, has a radially inner surface extending along the axial direction and a non-flat upstream end surface. The piston also includes a curved flow-guiding surface causing the exhaust gas to change direction. In a closed position, the piston abuts the divider to close the second-stage nozzle.
US07762063B2 Housing for an exhaust gas purification component for forming a joined connection with an exhaust line section, exhaust system having the housing and motor vehicle having the exhaust system
A housing for an exhaust gas purification component encloses an interior space in which at least one receptacle is formed by the housing at the outside. An exhaust system includes at least one first exhaust line section and the housing having the exhaust gas purification component. The first exhaust line section is in engagement with the receptacle, and the first exhaust line section and the receptacle are connected to one another in a materially integral manner. A motor vehicle having the exhaust system is also provided.
US07762056B2 Aircraft combination engines exhaust thrust recovery
A gas turbine engine with a turbine with an exhaust manifold thereabout from which fluids can be transferred to the turbine and an air compressor having an air transfer duct extending therefrom so as to be capable to provide compressed air in that air transfer duct at one end thereof to the air intake of an internal combustion engine provided as an intermittent combustion engine. The air intake and an exhaust outlet are each coupled to combustion chambers therein and a rotatable output shaft is also coupled to those combustion chambers for generating force. The exhaust outlet has an exhaust transfer duct extending therefrom so as to have the intermittent combustion engine be capable to provide exhaust therefrom in that exhaust transfer duct at one end thereof, and the exhaust transfer duct being connected at an opposite end thereof to the exhaust manifold to be capable of transferring intermittent combustion engine exhaust thereto.
US07762054B2 Thermally powered turbine inlet air chiller heater
An addition to the air compressor of a combustion turbine system is disclosed, which chills the inlet air on warm days. The same equipment with minimal modification is used to prevent inlet air icing conditions on cold days. Referring to FIG. 1, inlet air conditioner heat exchanger 3 supplies conditioned (chilled or heated) air to the combustion turbine, and heat recovery unit 1 supplies turbine exhaust heat to ammonia absorption refrigeration unit 2. Control valves 5, 6, 7, and 8 selectively supply either chilling refrigerant liquid or heating vapor from AARU 2 to conditioning heat exchanger coil 3.
US07762052B2 Roller-supported accumulator for lawn and garden debris
An apparatus for collection of yard debris combines a vacuum pick up with a blower unit, a separator, and a detachable accumulator with an attached roller to support the accumulator upon detachment from the separator. The apparatus collects and entrains debris in an airflow induced at the vacuum pickup, impels the debris to the separator which removes the debris from the airflow, and deposits it in the accumulator which is supported by a roller to aid subsequent dumping when the accumulator is detached.
US07762046B2 Method for manufacturing cigarette packages
Systems and methods are provided for making a hard pack cigarette package composed of a transparent material that includes an inner frame that is also composed of a transparent material. The package is assembled using a hot-melt adhesive material to bind the package together as well as to bind the inner frame insert and a foil wrapped assemblage of smoking articles to the package. The hot-melt adhesive material is applied by an electronically controlled hot-melt adhesive applicator working in conjunction with a uniform contrast roller.
US07762044B2 Packaging for stent delivery systems
The present invention relates to a method of packaging and a packaging system for treated stents which minimise the level of exposure of the stents to oxygen, moisture and light. The package comprises two compartments, the compartments being in communication with each other via a breathable membrane.
US07762043B2 Unit for applying opening devices to packages of pourable food products
A unit (1, 1′) for applying opening devices (2, 2′) to packages (3) of pourable food products, the unit (1, 1′) having first conveying means (8, 8′) for feeding the opening devices (2, 2′) successively along a first path (P1, P1′); second conveying means (9) for feeding the packages (3) successively along a second path (P2); and transfer means (10) for transferring the opening devices (2, 2′) from the first path (P1, P1′) to the second path (P2), and in turn having a wheel (18) rotating about an axis (A), and a number of gripping members (19, 19′) carried by the wheel (18) and for receiving respective opening devices (2, 2′) from the first conveying means (8, 8′) and transferring them to the second path (P2) by rotation of the wheel (18); the transfer means (10) also having connecting means (20) for connecting the gripping members (19, 19′) movably to the wheel (18), and cam guide means (21) for altering the position of each gripping member (19, 19′) with respect to the wheel (18) as the wheel (18) rotates.
US07762040B2 Insulated fiber cement siding
A method for installing siding panels to a building includes providing a foam backing board having alignment ribs on a front surface and a drainage grid on a back surface and then establishing a reference line at a lower end of the building for aligning a lower edge of a first backing board and tacking thereon. Tabs and slots along vertical edges of the foam backing board align and secure adjacent backing boards to each other. A siding panel is butted against one of the lower alignment ribs and secured thereto. Another siding panel is butted against and secured to an adjacent alignment rib to form a shadow line between the adjacent siding panels on the building.
US07762039B2 Electrical fixture apparatus and installation method
An electric junction fixture is provided for preparing a wall or ceiling to accept an appliance such as an electric light fixture, inserted and mounted through a hole in the drywall or panel. Reduced stress levels in the drywall or panel are obtained by providing large areas of contact between the fixture and the drywall or panel.
US07762037B2 Segment for a tower of a wind energy turbine and method for arranging operating components of a wind energy turbine in a tower thereof
The segment for a tower of a wind energy turbine comprises a tubular section having a longitudinal axis and inner and outer sides, and at least one group of supporting elements arranged at the inner side of the tubular section. The segment further comprises at least one platform supportable by the supporting elements of the at least one group of supporting elements.
US07762033B2 Wall construction system and method
A wall construction system includes a footer attached to a floor or footer; vertical reinforcing bars attached to the footer; horizontal reinforcing bars attached to vertical reinforcing bars at predetermined heights above the footer; blocks attached onto the footer, each layer including a row of blocks, each block including a pair of flat major surfaces and four contoured minor surfaces, and a plurality of longitudinal grooves parallel to the major surfaces and incorporated into the edges of the minor surfaces; a plurality of joining strips, the strips placed end to end and pressed into each longitudinal groove, with about half their width protruding from the longitudinal grooves; a plurality of lateral clips attached to pairs of joining strips across the top of the blocks, perpendicular to the longitudinal grooves; and a quantity of concrete in horizontal and vertical air gaps between adjacent blocks enveloping horizontal and vertical reinforcing bars.
US07762027B1 System for attaching an article to a roof and method of use
A system for attaching an article to a roof having shingles disposed on top of a structural member includes a flashing member which is rotatably connected to a stanchion. The flashing member includes a sheet of flashing which is slid up under one or more shingles. A hole is drilled through the shingles and into the structural member. The stanchion is then bolted to the structural member.
US07762025B2 Containerized access control system
A portable container is provided which comprises a passing room(s) allowing entry into a second area into a first area, the passing room having at least two openings with a walkway in-between. Barrier device(s) can be located in the walkway but not connected to the first or second opening. A control room(s) can also be provided, the control room being connected to the passing room(s).
US07762009B2 Article of footwear with circular tread pattern
An article of footwear is disclosed. The article of footwear includes an outsole with a circular tread pattern. The circular tread pattern provides sufficient traction in all directions but also allows the wearer to pivot about a pivot portion. The circular tread pattern is generally large, and in some cases, the first and smallest circular tread extends less than 360 degrees. The pivot portion can include a slot that aids in flexibility. The outsole can also include a different tread pattern for the heel portion, or the circular tread pattern may also extend into the heel portion.
US07762003B2 Sidewinder lite cut
The invention is directed to a guide for a power saw or router of the type having a blade and housing wider than the blade which directly overlies the blade during the cutting operation. The guide includes a saw guide having a straight outer edge configured for guiding a peripheral edge of the saw housing. Attached to the saw guide is an angle brace that is used to place the guide at four different angles. Attached by bolt to the saw guide is the work piece guide that is placed against the object you are cutting so that you cut a straight angle every time.
US07762002B2 Trimmer head for use in flexible line rotary trimmers having improved line loading mechanism
A trimmer head for use in a flexible line rotary trimmer including a housing adapted to be operatively connected to the trimmer to effect rotation of the head and a spool operatively connected to the housing for rotation therewith. The spool defines at least one inwardly extending line receptor channel, preferably formed by a plurality of inwardly tapered walls so as to be polygonal in cross-section. So configured, the channel walls will securely grip the cutting line upon the line being inserted in the channel and wound about the spool. To provide uniform winding of the line, a plurality of cam, cam abutment and sliding surfaces are operatively connected to the housing and spool such that when the spool is manually rotated relative to the housing in the drive direction, the spool is caused to reciprocate axially within the housing evenly distributing the line about the body of the spool.
US07762000B2 Animal clipping and shearing apparatus
According to the present invention there is provided head unit (10) for an animal shearing and clipping apparatus, the head unit (10) being configured to receive either a clipping comb and cutter arrangement (12, 14) or a shearing upper and lower blade arrangement (16, 18), the head unit (10) comprising a body (20) having a drive member (22, 24) arranged to drive a movable blade or cutter (14, 18), a mount (28) arranged to receive a complementary mounting feature of a comb or fixed blade (12, 16), a shearing blade guide and a clipping cutter guide.
US07761997B2 Method of forming a composite door structure
A method of forming a composite door is disclosed. The method comprises: mixing together a thermoplastic polymer with an organic fibrous material in a ratio such that the organic fibrous material constitutes 40 to 60 percent by weight of the mixture; extruding the mixture under heat and pressure to create a thin sheet form; cutting the sheet to a predetermined size; removing material from at least one surface of the sheet to create a homogeneous appearance devoid of obvious fibrous particles; thermoforming the sheet to impart to the at least one surface an exterior three dimensional door surface to create a thin door facing; and assembling two of the thermoformed thin door facings, a peripheral frame and a core material into a door.
US07761996B2 Methods of making tungsten carbide-based annular jewelry rings
Methods of making tungsten carbide-based annular jewelry rings including sinterable metal and/or ceramic powder materials compressed into a predetermined configuration and then sintered to form an annular jewelry ring to which softer precious metals, stones, crystals or other materials suitable for use in jewelry may be affixed. Such items of jewelry may have multiple facets and can be fabricated using various disclosed techniques and various combinations of materials.
US07761995B2 Gear wheel with a multiple helical toothing, pressed in one part, and a method and device for manufacturing the same
A gear wheel includes multiple helical toothings, each having a different helical angle. A pressing method for molding a gear wheel involves introducing a compactable material into a chamber of a pressing tool, compacting the material, exposing the helical toothings of the gear wheel, and removing the molded body from the pressing tool. A pressing tool for pressing, as one part, a gear wheel, includes a matrix, cylindrical first and second molding tool parts which can be translated along and then rotated about a longitudinal axis, and a driver coupled to the molding tool parts or driving them. The molding tool parts can be moved towards and away from each other and the inner surface of the matrix delimits the chamber and is shaped to allow a linear axial sliding movement of the compactable material relative to the matrix.
US07761994B2 Reactor with expandable structure providing improved heat transfer
A method and a reactor made by a method for increasing heat transfer from a heat source outside a vessel to the fluid inside the vessel are characterized by expanding a structure within the vessel toward the inner vessel surface so as to decrease the spacing between the structure and the vessel wall. The structure may be any of the various so-called structured packings, for example, ceramic honeycombs, metal honeycombs, plate stacks, and the like. The structure may comprise catalyst. The reactor provides high activity, low pressure drop, and high heat transfer. The reactor may be especially suitable for steam hydrocarbon reforming.
US07761993B2 Method for increasing the fatigue life of a blade root of a turbomachine blade
A method for increasing the fatigue life of a blade root of a turbomachine blade, wherein the blade root has at least one slot for back-gripping fixing of the blade root in a shaft component or a casing component of a turbomachine. The method comprises impressing a mechanical stress field in the notch root in a section of the slot, wherein the impressed mechanical stress field brings about a plastic deformation of the notch root. The impressed mechanical stress field is then progressively moved in the slot longitudinal direction of the slot. After this, the impressed mechanical stress field is removed again, wherein residual compression stresses remain in the notch root of the slot in the region of the slot in which the mechanical stress field was impressed.
US07761989B2 Methods for repairing gas turbine engine components
A method for repairing a gas turbine engine component includes the steps of repairing one of a suction side or a pressure side of the component; repairing internal geometry of the component after one of the suction side or the pressure side of the component is repaired; and repairing the other of the suction side and the pressure side of the component after the internal geometry of the component is repaired, wherein a backing material is utilized to preserve the internal geometry of the component when the other of the suction side and the pressure side of the component is being repaired.
US07761988B2 Method of making an outer lever of a switchable finger lever
According to the present invention, an outer lever (1) of a finger lever (2) that can be switched to different lifts for at least one gas exchange valve is made by a deep drawing method. A salient feature of the invention is that a cup-shaped base body (16) having an inverse U-shaped cross-section is deep drawn, and opposing running contact surfaces (14, 15) for high-lift cams are created on arms (4, 5) of the outer lever (1) by punching out a bottom (19) of the base body (16). Through the deep drawing method of the invention, only relatively low fabrication costs are to be expected.
US07761982B2 Method for manufacturing IC-embedded substrate
A method for manufacturing an IC-embedded substrate comprises a first step for encapsulating at least an IC chip having a pad electrode in an insulating layer, a second step for forming a metal layer having at least a first aperture in a location directly above the pad electrode of the IC chip and a second aperture in a location above an area other than the area in which the IC chip is mounted, and a third step for selectively removing the insulating layer by a blasting treatment in which the metal layer is used as a mask, whereby forming a first via hole that corresponds to the first aperture and a second via hole that corresponds to the second aperture.
US07761981B2 Methods for fabricating an electroactive polymer device
The invention describes rolled electroactive polymer devices. The invention also describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods for their fabrication. A rolled electroactive polymer device converts between electrical and mechanical energy; and includes a rolled electroactive polymer and at least two electrodes to provide the mechanical/electrical energy conversion. Prestrain is typically applied to the polymer. In one embodiment, a rolled electroactive polymer device employs a mechanism, such as a spring, that provides a force to prestrain the polymer. Since prestrain improves mechanical/electrical energy conversion for many electroactive polymers, the mechanism thus improves performance of the rolled electroactive polymer device.
US07761980B2 Method of manufacturing a wiring substrate for ejection head
The method manufactures a wiring substrate. The method comprises: a recess section forming step of forming recess sections corresponding to a prescribed wiring pattern, on a substrate; a filling step of filling a conductive paste containing thinner, into the recess sections; a curing step of causing the conductive paste filled in the recess sections in the filling step to contract, by drying and curing; and a plating step of forming a wiring conductor serving as the wiring pattern, by performing a plating process using the conductive paste in contact with at least a portion of an inner circumferential face of the recess sections, as at least one of a catalyst and a current feed layer.
US07761977B2 Component placement device
A component placement device includes: (a) an elongated transport device by means of which substrates to be provided with components can be moved in a transport direction parallel to the transport device; (b) at least one component feeder that is located along a longitudinal side of the transport device; (c) at least one component pick-and-place unit by means of which in operation a component can be picked-up from the component feeder and placed on a substrate; and (d) a substrate support, which is located along a longitudinal side of the transport opposite to the component feeder.
US07761965B2 Automatic swiveling turret apparatus for machine tool
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic-free automatic swiveling turret apparatus which can easily ensure a swiveling function that is smooth and superior in terms of durability using a simple construction without any need to install a hydraulic pressure reducing mechanism requiring complicated design and control. The present invention provides an automatic swiveling turret apparatus for a machine tool comprising a wedge mechanism (13) which is constructed so that a resistance reducing member (9) that reduces the sliding frictional resistance during swiveling of the turret (3) is disposed on the inside surface part of the sliding movement gap (7) that abuts when the anchoring and fastening of the clutch device (4) are released by causing the sliding of the turret (3) in the axial direction as a result of allowing the inflow of air into the clutch release pressure chamber (6), and in which the turret (3) in a working position that does not allow swiveling, which is anchored and fastened by the clutch device (4), is anchored in a wedged fashion and held as a result of return sliding.
US07761962B2 Hose clamp
A hose clamp includes a clamping band, a tensioning device and a positioning arrangement for positioning the hose clamp on a hose. The positioning arrangement includes at least two positioners. The two positioners may be arranged at a distance from each other in a circumferential direction of at least 120°. Axial stops may be arranged on both sides in a circumferential direction of at least one of the positioners.
US07761961B2 Tool and method for fixing installation object on wheel
An apparatus and method for fixing an installation object on a wheel, which are enabled to restrain rotation of a housing caused by a tightening torque of a worm screw, and to thereby prevent breakage of the housing. The apparatus for fixing an installation object on a wheel includes a band which is looped around a rim well portion of the wheel and holds the installation object. While a housing for holding a worm screw is fixed to one end portion of the band, a plurality of slits for engaging with a thread of the worm screw are provided in the other end portion of the band. The apparatus includes a rotation restraining mechanism which projects more outward than the housing in a width direction of the band, and restrains rotation of the housing caused by a tightening torque of the worm screw.
US07761959B2 Handle assembly for a stamp
A handle assembly for a stamp has a frame, a handle and a connector. The handle and the connector are mounted respectively on opposite sides of the frame and connect with each other. Therefore, the connection between the handle and the connector is firm and robust and the stamp has a durable handle assembly with increased use-life and reliability.
US07761958B2 Hinge and latch mechanism
The invention relates to a door hinge system which includes an integral exposed vertically oriented pin as a portion of a doorframe bracket, and a central latch bracket as engaged to a door. The pivotal manipulation of the door engages the latch of the central latch bracket to the pin, to secure the door to the doorframe. The central latch bracket includes a channel for receipt of the pin which is securely and releasably retained in the channel by the leading cam edge of the latch and safety slide. Disengagement of the latch from the pin enables a door to be easily separated from doorframe for re-hanging at a future time.
US07761956B2 Dry cleaning system for workpieces
A system for dry cleaning workpieces by removing solid and/or liquid particles adhereing thereto with a gaseous medium by suction. To this end, a suction mold encloses the workpieces on all sides while serving as a guiding device whose inner contour follows the outer contour of the workpiece. The cleaning medium flows to the gaps between the suction mold and the workpiece via feed slots and/or feed boreholes of the suction mold. Gaps, medium feed slots and/or medium feed boreholes are formed, arranged and dimensioned so that the flowing medium has a velocity of greater than 20 m/s everywhere on the surface of the workpiece, and the solid and/or liquid particles adhereing thereto are carried away. The suction slot, through which the flowing medium is removed by suction, and the suction duct which is connected thereto and which leads to the suction unit, has larger cross-sections than the sum of the cross-sections of all the gaps between the workpiece and the suction mold, and also the sum of the cross-sections of the medium feed slots and/or of the medium feed boreholes. The sum of the cross-sections of the medium feed slots and or of the medium feed boreholes corresponds to 0.9 to 1.2 times the sum of the cross-sections of all the gaps between the workpieces and the suction molds.
US07761953B2 Mop bucket bag insert
An insert is provided for a mop bucket application to capture dirty water and/or clean water during floor mopping. The insert can be made of flexible PVC vinyl or of a similar substance giving the user the ability to quickly install the insert into a mop bucket. When the insert has collected the dirty water, the wringer can be quickly removed. Since the insert's bottom is flat, it will remain upright even when unsupported. The insert and contained dirty water can easily be removed by lifting the handles on the insert's two sides. The slick inside surface of the insert enables the dirty water to be poured with ease in a direct, substantially v-shaped stream. The structure of the insert preferably includes a body section which is connected at its two ends. A bottom portion forms a base for the body section, and side handles are affixed to the upper edge of the body section. A handle is secured to the outer side of the bottom portion.
US07761950B2 Water-disintegrable cleaning tool
A cleaning tool is formed by bundling a plurality of water-disintegrable cords to have a holding part in which the cords are joined to one another with a holding material wound therearound and bonded thereto by a water-soluble adhesive, and a cleaning part in which the cords are positioned independently from one another. Each cord is formed by twisting a water-disintegrable sheet such as a fiber entangled nonwoven fabric of pulp fibers, rayon fibers, and the like entangled by water-jet processing.
US07761948B2 Waste line inspection and clean-out tool
A waste line clean-out apparatus in which a video camera is positioned proximate the outboard end of an elongated flexible coil spring assembly and is interconnected with a remotely located viewing monitor by means of various operating cables, including a fiber optic signal transmitting cable. The apparatus includes a pull cable that extends interiorly of the spring assembly for protecting the fiber optic signal transmitting cable and the various companion operating cables from undue stress during the waste line clean-out operation.
US07761944B2 Baby changing duffel
A baby changing duffel includes a changing pad formed of resilient material, sized and shaped to serve as a changing surface for either an infant or a toddler. The pad is covered with a removable, washable cover. The cover is sized and shaped to fit over the changing pad and has an inner changing surface and an outer surface. An upper pouch is attached adjacent to an upper end of the outer surface. A retaining sleeve is attached to a lower end of the cover and encloses a folded portion of the pad and cover. The side pockets have interior compartments and are attached at the edges of the outer surface of the cover. The side pockets are folded over the inner changing surface for transport. A carrying handle extends between side edges of the cover and is located to support the duffel when folded to fit the retaining sleeve.
US07761943B2 Headrest assembly for a massage device
A headrest assembly for supporting a head of a user of a massage device includes a frame assembly and a resilient assembly. The frame assembly is selectively coupled to the massage device, and the resilient assembly is coupled to the frame assembly. The resilient assembly includes an upper resilient member and a headrest platform that supports the upper resilient member. The headrest platform includes a first side section, a second side section, a middle section that is positioned substantially between and is coupled to the first side section and the second side section, and a hinge assembly that connects the side sections to the frame assembly. The hinge assembly allows the middle section to flex substantially downward and the side sections to pivot relative to the hinge assembly when the headrest platform is supporting the head of the user.
US07761942B2 Bed with adjustable patient support framework
An adjustable bed comprises a hospital bed frame chassis, an articulatable, multi-sectioned base platform mounted on the chassis, an adjustable patient support framework mounted on the base platform, and a patient support surface overlying the adjustable patient support framework and base platform. The adjustable patient support framework preferably includes two main parts: an adjustable torso support litter mounted on the articulatable torso-supporting section of the base platform; and an adjustable hip support litter mounted on the articulatable hip-supporting section of the base platform. Each of these support litters comprise a plurality of independently adjustable vertices or segments oriented at or near the periphery of the overlying patient support surface. Modulation of the patient support surface is accomplished through two conceptually distinct mechanisms—(1) articulation of the base platform and (2) movement of the vertices and/or segments of the adjustable patient support framework.
US07761941B2 Patient positioning table for a tomography device
A patient positioning table for a tomography device has a table board movably mounted on a table stand. At one end of the table board, a module is attached that has a receptacle compartment therein, serving as a storage space and/or a receptacle for medical equipment. Attachments can be attached to the module for holding or mounting other items that are used in connection with a tomography procedure.
US07761940B2 Corner components for a bed sheet
In some example, an apparatus comprises a first corner component that is configured to be attached to a first corner of a bed sheet. The first corner component comprises a first bottom attachment to couple to the first cap. The apparatus includes a second corner component that is configured to be attached to a second corner of the bed sheet that is on an opposite end but same side relative to the first corner. The second corner component comprises a second bottom attachment to couple to the second.
US07761939B2 Siderail spring dampener
A patient support comprises a frame, a siderail, a linkage coupled to the siderail and coupled to the frame to guide movement of the siderail relative to the frame between a raised position and a lowered position, and a dampener. The dampener includes a coil spring, a first link coupled to the linkage and having a free end received inside the coil spring, and a second link coupled to the frame and having a free end received inside the coil spring.
US07761936B2 Therapeutic floor mat system and method
A therapeutic floor mat system and method are disclosed. A system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a mat having an aromatherapy cavity. The aromatherapy cavity may be formed to at least partially hold an aromatic substance. In some cases, the mat may be operational as a shower mat and may have a top surface with a shape that defines a perimeter, and a bottom surface spaced apart from the top surface. Depending upon design detail, the aromatherapy cavity may be at least partially located beneath the top surface.
US07761935B1 Shower curtain with flap for use with tub transfer bench
A shower curtain with an integral flap for accommodating a tub transfer bench. The flap, located along the bottom edge of the shower curtain, can be pulled into the slot of a tub transfer bench to prevent water from splashing outwards of the bathtub. Two side slits bound the flap and reinforcing material is provided at the boundary of the side slits to reduce the possibility of tear propagation. A handle may be provided at the lower end of the flap to facilitate easy grasping of the flap. The shower curtain may further include straps having hook-and-loop pads at the top edge to facilitate easy hanging and removal of the shower curtain from a conventional shower curtain rod.
US07761934B2 Drain socket and flush toilet
A flush toilet and a drain socket are provided that align the direction of waste passing through a drainage trap so as to prevent pipe clogging without impairing wastewater discharge performance by a siphon effect. The drain socket is for connecting an outlet of a trap drainage channel of a flush toilet unit and a drain pipe located external of the flush toilet unit. The drain socket includes a drain socket body provided with an inlet for coupling with the trap drainage channel and an outlet for coupling with the drain pipe, a siphon inducing region provided on an inner wall of the drain socket body for inducing a siphon effect, and a straightening vane provided upstream of the siphon inducing region of the drain socket body to extend from the inner wall in the inward direction of the channel.
US07761933B2 Baby hat and method of manufacturing same
Hats preferably for supporting and protecting a portion of a baby's head and methods of making same.
US07761931B2 Glove or pair of gloves
A glove, such as a work glove, an examining glove, or an operating glove, has a homogeneous body with a hand part and a cuff that is adjacent to the hand part. At least one gripping aid is provided on the outer surface of the cuff and at a distance from the rear edge of the cuff. This allows the gloves to be removed in an ergonomic and simple manner without any auxiliary means, even with a very short cuff, without the soiled or contaminated outer side coming into contact with the skin of the person wearing the glove. To this end, at least one gripping aid is arranged in the region of the glove covering the outer region of the wrist, when seen in the peripheral direction of the cuff. Alternatively, at least one gripping aid can extend over at least 180 degrees of the periphery of the cuff, at a distance from the rear edge of the cuff, or each glove in a pair is provided with at least one gripping aid on adjacent peripheral sections of the cuff, said gripping aids being at an angular distance of at least approximately 30 degrees.
US07761929B1 Protective pad assembly
A configurable protective pad assembly includes a first, or base, layer that provides as an inner and/or outer surface one part of a two-part fastener system, such as, for example, the hooks or loops of a hook and loop fastener system. A protective layer, which consists of padding that incorporates fasteners on its surfaces, is sized and arranged relative to the base layer to provide customized protection to one or more desired locations. The protective layer attaches to the base layer as one or more sections that are sized and arranged in positions that correspond to the respective locations in which protection is desired. As desired, additional protective layers may be applied in the same manner, to provide more padding to all or various of the locations. A cover layer having a smooth outer surface may be applied over the protective layers to complete the assembly.
US07765606B2 Scanning probe apparatus
A scanning probe apparatus for obtaining information of a sample, recording information in the sample, or processing the sample with relative movement between the sample and the apparatus, the apparatus is constituted by a probe; and a scanning stage including a drive element for moving a sample holding table for holding the sample and a movable portion movable in a direction in which an inertial force generated during movement of the sample holding table is cancelled. The scanning stage further includes a memory for storing characteristic information of the scanning stage and is detachably or replaceably mountable to a main assembly of the apparatus.
US07765603B2 Communication system, contents processing device, communication method, and computer program
A communication system by which a plurality of apparatuses owned by the same user can be registered efficiently are provided. In the communication system, when a terminal ID of a content processing apparatus is registered in a management server and a content reproduction apparatus is to be registered into the management server through the content processing apparatus, transmission of user information is not performed, but a registration request is transmitted which includes the terminal ID and a device ID for identification of the content reproduction apparatus. The management server specifies a registration record based on the terminal ID included in the registration request information, registers the device ID into the registration record and transmits registration completion information to the content processing apparatus. The content processing apparatus then adds a group ID of the content processing apparatus itself to a second source ID list of the content reproduction apparatus.
US07765593B1 Rule set-based system and method for advanced virus protection
A system, method and computer program product are provided for preventing malware infection. In use, mass-mailing-type malware is prevented from sending electronic messages via a network. Malware is also prevented from communicating. Still yet, unrecognized attachments are prevented from opening, and executable files are prevented from being infected via the network.
US07765582B2 Identity-based-encryption messaging system with public parameter host servers
A system is provided that uses identity-based encryption (IBE) to support secure communications. Messages from a sender may be encrypted using an IBE public key and IBE public parameter information associated with a recipient. The recipient may decrypt IBE-encrypted messages from the sender using an IBE private key. A host having a service name may be used to store the IBE public parameter information. The sender may use a service name generation rule to generate the service name based on the IBE public key of the recipient. The sender may use the service name to obtain the IBE public parameter information from the host.
US07765581B1 System and method for enabling scalable security in a virtual private network
Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide dynamic security policies that change the granularity of the security at the node level, process level, or socket level. Specifically, a channel number and virtual address are associated with various processes included in a process table. Since a security policy is required for all processes, secure and insecure processes located on the same channel may communicate with one another. Moreover, processes located on different channels may communicate with one another by a gateway that connects both channels. This scalable blanketing security approach provides an institutionalized method for securing any process, node or socket by providing a unique mechanism for policy enforcement at runtime or by changing the security policies.
US07765577B2 Turbo coding for upstream and downstream transmission in cable systems
A method of transmitting data in a cable modem system includes the steps of encoding the data using forward error correction. The data is then encoded with Turbo encoding. The data is then sent to a modulation scheme. The data is then transmitted over a cable channel. The data is then demodulated. The data is then decoded using a Turbo decoder. An inverse of the forward error correction is then applied to the data.
US07765570B2 Maintaining accurate channel line-up by persistently monitoring availability of accessible channels
A channel updater. The channel updater maintains an accurate channel line-up by automatically testing accessible channels to determine if those channels are available for viewing. Available channels are added to the channel line-up, and unavailable channels are subtracted from the channel line-up. The updater persistently retests the channels so that changes in channel availability are reflected in the channel line-up.
US07765569B2 Navigation aids for television user interface
Various menu and cursor arrow navigation aids are disclosed for television systems.
US07765566B2 In-band signaling to control encryption and transcoding resources in VOD/On-Demand system
A method for controlling flow of a video content signal through a communications system, such as a video on-demand system creates a unique message for each individual video content signal and attaches the unique message to each individual video content signal prior to transmitting the video content signal through the communications system to a designed end user system. In one exemplary embodiment, the unique message comprises an in-band signaling message, such as a message inserted in a program map table in an MPEG packetized signal.
US07765561B1 Dynamically sizing a collaboration of concurrent computing workers based on user inputs
A dynamic collaboration of processes in a concurrent computing environment is disclosed. A user can modify the size of collaboration or the number of processes that execute a computational job after the processes have been launched on the concurrent computing environment. A launched or running process can establish a communication channel with other processes in the collaboration so that the launched or running process can join the collaboration to execute the job. The user can also release a process from the collaboration so the released process can join a new collaboration to execute a different job. Once a job is completed, the processes can leave the collaboration, and the processes are then free to join a new collaboration subsequently.
US07765559B2 Apparatus and method for communicating between cellular modem software and application engine software of a communications device
An apparatus and method for exchanging data between cellular modem software and application engine software of a communications device is disclosed that involves providing a communications module that facilitates communications between the cellular modem software and the application engine software. From the communications module, a generic function is invoked in response to a service request from the application engine software. The generic function is transformed to a specific function of the cellular modem software and the specific function of the cellular modem software is invoked.
US07765555B2 Facilitating bulk lock-unbiasing in an object-based system
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates bulk lock-unbiasing for objects within an object-based computing system. The system maintains an epoch, which is a field containing a timestamp, for a biasable object class and each instance of the biasable object class. If the epoch for the biasable object class matches the epoch for a specific instance of the biasable object class, the system knows that any bias for that specific instance is currently valid. When the system receives a signal to perform a bulk lock-unbiasing operation for instances of the biasable object class, it responds by stopping all threads in the object-based computing system at a safe point. Then, the system performs a bulk lock-unbiasing operation for unlocked instances of the biasable object class by incrementing the epoch for the biasable object class and by incrementing corresponding epochs for locked instances of the biasable object class.
US07765551B2 System for dynamically loading application resources from the first server to the second server based on the modified application resources from the first server
Among other embodiments set forth herein, there is provided, in a network system including a first server running a first application and a second server running a second application, the second server being remote from the first server, each of the first and second server further including a set of application resources associated therewith, a method for dynamically loading application resources from the first server to the second server, the method comprising the steps of: generating and dispatching a monitoring mechanism from the first server to the second server; in accordance with a predefined criteria (such as the expiration of a certain time interval), i) comparing the application resources of the first server and the second server to determine whether the application resources associated with the first server has been modified; and ii) based on the determination, dynamically loading the modified application resources from the first server to the second server.
US07765548B2 System, method and medium for using and/or providing operating system information to acquire a hybrid user/operating system lock
A system, method and medium for utilizing data indicative of operating system activity to determine if a process should continue to attempt to acquire a lock, or make a call to an operating system.
US07765545B2 Method for automatically imparting reserve resource to logical partition and logical partitioned computer system
A logical partitioned computer system. A hypervisor includes a resource management table for managing resources assigned to the hypervisor and an assigning/collecting unit for assigning and collecting resources to logical partitions. Each logical partiion has a guest resource monitoring unit for monitoring the amount of the resource being used out of the amount of the resource assigned to the logical partiion and an adding/separating unit for requesting addition and separation of a resource to the assigning/collecting unit based on results of monitoring. In response to the request, assigning/collecting unit searches resource management table, assigns a resource to logical partition when a reserve resource exists in case of an assignment request, and collects a resource as a reserve resource in the resource management table in case of a collection request.
US07765543B1 Selective descheduling of idling guests running on a host computer system
Guests, such as virtual machines, that are running on a host hardware platform are selectively descheduled when an idling condition is detected. An example of the idling condition is that the guest has been executing instructions in an idle loop for more than a threshold period. Guest instructions may be evaluated for the idling condition in conjunction with binary translation.
US07765540B2 Use of attribution to describe management information
A system that facilitates management of an application or service of a system using code attribution. Code of an application or service to be installed on the system is attributed with management information. The system includes a management subsystem that uses the attributed management information to manage the installed application or service.
US07765538B2 Method and apparatus for determining which program patches to recommend for installation
A method and system for selecting patches to recommend for installation on a given computer system. The method, for example, comprises selecting one or more patch analyzer programs from a collection of such programs and then executing each selected program, causing it to generate issues by processing a set of patches compatible with the selected program and with the computer system's installed operating system, programs, and patches. Goals are then identified for as many of these issues as practicable, each goal calling for the installation of a patch or one of its successors. Mutually consistent patch installation recommendations are then generated that satisfy as many of the goals as possible and that also satisfy any dependencies of any recommended patch on the prior installation of other patches, guided by patch attributes and successor relationships.
US07765537B2 Profiling interface assisted class loading for byte code instrumented logic
A data processing system, method and computer program product for profiling interface assisted class loading for byte code instrumented logic can be provided. The system can include a development environment configured for byte code instrumentation of byte streams for instantiation in a virtual machine, such as a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The system further can include a profiling interface agent, such as a JVM profiling interface (JVMPI) compliant profiling interface agent. Finally, the system can include profiling assisted class loading logic coupled to the agent. The profiling assisted class loading logic can include program code enabled to identify an extension class required for use by an embedded class for a byte code instrumented byte stream and to request the profiling interface agent to load the extension class in the virtual machine.
US07765536B2 System and method for the distribution of a program among cooperating processors
A Veil program analyzes the source code and data of a target program and determines how best to distribute the target program and data among the processors of a multi-processor computing system. The Veil program analyzes source code loops, data sizes and types to prepare a set of distribution attempts, whereby each distribution is run under a run-time evaluation wrapper and evaluated to determine the optimal distribution.
US07765534B2 Compiler with cache utilization optimizations
A compiling program with cache utilization optimizations employs an inter-procedural global analysis of the data access patterns of compile units to be processed. The global analysis determines sufficient information to allow intelligent application of optimization techniques to be employed to enhance the operation and utilization of the available cache systems on target hardware.
US07765532B2 Inducing concurrency in software code
An Induced Multi-threading (IMT) framework may be configured to induce multi-threaded execution in software code. In one embodiment, the IMT framework may include a concurrent code generator configured to receive marked code having one or more blocks of code marked for concurrent execution. Software code initially intended for sequential execution may have been automatically marked by an automated code marker and/or marked manually to generate the marked code. The concurrent code generator may be configured to generate concurrent code from the marked code. The concurrent code may include one or more tasks configured for concurrent execution in place of the one or more marked blocks of code. In one embodiment, the IMT framework may also include a scheduler configured to schedule one or more of the tasks for multi-threaded execution.
US07765529B1 Transforming graphical objects in a graphical modeling environment
In a graphical modeling environment, one of a selection of transformation operations is performed on a graphical object by first selecting the graphical object. A user may select a particular transformation operation to be executed on the graphical object from a list of transformation operations displayed to the user. A transformed graphical object derived from the selected graphical object may be then automatically created without retrieving the transformed graphical object from a library or other source.
US07765527B2 Per thread buffering for storing profiling data
A method, system and computer program product for collecting profiling information during runtime of a multithreaded program. According to the method, a plurality of instructions of the program for execution in an application thread are first received; a plurality of variable size profiling records are then stored in a buffer assigned exclusively to the application thread during execution of the plurality of instructions; and the plurality of profiling records in the buffer are then processed. The program may be written in Java bytecode for execution in a Java virtual machine with the processing of profiling buffers performed by a component of a JIT compiler for insertion into a repository in internal JIT format, e.g. a hash table, for later optimization processing.
US07765526B2 Management of watchpoints in debuggers
Provided are a method, system, and article of manufacture, wherein a first application requests an operating system to monitor a memory address, and wherein the operating system generates a signal in response to an operation that affects the memory address. A second application receives the generated signal. The second application determines whether to forward the signal to the first application. The first application processes the signal, in response to the signal being forwarded by the second application.
US07765525B1 Operations manager infrastructure for dynamically updating software operational policy
An Operations Manager subsystem decouples the generation of operational events from an associated behavior triggered by those events. The Operations Manager subsystem allows changing the associated behavior without requiring rebuilds or recompilations of the source code. In addition, changes to policies are possible even at runtime in order to enable more agile debugging and better application supportability. The Operations Manger subsystem includes separate reporting and subscription services. The reporting services provide an API defining operational code for the generation of operational events. The subscription services include a file system and an API that support multiple user subscriptions to the various code operational events defining the behavior associated with those events.
US07765523B2 System and method for generating a web-enabled graphical user interface plug-in
A method for generating a web-enabled graphical user interface plug-in includes loading a resource script file for a windowed software application. At least one GUI plug-in is automatically generated based, at least in part, on the resource script file. Each GUI plug-in is operable to present at least a portion of the software application in a web-enabled format.
US07765522B2 System and method for providing an embedded complete controller specification through explicit controller overlays
A system and method to support embedded complete controller specification through explicit controller overlays are provided. The system and method partitions the controller layer of the MVC into a plurality of controller overlays. For example, a macro controller overlay, micro controller overlay, and global controller overlay are established for specifying macro controller objects, micro controller objects and global controller objects. Editors are provided for each of the plurality of controller overlays. The combination of the micro control overlay, macro control overlay, and global control overlay results in a complete controller specification for an application.
US07765518B2 System and method for implementing optical rule checking to identify and quantify corner rounding errors
A method for implementing optical rule checking to identify and quantify corner rounding errors includes receiving corner rounding data based on established ground rules; determining a simulated shape for a semiconductor device feature produced on a wafer, the simulated shape based on a designed shape for the semiconductor device feature; selecting a corner feature associated with the designed shape, and drawing one or more triangles at the selected corner feature. For each triangle, the presence or absence of an intersection between the triangle and the simulated shape is determined, wherein a degree of corner rounding is determined by a pair of successively sized triangles for which one of the pair intersects with the simulated shape and the other does not; and comparing the determined corner rounding with the corner rounding data for the designed shape to determine whether the simulated shape results in a rule violation.
US07765516B2 System and method for making photomasks
The present application is directed a method for preparing a mask pattern database for proximity correction. The method comprises receiving data from a design database. Mask pattern data describing a first photomask pattern for forming first device features is generated. The first photomask pattern is to be corrected for proximity effects in a proximity correction process. A second set of data is accessed comprising information about second device features, wherein at least a portion of the second set of data is relevant to the proximity correction process. The second set of data is manipulated so as to improve the proximity correction process, as compared with the same proximity correction process in which the second set of data was included in the mask pattern database without being manipulated. At least a portion of the mask pattern data and at least a portion of the manipulated second set of data is included in the mask pattern database.
US07765514B2 Method for improved synthesis of binary decision diagrams with inverted edges and quantifiable as well as nonquantifiable variables
A method, system and computer program product for performing synthesis of representations is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a representation of a relation and building a gate representing an OR function of one or more selected parent paths into a node of said representation of said relation. A synthesized gate for said gate representing said OR function and synthesis of a set of representations of relations by iterating said building step and said creating step over one or more variables in said representation of said relation is performed to accumulate a synthesized gate set, which synthesized gate set is returned.
US07765513B2 Configuration database supporting selective presentation of configuration entities
In at least one hardware definition language (HDL) file, at least one design entity containing a functional portion of a digital system is specified. The design entity logically contains a latch having a respective plurality of different possible latch values. With one or more statements in one or more files, a configuration entity is associated with the latch. The configuration entity has a plurality of different settings and each setting reflects which of the plurality of different possible values is loaded in the associated latch. A controlling value set for at least one instance of the configuration entity is also defined in one or more files. The controlling value set indicates at least one controlling value for which presentation of a current setting of the configuration entity instance is restricted. Thereafter, in response to a request to present at least a partial state of the digital system, a current setting of the configuration entity instance is excluded from presentation by reference to a configuration database indicating the controlling value set.
US07765512B1 Relocatable circuit implemented in a programmable logic device
A circuit is implemented using a programmable logic device (PLD) that includes an array of programmable logic and routing resources. The circuit includes a processor, a configuration port, a relocatable circuit, and an interface circuit. The processor accesses an address space using read and write transactions issued on an interface bus. The programmable logic and interconnect resources are configurable via the configuration port. The relocatable circuit is implemented in a selected region within the array by configuring the programmable logic and interconnect resources in the selected region with configuration data via the configuration port. The interface circuit translates the transactions accessing a portion of the address space assigned to the relocatable circuit into a fixed address space of the relocatable circuit. The configuration data for implementing the relocatable circuit is independent of the portion of the address space assigned to the relocatable circuit.
US07765511B1 Compensation for performance variation in integrated circuits
Various approaches are provided for generating an implementation of an electronic circuit design. In one embodiment, a processor-based method implements a design in an integrated circuit or IC (e.g., a programmable logic device. The method includes storing performance-variation data that represents location-based performance variations between logically-equivalent-programmable resources of the IC. The respective stored performance-variation data of at least two logically-equivalent-programmable resources of the IC are compared. The logic of the design is mapped, placed and routed on resources of the IC. The mapping, placing and routing includes, for an implementation of at least one subset of the logic of the design, selecting between the at least two logically-equivalent-programmable resources of the IC based on a result of the step of comparing respective stored performance-variation data of the at least two logically-equivalent-programmable resources. An implementation of the design is generated from the logic of the design placed and routed on the resources of the IC.
US07765506B2 Method and apparatus for automated synthesis of multi-channel circuits
Methods and apparatuses to time-share resources having internal states are described. A first design of a system having a plurality of instances of a logical block to perform logical operations is received. The instances may have internal states. The system is automatically transformed to generate a second design having a fewer quantity of time-shared instances of the logical block. The plurality of the instances in the first design is replaced with the fewer time-shared instances in the second design. The time-shared instances in the second design have elements to time multiplex the internal states.
US07765503B2 Half cycle common path pessimism removal method
A design tool for reducing half-cycle common path pessimism includes program instructions storable on a computer readable medium. The program instructions may be executable by a processor to receive a timing report for the IC. For each source clock path and destination clock path of each half-cycle timing path, the design tool may identify common circuit elements, and determine a process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) path delay value corresponding to PVT scaling of each identified common circuit element. The design tool may sum together the PVT path delay values of each identified common circuit element to obtain a total PVT compensation value. The design tool may also generate a new total skew value by subtracting the total PVT compensation value from a total compensated skew value, and generate a corrected timing report that includes the new total skew values.
US07765499B2 Method, system, and computer product for forming a graph structure that describes free and occupied areas
A graph structure is generated to describe an area with a free area and an occupied area. In this case a topological graph structure for the free area is determined. A point of the topological graph structure is selected and for this a nearest adjacent occupied area point is determined. For this nearest adjacent occupied area point location information is determined. The graph structure is formed from at least the selected point of the topological graph structure and from the associated location information of the nearest adjacent occupied area point.
US07765495B2 Mobile terminal having rotating input device and method for operating the mobile terminal
A method for displaying icons on a mobile terminal having a front side and an opposing rear side includes displaying a plurality of icons on a display located on the front side of the mobile terminal, receiving user input responsive to user-driven rotation of a rotatable wheel located on the rear side of the mobile terminal, and selectively highlighting individual icons of the plurality of icons responsive to the user-driven rotation of the wheel.
US07765494B2 Harmonized theme definition language
A method for defining a context independent architecture. The method includes positioning identifiers associated with interface elements in a hierarchy, providing a value for each identifier, the value reflecting a position for the identifier in the hierarchy relative to at least one other identifier in the hierarchy, and enabling selection of the interface elements using the identifiers in the hierarchy.
US07765493B2 Graphical user interface including palette windows with an improved navigation interface
A system and method for navigating among hierarchies of palette windows displayed on a display. Palette windows may include one or more palette window selection items that, when selected, open child palette windows of the current palette window. Palette windows may include one or more items for navigating in the hierarchy. The navigation items may include back navigation items, forward navigation items, and up navigation items. The navigation items may be used in navigating to previously displayed palette windows and/or to higher palette windows in the hierarchy. A search mechanism for locating palette windows and/or palette window content may be provided. From the search mechanism, the user may locate and open palette windows in one or more hierarchies. The current palette window is closed when a new palette window is opened. Thus, at most one palette window in a hierarchy is displayed at one time.
US07765490B2 Method and system for software applications using a tiled user interface
A method and structure for a tiled interface system provides a Tiled User Interface (TUI) in which a tile manager manages at least one tile cluster on a display device and translates an input event into a tile cluster event and at least one tile cluster controlled by the tile manager to be displayed on the display device. Each tile cluster includes at least one tile, each tile cluster corresponds to one or more predefined functions for a specific application, each tile cluster provides a complete interaction of all the predefined functions for the specific application respectively corresponding to that tile cluster, and each tile cluster can be presented in its entirety on a single frame of the display device using at most one input event.
US07765485B2 Extensible user interface framework for a componentized application environment
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to extending the user interface of an application, and provide a method, system and computer program product for extending the user interface of an application in a componentized application environment. In one embodiment of the invention, a user interface extension method for a componentized application environment can include specifying in markup a set of user interface controls and further specifying in markup an extension to a user interface control in the set. The markup for the user interface control can be substituted with the markup for the extension. Thereafter, the markup for the extension and the set of user interface controls can be provided to a set of corresponding control factories, absent the substituted user interface control, for generation into user interface control instances defining a user interface for the componentized application environment.
US07765484B2 Passive personalization of lists
Personalizing communications typically includes accessing status information for instant messaging sessions involving an instant messaging identity and passively configuring a buddy group associated with the instant messaging identity to persistently reflect a list of participant identities from instant messaging sessions in which the instant messaging identity recently participated. The buddy group may be configured without action from the instant messaging identity. The list of participant identities may be maintained persistently beyond logout of the instant messaging identity. The list of participant identities may be maintained independent of a device used for the instant messaging sessions during which the list was created such that the buddy group is accessible from one or more different devices.
US07765481B2 Indicating website reputations during an electronic commerce transaction
An aspect of the present invention relates to the methods and systems involved in receiving an indicator of an attempt by a user to execute an electronic commerce transaction and, upon receiving the indicator of the attempted transaction, presenting indicia of the reputation of another entity involved in the electronic commerce transaction.
US07765480B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and a computer-readable storage medium containing a computer program for image processing recorded thereon
An image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a reference image extracting section for extracting a reference image as an object for display; a parameter managing section for managing a plurality of parameters and their values for the extracted reference image; a parameter setting section for selecting any two arbitrary parameters and setting the selected parameters as scales for the vertical axis and horizontal axis; a peripheral image preparing section for preparing peripheral images each obtained by changing the values of the two parameters selected for the reference image by a specified amount; and an image display controller for providing display controls by correlating parameter values of peripheral images to those for the vertical axis and horizontal axis of the reference image so that the reference image is displayed at a specified position of a screen and also peripheral images thereof are displayed surrounding the reference image in n layers.
US07765479B2 Method and system for reconfiguring a selection system based on layers of categories descriptive of recordable events
A method and system for selection of recordable events from among a set of recordable events, based on categories and sub-categories, that cumulatively describe a substantial portion of the entire set of recordable events. After receiving a first set of categories, and first sets of sub-categories corresponding to the first set of categories, at a device, the device is configured to use the first set of categories and the first set of sub-categories, to guide a user in selecting a series of recordable events to experience and/or record. Thereafter, the device receives a second set of categories and respective second sets of sub-categories that correspond to the categories of the second set of categories, and the device responsively configures itself to use the second set of categories and the second sets of sub-categories, to guide a user in selecting a series of recordable events to experience and/or record.
US07765475B2 List display with redundant text removal
A computer-implemented method for a list display with redundant text removal, the method including firstly displaying within a display area on a computer display at least a portion of a first item of a group of consecutive list items that share either of a common prefix and a common suffix, and a secondly displaying in a next list item display location of the display area an abbreviation indicator contiguous with a portion of a next item in the group, where the portion is at least partially unique to the next item with respect to positionally-corresponding portions of the other items in the group.
US07765474B2 Electronic-document management system and method
An electronic-document management system includes an acquisition unit, an edit unit, first and second storage units, a generation unit and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires a target electronic document. The edit unit edits the acquired target electronic document. The first storage unit stores the target electronic document edited by the edit unit and a feature value of the edited target electronic document in association with each other. The generation unit generates meta-information of the edited target electronic document, which comprises a feature value of the edited target electronic document. The second storage unit stores the meta-information of the edited target electronic document and a feature value of the meta-information of the edited target electronic document in association with each other. The output unit outputs the feature value of the meta-information of the edited target electronic document as reference information of the edited target electronic document.
US07765473B2 Method for document viewing
A client-side handheld device requests a server to convert server-side documents into a compression format prior to transmission of said documents to the client. The server retrieves and converts the requested documents to a raster image that is then compressed according to attributes based on information received from the client device in the initial document request. Instead of having to manipulate multiple formats which the original documents are in and supported by the server, the client-side device is preferably optimized in hardware and/or software to support and otherwise take advantage of the requested compression format. The compressed document is then delivered to the client device, in whole or in part, selectively or progressively over time per individual requests prior to displaying the received data to the end-user. Depending on the requested delivery mode, server-side documents are preferably compressed using wavelet compression methods, such as the JPEG 2000 standard, known in the arts. Through such a compression format, documents of sizes (in total bytes) exceeding one or more Megabytes can be compressed down to as small as 30 kilobytes or less.
US07765470B2 Display/layout methods and apparatuses including content items and display containers
Methods and apparatuses for generating rendering layout specifications for content items to be rendered, using display containers, and/or rendering the content items using the generated rendering layout specification are disclosed. In various embodiments, the generating of a rendering layout specification may include one or more of selecting a display container for a content item, selecting a content item for a display container, and selecting a display container for a display container.
US07765468B2 Data processing apparatus and data processing method
From structure description data with a structure of media contents described therein is generated representation description data expressive of representation order, representation timing, and synchronization information of media segments described in the structure description data, whereby media segments are capable of being represented under various added restrictions.
US07765465B2 Enhanced electronic data interchange (EDI) reporting with hyperlinks to EDI source information
An interface for reporting electronic data interchange (EDI) results can include an EDI report section and an EDI source section. The EDI report section can interactively present EDI reports for EDI source data. The EDI source section can interactively present EDI source data for which one of the EDI reports has been generated. The EDI reports and the EDI source data can be markup based documents. Each EDI report rendered within the EDI report section can include one or more hyperlinks. Each rendered hyperlinks can be mapped to a designated portion of the EDI source data.
US07765464B2 Method and system for dynamically assembling presentations of web pages
A web designer defines attributes including business rules, properties and standard user interface library components. These attribute definitions allow look and feel specifications of a web page to be dynamically changed without requiring code modifications to any web application. A presentation assembly engine (PAE) receives a Uniform Resource Locator of a web page along with associated attributes and generates a unique identifier associated with a request of the web page. The PAE receives from a web application a web page request that includes the associated unique identifier. The PAE utilizes the unique identifier to identify and access the attributes needed to assemble a presentation of the web page. The PAE uses the attributes to assemble the web page presentation and sends the completed page to the web application.
US07765461B2 Moving picture processing device, information processing device, and program thereof
To present a moving picture processing device having a user interface very easy to use when selecting part of moving pictures from multiple moving pictures. The moving picture processing device comprises a moving picture display unit for displaying whole or part of plural stored moving pictures sequentially, an input accepting unit for accepting an input for display of moving picture, a moving picture menu compiling unit for compiling a menu of moving pictures displayed when the input accepting unit accepts the input, and a menu display unit for displaying a menu of moving pictures compiled by the moving picture menu compiling unit.
US07765460B2 Out-of-band change detection
An automated method for facilitating management of a data processing environment is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method may include facilitating creation of a first memorialization, in digital form, of one or more changes detected on a data processing device of the data processing environment. In various embodiments, the method may further included facilitating comparison of the first memorialization to a second memorialization of one or more in-band changes that should have been made to the data processing device to facilitate detection of one or more out-of-band changes to the data processing device. Other embodiments of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, apparatus adapted to facilitate practice of the above-described method.
US07765459B2 Viterbi decoder and viterbi decoding method
The present invention relates to a Viterbi decoder and a Viterbi decoding method in a register exchange method. The Viterbi decoder receives an encoded bit sequence of a convolutional encoding method from a channel, generates an expanded encoded bit sequence by cyclically adding a part of the encoded bit sequence or the entire encoded bit sequence to the encoded bit sequence more than one time, performs a Viterbi decoding operation in a register exchange method, and generates decoded data. In addition, the Viterbi decoder selects an end bit sequence corresponding to the number of the unit of encoded bits among the decoded data, rearranges an order of the end bit sequence, and generates final decoded data.
US07765457B2 Parallel convolutional encoder
Methods and devices for encoding in parallel a set of data bits for use in communications systems. The set of data bits to be encoded is divided into two subsets with the first subset being encoded in parallel using the second subset. The first subset is also encoded in parallel using the second subset. The first subset is also encoded in parallel using a subset of an immediately preceding set of data bits. Parallel encoding is realized by using an encoding module utilizing multiple single bit submodule. Each submodule receives a single bit from the first subset and either the second subset or the subset of the immediately preceding data set. Each single bit submodule produces a pair of output bits from the convolutional encoding of a single bit of the first subset and either the second subset or the subset of the immediately preceding data set. The multiple single bit submodules operate in parallel to simultaneously and collectively produce a set of data bits.
US07765453B2 Early termination controller for iterative FEC decoders and method therefor
A method, apparatus and system for improving block error rate performance of a receiver having an iterative decoder in a communication system, the method, apparatus and system includes receiving an encoded frame of data, the encoded frame of data includes a quantity of code blocks where each code block has a corresponding code block size, determining a first maximum number of iterations for each of the code blocks of the encoded frame of data iteratively performing a decoding operation on a first code block until the occurrence of one of (a) the first maximum number of iterations has been reached and (b) the first code block has converged, and determining a second maximum number of iterations for the remaining code blocks of the encoded frame of data based on the number of actual iterations used to decode the first code block.
US07765443B1 Test systems and methods for integrated circuit devices
One embodiment of the invention is a portion of a test system that includes a timing generation circuit and a formatter that are coupled together, which are on a single CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) integrated circuit. The timing Generation circuit generates software words. The formatter receives the software words and provides a specified number of transitions per second and a specified edge placement resolution and accuracy. It is noted that the formatter includes a drive circuit and a response circuit. Specifically, the drive circuit includes a plurality of slices, where each slice receives an independent data stream and produces an independent formatted level. The response circuit includes a plurality of slices, where each slice receives an independent data stream and produces an independent strobe marker.
US07765437B2 Failure trend detection and correction in a data storage array
A plurality of data storage devices are arranged to form a multi-device array space, and a controller controls access to the array space. The controller is configured to index sets of operational performance data from the plurality of data storage devices into a unified data log. The controller further detects a failure trend of one or more data storage devices by analyzing at least one of a vertical block of data and a horizontal block of data in the unified data log. The vertical data block of data is associated with one of the data storage devices at a plurality of indices. The horizontal block of data is associated with a plurality of the data storage devices at an index.
US07765436B2 Process for software support resource allocation based on analysis of categorized field problems
A method and system estimates future software support requirements based on statistical models of previous observations of support requests, either for the same product or for a different product having features previously identified as correlated with features of a new product. The estimates include an estimated volume of support requests and an estimated type of support requests. The estimated types include the activity occurring at the time of the failure, an identifier as to whether a defect in the software was previously known, and the like. The estimates are used to estimate and allocate support resources prior to support requests being received, and prior to a software product being released.
US07765434B2 Resource efficient software tracing for problem diagnosis
The present invention discloses a solution that defines multiple retry points for a software application which are operable to generate and record trace information only as part of a retry execution in response to an exception. Outside these conditions, the burdens of generating and recording trace information can be avoided. Furthermore, the determination of a preferred one of these retry points can be made to focus the retry execution in a way that only the retry point which generates the most helpful, or informative, trace information is necessarily reverted to in response to an exception.
US07765432B2 Reporting diagnostic information for code of an application program interface
A technology for reporting diagnostic information for code of an application program interface is disclosed. In one method approach, diagnostic information for a line of code in a file associated with an application program interface is received. The diagnostic information includes a designation of the line of code. The diagnostic information is stored in a fixed sized buffer. Efficient use of memory is provided without requiring elimination of other diagnostic information previously stored in the fixed sized buffer.
US07765431B2 Preservation of error data on a diskless platform
Systems and articles of manufacture for preserving error data on a computing platform that lacks non-volatile storage (e.g., a “diskless” platform) are provided. In response to detecting a platform error (e.g., automatically by hardware, software, or manually by a user when a wait or loop condition is suspected), platform error data may be gathered and temporarily stored in volatile storage accessible on the platform. In order to preserve the platform error data in the event power is lost after the error, the platform error data is transferred to a target system with access to non-volatile storage. Once the target system indicates the platform error data has been stored in non-volatile storage, the volatile storage used to temporarily store the platform error data may be freed-up.
US07765430B2 Device and method to enhance availability of cluster-based processing systems
An electronic computing device including at least one processing unit that implements a specific fault signal upon experiencing an associated fault, a control unit that generates a specific recovery signal upon receiving the fault signal from the at least one processing unit, and at least one input memory unit. The recovery signal initiates specific recovery processes in the at least one processing unit. The input memory buffers input data signals input to the at least one processing unit that experienced the fault during the recovery period.
US07765428B2 Replacing a failing physical processor
Replacing a failing physical processor in a computer supporting multiple logical partitions, where the logical partitions include dedicated partitions and shared processor partitions, the dedicated partitions are supported by virtual processors having assigned physical processors, and the shared processor partitions are supported by pools of virtual processors. The pools of virtual processors have assigned physical processors. Embodiments operate generally by assigning priorities to the dedicated partitions and to the pools of virtual processors; detecting a checkstop of a failing physical processor; retrieving the failing physical processor's state; replacing by a hypervisor the failing physical processor with a replacement physical processor assigned to a dedicated partition or pool, which dedicated partition or pool has the lowest priority among the priorities of the dedicated partitions and pools; and assigning the retrieved state of the failing physical processor as the state of the replacement physical processor.
US07765426B2 Emerging bad block detection
Apparatus and methods, such as those that read data from non-volatile integrated circuit memory devices, such as NAND flash. For example, disclosed techniques can be embodied in a device driver of an operating system. Errors are tracked during read operations. If sufficient errors are observed during read operations, the block is then retired when it is requested to be erased or a page of the block is to be written. One embodiment is a technique to recover data from uncorrectable errors. For example, a read mode can be changed to a more reliable read mode to attempt to recover data. One embodiment further returns data from the memory device regardless of whether the data was correctable by decoding of error correction code data or not.